We've got a ticket to play!
Visitors to a Beatles-themed cafe in Liverpool will soon be able to play the world’s first and only official pinball machine dedicated to the Fab Four.
The Beatles and Stern Pinball have joined forces to create a series of US-made, limited-edition pinball machines, with the first of its kind debuting at The Beatles Story’s Fab4 Cafe.
Read more: The Beatles’ ‘Abbey Road’: 10 perfect moments that give you goosebumps
Only 1,964 of the games will be produced in recognition 1964: the year when Beatlemania kicked off, The Guide Liverpool reports.
Nine Beatles classics will feature on the machine in the cafe, which will be available to play for £1, including: ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’, ‘Ticket to Ride’, ‘All My Loving’, ‘Help’, ‘Drive My Car’, ‘It Won’t Be Long’, ‘I Should Have Known Better’, and ‘Taxman’.
Source: Charlotte Krol /nme.com
As 1969 dawned, The Beatles appeared to be riding high on the success of the ‘White Album’ and the ‘Hey Jude’/‘Revolution’ single, both huge hits for their new Apple Records label. In reality they were unravelling, as Apple haemorrhaged cash, John Lennon immersed himself in heroin with new love Yoko Ono and the band embarked miserably on a new, back-to-basics album. Amid weddings, bed-ins and drug busts, The Beatles eventually made two albums in 1969 – ‘Let It Be’ and ‘Abbey Road’ – but it was also the year they secretly split, torn apart by money, business strife – and Lennon’s decision to supplant Paul McCartney and make Yoko his creative collaborator...
Source: By Ken Mcnab/dailymail.co.uk
detailsSomeone just couldn’t let it be. A Beatles fan cleared their conscience yesterday by returning a copy of Life magazine featuring the Fab Four – after a long and winding road of over 50 years.
Cuyahoga County Public Library representatives may be doing the twist and shout after they received the Life magazine from 1968, along with a money order for $100 and a letter that read:
“I stole this magazine from the Parma Ridge Road Library when I was a kid. I’m sorry I took it. I’ve enclosed a check for the late fee.”
In a Facebook post, library officials thanked the anonymous paperback burglar for returning the “borrowed” magazine that was able to get back to where it once belonged.
“It’s remembering that message that it’s never too late, number one, to pay an overdue fine, and two, really just to come back to the library,” said Hallie Rich with Cuyahoga County Public Library.
Source: fox6now.com
detailsWe live in a cultural moment in which a large swathe of mass-market consumers, largely comprised of Baby Boomers and Gen Xers, regularly flock to purchase new releases of reconfigured, remixed music from days gone by. I should know: I’m one of them.
When it comes to the 21st century, the Beatles are leading the way. The twentieth century’s most lucrative act has never really ebbed — which is saying something, given that two of the bandmates are deceased. From Ron Howard’s recent touring documentary through remixes of "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1967) and "The Beatles" (The White Album, 1968) the Fab Four have successfully repackaged yesteryear’s gems to net fresh sales and satisfy what seems to be a nearly unquenchable appetite for “new” content.
Source: salon.com
detailsWhether you’ve read about the 1960s rock scene or lived through it, you couldn’t miss all the talk about the rivalry between The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Obviously, you can chalk some of it up to the media and the aggressive rock press of the era.
In real-life, the two bands were very friendly with one another when they got their start in London in the early ’60s. Years later, John Lennon spoke about how he admired the Stones from the first time he saw them, and how much fun they had together in their salad days.
But something definitely changed by the end of the decade. Not only did The Beatles stop touring and eventually break up (in 1970); by then, there was a good deal of bad blood between Lennon and Stones singer Mick Jagger.
Source: cheatsheet.com
detailsThe band all hail from the football-mad crazy city of Liverpool, but which teams did they support – and did they align with the Reds or Blues?
Few cities can boast about being a true hub for both football and music. Not only is the city of Liverpool home to the likes of Liverpool and Everton, but it is also the birthplace of all four of the Beatles.
Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr all originated from Merseyside and their fame was what first brought global attention to the city. The success brought by Liverpool FC would only come later on, beginning from the 1970s.
As famous and influential as the Beatles are, a topic that has been called into question over the decades is that of their football allegiance. Liverpool is so famed for their impassioned football culture - surely their four most well-known sons are mad for the sport as well?
Source: Cady Siregar/goal.com
detailsWhether it’s “She Loves You,” “Get Back” or “Yesterday,” odds are that you’ve heard the distinct sound of the Liverpool-based group composed of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Even if you haven’t, modern music is a beneficiary of the history made over and over again by the Beatles, who many consider to be the greatest band ever.
As Dave Grohl, lead singer of the Foo Fighters, once eloquently said, “From one generation to the next, the Beatles will remain the most important rock band of all time.”
Following the box office success of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” it came as no surprise when a movie based off the works of two of the greatest songwriters of all time, Lennon and McCartney, was announced. The project, which dropped a trailer on Feb. 12, 2019, is titled “Yesterday.” But before beginning, I must warn you: Limited spoilers lie ahead, especially if you haven’t seen the trailer! If this is the case, you can watch it here.
Source: Ben Garcia, Hope International University
This week in February 1964, Beatlemania swept through Sydney and at least three North Shore schools cracked down on "moptop" haircuts. Our reporter met with local teens to discuss the "Beatle ban".
School students show off their Beatle haircuts in Gordon in Sydney's north on 25 February 1964, the year of The Beatles' Australian tour.
'Beatle war' is raging between the principals and teachers of Sydney schools and their pupils.
The main battlefront appears to be the North Shore, where Beatlemania is sweeping the schools.
Some pupils are even wearing Beatle haircuts in defiance of teacher warnings.
The picture above shows five teenage student "Beatles" at Gordon this week. They are, from left: Greg Cleary, 16, of St. Leo's, Wahroonga; Margot Manassen, 16, a former Ravenswood pupjl who now attends business college; Brett Thomas, 14, Chatswood High; Charlotte Watson, 14, Hornsby Girls' High; Bill Slater, 16, North Sydney High.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
detailsA pop singer and British rock group, five decades apart in influence, now hold the same Billboard record as of earlier last week.
On April 25, 1964, The Beatles topped the Billboard Hot 100 with “Can’t Buy Me Love,” at No. 1, “Twist and Shout” at No. 2, and “Do You Want to Know a Secret” at No. 3. The famous rock band was the only group to hold a No.1, No. 2, and No. 3 spot simultaneously --- that is, until Feb. 19.
Ariana Grande, one of the biggest pop stars in the game right now, just matched this record with “7 Rings” at No. 1, “Break up with Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” at No. 2, and “Thank U, Next” at No. 3.
Grande broke a record that hasn’t been broken in 55 years, and for that she should be extremely proud of herself. Along with that, The Beatles should feel the same for also holding this record and for all they have accomplished.
Source: Chelsea Kun/collegian.psu.edu
detailsSir Paul McCartney has paid tribute to his late Beatles bandmate George Harrison on what would have been his 76th birthday.
Harrison died in 2001 at the age of 58 after developing cancer.
Marking his birthday on February 25, Sir Paul shared a black and white photograph on Twitter showing the pair performing together.
“Happy birthday forever George, we love ya!” said the 76-year-old singer-songwriter.
A series of snaps of Harrison during his career were posted on The Beatles’ Twitter page to mark the occasion.
Harrison’s son Dhani shared a photograph on Twitter of a man and a boy – presumably himself and his father – walking away from the camera.
“Hand in hand we walk away. #HappyBirthdayGeorge,” he captioned the shot.
Source: Press Association
detailsFinal copies of Songs by George Harrison Volume Two are coming soon. Originally published in 1992, the edition presented 59 songs by George Harrison, illustrated by Keith West.
With manuscript contributions from Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson and George Harrison, this highly popular edition also contains the classics, 'My Sweet Lord', 'Something' and 'All Things Must Pass'.
'Derek Taylor introduced me to George Harrison sometime during the late, great Sixties. And like a Harrison tune, the route was circuitous... Somewhere between the pages of this beautiful and cleverly illustrated book, you will find your own George Harrison.' - Harry Nilsson, Los Angeles, 1991.
Source: genesis-publications.com
detailsA new report delves into the impact that Lennon's heroin addiction had on the iconic rock band.
John Lennon’s addiction to heroin during a time when it was poorly understood may have played a significant role in the breakup of the Beatles, according to an article published in Salon.
Fans have long speculated on just how much of the lyrics in the late Beatle's songs reference the powerful illicit opioid, but a look into Lennon’s own words and reports from those close to him paint a picture of someone who was deep into an addiction disorder before he was able to finally quit.
The Beatles were not shy about experimenting with drugs during their time in the spotlight. Early in their music careers, the members of the Beatles were “veteran pill-poppers,” using amphetamines regularly.
They were then introduced to cannabis by Bob Dylan, and a former housekeeper employed by Lennon wrote a letter claiming that she “began noticing drugs lying around in various parts of the house.”
Source: Lindsey Weedston/thefix.com
detailsSometimes, the Academy makes the right pick on Oscar night. In 2019, watching Alfonso Cuarón receive the Best Director made perfect sense. (Roma is that good.)
The same goes for Mahershala Ali winning his second Oscar in what has been an incredible career so far. Anyone who saw him in Green Book (or True Detective, or anything else) knows how talented Ali is.
In the Best Actress race, most would agree that a worthy nominee — Olivia Colman, for The Favourite — walked away with the trophy. However, it made many observers look back on the career of Glenn Close (nominated for The Wife) and wonder how she’s never won an Oscar.
With The Beatles having won their Oscar decades ago and Close still in the hunt, it seems like it’s time to take stock of the situation.
Source: cheatsheet.com
detailsWhether you go by albums sales, No. 1 hits, or overall legend, you’ll always find The Beatles and Elvis Presley at the top of the list. However, if you want to start counting the times they topped the charts, you go by the combination of record sales and radio airplay that Billboard put in place.
Starting in 1958, this chart became known as the Hot 100. Prior to that, Billboard called it the Top 100, though the system of measurement was basically the same. Those dates matter when you start counting the chart-topping hits by the Fab Four and Elvis.
Obviously, both artists racked up a number of No. 1 hits in their time. However, in Elvis’s case, his career spanned from the Top 100 days through the Hot 100 era. As a result, Billboard only credits The King with seven No. 1 hits.
Yet Elvis topped the charts twice as often, and and spent more than 14 months as the No. 1 artist over the course of his career.
Source: cheatsheet.com
detailsWalnut Ridge, Arkansas -- On September 20-21, Walnut Ridge will play host to the 7th Annual Beatles at the Ridge Symposium, this year celebrating "Beatles Memorabilia and Collectibles."
In the spirit of that theme Featured Author, Jim Berkenstadt (of the Amazon Best Seller The Beatle Who Vanished), Featured Artist, Ken Orth (creator and curator of the "Meet the Look-Alikes!" collection) and Primary Source Speaker, Art Schreiber (journalist from the Westinghouse Network who toured with The Beatles in 1964) will share rare collectibles and information on these pieces.
On Friday night, September 20, Jim Berkenstadt will talk about a guitar in his possession that was used by George Harrison in an LA studio to record a special version of "Got My Mind Set On You." Berkenstadt will explain how he was able to authenticate the guitar, its use by George, and Harrison's signature. He will also address other Beatles pieces, examining the mysteries and stories behind them.
Source:beatlesnews.com
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