Beatles News

Following an incredible 2013 which saw Paul’s universally acclaimed ‘Out There’ tour launch in Brazil and visit 23 cities across South America, Europe, North America and Japan, today Paul confirms he’ll be getting back out there in the U.S. by announcing his first Stateside dates of 2014.

In addition to his dates this month in Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Costa Rica, and his return to Japan and first ever performance in Korea in May, Paul has confirmed the first stop of an upcoming summer trek through North America: On June 19, Paul will return to New Orleans to play The Smoothie King Center, his first visit to the city since his 'Driving USA Tour' in 2002. Paul will play his first shows ever in Louisville KY and Albany NY, respectively, June 26 at the Yum! Center and July 5 at the Times Union Center. July 7 will see Paul returning to Pittsburgh’s Consol Energy Center for the first time since opening the arena with a pair of instantly sold out shows August 18 and 19, details

Richard Marx’s second songwriting intersection with Ringo Starr, following the 2010 track “Mystery of the Night,” has allowed him far more latitude in creating with the former Beatles star. Marx, who had a number of late 1980-era hits before turning his focus to songwriting, says Starr only needed some additional melody and lyric help with “Mystery of the Night” for Y Not. (Marx added some backing vocals, too.)

The same went for the initial song they worked on for an as-yet-untitled forthcoming Starr release that also features work from Toto’s Steve Lukather. This will be Starr’s first original project since Ringo 2012, another guest-packed album that included contributions from Dave Stewart, Joe Walsh, Benmont Tench, Charlie Haden, Richard Page, Edgar Winter, Van Dyke Parks and others. Now, Starr’s level of trust has grown to the point where, as Marx tells Matt Wardlaw of Cleveland Scene, Starr is letting Marx come up with his own ideas. < details

Monkees fans will remember that “Good Morning, Good Morning,” from the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, appears as part of the Micky Dolenz-directed final episode of their television show, called “The Frodis Caper.” Turns out the song has always had special meaning for Dolenz.

Long before the Summer of Love release of Sgt. Pepper, Dolenz visited the studio and heard an early playback of “Good Morning, Good Morning.” “I listened to the track, and I’m trying to be so cool,” Micky Dolenz said, during aMonkees convention Q&A. The song stuck with him and later, while at work on “The Frodis Caper,” he was able to secure a snippet of the song — making for the perfect opening, as the Monkees roll out of bed. Dolenz — who says John Lennon used to call him “Monkee Man” — says he overdressed for the occasion, thinking that there would be a party atmosphere during the Sgt. Pepper sessi details

In London, at the office of Apple Corps, a little man sits at his desk day and night, working out yet more ways to fleece money out of a totally suspecting but totally addicted group of sad, ageing people. These people have spent thousands of dollars (or pounds or euros or yen, or maybe even Bulgarian lev) on a band that hasn't existed for more than 40 years, and of whose original six members only three are still alive.

Ordinarily, such a band would be well and truly history, but of course the Beatles were anything but ordinary. We've just had the 50th anniversary of one of their greatest triumphs, for it was on April 4, 1964 that saw the band with the top five singles in the Billboard chart. The songs Can't Buy Me Love, Twist and Shout, She Loves You, I Want to Hold Your Hand and Please Please Me created a record that has never been equalled or seriously threatened. For many older folk (and for many of their children, especially mine) these songs are known off by heart, back to front and up details

Each week, Yoko Ono opens the floor for fan questions of any stripe, from her philosophy on art and outlook on life, to her music career and that of her husband John Lennon — both solo and with the Beatles. This week, she confirmed something that’s long been perculating among conspiracy theorists who think Lennon’s former bandmate Paul McCartney was killed at the height of their fame.

“I just spoke with Paul a few days ago,” Ono says, in the newly posted fan Q&A. “He is definitely alive and well.” This particular urban legend dates back to 1967, when some believe that McCartney died in a car accident and was replaced by a body double. A few particularly resourceful sleuths even sorted out a series of clues, buried in the songs and album sleeves of the Beatles’ next few albums. The group’s press office was forced, at one point in 1969, to actually rebuke the rumors. And yet for some — though clearly not Ono — the question persists. Ono, also discus details

When it comes to Sir Paul McCartney showing his affection for his wife, he certainly isn't shy about it. Paul took the opportunity to plant a kiss on his wife, Nancy Shevell, for the Kiss Cam at the Staples Center during an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Lakers on Sunday in Los Angeles. The 71-year-old singer lovingly pulled 53-year-old Nancy's face close to him and gave her a sweet kiss.

The pair seemed completely in their own world as they kissed despite all the fans surrounding them. They sat together and held hands as they talked and watched the game. After their PDA, Paul really got into the spirit of the game, as he waved his arms and cheered on his team even performing a few dance moves. At one point, he looked surprised after spotting someone he knew in the crowd. The Beatles star enjoys taking his wife out on the town. Just last month, he and Dave Grohl took their wives to vegan restaurant Crossroads on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.

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Depending on who you ask, Billy Preston is either the fifth Beatle (one of many pretenders to that particular title, but arguably one of the few with a genuine claim), one of the greatest Rolling Stones sidemen ever, or simply a child prodigy who made the most of a phenomenal musical talent.

A gifted organ and piano player, by the age of ten he was out performing with gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and by 12 he'd appeared in films and was building a reputation for musicianship that turned the heads of players twice his age. He toured with Little Richard in the early '60s, a stint that would see him meet a fledgling Beatles, and in 1963 played keys on Sam Cooke's final album Night Beat. He backed the Everly Brothers in '65 and The Monkees in '66, before hooking up with The Beatles again in '68 to work on The Beatles (or as most fans know it the White Album). In the end, it was his association with the Fabs that was to cement his reputation as one of the all-time session greats. He linked up with them again on Abbey Road and, most famously, on Let It Be, where he be details

RAINBOW CITY, Alabama -- It was no April fool's prank – in the autumn of 1969, much of America wondered if Paul McCartney, one fourth of the Beatles, was actually alive. And this weekend, one of those inadvertently responsible for the story will be performing at Rainbow City's Chocolate Festival this weekend.

Fred LaBour, known by his stage persona Too Slim, is a member of the cowboy comedy group Riders In the Sky. LaBour was a student at the University of Michigan 45 years ago. In October 1969, LaBour was 19 years old and worked for The Michigan Daily in Ann Arbor, the student newspaper at the University of Michigan. He wrote for the sports desk and occasionally submitted music reviews. On Oct. 12, he was listening as radio disc jockey Russ Gibb in Detroit took a call from someone claiming that, if one played "Revolution 9" from the Beatles' "White Album" backwards, one heard a clear voice saying, "Turn Me On, Dead Man." The same person claimed at the end of "Strawberry Fields Forever," John Lennon says, "I buried Paul." LaBour was scheduled the next day to details

Dubbed Flash Harry by Brian Epstein, Mike McCartney shares some of his favourite photos of The Beatles, Liverpool and the architects of rock 'n roll at Swansea's Grand Theatre on April 25

HIS photographs of The Beatles - back when they were still combing their hair up and back like Elvis - have become iconic, and he has enjoyed a life behind the lens, as well as in the spotlight, with the satirical mischief makers, The Scaffold. Now Mike McCartney will share tales of photographing Jerry Lee Lewis and Hendrix, and growing up with 'Our Kid' in the artistic petri dish of his beloved post-war Liverpool. He heads to Swansea's Grand Theatre with Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n Roll (I Wish). And he says you may have to forgive him a little misty-eyed nostalgia on the night. "There are a lot of emotional moments in the show for me. My mum is in there in the photographs and she died when I was 12. And dad is there. He's gone now. And there are photos that show the extent of the bombing in Liverpool, which was terrible, though luckily I was in Walton General Hospital at the time, being bor details

In one magical decade, The Beatles made records built to last an eternity. The same might be said for the band's chart records. Friday marks the 50th anniversary of the Fab Four's remarkable Billboard coup, when their songs occupied the top five slots of the singles chart, a feat never repeated.

The Billboard Hot 100 ranking on April 4, 1964:

1. Can't Buy Me Love

2. Twist and Shout

3. She Loves You

4. I Want to Hold Your Hand

5. Please Please Me

"It was the first and only time anyone ever monopoliz details

MANILA -- Here's a rare sight: reunited members of the Eraserheads on Thursday crossed Abbey Road in London, recreating the iconic album cover of their idols The Beatles.

Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Marcus Adoro and Buddy Zabala, who are staging a reunion concert there on Friday night (London time), had photos taken of them crossing the famous road. The outcome: a photo similar to the cover of The Beatles' 11th studio album named after the now-famous street, which was released in 1969. On social media, the photo quickly went viral among fans of the iconic OPM band, with a number putting the imitation side by side with the original. -- with a report from Ryan Chua, ABS-CBN News 

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Musician, actor and songwriter Tim Piper has traveled the world performing music made famous bythe Beatles, distinguishing himself as the preeminent John Lennon with roles in the CBS production The Linda McCartney Story, E! Channel’s John Lennon Story, Beatle Wives and as the singing voice of Lennon for the NBC TV movie of the week, In His Life -The John Lennon Story.

With Working Class Hero, Piper has performed at numerous special events, including being the only tribute act to perform at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, a pre-screening performance for the re-release of Yellow Submarine and the John Lennon 20th anniversary memorial gathering in Central Park. He’s also increased his portfolio even further with he much celebrated and extraordinary rock ‘n’ roll celebration of the life and music of John Lennon, known simply as: Just Imagine….A splendid time is guaranteed with Mr. Piper!!  Warm-Up Question: Tell us something about yourself/your career that&rsq details

The last track on "Revolver" is a one-chord song with the inscrutable title "Tomorrow Never Knows." Released in 1966, the album announced that The Beatles were not just a pop sensation but ambitious innovators, and of all the tracks, "Tomorrow Never Knows" was its most radical statement.

The song became so influential that it's difficult to imagine how strange it must have sounded to mid-1960s ears, though the Beatles' decision to make it the closing track signifies their own sense of bafflement about it. The song opens with a droning sitar, then John Lennon comes in, telling the listener, "Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream." Paul McCartney's bass riffs on C through the entire thing. Rock 'n' roll was never the same after that. Noted Beatles scholar Scott Freiman is scheduled to tell the story of "Revolver" during a program presented by the International Film Series at the University of Colorado-Boulder. The series runs over three evenings, April 11-13, at CU's Muenzinger Auditorium. Freiman plans to present "Tomorrow Never Knows: Deconstructing the details

Scott Rodger, the man behind Sir Paul Mccartney's current success, was named Manager of the Year at the Artist and Manager Awards in London on Thursday night (03Apr14).

Rodger went home with the top prize, which was bestowed upon him by the Music Managers Forum and the Featured Artists Coalition. The longtime industry player was lauded for his work with artists like MCCartney and rockers Arcade Fire. Robbie Williams was also honoured with the Artists Artist Award, and was commended for his "outstanding creative output, innovative business models and his support for artist rights." Other awards recipients included Pharrell Williams (Artist of the Year), Rudimental (Breakthrough Artist Award), and Sam Evitt and Jack Street (Breakthrough Manager Award), who co-manage British acts Disclosure and Sam Smith.

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By the summer of 1973, John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s marriage was on the rocks. As an unusual remedy, Ono suggested that Lennon embark on an affair with their assistant, May Pang. That decision led to Lennon’s “Lost Weekend,” the 18 months that the ex-Beatle lived with Pang in her New York apartment and a rented home in Los Angeles.

Musically, it was a productive time. Lennon completed three albums – ‘Mind Games,’ ‘Walls and Bridges’ and ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ – and produced LPs for Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson. And he also took part in an impromptu jam session that would be the last time he would record with Paul McCartney. But it was a period marked by Lennon’s outrageous behavior while drunk or stoned. Two weeks before the historic jam session, a drunken Lennon was tossed out of the Troubadour. Lennon referred to the time apart from Ono as ‘The Lost Weekend,’ named after a 1945 film that starred details