The Fab Four made two hysteria-inducing visits to America in 1964, launching the so-called "British Invasion" of the mid-1960s.
As they visited Washington DC and Baltimore a young photographer, Mike Mitchell, snapped dozens of images of John, Paul, George and Ringo.
Now, after being filed away for nearly 50 years, these never seen before black-and-white photographs are being sold at auction at Christie's in New York.
In a story that just got more and more bizarre the deeper Cat Deeley and the folks behind 'So You Think You Can Dance' (Wed., 8PM ET on FOX) dug into it, a competing hopeful claimed to be the daughter of the "real" Ringo Starr.
Well, with a claim like that, we can't blame the show for sending a camera crew to her home town to meet the legend himself. Once there, we were introduced to an older gentleman with virtually no trace of a British accent who claims to be the original Ringo Starr.
He said he played on four albums and, according to his daughter, went into hiding "after John Lennon was shot three times in the back."
Their home was filled with 'Sgt. Pepper'-era memorabilia, and the man insisted he had a British birth certificate and passports. Could 'SYTYCD' have uncovered the story of the century? Well, no, but they've definitely uncovered one uniquely off-kilter personality.
On June 11, 1986, director John Hughes premiered his newest film. The fourth entry from the filmmaker, the story was about a popular teen who decides to fake sick one day and tour the city of Chicago with his best friend and his sweetheart. The end result was a movie jam-packed with charm and hilarity, securing it as a modern classic. That movie was Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and tomorrow it turns 25.
In order to celebrate the momentous anniversary, I’ve scoured the internet for hours trying to track down the best moments from this wonderful film. While I ended up with 15 entries, I could have easily come up with 50, as nearly every line in the movie is perfect, every character is delightful and the overall message (Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it) is something we should all take to heart. Without further ado, I present the 15 Best Moments From Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Cameron Needs To Make A Decision
Ferris may get the coveted title position, but I don’t think I’m alone in thinking that Cameron is the most interesting character in the film. Constantly at war with himself, he is filled to the brim with angst, and when he’s not stressing about his strict father he’s trying to convince himself that he shouldn’t let Ferris make him do things he doesn’t want to do. The best part of all this? Alan Ruck’s performance is absolutely hysterical.
The Call
I’ve never met anyone who can operate a phone quite like Ferris Bueller. The man has such brilliant timing and strategy that you’d think he could put an end to the Cold War by himself. He is only a high school student, though, so why not use those incredible phone powers to get your girlfriend out of class? He can deal with world diplomacy when it’s not his day off.
Bueller? Bueller?
This is easily the most quoted line from the film and everyone has tried their own impersonation, but nobody beats Ben Stein when it comes to being the most boring economics teacher of all time. Cap it off with a young Kristy Swanson summarizing the rumor mill into one incredibly complex list of sources and you have a truly classic scene.
Visiting The Art Institute of Chicago
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is best known for its laughs and teenage philosophy, but this scene is just stunning and demonstrates that John Hughes wasn’t just a great writer but director as well. While I love the kiss that Sloane and Ferris share in front of the stained glass window, I will never get sick of Cameron analyzing Georges Seurat’s “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.”
Rooney vs. Jeanie
There’s an ancient proverb that says, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Apparently Jeanie Bueller should spend less time worrying about what her brother does and more time focusing in class because this lesson went way over her head. Sure, she doesn’t know that it’s actually Principal Rooney in the kitchen and she unleashes quite the impressive kick, but imagine what would have happened if they decided to team up?
The Nurse
This is a pretty quick scene, but certainly an amazing one. It’s not just that the nurse at the door is singing a poem about screwing sick kids, but the fact that someone actually thought that it was a good idea to hire a prostitute to entertain Ferris while he’s bedridden. Also, who are all those other guys? Are they going to watch? That’s disturbing on so many levels (and not just because of the guy in the creepy mask).
Twist And Shout
If only we all had the balls of Ferris Bueller then we could be just as happy as he is. I would guess that 99% of people wouldn’t even dream of getting onto a float in the middle of Chicago’s Von Steuben Day Parade, but Ferris not only does it, but sings two songs that gets every spectator in the street jumping and dancing. Also: God bless The Beatles.
You’re Abe Froman, The Sausage King Of Chicago?
While I won’t go into details, I have actually used the alias “Abe Froman” in order to get out of trouble before (and fortunately the person I was talking to wasn’t a Ferris Bueller fanatic. From the snooty (or is it snotty?) waiter to Ferris employing his wonderful phone magic again, this scene is pure awesomeness. Important lesson: every lie, no matter how ridiculous, requires total commitment.
Ferrari In Flight
I drive an ordinary Volkswagen Jetta, but if I owned a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California I’d be just as worried as Cameron is about these two valet guys. Sure, these guys can definitely be classified as assholes, but it’s really hard to blame them for this. The Star Wars theme is just icing on the cake. Thank you, John Williams.
Ferris Bueller, You’re My Hero
I’ll admit that this clip is a slight failure on my part. I wanted the whole scene at the pool, with Cameron in a full-on catatonic state before taking a nose-dive into the water, but at least I was able to find the best line. Cameron, you are not alone. He’s our hero too.
Charlie Sheen
Before he turned into a drug addict that had constant run ins with the police, Charlie Sheen played…a drug addict that had a run in with the police. One of the actor’s earliest roles (the movie came out a few months before Oliver Stone’s Platoon), it’s amazing how quickly he manages to step on Jeanie’s nerves. “Oh, you know him?”
Cameron Needs To Take A Stand
Remember how I said at the beginning that Cameron is a much more interesting character than Ferris? This is the scene that proves I am right. Finally releasing all of his pent up anger and aggression towards his father, Cameron finally decides that he needs to stand up to his father and stop being afraid. Will his father probably kill him when the precious automobile-turned scrap metal is discovered in the woods behind the house? Most definitely, but at least Cameron is finally growing up and deciding to become an individual.
Run Ferris Run!
How do you make a fun movie like Ferris Bueller even more fun? You throw in an incredible race sequence. The scene succeeds in being both intense and hilarious, as you laugh at Ferris hitting on the two sunbathers while wanting him to hurry the hell up and get home before his family. I’ve seen entire action films less compelling than this moment.
Life Moves Pretty Fast
True, he actually says this line earlier in the movie, but by the end you know exactly what he means. Ferris Bueller is not only a teacher of a philosophy, but also a student. Of course, one can’t imagine he’s advocating that everyone skip work to party around Chicago, but the idea of taking life a little less seriously is something we all should learn.
Go Home!
Decades before Nick Fury informed Tony Stark about the Avenger Initiative, Ferris arrived after the movie credits to tell us all to stop waiting around and to just go home. An added bonus from the film’s penchant to break the fourth wall, this is just a funny, silly tag that helps you walk away from the movie with an even bigger smile on your face. I am proud to say that I’ve never watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off without staying all the way through the credits.
Wikicollecting.org, a new collaborative wiki project for collectors, has created the a list of the top five most expensive collectibles associated with The Beatles. The popular band has spawned many museums and items that are associated with members of the band, especially in relation to the creation of their music, sell very well, often at auction at some of the world's top houses. The top collectibles are associated with the life and music of John Lennon.
1) John Lennon's Rolls-Royce Phantom V – $2.23 million. In 1985, a psychedelic hand-painted Rolls-Royce Phantom V owned by John Lennon was sold by Sotheby's. This amazing car with custom modifications including a seat that converts to a double bed, a television and an interior-exterior sound system, is housed at the Royal BC Museum. Canadian businessman Jim Pattison donated the car to the museum.
2) The piano John Lennon used to write Imagine - $2.1 million. The simple walnut-finished Steinway upright that John Lennon used to write the song "Imagine" is an example of a humble collectible that has acquired value because it is part of history. It is considered to be one of the most valuable pieces of music memorabilia with a current estimated value of $8 million to $12 million. Musician George Michael bought the piano at auction for $2.1 million in 2000 and composed the song "Patience" on it. The instrument was recently on loan to the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.
3) The Wikicollecting list cites John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to "A Day in the life" - $1,202,500 as the third most valuable collectible but this may not be true. The John Lennon-penned lyrics to "A Day in the Life" were auctioned off by Sotheby's New York in June 2010. "A Day in the Life" is the last song on The Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and considered to be one of the best songs of all time. The lyrics sold for $1.2 million beating the estimate of $500,000 to $700,000 but according to various sources, the record for most expensive Beatles handwritten lyric record still belongs to the lyrics for "All You Need Is Love" which sold for $1.25 million in 2005 at the Cooper Owen auction house.
4) The drum skin which appears on the cover of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - £541,250 ($1,071,133). The hand-painted bass drumskin shown on the front cover of the Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band designed by artist Joe Ephgrave sold at a Christie's auction in 2008 for £541,250, nearly four times its pre-sale estimate.
5) George Harrison's Gibson SG guitar - $567,500. George Harrison's Gibson SG guitar - $567,500. A 1964 Gibson SG guitar played by George Harrison between 1966 and 1969 was sold at a Christie's New York sale in 2004 for $567,500. The guitar used by Harrison during the Revolver recording session and The Beatles' last official UK concert and was played by John Lennon during the White Album sessions in 1969.
In this image made available by Liverpool Hope University, Wednesday Jan. 26, 2011, former Miss Canada finalist Mary-Lu Zahalan-Kennedy poses next to the Penny Lane street sign in Liverpool, England, after becoming the first person in the world to graduate with a Masters degree in The Beatles. (Alan Edwards / Liverpool Hope University)
The Associated Press
LONDON — A Canadian has become the first person to graduate from a Liverpool university's master's program on The Beatles.
But Mary-Lu Zahalan-Kennedy says she wasn't a Fab Four fanatic when she started the degree.
Zahalan-Kennedy, a music teacher at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ont., was the only one in the program who "didn't know every intimate detail" about the Beatles' lives, she said.
"I mean, I certainly liked their music, but I hadn't read every book ever written on them," she said Wednesday in a phone interview from Liverpool.
Now, of course, she knows enough about them to teach a course, which she intends to do at Sheridan in the fall. Zahalan-Kennedy said she is working on an undergraduate popular music course that will draw heavily on what she learned in the program.
A former Miss Canada finalist, she signed up for the degree at Liverpool Hope University when it launched in 2009 and graduated Wednesday.
She is one of 12 full-time students enrolled.
The program, "The Beatles, Popular Music and Society," is considered by the university to be the first of its kind.
It involves much more than "just being a Beatles fan and listening to their music all day," Zahalan-Kennedy said.
"It's really about history and genres of music and semiotics, which is the language of music and ... how communities are forged with different identities happening because of the way music is delivered," she said.
The course also deals with how the port city of Liverpool helped shape the group's identity -- the university is based in the band's hometown in northwestern England.
While she doesn't have a favourite song, Zahalan-Kennedy said Paul McCartney is her favourite Beatle.
Beatles complete catalogue of studio albums, box set and singles are now available at iTunes.
(CNN) -- It's been a long and winding road, this relationship between Apple and the Beatles.
But Tuesday, at long last, the Fab Four made it to iTunes.
"We're really excited to bring the Beatles' music to iTunes," Beatle Paul McCartney said in an Apple news release. "It's fantastic to see the songs we originally released on vinyl receive as much love in the digital world as they did the first time around."
The iTunes store's main page featured a host of Beatles albums for sale, beneath an early photo of the supergroup.
The update came in advance of what Apple had promised would be a 10 a.m. ET announcement that would make Tuesday, "A day to remember."
Starting Tuesday, iTunes users can buy the Beatles 13 remastered studio albums from the Apple store.
Also available are the two-volume "Past Masters" compilation and the group's "Red" and "Blue" collections.
Fans can also purchase individual songs and a digital box set featuring live concert film -- an iTunes exclusive, according to the release.
The Beatles had famously been the most high-profile hold-out to making their music available via digital download (AC/DC is another).
The surviving band members and the estates of the others had been reluctant to sign up, saying that the quality of digital music isn't good enough to do their catalogue justice.
"I am particularly glad to no longer be asked when the Beatles are coming to iTunes," said Ringo Starr. "At last, if you want it -- you can get it now -- The Beatles from Liverpool to now! Peace and Love, Ringo."
Yoko Ono, who had been vocal in her opposition to digital music's quality, said it's an appropriate time for the major music announcement.
"In the joyful spirit of 'Give Peace A Chance,' I think it is so appropriate that we are doing this on John's 70th birthday year," she said in the statement.
Single albums are available for purchase and download for $12.99 each, double albums for $19.99 each and individual songs for $1.29 each.
Numerous albums from legendary rock band Pink Floyd have disappeared from Apple's iTunes store, along with other digital storefronts, following the expiration of a contract between the band and its record label.
Pink Floyd's contract with EMI covering albums post "Dark Side of the Moon" expired on June 30. Since then, some of the band's most popular albums, including "Wish You Were Here," "The Wall," and "Animals," were removed from the iTunes Music Store, as well as Amazon.com and other digital music sellers.
However, the albums -- and some individual tracks -- can still be purchased through the "Oh By the Way" studio album boxset available on iTunes, and released in 2008 by EMI. The set includes both discs of "The Wall," which can be purchased separately from the box set, but "Wish You Were Here" can only be bought as part of the $139.99 total collection.
According to Gibson Lifestyle, Pink Floyd has won a lawsuit against EMI in March, allowing it to block the sale of individual songs on services like iTunes. A High Court in the U.K. determined that the band could "preserve the artistic integrity" of whole albums by not breaking them up into individual song sales.
Pink Floyd and EMI are no longer under contract for later albums, but earlier titles like "Dark Side of the Moon" remain under the label's control. In addition, while EMI can no longer press CDs for titles like "Wish You Were Here," the company can sell its remaining stock of physical albums.
EMI also owns the catalog for The Beatles, and it has been said the issue over single song downloads has been what has kept their tracks from being sold iTunes thus far. Yoko Ono, widow of John Lennon, said earlier this month that fans should not expect the band's catalog to become available on iTunes anytime soon. "Don't hold your breath," she said.
John Lennon, pictured with wife Yoko Ono, hid a stash of LSD in his garden / File
HARDCORE fans of The Beatles legend John Lennon uncovered where in the grounds of his Surrey, southern England, home he hid his stash of LSD more than 40 years ago.
Builders digging up the lawn of his old house, Kenwood, came across the remains of a leather holdall containing several large broken glass bottles, The Sun reports.
Legend has it that Lennon buried a large quantity of the drug in his garden in 1967 when The Beatles declared they had given up drugs in favour of transcendental meditation.
But when the band returned from India, John decided he had been a bit hasty and tried to dig it up - but never found it.
Now fans are convinced these bottles contained the missing treasure - though they will never know for sure as the one bottle found intact had a cracked cork, so it was empty.
Candid pictures of John Lennon which have never been seen in public have been found after being kept hidden in a photographer's drawer for more than 40 years.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono who is talking to 16-year-old Gail RenardPhoto: CATERS
The extraordinary photos of the musician and Yoko Ono, taken during their famous Bed-in for Peace in Montreal in 1969, snapped by Life photographer Gerry Deiter.
He was the only photojournalist allowed to witness and document the bed-in for the full eight days and managed to capture pictures of the couple totally off-guard.
But his story about them, due to run in Life magazine, was ditched at the last minute for an article on the Vietnam war.
Since the photographer's death in 2005, the unpublished photos were hidden away until this week, when they go on exhibition for the first time in Coventry Cathedral, West Mids, on Saturday.
Lennon and Yoko flew to Montreal on May 26 where they stayed in Room 1738 and 1742 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, writing and recording the song Give Peace a Chance from their bedroom.
Nick Chevasse, the Cathedral's tourist director, said the photos had only recently been unearthed.
He said "Gerry Deiter was the only photojournalist there the entire eight days, with complete access.
"He was on assignment for Life magazine, but his story was bumped in favour for one about Vietnam.
"The photos were never published, they never ran, so Deiter hid them away.
"This is why many of the images are not familiar, even to Lennon fans - they have never been seen before by anybody.
"He captured the celebrity visitors, the action and intimate, behind the scenes moments between John and Yoko."
The candid pictures show the couple writing and recording their song to peace during their week long stay.
Lennon, holding his iconic guitar, looks relaxed as he pens what would become the first solo single released while the Beatles were officially still together.
In one photograph, while John strums his guitar, Yoko chats to 16-year-old Gail Reynard.
The youngster had scaled the hotel's fire escape and pleaded with the couple to let her stay.
And as one of the few to be present for the entire event, Gail was given the original handwritten lyrics for Lennon's peace song.
Gail, now a TV comedy writer, sold the piece of rock history at auction for £400,000 in 2008.
She said the photos brought back great memories from the iconic protest.
She said: "When I first saw the images from the exhibition, I was carried straight back to that amazing time.
"They started to unlock details that I thought I had forgotten."
When the song was released it quickly became the anthem of the anti-war movement, and was sung by half a million demonstrators in Washington, D.C. at the Vietnam Moratorium Day, on 15 October 1969.
It was narrowly pipped to the UK number one spot by The Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women".
Mashups as a concept came into their own in the '00s. But for every Grey Album, there's a subpar, homemade jam clogging up YouTube.
But some of those amateur creations? Genius. I mean, I may just start listening to mashups exclusively. Listen:
1. "The Trooper Believer," Iron Maiden + The Monkees
Same key, same BPM, same verse lengths... holy crap, Iron Maiden's "The Trooper" and The Monkees' "I'm A Believer" are the same song. It's not just Bruce Dickinson's piercing vocal that perfectly matches the track—the guitar solo that kicks in at 1:35 might as well have been played by Peter Tork (if Tork were English, into leather, and knew the number of the beast). Oh and recall that "I'm A Believer" was written by Neil Diamond, in case you didn't think this was weird enough.
2. "Runnin' With The Beatles," David Lee Roth + The Beatles
David Lee Roth may have come up with the late '70s class of Sunset Strip metal, but one listen to his voice and the timeless entertainer inside Dave was apparent. Hitched to the Beatles' four-wheeled Rubber Soul rocker, Dave's California personality shines through. Here's what David Lee Roth would have sounded like fifteen years earlier.
3. "Sgt. Pepper's Paradise City," Guns n' Roses + The Beatles
Guns n' Roses and the Beatles—mashups don't get more anthemic than this. It's John and Paul singing over the music of Slash, Stradlin, McKagan, and Adler. It may get a bit awkward when the frenzied, sped-up outro kicks in, but by that point you're headbanging anyway, so who cares. You know, the Beatles really could have used more referee whistle.
4. "Come Closer Together," The Beatles + Nine Inch Nails
"Come Together" is one of the most eerie, dark entries in the Beatles' catalog. And just about everything Trent Reznor's done has been spooky. So yeah, let's mash 'em up. This may be the closest the word 'sex' has ever gotten to a Beatles' lyric. FYI: If you're familiar with "Closer," then you already know the audio is NSFW.
5. "We Will Rock And Roll Beverly Hills," Weezer + Joan Jett + Queen
Weezer, Joan Jett, Queen. That's right—three artists are mashed up here. Thanks to the blissful simplicity of all three songs in question, "We Will Rock And Roll Beverly Hills" never gets unwieldy. When you hear these songs put together, you realize that, really, all that's needed for a kickbutt rock song are distorted guitars and lyrics that don't discuss anything more complicated than wanting to rock, all delivered at a head-nodding, grinding pace.
At last, the true story of the Beatles success can be revealed. The tragic story of the man who killed John Lennon's mother, Julia; The man whose music would be blatantly stolen by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr in order to secure the Beatles' legacy; The story of Harold "Stinky" Blackwater.
This is a hilarious, irreverent and yes, FICTIONAL story of an untold chapter in Beatles history. Part one of the video series chronicles Stinky's life and death, and how both intertwined with the Beatles. All music was taken note for note from the legendary Blackwater Notebook and recorded by The Digbees.
A traveling guitarist is becoming viral sensation after leading a group of passengers in a rousing round of the Beatles' classic "Hey Jude" while stuck at Newark airport over the weekend.
GuitaristJosh Wilson posted the video on his YouTube channel following the security debacle at Newark Liberty when a security breach caused Terminal C to be shut down for over six hours.
Wilson leads the group of dozens of tourists, families and even some disinterested onlookers through the song, giving prompts through he verses and getting more clapping and encouragement during the chorus.
The video is titled: "Stuck in Newark Airport (With Total Strangers):
A second video from a different angle was posted by a friend of Wilson's who wrote: "Josh just couldn't take it anymore and broke into song. A few shaky moments but the "Na Na's" saved him. Powerful Catharsis but the line was unmoved. We're still just sitting here an hour later. Going to South Asia today? Doubt it."
The delay was caused on Sunday when someone picking up a passenger told an officer guarding the exit that he thought he saw a man enter through the doors Sunday, TSA officials said. TSA reviewed surveillance video before sweeping the airport, she said.
The video confirmed the man had entered through the exit, and officials made passengers leave the terminal and be rescreened, which caused massive delays.
Authorities found nothing suspicious when they searched the terminal after evacuating passengers. They are still trying to determine the man's identity.
Terminal C, where the security breach occurred, is used mostly by Continental Airlines.
Wilson did not return a request for comment -- hopefully he finally made it to South Asia.
Lucy O'Donnell, the woman who inspired the classic Beatles song Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, has died aged 46.
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds featured on the ground-breaking 1967 album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandPhoto: PA
The song featured on the ground-breaking 1967 album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
John Lennon's elder son Julian said it was inspired by a picture he drew of his classmate Lucy O'Donnell when they were at a nursery school in Weybridge, Surrey, in 1966.
Julian said he took the picture home and showed it to his father, explaining: ''It's Lucy in the sky with diamonds.''
When Lennon and Paul McCartney's song was subsequently released, it caused controversy because of its hallucinogenic theme and supposed reference to the drug LSD.
The former classmates resumed their friendship in recent months when Lennon heard that Lucy, who was married to Ross Vodden and lived in Surbiton, Surrey, had become ill with lupus, a disease of the immune system.
The St Thomas Lupus Trust, which had been supporting Mr and Mrs Vodden during her illness, said she died last Tuesday aged 46.
Angie Davidson, campaign director of the trust, said: ''Everyone at the Louise Coote Lupus Unit was dreadfully shocked by the death of Lucy. She was a great supporter of ours and a real fighter.
''It's so sad that she has finally lost the battle she fought so bravely for so long.''
The trust said that Lennon and his mother Cynthia were ''shocked and saddened'' by Mrs Vodden's death.
A book of condolence will be opened on the trust's website www.lupus.org.uk.
The Beatles: Rock Band is set to hit stores Sept. 9, and you can get a preview of how it will look by checking out the trailer. According to Rolling Stone, the game's design shows "amazing attention to detail" and depicts The Beatles performing in a variety of settings, such as Liverpool and on the "Ed Sullivan Show" stage.
Worth Playing (via: Rolling Stone) is also reporting the contents of the track list, which was purportedly leaked. The featured songs are listed below, with the albums they're from in italics above. Abbey Road is the most represented single disc release here, with five of its tracks being chosen.
Singles: I Want To Hold Your Hand I Feel Fine Day Tripper Paperback Writer Revolution Don’t Let Me Down
Please Please Me: I Saw Her Standing There Boys Do You Want To Know A Secret Twist and Shout
With the Beatles: I Wanna Be Your Man
A Hard Day’s Night: A Hard Day’s Night Can’t Buy Me Love
Beatles For Sale: Eight Days a Week
Help!: Ticket To Ride
Rubber Soul: Drive My Car I’m Looking Through You If I Needed Someone
Revolver: Taxman Yellow Submarine And Your Bird Can Sing
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band/With a Little Help From My Friends Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds Getting Better Good Morning Good Morning
Magical Mystery Tour: I Am The Walrus Hello Goodbye
The Beatles (White Album): Dear Prudence Back In the U.S.S.R. While My Guitar Gently Weeps Birthday Helter Skelter
Yellow Submarine: Hey Bulldog
Abbey Road: Come Together Something Octopus’s Garden I Want You (She’s So Heavy) Here Comes the Sun
Let It Be: Dig a Pony I Me Mine I Got a Feeling Get Back
Michael Jackson reportedly plans to end his longstanding feud with Paul McCartney by leaving him the Beatles' back catalog in his will. Jacko and Macca have been estranged since a falling out back in 1985, after Jackson beat out McCartney and Yoko Ono -- widow of John Lennon -- in a bidding war for the rights to 200 of Fab Four's legendary songs.
Sir Paul, 66, has long felt betrayed by Jackson, now 50, on principle. In 2006 McCartney said, "You know what doesn't feel very good, is going on tour and paying to sing all my songs. Every time I sing 'Hey Jude,' I've got to pay someone."
Previously, the pair collaborated on Jackson's 1982 'Thriller' extract 'The Girl is Mine,' and McCartney's 1983 single 'Say, Say, Say' from 'Pipes of Peace.'
U.K. newspaper the Daily Mirror quotes a Jackson insider as saying, "Michael told his lawyers he was sad he no longer talks to Sir Paul and said he wanted to make things right."
Just last month, Jackson denied rumors that he was suffering from a deadly lung condition after unauthorized biographer Ian Halperin claimed Jackson was battling emphysema, genetic illness Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1AD) and was also losing the vision in his left eye.
Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney promote an upcoming game featuring The Beatles' music. Credit: David Sprague / For The Times
It was a Beatles reunion, with Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney sharing the stage at this morning's Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. The two living members of the legendary band dropped in on the Microsoft press conference to show off a new video game: the Beatles: Rock Band, developed by Harmonix and published by MTV Networks.
The game, due out Sept. 9, will let players jam along with the Fab Four as they roll through the ages. The game will feature classics such as "Here Comes the Sun," "A Hard Day's Night" and "Octopus' Garden." Players will be able to download playable tracks from the entire "Abbey Road" album.
Yoko Ono, widow of John Lennon, and Olivia Harrison, widow of lead guitarist George Harrison, also took their bows at the press conference.
As for Lennon and Harrison, their in-game likenesses played across jumbo-sized screens at the press conference.
"Who would have thought we'd end up as androids?" McCartney joked.
Former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr perform at the Change Begins Within Concert, Saturday April 4, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)
NEW YORK — An all-star concert on meditation brought Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr together for their first performance together in seven years.
The reunion of McCartney and Starr, the surviving members of the Beatles, was the highlight of the "Change Begins Within" concert on Saturday night. The event was held at Radio City Music Hall to benefit the David Lynch Foundation, which aims to teach at-risk youth meditation techniques.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Billy Shears," McCartney told the crowd, referring to the fictional character on the classic Beatles' album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," as Starr emerged and immediately launched into his part in the Beatles' classic "With a Little Help from My Friends."
McCartney and Starr last performed together in 2002 at the Concert for George, which honored former Beatles George Harrison at London's Royal Albert Hall a year after Harrison's death.
Saturday's concert, which also featured Sheryl Crow, Eddie Vedder, Donovan and others, ran for about four hours. But McCartney had thousand of fans on their feet as he hit the stage near the show's end. Opening with a spirited version of "Drive My Car," he went through a generous selection of Beatles and Wings classics, from "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Let It Be" to "Jet" and "Band on the Run."
McCartney remembered John Lennon by playing "Here Today," a song he wrote for the former Beatle, slain in 1980.
For the encore, McCartney was joined on stage by Donovan, Crow, Mike Love (of the Beach Boys), Vedder, Paul Horn, and of course, Starr on drums. After an epic version of "Cosmically Conscious," he launched into the crowd-pleasing "I Saw Her Standing There."
Other key moments of the night included an energetic cover of Queen's "Under Pressure" by Vedder and Ben Harper, while Crow paid tribute to Harrison with a harmonious version of his "My Sweet Lord."
Between the music, the night's stars talked about the power of meditation to overcome problems. Howard Stern said he has meditated for 37 years, told the crowd that he credits meditation for saving his mother from depression.
He was followed by Starr's three-song set. Starr introduced the Beatles song "Boys" by saying: "I've been playing this next song longer than Howard Stern has meditated."
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All you art collectors out there. Here is a chance to get a Giclee copy of some of Ian M Sherwin work. Ian is planning on doing a whole series of Marblehead, Massachusetts paintings. His work is amazing.
JOHN CARUCCI |