Beatles News

The Beatles were already reaching breaking point when they were working on The White Album; countless fights, arguments, and walkouts almost became a typical day in the studio with the Fab Four, with some songs heading to the trash can rather than the album. One of the songs was a song that George Harrison wrote, which was “Not Guilty,” even after over 100 takes.
"Not Guilty" Was Inspired by the Beatles' Trip to India. George Harrison brought this iconic song to a Beatles rehearsal and it was rejected.

The trip was partially to do with Harrison associating the band with Indian instrumentation and the teachings of the Maharishi. However, The Beatles quickly denounced the Maharishi after rumors began to spread about alleged inappropriate advances to female students. While Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were not as interested in the Maharishi, Lennon would write “Sexy Sadie” to hit out at the Maharishi after the rumors spread. Why Was "Not Guilty" Rejected?

The Beatles are considered the greatest band for many reasons, with one of them being due to having extremely high standards in their music. Even after 102 takes, the band, including Harrison, was not 100% happy with &ldquo details

Among their many other recommending characteristics, The Beatles could bring about a joyous feeling in their listeners as well as anyone. It’s difficult to listen to them for too long without a smile creeping up on your face.

Certain songs in their catalog elicit wider grins than others, of course. This quartet of tracks stands out from the pack for the happiness quotient each of the songs delivers. “I Saw Her Standing There”

It’s difficult to pick just one song from The Beatles first year of recording for this list. There are so many tracks from that time period that deliver the goods in the joy department. We’re going with “I Saw Her Standing There” for several reasons. The music rushes along at a heightened speed without stopping for too long to contemplate. Meanwhile, the story is aspirational and satisfying. Although it’s unspoken, the narrator seems to be punching above his weight class as he prepares to woo the girl of his dreams across the dance floor. Yet there they are at song’s end, living happily ever after. And let’s not count out the power of the “whoo” shouts that punctuate each verse.
“I Feel Fine”

 A rose garden honouring the 'fifth Beatle' is being created at Strawberry Field. Work is almost complete on a memorial rose garden in honour of the late Sir George Martin CBE and his wife Lady Judy Martin.

Sir George Martin was the Beatles’ long-time producer and collaborator, often dubbed ‘the fifth Beatle’, though his impressive career saw him work with other huge names such as Céline Dion, Elton John and Shirley Bass.

Before her passing in 2024, Lady Martin envisioned the creation of the rose garden as a lasting tribute to her husband and personally gifted Strawberry Field with rose bushes, thoughtfully chosen from David Austin, which will now form the centrepiece of the special memorial.

The garden at the iconic venue will honour both Sir George and Lady Martin - who was a patron of Strawberry Field - shaped with the involvement and support of their children, Lucie Kitchener and Giles Martin.

Donated by Cliff Cooper, CEO of Orange Amps, it will be the first public memorial of its kind dedicated to the legendary Beatles’ producer.
Work progresses on the memorial rose garden for Sir George Martin at Strawberry Field, Liverpool.placeholder image
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George Harrison's best solo album is also his biggest hit, having sold more than all of his other LPs combined. John Lennon's worst solo album is likewise his lowest-selling classic-era release. He barely cracked the Top 50, much less the Top 40.

But elsewhere, there's a notable anomaly within the Beatles' lengthy solo discography: Their best-selling albums aren't always the best – and their worst-selling albums aren't always the worst, either.

For instance, Lennon's second proper solo project, 1971's double-platinum chart-topping Imagine, was the top-seller released under his own name. Yet the following list of best (and worst) solo albums by every member of the Beatles doesn't include it.
What Was the Worst Beatles Solo Album?

Harrison's worst album nearly cracked the Top 10 in both the U.S. and his native U.K., and included a smash No. 2 hit single. He had albums that fared far, far worse on the charts.

At the same time, 1971's Wild Life was Paul McCartney's biggest classic-era flop – despite introducing his next pop juggernaut of a band, Wings. That, however, wasn't his worst album. Instead, it's one that topped the U.K. charts on the way to a gold certification in America. M details

Robbie Williams surpasses The Beatles with 16 UK No. 1 albums. Williams delayed Britpop's release to avoid competition with Taylor Swift’s album. “Britpop is the record I’ve always wanted to make...means everything to me,” said Williams.

For nearly six decades, The Beatles have held the record for the most No. 1 albums in the U.K. Now, that title belongs to Robbie Williams. With his latest release, Britpop, the singer earns his 16th chart-topper, pushing him past the Fab Four.

The milestone comes after Williams made the decision to delay Britpop’s release to avoid direct competition with Taylor Swift — a move that ultimately proved to be well worth the wait.

The former Take That member officially surpassed the long-standing benchmark after the album debuted at No. 1 on the U.K. Official Albums Chart.

Williams had been tied with The Beatles since January 2025, when the soundtrack for his biopic, Better Man, claimed the top spot. His chart-topping catalog now includes 12 solo studio albums, two greatest hits collections, the Better Man soundtrack and his 2022 compilation XXV.

“Britpop is the record I’ve always wanted to make, and seeing i details

May Pang is an American Chinese former music executive and personal assistant to John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono. Pang eventually became Lennon’s lover and companion in the 1970s, during what is known as his “Lost Weekend.” The exhibition can be encompassed in three words: surprise, happiness and moment.

“Everybody comes in and they're very surprised when they see these photos, because they've never seen him look so happy,” Pang said. “All these photos are of the moment.”

The exhibition, titled “The Lost Weekend: the Photography of May Pang,” will showcase unseen candid photos of John Lennon and friends taken in 1973 to 1975, and coincides with the digital release of the feature film documentary on Lennon, Pang and their relationship, titled, “The Lost Weekend: A Love Story.”

“I want them to see the John that I knew. So when they come in, they'll see this John Lennon,” Pang said. “That's not the [John] who he was with – whether it be with Cynthia or with Yoko. This is the John that was with me.”

The event will be hosted on Friday, Feb. 20 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 12 p.m. to 6 details

Sting guitarist & author of "The Beatles Arranged for Solo Guitar," Dominic Miller, argued in a recent interview with Rick Beato that the competitive dynamic between Paul McCartney and John Lennon drove both to become better songwriters and ultimately shaped The Beatles' legendary output.

Paul McCartney and John Lennon are widely considered to be some of the best songwriters to grace the pop music scene. And while the duo's relationship is often perceived as an integral part of The Beatles' story, "they never really wrote songs together", as the legendary band's famous producer & unofficial "fifth Beatle," George Martin, told Rolling Stone in 1976.

"John would write the germ of something and say, 'I'm having trouble with the middle eight, what do you think?' Paul would say, 'Try this,'" Martin said of the extent of their collaboration at the time. Milller, who's been delving deep into the inner workings of The Beatles for his recent songbook, "The Beatles Arranged for Solo Guitar," described the McCartney-Lennon dynamic similarly during a December 23 interview with Rick Beato, noting the competitive streak that the two icons had to them, and which, he argued, pushed both to be better songwriter details

The Beatles are still enjoyed around the world to this day, even scooping up a Grammy as recently as last year.

It's hard to believe founder John Lennon was shockingly killed way back in 1980, and Thursday, Jan. 22 marks exactly 45 years since the last portrait of him and Yoko Ono was released to the masses.

On this day in 1981, newsstands were welcomed with Rolling Stone's new issue paying tribute to the couple, particularly the late Lennon, who had died a month and a half earlier at just 40 years of age. On the cover of the coveted magazine was an image of a naked Lennon in a fetal embrace of his clothed wife, now 92.

Famed photographer Annie Leibovitz's portrait became a defining picture of arguably the most photographed married couple in the history of music, according to HISTORY.com.

"You've captured our relationship exactly," ⁣Lennon had said to Leibovitz, 76, according to the caption of the Instagram post above from the late musician's official account.

"The '80s were not a romantic time and I asked [John and Yoko] to crawl up together," Leibovitz later said in May 2014 regarding the iconic photo, per the caption above. "I wanted them both to be naked, but Yoko wouldn't take off he details

A judge in America has raised a provocative hypothetical during legal arguments around President Donald Trump’s use of an 18th-century wartime statute to deport Venezuelan gang members: ‘Could a president deport The Beatles?’

Jennifer Walker Elrod, chief judge of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, asked whether the same law could be deployed against a "British invasion" deemed to be corrupting young minds.

She described her reference to the 1960s moral panic surrounding The Beatles and other British bands as "fanciful". However, a government attorney responded unequivocally that the president possessed such power, and the courts would be unable to prevent its exercise.

“These sort of questions of foreign affairs and the security of the nation are specifically political issues,” said Drew Ensign, an assistant attorney general who was arguing the administration’s case before the full 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Ensign said it would be up to Congress to check the president in that scenario.

The unexpected exchange came in the administration's appeal of a ruling by a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit, one of the most conservative courts details

Every Beatle had their influence and hero, and for Paul McCartney, that artist happened to be Frank Sinatra. At 14 years old, years before his days in The Beatles, McCartney wrote a song called “Suicide”, taking inspiration from Sinatra, who was best known for “Come Fly With Me” and “My Way.” When an opportunity arose, and McCartney got in touch with Sinatra, the former Beatle sent “Suicide” to him. Ultimately, the song was rejected. Paul McCartney and Frank Sinatra Crossed Paths After The Beatles Disbanded.

It was not until Sinatra covered “Something” by The Beatles (written by George Harrison) that he viewed The Beatles favorably. The cover was the only time Sinatra crossed paths with the Beatles before he called the “Blackbird” and “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” songwriter for a song after The Beatles’ disbandment, which McCartney enthusiastically accepted. Speaking on Sinatra’s influence on his songwriting to the McCartney Archive Collection, he said, “I had my Dad’s old piano at home that I used to tinker about on when there was no one in the house. And my feelings were, then, that if you were ever goin details

Rock legend Ringo Starr is working with Sam Mendes and his team on the director's ambitious four-biopic project about the Beatles – and RadarOnline.com can ​​reveal the 85-year-old drummer is being an uptight micromanager about certain aspects of his life story, including his party-hearty days.

The upcoming movies – set for simultaneous release in April 2028 – are being touted as a "cinematic event" that examines the Fab Four's meteoric rise to fame from the perspective of its individual members.

In January 2025, RadarOnline.com reported Starr would be portrayed by Barry Keoghan and Paul McCartney by Paul Mescal – with late legends John Lennon and George Harrison played by Harris Dickinson and Joseph Quinn.

Now, an insider shared: "Some early concepts around what exactly the Ringo-focused movie would cover leaned into his hard partying during the height of the Beatles' success.

"He loved being famous more than the other three guys – that's a matter of historical record. Even with the casting of Barry, you see a perfect fit with that kind of 'wild man' rock star portrayal.

"But with the real Ringo's considerable input, the ideas have evolved, and they're tryin details

The Beatles drew from a wide variety of influences when making their music. While they borrowed from Elvis, Buddy Holly, and Chuck Berry, they had their ears open to many different genres. Don’t forget that the four men grew up in an era when rock and roll didn’t exist.

Even country music made an impact on them, enough so that they released their share of songs that could pass for country. Here are four original Beatles songs that sound as much like Nashville as they do Liverpool.  “I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party”

The Beatles’ fourth album, Beatles For Sale, came at a point in their career when they were run a bit ragged by demands on their time. That’s why it’s not so surprising that some of the songs came out sounding a bit bluesy and introspective. “I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party”, written primarily by John Lennon, comes from the perspective of a jilted lover. This guy would rather abandon the scene than see the source of his pain. It comes replete with George Harrison’s Carl Perkins-style rockabilly riffs and close vocal harmonies borrowed from the Everly Brothers. It’s the first time that the group nodded to country mu details

Of the four Beatles, John Lennon was always somewhat the antagonist, the one not worried to ruffle some feathers, and ultimately, the one who would always speak his piece, even if it wasn’t deemed appropriate or polite. This was one of the many factors that added to Lennon’s charisma and mystique, and one incredibly notable time he did just this was in front of the British royal family in 1963.

In 1963, The Beatles were the band in the United Kingdom. They were on the brink of infiltrating the United States market and, consequently, on their way to becoming the biggest band in the world. That being said, they had a platform, a platform John Lennon comically but also intellectually utilized when they performed in front of members of the British royal family at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London.

Typically called the Royal Command Performance, The Beatles took to the Prince of Wales Theatre to entertain both members of the royal family and other aristocrats in the audience. While it is unclear if there were any members of the working class in attendance, Lennon still made a clear, comical remark about class divide that would forever stick with his legacy.

That evening, the royal family membe details

In 1968, The Beatles were working on one of their most groundbreaking records, their self-titled album, better known as the White Album. They were coming off a psychedelic trend with Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour, and the White Album was a sharp turn back to rock 'n' roll. But of course, The Beatles were no ordinary band, and even when they were going back to basics, they still made history. One of the greatest songs included on this extensive double album is "Helter Skelter." This song was initiated by Paul McCartney, inspired by his competitive spirit, and ended up changing rock music forever. Sadly, shortly after the song was released, a tragedy overshadowed it and darkened the memory of the song for McCartney for years.

"Pete Townshend had been talking in the music press about how The Who had just recorded the loudest, the dirtiest, the rockiest thing ever," McCartney shared in his book, The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present. His response to Townshend's claim was the song "Helter Skelter."

"I came into the studio and said to the guys, 'Let's just see how loud we can get and how raucous. Let's try to make the meter peak.'"
Surrounded by press, The Beatles wave at fans as they arri details

There are so many reasons why The Beatles became so big in the 1960s. First and foremost, their music was amazing. They had the boy band look and a fine mix of personalities that resonated with young listeners at the time. They had two legendary songwriters in the mix and four excellent musicians who could put all the pieces of a hit song together beautifully. And, according to Ringo Starr, there was another factor that was very important in the Fab Four’s massive success as the biggest band of the 20th century.

Back in 2018, the famed Beatles drummer sat down for an interview with AXS TV to talk about his own career and the glory days of the Fab Four. He talked about how each of the band members, including himself, often didn’t “get along” and would have “rows” at times. Fans of The Beatles likely know that this was particularly true of the band toward the end of their tenure together, which resulted in numerous fights and even lawsuits.

However, it’s clear that the members were friends; how could they not be after years together? On top of that notion, Starr noted that the key to keeping the band together and putting out as much music as they did came down to the work details