Beatles News

Ringo Starr is releasing a book of previously unseen images of his life with the world’s biggest pop group. He shares his memories with ANDY WELCH and reveals why no one will ever know everything about The Beatles

“Every time I see your face, it reminds me of the places we used to go. But all I’ve got is a photograph, and I realise you’re not coming back any more.” That’s the opening line from Photograph, one of Ringo Starr’s biggest solo hits. It was originally released in 1973, but today sounds as though he wrote it specially to fit in with his latest project.

Ringo’s got an ebook out. Also called Photograph, it’s full of previously unseen pictures from the former Beatle’s life, from birth through to 1974, with special emphasis on those eight years when he, along with John, Paul and George, ruled the world.

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Bidding has soared for this 1963 U.S. Dollar Bill which was autographed by all four Beatles, early in their career.

The dollar, signed prior to their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, during The Beatles historic first U.S. visit in February 1964, is thought to be the only one in existence.

According the eBay sellers description; "This is the ONLY Beatles autographed US Dollar bill known to exist. (The symbolism of them signing this U.S. Dollar at the very point in time that they "conquered" America is enormous) All four Beatles have autographed this bill beautifully in 2 different pens, with John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr using a blue ballpoint pen to sign, while Paul McCartney has signed in black felt tip marker."

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Source: What Sells Best

It has taken 35 years for James McCartney to step out from his father’s shadow. In his 20s, the son of Beatles legend Paul McCartney shunned his father, hated his new step-mother and descended into a dark world of drink and drugs.

When he turned to Class A drugs - with terrifying horse tranquiliser ketamine - even his sisters cut ties with him. But that is now all in the past.

His father and the step-mother, one-time model Heather Mills, are divorced, and he has reconciled with his dad and he has found the confidence to finally perform the songs he has been writing since he was 17.

James admits his life was turned upside down when his mother Linda died of breast cancer in 1998 at the family’s ranch in Arizona.

“When I was 20 my mother died and I went off the rails a little bit. I kinda had my slightly dark period,” he says. “I got heavily into Nirvana, a bit of Marilyn Manson, these heavy bands. It was a kind of Goth thing.

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MONTHS of detective work are finally paying off for the organisers of a nostalgia-themed Northwich Carnival. This year’s event will celebrate 50 years since the Beatles crowned the carnival queen.

Barbara Turner, committee president and secretary, was keen to mark the golden anniversary by tracking down the queen and her retinue from 1963 and inviting them to this year’s carnival, on July 6.

After months of digging she has finally found the 1963 carnival queen, Kathryn Millington, who was living in Chester. “It’s been a real detective job and we’re over the moon that we’ve found her,” Barbara said.

“She had re-married and changed her name so we had been looking for someone with a different name.”

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One of the most highly regarded musicians of all time, Paul was part of some small band called The Beatles (we’d never heard of them before either), but he will of course be best known for his work with Wings.

McCartney, who turns 71 today, was born in Liverpool and met John Lennon when he was 15 years old, with the two eventually playing together in a band called The Quarrymen. McCartney actually played rhythm guitar, before one of Lennon’s friends left the band and he became the bass player, all be it reluctantly.

From there, they added Ringo Starr, became known as The Beatles, and recorded ‘Love Me Do’ which was their first big hit.

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Source: Joe.IE

ON Saturday evening, Barrie Herbert will be among the audience at Abergavenny’s Borough Theatre, watching a Beatles tribute band.

And 50 years ago, he was at the same venue, onstage and backstage, as the original Fab Four played to a frenzied crowd in the early stages of their now legendary career.

Mr Herbert, from Fairwater, Cwmbran, then just turned 19 and in the middle of A-Levels at West Mon Grammar School, was one of The Fabulous Fortunes, The Beatles’ warm-up act on Saturday June 22, 1963.

But that support slot for John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr was a dream gig that lead guitarist Mr Herbert – whose bandmates were Mike Davies (singer and rhythm guitarist), Dave Lucas (bass guitarist), and Mike Thompson (drummer) – almost turned down.

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Source: South Wales Argus

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY is urging fans to mark his birthday by sending donations to a cancer charity.

The Beatles legend turns 71 on Tuesday (18Jun13) and he decided to mark the occasion by launching a fundraising initiative in aid of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, an organisation which helps the London hospital of the same name provide vital care.

A post on McCartney's Twitter.com page, reads, "I have used my birthday to raise money for (The Royal Marsden)! Give a gift and donate to help cancer patients."

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The “Ringo: Peace & Love” exhibit opened today at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, CA. I shot this photograph of the Beatles iconic drum kit during Ringo’s first viewing of the exhibit. This is the original Ludwig black oyster pearl kit with the famous 'drop-T' logo from the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. Photographing this kit up close was a real treat! Ringo is in the background checking out some of the vintage photos and accompanying stories.

Be sure to check back on my Facebook page and website at www.robshanahan.com for more images and stories from of this amazing exhibition.

All Content ©2013 by Rob Shanahan Photography

A rare demonstration copy of the Beatles’ debut single ‘Love Me Do’has sold for a whopping $10,255.74 on eBay. The demo copy, which the seller said was from his personal collection, was reportedly one of just 250 made for radio station airplay in 1962. (This single has the label number 45-R 4949.) As such, this pressing actually predates all of more familiar Parlophone imprints of ‘Love Me Do,’ both black and red.

In fact, the Beatles were then such an unknown quantity that close inspection reveals the songwriting credit on ‘Love Me Do’ isn’t given to the familiar Lennon-McCartney partnership but to “McArtney.

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“Let Us In Americana,” a new Paul McCartney tribute album, will be released June 25 on the 46th anniversary of the worldwide television broadcast of the Beatles' “All You Need Is Love” in 1967 by Reviver Records, the company announced Saturday.

The album features covers of 16 McCartney-related songs combining new versions of solo tracks by Paul McCartney and Beatles songs by McCartney and John Lennon. Artists featured on the album include Lee Ann Womack, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle and Allison Moorer, Holly Williams, Buddy Miller, the Wood Brothers, Teddy Thompson and Bruce Cockburn.

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Source: Examiner

Credits: Reviver Records