Beatles Page 8

In what is hotting up to be one of the most significant music industry legal battles in recent memory, Sir Paul McCartney has filed a lawsuit against Sony ATV hoping to regain his copyright share of hundreds of songs he co-wrote as a member of The Beatles.

McCartney, 74, filed the suit in a federal court in New York on Wednesday (January 18th), and he is seeking a declaratory judgment that he will soon start to regain the ownership rights of more than 200 tracks he co-wrote with John Lennon between 1962 and 1971, starting from 2018.

Paul McCartney is suing Sony over publishing rights to The Beatles' songs

Continue reading: Paul McCartney Files Lawsuit Against Sony For Beatles Songs Publishing Rights

Sir Paul McCartney has been revealed as the most successful albums artist in British chart history, according to the Official Charts Company.

The announcement comes on the 60th anniversary of the first ever nationwide Albums Chart to be published in the UK. The 74 year old, who has recently released a career-spanning record of his material with Wings and by himself, becomes the latest recipient of an Official Chart Record Breaker Award.

Sir Paul McCartney is the most successful albums act in UK chart history

Continue reading: Sir Paul McCartney Named Most Successful Act In UK Albums Chart History

David Cameron and his E.U. Remain campaign ally Tessa Jowell have awkwardly attempted to re-create the front cover of The Beatles’ Abbey Road as they visited the famous studio – and jokes and puns immediately began to pour in via social media.

The Conservative Prime Minister visited the iconic studios in north-west London on Friday morning in order to praise Britain’s creative industries, on the same day that nearly 300 people from the arts and entertainment world signed a letter urging people to vote for the Remain campaign.

Continue reading: David Cameron Tries, And Fails, To Recreate Beatles Cover At Abbey Road Studio

Comeback Queen Rihanna has broken an impressive record - by clocking up a total of more weeks at number one in the US than The Beatles. With her latest song, Work, now in its ninth week at number one across the pond, the Bajan singer has spent a total of 60 weeks at the top spot with 14 different songs.

Rihanna has scored 60 collective weeks at number one in the US

The Anti album maker has just scraped past the four-piece band by one week but still has a long way to go to eclipse Mariah Carey who is riding high with 79 weeks at number one.

Continue reading: Rihanna Overtakes The Beatles For Most Weeks At Number One In The US

The childhood home of The Beatles’ drummer Ringo Starr has been sold at an auction in Liverpool for £70,000, to a fan who also owns properties connected with John Lennon and George Harrison.

The property of Number 10, Admiral Grove in Toxteth was sold to Beatles uber-fan Jackie Holmes, following the death of its long-time tenant Margaret Gorse. She paid £15,000 over the guide price at the auction, held at the famous Cavern Club in the city centre of Liverpool on Thursday (March 25th).

Ringo Starr's childhood home in Liverpool was sold for £70,000

Continue reading: Ringo Starr's Childhood Home In Liverpool Sells For £70k At Auction

Sir Paul McCartney has launched a bid to regain control of his share of The Beatles’ catalogue’s US publishing rights from Sony / ATV Music Publishing. Although he co-wrote the majority of the legendary band’s hits, McCartney has never actually controlled the publishing.

The US Copyright Act of 1976 allows living artists to apply to regain control of publishing rights 56 years after the material is first published. This means that the earliest songs in The Beatles’ catalogue become available in 2018.

According to Billboard, the 73 year old singer filed papers on 15th December 2015 with the US Copyright Office, requesting a termination notice for 32 songs. Most of these date from 1962-1964, though a handful date from much later, such as ‘Come Together’ which won’t be available until 2025.

Continue reading: Paul McCartney Attempts To Regain Control Of Beatles' US Publishing Rights

This year is rapidly turning into the year that we say goodbye to some of music's biggest legends, with the latest to go being 'Fifth Beatle' and record producer Sir George Martin who passed away at his home at the age of 90 yesterday (March 8th 2016).

RIP George Martin

The news seems to have been first announced by Beatles drummer Ringo Starr via Twitter, as he posted to his followers: 'God bless George Martin peace and love to Judy and his family love Ringo and Barbara. George will be missed.'

Continue reading: Another Legend Departs: Fifth Beatle Sir George Martin Dies Aged 90

A lock of hair belonging to John Lennon is up for sale at a Dallas auction later this month and is currently bid up to $12,000. The lock was cut from Lennon’s hair by German hairdresser Klaus Baruck, just before filming began on comedy How I Won the War in September 1966.

A lock of John Lennon’s hair is up for auction in the US.

Heritage auctioneers in Dallas describes the lock of hair as ‘substantial’ and adds that the ‘overall length of the lock is approximately 4" and likely contains hundreds of strands’. It is believed to be the largest lock of Lennon's hair ever sold at auction and has been part of the original owner's collection for nearly 50 years.

Continue reading: A Lock Of John Lennon’s Hair Is Expected To Fetch Over $12,000 At Auction

New research suggests that The Beatles are worth roughly £82 million per year to the economy of Liverpool.

The band’s legacy and the tourism interest generated also sustains an estimated 2,335 jobs in the city, according to research published on Monday (February 8th) that was commissioned by Liverpool City Council and conducted by the city’s two universities (Liverpool and John Moores).

Despite the fact that the Fab Four broke up 46 years ago and only Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are alive, the report also suggests that the Beatles-related economy is growing by up to 15% every year, as the band’s material is becoming increasingly popular in places like Brazil and China alongside long-established fanbases in Europe and the States.

Continue reading: The Beatles Add £82 Million To Liverpool's Economy Annually

It’s been less than a week since The Beatles’ back catalogue finally hit streaming services and music fans all over the world have been indulging in all the Fab Four’s classic hits. But the band’s arrival to the streaming world has perhaps also helped to settle a long-standing debate among music fans, as to what is the definitive Beatles’ song.

The Beatles’ back catalogue is now available on streaming services.

At 00.01am on Christmas Eve The Beatles’ music hit stream hit almost every major streaming platform including Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, TIDAL, and Amazon Prime. It marked the end of the group shunning the streaming world, finally bringing their music into the 21st century.

Continue reading: 'Come Together' Is The Most Popular Beatles Track On Spotify

The Beatles music has finally been confirmed as hitting a range of streaming services just in time for Christmas. The band’s official twitter account made the announcement today, with their full catalogue becoming available from tomorrow, Christmas Eve.

From tomorrow you will finally be able to stream The Beatles’ music.

‘December 24 at 12:01am local time, The Beatles’ music is available for streaming worldwide,’ the announcement read, with a link to the band’s official site. The music will be available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Google Play, Microsoft Groove, Napster/Rhapsody, Slacker Radio, Tidal and Amazon's Prime Music service. The songs will not, however, be available on Pandora.

Continue reading: The Beatles' Back Catalogue Confirmed To Hit Streaming Services On Christmas Eve

It's been a long wait for fans, but The Beatles are rumoured to finally be about to begin releasing their music on streaming services and tracks could come as early as Christmas Eve. Despite being arguably the most popular group of all time, the Fab Four have so far kept their back catalogue off services such as Spotify and Apple Music.

Are The Beatles about to join the streaming world?

Billboard reports that there is conflicting information on exactly when the band’s music will appear on streaming services, but discussions are said to be ‘strongly hinting’ towards a December 24th arrival date.

Continue reading: Could The Beatles Be Ready To Hit Streaming Services On Christmas Eve?

A drum kit used by former Beatle Ringo Starr in over 200 shows during the 1960s has sold for $1.75 million at a charity auction. More than 800 pieces of memorabilia were being sold by Starr and wife Barbara Bach at the auction, to raise money for their charity, Lotus Children Foundation.

Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach have been auctioning off some pricey pieces of Beatles memorabilia.

The drum kit was bought by multi-millionaire and owner of NFL team the Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay. After the auction fees set by Julien’s Auctions, Irsay’s total payment on the set is said to have totalled $2.1 million. Starr is said to have used the kit on hits such as 'Can’t Buy Me Love' and 'I Want to Hold Your Hand'.

Continue reading: Ringo Starr's Drum Kit Sells For $1.75 Million At Charity Auction

London’s most famous recording studio Abbey Road has partnered with Google to offer a rare glimpse inside the hallowed building.

The likes of The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Stevie Wonder laid down some of their best material in the north London studio, but it has not been accessible to the public since it shut its doors to those not recording music in 1931, but now it’s being opened up via an incredibly detailed recreation by the tech giants.

Abbey Road Studios in north London

Continue reading: Google Unveils App That Explores Abbey Road Studios

Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard is set to direct a documentary about The Beatles, following their journey from Liverpool's Cavern Club to their last concert at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. Crucially, the movie is being made in-corporation with Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison and Yoko Ono.

Ron Howard [L] will direct the Beatles documentary [Getty/Christopher Polk]

Howard - known for Apollo 14, The Da Vinci Code and Frost/Nixon - called it "an astounding story".

Continue reading: Ron Howard To Direct Beatles Documentary, From Cavern Club To San Francisco

Bruce Springsteen released his latest album, High Hopes, in the UK last week and at the first time of asking the latest collection of songs from The Boss soared straight to the top of the album chart. Springsteen is now among an elite club of artists who have managed to score 10 No. 1 albums in the UK, with High Hopes unlikely to be his last either.

High Hopes is Springsteen's 10th No. 1 in the UK

Bruce has now surpassed David Bowie, Abba, Queen and Michael Jackson in the race for double figures, with these four each earning nine No. 1 albums to date. Springsteen is now on par with U2 and the Rolling Stones, but still places behind Elvis Presley, Robbie Williams (with 11 each), Madonna (who has 12 No. 1's) and The Beatles, who lead the way with 15 No. 1 albums in total.

Continue reading: Bruce Springsteen Back At No. 1 With 'High Hopes'

The inductees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2014 have been chosen, with Nirvana, Kiss, Peter Gabriel, Hall And Oates, Cat Stevens and Linda Ronstadt all being honoured in the latest induction. As well as these, the E Street Band will be presented with the Award for Musical Excellence at the ceremony, with Beatles manager Brian Epstein and original Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham also being honoured as non-performers.

Nirvana have been honoured at the first time of asking

For Nirvana, their induction comes at the first time of asking, with the band only becoming eligible for induction this year. According to the rules of the Hall of Fame, an artist only becomes eligible for recognition 25 years after the release of their first album or single. For Nirvana, their first single came in 1988 with the release of 'Love Buzz,' with their induction coming as "no surprise" to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame President and CEO Joel Peresman or many other people for that matter.

Continue reading: Nirvana, KISS And Peter Gabriel Among This Year's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees

Carrie Underwood was introduced to the stage by Don Cheadle at last night's 65th Annual Emmy Awards in what was supposed to be a moving tribute to the stars that we have lost over the past year, whilst also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the death of former-President John F. Kennedy and the first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show by The Beatles. As moving as the whole thing was supposed to be, there were plenty of people who thought otherwise, and the singer promptly received heaps of criticism following her performance.

Carrie Underwood was "off key" in her performance

Cheadle introduced a montage of news clips and archive footage from the 1960s featuring the presidency of JFK and his assassination, as well as clips from the height of Beatlemania. Underwood then took to the stage to give her own version of one of the Fab Four's most famous tracks, but as far as a great number of Twitter users were concerned, the clips of the Kennedy assassination wasn't the only murder that occurred on the night.

Continue reading: Carrie Underwood Suffers Backlash Following Emmy's Beatles Tribute

The Beatles continue to be a bottomless source of material and resources as yet another posthumously released album will make it's way on to record store shelves before the year is over. On Air - Live At The BBC Volume 2 is the second collection of tracks recorded by the band during their heyday in the world-renowned BBC studios and will feature some never-heard-before recordings of original songs and covers, as well as some studio chatter.

People continue to find untapped Beatles sources

A follow-up to 1994's chart topping Live At The BBC, the album will be the first Beatles album released through Universal (via Apple Corps) since the company acquired EMI earlier this year. The label will be hoping that the 63 track double album will prove to be as successful as the original collection of BBC-recorded rarities from 19 years ago, which reached Number 1 in the UK album chart and No. 3 in the USA. The label may also have another volume or two from the same recording sessions in the pipeline as the band are known to have recorded at least 275 different musical performances between March 1962 and June 1965 for the BBC.

Continue reading: The Beatles To Release Rarities Collection Featuring Never Before Heard Tracks

The Beatles may have split up over 40 years ago, but this hasn't stopped them from releasing a seemingly endless supply of live albums and best of's, and this is still the case today. Details have been released about the forthcoming live album On Air - Live At The BBC Volume 2, a collection of previously unreleased live performances by the band at the BBC's studios during their heyday.

Surviving Beatles Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney remain active to this day

John, Paul, George and Ringo will be back in the follow-up to Live At The BBC, the first collection of unreleased live performances from the Fab Four at the BBC that was released 19 years ago. The new release will be made up of 63 tracks in total, mixing live performances of the group's most famous hits with 23 previously unheard recordings of what has been described as "in-studio banter" and "conversation" between the band's members and their BBC radio hosts.

Continue reading: The Beatles To 'Return' With Second BBC Session Album

A new album from The Beatles will be released in November showcasing songs the Liverpool band recorded in the BBC's studios. The record, entitled On Air - Live At The BBC Volume 2, will serve as the sequel to 1994's Live At The BBC and will feature ten unreleased songs from the 1960s that the band never recorded for their record label EMI.

A New Album Of The Beatles' Songs Will Be Released In November.

The rarities, according to The Independent, will include the famous four-piece's cover of Chuck Berry's 'I'm Talking About You' and the 19th century, oft covered 'Beautiful Dreamer.' All live-to-air pieces without editing, the songs will only emphasise The Beatles' musical proficiency and ability to make great music together.

Continue reading: The Beatles Rarities Album To Be Released: 'On Air - Live At The BBC Volume 2'

With its noodly, upbeat opening and innocent subject matter, 'Octopus's Garden' from 1969s Abbey Roadis an ideal choice for an adaptation to children's picture book illustrated by Ben Cort (Aliens Love Underpants, Pigs Can't Fly!).

Ringo Starr, former drummer for The Beatles, has given permission for the song he wrote whilst on holiday in 1968 to be used as a lyrical base-text with "illustrations that revel in the imaginative opportunities presented by the lyrics", according to Ingrid Selberg at Simon & Schuster UK, who describes the opportunity as "a dream come true."

Regarding his decision, Starr has said in a message to fans "It gives me great pleasure to collaborate with Ben Cort and Simon & Schuster for the further adventures of Octopus's Garden. Peace and love."

Continue reading: 'I'd Ask My Friends To Come And Read An Octopus's Garden With Me': Ringo Gives Permission For Children's Book

Paul McCartney visited the grave of Elvis Presley at Graceland over the weekend, leaving the legendary musician a personalized guitar pick so he "can play guitar in heaven." McCartney paid tribute to the American musician after taking time out from the North American leg of his 'Out There' tour which rolled through Memphis this week.

McCartney tweeted a photo of himself holding the guitar pick as he leaned over the iron wrought fence in front of Presley's headstone. He added another of himself holding an acoustic guitar with Elvis' name on the fret-board. The former beatle famously met Presley during the Liverpool group's visit to Los Angeles in 1956 and again during their shows in Memphis in 1966. McCartney's recent performance at the city's FedEx Forum was his first visit to Memphis for 20 years. 

According to NME.com, the musician has been playing a career-spanning set-list including songs never before performed live, including 'Being For The Benefit of Mr Kite' and 'All Together Now.' 

Continue reading: Paul McCartney Leaves Personalized Guitar Pick At Elvis Presley's Grave

Paul McCartney has lent his considerable voice to the Voices Against Violence campaign, started by Tony Bennett, his son Danny and the Brady Campaign to prevent gun violence. "We the people need to make our voices heard on this issue," the elder Bennett said in a statement. "This is a job for the people, not the politicians."

Want to hear the message? You can do by texting "MYVOICE" to 877877. You’ll get an automated message from McCartney, after which you're connected to a U.S. senator's office. "Hi, this is Paul McCartney, and in a minute you will be connected to a congressperson who needs to hear your voice, now. Tell the congressperson that you support common-sense laws that keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people, including criminal background checks on all gun sales," he says. Smart, no? "Enough is enough. Please add your voice - and thank you for adding your voice to end gun violence." Alec Baldwin, Josh Groban, Rosie O'Donnell and Mia Farrow are other celebs to lend their voices to the initiative.

Macca and Starr - best mates again?

Continue reading: Former Beatle Paul McCartney Records 'Voices Against Violence' Message

Any Beatles collectors out there will already know this; they'll be checking their Beatles fun and booking tickets to the auction, but for those of you who harbour a less obsessive love for the band, and simply like their music, this might be news to you.

A selection of rare, previously unpublished, colour photographs of The Beatles during their first tour of the US are to be auctioned, reports The BBC "New photographs that emerge of The Beatles are always of interest to the fans, but with the majority of photographs from this tour in black and white, it is a delight to see colour photographs from that historic tour," explained Ernie Sutton from the British Beatles Fan Club. "These photographs show The Beatles during their 1964 US tour, both on and off-stage." Auctioneer Paul Fairweather, of Omega Auctions in Stockport, Cheshire, said: "This is a fabulous collection, particularly given that all the slides are in colour." He estimated that they would fetch between $10,000 and $15,000.

The coveted pics were snapped by award-winning physicist Dr Robert "Bob" Beck while the band played a string of sell-out concerts in the US in August 1964 following an appearance on the Ed Sullivan show in February of that year. 

Continue reading: Rare Beatles Photos Up For Grabs At Auction

Rock and Roll Icon Mick Jagger wrote a bunch of love letters back in the 60's, and, with The Rolling Stones recent, and very well publicized tour, they've fetched a whopping £187,250.

Written in Australia, while Jagger was out there filming for Ned Kelly, and letters represent a poetic, 25-year-old rockstar, just about to enter his prime. "I put these letters in a bank 30 years ago thinking that our daughter would find them valuable as an adult," Marsha Hunt - the object of Jagger's then desires - told the BBC. "Who could have anticipated that rock 'n roll would remain so popular, that 30 years on this band would still be performing?" The letters were mooted to earn something between #70,000 - £100,000, so their final value of £180,000 has proved a real surprise. They were no doubt boosted, though, by the recent renaissance of the aging rockers, as they headline four sold out, and very expensive, shows in London and New York. 

Continue reading: Mick Jaggers' Love Letters Prove A Valuable Asset For His Secret Girl

Mick Jagger had a secret love affair with American-born singer Marsha Hunt in 1969, which was the root of a set of 10 love-letters, and now these letters have sold for £187,250 at auction, The Guardian reports. 

In a fascinating collection for any collector, the letters portray Jagger - then filming in Australia for Ned Kelly - as "poetic and self-aware" 25-year-old. After the sale, Marsha Hunt said: "The passage of time has given these letters a place in our cultural history. 1969 saw the ebbing of a crucial, revolutionary era, highly influenced by such artists as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Brown and Bob Dylan. Their inner thoughts should not be the property of only their families, but the public at large, to reveal who these influential artists were - not as commercial images, but their private selves."

The price was more than double the pre-sale estimate of £70,000 to £100,000. They were purchased by a private collector, bidding over the telephone. Dr Gabriel Heaton, Sotheby's books specialist said: "We are delighted with the result of today's sale which reflects the great significance of these letters, written at such a vivid moment in social and musical history. There has been enormous international interest in the letters, which depict Mick Jagger, not as the global superstar he is today, but reveal him as a poetic and self-aware 25-year-old with wide-ranging intellectual and artistic interests."

Two of the biggest rock bands in history, shrouded in tragedy, are Nirvana and The Beatles, so their collaboration- of sorts- is a really big deal. As the Sun reports, Paul McCartney is joining forces with Nirvana for tonight's 12/12/12 charity concert tonight in 2012, and will see McCartney taking the place of Kurt Kobain, who died in 1994 after committing suicide.

"I didn't really know who they were." McCartney said, after Dave Grohl asked him to come 'jam with some mates'. "They are saying how good it is to be back together. I said 'Whoa? You guys haven't played together for all that time?' And somebody whispered to me 'That's Nirvana. You're Kurt.' I couldn't believe it."

Apparently, he's been working in secret with the rest of Nirvana Grohl, Krist Novoselic and unofficial fourth Nirvana member Pat Smear, having recently enjoyed a studio session with Grohl and Krist. According to the Daily Mail, other performances at 12.12.12 will include the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Who, Jon Bon Jovi, Kanye West, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Eric Clapton, and Roger Waters.

Continue reading: Nirvana And The Beatles Join At 12/12/12 Concert, Paul McCartney Plays Kurt Kobain

Two of the biggest rock bands in history, shrouded in tragedy, are Nirvana and The Beatles, so their collaboration- of sorts- is a really big deal. As the Sun reports, Paul McCartney is joining forces with Nirvana for tonight's 12/12/12 charity concert tonight in 2012, and will see McCartney taking the place of Kurt Kobain, who died in 1994 after committing suicide.

"I didn't really know who they were." McCartney said, after Dave Grohl asked him to come 'jam with some mates'. "They are saying how good it is to be back together. I said 'Whoa? You guys haven't played together for all that time?' And somebody whispered to me 'That's Nirvana. You're Kurt.' I couldn't believe it."

Apparently, he's been working in secret with the rest of Nirvana Grohl, Krist Novoselic and unofficial fourth Nirvana member Pat Smear, having recently enjoyed a studio session with Grohl and Krist. According to the Daily Mail, other performances at 12.12.12 will include the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Who, Jon Bon Jovi, Kanye West, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Eric Clapton, and Roger Waters.

Continue reading: Nirvana And The Beatles Join At 12/12/12 Concert, Paul McCartney Plays Kurt Kobain

Fascinating insights into the life of Mick Jagger via love letters sell for double their estimation, reaching over £180,000 for all 10 letters, The Telegraph Reports. 

The letters, written in Australia during the filming of Ned Kelly portray Jagger as a "poetic and self-aware" 25-year-old, and capture a "vivid moment in cultural history" as he dotes on Marsha Hunt, who he enjoyed a secret relationship with. Jagger tells Hunt: "I feel with you something so unsung there is no need to sing it." He also thanks the singer, who was 23 at the time, for being "so nice to an evil old man like me" while providing an insight into another British powerhouse emerging that the time, The Beatles, moaning of "John & Yoko boring everybody". Gabriel Heaton, Sotheby's books specialist, said: "These beautifully written and lyrical letters from the heart of the cultural and social revolution of 1969 frame a vivid moment in cultural history. "Here we see Mick Jagger not as the global superstar he has become, but as a poetic and self-aware 25-year-old with wide-ranging intellectual and artistic interests."

While cultural artefacts, which depict the inner workings of those we idolise today, are fascinating enough, the fact that these letters have sold right in the middle of The Rolling Stone's big come back tour provide a pertinent reminder of the indifferent business that made them famous. 

The Recording Academy have paid tribute to the late Ravi Shankar, who passed away, aged 92.

In a statement, from the organisation behind the annual Grammy awards, his influence is acknowledged in many musical fields, such as pop, classical, jazz and world music. “Three-time GRAMMY® winner and renowned sitar player Ravi Shankar was a true pioneer in introducing Indian music to the West,” writes the Recording Academy’s President / CEO Neil Portnow.

The statement continues “Just last week, I had the honor to inform him that he would receive a 2013 Lifetime Achievement this February. He was deeply touched and so pleased, that he extended a gracious and personal invitation to visit with him at his home. We have lost an innovative and exceptional talent and a true ambassador of international music. Our thoughts and sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends and all of those around the world who were inspired by his music and compassionate philanthropy.”

Continue reading: "A True Pioneer" - The Recording Academy Pay Tribute To Ravi Shankar

Johnny Depp appears to be forging a new career for himself as ‘surprise guitarist’ for some of the world’s biggest rock artists.

OK, so we have scant evidence on which to be basing this claim but there are at least two incidences in the recent past on which we are building our case. On Thursday (November 30, 2012), Depp appeared onstage at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, according to People.com, where he lent a hand to Alice Cooper, and knocked out a few riffs for the veteran rocker.

Dressed in a striking black hat, adorned with feathers, a striped black shirt and jeans and an elaborate beaded necklace (he never has quite shaken that Captain Jack Sparrow look, has he?), Depp joined Cooper for a few covers. They played a version of ‘Break on Through (To the Other Side)’ by The Doors before charging through a version of ‘Revolution’ by The Beatles and, just to add that Wayne’s World vibe, they then ploughed through ‘Foxy Lady,’ by Jimi Hendrix. A source said “Johnny was in great spirits. He was really happy and at ease, especially on stage with the rest of the band."

Continue reading: Surprise! Johnny Depp Makes Impromptu Appearance Onstage With Alice Cooper

Yoko Ono; the Japanese artist, author, and peace activist is best known for her marriage to John Lennon and her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking. She isn't particularly renown for her work in fashion. 

She is now, but it might not be for exactly the reason she wants. The controversial figure (for Beatles fans, anway) has launched an unusual clothing line, including pants with large handprints on the crotch, tank tops with nipple cutouts, a flashing LED bra, and, additionally, a pair of pants with a sheer backside. We're not sure where this kind of clothing can really be applicable. You can't walk into the office with your backside exposed (depending on the office), and you can't really police criminals with handprints near your crotch, neither can you sell houses with your nipples hanging out. In fact, it seems the only job these clothes really work for, is being a model, which is pretty ridiculous, isn't it? "I was inspired to create Fashions for Men, amazed at how my man was looking so great. I felt it was a pity if we could not make clothes emphasizing his very sexy bod," Ono tells Women's Wear Daily. "So, I made this whole series with love for his hot bod, and gave it to him as a wedding present."

Prices run from $25 for a poster to $200 for a jock strap or $750 for boots with an incense holder or open toes. Make sure you grab yours in time for Christmas delivery!

Jimi Hendrix, in action, in his heyday

Happy Birthday, Jimi Hendrix! Today, Jimi Hendrix would have been celebrating his 70th birthday, had a tragic turn of events not resulted in his death on September 18, 1970.

Continue reading: Happy 70th Birthday, Jimi Hendrix! Is It Too Late To Become A Hendrix Fan?

They say you'll always regret the things you don't do more than the things you do, and it has never been truer than for Decca Records who chose not to sign The Beatles in 1962. According to the Daily Mail, Decca even told the band that they had 'no future in showbusiness' and thought that 'guitar bands' were going out of style. Of course, these days we know that they couldn't have been more wrong, and now the demo tape that was given to Decca has resurfaced in an auction. 

Not long after that audition the Beatles signed to EMI and went on to take over the world. Brian Epstein, the band's manager, reportedly kept onto the original tape from Decca and used it again in an audition with EMI. 40 years later, in 2002, the tape was sold to a 'prolific buyer of music memorabilia'. Along with the tape is a hand written song list of the 10 covers they performed for the tape, plus a photograph negative of Paul McCartney, Pete Best (who was later replaced by Ringo Starr), George Harrison, and John Lennon. 

The tape, now appearing again at an auction in the Fame Bureau, "is totally unique and the sound quality is crystal clear." so says Ted Owen, an auctioneer at the Fame Bureau. "[The music on the tape[ has never officially been released... there are bootlegs of the recording out there but nobody has ever heard the original in its entirety... We have spoken to various experts and this is the best-quality recording of this session there is given that it is the master copy." The record is apparently very 'rock and roll' because "everybody who was trying to make a name for themselves were trying to replicate that style."

Continue reading: Pop's Biggest Blunder, The Beatles Tape That Decca Records Rejected To Be Sold At Auction

A demo tape by The Beatles overlooked by Decca records - considered 'the biggest mistake in music history' - is to be sold at auction. Recorded on New Year's Day in 1961, the tape features 10 cover versions but record label man Dick Rowe passed on the Liverpool group and signed The Tremeloes instead.

Of course, The Beatles went on to sign for EMI and became the most popular band in the world. The tape is being auctioned in London on Tuesday by the Fame Bureau with an asking price of £30,000, though that does not give the buyer rights to the tracks. "Apple, the company set up by The Beatles, holds the copyright to their voices and if anyone tried to release the material without their permission they would certainly be sued," said Fame Bureau managing director Ted Owen, "This has never officially been released. It is unique and the sound quality is crystal clear. We have spoken to various experts and this is the best quality recording of this session there is." The tape features Paul McCartney on bass, George Harrison on lead guitar, John Lennon on rhythm and Pete Best on drums, who was later sacked and replaced by Ringo Starr. 

The tape - still said to be in good condition - is marked as 'The Silver Beatles', the group's former name, and features a black and white image of the group wearing leather jackets. 

Continue reading: The Beatles Decca Demo - The Biggest Mistake In Music History Up For Sale

On New Year’s Day, 1962, The Beatles travelled from Liverpool to London to record up to 15 songs at Decca’s label, for the label’s senior A&R guy, Dick Rowe, to consider with a view to possibly signing the band. Ten of those songs are included on an original master tape that will be put up for auction on November 27 2012. Dick Rowe became known as the man that turned down The Beatles.

Reuters report that the tape is expected to fetch around £18 – 20,000 ($29,000 – 32,000). The likelihood of the content of the tape receiving a commercial release, however, would be slim, as The Beatles own the copyright through their own company. The tape is marked up as ‘The Silver Beatles,’ which is the name briefly used by the group before they found fame. It comes accompanied with a handwritten track list, as well as a black and white photograph of the band posing in their leather jackets. The image would most likely have been used as the record sleeve image.

Ted Owen of The Fame Bureau auction house, specialising in music memorabilia told Reuters “the most important thing about this is the quality. There are bootlegs out there, horrible bootlegs – some are at the wrong speed, others are crackly and taken from a cassette off an acetate. This quality we have never heard.” Also on sale at the auction is a black Fender Stratocaster played by Jimi Hendrix at his legendary Monterey Festival set in 1967. Dick Rowe for the record, managed to save his reputation, at least, by signing The Rolling Stones.

Sir Paul McCartney has broken his silence on the Jimmy Savile sex scandal, claiming that the DJ refused to let The Beatles inside his home, despite the Fab Four giving him a lift home on numerous occasions. McCartney told The Independent newspaper that he always considered Savile "a bit suspect."

While touring around the UK, The Beatles spent time with the disgraced DJ and charity worker and often chauffeured him around. "When he'd gone we thought why doesn't he let us in, what is it, because most people would have let us in that we gave a lift to", McCartney explained, adding, "So we always thought there was something a little bit suspect." Sir Paul is probably the most high profile musician to speak out about time spent with Savile, though he described the era and sixties scene as not as politically correct as today. "We knew with under 16s it was illegal, so we didn't do it," he said, "There was a definite no-no involved in underage kids." Good to hear Paul! The comments were echoed by veteran television presenter Sir Bruce Forsythe, who told The Sun he had "never liked" Savile, adding, ""There was something about him that was difficult to like. It wasn't because he was so brash about everything - it wasn't that. He had this manner that you thought, 'What is behind this man?' Now we know what was behind it all - which is terrible to find out." 

Scotland Yard has launched a full investigation into the sexual abuse by Savile and others after an ITV documentary was broadcast on October 3, 2012. So far, detectives have identified about 300 potential victims. 

Continue reading: Sir Paul McCartney: 'Suspect' Jimmy Savile Never Let Us Inside His Home

AC/DC - one of the biggest bands to resist the transition into the digital age of music - have allowed their entire back catalogue of rock music to be sold by e-distribution giants Apple, via iTunes.

"AC/DC's thunderous and primal rock and roll has excited fans for generations with their raw and rebellious brand of music, which also resonates with millions of new fans discovering AC/DC everyday," Columbia Records and Apple, said in a statement announcing the deal, Reuters reports. "Their growing legion of fans will now experience the intensity of AC/DC's music in a way that has never been heard before," they added. Fans will be able to buy the whole lot - studio albums, live recordings and compilations - for £99.99. Alternatively, if you don't want the extra bit, and just fancy the 16 studio albums, they'll be available in a download bundle for £79.99, meaning each album will cost less than £5.

Other huge acts like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin had previously resisted Apple in their quest to distribute music via their hugely popular iTunes format. This was largely to do with business clashes between Apple Records, part of Apple Corps (started by the Beatles) and Apple Computers in the case of The Beatles, and Atlantic Records in the case of Led Zeppelin, but, like AC/DC, Apple eventually came to agreements with both bands, and their respective record companies, to allow their music to be sold by them. 

The stills from Kate Moss' very first sitting are to be auctioned off at the end of the month, with the still expected to raise up to £1,200 when they go under the hammer.

The images of the future supermodel were taken over two decades ago in 1988 when Moss was only a fourteen-year-old school girl, and are thought to be from her first modelling shoot. Even at fourteen, you can already see the steely gaze and immaculate bone structure that has served Moss so well in her modelling career, despite her young age.

They were taken by professional photographer David Ross only a short while after she was spotted by a talent agency when at an airport. The stills, which go up on sale on November 23, are expected to fetch between £800 to £1,200. Sarah Wheeler, photographs specialist at Bloomsbury Auctions where the photos will be auctioned off, said: "We are thrilled to be auctioning these very first professional photographs of Kate Moss, aged just 14. She already shows early promise - her fantastic bone structure is a gift for a photographer, combined with her youthful innocence and instinct for the camera."

Continue reading: Kate Moss' First Ever Photo Shoots Go Up For Auction

Ah, the life of the jet-setter. Marion Cotillard was spotted by the Daily Mail, landing at LAX on Thursday (November 1, 2012), after winning an award at Harper’s Bazaar’s Women of the Year Awards in London the night before. Marion picked up the gong for International Actor of the Year at the glittering, celebrity-studded ceremony.

Cotillard was looking pretty pleased with herself as she arrived in Los Angeles, dressed casually in dark trousers, a knitted sweater and blazer, all toped off with a bakers’ boy hat, hiding her hair. The Dark Knight Rises star had opted against wearing any make-up but hey, if you’re on a along haul flight and you have the face of Marion Cotillard… frankly, who needs make-up?

At the awards show, however, it was an entirely different matter, as she looked positively sparkling. Teaming up a pair of striking white shoes with a black dress, which had a touch of ‘The Black Swan’ about it, Cotillard accessorised her outfir with a sparkling diamond necklace.

Continue reading: Jet-Set Life Style: International Actress Of The Year Marion Cotillard Lands At LAX

The well spoken Sherlock Holmes hunk, Benedict Cumberbatch, is having a rather brilliant week; in two music driven stories, Cumberbatch has collaborated with Herfordshire's preeminent inditronica band Friendly Fire, and will be starring as the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein in the upcoming biopic. 

The Friendly Fires collaboration will be appearing on their Late Night Tales compilation album. Late Night Tales is a platform for the world's biggest and best loved bands to share their own great musical loves, by compiling an album entirely of their own choosing. Zero 7, The Cinematic Orchestra and Belle and Sebastian have all already done their own compilations. As a part of the FF's Late Night Tales they requested Cumberatch do a recording for them to appear on the album. On the album he performs a spoken-word piece, "Flat of Angles", by Simon Cleary. 

The Brian Epstein biopic is another collaboration, between Cumberbatch and the director for his BBC Sherlock series, Paul McGuigan. If the Sherlock's anything to go by it'll be fantastic! Currently the title is set to be The Fifth Beatle. According to the Hollywood Reporter the film's producers are describing it as the story of "the man who threw the biggest party of the 1960s but ultimately forgot to invite himself."

Continue reading: Benedict Cumberbatch's Week In Music: Friendly Fires And The Beatles

Psychedelic Pill is the 35^th studio album from Neil Young and was written and recorded in collaboration with his sometime band, Crazy Horse, marking their first album of original material since Greendale in 2003. As with many of Young’s latter-day releases, the quality is less than consistent. Reviews from The Guardian and the Independent suggest that Psychedelic Pill contains “moments of majesty,” (The Independent) as well as some less impressive tracks. It’s unlikely that any of this week’s releases are going to shake Taylor Swift from her throne at the top of the UK album chart but with reassuring reviews in the mainstream press, Psychedelic Pill should prove popular amongst Young’s considerable fanbase.

Also released today is the interestingly-titled Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da, by veteran ska-pop band Madness. It’s the tenth studio album from Madness and contains 14 new tracks, as well as cover art from the ever popular pop-art legend Peter Blake (he designed the cover for The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band). The Guardian gave the album an impressive 3 stars out of 5 but can Madness really recapture the youthful exuberance of their glory days, with this latest album? It seems unlikely that they’ll continue to enjoy the success that they experienced in years gone by. 

Continue reading: On The Shelves: UK Album Release Round-Up, October 29, 2012: Neil Young, Madness, Kylie Minogue, Calvin Harris, Skyfall OST

There are few people that have ever lived, who have changed the world and made such an enormous impact, that subsequently results in their memory being upheld, almost as sacred, all over the world, decades after their death. Jesus is the obvious one, Saint Patrick is another, whose lives we celebrate either with an evergreen tree or with green tshirts, hats and a pint. However, yesterday it was John Lennon that the world (or at least a small portion of it) celebrated. October 9th would have been John Lennon's 72nd birthday, and fans gathered to his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Lennon was shot and killed three weeks after his album 'Double Fantasy' was released in 1980, aged just 40. His lasting contribution to the world, in his preaching of peace, love and acceptance, and has culminated and manifested in a variety of ways. Philip Lopez, who made the pilgrimage to Lennon's star of fame, named his own son Lennon after the musician and peace activist. Lennon himself, speaking to the LA Times, aged just 5 says he likes the song 'All the People'.

Other monuments, events and awards in his honour include: the Liverpool John Lennon Airport, in the city where he was born, which is named after him; the Strawberry Fields, in New York's Central Park, is dedicated to Lennon; in Japan, a John Lennon museum was open for ten years; the John Lennon Peace Monument was unveiled two years ago, and the Lennonono Grant For Peace is given by Yoko Ono every other year. Towards the end of his life Lennon devoted a huge amount of energy and time, alongside Yoko, into peace activism, and arguably his most famous lyrics read, from little Lennon's favourite song: 'Imagine all the people living in peace'.

Continue reading: John Lennon's 72nd Birthday Celebrated, His Legacy Lives On

Jarvis Cocker has reviewed the latest book to be have been published about The Beatles. 'The John Lennon Letters', edited by Hunter Davies, is a collection of missives from the late Beatles’ songwriter, dating from between 1951 and 1980. Cocker questions the real value in these pop history artefacts, drawing attention to the fact that the source material was largely sourced from private collections; from people who have paid vast sums of money to own a piece of Lennon’s personal history and the former Pulp singer asks whether the books say more about the culture of collecting pop memorabilia than the words of the letters can ever say themselves.

“I love the Beatles. I haven't named any kids after them but I still really love them,” says Cocker and he painfully recalls the way in which the ‘Britpop’ era was damaged by that very nostalgia that permeates collections such as this. “Wearing the same clothes and taking the same drugs will not make us into Beatles. It will make us fat and ill. And books like this (along with many others, I admit) are what make that mistake possible. The Beatles didn't know they were the Beatles. The Beatles didn't have a plan or a blueprint to follow. They followed their impulses and vague hunches and somehow left a legacy of 213 songs with scarcely a dud among them. That's all the information you need, really.”

In essence, Cocker describes the hoarde of surviving Beatles fans as “the children of the echo” and suggests that we should all “get a life” and “move on,” rather than obsessing over trivia such as is contained herein.

The Rolling Stones can't let their long-time rivals The Beatles hog the limelight even after 50 years in the business. The two bands who blazed a trail throughout the 1960s are both celebrating their 50th anniversaries this year and earlier this week it was widely reported that the Fab Four were set to appear in unseen footage shot during the making of their Magical Mystery Tour documentary back in 1967. Not to be trumped though, the Stones have now revealed their own unseen footage shot whilst the rock and roll group were on tour in 1965.

Continue reading: New Tour Footage Of The Rolling Stones Emerges

Today marks the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ first hit song, ‘Love Me Do’ (October 5, 2012). To mark the occasion, a choir of 1631 people gathered in the band’s home town of Liverpool to set a new world record. The choir sang ‘Love Me Do’ with a new section of the choir starting the song a few bars after the previous section until the entire choir is singing the song, but at slightly different parts. According to the BBC, the group met at Pier Head at 12:000 BST today to sing the song, which reached number 17 in the UK charts in 1962. The previous record for the number of people in a choir, singing in a round, was set in Chicago, in 2011.

The Beatles’ career will be remembered in a forthcoming BBC documentary this Sunday (October 7, 2012). Entitled Love Me Do: The Beatles ’62, the documentary will reveal how Brian Epstein purchased 10,000 copies of the single, in order to propel the band into the charts and get them known amongst the Great British record-buying public. Members of The Merseybeats also recall, in the programme, how Epstein would encourage them to go out and buy copies of the single, too, to help The Beatles get into the charts.

A re-mastered version of the band’s film The Magical Mystery Tour is also being shown on the BBC on Sunday, after receiving its debut screening in London earlier this week.

A new documentary charting the rise of The Beatles has revealed that the band’s manager, Brian Epstein, was partly responsible for their initially success after he bought 10,000 copies of the group’s first single ‘Love Me Do’.

The new BBC documentary, titled Love Me Do: The Beatles ’62, will air on BBC4 this Sunday (October 7th), during which a close friend of Epstein, Joe Flannery, reveals the tactic the group’s manager used to ensure chart success for the Fab Four. He reveals that, as well ordering copies of the single in bulk, Epstein also encouraged the band to buy the single themselves whilst they were out on tour.

As well as Flannery, Billy Kinsley, a member of The Merseybeats, also admits that he and his band were recruited by Epstein to buy copies of the single. Kinsley, whose band was also managed by Epstein, says in the documentary: “He [Brian Epstein] found out that we were on tour, he’d look at our gigs, [and say] 'Oh we’re playing Sheffield' or 'We’re playing Manchester. OK will you just go in this record shop and pick up a few copies [of Love Me Do]? Don’t all go in at the same time.' Which we did. I like to think that we did help the Beatles get to number 17.”

Continue reading: Brian Epstein Bought 10,000 Copies Of ‘Love Me Do’ To Ensure The Beatles Chart Success

New clips showing The Beatles in their prime have been revealed on thespace.org. The footage of the fab four was believed to have been shot whilst they were filming the documentary The Magical Mystery Tour in 1967. The footage is taken from when the group were travelling to Newquay on the south coast of the UK, which was to be the group's final destination on the tour, and shows them on a coach trip to a classic British fish and chip shop.

The final version of The Magical Mystery Tour was shown on BBC television on Boxing Day in 1967 and then again in 1979. It has not been broadcast since. The film is to be shown though this coming Saturday (October 6th) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles first single release Love Me Do. Additionally a documentary called Arena: The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour is to be shown, reassessing its artistic merit.

Talking of the decision to broadcast it again, editor of the BBC arts series Arena Anthony Wall said "Few people have seen Magical Mystery Tour in its entirety and the material in the chip shop has never been shown anywhere. It captures perfectly the fabulous world of The Beatles at this time. They're happily rubbing shoulders and sharing a simple meal with the other passengers on the coach, and at the same time creating an extraordinarily avant garde film."

Unseen footage of The Beatles visiting a Taunton fish and chip shop in 1967 has been uncovered by an Arena documentary team. The original scenes were part of footage show as the band were en route to Newquay, Cornwall, to film the Magical Mystery Tour in 1967, for a BBC Christmas Special. A small selection of the footage made it into the film, whilst the rest landed up on the cutting room floor.

The discovery was made by the makers of a new Arena documentary, which is being planned to coincide with a newly re-mastered version of Magical Mystery Tour, the movie that originally premiered on the BBC on Boxing Day, 1967. From today (October 2, 2012), still shots of the band in the chip shop can be seen at the online art project thespace.org which has a new section entitled The Arena Hotel, dedicated to archiving material from the BBC’s long-running Arena documentary series. There will be clips from over 600 films included on the site, the Independent reports.

Magical Mystery Tour was met with bemusement upon its release in 1967 and hasn’t been shown on TV since 1979. The revamped version, though, will receive a gala screening in London tonight. The Arena documentary will then be shown on Saturday on BBC2, followed by the new version of the film. The Arena editor Anthony Wall commented on the newly discovered footage and said that it captured the band perfectly, at that time. “They're happily sharing a simple meal with the other passengers on the coach as the astonished residents of Taunton gather outside, and at the same time creating an extraordinarily avant garde film, which of course would soon be broadcast by the BBC to a dumbstruck nation.”

Dame Helen Mirren and Russell Brand are among the cast members of an experimental upcoming film of Shakespeare's The Tempest.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Julie Taymor's take on the Bard sees Mirren as Prospera, a female version of Prospero, the exiled duke of the original play.

Brand is to play Trinculo, a jester, while Jeremy Irons, Djimon Hounsou and Ben Whishaw have also been confirmed for the Icon film.

In Shakespeare's original text, Prospero and his daughter Miranda (Felicity Jones) are exiled to a distant island inhabited only by deformed slave Caliban (Hounsou) and Ariel, a spirit (Whishaw).

Having learnt to control the island with magic, Prospero seizes the chance to wreak revenge on her usurpers by raising a storm which leaves them shipwrecked, sparking a romance between Miranda and the son of Prospero's greatest rival Alonso, the King of Naples (Irons).

Alfred Molina is also on board, playing the drunken butler Stephano while Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush is in negotiations to play Gonzalo, a royal adviser and former alley of Prospero's.

Director Taymor's only significant change to the text, as of yet, seems to be the feminising of Prospero's character.

Likely to begin shooting in November, The Tempest will be the Oscar-nominated helmer's first film since 2007's Beatles musical Across the Universe.

Continue reading: Dame Helen Mirren And Russell Brand Take On The Tempest