Rocking a Generation
Even though they’re releasing albums within days of one another, Ringo Starr says he’s not in competition with Paul McCartney.
In an interview with Spinner, Ringo says it’s strictly a coincidence:
No, there’s no rivalry. Paul is Paul, Ringo is Ringo and this is what we do. We don’t phone each other and say, ‘You can’t you bring your record out because I’ve got one!’. We live our lives, we make our music and pick a release date. This was the date we picked and that’s just how it is.
More than 40 years after the Beatles recorded “Here Comes The Sun,” they’ve found the George Harrison guitar solo that never made the final cut.
The Beatles’ producer, Sir George Martin, along with his son, Giles, and Harrison’s son, Djani, made the discovery at London’s Abbey Road studios, where the Beatles recorded the song in the summer of 1969. Harrison recorded the short solo on electric guitar, in contrast to the acoustic guitar tracks on the version that was released. [Read more...]
In 1964, Mike Mitchell was an 18-year-old photographer on assignment for a little known magazine, when he scored a press pass to a concert that would make history.
Photographer Mike Mitchell with one of the Beatles 1964 Washington concert photos.
It was February 11, a few days after the Beatles arrived on their first U.S. tour, and the band was playing its first North American concert at the Washington Coliseum in the nation’s capital. Mitchell had unrestricted access to the stage that night and snapped scores of black-and-white photos. He put the negatives in a box, stored it in his basement, and forgot about them for almost 20 years.
Now the photos from that historic evening are going on the auction block at Christie’s New York. And they’re a sight to behold.
Mitchell photographed the Beatles individually and as a group, catching the essence of their appeal in sharply-focused, backlit images that he digitized years later and copied back into gelatin silver prints. Christie’s is offering each of the prints individually — only one per negative — at starting prices of between $1,000 and $6,000. Officials at the auction house say they expect the photos could fetch far more.
To see the photos and get more information on the auction, click here.
Most celebrities publish their life stories as books. Ringo Starr is doing his autobiography in the form of a record. Ringo tells Uncut magazine he’s working on an album about his younger days in Liverpool.
“Right now, I’d rather put it quickly in a song, snippets of part of my life. Everybody talks about the Cavern Club, but in this new track, I actually mention the Iron Door, which was a much better club.”
Ringo launches a 27-date European tour in June with his All-Star band.
The other surviving Beatle, Paul McCartney, is about to re-issue a remastered version of his first solo album. The re-issued ‘McCartney’ will feature seven bonus tracks in addition to the original material released in 1970.
It’s being released in June along with ‘McCartney II,’ recorded in 1980, which will include eight bonus songs.
The Who’s Roger Daltrey is taking his show on the road this summer. Tickets go on sale Friday for The Who’s rock opera ‘Tommy, ‘ featuring Daltrey and bandmate Pete Townshend’s younger brother, Simon.
All 15 dates are in the UK. Daltrey performed ‘Tommy’ at a London charity concert earlier this year.
Townshend at Woodstock, 1969 (l); at the 2010 Super Bowl (r)
A half-century later, Townshend now says he wishes he never joined the band. He says despite The Who’s success, he’d have done better as a solo performer. Townshend told Uncut Magazine, “Even though I am quite a good gang member and a good trooper on the road, I am bad at creative collaboration.”
He added, “I would have made a much more effective solo performer and producer working the way Brian Eno has worked.”
Townshend also says he’d also be in better physical shape.
“My ears, right wrist and shoulder would work more efficiently,” he said. “In all other respects, I am in extremely good shape.”
The comments came on the eve of bandmate Roger Daltrey’s performance in “Tommy.” He’ll reprise the 1969 rock opera tonight in London.
Poster from the last Stones tour in 2007.
The Stones haven’t played on the road since 2007, when their Bigger Bang tour grossed more than $550 million.
In November, Richards disclosed the Stones might celebrate their 50th anniversary with a series of concerts in 2012. And the idea gained momentum this week with the release of court papers in a legal battle between the promoter Live Nation and its former chairman. The documents discussed the possibility of a new tour. But the band says it has “no firm plans” for a series of concerts.
Despite that, you will get the chance to see Mick Jagger sing on the Grammy Awards show for the first time in his career. Jagger is taking part in a tribute to gospel and blues legend Solomon Burke, who died last fall. CBS will broadcast the Grammies live from Los Angeles on February 13.
The Who's Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend
Daltrey’s voice was strong as he performed two solos during the first part of the gig at London’s HMV Hammersmith Apollo. Following performances from Jeff Beck, Bryan Adams and Blondie’s Debbie Harry, The Who regrouped to close the show with “Baba O’Riley,” “Who Are You” and “Wont Get Fooled Again.”
This was The Who’s first concert in almost a year. They have no others scheduled, through Daltrey has hinted at the possibility of a tour sometime in the future.
Former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman has joined current band members Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, and Charlie Watts to record a song in memory of Ian Stewart. Stewart played keyboards for the Stones until his death in 1985. The album–titled “Boogie for Stu”– is expected to be released in March. It’s being produced by Glyn Johns and was organized by piano player Ben Waters.
Waters says Wyman and the Stones have recorded a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Watching the River Flow”, and that Richards plays on three cuts. Wyman played bass for the Stones for 30 years before leaving the band in 1992. Proceeds from the album are going to the British Heart Foundation.
Last February, the British government named the Abbey Road Studios in North London a site of national importance. Now it’s done the same for the crosswalk in front of the building, probably the world’s most recognized pedestrian crossing.
Since 1969, when the the Beatles released their “Abbey Road” album, fans have flocked to street to pose for photos imitating the cover, which shows John, Paul, George, and Ringo strolling over tyhe crosswalk.
“This London zebra crossing is no castle or cathedral but, thanks to the Beatles and a 10-minute photoshoot one August morning in 1969, it has just as strong a claim as any to be seen as part of our heritage,” according to Britain’s Tourism and Heritage Minister, John Penrose. His designation means the crosswalk is an important monument and can be altered only with the approval of local authorities.
It’s the first time a zebra crossing has received such an honor.
Paul McCartney walked over to the piano on the stage of Harlem’s Apollo Theater and took in the view.
“I just want to soak in the Apollo,” he said, a smile lighting up his face. Over the last 50 years, McCartney has played in the biggest halls and stadiums around the world… but never at the Apollo, which seats about 1500.
“This is very special for us British boys,” said McCartney as he touched the theater’s elm log, considered a lucky charm by generations of the theater’s Amateur Night performers. “It’s the holy grail.”
Sirius XM satellite radio sponsored the concert Monday night to celebrate its 20-millionth subscriber.
McCartney sounded awfully good for a 68-year-old. Backed by his regular band members, he sang for about two hours… opening with “Magical Mystery Tour” and proceeding through many other Beatles classics, like “Hey Jude,” “Let It Be,” “Drive May Car,” and “Eleanor Rigby.” [Read more...]
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