If you happen to be in the Baltimore or DC area at the end of the month, you might want to check out a live concert of The Pete Best Band (see sample video of the band above). Pete Best is the drummer that was fired from The Beatles right before they hit it big. He was replaced by Ringo Starr.
The Pete Best Band at Ram’s Head Tavern Thursday, May 29, 8:00 - $23.50
33 West Street
Annapolis, MD 21401 (map it)
410-268-4545
Thanks to Jon Rochetti of The DC Traveler for the scoop. Be sure to check with him for all the other goings-on in the DC area.
May 4 - 1963. “Please Please Me” becomes the #1 album in the UK, and “From Me To You” becomes the #1 single.
May 5 - 1969. Get Back / Don’t Let Me Down single released in the US.
May 6 - 1979. John Lennon and Yoko Ono announce they are recording an album together.
May 7 - 1969. The Beatles begin negotiating with EMI for more royalties.
May 8 - 1970. Let It Be LP is released in the UK.
May 9 - 1965. The Beatles attend a Bob Dylan concert at the Royal Albert Hall, and spend the evening with him.
May 10 - 1960. The Silver Beatles audition for a backing band gig with Billy Fury. They don’t make the cut.
In January, former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr was interviewed on the Friday Night with Jonathan Ross show (see video above). When asked what he misses about Liverpool, he said that he misses nothing. Some in Liverpool apparently didn’t get the joke. He’s been attacked in the local press and in Liverpool-themed websites. A shrub sculpture of The Beatles has apparently been vandalised, with Shrub Ringo’s head removed.
Despite all this, Ringo, who lives mostly in Los Angeles, has maintained his composure and his sense of humour, and intends to return to the city of his youth later this year to visit relatives.
What’s your take? Would you be upset? Are you upset?
Rumour has it that Beatles bassist Paul McCartney and Beatles drummer Ringo Starr might, just might, reunite on a Liverpool stage later this month. Throughout the year, Liverpool is celebrating the honour of 2008 European Capital of Culture with concerts, exhibitions and other cultural events. Supposedly Paul’s production company has secured a $3.4 million grant for the May 27-30thSound City event, and he just might get Ringo up on stage with him.
Sounds great to me, so long as Ringo plays the drums. He’s an excellent drummer and a sub-par singer and it just pains me every time I see him standing, swaying, holding a mic. What do you think?
Contact Music reports that deceased Beatlesguitarist George Harrison’s only child, Dhani Harrison, is planning to embark on a concert tour this fall. Dhani has largely avoided the limelight, but like other Beatles children he is regarded as a good musician. 29-year old Dhani Harrison appeared on George’s last album, 2002’s Brainwashed, and at the Concert For George that same year.
Watch video above, with Dhani talking about working with his father.
For those readers out there who get British newspaper The Daily Mail, May 18 is your lucky day. That’s when former Beatles bassist Paul McCartney will slip his latest solo album, Memory Almost Full, in with your Sunday newspaper.
Paul’s album has already sold 100 000 copies in the UK and reached #5 on the British charts. But the giveaway stands to reach an estimated 2 million newspaper readers.
This guy has several similar videos on Youtube. Original Beatles tracks play as he acts like two members of The Beatles side-by-side. In this one he’s a bitter John Lennon singing to an indifferent Paul McCartney. I think the mannerisms are almost spot-on and the costumes are perfect. Your thoughts?
When Neil Aspinall died in April, he was remembered mostly for his connections with The Beatles. Now Contact Music reports that Apple Corps, the huge all-things-Beatles company which Aspinall headed for many years, is falling on hard times. Apparently nobody is as good as Neil was when it comes to keeping The Beatles image untarnished. Since Aspinall retired from the company in 2007, Apple Corps has failed to block a huge slew of Beatles product knock-offs.
It’s another turbulent week for Beatles history, with song ownership disputes and battles with the Rolling Stones for #1.
April 27 - 1964. John Lennon’s book In His Own Write is published in the US.
April 28 - 1966. Recording begins for Eleanor Rigby.
April 29 - 1964. The Beatles are photographed with their wax counterparts at Madame Tussaud’s wax museum.
April 30 - 1969. The Beatles dispute ATV’s claim of control of Northern Songs Ltd.
May 1 - 1965. Beatles For Sale becomes the #1 album in the UK, beating out Rolling Stones II.
May 2 - 1964. Rolling Stones replaces With The Beatles as #1 album in the UK.
May 3 - 1967. Brass section recorded for Magical Mystery Tour.
Some guitars are overused, and some are underused. By the time the Russians got interested in John Lennon, he probably had no need for a communist guitar. See the details below in the latest edition of our series on John Lennon’s guitars. See earlier entries here:
According to a 1987 George Harrison interview, all four Beatles received nylon-stringed Russian-made guitars in 1965, as a gift from the Russian Embassy in London. Though they were spotted in the studio during some sessions, they were probably never played in concert or on record. Even so, the one John Lennon received is another John Lennon guitar.
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