What's New with Paul McCartney?

www.paulmccartney.com

AUG292013

What's New with Paul McCartney?

#whatsnew

Today, Paul McCartney has made some New music available.

It's available from iTunes HERE! Check it out below!



Speaking about the New track, Paul said: "We can do what we want, we can live as we choose."

This new track hints at things to come from Paul's forthcoming New album, set for release on October 14th in the UK (October 15th in the US). This will be his first album of brand New solo material in six years.

Paul's New album will include 12 new songs, which he worked on with new collaborators.

Paul’s New song is produced by Mark Ronson.

More new details to follow in the coming weeks...

(Click for larger image)

Photograph: © 2013 Mary McCartney

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Paul Gets #OutThere In San Francisco

www.paulmccartney.com

AUG252013

Paul Gets #OutThere In San Francisco

Friday 9th August saw Paul headlining at the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival in San Francisco, taking place in the city's Golden Gate Park.

Paul's set featured many highlights including a cover of Jesse Fuller's classic 'San Francisco Bay Blues' and 'Yesterday' accompanied by the world famous Kronos Quartet who performed George Martin's iconic score.

PaulMcCartney.com was on hand to capture Paul's rehearsals and performance. Check out the film below:



If you were at the San Francisco festival let us know your highlights from Paul's set in the comments below…

George Harrison historical marker to be unveiled

thesouthern.com
Harrison historical marker to be unveiled
BY BECKY MALKOVICH THE SOUTHERN
August 26, 2013

BENTON — Plans are being finalized for the celebration marking the 50th anniversary of “the first Beatle in America.”

George Harrison’s 1963 visit to Benton will be remembered during the celebration that includes the unveiling and dedication of a historical marker on the Benton Public Square.

Harrison, a member of The Beatles, was the first of his band mates to travel to the United States. He spent nearly three weeks visiting his sister, then a Benton resident, and got to know the region and a number of its residents during his travels.

The Harrison marker will be placed by the Illinois State Historical Society in Capitol Park, Harrison Committee member Robert Rea said.

“This site allows visibility to passing motorist at all times and provides much greater pedestrian traffic as opposed to the originally proposed location east of courthouse,” Rea said.

The marker will be unveiled and dedicated in a ceremony beginning at 2 p.m., Harrison Committee Chairman Jim Kirkpatrick said.

Harrison’s sister Louise will be in attendance, he said.

“We received confirmation from Louise that she will be at the dedication ceremony,” he said.

Other speakers include ISHS executive director William Furry and a number of people who got to know Harrison during his visit. Musical performances, souvenirs and memorabilia will also be a part of the celebration.

What: Unveiling and dedication of George Harrison historical marker.

When: 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21

Where: Capitol Park on the Benton Public Square.

 

Digital version of out of print Beatles reference now available

www.beatlesnews.com
Digital version of out of print Beatles reference now available
by Adam Forrest, Beatles News Editor
Published August 26, 2013

The enhanced digital version of one of the Beatles bibles, The Beatles Records on Vee-Jay, by Bruce Spizer, is now available at the author's official website, beatle.net.

Long out of print, with original printed copies of the book now going for extreme premium prices on sites like eBay, The Beatles Records on Vee-Jay is an irreplaceable and unmatched reference for Beatles record collectors and any fan who's interested in the recording history of the Beatles. Including high-definition images of rare, real discs most collectors will never get to see in real life, and images of actual paperwork and correspondence from the time, the book tells the story of the Beatles records in the United States before they were on Capitol Records.



This new, enhanced, digital version of The Beatles Records on Vee-Jay takes perfection one step further, and adds even more illustrations of rare record labels and printed documentation from the period, setting the record (you'll pardon the pun) straight of the real details on the records of the Beatles on Vee-Jay, when and where they manufactured, and how many, and the legal battles between the David and Goliath of American record companies, Vee-Jay and Capitol Records.

In addition, this new eBook contains hyperlinks and cross references, you can zoom in to see details of the great images, it is searchable, and you can add bookmarks and annotations. It is optimized for the Apple iPad, and works on any computer or device that reads PDFs.



The new eBook edition of The Beatles Records on Vee-Jay was officially released last week on August 23, the 49th anniversary of the day Vee-Jay awarded five in-house gold record awards to the Beatles in Los Angeles, and one of the expanded chapters in the book contains new, bonus images of the actual Vee-Jay Beatles gold record awards. It also contains expanded information about counterfeit Beatles records from the era and how to identify them.

Every eBook ordered from the author's site will also come with an 8.5×11 collector's card with images of the Vee-Jay picture sleeves and albums covers and an 8.5×11 signature card signed by Bruce Spizer showing the front and back covers of the book, and a 2×8 Vee-Jay covers bookmark.

For more info on the new Enhanced Digital version of The Beatles Records on Vee-Jay, check out beatle.net.


Table of Contents

Section 1
Singles Of Significance
Vee-Jay 498 Please Please Me b/w Ask Me Why
Vee-Jay 522 from Me to You b/w Thank You Girl
Vee-Jay 581 Please Please Me b/w from Me to You
Tollie 9001 Twist and Shout b/w There’s a Place
Vee-Jay 587 Do You Want to Know a Secret b/w Thank You Girl
Vee-Jay EP 1-903 Souvenir of Their Visit to America
Tollie 9008 Love Me Do b/w P.s. I Love You
The Beatles on Oldies 45
Teen Fun Cards
The Beatles Christmas Picture Sleeve
Foreign Singles and Other 7″ Wonders of the World
Metal Parts of Significance (Stampers)
How Records Are Made
The Tollie Singles Story
The Tollie Singles Discography
Fine Fakes of Significant Interest
Hall of Shame
Vee-Jay Record Sleeves and Mailers

Section 2 
Fine Albums of Significant Interest
Vee-Jay VJLP 1062 Introducing the Beatles (Version One)
Vee-Jay VJLP 1062 Introducing the Beatles (Version Two)
Vee-Jay VJLP 1085 Jolly What! The Beatles and Frank Ifield on Stage
Vee-Jay VJLP 1092 Songs, Pictures and Stories of the Fabulous Beatles
Vee-Jay DX-30 The Beatles Vs. The Four Seasons
Vee-Jay VJLP 1085 The Beatles and Frank Ifield on Stage (Portrait Cover)
Vee-Jay Pro 202 Hear the Beatles Tell All
Vee-Jay VJLP 1101 The 15 Greatest Songs of the Beatles
Counterfeits of Significance
Inner Sleeve Dust Covers

Section 3 
Stories of Significant Interest
A Brief History of Vee-Jay Records
A Very Brief History of Capitol Records
How the Beatles Ended up on Vee-Jay, Swan and Capitol
Alan Livingston: from Bozo to the Beatles
Lawsuits of Significance
Gold Record Awards
Significant Promotions from Vee-Jay
Beatles with an A (And One T)

Section 4 Other 
Significant Information
Fine Factories of Significant Interest
Other Fine Books of Significant Interest
Checklist of Beatles Records on Vee-Jay
Fine Vendors of Significance

A Visit to Some San Francisco Record Stores – Part 2

beatlesblogger.com
A Visit to Some San Francisco Record Stores – Part 2
by beatlesblogger
August 14, 2013

OK. In Part One I detailed the four main record stores I was able to visit while in San Fran.

Now some detail on what I found and brought home to join the collection. Firstly, the vinyl.

At Rasputin Music on Powell (near Union Square) I found a very clean copy of George Harrison's Living in the Material World. It was a US pressing I didn't have - a budget re-issue on the green Capitol label:







As you can see, it's a nice clean copy and the vinyl is mint.

Also at Rasputin there were two Ringo Starr LP's I liked the look of and they were both very reasonably priced. I have Australian pressings of both of these, but good US copies like these were a welcome addition to the collection. They are both on the Apple label and original throughout. This gatefold copy of Ringo (1973) was complete with its book of lyrics and wonderful line drawings by Klaus Voormann (who also played bass on the album):







The Fab 4 Free 4 All Beatle podcast recently reviewed the Ringo album and raved about it (see episode 60, "Ringo" - Analysis and Review). Also at Rasputin was a copy of Ringo's Blast From Your Past which came with the original inner sleeve of photos on one side and lyrics on the other:







Later in the week I got over to the Haight-Ashbury district were there were three stores in close proximity (Recycled, Rasputin and Amoeba - all on Haight Street).

The first I visited was Recycled Records. They had some vintage Beatles LP's, but to be honest they were fairly expensive....and so I concentrated on the Beatles as solo artists. I've always been keen on collecting variations of Paul McCartney's "Russian" album called Choba B CCCP. Well, Recycled was a bit of a treasure trove as they have numerous copies in their bins and tucked away underneath on shelves. There were thirty to forty copies in all, and so I set about identifying some versions I didn't have. There are so many variations of this particular record because it came out firstly as an 11-track album, followed later by a 13-track version. And they were pressed in about six different Russian pressing plants, each with its own label styles and variations (sometimes subtle) within those labels. I turned up four distinct copies I wanted, and they were all very reasonably priced (between US$6.00-$10.00 each). There was one 11-track version (from the Aprelevka pressing plant), two 13-track versions (Tbilisi plant and Riga plant), and one "hybrid" that had an 11-track cover but a 13-track LP inside (which I didn't realise until I got home). Both the cover and LP are from the same factory (the Riga plant) so I'm not sure if this is legit or just a mistake....



The rear cover of the 11-track version is identified by its yellow colour:



However, this one has a 13-track LP inside - on a plain white Melodyia Records label, made at the Riga pressing plant where the cover was made too:



So. A mystery there. If anyone knows if any other copies like this exist let me know. These are the labels from the other copies of Choba B CCCP purchased at Recycled:







Of course for the full detail on all Russian Beatle and Beatle-related vinyl releases you need to visit this one, fantastic central repository: www.beatlesvinyl.com.ua

Further down Haight Street is another Rasputin Music store and so I ducked in for a look. No vintage Beatles here, but lots of copies of the latest remastered vinyl at good prices. I did find an interesting re-issue copy of the John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band's Live Peace in Toronto LP however, complete with a reproduction of the 1970 calendar which was included with original copies. It is brand new, still sealed, looked like a good buy and so I got it:





I think this re-issue was released in 2012 through a company called Hi Horse Records (which is a subsidiary of City Hall Records). It's on the original Apple label and has the same SW 3362 catalogue number. If anyone has any other info on this one it would be very welcome. Please drop us a line.

Then it was on to Amoeba Music's Haight Street store - which is an enormous warehouse of a building with thousands of LP's, CD's and books...however, not a lot of vintage Beatles on display here either, but two very good vinyl buys none-the-less. The first was Paul McCartney's first solo LP simply called McCartney. It is a US copy, a re-issue in very good condition and on the black Capitol label:





And last but not least a really nice copy - practically mint throughout - of George Harrison's The Concert for Bangladesh. I already have an Australian and an unusual South African pressing of this, but have been on the lookout for a good UK copy, and of course a US example as well, which is what we have here. Amoeba had this priced at just US$14.99, which for a triple album set in such excellent condition was an absolute bargain. It came with a mint copy of the original 64-page book, and all the LPs were housed in their original brown paper inner sleeves:









So, that was a quick summary of the vinyl found in four San Francisco record stores during a short visit there last week. Next time a look at the CD's and DVD's I found and added to the collection.

From the Archives: 'Liverpool Sound Collage' Released

www.paulmccartney.com

AUG212013

From the Archives: 'Liverpool Sound Collage' Released

'Liverpool Sound Collage' was released thirteen years ago today; 21st August 2000. The album – one of Paul's more left-field releases – was recorded for Peter Blake's 'About Collage' exhibition at The Tate Liverpool.

Recalling the cut-up techniques Paul first began experimenting with in the 60s, he recorded interviews with astonished passers-by and shoppers in Liverpool, as well as chats with students at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). Studio out-takes made between 1965-69 with George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon were also incorporated. Paul then assembled the sound collages in collaboration with Cian Ciarán from Super Furry Animals and Youth.

Speaking at the time of release Paul said, "I compiled sounds and made the basic collage … I asked Cian Ciarán of Super Furry Animals to mix something from it, which he kindly did, and my mate Youth used his talents to add a final touch".

Check out samples from the album below and let us know what you think in the comments.

Fans can get their copy of the album now from iTunes HERE!

Website about random meetings with The Beatles to become a book

www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk
Website about random meetings with The Beatles to become a book
A WEBSITE devoted to random meetings between the public and The Beatles over the years is set to become a book.
By Liam Murphy
31 Dec 2012

A WEBSITE devoted to random meetings between the public and The Beatles over the years is set to become a book.

The Facebook page, called The Beatles And Me, was set up “for a bit of a laugh” according to its creator Dean Johnson.

But in just a few months it has pictures and stories from hundreds of encounters with John, Paul, George and Ringo over the decades.

It has become so successful that Dean and Jennifer Smedley, the creative director of Liverpool-based Plantapress, now plan to turn the web page into a book.

Jennifer said the idea came up after she met Dean through a mutual friend.

She said: “Dean told me about it and how he thought it would make a good book – and I thought ‘yes, let’s do it’.”

The book will be Plantapress’ fourth title and they believe it will attract wide interest. Jennifer said: “I think it has real global interest and potential. It is so unusual and has such personal stories – I think there will be a massive market for it.”

The aim is to publish it in March to coincide with the first 50th anniversary of the first Beatles album, Please Please Me.

Dean, the curator of a museum devoted to the war poet Wilfred Owen, said the reaction on Facebook was unexpected but “fantastic”.

He said: “I was especially pleased with the response from the USA – people are so proud of their own piece of Beatles history. They are the people who made Beatlemania happen and the previously unseen pics are very exciting to see.

“We seem to have created a outlet for people to share these treasured memories.

“Everyone in Merseyside seems to have a Beatles story.

“We want to document the fans’ side of the Beatlemania phenomenon.

“We have already received some wonderful accounts and pictures from the public, including someone who loaned his entire collection of Gene Vincent records to original Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe.”

Jennifer added: “Perhaps the most touching story is when somebody was stopped outside The Cavern Club a few months before George [Harrison] died and some scruffy guy asked ‘where is a good place to eat? It has all changed around here’. It turned out it was George coming back home one last time.”





www.wirralglobe.co.uk
Wirral author's Beatles' book rocks US
By Geoff Barnes
Friday 23rd August 2013

A BEATLES-themed book, compiled by Wirral author Dean Johnson, has sent tremors of excitement rippling across America.

Dean's book The Beatles and Me - a selection of music fans’ chance brushes with the Fab Four – featured as lead story on America’s Fox News this week.

Within hours of him launching the venture on Face Book hundreds of photographs and reminiscences came flooding back from across the globe – the majority from America.

It prompted Dean to publish his book to coincide with the anniversary of the release of the Beatles’ Please Please Me album.

Among the snaps contributed was a series taken by John Taylor in New Orleans in 1975 featuring Paul and Linda McCartney.

The American was interviewed on the Fox news show about his meetings with Paul outside a local recording studio where his band Wings were making an album John said: "It was a once in a lifetime experience."

Musician Dean, who masterminded the book, said: "It's fantastic that as Liverpool celebrates Beatles Week out book is making the news in the US.

"Its success there shows that the popularity of the Beatles is as high as ever and that there are still new ways of looking at their amazing story."

Dean’s own brushes with the Beatles mainly involve Paul McCartney.

"He always seemed to be around in Heswall," he recalled. " He was into horse-riding with Linda and he was often seen out on the Dales."

Almost three-quarters of the Face Book responses came from America.

"Preoccupation with The Beatles is still massive over there," he said.


Beatles book rocks US

Paul McCartney Tour Tops Pollster's Ranking Of Highest-Grossing Concerts

www.huffingtonpost.com
Paul McCartney Tour Tops Pollster's Ranking Of Highest-Grossing Concerts
By The Associated Press 
08/23/13

The Top 20 Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows in North America. The previous week's ranking is in parentheses. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers.

1. (2) Paul McCartney; $3,620,049; $131.27.

2. (3) Taylor Swift; $3,126,773; $86.58.

3. (4) Kenny Chesney; $2,182,829; $75.32.

4. (New) One Direction; $1,805,905; $65.73.

5. (5) Fleetwood Mac; $1,427,403; $110.90.

6. (6) Phish; $1,391,413; $48.76.

7. (7) Justin Bieber; $1,225,230; $80.77.

8. (8) Dave Matthews Band; $1,134,333; $55.10.

9. (9) Bruno Mars; $1,027,571; $71.30.

10. (10) New Kids On The Block; $807,690; $65.24.

11. (11) Blake Shelton; $672,657; $32.24.

12. (12) Tim McGraw; $603,511; $38.11.

13. (14) Rascal Flatts; $567,025; $40.02.

14. (13) Brad Paisley; $551,796; $36.88.

15. (17) Widespread Panic; $376,122; $47.11.

16. (18) Bad Company / Lynyrd Skynyrd ; $311,304; $31.44.

17. (19) The Postal Service; $230,087; $40.66.

18. (New) Imagine Dragons; $203,574; $34.34.

19. (22) Hillsong United; $197,990; $31.04.

20. (New) Alice In Chains; $175,522; $49.24.



Paul McCartney's tour topped the list of the highest-grossing concerts in North America.

More unheard Beatles BBC recordings set for release

wogew.blogspot.com
Live at the BBC Vol 2
By WogBlog
Wednesday, August 21, 2013


The "Baby It's You" EP from the "Live at the BBC" project in 1994.

In an internal list of upcoming releases, Universal Music recently revealed plans to re-release The Beatles' "Live At The BBC" along with a new release, "Live At The BBC Vol. 2" on October 4th, 2013. The date is tentative and may be subject to change. "Volume 2" will be BBC recordings of The Beatles not available on the previous volume. "Live at The BBC" was released in 1994, a forerunner of a landslide of new material from the Beatles' archives.


The BBC had a habit of reusing their tapes, which means that most of the Beatles radio shows from the sixties were wiped, however quite a few have later been rescued, courtesy of listeners taping the shows at home and BBC transcription records, which were sent to radio stations abroad. In 2012, the BBC had a campaign, asking their listeners to bring the home taped shows to the BBC for review. Hopefully, some more (or better quality) Beatles shows will have appeared in the wake of this.



Along with the "Live at the BBC" album, a four track EP was released, containing tracks not on the album: "Baby It's You", "I'll Follow The Sun", "Devil In Her Heart" and "Boys". Hopefully, the EP will now be integrated into one of the announced volumes.

Here's the track list for the 1994 release: 

CD 1
1 Beatle Greetings 00:12 
2 From Us To You 00:27
3 Riding On A Bus 00:53
4 I Got A Woman 02:48
5 Too Much Monkey Business 02:05
6 Keep Your Hands Off My Baby 02:30
7 I'll Be On My Way 01:57
8 Young Blood 01:56
9 A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues 02:14
10 Sure To Fall (In Love With You) 02:07
11 Some Other Guy 02:00
12 Thank You Girl 02:01
13 Sha La La La La 00:27
14 Baby It's You 02:43
15 That's All Right 02:53
16 Carol 02:34
17 Soldier Of Love 01:59
18 A Little Rhyme 00:25
19 Clarabella 02:39
20 I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You) 02:01
21 Crying, Waiting, Hoping 02:09 
22 Dear Whack! 00:42
23 You Really Got A Hold On Me 02:37
24 To Know Her Is To Love Her 02:49
25 A Taste Of Honey 01:57 26 Long Tall Sally 01:52
27 I Saw Her Standing There 02:31
28 The Honeymoon Song 01:39
29 Johnny B Goode 02:51
30 Memphis Tennessee 02:12
31 Lucille 01:49
32 Can't Buy Me Love 02:06
33 From Fluff To You 00:28
34 Till There Was You 02:12

CD 2
1 Crinsk Dee Night 01:03
2 A Hard Day's Night 02:24
3 Have A Banana 00:21
4 I Wanna Be Your Man 02:09
5 Just A Rumour 00:20
6 Roll Over Beethoven 02:15
7 All My Loving 02:03
8 Things We Said Today 02:18
9 She's A Woman 03:14
10 Sweet Little Sixteen 02:20
11 1822! 00:10
12 Lonesome Tears In My Ears 02:36
13 Nothin' Shakin' 02:59
14 The Hippy Hippy Shake 01:49
15 Glad All Over 01:51
16 I Just Don't Understand 02:46
17 So How Comes (No One Loves Me) 01:53
18 I Feel Fine 02:12
19 I'm A Loser 02:32
20 Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby 02:20
21 Rock And Roll Music 02:00
22 Ticket To Ride 02:56
23 Dizzy Miss Lizzy 02:42
24 Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey 02:36
25 Set Fire To That Lot 00:27
26 Matchbox 01:57
27 I Forgot To Remember To Forget 02:08
28 Love Those Goon Shows 00:26
29 I Got To Find My Baby 01:55
30 Ooh My Soul 01:36
31 Ooh My Arms 00:35
32 Don't Ever Change 02:02
33 Slow Down 02:36
34 Honey Don't 02:11
35 Love Me Do 02:29

We'll be back with the track list of "Vol. 2" as soon as we have that.

If Universal Music carries on the EMI tradition, the re-release and the new release will also be available on vinyl, and as digital downloads on iTunes. And with the new merchandising deal, presumably some related products will be made available via the Beatles Official Stores. 

A book about the Beatles BBC recordings is also scheduled for October in the UK and November in the USA. BBC insider Kevin Howlett is the expert in this field and author of the previous standard books on the subject: "The Beatles At The Beeb 1962-1965" and "The Beatles At The BBC". His new book is entitled "The Beatles:The BBC Archives".


Apple Records

New Book Sheds Light on Last Moments of John Lennon

www.prweb.com
New Book Sheds Light on Last Moments of John Lennon
Ever since John Lennon was tragically gunned down in 1980, it has been widely and persistently reported that the former Beatle spoke a few minutes after he was shot. Jim O'Donnell, a noted Beatles' author, refutes the story with new research, showing that Lennon did not linger in agony for minutes and speak, but rather died swiftly in seconds.

Little Silver, New Jersey (PRWEB) August 20, 2013

A newly-published book examines the 1980 shooting of John Lennon and decisively makes the case that the former Beatle died in seconds, not minutes.
Titled John Lennon Did Not Die a Slow Death, the book debunks the widely-reported story that Lennon spoke to a police officer after he was shot.
“If John had been able to talk to the cop,” said author Jim O'Donnell, “then that means he was in excruciating pain for minutes. After many interviews and going over a ton of published and unpublished reports, it became evident that John was not conscious or talking in the minutes after he was shot. The research shows that he died in seconds or even instantaneously. He did not die a slow death.”
As one piece of research, O’Donnell’s book quotes Herb Frauenberger, one of the first two cops on the scene that December night at the Dakota: “His [Lennon’s] face was right into the floor, actually, face down. He wasn’t turned left or right. His arms were spread out in front of his head, almost like you were taking a dive. He was actually turning white at that point.”
Although some of the details about Lennon’s death are graphic, they serve to show that it’s highly unlikely that the father of two died a slow death.
The frequently told story of Lennon speaking stems from the moments right after he had been shot four times, at close range, in the arched entryway of the Dakota apartments in New York City.
His bullet wounds were so severe that, instead of waiting for an ambulance, he was put into the back of a police car. According to the oft-repeated story, a policeman asked Lennon if he was, indeed, John Lennon. The story goes that Lennon nodded and said, “Yes.”
“I remember reading that story way back in 1980,” says O’Donnell, “and thinking how horrible it was that John must have been in such agony between the time he was shot and the time he was placed in the back of the police car where he supposedly spoke to a cop. I remember thinking how the seconds must have felt like hours.”
O’Donnell says that, over the years, he kept coming across the story in books and magazines when he was researching his Beatles’ book, The Day John Met Paul, which was published by Penguin. And the more he came across the story, the more he wanted to look into it.
“When you read the entire piece in my book,” said O’Donnell, “I'm confident you’ll come away thinking that the story of John talking after he was shot belongs more in the realm of urban legend than in the realm of historical record."
All of the interviews in O’Donnell’s 3000-word Lennon article were tape-recorded. There are also nine other pieces in the book, which was produced by Center Stage Media. They tell the stories of deceased people from the world of rock, including Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.
O’Donnell’s first book on music was published by Pinnacle in 1975. The author’s previous Beatles’ book was acclaimed for its exhaustive research and accuracy. Pete Shotton, Lennon’s best friend as a teen, read The Day John Met Paul and said, “This is a realistic portrayal of Lennon as a teenager. O’Donnell gets it right.”
O’Donnell gets it right again in this much sadder account from the life of a much-loved musician.
“I really enjoyed writing about John as a teenager,” said O’Donnell, “and I hated writing about his murder. But at least I came away knowing he didn’t go through a slow death.”


Former Beatle John Lennon was shot to death in 1980 in this arched entryway of the Dakota apartments in New York City. (Photo by Jim O'Donnell)

Watch The Out There Verona Gig (In Under One Minute!)

www.paulmccartney.com

AUG192013

Watch The #OutThere Verona Gig (In Under One Minute!)

Paul recently performed at the Roman Amphitheatre in Verona as part of his current "Out There" world tour. The concert took place on June 25th and during the rainy soundcheck Paul was persuaded to remove his shoes and socks to recreate the 'Abbey Road' album cover with three Italian fans.

Shortly after soundcheck Paul took to the stage with his band and began the night with 'Eight Days A Week'. He followed it with a three hour set of close to 40 songs covering his entire career from The Beatles and Wings right up to last year's 'My Valentine'.

Tour photographer MJ Kim was at the show collecting a great selection of shots that can be seen in the "Out There in Verona" collection HERE!

MJ also set up a time-lapse camera starting just before soundcheck and filming right the way through the show until the fans empty out from the venue. So you can now watch the whole show... in just under a minute!

Check out the video and let us know if you were at the concert in the comments below…

American Scientists Attempt to Sequence John Lennon's Genetic Code from the Beatle's Tooth

www.prweb.com
American Scientists Attempt to Sequence John Lennon's Genetic Code from the Beatle's Tooth
Edmonton, Alberta (PRWEB)
August 16, 2013

The Canadian dentist who purchased John Lennon's tooth has recently agreed to work with Penn State researchers to explore the musician's DNA. If the venture is successful, the tooth collector is interested in preserving the valuable information with the belief that it could be used in the future for cloning the famous Beatle.
John Lennon's tooth is going under the microscope in a US lab with scientists considering ways to extract the genetic code from the fragile specimen owned by Canadian dentist-tooth collector Dr. Michael Zuk. "I am nervous and excited at the possibility that we will be able to fully sequence John Lennon's DNA, very soon I hope. With researchers working on ways to clone mammoths, the same technology certainly could make human cloning a reality," says Dr. Zuk.
The dentist attracted attention from skeptics for purchasing the rotten molar for over $30,000 US at a UK auction in 2011, with commentary from Bill O'Reilly and Anderson Cooper (making the Ridiculist). Dr. Zuk is standing firm with his conviction that the investment could be one of the best decisions of his life. Zuk says "to potentially say I had a small part in bringing back one of Rock's greatest stars would be mind-blowing.
Other interesting considerations related to this story include:
*How future human cloning of the ultra-rich and famous could become the rage.
*New challenges to the laws that could need to recognize the legal rights of human clones.
*A unique Beatle DNA sculpture of Lennon & McCartney which may be donated to the John Lennon Art School in Liverpool.
The molar has been busy since being sold by the Beatle's former housekeeper. It participated in a number of charitable ventures including a tour of the UK to raise awareness of mouth cancer, a line of John Lennon DNA pendants, a number of television appearances and a celebrity DNA documentary. The exact details of the scientific research is being kept confidential, but if sequencing is possible, the dentist has approved tests to be conducted to gain insight into Lennon's genes for a UK documentary on celebrity genetics.
For an entertaining interview contact Dr. Zuk directly at 403-342-0161. His website dedicated to the John Lennon DNA project may be found at JohnLennonDNA.com.





www.examiner.com
Cloning of John Lennon: Scientists working to extract DNA from tooth
Shelley Germeaux
John Lennon Examiner
August 16, 2013

“If scientists think they can clone Mammoths, then John Lennon could be next.” This is the quote from Edmonton, Alberta today, August 16, 2013, by Dr. Michael Zuk, who is collaborating with American scientists to decode the DNA from John Lennon’s tooth.

The dentist attracted world-wide attention in 2011 for purchasing the tooth for over $30,000 at a UK auction in 2011. Lennon gave the rotting tooth, which had just been extracted, to his housekeeper Dot Jarlett in the 60s. The molar has been put to good use since then. It participated in a number of charitable ventures including a tour of the UK to raise awareness of oral cancer. A line of John Lennon DNA pendants was created, and was included in a celebrity DNA documentary as well as many other television appearances.

According to Zuk, John Lennon's tooth is now going under the microscope in a US lab with scientists considering ways to extract the genetic code from the fragile specimen, While he’s mum on any details, Dr. Zuk says he hopes that it will provide insight into Lennon's genes. The findings could be revealed in a UK documentary on celebrity genetics. He stands firm with his conviction that the investment could be one of the best decisions of his life. Zuk says "to potentially say I had a small part in bringing back one of Rock's greatest stars would be mind-blowing.”

He continued, "I am nervous and excited at the possibility that we will be able to fully sequence John Lennon's DNA, very soon I hope. With researchers working on ways to clone mammoths, the same technology certainly could make human cloning a reality," says Dr. Zuk.

MORALITY OF CLONING

Is Dr. Zuk the modern day Dr. Frankenstein? Moral questions abound on cloning; and this testing on John Lennon’s DNA will no doubt raise a furor of debate. The cloning of Dolly the sheep in 2003 made headlines and was the heated subject of many scientific as well as spiritual publications. Comparisons were made at that time to the ideology behind Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.”

Written in 1818, “Frankenstein” emerged from a dream Shelley had, and resulted in a novel about a scientist who created life from dead body parts, using electricity. He was horrified at the monster he created when it did come to life. It was a fact at that time, that scientists were stealing corpses from graveyards in the black of night, to perform tests on them. Mary Shelley and her husband, the poet Percy Shelley, were highly interested in these controversial subjects.

It could very well be, that the grisly 19th century practices, are transforming into a futuristic and scientific model. Are we headed towards a future where we attempt to make “copies” of those we idolize--the ultra-rich and famous, and ultra talented, as in Lennon’s case?

Dr. Zuk’s website dedicated to the John Lennon DNA project may be found at  JohnLennonDNA.com.


Dr. Michael Zuk

Image of the Day: Paul #OutThere in Winnipeg

www.paulmccartney.com

132013

Image of the Day: Paul #OutThere in Winnipeg

Last night Paul performed to a sold out Investors Group Field in Winnipeg. This photo of the crowd was taken during the gig by tour photographer MJ Kim.

Paul and his band took to the stage shortly after tweeting "Hello Winnipeg" along with a photo of the venue:

The concert marked Paul's first performance in the city since appearing at the Winnipeg Stadium in May 1993 as part of his "New World Tour".

For more MJ Kim photos from Paul's North American shows click HERE!

50 years on, Beatles made $68 million last year

www.gigwise.com
THE BEATLES MADE AN IMPRESSIVE £43.5MILLION LAST YEAR
Money is still rolling in for the Fab Four
Friday 16th August 2013 by Chloe Ravat
Photos by WENN.com

Despite having formed over 50 years ago and splitting 43 years ago, The Beatles have still managed to turn over an £43.5 million fortune in 2012.

The figure is even £2 million higher than last year according to the band's business, Apple Corps Limited.

Living Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well has George Harrison and John Lennon's widows Olivia Harrison and Yoko Ono will receive £5.1 million each in dividends, promotional activities and name and likeness payments.

Speaking to The Sun newspaper, a source said: "The Beatles have been the most famous band in the world since the 60s and it keeps on paying.

''The obsession with the Fab Four has never stopped, even half a century after they started. 'So the money just keeps rolling in.''

Watch The Beatles' perform their classic 'She Loves You' live in 1963 below:

It is testament to music fans' ongoing love affair with the band and the phenomena they became that they continue to rake in such formidable sums all these years later.

Back in June, drummer Ringo Starr opened up about the possibility of a Beatles reunion in 2013 were all band members still alive today.

"It's a crazy question," he told the Mirror newspaper. "I'd like to think, yes, we would."

He continued: "Paul still goes out with his band, I go out with him and John would probably have been going out with his... But who knows, it could have come together."

Help! being revamped for Blu-ray and iTunes

www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk
Local CGI firm to revamp Beatles film
Londonberry Sentinel
Published on 14/08/2013

A LONDONDERRY company is to revamp Help! - the 1965 film featuring The Beatles - after landing a major contract with the company founded by the band back in 1967.

Urban 3D, which employs nine people in Artillery Street, is a creative agency specialising in 3D Visualisation (Computer Generated Imagery), motion graphics and design for web and print.

It’s landed the contract with Apple Corp after receiving financial assistance from Invest NI. Richard Osborn, Urban 3D General Manager, said: “The work to transform the historic movie for Blu-ray and iTunes was a new and very exciting development for us. Winning this important business is an immensely important endorsement by such a prestigious client of the expertise that we have here in Derry.”

Apple Corp’s Jonathan Clyde said: “Help! Blu-ray and iTunes Extra is the first project Urban 3D has authored for Apple Corp Ltd. Their professionalism, creativity and technical excellence ensured the production ran smoothly and we are delighted with the result. Urban 3D displayed expertise and great attention to detail whilst transforming this precious archive film into glorious High Definition.”


British rock group The Beatles run down an alley in a still from the film, 'A Hard Day's Night,' directed by Richard Lester, 1964. L-R: Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon. (Photo by United Artists/Courtesy of Getty Images)




www.derryjournal.com
Derry 3D specialists ‘Help!’ restore Beatles classic
Derry Journal
Published on the 14 August 2013 

A Derry firm which specialises in 3D visualisation technologies is helping to restore a classic movie featuring The Beatles.
Urban 3D, which is based at Artillery Street in Derry city centre, is assisting Apple Corps in the United States to transform “Help!”, the 1965 movie featuring the ‘Fab Four, into formats for High Definition Blu-ray and iTunes Extra.

Currently employing nine people, Urban 3D has accessed advice and support from Invest NI to grow its business, particularly in markets outside Northern Ireland.

Richard Osborn, Urban 3D General Manager, said: “The work to transform the historic movie for Blu-ray and iTunes was a new and very exciting development for us. Winning this important business is an immensely important endorsement by such a prestigious client of the expertise that we have here in Derry.

“We were commissioned to re-format the movie using state-of-the-art audio-visual technology, ensuring longstanding fans of The Beatles can enjoy the movie once again and also make it available for other music lovers to experience one of the most influential bands of the sixties.

“Invest NI has been extremely supportive and encouraging since the formation of the business eight years ago. We received assistance to set up and to grow the business in key markets such as Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.”

Des Gartland, Manager of Invest NI’s North West Regional Office, said: “Urban 3D is at the leading-edge of immensely important technologies such as computer visualisation and has become a key player in the fast developing creative industries sector, here and further afield.

“Winning projects like this helps build the international reputation of Londonderry as a centre of excellence for innovative technologies. Our on-going work with this ambitious company is focused on the development of such skills and in the marketing of its expertise and knowledge abroad.”

Jonathan Clyde, Apple Corp Production and Marketing Director, said: “Help! Blu-ray and iTunes Extra is the first project Urban 3D has authored for Apple Corp Ltd. Their professionalism, creativity and technical excellence ensured the production ran smoothly and we are delighted with the result. Urban 3D displayed expertise and great attention to detail whilst transforming this precious archive film into glorious High Definition.”


The Beatles in a scene from the movie, "Help!".