Ecuador to Award Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney

www.plenglish.com
Ecuador to Award Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney
PRENSA LATINA
March 29 2014

Quito, March 29 (Prensa Latina) The British singer and song-writer Paul McCartney will be awarded by the Ecuadorian government next month during a visit to this South American country, informed secretary of Public Administration Vinicio Alvarado.

According to the official, the decision of President Rafael Correa to award the former member of The Beatles was taken due to his contribution to the universal culture.

The multi-instrumentalist from Liverpool will perform for the first time in Ecuador as part of the tour Out There that includes a musical retrospective of his songs.

Organized by Jorge Ferrand and Prosonido, the three-hour concert will take place in the Liga de Quito Stadium on April 28.

McCartney is in the Guinness Book of Records as the most successful musician and composer within the popular music, with 60 Gold records and 100 millions of singles sold in the United Kingdom.

The also painter and music producer has composed sound tracks for movies, besides classical and electronic music.

Sc/tgj/rml

McCartney prohíbe vender hamburguesas en su show

beatlescfspain.blogspot.com
McCartney prohíbe vender hamburguesas en su show
ALEJANDRA VOLPI
The White Blog
Domingo, 30 de marzo de 2014

En el Festival Rock in Rio de Lisboa, en 2004, McCartney pidió que nadie comiera carne a un kilómetro a la redonda de su espectáculo. Sin llegar a ese extremo, el británico prohibió que se comercialicen hamburguesas el 19 de abril en el estadio.



Quienes disfrutaron del concierto que ofreció McCartney en el Estadio Centenario en abril de 2012 desde la Tribuna América sabrán que había una barra en donde vendían panchos. Esta vez el artista pidió especialmente que no se comercialicen productos de origen animal en el recinto donde presentará el espectáculo de su gira Out There.
Todavía no está fijado en qué hotel se hospedará, pero la balanza se inclinaría hacia el Sofitel Montevideo Casino Carrasco, donde recientemente se quedó Keanu Reeves. La producción también está interesada en alquilar una casa en Punta del Este, dado que el británico podría llegar con dos días de anticipación.
Como es el primer concierto del año de McCartney, fanáticos de varios continentes aseguraron su sitio en el Estadio Centenario, que comenzará a acondicionarse para el recital del 19 de abril a partir del día 13.
Hasta el momento se comercializaron unas 38 mil entradas de las casi 50 mil que se liberaron. El 15% fueron adquiridas a través de la página web del artista, donde se ofertan nuevos paquetes VIP a 1.300 y 2.100 dólares con acceso a la prueba de sonido y ubicaciones en primera fila.
Según el mapa de ventas de la web de McCartney, mediante tarjeta de crédito aseguraron su sitio fanáticos residentes en Italia, España, Reino Unido, Estados Unidos, Perú, Chile, Brasil, Sudáfrica, Argentina y por supuesto Uruguay.
A nivel de despliegue escénico, el show de la gira Out There promete más que la visita anterior del británico. En 2012 veintisiete camiones transportaron las toneladas de equipación necesarias para el montaje, mientras que en esta oportunidad serán 31.
En 2012 se utilizaron 500 metros cuadrados de pantallas de Led y ahora serán 650. En cuanto a luces móviles la diferencia no se queda atrás: de 260 pasa a 400.
El concierto de Out There también es más largo que el de la gira anterior. Serán unas tres horas de música en la que repasará parte de su nuevo disco New, su etapa solista y los clásicos de Wings y The Beatles.
En Quito, Ecuador, donde actuará en el estadio de Liga Deportiva Universitaria el 28 de abril, vendió hasta el momento 10 mil localidades. En Chile, donde ofrecerá dos shows íntimos en el Movistar Arena, ya agotó la primera función.
En Tienda Inglesa
Las entradas para ver a Paul McCartney se están vendiendo en Tienda Inglesa a través de Red UTS. Los precios van desde $ 1.035 en cancha de pie hasta $ 16.100 en el VIP Front Rows. Otros sectores VIP van desde $ 6.900 hasta $ 9.200. La preventa exclusiva de OCA culminó ayer. 

Campaña de promoción turística All you need is Ecuador

www.hoy.com.ec
Vinicio Alvarado llora con los Beatles
Por: Roberto Aguilar
Diario HOY . Editor de contenidos
Publicado el 30/Marzo/2014

La campaña de promoción turística All you need is Ecuador se lanzará simultáneamente en 19 ciudades del mundo. El jueves, en el Centro de Arte Contemporáneo, el ministro de Turismo presentó las piezas publicitarias.

Música de Lennon y McCartney para vender el Ecuador al mundo. Muy altivo. Muy soberano. Un dúo de violín y piano la ejecuta desde la sencilla tarima instalada discretamente tras las escaleras, en el gran vestíbulo del Centro de Arte Contemporáneo. All you need is love. Al fondo, las 130 sillas dispuestas en el patio no dan abasto para recibir a todos los invitados. El secretario-de-la-Administración-ministro-de-Turismo, Vinicio Alvarado, ocupa el puesto que le ha sido reservado tras el podio de los oradores. Las notas de la canción, una de las más emblemáticas del período lisérgico de los Beatles, se extinguen lentamente. El funcionario luce exultante. Dice “emocionante tarde”. Dice “sano orgullo”. Dice “momento inédito en la historia del turismo ecuatoriano”. Con este emotivo y sobrio acto oficial él se despide del menos importante de sus cargos y ha querido hacerlo cubierto de gloria: con la presentación de la campaña publicitaria oficial con la que pretende convertir al Ecuador en “potencia turística mundial”: All you need is Ecuador. Entre el público, un puñado de colegas del gabinete ministerial (Richard Espinosa, Fracisco Rivadeneira...), autoridades y empresarios del turismo, señoras y señores...

Un millón 300 mil dólares dice Alvarado que pagaron por la adquisición de los derechos de All you need is love. La licencia permitirá al Estado ecuatoriano utilizar la canción en cincuenta países durante un año, con la posibilidad de componer cinco versiones diferentes. Ante semejante revelación cabría preguntarse cuánto pagaron por Hey Jude (porque pagaron, ¿no?), pero si la noticia desata esta indeseada asociación en el auditorio, todo el mundo se cuida de guardársela para su fuero interno. Quizás nunca se sepa.

 Rosas multicolores de exportación, de esas que llenan el espíritu de los ecuatorianos de innegable orgullo cívico nacionalista, circundan la tarima que ocupa Alvarado. Y tras él, una gran pantalla de altísima definición -cuyas bondades se ven disminuidas por la luz natural que baña el patio con cubierta transparente- se prepara para reproducir por primera vez en público el spot oficial de la ofensiva publicitaria. Pero antes, un poco de cifras sobre el estado del turismo en el Ecuador y algunos datos básicos sobre lo que se ha avanzado en estos ocho meses de trabajo del funcionario al frente de la cartera. Todo muy en la onda rendición-de-cuentas que en estos días se contagia como la viruela en el aparato burocrático correísta.

¿Y qué se ha avanzado? Básicamente, se ejecutó una campaña nacional para “hacer conciencia en los ecuatorianos de todo lo que tenemos” (campaña imprescindible, sin duda, pues sin ella nadie se daría cuenta) y se prodigaron esfuerzos por “construir una institucionalidad” que permita al país “responder a la aspiración de convertirse en potencia turística”. Lo primero implica llenar las carreteras del Ecuador con vallas gigantescas, para entusiasmo de las agencias de publicidad involucradas; lo segundo, crear una serie indefinida de viceministerios, subsecretarías y direcciones, y diseñar, con el concurso de los tecnócratas jóvenes y patriotas contratados para el efecto, los respectivos programas nacionales de desarrollo y de facilidad turística. El caso es que el país, en el primer trimestre de este año, ha recibido 18 por ciento más de turistas que en idéntico período del año pasado; y que ese 18 por ciento más de turistas, agradecidos de saber que hay tantos nuevos funcionarios preocupándose por ellos, tuvieron sin embargo las mismas dificultades que los de 2013 para encontrar un baño decente en la Ruta del Sol (hoy llamada del Spondylus), pues la campaña de adecentamiento sanitario iniciada por Freddy Ehlers hace un tiempo quedó en la nada.

Aplaude con ganas el público tras la presentación de cada pieza publicitaria. Nada más merecido: las ilustraciones son extraordinarias; los videos, de exquisita factura. El primero de abril próximo empezarán a circular simultáneamente en los canales de televisión y medios escritos de 19 ciudades del mundo. El número no es aleatorio. 19 son las letras del eslogan All you need is Ecuador, y cada una de esas letras, en versión gigante construida con estructura de aluminio, placas de policarbonato e iluminación interna, se colocará en un lugar (solo en uno) de cada una de esas ciudades. Así, por ejemplo, el inadvertido londinense que transite por Victoria Station, se verá inevitablemente atraído, como estrella moribunda por agujero negro, hacia la gigantesca Y, o N, o L, o la letra que sea que le toque a Londres y que se desplegará a su paso. Y como el tren puede esperar y la capital inglesa es tan falta de estímulos visuales como de propuestas culturales, se dejará convencer mansamente por los promotores turísticos que le abordarán con souvenires de paja toquilla, leerá atentamente el material impreso que le entreguen, navegará en la página Web respectiva y entenderá que la vida no es vida si no visita este rinconcito de los Andes. De pronto, la canción de los Beatles con la que le acunó su madre se vaciará de todas las imágenes y asociaciones culturales que la acompañan (las gafas redondas de John Lennon, el escenario lleno de flores y grafitis de Peace and Love, la Union Jack pintada con toques sicodélicos, el LSD, una terraza de Abbey Road Studios, Mick Jagger haciendo los coros desde el borde del escenario, cierto pub de Covent Garden...) y se llenará de jaguares, nevados andinos y piqueros de patas azules.

Los responsables de tanta maravilla son jóvenes creativos ecuatorianos a quienes ya presenta oscuramente Vinicio Alvarado. Oscuramente, porque no termina de decir a qué agencias pertenecen (con excepción de Vértigo, responsable del video). A alguno de ellos ni siquiera identifica por su nombre. Sólo dice que ganaron un concurso. Y como el concurso, se supone, fue convocado por el ministerio de Turismo, resulta extremadamente sospechoso escuchar a Andrés González, de Vértigo, agradecer, fuera de libreto y con el corazón en la mano, “a Huma, porque confiaron en nosotros”. ¿Huma? ¿No era la agencia del mismo Alvarado? ¿Y qué hace aquí? ¿Concursó? 

Termina el acto. Alvarado se emociona. Mucho. Anuncia que éste es su último acto oficial como ministro de Turismo. Se despide con voz quebrada. Acelera sus últimas palabras (“los quiero mucho, muchas gracias”), abandona el podio y se pierde entre el grupo compacto de funcionarios que permanecen de pie a la izquierda del patio. Con un vago gesto y la cabeza baja, rechaza a la prensa que lo acosa con micrófonos y grabadoras. Evidentemente no quiere ser visto y, por un segundo que se hace eterno, no sabe dónde ponerse: dos gruesos, auténticos lagrimones nublan sus pupilas. Hay que ver cómo le emocionan los Beatles.

John Lennon letter to Keith Moon and Harry Nilsson fetches £53,000

www.express.co.uk
John Lennon letter to Keith Moon and Harry Nilsson fetches £53,000
A LETTER written by John Lennon blaming rockers Keith Moon and Harry Nilsson for urinating on a console at a recording studio has sold almost £53,000.
By: Benjamin Russell
Published: Fri, March 28, 2014

The former Beatle was frustrated by the hellraising pair's behaviour in the studio they all shared in Los Angeles in the early 1970s.

Lennon complained to famed producer Phil Spector, who he was working with at the time, and titled the note 'A matter of pee'.

In it, Lennon stated that Capitol Records wanted to evict the three of them for using their studio as a public toilet.

He said he couldn't be expected to 'mind adult rock stars' and warned he was about to join rival recording studios Record Plant because of the aggravation.

The note, written in red felt tip pen on lined paper, was later given by Lennon to American session guitarist Jesse Ed Davis.

Davis provided lead guitar for Lennon's album 'Wall and Bridges' in 1974 and 'Rock and Roll' in 1975.

The note had a pre-sale estimate of £4,000-£6,000 but the price for piece of rock 'n' roll memorabilia soared to seven times its estimate.

A private buyer snapped it up for almost 53,000.

Louise Cooper, from London-based Cooper Owen Music Media Auctions, said: "This price reflects the fact that it has never been on the market before and refers to so many famous people of the time.

"Clearly John Lennon was blaming Keith and Harry for urinating on the console, and he also announces that he is about to leave the record company.

"It dates from an interesting time in Lennon's life around the infamous 'Lost Weekend' period.

"In it he seems quite irritated, especially when he says he can't be expected to 'mind adult rock stars'.

"The sale saw fans and dealers bid against each other and push the price to well above what was expected." In the letter, Lennon wrote: "Phil - Should you not yet know it was Harry and Keith who p****d on the console.

"Jerry now wants to evict us or that's what Capitol tells us. Anyway tell him to bill Capitol for the damage if any.

"I can't be expected to mind adult rock stars nor can May (May Pang) besides she works for me not A+M.


The former Beatle was frustrated by the hellraising pair's behaviour [BNPS]

"I'm about to p**s off to Record Plant because of this crap."

Record Plant in New York was where Lennon was recording when he was shot dead in 1980.

Keith Moon, the drummer for The Who, and singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson, both had reputations for hellraising.

Indeed, Lennon and Nilsson were sometimes as bad as each other.

They were famously ejected from the Troubadour nightclub in West Hollywood for drunken heckling of comedy duo the Smothers Brothers.

Moon was renowned for blowing up toilets and TV sets and in 1978 died in Nilsson's London flat after overdosing on pills meant to curb his alcoholism.

The letter was alongside several doodle drawings by Lennon that include is a self-portrait with Nilsson and Jesse Davis sitting on the Palm Springs tram.

Lennon has initialled it and dated it '79'. Yoko Ono has also signed the back. It had an estimate of 800 pounds but sold for 6,700 pounds.

A Lennon cartoon of a mountainous scene with seated figures, Japanese symbols and various puns and witticisms, made 4,600 pounds.

An original acetate sleeve with doodles and drawings by Lennon in 1974 sold for 12,200 pounds. 


Lennon complained to famed producer Phil Spector in the note titled a matter of pee[AP]

Visiting Ringo Starr at the Grammy Museum in LA

lifestyle.inquirer.net
Visiting Ringo Starr at the Grammy Museum in LA
By Norma O. Chikiamco
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Saturday, March 29th, 2014

Upon my insistence, my cousins Gina Furman and Carmencita Purugganan brought me to The Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles. I had read of the exhibit of Ringo Starr’s memorabilia at the Grammy and, being a Beatles fan, I knew this was something I shouldn’t miss on my US visit.
Our plan was to view the exhibit for maybe a couple of hours. We ended up staying the whole afternoon.
How could we not? Titled “Peace and Love,” the exhibit showcases the life and times of Ringo Starr, the charming, inimitable drummer of The Beatles and my avowed favorite among the Fab Four.
Here are all the details of his life, from his childhood in Liverpool, to his early days as musician, to the raucous days of the rock band that changed music history, and later to his solo career as singer, actor, artist, songwriter, winner of seven Grammy awards, and leader of his own All-Starr Band.
Indeed, viewing the artifacts, letters, photographs and videos is like discovering Ringo all over again—and learning things about him not generally known during The Beatles’ heyday.


THE AUTHOR (left) with cousins Gina (center) and Carmencita posing with replica of the drums and guitars used by The Beatles in The Grammy Museum, Los Angeles

Born July 7, 1940, Richard Starkey was a sickly child, with ailments like appendicitis, peritonitis and pleurisy causing him to miss so many schooldays he eventually dropped out of school.
His parents separated when he was just a few years old, his mother later remarried, and it was Harry Graves, his stepfather, who bought Ringo his first set of drums. He hasn’t stopped playing the drums since.
How Richard Starkey became Ringo Starr, the drummer of the band universally acclaimed as the greatest in rock music history, is a confluence of fate, talent and being at the right place at the right time.
Fascinated by drums at an early age, Ringo started out as drummer for a group called Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He would also sometimes play drums for The Beatles, when it was a fledgling band, as a  substitute for its drummer Pete Best.
When Best was let go, Ringo became the natural choice to replace him. And the rest, as they say, is history.


MURAL on the ground floor of Grammy Museum

Prominently displayed on the ground floor of The Grammy Museum are replicas of the guitars and drums used by The Beatles. Though taking photos is prohibited, visitors are encouraged to take pictures of these replicas. Without thinking twice, my cousins and I gamely posed with the guitars and drums, pretending to be rock stars.
I got goose bumps upon seeing the original drum kits Ringo used during their August 1965 appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and for the recording of “Let It Be,” “Abbey Road” and “The White Album.” Encased in protective glass, the black pearl drum set has “Ludwig” and “The Beatles” logo prominently printed on it. I walked around the glass case viewing the drums in absolute awe, as if they were a relic from a saint. To think that Ringo once touched these drums!
Also on display are outfits he wore during some of The Beatles’ most memorable moments: the pink suit for the cover of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (hailed by some as the greatest rock album ever recorded);  the cape he wore for the movie “Help!,” as well as the high-collar coats worn during some of their live performances.
Further down nostalgia lane, there’s a poster, almost yellowed with age, announcing the performance in Liverpool of Rory and the Hurricanes and The Beatles, when they were just starting to get famous.
Most touching are the personal items—photos of Ringo as a child, letters and postcards he sent his mother, to whom he was still Richy, even though the world already adored him by then as Ringo.
After gawking at the drums, clothes and letters, I spent a lot of time in the listening stations, watching video clips of Ringo’s performances, from his days with The Beatles to his current tours with his band.  I couldn’t get enough of watching him sing “With a Little Help from My Friends,” “Act Naturally,” “What Goes On in Your Mind” and “Photograph.”
“Photograph” is also the title of his book, a collection of rare pictures, never-before-seen snapshots of The Beatles, and personal mementos showing his evolution from Liverpool kid to teen idol to the living legend that he has become.
Some photos also show the Fab Four in unguarded moments: George Harrison, for instance, washing his face in a hotel in Paris, or the four of them looking out in the distance.
But especially thrilling are the interactive stations. In one booth, you can sing “Yellow Submarine,” and have your voice recorded and played back. While I did try singing along, I didn’t have the nerve to listen to my own playback.
In still another station, you can sit before a drum set and take drum lessons from Ringo himself, who appears in a video screen and patiently teaches the rudiments of drum-playing (as if anyone can approximate his genius). Of course I did try following his instructions, only to feel grateful that Ringo was only on video. I shuddered to think what he would have thought of my clumsy attempts at drum-playing.
In case anyone hasn’t realized it yet, testimonials of Ringo’s greatness as a drummer are plastered on the walls. Praises from band mates John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and other rock star greats hail Ringo’s unique talents on the drums. Never overplaying his role, he knew exactly how to hit just the right beat and rhythm so as to highlight the compositions of Lennon/McCartney and George Harrison which the world had come to love.
“Playing without Ringo is like driving a car on three wheels,” George Harrison is quoted as saying.
Indeed, the man John Lennon described as “the heart of The Beatles” is revered by many as the ultimate drummer and the most influential the world has ever known.  We are so fortunate to be enjoying his performances in our lifetime, and to have him, a living legend, still with us, more than 50 years after his rise to fame.
That he’s willing to share his memorabilia with the world shows his generosity of spirit and is also a reminder of the legacy The Beatles—and Ringo Starr—have bequeathed to the world.
The exhibit is timely, too. This year marks the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964, when screaming fans welcomed them from the moment they first stepped on US soil, making The Beatles from then on the official icon of rock music.
Besides, there’s no other time like the present to remind ourselves of the message that Ringo espouses in his exhibit: peace and love.
“Peace and Love” is on exhibit until April 27 at The Grammy Museum, 800 Olympic Blvd. and Figueroa St., between Flemings and The Farm, Los Angeles, California. General admission tickets: US$12.95


FLYER announcing the exhibit of Ringo Starr’s memorabilia at The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles

Hofner changes Violin Bass names to reflect Beatles lineage

www.musicradar.com
Hofner changes Violin Bass names
Model names changed to reflect Beatles lineage
Rob Power
March 28, 2014

Hofner has redesignated the model names of its famous Violin Bass to reflect the iconic bass's Beatles lineage.

The three German-made models have been the cause of some confusion among McCartney connoisseurs due to the order in which they were issued. The new model names should put any debate to bed, and instead of having years associated with them have new 'evocative' titles that reflect the era they are associated with.

To that end,

the Vintage '61 Re-issue, based on the first Violin Bass Macca picked up in Hamburg, becomes the 500/1 'Cavern'.

The Vintage '62 Re-issue becomes the 500/1 'Liverpool', inspired by the bass Hofner built for McCartney August 1963, and finally the Vintage '64 Re-issue becomes the standard 500/1 Violin Bass model.

All clear now? Good!

For more information visit the official Hofner website

Hofner press release

The three German built 500/1 Violin Beatle Basses on the current Höfner catalogue have received changes to the model names in order to more closely associate them with historical events. The construction and fittings remain, however, exactly the same.

Due to the sequence that re-issue models were released in, more than 10 years ago, the McCartney spec bass became the Vintage '62 Re-issue despite the fact that his bass was built around August 1963.

The models will no longer have a year to identify them, these are replaced by names more evocative of the actual time they represent.

The Vintage '61 Re-issue is now designated the 500/1 'Cavern'. It is inspired by a bass purchased by Paul McCartney in Hamburg in 1961.

The Vintage '62 Re-issue becomes the 500/1 'Liverpool, being inspired by a bass built for Paul McCartney around August 1963.

The Vintage '64 Re-issue will now simply be the 500/1 Violin Bass and becomes the 'standard' model.

The part numbers for all three bases remain the same as before, for this year, in order to avoid confusion with dealers and buyers.



  

Höfner Violin Bass - Vintage '61 'Cavern'



  

Höfner Violin Bass - 'Liverpool'



  
500/1 Violin Bass 

HEAR : Ringo Starr Guest on New Kenny Wayne Shepherd Album

ultimateclassicrock.com
Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, Warren Haynes Guest on New Kenny Wayne Shepherd Album
by Nick DeRiso 
March 26, 2014

Kenny Wayne Shepherd has invited along a slew of classic rock legends — including Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh and Warren Haynes — as the guitarist revisits iconic blues material on his forthcoming new album.
‘Goin Home,’ due on May 20 via Concord Records, follows Shepherd’s recent collaboration as the Rides with Stephen Stills and a stint on the Jimi Hendrix Experience tour. Shepherd’s band includes drummer Chris Layton, a member of Stevie Ray Vaughan‘s band Double Trouble; and bassist Tony Franklin, who collaborated with Jimmy Page in the short-lived supergroup the Firm.
Those connections to rock royalty have clearly rubbed off on Shepherd, who said in a news release: “I feel like I’ve matured a lot as a musician. My purpose for making music is the same as it ever was, but I’ve also learned a lot over the years. Less can be more.”
In keeping with the title, this is the first project Shepherd has recorded in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana. The album includes songs made famous by B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King and Muddy Waters, among others. It was completed over just 11 days at the newly opened Blade Studios, run by drummer and producer Brady Blade — famous for his work with Dave Matthews, Steve Earle and others.
Other guests on ‘Goin Home’ include Robert Randolph, the Rebirth Brass Band and Keb Mo. Shepherd previously appeared on Starr’s ‘Ringo 2012′ album. He’s appeared on stage over the years both with Haynes’ Gov’t Mule project, and with Walsh.


Scott Wintrow, Getty Images


Goin’ Home tracklist:

1. Palace Of The King
2. Everything’s Gonna Be Alright
3. I Love The Life I Live
4. The House Is A Rockin’
5. Breaking Up Somebody’s Home
6. You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now
7. You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover
8. Boogie Man
9. Looking Back
10. Cut You Loose
11. Born Under A Bad Sign
12. Still A Fool



NOTE :
According to USA Today, Ringo played drums on a version on “Cut You Loose,” a song previously recorded Guy and Junior Wells, while Joe Walsh’s guitar can be heard on a rendition of Dixon’s “I Love the Life I Live.”

Beatles back at the Sunderland Empire

www.sunderlandecho.com
Beatles back at the Sunderland Empire
March 26, 2014

MORE than 50 years after they appeared at the Sunderland Empire, The Beatles are back.

Though not the original Fab Four, the stars of Let It Be pay a faithful homage to the iconic band in their touring West End musical.

Wearsiders did a double-take yesterday when the stars of the musical took to the streets outside the High Street West venue where they’ll be performing all this week.

The Beatles – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr – were a relatively unknown act when they made their Wearside debut at Sunderland Empire on February 9, 1963, supporting singer Helen Shapiro.

It was two days before the Fab Four started recording the bulk of their debut album, Please Please Me – and they had only released two singles.



But by the end of that year, the Liverpudlians had three number ones and were on their way to being the biggest band in history.

Let It Be showcases the music of the world’s most successful rock’n’roll band and charts their meteoric rise from humble beginnings in Liverpool’s Cavern Club, through the height of Beatlemania, to their later studio masterpieces.

The show is packed with more than 40 of The Beatles’ greatest hits, including I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Hard Day’s Night, Day Tripper, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Strawberry Fields, When I’m 64, Get Back and many more.

l Let It Be is at Sunderland Empire until Saturday. Tickets are available from 0844 871 3022 and www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland.


Band members from Let It Be Beatlemania strike up a pose reminiscent of the real Beatles on their visit to the Sunderland Empire when they were photographed by Echo photographer Tony Colling.

Paul McCartney's technique for making decisions

businesslessonsfromrock.com
Decisions, decisions
by John G. O'Leary
Business Lessons From Rock
March 26, 2014

What do you do when you’ve started writing a letter, an article, a speech, a blog post—or begun almost anything creative—and you’re having trouble choosing between several different directions to go with it? Sound familiar?



Each direction could work, you think. But you’re stuck trying to decide which one. Well, you might try a simple technique that worked for Paul McCartney when he was trying to finish a song for The Beatles.

McCartney sometimes couldn’t decide on the lyrics for a piece of music he’d written. Should the lyrics be about X, Y, or Z? (Leaving his lover? Reuniting with his lover? Finding a new lover?) But instead of staying stuck, McCartney would immediately explore the different possibilities. He would write complete sets of lyrics for each, and then choose which one worked best.

Peter Asher—a member of the ’60s pop duo, Peter & Gordon, and producer of James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt—revealed this McCartney trick to me, years after closely watching Paul write songs while they lived together at the Asher residence in London in the days of Beatlemania. (At the time Paul was dating Peter’s sister—actress Jane Asher.)

In the case of one McCartney song from the Rubber Soul album—“I’m Looking Through You” (written about Jane Asher)—Peter remembered the time McCartney had completed the melody and chords to the song, and had written most of the words. But Paul wasn’t sure where to take the lyrics in the “bridge” section. (A bridge is usually eight bars in the middle of a tune which provides a musical and lyrical contrast to the rest of the song.) But rather than stop his songwriting momentum while he was on a roll, McCartney plowed ahead and wrote two different sets of lyrics for the bridge. Afterwards he settled on the one he liked better: “Why, tell me why, did you not treat me right? Love has a nasty habit of disappearing overnight.”

Ok, this may not be a bombshell epiphany for you. It’s probably something you’ve done on occasion without even realizing it. But maybe now you can do it deliberately, without wasting time trying to pick what direction to take. Try both (or three or four) directions. Then decide.

In business this works great for completing that talk or slide presentation you’ve started to prepare — or that difficult conversation you’re planning to have with a colleague.

This, by the way, is how I write these blog posts when I can see them going in many possible directions. I follow each one through, then pick the best. (The next time you’re traversing parallel worlds in the Omniverse you can read another version of this same post in which I discuss how McCartney wrote “Yesterday.”)

Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band return to Niagara Falls

www.niagara-gazette.com
Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band part of Artpark's Tuesday series
Staff Reports
Niagara Gazette
March 26, 2014

Artpark announced Wednesday that Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band will be a part of the First Niagara presents Tuesday in the Park concert series on June 24.  

The All Starr Band will feature Toto's Steve Lukather, Mr. Mister's Richard Page, original Santana singer Gregg Rolie, Todd Rundgren and drummer Gregg Bissonette. Tickets go on sale Friday for $17 and $32 for a limited number of front of stage tickets. All prices listed include a facility fee, other fees may apply depending on method of purchase. Ticket prices increase by $5 the week of the concert.

Purchase tickets online at www.artpark.net, www.tickets.com, by phone at 754-4375, 1-888-223-6000 or in person at the Artpark Box Office (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, extended hours Sat 3/29 10am-2pm).

Along with Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, tickets for Daryl Hall & John Oates (June 10), Widespread Panic (June 17), Boston (July 8), and Sublime with Rome (July 9) also go on sale Friday as well. The rest of the Artpark lineup will be released throughout the spring.


Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band are part of the Tuesday in the Park concert series. They come to town June 24. 
Contributed photo

Paul is Getting Back #OutThere in Japan!

www.PaulMcCartney.com

MAR262014

Paul is Getting Back #OutThere in Japan!

Paul McCartney is getting back ‘Out There’

Music icon to return to Japan for 2014 stadium shows!

Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th May: National Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday 24th May: Yanmar Stadium Nagai, Osaka

日本の

Following an incredible 2013 which saw Paul’s critically acclaimed ‘Out There’ tour launch in Brazil and visit 23 cities across South America, Europe, North America and end here in Japan, today Paul confirms he’ll be coming back to Japan this May.

The ‘Out There’ tour travelled through Japan last November seeing Paul and his band perform six sold out historic shows in Osaka, Fukuoka and Tokyo to a collective audience of over 260,000. This year Paul will return for his first outdoor stadium shows in Japan.

The 'Out There' tour features music from one of the best loved catalogues in popular music. Paul will perform songs that span his entire career - as a solo artist, member of Wings and of course as a Beatle. The set list will also include material from Paul’s most recent studio album NEW, which was a global hit upon its release last year.

The McCartney live experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; in just three hours some of the greatest moments from the last 50 years of music are relived; music which for many has shaped the very soundtrack of their lives. The last decade has seen Paul and his band perform in a staggeringly impressive range of venues and locations, including outside the Coliseum in Rome, in Moscow’s Red Square, Buckingham Palace, at the White House, a free show in Mexico to over 400,000 people and even into Space! Having played with his band (Paul ‘Wix’ Wickens (keyboards), Brian Ray (bass guitar/guitar), Rusty Anderson (guitar) and Abe Laboriel Jr (drums)) for over ten years now, the show never disappoints.

The tour also uses state-of-the-art technology and production to ensure the entire audience has the best possible experience. With massive screens, lasers, fireworks, unique video content and the best songs in the world a Paul McCartney show is so much more than just an ordinary concert. Paul’s shows attract a multi generational audience from different backgrounds all brought together by his music.

2014 got off to an incredible start for Paul as he set a personal career best by winning an incredible five GRAMMY Awards in one night. In the UK he was honoured by music bible NME with a special one off award, the ‘Songwriter’s Songwriter Award’ chosen for this unique accolade by his fellow peers.

Keep checking PaulMcCartney.com for further announcements.


Estadio De Minas – Brazil
Watching Paul McCartney is one thing, watching him live in our hometown is another. An air of wonder was mixed with disbelief that this was actually happening. He was here and not only did he do what was expected of him, he surpassed it. The lights, the giant screens, the special effects, a collection of classics – all part of the package of the greatest ever-living artist.

O Hoje – Brazil
It seems Paul’s aura infected the city and we must be very proud of the reception we gave him. Parents took children, children took parents, grandchildren brought their grandparents, friends made new friends – it was a gathering worthy of a world Conference for peace. The world statesman left everybody happy – with a smile on his face and eyes bulging with excitement.

La Repubblica – Italy
Going to a Paul McCartney concert is like a visit to the Louvre, you go and admire the exceptional art, the most extraordinary and popular music of the last one hundred years. It should be mandatory for school children and in fact for every human being to go at least once in their life!

Sports Hochi – Japan
Still rocking hard at 71. Paul is in fine voice for 37 songs for two hours and forty-five minutes. The moment the superstar stepped out on stage in his wine red jacket the voltage went through the roof. This was the moment that all of Japan had been waiting for. The audience listened intently to each moment of the concert and there was ringing applause after every song. Bringing the Japanese flag on stage along with the British flag as a symbol of friendship was a nice touch.

Rzeczpospolita – Poland
McCartney was on Olympic form. This show is what the National Stadium was built for. Paul’s first performance in Poland was the musical event of the decade. For nearly three hours he never left the stage and the show cemented the fact that he is simply the best in the world. As Paul was holding our flag and red and white confetti filled the air we were made to feel like we had won the Euro’s, maybe even the Olympics.

ONET.pl – Poland
This was not just another big concert. It was the most important musical event in Poland in recent history. Saying that the icon complied with the expectations would be wrong, he repeatedly exceeded them! The atmosphere of the evening was fantastic, due largely to the enormous positivity and joy McCartney supplied us with in every single minute of his show.
 

---

5 月、新たな伝説が生まれる！再来日公演決

ポール・マッカートニー
アウト・ゼアー ジャパン・ツアー 2014


PAUL McCARTNEY / OUT THERE JAPAN TOUR 2014

日本中を熱狂の渦に巻き込み、東京・大阪・福岡で26万人を動
員した昨年の11年ぶりの来日ツアーの余韻も醒めやらぬ中、
ポールが東京の最終公演のステージ上で誓った「また会いまし
ょう！」の約束を果たしに早くも帰って来る！！
通算5回目となる単独来日公演は、初めてとなる屋外会場！！
新たな曲目と演出も予定されている。

公演公式サイト: outthere-japantour.com


 

John Lennon Hiding Out in New Beer Commercial

ultimateclassicrock.com
‘John Lennon,’ ‘Kurt Cobain’ Appear in New Beer Commercial
by Dave Swanson
March 25, 2014

John Lennon, Elvis Presley and Kurt Cobain are among the dead celebrities whose likenesses make appearances in a questionable new beer commercial.
Bavaria Radler haven’t gone to the extent of reconstructing the stars’ iconic images with technology the way recent ads have done with the likes of Marylin Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, but their use of models resembling famous dead people to sell adult beverages does tread on a slippery slope.
The setting is a lovely, private beach getaway that is, apparently, inhabited by dead celebrities. And they’re all getting tanked! We see “Elvis” hanging out on the beach checking out the waitress who brings him a bottle, while it appears that “Marylin Monroe” is rubbing suntan lotion on “Tupac Shakur.” Meanwhile, someone pretty clearly resembling Lennon is ordering drinks for he and his pal “Cobain.”
We get the concept — supposedly dead stars attempting to preserve their anonymous lives — and it’s clearly a play on all the myths and conspiracy theories about Elvis and Tupac still being alive. But even ignoring any general moral questions about using dead celebrities to endorse any given product, when you realize that one of these stars died on the toilet, one overdosed on pills, and the other three were shot dead — one in a suicide — it only makes the whole thing even weirder. This note’s for you, indeed.






loudwire.com
Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, Elvis Presley + More Hiding Out in New Beer Commercial
by Chad Childers 
March 25, 2014

Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Tupac Shakur, Marilyn Monroe and Bruce Lee — all gone too soon. But are they really? A new commercial for Bavaria Radler beer suggests otherwise.
In the humorous promo spot that just hit the web (special nod to Dangerous Minds), all of the presumed deceased rockers are actually living out life on a secluded tropical island, enjoying the days kicking back with some Bavaria Radler.
A now silver-haired Presley still enjoys the open breasted jacket look, while Marilyn Monroe is helping out Tupac with a little sunscreen. A bearded John Lennon is relaxing while Kurt Cobain breaks out the guitar, and the two call out to their bartender Jude for a pair of drinks. But the crew must work closely to keep their island paradise a secret when Bruce Lee spots a passing boat.
Check out the light-hearted spot that is airing in the Netherlands and features nods to each of the icons in the player above.

John Lennon drawing recalls frightening Palm Springs tram ride

daytrippin.com
John Lennon drawing recalls frightening Palm Springs tram ride
Posted by Daytrippin'
March 23, 2014

A rare drawing by John Lennon which sold Friday in a celebrity auction brings to mind a hair-raising story of when the ex-Beatle took a ride on the famous Palm Springs aerial tramway in California. The ballpoint pen drawing shows Lennon, girlfriend May Pang and Harry Nilsson sitting on a tramcar thousands of feet off the ground in midair.


Courtesy CooperOwen Auctions

This rare drawing was auctioned off along with several other John Lennon sketches from the 1970s on Friday March 21 by CooperOwen Auctions in London. The drawings were given to guitarist Jesse Ed Davis from Lennon. Davis was a session musician who played lead guitar on Lennon’s albums “Walls and Bridges” and “Rock and Roll”.
*
In March of 1974, John Lennon was in the midst of his “Lost Weekend” with girlfriend, May Pang, on the West Coast. He had temporarily split from wife, Yoko Ono, and was partying and carousing with friends like Harry Nilsson in Los Angeles.
*
On a weekend getaway, Lennon, Pang, Nilsson and his girlfriend, along with former Beatles’ roadie, Mal Evans, drove to Palm Springs from L.A. May Pang recounts the trip in her book “Instamatic Karma” showcasing pictures she took of John and Harry sitting outside on the grass in Palm Springs.
*
It was Harry’s idea to go to Palm Springs, the desert retreat once known as the “Playground of the Stars,” and he suggested that they all go to a restaurant and bar which just happened to be at the top of the tramway.
*
The amazing 10-minute tram ride has to be seen to be believed. The tram, located at the northern end of Palm Springs, follows an extremely steep route traveling 2.5 miles up the side of the San Jacinto mountains. The tram ride begins at the bottom of the cliffs of Chino Canyon at elevation 2,643 feet and ends at elevation 8,516 feet.



Having the tram stop in midair dangling over the mountainous cliffs would be a harrowing experience for anyone, and that’s exactly what happened when John Lennon was on the tram.



In her book, May Pang describes in detail the ride she and Lennon took on the Palm Springs tram back in March 1974:
“When dinner was over, we caught the last tram down, along with the other happy campers who closed down the place. I was just thinking what a pleasant, innocuous evening it had been when the power failed, leaving us suspended in midair with forty drunken strangers. All of a sudden, the tram car became the setting for something of a Fellini movie; people making out, hands everywhere, everyone groping. I was freaking out, but John, who had grown accustomed to that kind of craziness, basically told me to relax, since there was nothing we could do dangling in the middle of the sky.”


View from the top of the Palm Springs aerial tramway
Photo: Trina Yannicos

May’s story ends there, but obviously, the tram soon regained power and delivered the passengers safely to the floor of the Coachella Valley. Since 1963, nearly 18 million people have taken a ride on the Palm Springs tramway, but only a countless few have actually been stuck on the tram, and now we know the fascinating coincidence that John Lennon was one of them.



solobeatlesphotosforum.freeforums.org
JOHN LENNON IN PALM SPRINGS 1974


Prior to beginning work on the Pussy Cats album, John decided to have a get away vacation in Palm Springs. 

Yoko Ono joins campaign to save 'bombed out church'

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
Yoko Ono joins more than 18,000 people in backing 'save Bombed Out Church' campaign
By Marc Waddington
Mar 24, 2014

St Luke’s Church is owned by the council, which says it is struggling to afford the cost of maintaining it


St Luke's Church Bombed Out Church which is up for sale

More than 18,000 people – including Yoko Ono – are backing a campaign to save the ‘bombed out church’ from being handed over to a private company.

They mobilised over the weekend in response to the news the council was in talks with a local business that was looking to take on St Luke’s for weddings.

St Luke’s Church at the bottom of Leece Street is currently owned by the council, which says it is struggling to afford the cost of maintaining it.

But the news it could end up in private hands caused uproar, with more than 18,000 people signing on an online petition between Friday and last night.

Video: First year Liverpool John Moores University student film directed by Sam Jones

And Ms Ono, widow of late Beatle John Lennon who has exhibited her work there, also added her voice to the campaign.

She retweeted an ECHO story on “seven reasons why we should cherish St Luke’s Liverpool Bombed Out Church”, while campaigners who set up the bid to save it said “it is not a simple a shell - It is a living, working monument to the people of Liverpool.”

Currently it is being used by arts group Urban Strawberry Lunch, who said they had arranged urgent talks with the council when it emerged a company – which the ECHO understands is a local hotel operator – was looking at taking over the building, which was badly damaged during the Liverpool Blitz of 1941.

Liverpool Biennial Festival - Previous year pictures

One objector, who left a comment on the 38 Degrees e-petition, to be sent to the council, said: “Most people are aware that Bombed Out Church represents the city’s loss during WWII, but to many it also represents those times of struggle and survival, lack of jobs, and injustice.

“In 2014 many would be expecting St Luke’s to play a major part in honouring the dead of 1914-18.

“The Art and Literature communities revere the building.

“The world has a great affection for Liverpool, and neither we nor they will allow such an important part of Liverpool’s heritage it to be destroyed or turned over to an ‘unknown’ corporate identity without a fight.”

After the news that the church could be either given up or sold by the council broke on Friday, Mayor Joe Anderson issued a statement in response to the uproar.






Bold Street Festival, a look back a the past few years

He said: “Let's be clear, I am not selling the church to become flats or houses. I am willing to look at a proposal with an open mind and make a judgement based on the offer.

“Having no money will mean that we can no longer do as much as we would like that’s why I am open to alternatives to ensure that St Luke’s remains and will remain with us for a long time.”

But last night, he was telling his followers on twitter that “no matter how much budgets shrink we simply would not sell off St Luke’s it is as much a part of City as Town Hall”.

But at the same time, Urban Strawberry Lunch issued a statement saying: “We urge the public not to panic. Nothing is going to happen immediately.

“We will soon be announcing firm plans to set up a Friends of St Luke’s and take up ownership of the church if and when it comes up for sale.

“We have been assured by the mayor’s office that we can have first option on the purchase of St Luke’s so we can continue to open it to the public as a space of the people, by the people and for the people of Liverpool and its visitors.”

The ECHO is awaiting further comment from Liverpool council.

Sir Paul McCartney's Campaign Elephant Still In Captivity

www.contactmusic.com
Sir Paul McCartney's Campaign Elephant Still In Captivity
by WENN 
24 March 2014

An abused elephant is still living in horrendous conditions in captivity almost two years after Sir Paul Mccartney spearheaded an apparently successful campaign to save it.
The Beatles legend was among a number of stars, including Baywatch actress Pamela Anderson, who took part in a 2012 drive to re-house Sunder the elephant in a sanctuary after he was discovered being abused in a temple near Mumbai, India.
The celebrities believed they had succeeded in securing the beast's transfer after sending personal letters to Indian officials, and they were told the elephant would soon be roaming free in a rescue centre near Bangalore, India.
However, bosses at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) have now revealed Sunder remains in the same poor conditions at the temple, where they recently filmed him being harshly beaten yet again.
Peta's Dr Manilal Valliyate says, "Sunder has only known chains, loneliness, darkness and beatings for at least half of his life. We look forward to the day that Sunder is unchained, in the company of other elephants, able to bathe in ponds."

Contactmusic


Picture: Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell - Celebrities attend 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Sunset Plaza. - Los Angeles, United States - Sunday 2nd March 2014