variety.com The Beatles’ ‘Help!’ Turns 50 and How They Almost Starred in ‘Lord of the Rings’ Tim Gray Awards Editor @timgray_variety
AUGUST 25, 2015
GEORGE KONIG/REX SHUTTERSTOCK
There was a lot of hoopla this year over “The Sound of Music,” but that isn’t the only musical celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The Beatles’ “Help!” opened on Aug. 25, 1965, and the general consensus at the time was that it was the second-best Beatles movie ever made.
When the quartet made their film debut in 1964 with “A Hard Day’s Night,” Beatlemania guaranteed box office, but artistic expectations were low. Whenever rock-pop acts had previously hit the bigscreen, they were often in quickie exploitation fare, such as “Don’t Knock the Rock” (featuring Bill Haley & the Comets and Little Richard) and “Twist Around the Clock” (Chubby Checker) or the dozen Elvis Presley movies (with Col. Tom Parker bragging that each film was completed in 15 days).
So “Hard Day’s Night” took everyone by surprise, even earning two Oscar nominations. That set the bar awfully high for “Help!” Critics and audiences were upbeat but not rapturous; it was fun to see the Beatles in color, but reaction was mixed on the idea of the quartet playing themselves but this time with a plot. There was also a bit of backlash stemming from the Beatles receiving royal MBE honors (or honours), with some critics carping that they were too new to be rewarded for their contributions to the British empire. If there was a little disappointment at the time, affection for the film has grown in the past 50 years.
Variety on Aug. 18, 1965, said the budget for “Help!” was roughly three times the $560,000 production budget of “Hard Day’s Night” because the Beatles’ salary had doubled, the film was in color (costlier than B&W) and, instead of filming solely in the U.K., it lensed in Austria and the Bahamas. And, significantly, their share of the profits was increased.
“Help!” (at one point titled “Eight Arms to Hold You”) was a spy spoof scripted by Marc Behm and Charles Wood, about a cult pursuing Ringo’s ring. But, as in the first film, the quartet played themselves.
Both Beatles films were fueled by Americans, producer Walter Shenson and director Richard Lester. Just before “Help!” opened in the U.S., Shenson told Variety that “the boys” want more plot and acting in their third venture. Their philosophy was “Whatever we do, let’s make each picture different.”
That search for difference led them down some weird paths. At that point, the top candidate for their third film was “A Talent for Loving,” a comedy-western based on a novel by Richard Condon, who also wrote the novels “The Manchurian Candidate” and “Prizzi’s Honor.” Shenson admitted that the idea was “problematic,” but said the novel had the right anarchic spirit. Shenson later produced 1969’s “Loving,” starring Richard Widmark and Topol, subbing for two of the Fab Four.
That wasn’t the weirdest project. At one point, the Beatles wanted Stanley Kubrick to direct them in “The Lord of the Rings.” John, Paul, George and Ringo would respectively play Gollum, Frodo, Galdalf and Sam. But J.R.R. Tolkien turned them down. It’s not clear whether Tolkien just realized how unsuited the four would be to a fantasy epic, or whether he had a more personal objection to their noisy practicing. In a letter, he wrote: “In a house three doors away dwells a member of a group of young men who are evidently aiming to turn themselves into a Beatle Group. On days when it falls to his turn to have a practice session the noise is indescribable.”
In his 1965 review of “Help!” Variety’s Richard Gold said the four were engaging, but not yet actors. “They are moneyspinners, but how they develop as artists is a riddle.”
Their three-film contract with United Artists was eventually filled by the 1970 documentary “Let It Be.” (The animated “Yellow Submarine” didn’t count.) Each of the four Beatles appeared separately in films, but acting always took a back seat to their music.
But to the question how they would develop as artists, the answer is that they were in a class by themselves. Musically, each album became an event, including “Revolver,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Magical Mystery Tour,” the White Album, “Abbey Road” and “Let It Be” (1970), their final album. They influenced fashion (from their mod moptop look of the early days to the hippie style later) and introduced the world to meditation and drug experimentation.
When they broke up, the four had only been performing together for eight years. Fans were despondent — but at least by that point, no one was questioning their royal honor or their contributions to the British empire.
Life magazine April 24, 1970, with article about the breakup of the Beatles.
www.classichitsandoldies.com Joe Perry Says Working with Paul McCartney on Alice Cooper's "Hollywood Vampires" Album Was "an Ego Leveler" WFJA 105.5 August 25, 2015 Aerosmith‘s Joe Perry is one of the many famous musicians who Alice Cooper and movie star Johnny Depp tapped to record the soon-to-be-released album Hollywood Vampires, which pays tribute to some of the late rock stars that Cooper partied with during the 1970s as part of an informal drinking club of the same name. As big a star as Perry is, he admits that he was in awe of one of the album’s other contributors with whom he had the chance to collaborate…Paul McCartney. McCartney appears on a cover of the 1970 Badfinger hit “Come and Get It,” a song that he wrote. Perry, Cooper and Depp also took part in the session for the new version of the tune, and Joe tells ABC Radio that everyone was psyched to be in the presence of the Beatles legend. “We were really grateful to have him come in and cut the track,” he maintains. “I mean, for all of us, it was like, ‘Holy s***, we’re actually doing a session with Paul McCartney….I mean, talk about an ego leveler.” Perry adds that during the session, which was done live in the studio, he, Depp and Cooper “were looking at each other like, ‘I can’t believe this is happening.'” Joe tells ABC Radio that, like many other musicians who grew up during the 1960s, he credits The Beatles with inspiring his career path. “I remember watching them on [The] Ed Sullivan [Show] when I was 14…I mean, that why I’m doing what I’m doing today,” he points out. “And to have [McCartney] just strolling in like any [of the] other cats that played on [the album] was really amazing. I still can’t believe it.” Perry also says he always thought “Come and Get It” was “a really good tune,” but getting to “play it live with the guy who wrote it, and a Beatle was, like, stunning.” Perry also is featured on three other tracks on the Hollywood Vampires album, while the cast of musicians who contributed to the project also includes AC/DC‘s Brian Johnson, Joe Walsh, The Doors‘ Robby Krieger, Slash, Dave Grohl and Perry Farrell, among other stars. Perry notes that because of the wide range of artists who lent their talents to the project, and their various commitments, the album took more than two years to come together. “The whole thing just took time, you know, getting people’s schedules working and kind of having the whole thing mesh,” he explains. As previously reported, Perry also is part of the performing lineup of the Hollywood Vampires — along with Cooper, Depp, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum — which has scheduled a pair of shows, on September 16 and 17, at the Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, California, as well as a September 24 appearance at the Rock in Rio Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As for whether some of the other stars featured on Hollywood Vampires might take part in the shows, Joe says, “We will be bringing guests up [during the Roxy concerts], depending on who’s in town. And also, down at the show in Rio, if there are some other bands on the bill that fit in and know the songs, we might have some of them sit in too.” Hollywood Vampires hits stores on September 11.
www.nme.com Paul McCartney: 'I feared for my own life after John Lennon was killed' Former Beatle recalls incident when he saw several armed men outside his home DAMIAN JONES 24TH AUGUST 2015 Paul McCartney has admitted that he feared for his own life after John Lennon was killed. The former Beatle said he was on "high alert" when Mark Chapman gunned down Lennon outside his New York home in 1980, but said his own house in rural south England was still largely unprotected and in a remote woodland location. McCartney said he was left terrified days after the killing when he spotted several armed men advancing on the property. McCartney told Uncut: "It was weird because in the days that followed it, I was sitting in the house. We had a little perimeter fence, mainly to keep foxes out, because we had some chickens. I'm aware of security threats, so I'm on high alert and I look out and I see someone with a fucking gun, like a machine gun, an assault rifle – 'Wha?!' He's in full military gear, and then I see there's a whole patrol of them. I'm going, 'Holy shit, what's going on?'." He added: "I don't know what I did. I think I rang the police. It turned out to be army manoeuvres. [They said] 'Oh, sorry. Are these your woods?' I'd put two and two together and made a thousand. God, I don't know how I lived through it. You think you'd just faint dead on the ground. But they were all there, coming through these woods." McCartney recently admitted that he felt "frustrated" by the change in public perception of Lennon following his death. He added: "Post-Beatles George did his record, John did his, I did mine, Ringo did his. We were equal. When John got shot, aside from the pure horror of it, the lingering thing was, OK, well now John's a martyr. A JFK." "So what happened was, I started to get frustrated because people started to say, 'Well, he was The Beatles'. And me, George and Ringo would go, 'Er, hang on. It's only a year ago we were all equal-ish'". Video: Kasabian Meet Paul McCartney - Part One
www.broadwayworld.com Paul McCartney Confirms North American Arena 'Out There' Tour This October by Music News Desk August 24 2015 Fresh off an undeniably historic headline performance at this year's Lollapalooza hailed without exception as the biggest and best in the festival's 25 year history, Paul McCartney has confirmed another new North American arena date on the universally acclaimed Out There tour. Paul will return to Columbus, OH nearly 10 years to the day since his last appearance in the Ohio capital city to headline the Nationwide Arena on October 13. October 17 will see Paul back at Toronto's Air Canada Centre for the first time since 2010 on the Up And Coming Tour.
NEW NORTH AMERICAN DATES CONFIRMED
October 13 - Columbus, Ohio - Nationwide Arena
October 17 - Toronto, Canada - Air Canada Centre
Having already torn through 22 shows this year covering Japan, South Korea, Europe, the UK and the US, the Out There tour, as always, features music from the most beloved catalog in popular music, spanning Paul's entire career - as a solo artist, member of Wings and of course as a Beatle. The set list also includes material from Paul's most recent studio album NEW, a global hit upon its release in 2013.
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. Paul and his band have performed 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, played the last ever show at San Francisco's Candlestick Park where The Beatles played their final concert, and even broadcast live into Space! Featuring Paul's band of the last 10+ years - Paul "Wix" Wickens (keyboards), Brian Ray (bass/guitar), Rusty Anderson (guitar) and Abe Laboriel Jr (drums) - 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, of course, 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.
2015 has been yet another incredible year for Paul. He kicked things off on the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards with Rihanna and Kanye West, performing their smash hit collaboration "FourFiveSeconds," treated New York City to an intimate Valentines Day concert the night before appearing on the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary special, and inducted Ringo Starr into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame all before the year's halfway mark. Having played another slew of sold out dates including his debut appearance in South Korea at the Seoul Olympic Stadium, the massive Stade de France in Paris, and triumphant headline sets at the Firefly, Roskilde and Lollapalooza festivals, Out There 2015 is already proving to be another amazing chapter for a living legend who continues to make history with his every move.
Tickets for the newly announced Columbus date will be on sale Monday, August 31 at 10AM EST.
In Columbus, American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Thursday August 27 at 10AM EST through Sunday August 30 at 10PM EST.
In Toronto, American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday August 25 at 10AM EST through Thursday August 27 at 10PM EST.
Keep checking PaulMcCartney.com for further announcements.
www.broadwayworld.com Paul McCartney to Bring 'Out There' Tour to Joe Louis Arena, 10/21 by Music News Desk August 25 2015 Fresh off an undeniably historic headline performance at this year's Lollapalooza hailed without exception as the biggest and best in the festival's 25 year history, Paul McCartney has confirmed five new North American arena dates on the universally acclaimed Out There tour. McCartney will perform at Joe Louis Arena on Wednesday, October 21 at 8 p.m. First, Paul will return to Columbus, OH nearly 10 years to the day since his last appearance in the Ohio capital city to headline the Nationwide Arena on October 13. October 17 will see Paul back at Toronto's Air Canada Centre for the first time since 2010 on the Up And Coming Tour, followed by an October 21 headline at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI-Paul's first appearance at Joe Louis Arena and his first visit to the Motor City since the 2011 on the On The Run Tour. Having already torn through 22 shows this year covering Japan, South Korea, Europe, the UK and the US, the Out There tour, as always, features music from the most beloved catalog in popular music, spanning Paul's entire career - as a solo artist, member of Wings and of course as a Beatle. The set list also includes material from Paul's most recent studio album NEW, a global hit upon its release in 2013. 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. Paul and his band have performed 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, played the last ever show at San Francisco's Candlestick Park where The Beatles played their final concert, and even broadcast live into Space! Featuring Paul's band of the last 10+ years - Paul "Wix" Wickens (keyboards), Brian Ray (bass/guitar), Rusty Anderson (guitar) and Abe Laboriel Jr (drums) - 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, of course, 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. 2015 has been yet another incredible year for Paul. He kicked things off on the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards with Rihanna and Kanye West, performing their smash hit collaboration "FourFiveSeconds," treated New York City to an intimate Valentines Day concert the night before appearing on the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary special, and inducted Ringo Starr into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame all before the year's halfway mark. Having played another slew of sold out dates including his debut appearance in South Korea at the Seoul Olympic Stadium, the massive Stade de France in Paris, and triumphant headline sets at the Firefly, Roskilde and Lollapalooza festivals, Out There 2015 is already proving to be another amazing chapter for a living legend who continues to make history with his every move. Tickets ($29.50, $69.50, $99.50, $168 and $253) go on sale Monday, August 31 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at OlympiaEntertainment.com, LiveNation.com, The Fox Theatre and Joe Louis Arena box offices, at all Ticketmaster locations and Ticketmaster.com. To charge tickets by phone, call (800) 745-3000. American Express Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Thursday, August 27 at 10 a.m. EST through Sunday, August 30 at 10 p.m. Keep checking PaulMcCartney.com for further announcements. www.paulmccartney.com
AUG
25
2015
Five New 'Out There' North American Dates Confirmed
PAUL McCARTNEY TO GET BACK 'OUT THERE' IN OCTOBER
FIVE NEW NORTH AMERICAN DATES CONFIRMED
October 13: Columbus, Ohio — Nationwide Arena October 15: State College, Pennsylvania — Bryce Jordan Center October 17: Toronto, Canada — Air Canada Centre October 21: Detroit, Michigan — Joe Louis Arena October 22: Buffalo, New York — First Niagara Center
Fresh off an undeniably historic headline performance at this year’s Lollapalooza hailed without exception as the biggest and best in the festival’s 25 year history, Paul McCartney has confirmed five new North American arena dates on the universally acclaimed 'Out There' tour.
First, Paul will return to Columbus, OH nearly 10 years to the day since his last appearance in the Ohio capital city to headline the Nationwide Arena on October 13. On October 15, Paul will play his first ever show in State College, PA at the Bryce Jordan Center. October 17 will see Paul back at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre for the first time since 2010 on the 'Up And Coming' Tour, followed by an October 21 in Detroit, MI — Paul’s first appearance at the Joe Louis Arena and his first visit to the Motor City since 2011 on the 'On The Run' Tour. Finally, Paul will make his concert debut in Buffalo, NY on October 22 at the First Niagara Center.
Fans registered with PaulMcCartney.com by 8am (EDT / 1PM BST) on Thursday 27th August will be eligible to purchase pre-sale tickets for Paul's concerts in Columbus, State College, Detroit and Buffalo through the website. By registering fans will also gain accesss to exclusive content including free audio downloads, GIFs, puzzles and be eligible to purchase advance tickets for all future concert dates.
Fans registered with PaulMcCartney.com as of 8am EDT on Monday 24th August are eligible for pre-sale tickets for Paul’s concert in Toronto. To check availability for these tickets, click HERE!
Having already torn through 22 shows this year covering Japan, South Korea, Europe, the UK and the US, the 'Out There' tour, as always, features music from the most beloved catalog in popular music, spanning Paul's entire career – as a solo artist, member of Wings and of course as a Beatle. The set list also includes material from Paul's most recent studio albumNEW, a global hit upon its release in 2013.
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. Paul and his band have performed 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, played the last ever show at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park where The Beatles played their final concert, and even broadcast live into space! Featuring Paul's band of the last 10+ years – Paul "Wix" Wickens (keyboards), Brian Ray (bass/guitar), Rusty Anderson (guitar) and Abe Laboriel Jr (drums) – 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, of course, 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.
2015 has been yet another incredible year for Paul. He kicked things off on the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards with Rihanna and Kanye West, performing their smash hit collaboration 'FourFiveSeconds', treated New York City to an intimate Valentines Day concert the night before appearing on the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary special, and inducted Ringo Starr into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame all before the year’s halfway mark. Having played another slew of sold out dates including his debut appearance in South Korea at the Seoul Olympic Stadium, the massive Stade de France in Paris, and triumphant headline sets at the Firefly, Roskilde and Lollapalooza festivals, 'Out There' 2015 is already proving to be another amazing chapter for a living legend who continues to make history with his every move.
Tickets for the U.S. dates will be on sale Monday, August 31 at 10am EDT
Tickets for Toronto will be on sale Friday, August 28 at 11am EDT
For the U.S. dates, American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Thursday August 27 at 10am EDT through Sunday August 30 at 10pm EDT
For Toronto, American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday August 25 at 10am EDT through Thursday August 27 at 10pm EDT
www.examiner.com Kids' book author tells early story of Beatles to youngsters Steve Marinucci Beatles Examiner August 19, 2015 The Beatles' music reaches across many generations. And that, author Susanna Reich says, was the motivation for writing the book “Fab Four Friends: The Boys Who Became the Beatles,” a new biography of the Beatles published Aug. 18 that is aimed at young readers who are Beatles fans. And by starting in their young days, it gives kids something to relate to – that the Beatles weren't always adults. "Fab Four Friends: The Boys Who Became the Beatles" gives young readers the Beatles story. “I chose to focus on the early years because it's a lesser-known part of Beatles' history, and also because I thought kids would be able to relate to the young John, Paul, George & Ringo,” she told Beatles Examiner. “I've been a Beatles fan since childhood, and because I write books for kids, I thought it would be fun to share my enthusiasm.” The book begins with individual biographies of John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, then describes how the band came together and made its first records for EMI. Ringo Starr's addition to the band comes next as the band becomes a world phenomenon. The book is illustrated with original paintings by Adam Gustavson. “The songs are extraordinary and timeless; I hope each new generation will appreciate the music in its own way,” she said. “I hope, too, that the story will help kids understand how and why people become creative artists, and that the book will inspire kids to follow their own dreams. That's been a goal with all of my books.” “Fab Four Friends: The Boys Who Became the Beatles” is available in hardback and in eBook form. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Susanna Reich (914) 762-3140 reichgolio@verizon.net BEATLES INTRODUCED TO NEXT GENERATION OF FANS IN NEW PICTURE BOOK Forty-five years after the Beatles broke up, their popularity remains undiminished, with 41.8 million “likes” on Facebook, 2.8 million Twitter followers, a ranking as the “most important band” on Wikipedia* and the #1 spot on Rolling Stones’ list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Yet many kids today can’t even name the members of the group! Luckily, a new picture book introduces John, Paul, George and Ringo to the next generation of music lovers, helping to ensure the Beatles’ fame well into the 21st century. Fab Four Friends: The Boys Who Became the Beatles (Christy Ottaviano Books/Henry Holt), by award-winning author Susanna Reich, illustrated by award-winning illustrator Adam Gustavson, shines a spotlight on the Beatles’ earliest years, showing how four ordinary boys from Liverpool became the bestselling band in history. Beginning with John Lennon’s birth in the dark days of the Liverpool blitz, the book traces the Beatles’ roots through each boy’s childhood and teen years. Evocative language and richly-detailed paintings tell the story of the band from its earliest days as a skiffle group to its explosion onto the world stage. "Fab Four Friends is the perfect introduction to the mythic pop band — a thoughtful and delightful retelling that, like the Beatles, hits all the right notes.” - Bob Spitz, Beatles biographer It’s all here, from John and Paul’s meeting at St. Peter’s Church to George’s audition on a double-decker bus and Ringo’s early love of the drums. Heady nights in Hamburg, sweaty gigs in the Cavern Club, the adoration of hometown fans, the crush of being told that "guitar groups are on the way out,” the thrill of Beatlemania—this ultimate rock ‘n’ roll story will appeal to readers of all ages. “A gorgeous love letter to an unforgettable band” - School Library Journal Susanna Reich is the author of many books for children and young adults, including Minette’s Feast: The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat, José! Born to Dance, Painting the Wild Frontier: The Art and Adventures of George Catlin and Clara Schumann: Piano Virtuoso. Her awards include the NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor, Tomás Rivera Award, International Latino Book Award, ALA Notable, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, and Best Books of the Year from School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, Scripps-Howard, the New York Public Library, CCBC, Bank Street College and the Association of Booksellers for Children. A former Chair of the Children's and Young Adult Book Committee of PEN American Center, she lives in Ossining, New York, with her husband, children’s book author Gary Golio. Adam Gustavson has illustrated more than twenty books for children, including Rock and Roll Highway: The Robbie Robertson Story and The Yankee at the Seder, a Sydney Taylor Honor book. Adam holds an MFA from the School of Visual Arts and teaches at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He lives in New Jersey with his family and several guitars. * Open Wikipedia Ranking, Laboratory for Web Algorithmics, University of Milan
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Fab Four Friends: The Boys Who Became the Beatles Written by Susanna Reich Illustrated by Adam Gustavson Published by Christy Ottaviano Books/Henry Holt Glossary, end notes, author’s note, bibliography August 18, 2015 • Ages 6-10 • 40 pages • $17.99 Hardcover ISBN: 978-0805094589 Susanna Reich
www.theneworleansadvocate.com George Harrison's sister pens memoir of her kid brother's band BY JOHN WIRT JWIRT@THEADVOCATE.COM Aug. 23, 2015 Photo provided by Webster Public Relations -- Louise Harrison has written a memoir, 'My Kid Brother's Band: aka The Beatles.' In her memoir, “My Kid Brother’s Band: aka The Beatles,” George Harrison’s older sister, Louise, presents an insider’s take on The Beatles. The book includes Harrison’s memories of her family’s pre-Beatles life in Liverpool, England, and her 1963 publicity work for The Beatles in the United States, where the group still was unknown. When Harrison, then an Illinois resident, pitched the early Beatles recordings to U.S. radio stations, “I was invariably told, ‘Oh, this stuff’s no good. Nobody’s ever going to want to listen to that.’ But, as my dad taught me, if you believe in something, you keep at it,” she said from her home in southern California. Photo provided by Webster Public Relations -- Louise Harrison The Beatle sister’s book also recounts her chaotic WTIX-sponsored visit to New Orleans in March 1965. The local radio station was one of about 20 stations in the U.S. that broadcast her “Daily Beatles Reports.” Harrison’s eventually syndicated radio show began after her visit with her brother during The Beatles’ first trip to the U.S. That visit happened in February 1964, when the group debuted on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and played its first two U.S. concerts. In New Orleans in 1965, WTIX brought Harrison to downtown department store Godchaux’s. It was one of the many radio station-sponsored appearances she made during the “Daily Beatles Report’s” 18-month run. Response to her New Orleans visit echoed the hysteria The Beatles inspired in September 1964 when they performed at City Park. At Godchaux’s, the crush of Beatles fans forced Harrison’s planned appearance in the bridal department into a much less elegant storage room. “Too many fans would get into the elevator at the same time and it wouldn’t move,” Harrison recalled with a laugh. “They had to bring me up in the maintenance elevator. It was absolute bedlam, that whole day.” During the visit, Harrison and her husband met New Orleans music star Al Hirt. “He wanted to meet me because all his kids were big Beatles fans,” she said. Hirt invited the Harrisons to watch a Mardi Gras parade from his hotel room balcony. “It was quite interesting,” she recalled. “Some really strange looking things going by.” Harrison’s book also details the under-the-radar visit her brothers, George and Pete, made to her home in Benton, Illinois, in September 1963. Harrison’s mother in England mailed The Beatles’ early recordings to her, first to Canada and then, after Harrison’s mining engineer husband got a new job in Illinois, the U.S. “The thing about my mother is this: She wasn’t one of those mothers who thought everything her kids did was perfect,” Harrison said. “If she had a son who was in a band, and they were playing music in the evening at a couple of pubs, mum would have just said, ‘George is in a little band and they’re having fun.’ “But when mum talked to me about The Beatles, she said, ‘They have put a band together that is absolutely incredible.’ She believed that.” Nonetheless, Harrison wasn’t so impressed with 1962’s “Love Me Do,” the first record her mother sent. “But when I got ‘Please Please Me,’ the second one, I thought, ‘Wow. That does make quite an impact.’ ” Harrison was 11 when George, her youngest brother, was born. “His interest in music didn’t really come along, specifically for the guitar, until I left the house,” she said. “But I was always impressed with him.” George contracted the kidney disorder nephritis when he was about 12, she said. During a Sunday afternoon visit to his hospital room by the Harrison family, George’s friends and others, his older sister Louise noticed how considerate he was with the many well wishers. “There were four or five different groups of people, all there around his bed,” she said. “But at no time did he leave anybody out. He chatted a little bit with this one, that one, having the appropriate conversation with each of these different groups. “Everybody was made to feel welcome, to feel that their presence was very much appreciated. I remember thinking, ‘For a 12-year-old kid, he is very much the diplomat.’ Most politicians would be thrilled to have those skills.” **FILE** The British rock and roll group The Beatles are seen during their first U.S. tour in this 1964 file photo. The band members, from left to right, are George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney. The Beatles' Apple Corps company has settled a royalties dispute with record label EMI, the two companies said Thursday, April 12, 2007, raising hopes that Beatles recordings may soon be legally available online. (AP Photo, file)
