John Lennon/Beatles Mega Thread

[Nico]

Originally Posted by msLinds

Blogger News
January 12, 2012
CD Review: Everything Changes by Julian Lennon
JULIAN LENNON-“EVERYTHING CHANGES”

I was pleased to learn that Julian Lennon had returned to the recording studio after an extended absence. I had always liked him personally and had purchased most of his previous releases. Reports are that he had retreated from music due to unpleasant experiences with the business aspects of recording.I recall my first listen to a Julian Lennon song in 1984. Putting on the headphones, I closed my eyes and felt that his father John had returned to earth. Did this enhance my interest in Julian’s music? Of course, but I liked it on its own merits as well.

http://www.bloggernews.net/127564

Oh that is a VERY excellent review! I love his new album. Good on Jules.

[msLinds]

That was a good review Nico of Julian's new album.Everyone have a safe,positive and great upcoming weekend and take care.

Realscreen
January 13, 2012
Scorsese scores at Critics’ Choice Awards

Legendary helmer Martin Scorsese received two honors last night at the 17th Annual Critics Choice Movie Awards – one for his most recent documentary, and another recognizing his efforts in combining music and film. Scorsese’s George Harrison: Living in the Material World, a loving tribute to the multi-faceted Beatle and solo artist, was named best documentary feature during the ceremony in Los Angeles. Also, the director received the second annual Music*+ Film award from the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA).

http://realscreen.com/2012/01/13/sco...choice-awards/

Contact Music
January 13, 2012
Beatles - Son Of The Man Who Snubbed The Beatles Acquires Fab Four's Early Hits

The son of the man who famously turned down the Beatles has now acquired John Lennon and Paul Mccartney's early hits as a partner at boutique music publisher Round Hill Music.Richard Rowe, whose father DICk passed on signing the Fab Four when he was an executive at Decca Records, and Round Hill founder Joss Gruss have landed the songs She Loves You, I Saw Her Standing There, Misery, From Me to You, There's a Place and I Wanna Be Your Man - one of the first hits for The Rolling Stones - among a catalogue of classics as part of a new partnership with Adage Classics.

http://www.contactmusic.com/news/son...y-hits_1283268

Wiki Collecting
January 2012
Top 10 music memorabilia sales of 2011

Michael Jackson memorabilia dominated auction sales in 2011, with six of the top ten most expensive items sold once belonging to the King of Pop. The list clearly illustrates how Jackson’s legacy has continued to grow since his death, and that fans and collectors are willing to pay record prices to own a piece of his legend.The Top 10 list also features items from regular auction best-sellers The Beatles, with handwritten lyrics, the famous 'Yesterday' piano and John Lennon's 'Bed Peace' sign all selling at auction.The list is completed with a now-iconic dress worn by Amy Winehouse on the cover of her seminal album ‘Back to Black’, before her tragic death in July 2011.

http://en.wikicollecting.org/top-10-...-sales-of-2011

[msLinds]

Rollingstone Music
January 13, 2012
Documenting John Lennon's Love for Cats

The website Mental Floss has put together an exhaustive list of all of John Lennon's cats, from his childhood on through his career with the Beatles and up to his final days living in Manhattan with his wife, Yoko Ono. As it turns out, Lennon totally adored felines, and his distinctly acerbic wit came through in how he named them.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...-cats-20120113

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/112920

[msLinds]

eWeek
January 13, 2013
McCartney's Cloud-Based Archive Getting Better All the Time

The new interactive portal showcases the former Beatle's newly digitized assets from a half-century of trotting the globe and impressing millions of Phase II of Sir Paul McCartney's evolving personal cloud archive and CRM system, designed and built by Hewlett-Packard's cloud group, launched on Jan. 12, showcasing what IT now can provide in a cloud service. The new portal contains most of McCartney's newly digitized collected assets from a half-century of trotting the globe and impressing millions of people with his singular composing and performing talents.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Cloud-Compu...-All-the-Time/

[msLinds]

Contact Music
January 13, 2012
Flaming Lips - Yoko Ono And Bon Iver To Work On Flaming Lips Album

The Flaming Lips are set to work with Yoko Ono and Bon Iver on their new album, frontman Wayne Coyne has confirmed.The Flaming Lips are set to work with Yoko Ono and Bon Iver on their new album.The psychedelic rockers frontman Wayne Coyne has named a list of stars who will appear on their upcoming release - expected for April - including Nick Cave and Edward Sharpe.He told Rolling Stone magazine: "All these things happen within a couple of days."You set up these collaborations in your mind and immediately get to work."

http://www.contactmusic.com/news/yok...-album_1283316

Gibson Lifestyle
January 13, 2012
New Flaming Lips Album to Feature Yoko Ono, Bon Iver and Nick Cave

The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne has revealed that the band are working on a new collaborative LP with numerous guests. According to Rolling Stone, Bon Iver, Yoko Ono, Nick Cave, Ke$ha, Lykke Li and Erykah Badu are all set to appear on the album, which is scheduled to be released in April.Coyne confirmed that he had already recorded collaborations with Cave and the Plastic Ono Band for the record, while Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon is due to send the Lips two tracks he had been working on.

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyl...bum-0113-2012/

India Today
January 14,2012
Yoko Ono bonds with Bikaner craftswomen

For an artist and performer with a history of causing shock and awe, 78-year-old Yoko Ono oozed grandmotherly vibes as she bonded with eight woman embroiderers from Bikaner at the Vadehra Art Gallery in Okhla.The fire was in her spirit and not in her body language as she championed the cause of the exploited Everywoman. She's in the city to work on an elaborate project called 'Our Beautiful Daughters'. A highlight of this multi-exhibition project is the installation of female body parts created out of silicon and packed in coffin-like boxes filled with charcoal. It's called 'Remember Us' and is scattered in a room whose bare walls are gaily decorated with colourful odhnis hand-embroidered by the women from Bikaner.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/y.../1/168809.html

[msLinds]

Liverpool Echo
January 16, 2012
Liverpool's world-famous Cavern club marks 55th anniversary

Liverpools world-famous Cavern Club - the birthplace of The Beatles - celebrates its 55th birthday today. Events are planned throughout the year to celebrate the anniversary of the Mathew Street cellar – made famous by its historic links with the Beatles who made 292 appearances there.The original Cavern club opened its doors on January 16, 1957, and was Liverpool’s first venue dedicated to live popular music.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-30129079/

The Dallas Post
January 15, 2012
Beatles’ on display

During the month of January, the Back Mountain Memorial Library will showcase “The Beatles” collection of Natalie Marshallick, of Dallas, who has collected Beatles memorabilia for the past eight years.“A friend at work bought me a book about the Beatles,” she said, and that’s how the collection began.Now besides receiving items from friends and family, Marshallick also buys pieces herself. Her collection includes albums, 45 records, pins, stamps and figurines. One of her favorite pieces is a set of the four band members in its original stage box.

http://www.timesleader.com/TheDallas...1-15-2012.html

Timeslive
January 16, 2012
Fairmont joins music hotel trend with Abbey Road

Luxury hotel chain Fairmont has partnered with Abbey Road Studios, the iconic recording studio made famous by the Beatles.As part of a new collaboration, guests at the hotel chain will be offered exclusive experiences at Abbey Road, which famously featured on the front of the 1969 Beatles album of the same name.In a statement, the hotel chain said that its guests would be able to enjoy 'once-in-a-lifetime' experiences ranging from behind-the-scenes studio visits to recording their own songs at the studios.In return, the brand announced that The Savoy, perhaps London's most famous hotel and one that is managed by Fairmont, will be helping the studios out with a refurbishment project.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/lifestyle...ith-abbey-road

Examiner
January 15, 2012
A Monkee, a couple of Wings and more at N.Y. Metro Fest for Beatle Fans

An interesting mix of guests has just been announced for the New York Metro Fest for Beatles Fans March 23-25 at the N.J. Crowne Plaza Meadowlands Hotel in Secaucus, N.J.*Ex-Monkee Micky Dolenz, who spent time with the Beatles and Harry Nilsson, will be one of the guests. Also in attendance will be Peter Asher of Peter & Gordon, who was guest in Chicago last year, and for whom Paul McCartney wrote "A World Without Love" and other songs.*Former Wings Henry McCullough and Denny Seiwell will also appear. Seiwell's Wings drum demonstrations have attracted a lot of attention at past Fests and he'll do another this time. McCullough and Seiwell will also perform music from an upcoming CD of Wings and Beatle songs they're making.*

http://www.examiner.com/beatles-in-n...or-beatle-fans

Examiner
January 16, 2012
Thirty artists to sing 'All You Need Is Love' for Japan earthquake relief

A group of 30 Japan-based musicians will participate in a project that will see the release of a cover version of the Beatles' "All You Need Is Love"to benefit earthquake relief in that country.According to the website comtrya.com, the participants will include Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yukihiro Takahashi and Haruomi Hosono from the Yellow Magic Orchestra and GAMO, Masahiko Kitahara, NARGO and Atsushi Yanaka of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Ryota Fujimaki of Remioromen and Kazuhisa Sakurai of Mr. Children.The song will be released digitally first on Jan. 25th. A DVD/CD set featuring a music video is to be released March 7th.Proceeds from the recording are to help children affected by the quake.

http://www.examiner.com/beatles-in-n...thquake-relief

‪Deccanherald
January 16, 2012
My art reflects my affair with Lennon: Yoko Ono

From the "world's most famous unknown artist" to the "woman who broke up the Beatles", Yoko Ono has had her share of bouquets and brickbats.The conceptual artist, who is putting up her maiden exhibition in India, says her work is an extension of her "karmic love affair" with late Beatles icon John Lennon."Yes...I met him at an art show. He was recording music at his studio on 3, Abbey Road. Number three is a number connected to music. He came to 6, Mason Yard where I was having my gallery show. Six is a number of love. It was the beginning of a life-long* love affair, and karmic too," Ono told IANS in an interview during her visit to India.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...my-affair.html

Yoko Ono in India for 'Our Beautiful Daughters'‬
January 15, 2012
Yoko is in Delhi to exhibit her art work at the Vadhera Art Gallery which is largely inspired by Indian women

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wh3kGWLoW0

NDTV
January 16, 2012
Transcript of Yoko Ono's interview with NDTV

New Delhi: Often seen as the woman responsible for the break-up of the Beatles, Yoko Ono - the widow of the legendary John Lennon - says that she has been made the scapegoat. In an interview to NDTV, she says that she was victimised because she was a woman and an Asian.Here is the transcript of an excerpt from the interview.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/tr...th-ndtv-166315

The New York Times International Tribune
January 15, 2012
At Yoko’s Show, Funeral Pyres and Tributes to Mommy

Yoko Ono’s first exhibition in India, called “Our Beautiful Daughters,” at the Vadehra Art Gallery in New Delhi, could also be called “Art Under Construction.”* All seven exhibits in the show, which opened Thursday night, ask the spectators to participate in them.“Remember Us” on the first floor is the special installation Ms. Ono made for India, consisting of a large, dimly lit room with casts of beheaded, dismembered women’s bodies of different ages laid on pyrelike platforms. Small containers of ash at one end of the room seem to invite viewers to rub it on themselves or the bodies. At the end of the day, the bodies are covered with traditionally embroidered cloth made by Indian artisans – an important part of the art installation. One wall has “I am uncursed” splashed across it in black paint in different languages. Sounds from the Indian streets form the aural backdrop, making the experience at once provocative and surreal.

http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/...utes-to-mommy/

The Times of India
January 16, 2012
The world is realising it was unwise to ignore woman-power'

Yoko Ono was once described by her husband John Lennon as 'the world's most famous unknown artist'. The last time she visited India in the 1970s, legend has it that Lennon and she locked themselves up in a Mumbai hotel suite - for five undisturbed days. But in the public eye for her own work today, the avant-garde conceptual and performance artist returns to India for her first show here. Ono spoke with Neelam Raaj about art, acti-vism and woman-power, surviving Lennon - and how she felt on being blamed for breaking up the Beatles.

What memories do you have of your first India visit with John Lennon ?

After he got back from his trip to Rishikesh with the three Beatles, John told me what he liked about India... eventually the two of us came here together. We went to Sai Baba's retreat in the mountains. It was a beautiful experience but we also saw that men and women had to sit separately. John insisted we sit together and held my hand. I don't know whether that was considered rude..for me, this is my first opening to India as an artist. When i came with John, it was more to do with religion. This is very important to me and a lot of things will happen from here - things i am not sure i know about.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/h...w/11501032.cms

India Blooms News Service
January 16, 2012
Didn't break Beatles: Yoko Ono

New Delhi, Jan 14 (IBNS): Musician and artist Yoko Ono has said she was not responsible for the break up of iconic English rock band The Beatles.Ono is in India to host her first art exhibition in the country. She has always captivated the attention of her fans for being the wife of The Beatles' singer-songwriter John Lennon.In fact, it is often alleged that Ono was responsible for the break-up of The Beatles.

http://www.indiablooms.com/Bollywood...ils140112a.php

[msLinds]

Yoko Ono is in a coloring book for a fundraiser. Stevie Nicks is in it to.

Girls Rock! Rhode Island is a program that seeks to help girls and women to empower themselves through music, and they just published Women Who Rock Coloring Book. The book celebrates a variety of female musicians, from those who paved the way to the ladies who are influencing today’s vibrant music scene. An eclectic mix of performers are represented in its pages, including Cyndi Lauper, Patti Smith, Nina Simone, Yoko Ono, Joan Jett, Esperanza Spaulding and many more.

http://girlsrockri.org/blog/view/1/45

http://girlsrockri.org/blog/view/1

http://www.etsy.com/listing/87568745...women-who-rock

Wayne Coyne’s been spending some time with Yoko Ono and the Lennon family, and as always, posting plenty of photos to twitter.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr....F9zxCYxfJkc%3D

[msLinds]

The Beatles.com
January 17, 2012
The Guitar Collection: George Harrison iPad App To Be Released February 23rd

BANDWDTH Publishing, in conjunction with the George Harrison Estate, announces the release of a special iPad app celebrating the guitarist and his historical guitar collection. The Guitar Collection: George Harrison iPad app will be released through iTunes on February 23, two days before George’s birthdate.The app brings George Harrison’s private guitar collection to life through photographs, detailed descriptions, audio, and video footage.For the first time, with the help of unique 360° imaging by photographer Steven Sebring, fans can see the scratches, dings, and worn threads on the guitars as if they were themselves holding the instruments.

http://www.thebeatles.com/#/news/The...ection_George/

Digital Journal
January 17, 2012

Roberta Flack Gearing Up for Release of New Album "LET IT BE ROBERTA: ROBERTA FLACK SINGS THE BEATLES," an Album of Beatles' Classics
Her First Recording In Over 8 Years Set For Release February 7th 2012

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Roberta Flack, the four-time Grammy Award-winning artist, is back after an eight year absence with a brand new album, "LET IT BE ROBERTA: ROBERTA FLACK SINGS THE BEATLES"—a collection of Beatles song interpretations. The first single "We Can Work It Out" is currently being worked at several different radio formats including AC, Urban AC and Smooth Jazz. Buzz continues to build as key press such as NPR, Billboard, Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, AARP and More Magazine are already confirmed.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/551623

The Bellington Herald
January 17, 2012
Peter Asher has been in the right place at the right time

MINNEAPOLIS - If Peter Asher were trying to condense his remarkable resume, he could simply write: the Forrest Gump of rock.Since the 1960s, he's been nearly everywhere.John Lennon and Paul McCartney played their just-penned "I Want to Hold Your Hand" for him on his parents' piano.He introduced Lennon to Yoko Ono and Mick Jagger to Marianne Faithful.

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012...the-right.html

[msLinds]

PaulMcCartney.com
Paul McCartney to launch new album with live webcast tomorrow
January 18, 2012

Tune in live to PaulMcCartney.com tomorrow at 4pm (GMT) to get an exclusive live behind-the-scenes broadcast of Paul answering questions from some of the world's media. Paul will be spending the afternoon in London talking with press from around the world to promote the release of his new album.

http://www.paulmccartney.com/web/gue...00&#p_33%23top

Bernews
January 18, 2012
Maxi Priest Joins Lennon Tribute

British reggae superstar Maxi Priest, a fixture on the Bermuda entertainment scene since the 1990s, will be lending his voice to the upcoming John Lennon tribute CD being released to mark the former Beatle’s creative resurgence on the island.Maxi Priest [pictured] is one of several international acts with strong Bermuda ties who has been recruited to sing on the CD, set to be released in June when a sculpture commemorating Mr. Lennon’s local sojourn is unveiled at the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art in the Botanical Gardens.Producer Tony Brannon and the Ride The Wave charitable foundation are keeping a lid on some of the other international stars who have agreed to assist the project by contributing songs Mr. Lennon wrote either as a Beatles or during his solo career. Mr. Brannon said: ”Let’s just put it this way — there are some very big surprises in store. We’ll be releasing further information asto the talent involved — world-class talent, I might add — as the release date approaches.”

http://bernews.com/2012/01/maxi-prie...ennon-tribute/

The Royal Gazette online
January 18, 2012
Maxi Priest records song for John Lennon ‘Double Fantasy’ tribute

Work on a tribute album to celebrate John Lennon’s Bermuda-inspired ‘Double Fantasy’ album is moving forward, with international recording star Maxi Priest agreeing to record a song.Executive Producer for the tribute CD Tony Brannon said the British-born reggae singer has not yet decided which song to tackle, but one of the option’s being considered is the iconic ‘Imagine’.The singer is best known for his version of the Cat Stevens song ‘Wild World,’ along with duets with Roberta Flack and Shaggy.The tribute album, which will be released this June, will feature local and international performers singing songs by Mr Lennon.Joining Maxi Priest are Heather Nova, Rebecca Faulkenberry, Joy T Barnum and Uzimon, among others.And while singer Cee Lo Green recently drew the ire of Mr Lennon’s fans by changing the lyrics to ‘Imagine’ during a televised performance, Mr Brannon said that all the songs will stick with the original lyrics.“Uzimon had done a version of a song and we sent it up to New York and the first thing they said was ‘You changed the lyrics. You can’t change the lyrics’,” Mr Brannon said.“Now he has done a different song with the original lyrics.”The tribute album is just one of a series of events being organised to mark Mr Lennon’s 1980 visit to the Island, which reportedly inspired his final album.

http://www.royalgazette.com/article/...S/701189978/-1

Examiner
January 17, 2012
Seattle's Creme Tangerine to perform 4th annual Beatles rooftop concert Jan 27

January 17, 2012, Seattle, Wa – Crème Tangerine, lively and popular Beatles tribute band in Seattle, will perform their annual “rooftop concert” atop the Copacabana Café in Pike Place Market Friday, January 27, at noon. The concert is their 4th annual tribute to the Fab Four’s last public concert on January 30, 1969, which was held spontaneously on the roof of their Apple offices in London, also at noon.It was a bitter cold Friday the day the Beatles ascended to the roof of their office to play for fans one last time. John Lennon wore a huge fur coat, and Ringo Starr*shook with cold at his drums. It’s bound to be a chilly one in Seattle as well, given the snowfall occurring as we speak with more frigid temperatures on the way.

http://www.examiner.com/john-lennon-...alerts_article

Examiner
January 17, 2012
Review: For Beatles drummer, it's only rock 'n' roll in new album 'Ringo 2012'

For a guy who'll be 72 in 2012, you'd expect former Beatle Ringo Starr to be kicking back. But he's got a new album, out Jan. 31 in the U.S., with the unassuming title of "Ringo 2012"*that rocks better than its low key name.*(The album is also available in import versions from*the UK,Japan*and*Canada.)As with his last album, "Y Not," Ringo has the producer's credit with Bruce Sugar and Ned Douglas credited for recording. And as with "Y Not," there's a lot of vitality on "2012." The album, however, has only nine tracks, with one, "Think About It," a carryover from the recent Buddy Holly tribute that Ringo was a part of. Two tracks are also updates of songs he'd done on his past albums. *But that doesn't stop the album from having some great moments.

http://www.examiner.com/beatles-in-n...bum-ringo-2012

Examiner
January 17, 2012
Liverpool Beatles landmark celebrates its 55 year past with a look at its future

Liverpool’s famed Cavern Club celebrated its 55th birthday on Monday by inviting 200 music students from Solihull Music Services to perform on the same stage where the Beatles, Paul McCartney, David Gilmore, the Arctic Monkeys and Adele all once played.“We have an ongoing relationship with Solihull Music Services after they started bringing pupils to visit us almost four years ago," said Cavern Club owner Dave Jones. "We were extremely impressed with the musical ability we saw and since then we have honored our commitment to fostering new music talent by inviting them back for our birthday."*

http://www.examiner.com/beatles-in-n...-at-its-future

The Huffington Post - Books
January 17, 2012
7 Ways The Beatles Changed Rock And Roll (PHOTOS)

In my latest book,I discuss how the British rock sensation gave the cast of Rain and Beatlemania, as well as the Fab Faux and a phone book's worth of other tribute and cover bands a way to earn a living. The Beatles were also responsible for at least six milestone achievements in the development of rock and roll, starting from the moment they arrived here in 1964, and lasting well beyond their demise as a group in 1970.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-...b_1210599.html

The Tower
January 18, 2012
Unexpected DC History Goes Unnoticed At Parking Garage

http://www.cuatower.com/ae/2012/01/1...arking-garage/

[msLinds]

Examiner
January 19, 2012
LENNONOLOGY - 4-book set on Lennon and Yoko's solo careers, new site launched

January 19, 2012 –Breaking news for fans of John Lennon’s solo work. A new website has been launched by author Chip Madinger, devoted to his upcoming 4-book project called LENNONOLOGY .Volumes 1 and 2 are scheduled for Fall of 2012, and Chip projects that Volumes 3 and 4 will be probably follow a year later in the Fall of 2013.Th e set will cover every aspect of Lennon’s solo life, from live performances and interviews, the details of his recording sessions, and John and Yoko’s independent films and home recordings. Chip told us, “I’ve been working on this project since 2004.”The 4-volume set consists of the following .

http://www.examiner.com/john-lennon-...-site-launched

http://www.lennonology.com/

DigitalSpy.com
January 19, 2012
Paul McCartney to perform at Grammy Awards 2012

Paul McCartney will perform at this year's Grammy Awards ceremony, it has been confirmed.The former Beatles star and Grammy nominee will play a set at the 54th annual event, which will take place in Los Angeles on February 12.cCartney is nominated for 'Best Historical Album' for his collection Band On The Run. If he walks away with the award, it will be his 15th Grammy win in his career.

http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news...ards-2012.html

Billboard.com
January 19, 2012
Rihanna, Coldplay, Paul McCartney Added To Grammys Lineup

http://www.billboard.com/events/riha...05925752.story

TheCelebrityCafe
January 19, 2012
Paul McCartney hints at possible Summer Olympics role

McCartney also said that he believes he will be involved with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.Former Beatle Paul McCartney was announced as one of the performers for this year’s Grammy Awards, but he may also get a chance to perform on a much bigger stage. The “Band on the Run” singer hinted that he may have a role in the 2012 Summer Olympics, which will be held in London.According to The Associated Press, McCartney told the media at a promotional event for his new album that he “might be doing something” for the Olympics, but was not sure what that would be. He added that on Friday, he is set to have a meeting with the Games’ organizers about “something they want me to do.”

http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/...ole-01-19-2012

Digitalspy Music
January 19, 2012
Russell Brand to interview Ringo Starr for Sirius XM Radio

Russell Brand will interview Ringo Starr for Sirius XM Radio, it has been announced.Brand will join moderator Don Was for the radio special Town Hall With Ringo Starr, airing live from Los Angeles. Starr will take questions about his life as well as sing during the live event.

http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news...-xm-radio.html

Forbes.com
January 19, 2012
Vinyl Continues Unlikely Recovery, According To New Numbers

For vinyl records, the tables are continuing to turn. Earlier this month Nielsen released its 2011 Music Industry report, and there were plenty of newsworthy takeaways–industrywide album sales were up for the first time since 2004, while Adele’s 21 was the best-selling album, moving an astonishing 5.8 million copies in the U.S. alone.Lost amid the thicket of stats, however, was the fact that vinyl continued its unlikely comeback in 2011. For the fourth year in a row, more LPs were sold than in any other year in the SoundScan era; last year, sales soared to 3.9 million, up from 2.8 million LPs in 2010. Of the 228 million physical albums sold in 2011, nearly 2% were vinyl.*Two-thirds of those albums were purchased at independent music stores.The top-selling vinyl album wasn’t much of a surprise–The Beatles’ Abbey Road moved 41,000 units to claim the honor.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomal...o-new-numbers/

[Nico]

'Best historical album?'

Man, they like to pull random Grammys out of a hat these days.

Still, great Paul is performing. Probably will only tune in if Black Keys, Adele, or PJ Harvey are performing though!

[msLinds]

Everyone have a safe,positive and great upcoming weekend and take care.

Metro.UK
January 20, 2012
Artist pays tribute to John Lennon and JFK in bullet casings portraits

It may not be the most tasteful way to pay tribute to gun crime victims John Lennon and John F Kennedy but one eccentric artist is hoping fans won't go completely ballistic.David S Palmer creates these amazing images with bullet casings – and believes they are a great way to immortalise the dead.The self-confessed Beatles fan began experimenting with brass casings after John Lennon was gunned down.Since then, he has expanded his ‘bullet portrait’ repertoire to include Tupac Shakur and Abraham Lincoln - whose fates were all sealed by the barrel of a gun.The 58-year-old used 8,000 40-calibre bullets for his John Lennon piece, which is 120cm (48in) wide and weighs more than 72kg (11st). The casings are stuck to a strong wooden base before metal paint and a blowtorch is used to create the finished ‘canvas’.The artist, from California, said: ‘I wanted to create a memorial that would remind us how John Lennon died with the aim of taking what destroyed the person and turning it into an enduring monument of strength.I was not sure how the public would respond but I was happy to find there was a very positive response.
‘I truly feel Lennon would like the piece and would probably say something like, “If all bullets were used for art, there would be a lot less orphans”.’

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/887931-a...ings-portraits

The Guardian
January 20, 2012
Paul McCartney's new album: 'I wanted to do this with the Beatles'

Paul McCartney's new album is the album he always wanted to make with the Beatles, he has revealed. After bonding with John Lennon over 30s pop songs, McCartney said he dreamed of putting together a collection of old favourites. "I never got round to it because we were writing Sgt Pepper [or] The White Album," he explained.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012...?newsfeed=true

PasteMagazine
January 20, 2012
From the Vault : John Lennon & Yoko Ono : Interview from 1969

As a member of the Wolfgang’s Vault family, Paste has access to a rich archive of historic audio interviews from a variety of sources. Many of these interviews have never existed in text form. Our new From the Vault series will publish a different interview each week from our favorite rock ’n’ roll icons. We begin with John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s famous Bed-in at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel on May 26, 1969.Knowing that there would be a huge amount of publicity surrounding their wedding on March 20, John Lennon and Yoko Ono decided to use the opportunity to promote a cause close to their hearts. Their first Bed-In for Peace took place in late March during their honeymoon in Amsterdam, where they sat in a hotel bed and allowed members of the media to swing by during the day to discuss their ideas for achieving world peace. Hoping to reach a larger audience, a second Bed-In was scheduled for late May in New York, but because of John’s conviction for possession of marijuana and resultant inability to enter the U.S., it ended up taking place in Montreal.This interview was recorded over the phone during this second Bed-In with a friend of the couple, journalist (and Oscar-winning filmmaker a few years later) Howard Smith.

http://mplayer.pastemagazine.com/iss...-yoko-ono-1969

Examiner
January 19, 2012
A day in the Beatles' lives: Jan. 20: Frayed edges show at Rock Hall induction

Jan. 20, 1988: The Beatles are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon and Julian Lennon attend. Paul McCartney sends a letter saying he's not attending because of his business differences with the other Beatles. Also inducted: the Beach Boys, the Drifters, Bob Dylan and The Supremes. (You can see a video of the speeches given by George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, Julian Lennon and Sean Lennon).

http://www.examiner.com/beatles-in-n...hall-induction

The Beatles are inducted in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, 1988 - Video

http://www.examiner.com/beatles-in-n...-of-fame-video

[msLinds]

PJSTAR
January 20, 2012
U of I professor uses Beatles as a teaching tool

Michael Cheney, a professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield, is no newcomer when it comes to computer classes.He can recall the PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operations) system at the University of Illinois that was born way back in 1960 and went through several refinements on the U of I campus. Although the PLATO version that Cheney, 60, recalled had “400 wires, going in every direction,” the idea of using technology to teach was born with that system, he said.The problem with online learning is that since students have different learning styles, you need to try different things to reach them, said Cheney. “Oral is one element. Since I’m not a big books-on-tape guy because I get tired of listening after 25 minutes, I suspected that students might be the same,” he said.Cheney decided that three to five minutes was the ideal length for podcasts he offered to students. As a child of the 60s, Cheney mined the iconic Beatles for his podcast material. But Beatles history — not their music — is what he captured in the podcasts. “We covered subjects such as ‘Why Liverpool?’ and ‘What’s skiffle?’ among other topics,” he said. Cheney even devoted a four-minute podcast to the “Paul is Dead” controversy from the 60s.

http://www.pjstar.com/blogs/mindingb...-teaching-tool

The Sun
January 20, 2012
The Monkees aimed for The Beatles

MISCHIEVOUS members of The Monkees used to chuck DARTS at a picture of British legends The Beatles, a new BBC documentary reveals.Revealing a hint of envy towards the Fab Four, Monkee Micky Dolenz tells BBC4's How The Brits Rocked America: Go West, screened on January 29: "We had a poster of The Beatles on the wall and we used to throw darts at it."Remembering his US band's Sixties TV show, Micky adds: "It was a show about a band that wanted to be The Beatles and never made it.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...e-Beatles.html

The Tennessean
January 20, 2012
The WannaBeatles campaign to meet Paul McCartney at Grammys

A Grammy nomination doesn't come along every day for most folks - nor does the chance to be under the same roof as former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney.Nashville Beatles tribute act (and 2012 Grammy nominees) The WannaBeatles are well aware of this, and they're making the most of both opportunities with their "We Wanna Meet Paul" campaign.The band will attend this year's Grammys as producers of Fab Fan Memories - The Beatles Bond, a collection of Beatle stories and songs, which is nominated for Best Spoken Word Album. McCartney will also be at the Grammys: he'll be honored as Musicare's "Person of the Year," and the reissue of his Band On The Run is nominated for "Best Historical Package."

http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2...ey-at-grammys/

[msLinds]

Everyone have a safe,positive and great week and take care.

Watch multi-media artist Yoko Ono Lennon at D12 conference in Berlin, Germany from January 22, 2012

http://new.livestream.com/channels/546/videos/112251

http://www.dld-conference.com/speakers/art...o_aid_2908.html

Chime.in
January 22, 2012
Yoko Ono Lennon on Stage at DLD in Munich

http://chime.in/user/Bill/chime/98595222807474176

Interview Magazine
January 2012
Trailer Face Off ! Alter Egos vs. GI Joe: Retaliation

Welcome to Thursday Trailer Face-Off, a feature in which we cast a critical eye on two similar upcoming film releases, pitting them against each other across a variety of categories to determine which is most deserving of your two hours. This week: Alter Egos vs. G.I. Joe: Retaliation, two movies that dissect the meaning of the superhero with some cheap chuckles, dastardly villains, and hot ladies along the way.

http://www.interviewmagazine.com/fil...-retaliation#_

Examiner
January 21, 2012
Report: Paul McCartney heading back to Mexico for concert

Paul McCartney will play a concert in Chichen Itza on the Yucatan Peninsula sometime this year, Yucatan's Gov. Ivonne Ortega Pacheco announced on her Twitter account this week according to a report in the Yucatan Times, However, the paper said the governor admitted no signed contract has been signed and that negotations are still ongoing.Rumors have been circulating that McCartney would be appearing in the city. A source told Paul McCartney Examiner that the concert has been under study for about two years.

http://www.examiner.com/paul-mccartn...y-mexican-city

[msLinds]

The house was owned by John's aunt, Mimi Smith.

The Northern Times
January 20, 2012
Durness folk deny anger over 'John Lennon house' plans

DURNESS residents deny they are "angry" at any proposals to demolish the house where John Lennon spent many of his school holidays, contrary to national newspaper reports over the weekend.Members of the local community council, at their meeting on Tuesday night, discussed the articles which claimed that the current owners of 54 Sangomore, Richard and Vanessa Stanton, were looking at knocking it down.Planning permission to alter and extend the house was approved in 2010, but it is understood that subsequently, because of the state of the property, it would now need to be demolished and a new house built..Community councillors agreed that the house is in a state of disrepair and are sympathetic to the Stantons' belief that there needs to be a complete rebuild.The members hope, though, that a commemorative plaque on the wall of the house will remain.

http://www.northern-times.co.uk/News...ns-7524410.htm