John Lennon/Beatles Mega Thread

[msLinds]

Jim McGuinn Talks with Yoko Ono Lennon
December 8, 2011
Radio interview with Yoko Ono.
9 minutes long

This weekend in Edina, the Galleria hosts Yoko Ono Presents: Imagine Peace, the Artwork of John Lennon. It's a travelling show of John Lennon's
artwork and includes drawings, songs, lyrics, and photos between 1964-1980.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/col....shtml?refid=0

[msLinds]

Gibson
December 12, 2011
Band on the Run: The Harrowing Story Behind Wings’ Classic Album

Making an album – even a classic album – sometimes can be an exercise in overcoming adversity. Still, the monumental troubles that Paul McCartney and Wings had to surmount to record Band on the Run, easily McCartney’s best post-Beatles album, easily could have served as fodder for an epic Hollywood film.

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyl...run-1213-2011/

Crossing Abbey Road, digitally
December 13, 2011

Cal Tech and the University of Victoria say they can now download all the tracks of the entire Beatles catalog in one tenth of a second.Cal Tech and University of Victoria engineers have set a new record for how fast one computer can transfer data to another computer at an astounding 186 gigabits, or 23.25 gigabytes, per second. That rate was upheld for 11 hours as files were transferred between UVic and servers at a conference in Seattle over a commercially-available optical network.For a comparison, broadband download speeds in the U.S. average about 3.9Mbps., while Canadians are lucky to get any download speeds higher than a megabit per second.

Jambands
December 12, 2011
The 4th Annual Beatles Complete on Ukulele Marathon Concert

Ukulele master Roger Greenawalt has once again assembled a range of musicians to perform every original Beatles song on the ukulele. The 4th Annual ‘Beatles Complete on Ukulele’ Marathon Concert will take place at New York’s Brooklyn Bowl on January 14 from 3-11 PM. Adam Levy, Nellie McKay, Julian Velard, The Ramblers, Leah Seigel, Casey Shea, Chris Cubeta and The Liars Club, Alyson Greenfield, Bill Sims, Jr., Jingle Punks Orchestra, Martin Rivas, Andrew Vladeck, Erik Deutsch, Suzanna Choffel and Deni Bonet are some of the musicians slated to play the 185 original Beatles songs. Mass Uke Mob will open this year’s show. Previous performances include: Nellie McKay, Ben Kweller, The Pierces, The Naked Brothers Band, Ryan Miller of Guster and many, many more.

http://www.jambands.com/news/2011/12...rathon-concert

San Diego Reader
December 13, 2011
Update: Beatles Amp Pulled from Auction

Those who may have searched Bonham’s auction website in the days following November 29 for news about sale 19037, lot 373w, found a cryptic message posted in red: this lot has been withdrawn. Lot 373 w consisted of one extraordinarily rare amplifier, a Vox UL730 made all the more rare by the windfall discovery that it was said to have belonged to George Harrison.

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblog...-from-auction/

[msLinds]

Examiner
December 12, 2011
Musicians band together in annual NYC tribute to John Lennon (pics)

Theatre Within's 31st Annual John Lennon Tribute, a New York City tradition since 1981, took place before a sellout crowd Dec. 10 at New York’s (Le) Poisson Rouge.*The all-star cast featured Steve Forbert, Bettye LaVette, Lucy Kaplansky, Rich Pagano of the Fab Faux, Richard Barone, Marshall Crenshaw, Toshi Reagon, Mike Doughty and others taking on the John Lennon song book. The songs performed included all those from his "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" album.The all-star cast featured Steve Forbert, Bettye LaVette, Lucy Kaplansky, Rich Pagano of the Fab Faux, Richard Barone, Marshall Crenshaw, Toshi Reagon, Mike Doughty and others taking on the John Lennon song book. The songs performed included all those from his "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" album.

Proceeds from this year's event and the just-released digital live album of last year’s event, "The 30th Annual John Lennon Tribute Live from the Beacon Theatre", which featured artists including Patti Smith, Jackson Browne, Meshell Ndegeocello, Keb Mo', Martin Sexton, Shelby Lynne,Taj Mahal, Bettye LaVette and Aimee Mann, will benefit The Japanese Red Cross’ Tsunami and Earthquake Relief efforts. Yoko Ono has given her support to the event."John would have loved that Theatre Within has produced a special live album of his songs to benefit the Japanese Red Cross and the people still suffering from the tsunami and earthquake," said Yoko Ono.

http://www.examiner.com/beatles-in-n...hn-lennon-pics

http://www.examiner.com/beatles-in-n...within-picture

The Guardian
December 13, 2011
John Lennon: 'I was sick of White Christmas' – a classic interview from the vaults

In our latest visit to the archives of Rock's Backpages – the world's leading collection of vintage music journalism – we visit John Lennon and Yoko Ono in New York in 1971, just as they're recording a song for Christmas, with the help of Phil Spector. This account of events by Richard Williams was first published in Uncut magazine in 1998

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

Huffington Post
12/13/2011
Yoko Ono's First UK Exhibition In A Decade Set For London 2012

Yoko Ono will feature at the London 2012 Festival when she exhibits new and rarely seen works at the Serpentine Gallery in what will be her first show in a UK public institution in over a decade.The widow of John Lennon plans to feature her SMILE project in which people are invited to upload an image of themselves smiling to form a ‘global anthology of positive portraits’ – a very modern take on her lifelong mission to ‘spread the love’.As well as featuring SMILE the exhibition will partly be a retrospective of Ono’s influence in contemporary art, music, film and performance since the early 60s when she flirted with Dadaism and the avant-garde collective Fluxus. Fans can expect to see pieces that have never or rarely been shown before in the UK.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011...n_1145573.html

[Nico]

Originally Posted by msLinds

This is a interesting radio show and interviews etc about John Lennon's life.That was posted on another message board.That I wanted to share with you all here.

NPR On Point - Radio Show from December 8, 2010
45 minutes long
John Lennon: Politics, Pop and Power
The 30th anniversary of John Lennon’s death. We look at his life, music, and cultural legacy.Discussion from an NPR show,
On Point. It was broadcast last year for the 30th anniversary of his death.

http://onpoint.wbur.org/2010/12/08/john-lennon

This was an interesting listen. I love the various perspectives on John.

One thing can be said, MsLinds, John campaigned for a lot of principles that many people of his status wouldn't want to deal with the heat from: peace activism, women's libration, equal rights, etc. He really put himself out there for his beliefs. Some of the things he jumped on, he later admitted were led by his naivete. But I respect his stance and, in his last year, he made it clear he still believed in most of them.

He was a pretty neat fellow, eh?

[msLinds]

I agree with you Nico was one cool and pretty neat fellow indeed.

Fan Memories earns Grammy nomination
December 14, 2011

ASHVILLE, Tenn. -- "Fab Fan Memories - The Beatles Bond", a Beatles tribute CD produced and recorded in Nashville, Tenn., has received a Grammy nomination as one of five Grammy nominees in the "Best Spoken Word" category. Official Grammy balloting will begin Today, December 14.The CD/audio book, features songs, stories, recollections and fond thoughts about The Beatles from celebrities and everyday fans. The project, which was recorded and mastered by Dennis Scott Productions, features narration by George Harrison's older sister, Louise Harrison, with performances by The Liverpool Legends of Branson, Mo., and The WannaBeatles of Nashville."The recording helps tell The Beatles' story from the fans' perspective," said Louise, who recently appeared on several national TV programs to reflect on her brother's life. "I hope all who listen will recognize the love and sincerity."Released on WannaBeats Records, "Fab Fan Memories" was produced by Scott and WannaBeatles band mates Bryan Cumming, David Toledo and Nathan Burbank. The Liverpool Legends, hand selected by Louise and led by Marty Scott, provide several Beatles covers. Heartfelt and amusing introspections are provided by fans, including special guests such as Nancy Lee Andrews, Janis Ian, Phil Keaggy, Melissa Manchester, Ken Mansfield, Alan Menken, Wesley Orbison, Bruce Spizer, Bill Swan, and Rod Davis of The Quarrymen. The WannaBeatles perform original Beatles-flavored songs on the CD.

http://www.thewannabeatles.com/

http://www.fabfanmemories.com/

BerNews
December 15, 2011
Lennon CD Auditions On Saturday

Bermuda’s singers are being invited to audition on Saturday [Dec. 17] for a tribute album being released to commemorate an act you’ve known for all these years — former Beatle John Lennon, who composed his final songs on the island.The auditions will be held at Chewstick’s headquarters at 28 Elliott Street in Hamilton from 3 pm to 6 pm.Organizer Tony Brannon of the Catch A Wave charitable group said: “This is an opportunity for great local talent to be part of the John Lennon tribute CD being released next summer.” Those selected will be sing on a track being recorded on the island under the supervision of Felix Tod, Bermudian folk-rock star Heather Nova’s producer husband. The tribute CD will be released next June in conjunction with the unveiling of a John Lennon sculpture at the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art celebrating the Liverpool-born singer/songwriter’s creative renaissance*on the island in the summer of 1980

http://bernews.com/2011/12/lennon-cd...s-on-saturday/

Construction Enquirer
December 15, 2011
Kier sells home of last live Beatles concert

Kier is selling its property at 3 Savile Row, London for £31.85m.The building is famous as the former home of Apple Records where the Beatles made their last public live appearance on the roof in January 1969.The building has been sold to GHSR LLP and the deal will be finalised once Kier has completed refurbishment work.

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/...atles-concert/

Sonic State
December 14, 2011
THAT Beatles Chord Revealed By Randy Bachman

I must say, I have never had a debate with anyone about the chord at the beginning of 'A Hard Day's Night' by The Beatles, but I have sat and wondered many times how such a beautiful sound was created.Others have debated about it however, and there is a great deal of online literature on the matter. Finally, it seems we have closure on the matter from Randy Bachman, who was privileged enough to listen to the master tracks.

http://www.sonicstate.com/amped/2011...randy-bachman/

SF Weekly
December 15, 2011
Albert Maysles Reveals the Human Behind ex-Beatle Paul McCartney in The Love We Make

Some celebrities have had such a huge impact on our culture that it's difficult to imagine them as individual human beings. But filmmaker Albert Maysles has built a career out of quietly capturing the character of each of his subjects, including American Bible salesmen (Salesman), Big Edie and Little Edie Beale (Grey Gardens), The Rolling Stones (Gimme Shelter), and The Beatles (What's Happening! The Beatles in the USA). Co-directed with Bradley Kaplan, Maysles' new documentary The Love We Make follows a former Beatle (and one of the most beloved figures in pop music) during the weeks immediately following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/exhibition...rt_maysles.php

Blottr
December 14, 2011
Sir Paul McCartney Plays The 100 Club

Sir Paul McCartney has performed an intimate lunchtime gig at the 100 Club on London's Oxford Street, a historic music venue faced with closure.
Just 300 fans were treated to the smallest show the ex Beatle has played in over a decade. The set*lasted two hours, and included songs by the Beatles, Wings and from Sir Paul's extensive solo back catalogue.He was met by huge applause when he first stepped onstage and said: "Please Mr 100 Club, try and keep it open because it's a really cool place."

http://www.blottr.com/uk/breaking-ne...plays-100-club

Contact Music
December 15, 2011
Sir Paul McCartney - Sir Paul Mccartney Thanks Russian Fans

Sir Paul McCartney has thanked Russian fans for giving him a warm welcome for his third show in the country.Sir Paul McCartney has thanked Russian fans for giving him a warm welcome.The legendary Beatles musician took his On The Run tour to Moscow's Olimpiysky complex in Russia yesterday (14.12.11), and as he left, sent a message thanking fans for welcoming his show back.

http://www.contactmusic.com/news/sir...n-fans_1275957

Ultimate Classic
December 15, 2011
Paul McCartney’s ‘Take it Away’ Video Notes Bring In Over $25,000 at Auction

Scraps of paper might cost you big bucks! That is if those scraps are handwritten notes from Sir Paul McCartney! In a recent Gotta Have Rock*And Roll auction, Paul’s script notes for the ‘Take It Away’ music video sold for a whopping $25,941.00. The starting price was $10,000, and the 7th bid was the lucky one! What basically amounts to a screenplay for the ‘Take It Away’ video was full of notations and directions from McCartney. Beatle items are always in high demand, but items like this are truly one of a kind!

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-...in-over-25000/

[msLinds]

Everyone have a safe and great weekend and take care.

Sean Lennon performs at annual Christmas concert with Rufus and Martha Wainwright and family

The New York Times
December 16, 2011
In the Tradition of a Matriarch, This Family Keeps Crooning and Caroling

“A Not So Silent Night,” the concert at Town Hall on Thursday, was a typical Christmastime family gathering: motley, convivial, multigenerational, jokey, affectionate, conscious of passing years and tinged with both skepticism and faith. There wasn’t any bickering, though. The family onstage happens to be packed with singers and songwriters — troupers all — and this year the next generation was resuming a tradition.Rufus and Martha Wainwright, children of the songwriters Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III, have taken up their mother’s annual Christmas-concert-cum-family-reunion project, which was last presented in New York City in 2008; she died in 2010. This year’s show, a benefit for the Kate McGarrigle Fund for Sarcoma Research, easily reclaimed the homey charm of its predecessors, in a concert that hopscotched through the Christmas repertory, from old carols to brand-new songs, from hymns to Tin Pan Alley to rock. The wardrobe featured glitter, tinsel and quasi-medieval costumes, although Ms. Wainwright’s top was apparently from a marching band uniform.Friends were there too, including Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson and Marianne Faithfull, as well as a coterie of second-generation songwriters: Sean Lennon, who led a singalong of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” and Jenni Muldaur and Teddy Thompson, who teased through “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”Mr. Reed had family in mind, with his guitar tolling as he sang John Lennon’s desolate “Mother,” joined by Sean Lennon on piano.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/ar...view.html?_r=1

Mail Online
December 16, 2011

Sir Paul and a chip off the old rocker: McCartney flies from arena show to tiny pub gig... to see his son James perform

Hours after performing in front of 26,000 fans in Moscow, Sir Paul McCartney was on the plane home for an equally important concert date.This time he was in the audience – and the performer was his only son, James.The crowd in a North London bar amounted to no more than 100. But 34-year-old James was delighted with the reception he received from a family party which also included his elder sisters Mary and Stella.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...amden-gig.html

Ultimate Classic Rock
December 16, 2011
Paul McCartney Announces New Album ‘My Valentine’

Ahh, romance. It will certainly be in the air when Sir Paul McCartney releases his brand new album titled ‘My Valentine’ on Feb. 7 via the Concord/Hear Music label.Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the album will feature romantic ballads — originals and covers — rooted in the sounds of days gone by. McCartney described the album to Direct Current as such: “This will sound like the years between 1920-1940,” he said,”these are songs I heard. My family, my uncles, everybody sang.”Last spring, McCartney talked to Rolling Stone about wanting to do a ‘pop standards’ type album saying, “I’ve wanted to do that kind of thing forever, since the Beatle days.”

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-...-my-valentine/

[Nico]

msLinds, check out this lovely new photo of Julian and Sean!



And this great video of Sean performing "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" with Marianne Faitfull, Lou Reed, Marta & Rufus, and others!

[msLinds]

Great photograph of both brothers Sean and Julian together.Thanks Nico for posting that video. I love that song.

[msLinds]

E Junkie - infor
December 17, 2011
'In The Memory Of John Lennon & Yoko Ono' - A Beautiful Typographic-Illustration Series

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today.."

Yes - I am talking about the album 'Imagine' by John Lennon. It's futile collecting facts that shows how hit and famous it was. Even today, it sounds divine. The above lyrics is from the opening track 'Imagine'; written and composed by John Lennon himself. And now look at your left, a beautiful typographical illustration depicting the title of this heavenly song by very talented Karina Eibatova.Karina Eibatova, aka Eika is a Russian artist and runs Dopludo Collective.*Karina specializes in drawing, illustrations, video, calligraphic and typographic art. It's commendable how she has combined John Lennon's Imagine and his love with his soulmate and wife Yoko Ono. They both shared a great love and have a beautiful love story. The alphabet 'M' in the illustration depicts John and Yoko.

http://www.e-junkie.info/2011/12/in-...-yoko-ono.html

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Illus...ography/633527

The Style Of Sean Lennon
A Tumblr displaying the style of a dapper gentleman, Sean Ono Lennon.

http://thestyleofseanlennon.tumblr.com/

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/sean+lennon

Herald Sun
December 18, 2011
Yoko Ono gets Emmanuel Kelly a gig in US

MELBOURNE's Emmanuel Kelly will meet the casting directors and producers of US show The Glee Project in January. Kelly, 17, attracted the attention of producers after Yoko Ono tweeted after his performance of John Lennon's Imagine on The X Factor in September.Ono's Tweet to Emmanuel read: "Thank you, Emmanuel. You sang beautifully! Thank you. John would have been proud of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Love, Yoko,"

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertai...-1226224812679

http://www.pedestrian.tv/entertainme...glee/60531.htm

Examiner
December 15, 2011
Oh you beautiful dolls, part 2: Paul McCartney and band immortalized in Russia

Fans in Russia gave Paul McCartney a surprise gift a few minutes before the show he played in Moscow on Wednesday. Beatles.ru, a community of Russian-speaking fans with more than 20,000 members in Russia and around the world, presented the former Beatle and his band with a traditional Russian matryoshka doll. Commonly referred to in the West as nesting dolls, this is a set of dolls of increasing sizes placed one inside the other. The gift was a similar one as was given to Ringo Starr and his band in June.

http://www.examiner.com/beatles-in-n...alized-russian

[msLinds]

Ultimate Classic Rock
December 18, 2011
Beatles VI Is Here!’ Poster Sells for $6,300

An ultra-rare ‘Beatles VI’ in-store promotional poster recently sold at an eBay auction for $6,300. This could very well be the rarest Beatles promo poster in the world. Seventeen bids were placed before the 20×28 inch rarity sold late last month.“Beatles VI Is Here!” is printed in block letters across the top of the black-and-white photo of the Fab Four, with album art of the first five records printed along the bottom edge. In perfect promo fashion, each pictured record has its catalog number underneath it.

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/beatl...ells-big-mone/

Liverpool Echo
December 19, 2011
Sir Paul McCartney explains why he’s invited Liverpool FC and Everton FC teams to his Liverpool concert

That night Sir Paul expressed regret that the original Cavern has never been excavated.He said: “It seems a shame. Like I said on the night, if they can excavate the pyramids, why not the Cavern? It can’t be that difficult. Maybe there are too many big buildings on top of it, I don’t know. They built the replica to one side, but it seems daft that no-one will dig out the old one and at least see what state it’s in.“It’s like if you had a replica of the Houses of Parliament people would still want the real thing. Saying that, it wouldn’t be the same without Paddy, the old doorman.”

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...52-29976205/2/

New Blaze
December 19, 2011
A Metamorphosis of iTunes Yellow Submarine Renders It Unrecognizable !

(Verse 2) "Child-like, no one understands. Jack knife, in your sweaty hands. Some kind of innocence is measured out in miles. What makes you think you're something special when you smile? (Chorus) You can talk to me, You can talk to me, If you're lonely you can talk to me." Hey Bulldog - The Beatles.The red-velvet cake recording light is on! We're ('I am he as you are he') in the studio making our next record. Will this take be a keeper? Yes, it's a keeper! Hey Bulldog is the best song on Yellow Submarine, but the only problem I can see, is that The Beatles' classic rocker is not included on the newest version, which was just made available on itunes on December 9th.

http://newsblaze.com/story/201112190.../topstory.html

Dinosaur Album Guides
December 17, 2011
The Beatles - Please Please Me, The Definitive Guide

Dinosaur Album Guides launch the first in an exciting new series; a definitive guide to The Beatles debut LP, Please Please Me. For iPad & Kindle.*We leave no stone unturned as we trace the history of this seminal rock album. Each song is broken down into sub-sections of background, recording, analysis, impact and discography, as we present you with all the details you ever wanted to know. Who plays which instrument, which amplifiers were used, how many takes were involved, what were the individual influences behind each song, how were the songs recorded, and much more. In addition, quotes from the band members and EMI staff help to flesh-out the story behind each song, as well as the album itself. The

http://onlynorthernsongs.blogspot.co...efinitive.html

[msLinds]

Music Feeds
December 21, 2011
Listen: Paul McCartney ‘My Valentine (Feat. Eric Clapton)’ New Song

Paul McCartney has released a track from his upcoming new solo album, due for release in February next year. Eric Clapton lends his guitar to this version of the song My Valentine, and you can also expect Stevie Wonder to pop up on another song from the album as well.McCartney has said the album will be mostly made up of cover songs, from the music that influenced him in his childhood and early song writing days. Two original songs will also be included in the tracks. The untitled album will be released around the 6th of February.

http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/listen...pton-new-song/

Liverpool Confidential
December 20, 2011
Exclusive: Place where Beatles 'discovered' to be torn down
Most important music deal in history struck 50 years ago in NEMS building

THE building in Liverpool where the Beatles signed what has been described as the most important music contract of all time is to be demolished.John, Paul, George and their then drummer Pete Best signed up on January 24, 1962 with Epstein at the headquarters in Liverpool’s Whitechapel of family-owned NEMS.It propelled the four lads from Liverpool into the four that “shook the world” and put the Mersey Sound and the city onto the global stage. In 2008, when the piece of paper was auctioned in London for £240,000, it was described as the ‘most important music contract of all time’.

http://www.liverpoolconfidential.co....down-Liverpool

American Songwriter
December 19, 2011
Seth Swirsky

As the sole writer of the classic “Love Is a Beautiful Thing,” recorded by Al Green and several others, and a co-writer of hits by Taylor Dayne (“Tell It to My Heart”), Michael McDonald (“Tear It Up”) and more, Seth Swirsky has bragging rights to a lot of airplay and legendary artist coverage. He had writing deals with Chappell Music (which became Warner-Chappell Music) and EMI Music as he honed his craft, writing melodic and emotional music that appealed to millions. Then he decided enough was enough.Swirsky tired of the staff songwriting and pop music rat races and decided to take the road less traveled as he pursued some other loves, namely, baseball and the Beatles. Swirsky has authored three successful books about baseball, and his video documentary Beatles Stories, which features interviews with people close to, and maybe not so close to, the Fab Four, will be available in the spring of 2012 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ signing with EMI.

http://www.americansongwriter.com/2011/12/seth-swirsky/

[Nico]

MsLinds, thanks for the Macca song. I don't care for it, sorry. The music is pretty but the song is far too schmaltzy. Some people are ripping on his voice, it doesn't bother me because it's Paul and I will always love his voice- but I can't with this song...Julian Lennon's first single had way more punch and better arrangement, songwriting. I am shocked. Not to say Julian isn't capable of that, but I expect better from Paul.

Also, I saw this Seth Swirsky documentary and guess who he interviewed? Wait for it...

FRED SEAMAN!!!!

So that tells you exactly the worth of his doc, sad to say. There's some decent interviews, and actually Jack Douglas comes out pretty well, but overall it's average. I don't think he did all that well with John's side and that is because a lot of John people didn't want to be interviewed.

Thank you for all the news!!!!

[msLinds]

Your welcome Nico about the news updates. Fred Seaman is a convicted thief and scumbag.Thats all I want to say about that.I also like Julian's first single better to.I want to wish everyone a Happy Winter Solstice,Happy Hanukkah,Merry Christmas and happy Kwanza.I hope you all have a safe,positive and enjoyable and great Holiday season.Take care of yourselves.

Sean Lennon, Lou Reed and Rufus Wainwright and family - photographs
December 15, 2011

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeskl...=sean%20lennon

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeskl...=sean%20lennon

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeskliar/6521711035/

Noise11
December 22, 2011
Yoko Ono To Be Awarded Austrian Kokoschka Art Prize

Musician, artist and Beatle widow Yoko Ono has been chosen as 2012’s winner of Austria’s Oskar Kokoschka art prize.The jury chose Ono for her “artistic body of work and the dedicated socio-political positioning” and her “outstanding artistic personality” associated with the Fluxus movement in the ‘60s, according to a (statement from jury chairman Gerald Bast, director of the University of Applied Arts (via GoogleTranslate).The prize, named after 20th century Austrian Expressionist painter and poet Oskar Kokoschka, was established in the year of his death in 1980 and is awarded biannually to outstanding contemporary artists and comes with a nifty €20,000.

http://www.noise11.com/news/yoko-ono...prize-20111222

Heraldi.ie
December 21, 2011
Did Heather leak her own voicemail of Macca pleas ?

Paul McCartney's ex-wife Heather Mills may have leaked her own private voicemail messages to a newspaper, Britain's hacking inquiry has been told.Former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan was quizzed by the Leveson Inquiry about an article he wrote in 2006 detailing a "heartbreaking" message left by the former Beatle for his then wife.Mr Morgan repeatedly refused to disclose the source of the recording, prompting inquiry chairman Lord Juststice Leveson to suggest calling "the lady in question" to get to the bottom of the matter.Mr Morgan, speaking by video link from the US, said it had been "stated as a fact" that Ms Mills recorded their conver-sations and had given them to the media.

http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/a...s-2969618.html

The Sun
December 22, 2011
Macca falls off stage at end of gig
The music legend, 69, fell down stairs while leaving the stage after a gig in Liverpool.But ex-Beatle Sir Paul "just dusted himself down".A source said:
"He's not accident-prone so it's unusual for him to be clumsy. He saw the funny side."

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...rpool-gig.html

Belfast Telegraph
December 21, 2011
McCartney honoured in home city

Sir Paul McCartney has been honoured in his home city with an "icon" award.The former Beatle, 69, returned to Liverpool yesterday (Tuesday) to stage the sell-out finale to his On The Run world tour at the city's Echo Arena.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/en...-16094015.html

Liverpool Echo
December 21, 2011
REVIEW: Paul McCartney wows a packed Liverpool ECHO Arena

SIR Paul McCartney turned back the clock at the Liverpool ECHO arena, playing songs from across his glittering career with The Beatles and beyond.Dressed in a black suit and pink shirt he kicked off with Hello Goodbye, Junior’s Farm and All My Loving on his trademark Hofner violin bass."Well hello Liverpool. This is the last night of our tour and what a place to end it," he grinned.To mark his homecoming, he delighted the capacity crowd with a three hour set of familiar hits and fan favourites.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-29987375/

Daily Mail
December 21, 2011
What a romantic! Sir Paul McCartney to release wedding song written for wife Nancy

Sir Paul McCartney is preparing to release the song he wrote for his new wife Nancy Shevell and performed on their wedding day. The track is called My Valentine, and will feature on a new album due for release in February.The old romantic penned the song after falling in love with Nancy, his third wife, in 2009.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...=feeds-newsxml

[msLinds]

Ultimate Classic Rock
December 22, 2011
An Autographed ‘Meet The Beatles’ Album Can Be Yours… For $90,000

Need one last big-ticket gift for that Beatles fan in your life? How about an original copy of their debut album ‘Meet the Beatles,’ signed by all four members of the group? Looks and sounds pretty great, right? The only catch is, you’ll need almost $90,000 to play the role of Santa Claus in this manner.After the album failed to reach the minimum desired bid in their music & entertainment signature auction on Dec. 13, Heritage Auctions is hoping that a fixed price — $89,625, specifically — will help this incredible piece of rock history find a home.

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/meet-...aphed-auction/

Scotman
December 23, 2011
Pupils make last-minute dash for ex-Beatle’s home concert

There are some last-minute bookings which are impossible to refuse.And when the call comes from an ex-Beatle and knight of the realm, you’ll pull out all the stops to make sure it comes together.The Loretto School Pipe Band got a call asking them to appear alongside Sir Paul McCartney – with just four days’ notice.The band were specifically sought out by Sir Paul’s director of music to perform at his homecoming concert at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Tuesday night.Pipe Major Colin Pryde received the call while he was in the middle of teaching at the Musselburgh school last week, asking if the band could join Sir Paul on stage for his performance of Mull of Kintyre.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/educati...cert_1_2021327

Jalopnik
December 22, 2011
John Lennon drove this Amphicat at his English country estate

Tittenhurst Park was John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 72-acre estate in Berkshire county in the South of England. According to a book on Lennon's life, he often raced over the "hilly greensward" with his son Julian on an Amphicat six wheeler.In the biography John Lennon: The Life, author Philip Norman recounts Lennon's spacious home and property as a "seven-year-old's paradise." Julian would later call it a "house of fun." Norman writes:

http://jalopnik.com/5870526/john-len...country-estate

Tokyo Art Beat
December 21, 2011
Shining Light on Disaster

Following the presentation of the “Tragedy, Art, and Peace” talk at the Mori Art Museum in August this year, and the Yokohama Triennale that included her telephone installation, the prolific Yoko Ono has once again captivated Tokyo with new works. In not one but two exhibitions currently being displayed barely a few kilometers apart, Ono looks to address further the experience of trauma and loss, this time focusing on the mechanisms of remembrance and experience. Located in Gallery 360° is a show entitled “I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER ME”, whilst a few train stops west of this the “LIGHT” exhibition is running at Tomio Koyama Gallery. With these two shows there are some superficial as well as thematic similarities, but their approaches to a common subject deviate from each other profoundly.

http://www.tokyoartbeat.com/tablog/e...-disaster.html

[msLinds]

Paper Mag
December 23, 2011
Flashback Friday: Mark Ronson and Sean Lennon's High School Band, Whole Earth Mamas

So while procrastinating on the Internet last night, we fell into a deep, dark Internet K-hole, which involved Google-Image-searching "Whole Earth Mamas," Mark Ronson's high school band (which he talked to us about in our 2008 cover story on him). The search led us to the amazing photo above, which features Sean Lennon in the background on the guitar, Mark in the front wearing a hoodie, and someone named Sean Zanni next to him (who we discovered once dated Liv Tyler -- we told you, were in an Internet K-hole!!). We love everything about this photo.

http://www.papermag.com/2011/12/flas...k_ronson_a.php

BBC Radio
December 23, 2011
When The Beatles met Elvis

A new exhibition documents the meeting.A new exhibition at the Beatles Story Museum in Liverpool tells the story of the one occasion when the Beatles met their once hero Elvis. The exhibiton charts Elvis' influence on The Beatles, from their early days as The Quarrymen, through to their meeting in 1965. It goes on to document their subsequent careers through to Elvis' campaign to*have John Lennon removed from the country for his anti war protests. The exhibition features lots of original artefacts which have never been on display before.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20111223_elvis.shtml

Daily Mail Online
December 24, 2011
The greatest musician on the planet: An awestruck JAN MOIR joins 69-year-old Paul McCartney as he completes an exhausting world tour

Before the concert begins, he stands in the shadows just to the left of the stage. In his lifetime, he has played more than three thousand shows just like this. Some bigger, some smaller, but all of them to a devoted following whose fidelity has never waned.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...=feeds-newsxml

The Sun
December 24, 2011
Paul McCartney doubles his earnings

PAUL McCartney can nearly afford to do a weekly food shop at Marks & Spencer now.The former Beatle has almost doubled his earnings in the past year. His income for 2011 is £29million, compared to £16.4million in 2010. The singer's company made a pre-tax profit of £12.8million, up by more than £9million from the year before.

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

Truth Dive
December 22, 2011
Heather Mills denies disclosing McCartney’s ‘heartbreaking’ message to Piers Morgan

London, Dec 22 (ANI): Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney’s ex-wife Heather Mills has denied she had never disclosed her private voice mail messages to former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan.At the Leveson Inquiry into press standards, it was revealed that Mills might have leaked her own private voice mail messages from Sir Paul to Morgan.Mills, however, said in a statement that Morgan was using her as a “scapegoat”.“For the avoidance of doubt, I can categorically state that I have never ever played Piers Morgan a tape of any kind, never mind a voice message from my ex-husband,” The Telegraph quoted Mills, as saying.

http://truthdive.com/2011/12/22/Heat...rs-Morgan.html