BeatlesLane.com Blog - Beatles Fan Site

Video: John Lennon with The Dirty Mac performing "Yer Blues"

2009-05-29T18:42:00.001-05:00

This is video of John Lennon and The Dirty Mac performing "Yer Blues" on the Rolling Stones’ TV special “The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus”. The date was December 11, 1968. In this clip, the song is prefaced by about a minute of conversation between Lennon and Rolling Stone Mick Jagger.

In addition to John on vocals and rhythm guitar, The Dirty Mac consisted of Eric Clapton (from Cream) on lead guitar, Mitch Mitchell (from The Jimi Hendrix Experience) on drums, and Keith Richards (from The Rolling Stones) on bass.

More info on BeatlesTrivia.com

Pizza Hut Commercial with Ringo Starr and The Monkees

2009-04-29T14:52:00.002-05:00

Great circa mid-1990s Pizza Hut Commercial with Ringo Starr, formerly of The Beatles, and Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones & Peter Tork of the reunited Monkees.

Note: Original Monkee Mike Nesmith was not a part of the reunited group at the time.

Introducing BeatlesTrivia.com, a BeatlesLane Spin-Off

2009-03-06T17:36:00.002-06:00

I'm happy to announce the brand-new, BeatlesTrivia.com, a spin-off sister site of BeatlesLane.com! The purpose of BeatlesTrivia is to feature trivia, facts and details about the Beatles, with some pictures sprinkled in too. All done blog style. I had originally thought about just adding a Beatles trivia section to BeatlesLane, but I really liked the idea of doing it in a WordPress blog format with the latest posts on top, categories and things like that.

New posts will be added on an on-going basis, one at a time. Thanks for checking it out: BeatlesTrivia.com

"Get Back" 40th Anniversary of Beatles Rooftop Performance

2009-01-30T08:42:00.001-06:00

Today is the 40th anniversary of the rooftop performance, as seen in the Beatles film 'Let It Be'. On January 30, 1969, accompanied by Billy Preston on keyboards, The Beatles performed five songs on the rooftop of Apple's headquarters in Savile Row near Piccadilly Circus. Some of the neighbors were unhappy with the "noise", so the police were called in to shut it down. During the performance of "Get Back", shown in the video below, you can see George Harrison turning his amplifier back on. I'm thinking Mal Evans most likely turned it off as he's seen talking to George during the song, probably telling him that they need to stop playing.

After the song, Paul McCartney says, "Thanks, Mo!" in response to the enthusiastic cheering and applause from Ringo's wife Maureen Starkey. Then John Lennon says, "I'd like to say 'thank you' on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we passed the audition!" The dialogue can also be heard on the 'Let It Be' album.

Freedy Johnston Covers Two Paul McCartney Songs

2009-01-28T00:13:00.002-06:00

I've been a fan of Freedy Johnston for nearly 15 years (has it really been that long?!). Last year I was happy to hear that he was releasing an all-covers CD. On Johnston's CD, "My Favorite Waste of Time", he does not one, but two Paul McCartney & Wings songs; "Listen to What the Man Said" and "Let Em' In". In addition to McCartney he also covers Tom Petty, The Eagles, Marshall Crenshaw, Matthew Sweet, The Hollies and others.

The sessions were recorded in Nashville with bassist Bob Babbitt and drummer Ed Greene, and more than a dozen guest musicians. The CD is available on Freedy's official Website or from Amazon.com

Here's a short sample of both of the two McCartney tunes; "Listen to What the Man Said" and "Let Em' In".

Beatles Christmas Greeting! BeatlesLane.com Exclusive

2008-12-14T05:25:00.002-06:00

Check out the audio Beatles Christmas Greeting. It's an original BeatlesLane.com exclusive, created in Flash. It features the Beatles song "Christmas Time (Is Here Again)". Lyrics are on the page also.

You can send the Christmas Greeting to your friends with the handy "Tell a friend" emailer.

Remembering John Lennon

2008-12-08T00:09:00.006-06:00

It's difficult to realize that it's been 28 years (Dec. 8, 1980) since John Lennon was assassinated. Time flies, as the old saying goes. We can only wonder what the music that Lennon would have created over the last nearly three decades would sound like, had he been allowed to live a full life. With the release of the album 'Double Fantasy' only weeks before his death, he was just getting back into the music business after a long five year hiatus. The comeback was short lived, yet in many ways, he'll live forever.

This video is of his famous solo song "Imagine". A beautiful song and a beautifully done video.

John Lennon Avatars
John Lennon and Beatles Wallpapers

Video: Dhani Harrison and thenewno2 - "Another John Doe"

2008-12-05T03:40:00.007-06:00

This video is the song "Another John Doe" by thenewno2, a band which is composed of Dhani Harrison (lead guitar, synthesizer, vocals) and Oliver Hecks (drums, synthesizer). Dhani is George Harrison's son (and only child). Dhani turned 30 years old last Aug. 1st and he looks very much like a young version of his father.

Remembering George Harrison

2008-11-29T00:01:00.003-06:00

George Harrison died of lung cancer 7 years ago today (Nov. 29, 2001) at the age of 58. George had survived a knife attack from an intruder in his home 2 years before.

In the video below, reporters speak with Paul McCartney for his reaction to George's passing.

Download a George Harrison wallpaper (1024x768).
George Harrison avatars.

Picture: The Beatles in Concert, 1964

2008-11-25T02:50:00.003-06:00

The Beatles in Concert, 1964 (© Time Inc.). Ringo's back there somewhere, I assure you...

< Click it to enlarge

It Was 1 Year Ago Today...

2008-09-07T07:20:00.003-05:00

It was 1 year ago today, Sept. 7th, that BeatlesLane.com went online! Nearly each month there are more page views than the month preceding it, so the site is growing slowly but surely. The year has gone by quick. I hope there are many more to come. Thanks for visiting!

Video: The Beatles - "The Long and Winding Road"

2008-08-09T02:25:00.004-05:00

From the Beatles' Anthology DVD this is "The Long and Winding Road" from the 'Let It Be' sessions. Billy Preston is on keyboards.

Video: The Beatles - "Lady Madonna"

2008-08-05T13:41:00.005-05:00

This is the Beatles video for "Lady Madonna" as it appears on The Beatles' Anthology DVD. In March 1968 "Lady Madonna" was released as a single, with "The Inner Light" as the B-Side.

Video: John Lennon "Instant Karma" from 'Top of the Pops'

2008-07-13T16:50:00.005-05:00

This video is of John Lennon's Feb. 1970 performance of "Instant Karma (We All Shine On)" on BBC-TV's `Top Of The Pops'.

This video is also included on the DVD 'Plastic Ono Band' [Amazon link].

Poll Results of "Which is your favorite 'REVOLVER' song?"

2008-06-03T16:23:00.001-05:00

Here are the results from May's poll question "Which is your favorite 'REVOLVER' song?". It's kind of hard to read the graphic (even if you click to enlarge), but it shows that "Eleanor Rigby" had the most votes taking in 25% of the total. "For No One" had 15%, and "Here, There, Everywhere" and "I'm Only Sleeping" took in 12% apiece.

This month's poll is "Which is your favorite 'RUBBER SOUL' song?"

Video: The Beatles "If I Fell" (from 'A Hard Day's Night')

2008-05-25T10:19:00.003-05:00

From the 1964 Beatles movie 'A Hard Day's Night', John sings "If I Fell" to Ringo.

John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band DVD Released on April 29

2008-05-01T18:16:00.010-05:00

Read the BeatlesLane review of the DVD here

[The following is a press release]

JOHN LENNON’S PLASTIC ONO BAND AS PART OF ITS ACCLAIMED “CLASSIC ALBUMS” DVD SERIES RELEASED ON APRIL 29

Eagle Rock Entertainment is proud to announce the April 29 release of Plastic Ono Band by John Lennon.

John Lennon was a tortured individual when he recorded his 1970 solo debut album, Plastic Ono Band. He had been in therapy with Dr. Arthur Janov whose controversial “primal scream” psychiatric techniques were raising eyebrows within the medical establishment. Lennon took the black hole of his depression and poured it into his music via such personalized mantras as “Mother,” “Isolation,” “God,” “My Mummy’s Dead” and nine others. Intense and shocking, Lennon spared no expense in skewering longheld beloved beliefs (“I don’t believe in Beatles”) while openly seething over his own lost childhood (“Mother, you had me but I never had you”).

For its latest “Classic Albums” DVD, Eagle Rock Entertainment has explored the creation of this painful masterpiece via archival footage, detailed analysis and new interviews with Yoko Ono, Ringo Starr and bassist Klaus Voorman, a longtime Lennon friend and confidant. Interview sections are entitled “Remember Remember,” “Working Klaus Hero,” “Well Well Well,” “Well Well Well Hidden Praise,” “Class Divide,” “Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band,” “God Is Alive And Living In The Eiffel Tower.” Performances include “Mother” live at Madison Square Garden and “Instant Karma” from the BBC’s “Top Of The Pops.” [Total running time for the extras are 36:43.]

The Classic Album series from Eagle Rock Entertainment takes a comprehensive look into the making of landmark albums that were integral in music history. Along with interspersed live footage, the DVDs feature in-depth interviews with band members, musical peers, relevant fixtures in the music scene and those who were simply a part of the party. Producers also elaborate on and break down studio tracks at the mixing board, further explaining the recording process. Every Classic Album DVD not only tells the story; it binds the pages, paints the picture and ultimately provides the soundtrack to the making of a seminal album.

Poll Results of 1 Hour Private Conversation Question

2008-05-01T14:18:00.003-05:00

April's poll question was "If you could spend 1 hour in private conversation with one of the Beatles, which one would you choose"? As you can see, John Lennon was the number one answer with 53%. One the other end, Ringo received one vote. I think it was from his wife, Barbara Bach :)

Please take a second to vote in this month's poll "Which is your favorite 'REVOLVER' song?"

Poll Results of the "Fifth Beatle" question

2008-04-03T00:02:00.004-05:00

The results of the March poll show overwhelmingly that Beatles producer George Martin is the person whom most deserves the "Fifth Beatle" title. I'm pleased with the results as he was my first choice also. His production and arranging skills were vital to the great sound of their recordings. He also occasionally played piano on some of their songs.

This poll was the most voted on so far on this blog. Please take a couple of seconds to vote on this month's poll (near the top right of the page). The question is: If you could spend 1 hour in private conversation with one of the Beatles, which one would you choose? Of course with John and George, it would have to be considering they were still alive these days.

Video: May Pang talks about John Lennon on CBS's "Up To The Minute"

2008-03-26T04:48:00.006-05:00

In this video, May Pang talks about photography and John Lennon with Meg Oliver on CBS's "Up To The Minute" (3/26/08). Pang is the author of the book "Instamatic Karma", a book of photographs, published in 2008.

Lennon and Pang had a relationship during the 18 months that John and Yoko were separated (between 1973 and 1975).

Neil Aspinall, longtime Beatles friend and business associate, has died

2008-03-24T16:43:00.010-05:00

Sadly, Neil Aspinall has passed away at age 66. Neil was a childhood friend of Paul McCartney and George Harrison and over the years served as the Beatles' driver, road manager, personal assistant and later as head of The Beatles' company Apple Corps. He was fiercely loyal to the band and is interviewed in the 'Beatles Anthology' DVD set.

Aspinall fathered a child by Mona Best: Vincent "Roag" Best (born in July 1962). Mona is the mother of ex-Beatle Pete Best.

In a statement released on behalf of surviving Beatles Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the company described him as a "great man" who would be missed.

Read news article.

Paul McCartney Featured on the PETA Web Site

2008-03-12T04:16:00.006-05:00

Posing in PETA's "Eat No Animal" shirt, Paul McCartney describes the first time it hit him that animals value their lives just as much as humans do. Veggie Testimonials.

Paul's late wife Linda was a vegetarian and he has been one since 1975.

First Ever Free to Read Online Beatles Book is Launched

2008-03-11T17:48:00.005-05:00

[Press release from author Bob Neaverson]

The first ever free to read online Beatles book has just been launched. Bob Neaverson, author of The Beatles Movies (Cassell, 1997) and co-author (with former Apple Film boss Denis O’Dell) of At the Apple’s Core, has just launched a Beatles Movie website, www.beatlesmovies.co.uk. The site is dedicated to celebrating the importance of the group’s five forays into film, and includes a re-vamped version of his first book, the highly acclaimed The Beatles Movies, a critical history of the band’s films which includes interviews with such key movie personnel as former Apple boss Denis O’Dell, film director Richard Lester, and the group’s favourite actor, Victor Spinetti.

It is the first time a major Beatles book has been made available completely free to read online to fans. Along with the book, there is much else for Beatles film fans to enjoy, including videographies, quizzes, a discussion of the group’s promo output and other items of fascinating trivia. Bob explains that ‘I want the site to blossom and grow and have a strong interactive element. Rather than simply re-publishing the book in hard copy form, it seemed more exciting to put it out on the web, where it can be read by everyone for free. I’m not getting any royalties, so I’m hoping that the site will eventually sustain itself through advertising, but there really is no catch…It’s the world’s first free to read Beatles book!’

Beatles Wallpapers : Beatle-fy your desktop!

2008-03-09T05:50:00.005-05:00

Beatles Wallpapers have been added to the site. Get them here and Beatle-fy your desktop!

Poll Results of "Which Decade Did You Become a REAL Beatles Fan"?

2008-03-01T07:03:00.004-06:00

The February poll was "Which Decade Did You Become a REAL Beatles Fan"?. That poll is now closed, and thank you to those who voted. The results show that the majority are original fans! The 1960's, the decade the Beatles were together, changing the world and creating all of that great music, is the top answer of the poll.

This month's poll is at the top right of this page, and the question is: "Who Best Qualifies as the "Fifth Beatle"?" You can choose more than one person in this poll. Thanks for voting, it only takes a couple seconds.