Beatles remasters on vinyl set for Oct. 4 release

The Fabs catalog will be available as 16 LPs, available in a spiffy box set with 100-page book, or individually. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.

BBC working on biopic of Beatle pal Kenny Everett

Details:

The BBC is developing a 90-minute film called Number One in Heaven about Everett, who died of an Aids related illness in 1995 aged 50.

...Everett, born Maurice Cole in Seaforth, Lancashire, started his professional life as a pirate DJ for Radio London and Radio Luxemburg before joining Radio 1 in the mid 1960s. He befriended the Beatles and accompanied them on their 1966 tour of the US.

Lennon solo singles set for 45 rpm release on Record Store Day

From the Beatles Examiner:

EMI announced today it will release a limited edition "John Lennon Singles Bag," a three disc set of 45 RPM vinyl singles by Lennon on April 17 in support of Record Store Day.

The set will contain three vinyl 45 RPM records with artwork. The three records are:

- Single 1: John Lennon “Mother” / Yoko Ono “Why”
- Single 2: John Lennon “Imagine” / John Lennon “It’s So Hard”
- Single 3: John Lennon “Watching the Wheels” / Yoko Ono “Yes, I’m Your Angel.”

More info on Record Store Day.

McCartney announces full slate of UK gigs

From Mojo:

Macca will also play massive shows in Glasgow and Cardiff (his first gig in Wales for 31 years), as well as headlining the Isle Of Wight Festival on June 13 and the Hard Rock Calling festival in London's Hyde Park on June 27.

McCartney planning new U.S. tour

Paul McCartney has listed tour dates in Phoenix on March 28 and the Hollywood Bowl on March 30 with presumably more to follow.

Abbey Road Studios receives historical status

From Billboard:

Following speculation over the sale of Abbey Road studios, the U.K. government has listed the building at Grade II, which gives it a protected status.
..."It has huge cultural importance and a very special place in the hearts of recording artists and music lovers alike," said a government statement. "The new listing status will ensure that, although changes to the interior are not prohibited, care must be taken to ensure that any alterations with respect to its character and interest are fully considered.

Beatles' studio NOT for sale

Now EMI is saying it won't be selling Abbey Road Studios.

After days of speculation over the fate of the site made famous by the eponymous Beatles album, EMI released a statement saying it believes the studios should remain under its ownership.

The firm, which is owned by private equity parent Terra Firma, also said it had rejected an offer for the historic building last year.

It did however say it was in talks with “interested and appropriate third parties” about funding a “revitalisation” project.

The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years 1962-1970

Report on the Plastic Ono Band gig in New York

From Billboard:

Yoko Ono revived the Plastic Ono Band for a concert on Tuesday night that was part tribute, part vanity project and all irresistible fun.

The show belonged as much to her son Sean Lennon, 34, as to Ono, 76. Looking and sounding like his famous father, Sean Lennon pulled together an all-star lineup that included Eric Clapton, Paul Simon and Bette Midler as special guests.

EMI puts Abbey Road Studios up for sale!

Wouldn't it be an awesome site for a Beatles museum?

From the Financial Times:

Abbey Road, the London recording studios immortalised by the Beatles album of the same name, has been put on the market by EMI as the music group looks to extricate itself from the debt burden of Terra Firma’s 2007 leveraged buy-out.

Getting that Abbey Road drum sound

Here's a fascinating video for musicians and anyone interested in the recording techniques that gave us the Beatles sound:

Ringo featured on NPR

Hear a 20-minute interview with Ringo on National Public Radio's World Cafe.

There'll be a new Starr on the Walk of Fame

Ringo is finally getting his due on Hollywood Boulevard.

Ringo is delighted, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will be honoring him with a star in 2010 on the Walk Of Fame.

Ringo said, "A star for a Starr - what an honor and a privilege it is to be walked on! Peace & Love."

A special evening ceremony 7:00pm on Monday, February 8th, in front of Capitol Records in Hollywood to celebrate Ringo Starr AND the 50th Anniversary of the Walk of Fame!

Who sounds like "The Beatles on Steroids"?

Lots of folks, apparently.

EMI releasing McCartney soundtrack song

From the Daily Mirror:

Sir Paul McCartney has inadvertently found his new single is being released by EMI - the music giant he famously quit in 1997 after more than four decades, complaining he was being treated as "part of the furniture".

The track, (I Want To) Come Home, was recorded for the soundtrack of the movie Everybody's Fine and is due to be released on March 1.

The track comes out on Walt Disney Records, along with the rest of the soundtrack album - but in the UK and Europe, it will be issued by EMI, the label he quit after 45 years of Beatles and solo releases.

Ringo interviews with NPR, New York Times

Ringo chats with National Public Radio and The New York Times.

"I'll say it again: I love being in a band," Starr says. "I love playing with other human beings. I've never practiced drums unless there was another human being in the room. If you could play, I'd play with you all night. But if I'm just playing by myself, it gets boring pretty quick."

Former Doctor Who plays John Lennon

One-time Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston is playing John Lennon in a new BBC mini-series.

The 45-year-old has donned glasses and grown his hair to take the role of the musical legend for new BBC4 drama Lennon Naked.

In a newly released publicity shot the former Time Lord wears a replica white suit worn by Lennon in 1968 at an art gallery with wife Yoko Ono.

The one-off 90-minute film, which looks at Beatle’s life from 1967 to 1971, will be part of the BBC’s new spring drama season.

McCartney to present at Golden Globes this Sunday

Paul will be among those presenting awards on the show, which airs Sunday on NBC. Check yer locals.

Casting news on Yellow Submarine remake

From Billboard:

British actors Cary Elwes, Dean Lennox Kelly, Peter Serafinowicz and Adam Campbell are in negotiations to portray the members of the Fab Four in "Yellow Submarine," a remake set up at Disney.

...Kelly, who is currently on the BBC's "Robin Hood" series, is portraying John Lennon. Liverpool-born Serafinowicz ("Shaun of the Dead," "Couples Retreat") plays Paul McCartney.

Elwes, who worked with Zemeckis on "A Christmas Carol" and is in the upcoming "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn," will play George Harrison. Campbell will be Ringo Starr. His credits include "Epic Movie" and "Date Movie," and he will be seen on NBC's miniseries "Day One."

Free McCartney live album packaged with British newspaper

From Paul's official site:


Exclusive new Paul McCartney album ‘Live In Los Angeles’ free in this week’s Mail on Sunday newspaper. This twelve-track CD from Paul’s performance at the Amoeba Music record store in Hollywood on 27th June 2007 includes two-Grammy nominated performances – I Saw Her Standing There (Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance) and That Was Me (Best Male Pop Vocal Performance) – along with ten other live favourites.

The full tracklist is:
Drive My Car
Only Mama Knows
Dance Tonight
C Moon
That Was Me
Blackbird
Here Today
Back In The USSR
Get Back
Hey Jude
Lady Madonna
I Saw Her Standing There

Available free with the Mail on Sunday in the UK & Ireland on Sunday 17th January 2010 only.

Yoko reunites Plastic Ono musicians: Clapton, Voorman and more

Original Plastic Ono Band members Eric Clapton and Klaus Voorman will join Yoko Ono any many others at a New York annivsary gig next month. Check out the poster: