The second episode of the newly relaunched Doctor Who is a haunting, contemplative story about what might happen if the world was robbed of its love of music. Like all good Who sci-fi premises, “The Devil’s Chord” takes something that is a given about human nature, and suggests our experience of life might be totally different without that thing. Just like “Blink” made us worry about trying to control our inherent reflex to bat our eyes, “The Devil’s Chord” makes us worried about how depressing and dystopian things would become without being able to hear a tune.
The episode also features a bootleg version of The Beatles, which should be a slam-dunk for Doctor Who, but isn’t. Instead, in creating a timey-wimey story about the death of music in a bizarro timeline, Who makes some blunders about why The Beatles became The Beatles.
Spoilers ahead.
While some...
The episode also features a bootleg version of The Beatles, which should be a slam-dunk for Doctor Who, but isn’t. Instead, in creating a timey-wimey story about the death of music in a bizarro timeline, Who makes some blunders about why The Beatles became The Beatles.
Spoilers ahead.
While some...
- 5/15/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
To celebrate the release of Backbeat available on DVD and Blu-Ray on 6th May, we have a 2 Blu-Rays to give away!
The pre-fame Beatles head to Hamburg in search of success, as they gain popularity the “fifth Beatle” bass guitarist Stuart Sutcliffe (Stephen Dorff), falls in love and ultimately must choose between his best friend John Lennon, his new love, the 22-year-old German photographer Astrid Kirchherr (Sheryl Lee) and the greatest rock and roll band in the world.
The films soundtrack includes rock and roll classics performed by an indie-rock supergroup which includes Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum), Greg Dullis (The Afghan Whigs) and Henry Rollins (Black Flag) on vocals, Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and Don Fleming (Gumball) on guitar, Mike Mills (R.E.M.) on bass guitar and Dave Grohl (then of Nirvana now of Foo Fighters) on drums.
Backbeat opened the 1994 Sundance Film Festival and went on to receive...
The pre-fame Beatles head to Hamburg in search of success, as they gain popularity the “fifth Beatle” bass guitarist Stuart Sutcliffe (Stephen Dorff), falls in love and ultimately must choose between his best friend John Lennon, his new love, the 22-year-old German photographer Astrid Kirchherr (Sheryl Lee) and the greatest rock and roll band in the world.
The films soundtrack includes rock and roll classics performed by an indie-rock supergroup which includes Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum), Greg Dullis (The Afghan Whigs) and Henry Rollins (Black Flag) on vocals, Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and Don Fleming (Gumball) on guitar, Mike Mills (R.E.M.) on bass guitar and Dave Grohl (then of Nirvana now of Foo Fighters) on drums.
Backbeat opened the 1994 Sundance Film Festival and went on to receive...
- 5/3/2024
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
In 1967, The Beatles unveiled the cover for their album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. It featured the four Beatles in colorful uniforms, surrounded by a group of historical and contemporary figures. It has gone down in history as one of the most iconic album covers of all time. Before the band released it, though, their lawyers worried it would land them in a heap of legal trouble.
The Beatles’ lawyers worried about one of their album covers
The cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band features musicians, movie stars, artists, and philosophers. Among the people on the cover are Bob Dylan, Mae West, former Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe, Karl Marx, and Fred Astaire. The collage of all these figures is what has made this cover famous. It is also what worried the band’s lawyers.
“When the cover was finished, [Emi chairman] Sir Joseph Lockwood had a meeting with Paul,...
The Beatles’ lawyers worried about one of their album covers
The cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band features musicians, movie stars, artists, and philosophers. Among the people on the cover are Bob Dylan, Mae West, former Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe, Karl Marx, and Fred Astaire. The collage of all these figures is what has made this cover famous. It is also what worried the band’s lawyers.
“When the cover was finished, [Emi chairman] Sir Joseph Lockwood had a meeting with Paul,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Pop music phenoms come and go, fall in and out of favor and sometimes fade into total obscurity. Very few remain relevant a decade removed from their initial success, and you can count on maybe two hands the number of artists who can knock out a new song or reissue and top the Billboard charts 50-plus years after their debut.
And then there's The Beatles.
From the moment they scored their first number one hit in the U.K. with 1963's "From Me to You," The Beatles drew on their multitude of musical influences — blues, country, rockabilly, and the sui generis soul sounds pulsating out of Motown — to create perfectly constructed, infectiously catchy singles that earwormed their way into the fabric of your being. Within three years of breaking big in the U.S., they released the pioneering folk-rock LP "Rubber Soul," flirted with psychedelia and raga on the expansive "Revolver,...
And then there's The Beatles.
From the moment they scored their first number one hit in the U.K. with 1963's "From Me to You," The Beatles drew on their multitude of musical influences — blues, country, rockabilly, and the sui generis soul sounds pulsating out of Motown — to create perfectly constructed, infectiously catchy singles that earwormed their way into the fabric of your being. Within three years of breaking big in the U.S., they released the pioneering folk-rock LP "Rubber Soul," flirted with psychedelia and raga on the expansive "Revolver,...
- 2/21/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
After The Beatles left Hamburg, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe, and Pete Best went their separate ways. While exhilarating, Hamburg had also been an exhausting experience, and they didn’t contact one another for a time. At his father’s urging, McCartney got a job before the band got back together. In order to get him back in the band, Lennon had to convince him to go against his father’s wishes.
John Lennon convinced Paul McCartney to rejoin The Beatles
When The Beatles returned from their time in Hamburg, they avoided one another for several weeks. They were all exhausted, embarrassed, and reconsidering their music careers. McCartney wanted to get back to making music, but he got a job as he waited on his bandmates.
“I started working at a coil-winding factory called Massey and Coggins,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “My dad had told...
John Lennon convinced Paul McCartney to rejoin The Beatles
When The Beatles returned from their time in Hamburg, they avoided one another for several weeks. They were all exhausted, embarrassed, and reconsidering their music careers. McCartney wanted to get back to making music, but he got a job as he waited on his bandmates.
“I started working at a coil-winding factory called Massey and Coggins,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “My dad had told...
- 12/29/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon left Hamburg, Germany, without the other Beatles. The government had deported George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Pete Best, and Stuart Sutcliffe remained in Germany with his girlfriend. Lennon did not enjoy his time alone in the city and liked his trip back to England even less. He shared why he felt terrified on the journey.
John Lennon made his way back from Hamburg without the other Beatles
After Harrison, McCartney, and Best left Hamburg, Lennon remained for a brief time.
“They were all deported and I was left in Hamburg, playing alone with another group of musicians,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “It was quite a shattering experience to be in a foreign country, pretty young, left there all on my own. We’d spent our money as we went along. I didn’t have any to spare and being stuck in Hamburg with no food money...
John Lennon made his way back from Hamburg without the other Beatles
After Harrison, McCartney, and Best left Hamburg, Lennon remained for a brief time.
“They were all deported and I was left in Hamburg, playing alone with another group of musicians,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “It was quite a shattering experience to be in a foreign country, pretty young, left there all on my own. We’d spent our money as we went along. I didn’t have any to spare and being stuck in Hamburg with no food money...
- 12/26/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When The Beatles played shows in Hamburg, bandmates John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best, and Stuart Sutcliffe played long concerts on little sleep. They played to excited crowds until early in the morning. Sometimes, the demands from their audiences kept them onstage for hours and hours. Lennon said they sometimes performed for so long that he would fall asleep in the middle of a show.
John Lennon said he used to sleep while his bandmates played music
When The Beatles played shows in Hamburg, gangsters occasionally came in to watch them. Lennon said that when they did, The Beatles played long shows because they feared for their lives.
“All these gangsters would come in — the local Mafia,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “They’d send a crate of champagne on stage, imitation German champagne, and we had to drink it or they’d kill us. They’d say,...
John Lennon said he used to sleep while his bandmates played music
When The Beatles played shows in Hamburg, gangsters occasionally came in to watch them. Lennon said that when they did, The Beatles played long shows because they feared for their lives.
“All these gangsters would come in — the local Mafia,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “They’d send a crate of champagne on stage, imitation German champagne, and we had to drink it or they’d kill us. They’d say,...
- 12/3/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
By the mid-1960s, The Beatles could shake stadiums with the sound of their screaming fans, but they didn’t have quite the same effect at an early audition. The band had the opportunity to audition in front of Larry Parnes, a manager and promoter. If the audition shook out the way they wanted, they could tour with musician Billy Fury. According to those in the audience, their performance wasn’t all that impressive, and The Beatles seemed to know it.
The Beatles didn’t seem thrilled with their performance at an audition
In 1960, Parnes teamed up with Allan Williams to find a group to tour with Fury. The Beatles were amongst the Liverpool groups to audition. This was one of their biggest opportunities to date, so they bought matching outfits and brought on a new drummer, Tommy Moore, to play with them.
Unfortunately, Moore had to run out to...
The Beatles didn’t seem thrilled with their performance at an audition
In 1960, Parnes teamed up with Allan Williams to find a group to tour with Fury. The Beatles were amongst the Liverpool groups to audition. This was one of their biggest opportunities to date, so they bought matching outfits and brought on a new drummer, Tommy Moore, to play with them.
Unfortunately, Moore had to run out to...
- 11/23/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When The Beatles played shows in Hamburg, Germany, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Pete Best, and Stuart Sutcliffe slept in the backs of clubs. These were cramped quarters with very little privacy. As a result, the band members were always aware of what the others were doing. They frequently walked in when a bandmate brought a woman back to the room. Once, when Lennon did this, he cut up all the woman’s clothing.
John Lennon behaved erratically toward Paul McCartney and a woman
The Beatles slept in bunk beds while in Hamburg, meaning they had very little privacy. When they brought women back to the room for sex, they had to hope their bandmates would either clear out or be quiet.
“We kept quiet, kept our faces to the wall and pretended to be asleep,” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology about the night Harrison lost his virginity.
John Lennon behaved erratically toward Paul McCartney and a woman
The Beatles slept in bunk beds while in Hamburg, meaning they had very little privacy. When they brought women back to the room for sex, they had to hope their bandmates would either clear out or be quiet.
“We kept quiet, kept our faces to the wall and pretended to be asleep,” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology about the night Harrison lost his virginity.
- 11/17/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Before The Beatles were household names, they had several band members who would not stay with the group through their fame. The band fired drummer Pete Best, but they had bigger problems with the skill level of one-time bassist Stuart Sutcliffe. While they didn’t fire him — he was too good of friends with John Lennon — they didn’t want his subpar playing to affect their music. Their solution was rather mean-spirited.
The Beatles didn’t want the audience to hear one band member playing
Sutcliffe was a close friend of Lennon’s who used money he made selling paintings to purchase a bass guitar and new amps. He helped name the band and was one of Lennon’s closest friends. Despite this, he wasn’t much of a musician.
“Stuart was in the band now,” George Harrison said, per The Beatles Anthology. “He wasn’t really a very good musician.
The Beatles didn’t want the audience to hear one band member playing
Sutcliffe was a close friend of Lennon’s who used money he made selling paintings to purchase a bass guitar and new amps. He helped name the band and was one of Lennon’s closest friends. Despite this, he wasn’t much of a musician.
“Stuart was in the band now,” George Harrison said, per The Beatles Anthology. “He wasn’t really a very good musician.
- 11/16/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When the early Beatles — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best, and Stuart Sutcliffe — were first beginning to see success as performers, they nearly destroyed it. Lennon and McCartney took an impromptu hitchhiking trip together. The rest of the band was so upset to have been left behind that they began looking for other groups to join.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney took a hitchhiking trip without their bandmates
After playing shows in Hamburg, Germany, The Beatles returned to Liverpool triumphant. While they were not yet mainstream successes, they were on their way to fame. This all almost fell apart, though.
Lennon invited McCartney on a hitchhiking trip through France and Spain using his birthday money. To go, they ditched several Beatles gigs and seriously angered their bandmates.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty Images
“Accordingly the two just took off together, wearing matching bowler hats — the Nerk twins reincarnated,...
John Lennon and Paul McCartney took a hitchhiking trip without their bandmates
After playing shows in Hamburg, Germany, The Beatles returned to Liverpool triumphant. While they were not yet mainstream successes, they were on their way to fame. This all almost fell apart, though.
Lennon invited McCartney on a hitchhiking trip through France and Spain using his birthday money. To go, they ditched several Beatles gigs and seriously angered their bandmates.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty Images
“Accordingly the two just took off together, wearing matching bowler hats — the Nerk twins reincarnated,...
- 11/12/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
According to John Lennon, Ringo Starr had a reputation for being “dumb.” John discussed his thoughts on the “You’re Sixteen” singer‘s solo career. John also hypothesized what might have happened to Ringo had he never joined The Beatles.
Ringo Starr’s success made John Lennon ‘happy’
The book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations with John Lennon features an interview from 1975. In it, John discussed Ringo’s solo career. “I’m most happy — I guess we all are, in a way — for Ringo’s success, because of the other three of us … It always went around that Ringo was dumb, but he ain’t dumb,” John said.
“But he didn’t have much of a writing ability and he wasn’t known for writing his own material, and there was a bit of a worry that … you know, although he can make movies and he does make movies and he’s good at it,...
Ringo Starr’s success made John Lennon ‘happy’
The book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations with John Lennon features an interview from 1975. In it, John discussed Ringo’s solo career. “I’m most happy — I guess we all are, in a way — for Ringo’s success, because of the other three of us … It always went around that Ringo was dumb, but he ain’t dumb,” John said.
“But he didn’t have much of a writing ability and he wasn’t known for writing his own material, and there was a bit of a worry that … you know, although he can make movies and he does make movies and he’s good at it,...
- 11/10/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon moved into The Dakota in 1973 and, according to those who have seen his ghost lingering outside, never left. The historic New York City apartment building reportedly has its fair share of ghosts, with Lennon amongst them. Visitors to the building have reported seeing Lennon’s ghost more than most of the building’s other spirits.
Guests to John Lennon’s apartment have seen his ghost
Lennon and Yoko Ono moved into the famed New York apartment building The Dakota seven years before his death. They raised their son, Sean Lennon, there, and Ono remained in the building for decades.
In 1980, Mark David Chapman shot Lennon outside The Dakota. Lennon and Ono were walking home from a recording session when Chapman attacked Lennon. Police officers rushed Lennon to the hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
The Dakota | Fpg/Getty Images
Even weeks after Lennon’s death, psychics...
Guests to John Lennon’s apartment have seen his ghost
Lennon and Yoko Ono moved into the famed New York apartment building The Dakota seven years before his death. They raised their son, Sean Lennon, there, and Ono remained in the building for decades.
In 1980, Mark David Chapman shot Lennon outside The Dakota. Lennon and Ono were walking home from a recording session when Chapman attacked Lennon. Police officers rushed Lennon to the hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
The Dakota | Fpg/Getty Images
Even weeks after Lennon’s death, psychics...
- 10/29/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon took a hands-off approach to raising his son Julian, but he threw himself into his second son Sean’s upbringing. Yoko Ono told Lennon he would bear primary responsibility for raising their son, and he wholeheartedly agreed. He took his role as father seriously and was highly concerned about Sean’s health. Lennon didn’t even want people touching his son for the first months of his life.
John Lennon didn’t want anybody touching his son, Sean
Shortly after Sean’s birth in 1975, Lennon called his lawyer, Leon Wildes.
“‘It’s John. I’m a father,'” Wildes recalled him saying, per the book Lennon: The Definitive Biography by Ray Coleman. “He was ecstatic, bouncing around his room as he spoke.”
Lennon was highly protective of his young son.
“In the months following the birth John allowed very few visitors to the Dakota,” Coleman wrote. “He was afraid they might spread germs.
John Lennon didn’t want anybody touching his son, Sean
Shortly after Sean’s birth in 1975, Lennon called his lawyer, Leon Wildes.
“‘It’s John. I’m a father,'” Wildes recalled him saying, per the book Lennon: The Definitive Biography by Ray Coleman. “He was ecstatic, bouncing around his room as he spoke.”
Lennon was highly protective of his young son.
“In the months following the birth John allowed very few visitors to the Dakota,” Coleman wrote. “He was afraid they might spread germs.
- 10/20/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon and Paul McCartney were close confidantes, but one of the most important people in the former’s life was Stuart Sutcliffe. Lennon and Sutcliffe met as students at art college and quickly grew close. Even years after Sutcliffe’s death, Lennon spoke about him often. Lennon loved Sutcliffe and valued his friendship, but he also viewed him as a rival.
John Lennon saw his close friend Stuart Sutcliffe as a rival
Lennon and Sutcliffe were outwardly different — Lennon was loud and constantly getting in trouble, whereas Sutcliffe was a dedicated student. Still, their personalities were similar, and they got along well. Lennon viewed Sutcliffe as a brother, but he could never bring himself to tell him.
“They had similar outlooks on life, and attitudes,” Sutcliffe’s girlfriend Astrid Kirchherr said in the book Lennon: The Definitive Biography by Ray Coleman. “John really loved Stuart, in the best sense,...
John Lennon saw his close friend Stuart Sutcliffe as a rival
Lennon and Sutcliffe were outwardly different — Lennon was loud and constantly getting in trouble, whereas Sutcliffe was a dedicated student. Still, their personalities were similar, and they got along well. Lennon viewed Sutcliffe as a brother, but he could never bring himself to tell him.
“They had similar outlooks on life, and attitudes,” Sutcliffe’s girlfriend Astrid Kirchherr said in the book Lennon: The Definitive Biography by Ray Coleman. “John really loved Stuart, in the best sense,...
- 10/16/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Though Stuart Sutcliffe was only briefly a Beatle, he made a lasting impact on John Lennon. The two met in school and quickly became close friends. This may have come as a surprise to their peers, as Lennon and Sutcliffe were opposites. According to Cynthia Lennon, the musician’s first wife, the relationship was good for Lennon, though. Sutcliffe helped soften some of his sharper edges.
Stuart Sutcliffe had a calming effect on John Lennon
When Lennon started art college, he immediately began clashing with teachers and other students. Even his clothing stood out from the other students. According to Cynthia, he always felt he had to be on the defensive. This meant frequently getting into fights and frustrating the faculty.
“All the changes in dress, and particularly that teddy boy period, were a throwback to his younger days,” Cynthia explained. “At Dovedale and Quarry Bank, he told me he...
Stuart Sutcliffe had a calming effect on John Lennon
When Lennon started art college, he immediately began clashing with teachers and other students. Even his clothing stood out from the other students. According to Cynthia, he always felt he had to be on the defensive. This meant frequently getting into fights and frustrating the faculty.
“All the changes in dress, and particularly that teddy boy period, were a throwback to his younger days,” Cynthia explained. “At Dovedale and Quarry Bank, he told me he...
- 10/15/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Brian Epstein is the manager who led The Beatles through Beatlemania, but he wasn’t the first person to work with the band. Before Epstein, there was Allan Williams, who helped The Beatles secure a residency in Hamburg. They weren’t his first choice to send to Germany, though. John Lennon and one-time bassist Stuart Sutcliffe had to work hard to convince Williams, who didn’t think the band was all that good.
The Beatles’ 1st manager wasn’t impressed with the band
In 1960, Williams, a booking agent and manager, began searching for a band to perform a residency at the Indra Club in Hamburg, Germany. Williams had booked The Beatles for a number of concerts, but he didn’t think they had what it took to play in Hamburg.
“Allan was having plenty of trouble finding a band and that’s how the Beatles got involved,” Mersey Beat creator Bill Harry said,...
The Beatles’ 1st manager wasn’t impressed with the band
In 1960, Williams, a booking agent and manager, began searching for a band to perform a residency at the Indra Club in Hamburg, Germany. Williams had booked The Beatles for a number of concerts, but he didn’t think they had what it took to play in Hamburg.
“Allan was having plenty of trouble finding a band and that’s how the Beatles got involved,” Mersey Beat creator Bill Harry said,...
- 8/17/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Before John Lennon realized his songs could include meaningful lyrics, he used poetry as an outlet for his more personal, introspective writing. He sent poems to his friend, Stuart Sutcliffe, and used them as an outlet for his emotions. When a friend accidentally threw out a book of his poetry, he was, naturally, devastated. She explained that he immediately broke down into tears.
John Lennon wasn’t happy when a friend threw out a book of his poetry
When Lennon learned his girlfriend, Cynthia, was pregnant, he began spending long nights at bars, drinking away his fear and resentment of fatherhood. He also poured his feelings into notebooks full of poetry. His friend Bill Harry, the creator of Liverpool music publication Mersey Beat, saw firsthand how much Lennon’s poetry meant to him.
Harry and his girlfriend, Virginia, packed up their small office to move to a larger space. As they prepared to move,...
John Lennon wasn’t happy when a friend threw out a book of his poetry
When Lennon learned his girlfriend, Cynthia, was pregnant, he began spending long nights at bars, drinking away his fear and resentment of fatherhood. He also poured his feelings into notebooks full of poetry. His friend Bill Harry, the creator of Liverpool music publication Mersey Beat, saw firsthand how much Lennon’s poetry meant to him.
Harry and his girlfriend, Virginia, packed up their small office to move to a larger space. As they prepared to move,...
- 7/31/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the early 1960s, John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe began courting the attention of Allan Williams, a Liverpool promoter and booking agent. He didn’t initially think The Beatles were very good, but he needed a band to send to Hamburg. When he agreed to do this, it helped that Lennon and Sutcliffe felt Williams owed them. He brought them much-wanted media attention that backfired so spectacularly that Sutcliffe lost his apartment.
John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe accidentally got Sutcliffe evicted
Williams ran into Lennon, Sutcliffe, and his roommate at a local Liverpool bar. He had a group of people with him who said they were reporters with the Empire News. They were working on a story about how students lived. Lennon and Sutcliffe were enrolled in art school, making them the perfect subjects. They were also in a band and hungry for media attention, so they agreed to talk to the group.
John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe accidentally got Sutcliffe evicted
Williams ran into Lennon, Sutcliffe, and his roommate at a local Liverpool bar. He had a group of people with him who said they were reporters with the Empire News. They were working on a story about how students lived. Lennon and Sutcliffe were enrolled in art school, making them the perfect subjects. They were also in a band and hungry for media attention, so they agreed to talk to the group.
- 7/30/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Before The Beatles were the Fab Four, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best, and Stuart Sutcliffe made up the band. The group eventually fired Best, and Sutcliffe stepped down, hoping to refocus on his art career. He remained on good terms with The Beatles and spent time with them when he could. Still, he knew what they were like after spending time with them in Hamburg. He warned his sister not to associate with them.
Stuart Sutcliffe told his sister to stay away from his former Beatles bandmates
In 1960, The Beatles traveled to Hamburg to play a residency in the city. Here, they grew tremendously as musicians. They learned to perform live and keep an audience’s interest. They also matured on this trip. According to Barry Miles in the book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Hamburg “placed them in the front line of what would become the sixties sexual revolution.
Stuart Sutcliffe told his sister to stay away from his former Beatles bandmates
In 1960, The Beatles traveled to Hamburg to play a residency in the city. Here, they grew tremendously as musicians. They learned to perform live and keep an audience’s interest. They also matured on this trip. According to Barry Miles in the book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Hamburg “placed them in the front line of what would become the sixties sexual revolution.
- 7/25/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon was the first Beatle to get married, but that didn’t stop him from pursuing other women, including, to a certain extent, Pattie Boyd. Boyd married Lennon’s bandmate, George Harrison, in 1966, but they began dating in 1964. As a result, Lennon knew her for years. In this time, he reportedly harbored a crush on Boyd. According to Lennon’s longtime friend, Pete Shotton, Lennon didn’t always do a good job of hiding this.
John Lennon had a crush on Pattie Boyd
Long before he met Boyd, Lennon developed a crush on Brigitte Bardot. She became his ideal type, and he encouraged his wife, Cynthia, to change her appearance to look more like Bardot.
“Of course, as a teenager, my sexual fantasies were full of Anita Ekberg and the usual giant Nordic goddesses,” Lennon said in The Beatles Anthology. “That is, until Brigitte Bardot became the love of...
John Lennon had a crush on Pattie Boyd
Long before he met Boyd, Lennon developed a crush on Brigitte Bardot. She became his ideal type, and he encouraged his wife, Cynthia, to change her appearance to look more like Bardot.
“Of course, as a teenager, my sexual fantasies were full of Anita Ekberg and the usual giant Nordic goddesses,” Lennon said in The Beatles Anthology. “That is, until Brigitte Bardot became the love of...
- 7/23/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
For years, John Lennon’s biggest celebrity crush was Brigitte Bardot. He developed crushes on women who looked like her and encouraged his girlfriends to dye their hair blonde. Because of his fame, he finally got a chance to meet his longtime crush. Unfortunately for him, it didn’t go over well. He took acid to soothe his nerves, but it kept him from being able to make conversation.
John Lennon didn’t make a great impression when he met his celebrity crush
After over a decade of having Bardot as his biggest celebrity crush, Lennon finally got the chance to meet her in 1968. Beatles press officer Derek Taylor organized a dinner for them.
“John, needless to say, was beside himself with excitement at the prospect of actually encountering in the flesh the woman he’d been fantasizing about for nearly fifteen years,” Lennon’s friend Pete Shotton wrote in the book The Beatles,...
John Lennon didn’t make a great impression when he met his celebrity crush
After over a decade of having Bardot as his biggest celebrity crush, Lennon finally got the chance to meet her in 1968. Beatles press officer Derek Taylor organized a dinner for them.
“John, needless to say, was beside himself with excitement at the prospect of actually encountering in the flesh the woman he’d been fantasizing about for nearly fifteen years,” Lennon’s friend Pete Shotton wrote in the book The Beatles,...
- 7/22/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon Wrote Anguished Poems for Stuart Sutcliffe During a ‘S****y’ Time in The Beatles’ Career
John Lennon and The Beatles’ original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe became friends before their musical collaboration and remained close after Sutcliffe left the band. Before The Beatles were the biggest band in the world, they struggled to make their music career work. A frustrated Lennon wrote about these difficulties in his letters to Sutcliffe. He included original poetry that reflected his state of mind.
John Lennon sent poems to Stuart Sutcliffe
After Sutcliffe left The Beatles, he moved to Hamburg to study art. The distance between Lennon and Sutcliffe did little to impact their friendship. They wrote lengthy letters to one another, swapping jokes and stories about their lives. As time went on and The Beatles still struggled to find success, though, Lennon’s letters grew increasingly glum.
“It’s all a s****y deal,” he wrote, per the book The Beatles: The Authorized Biography by Hunter Davies. “Something is going to happen,...
John Lennon sent poems to Stuart Sutcliffe
After Sutcliffe left The Beatles, he moved to Hamburg to study art. The distance between Lennon and Sutcliffe did little to impact their friendship. They wrote lengthy letters to one another, swapping jokes and stories about their lives. As time went on and The Beatles still struggled to find success, though, Lennon’s letters grew increasingly glum.
“It’s all a s****y deal,” he wrote, per the book The Beatles: The Authorized Biography by Hunter Davies. “Something is going to happen,...
- 7/17/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
Charles Manson might’ve felt the Bible referenced The Beatles’ Stuart Sutcliffe. He may also have interpreted the same passage to be about himself. Paul McCartney reacted to these interpretations.
Charles Manson believed the Bible contained a prophecy of The Beatles. Specifically, Manson connected the Fab Four to four angles in the Book of Revelation. Although Manson felt he understood the passage, it’s incredibly opaque.
Charles Manson might’ve thought a passage of the Bible was about a former Beatle
According to the book Helter Skelter, Manson was interested in the Book of Revelation, particularly chapter 9. Manson felt The Beatles’ “Revolution 9” referenced that chapter. Notably, Revelation 9 mentions five angels at the start, but there are only four angels at the end of the chapter.
According to Manson Family associate Gregg Jakobson, Manson interpreted this as a reference to Stuart Sutcliffe, a member of The Beatles who died in 1962. On the other hand,...
Charles Manson might’ve felt the Bible referenced The Beatles’ Stuart Sutcliffe. He may also have interpreted the same passage to be about himself. Paul McCartney reacted to these interpretations.
Charles Manson believed the Bible contained a prophecy of The Beatles. Specifically, Manson connected the Fab Four to four angles in the Book of Revelation. Although Manson felt he understood the passage, it’s incredibly opaque.
Charles Manson might’ve thought a passage of the Bible was about a former Beatle
According to the book Helter Skelter, Manson was interested in the Book of Revelation, particularly chapter 9. Manson felt The Beatles’ “Revolution 9” referenced that chapter. Notably, Revelation 9 mentions five angels at the start, but there are only four angels at the end of the chapter.
According to Manson Family associate Gregg Jakobson, Manson interpreted this as a reference to Stuart Sutcliffe, a member of The Beatles who died in 1962. On the other hand,...
- 6/14/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Imagine you could go back in time and buy stock in The Beatles in 1960 or 1961. A small investment would be worth a fortune today. Allan Williams had some Beatles stock back then. What he did with it made him the biggest loser in Beatles’ history even while being one of the most important people to the band.
(l-r) Beatles manager Allan Williams, his wife Beryl, Lord Woodbine, Stuart Sutcliffe, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best | Keystone Features/Getty Images Allan Williams became the biggest loser in Beatles history by walking away over £9
The Beatles made it big in England in early 1963 when “Please Please Me” (No. 2) and “From Me To You” (No. 1) became the first of many top-10 hits. A little more than a decade later, the band turned down a $250 million reunion offer. In just eight years, The Beatles rose to the pinnacle of international stardom, became musical trendsetters,...
(l-r) Beatles manager Allan Williams, his wife Beryl, Lord Woodbine, Stuart Sutcliffe, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best | Keystone Features/Getty Images Allan Williams became the biggest loser in Beatles history by walking away over £9
The Beatles made it big in England in early 1963 when “Please Please Me” (No. 2) and “From Me To You” (No. 1) became the first of many top-10 hits. A little more than a decade later, the band turned down a $250 million reunion offer. In just eight years, The Beatles rose to the pinnacle of international stardom, became musical trendsetters,...
- 5/28/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Ringo Starr’s affability made him well-loved amongst The Beatles and their fans. Before Starr was a part of the group, though, the other Beatles found him more than a little intimidating. He was slightly older than his future bandmates, but his reputation was the point of concern for them. Even John Lennon admitted that he had been afraid of Starr before he knew him.
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr of The Beatles | Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images Ringo Starr was the final person to join The Beatles
Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison had been working together for several years by the time Starr joined The Beatles. They had been playing in Hamburg alongside bass player Stuart Sutcliffe and drummer Pete Best. At the same time, Starr was performing in the city with his group, Rory Storm & the Hurricanes. The Beatles got to know Starr, and...
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr of The Beatles | Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images Ringo Starr was the final person to join The Beatles
Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison had been working together for several years by the time Starr joined The Beatles. They had been playing in Hamburg alongside bass player Stuart Sutcliffe and drummer Pete Best. At the same time, Starr was performing in the city with his group, Rory Storm & the Hurricanes. The Beatles got to know Starr, and...
- 5/20/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles were so successful as a band that it’s difficult to imagine them struggling during early performances, but Paul McCartney said they did. Before they were officially The Beatles, McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison played a number of shows as a trio. In some of these performances, they competed against other acts, and McCartney said they lost almost every time.
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon | Universal Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Paul McCartney said The Beatles did not have much luck in early performances
Lennon played in a band called The Quarry Men and eventually recruited McCartney and Harrison. Many of the original band members left, leaving just the three of them who, at the time, all played guitar.
“We would show up for gigs just with three guitars, and the person booking us would ask, ‘Where’s the drums, then?'” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology.
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon | Universal Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Paul McCartney said The Beatles did not have much luck in early performances
Lennon played in a band called The Quarry Men and eventually recruited McCartney and Harrison. Many of the original band members left, leaving just the three of them who, at the time, all played guitar.
“We would show up for gigs just with three guitars, and the person booking us would ask, ‘Where’s the drums, then?'” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology.
- 5/13/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the early days of The Beatles, the lineup was John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Stuart Sutcliffe. The group eventually brought Pete Best as the drummer, but the four musicians founded the band. Both McCartney and Harrison admitted that they didn’t think Sutcliffe was a very good musician, but they still felt jealous of him. McCartney shared why they couldn’t help but feel this way.
Paul McCartney and George Harrison | Edward Wing/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Paul McCartney said he and George Harrison felt jealous of Stuart Sutcliffe
McCartney and Harrison got to know Sutcliffe through Lennon. They went to art school together and formed a tight bond. Lennon had been working with McCartney and Harrison in The Quarry Men, and the group worked to convince Sutcliffe to join them. He didn’t have any musical background, but he did have enough money to...
Paul McCartney and George Harrison | Edward Wing/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Paul McCartney said he and George Harrison felt jealous of Stuart Sutcliffe
McCartney and Harrison got to know Sutcliffe through Lennon. They went to art school together and formed a tight bond. Lennon had been working with McCartney and Harrison in The Quarry Men, and the group worked to convince Sutcliffe to join them. He didn’t have any musical background, but he did have enough money to...
- 5/10/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles experimented with many different styles of music. “Yer Blues” was the band’s attempt at an American blues song, while songs like “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” saw the band capturing a more folkish sound. One Beatles song Paul McCartney said he and John Lennon wrote in a “waltz time.”
‘Baby’s in Black’ is one of the final songs John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote together Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns
While many songs by The Beatles are credited to the Lennon-McCartney duo, the pair stopped collaborating as often in the band’s later years. The band started writing together on their earliest hits, like “I Saw Her Standing There” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” However, by 1964, the two were starting to work more independently.
“Baby’s in Black” is a song from 1964’s Beatles for Sale. It’s one...
‘Baby’s in Black’ is one of the final songs John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote together Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns
While many songs by The Beatles are credited to the Lennon-McCartney duo, the pair stopped collaborating as often in the band’s later years. The band started writing together on their earliest hits, like “I Saw Her Standing There” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” However, by 1964, the two were starting to work more independently.
“Baby’s in Black” is a song from 1964’s Beatles for Sale. It’s one...
- 5/8/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney always had a knack for songwriting. Yet Paul almost gave up on “Drive My Car” until John Lennon helped rescue it. They worked out the kinks before bringing them to the rest of The Beatles, and Paul repaid the favor by helping John finish two of Rubber Soul’s best songs.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Paul McCartney almost gave up on ‘Drive My Car’ until John Lennon saved it
Writing songs never presented much of a challenge for Paul once he got used to the process. He proved his genius as a songwriter with “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da” from the White Album. A friend spoke the titular phrase during a hang-out, which sparked the bouncy tune. Macca wrote several songs on the spot and needed only a few hours to finish his synth-heavy holiday “Wonderful Christmastime.”
“Drive My Car” was the opposite.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Paul McCartney almost gave up on ‘Drive My Car’ until John Lennon saved it
Writing songs never presented much of a challenge for Paul once he got used to the process. He proved his genius as a songwriter with “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da” from the White Album. A friend spoke the titular phrase during a hang-out, which sparked the bouncy tune. Macca wrote several songs on the spot and needed only a few hours to finish his synth-heavy holiday “Wonderful Christmastime.”
“Drive My Car” was the opposite.
- 5/6/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
All four Beatles stood front and center on the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band cover. They’re impossible to miss. And since it’s one of the most iconic album covers ever, millions of people have glanced at John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr over the years. But there were actually five Beatles on the Sgt. Pepper cover.
Original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe joins John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison on the cover of The Beatles album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ | Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images 5 Beatles appeared on the ‘Sgt. Pepper’ cover with Stuart Sutcliffe among the photos
The four living and breathing Beatles stood smack dab in the middle of the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band cover. Wax figures of the Fab Four were nearby. But the left side of the sleeve showcased the fifth Beatle — original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe.
Original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe joins John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison on the cover of The Beatles album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ | Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images 5 Beatles appeared on the ‘Sgt. Pepper’ cover with Stuart Sutcliffe among the photos
The four living and breathing Beatles stood smack dab in the middle of the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band cover. Wax figures of the Fab Four were nearby. But the left side of the sleeve showcased the fifth Beatle — original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe.
- 5/2/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney is easily the most famous bass player of any band. It’s rare for any bass player also to be a frontman, yet that’s precisely what he did when he was with The Beatles. McCartney admittedly enjoyed playing the guitar more, but he still stuck with the bass when he formed his second band, Wings.
Paul McCartney felt audiences wanted to see him play bass with Wings Paul McCartney | David Warner Ellis/Redferns/Getty Images
Paul McCartney had been with The Beatles for over a decade, and many had grown accustomed to seeing and hearing him on bass guitar. However, with Wings, McCartney had much more freedom since he was the leader and frontman of the band. Still, McCartney was a showman at heart, and he knew many fans wanted to see what they were familiar with.
In a 1994 interview with Guitar World, McCartney said he stuck...
Paul McCartney felt audiences wanted to see him play bass with Wings Paul McCartney | David Warner Ellis/Redferns/Getty Images
Paul McCartney had been with The Beatles for over a decade, and many had grown accustomed to seeing and hearing him on bass guitar. However, with Wings, McCartney had much more freedom since he was the leader and frontman of the band. Still, McCartney was a showman at heart, and he knew many fans wanted to see what they were familiar with.
In a 1994 interview with Guitar World, McCartney said he stuck...
- 4/28/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles’ original lineup was John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Stuart Sutcliffe. They eventually added drummer Pete Best to the mix, but the four musicians created the band. They each played a key role in their later success, but according to Harrison, Sutcliffe wasn’t much of a musician. Harrison didn’t even consider him a musician at all, but he made some important contributions to the group.
Allan Williams, Beryl Williams, Lord Woodbine, Stuart Sutcliffe, Paul McCartney, George Harrison | Keystone Features/Getty Images George Harrison didn’t think Stuart Sutcliffe added much musically to the band
Sutcliffe was one of Lennon’s close friends from art school. Sutcliffe taught Lennon about painting, and, in return, Lennon talked to him about music. When Lennon decided to form a new band, it felt natural that Sutcliffe would be a part of it.
Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison had worked together in The Quarrymen,...
Allan Williams, Beryl Williams, Lord Woodbine, Stuart Sutcliffe, Paul McCartney, George Harrison | Keystone Features/Getty Images George Harrison didn’t think Stuart Sutcliffe added much musically to the band
Sutcliffe was one of Lennon’s close friends from art school. Sutcliffe taught Lennon about painting, and, in return, Lennon talked to him about music. When Lennon decided to form a new band, it felt natural that Sutcliffe would be a part of it.
Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison had worked together in The Quarrymen,...
- 4/27/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles wrote their music and won over fans with their charm, but they couldn’t have reached their level of success without the people who worked with them along the way. Producers, assistants, managers, and former bandmates all helped The Beatles become the biggest band in the world. While they didn’t receive as much recognition as the band, some people who helped lift The Beatles to success have become the subjects of both documentaries and fictional movies. Here are five to check out.
The Beatles and Brian Epstein | John Rodgers/Redferns ‘Good Ol’ Freda’ is a movie about The Beatles’ longtime secretary
At 17, Freda Kelly scored the job that thousands of people would have given anything to have. She became the secretary to The Beatles and the head of their fan club. She was also one of the few people to work with them for the entirety of...
The Beatles and Brian Epstein | John Rodgers/Redferns ‘Good Ol’ Freda’ is a movie about The Beatles’ longtime secretary
At 17, Freda Kelly scored the job that thousands of people would have given anything to have. She became the secretary to The Beatles and the head of their fan club. She was also one of the few people to work with them for the entirety of...
- 4/16/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It’s the age of the biopic, and many filmmakers are turning to classic rock artists as their subjects. It makes sense — their music has moved people for decades, and their lives are usually full of enough intrigue to fill at least one film. As news of the new Bob Dylan biopic continues to trickle out and we not-so-patiently await a Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac movie, here are six classic rock biopics to watch.
The Beatles | Central Press/Getty Images ‘Love & Mercy’
The 2014 film Love & Mercy stars Paul Dano and John Cusack as The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson. The film alternates between the 1960s, as Wilson works on the seminal Pet Sounds, and the 1980s, as he grapples with his mental health and begins a new relationship. Wilson himself said that upon watching the film, he was astonished by both portrayals of him, particularly Dano’s.
“Well, he looked...
The Beatles | Central Press/Getty Images ‘Love & Mercy’
The 2014 film Love & Mercy stars Paul Dano and John Cusack as The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson. The film alternates between the 1960s, as Wilson works on the seminal Pet Sounds, and the 1980s, as he grapples with his mental health and begins a new relationship. Wilson himself said that upon watching the film, he was astonished by both portrayals of him, particularly Dano’s.
“Well, he looked...
- 4/13/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles‘ friend Astrid Kirchherr was one of the few people who got to see them in their early days. She had a front-row seat throughout their residency in Hamburg, Germany, and witnessed their raw talent many times. The German photographer helped the band too. Without her, The Beatles would’ve had a terrible time abroad. Here’s what happened to Kirchherr, one of the most important people in The Beatles’ early years.
The Beatles and their friend Astrid Kirchherr | Max Scheler – K & K/Getty Images The Beatles’ friend Astrid Kirchherr helped them during their residency in Hamburg
In 1960, The Beatles left for one of the naughtiest cities in the world, Hamburg, Germany. Their first manager, Allan Williams, set up their residency at Bruno Koschmider’s Indra Club and the Kaiserkeller, where German artist Klaus Voormann first saw them perform.
He’d argued with his girlfriend, Astrid Kirchherr, and “wanted to let steam off.
The Beatles and their friend Astrid Kirchherr | Max Scheler – K & K/Getty Images The Beatles’ friend Astrid Kirchherr helped them during their residency in Hamburg
In 1960, The Beatles left for one of the naughtiest cities in the world, Hamburg, Germany. Their first manager, Allan Williams, set up their residency at Bruno Koschmider’s Indra Club and the Kaiserkeller, where German artist Klaus Voormann first saw them perform.
He’d argued with his girlfriend, Astrid Kirchherr, and “wanted to let steam off.
- 3/31/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Before they were the Fab Four, there were five Beatles. The Beatles’ former bandmates, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best, never saw the level of success the band enjoyed, only playing with them in the group’s earliest days. While they left for different reasons — Sutcliffe wanted a career change, and Best was fired — neither was treated particularly well by their former bandmates. Here are three ways that The Beatles treated their former bandmates poorly.
The Beatles | Fiona Adams/Redferns 1. The Beatles made their former bandmate the butt of every joke
John Lennon was good friends with Sutcliffe, who played with The Beatles as a guitarist. Still, he often mistreated his friend.
“[Lennon] was a bit aggressive at first. If he found he could browbeat you then you were under his thumb,” a friend, Billy Harry, told The Guardian. “He used to treat Stuart [Sutcliffe] really badly at times, humiliate him in front of people.
The Beatles | Fiona Adams/Redferns 1. The Beatles made their former bandmate the butt of every joke
John Lennon was good friends with Sutcliffe, who played with The Beatles as a guitarist. Still, he often mistreated his friend.
“[Lennon] was a bit aggressive at first. If he found he could browbeat you then you were under his thumb,” a friend, Billy Harry, told The Guardian. “He used to treat Stuart [Sutcliffe] really badly at times, humiliate him in front of people.
- 3/12/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles worked together to make some of the most enduring music of the twentieth century, but they didn’t do that without some fights along the way. The band met as young teenagers and spent most of their time together; arguments were bound to happen. There is, of course, the long-running feud between Paul McCartney and John Lennon and the court case after the band broke up. Some of their lesser-known fights were just as explosive, though. Somewhat surprisingly, George Harrison was at the center of many of them.
The Beatles | Bettmann/Contributor via Getty When Paul McCartney and Stuart Sutcliffe came to blows onstage
Before The Beatles were famous, they played in German nightclubs and had five members. Their one-time guitarist Stuart Sutcliffe was often the butt of the band’s jokes, and he frequently clashed with McCartney. During a concert, something McCartney said about Sutcliffe’s girlfriend led to a fistfight.
The Beatles | Bettmann/Contributor via Getty When Paul McCartney and Stuart Sutcliffe came to blows onstage
Before The Beatles were famous, they played in German nightclubs and had five members. Their one-time guitarist Stuart Sutcliffe was often the butt of the band’s jokes, and he frequently clashed with McCartney. During a concert, something McCartney said about Sutcliffe’s girlfriend led to a fistfight.
- 3/1/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
John Lennon wrote a book in 1964.During an event to honor him for his writing, the crowd booed John Lennon.John Lennon said he could never have made a speech. John Lennon | Evening Standard/Getty Images
John Lennon published the book In His Own Write in 1964. Though some believed his collection of poetry and short stories would be a disaster, it was a commercial and critical success. A bookstore hosted an event and made Lennon the guest of honor. When he broke with tradition by not giving a speech, the crowd turned against him, however.
The Beatle published the book ‘In His Own Write’ in 1964
Not long after The Beatles became internationally successful, Lennon decided to try his hand at a different medium.
“Three weeks after the Beatles began filming A Hard Day’s Night, John’s book In His Own Write was published,” Lennon’s first wife, Cynthia,...
John Lennon wrote a book in 1964.During an event to honor him for his writing, the crowd booed John Lennon.John Lennon said he could never have made a speech. John Lennon | Evening Standard/Getty Images
John Lennon published the book In His Own Write in 1964. Though some believed his collection of poetry and short stories would be a disaster, it was a commercial and critical success. A bookstore hosted an event and made Lennon the guest of honor. When he broke with tradition by not giving a speech, the crowd turned against him, however.
The Beatle published the book ‘In His Own Write’ in 1964
Not long after The Beatles became internationally successful, Lennon decided to try his hand at a different medium.
“Three weeks after the Beatles began filming A Hard Day’s Night, John’s book In His Own Write was published,” Lennon’s first wife, Cynthia,...
- 1/30/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney has been a successful musician for decades, but Quincy Jones once turned up his nose at his talent. In a wide-ranging interview, Jones dismissed The Beatles and said McCartney was the worst bass player he’d ever heard. He later called McCartney to explain his comments. The Beatles bassist revealed how he reacted to Jones during the call.
Paul McCartney and Quincy Jones | Kevin Mazur/WireImage The Beatle began playing bass when a bandmate quit
Initially, McCartney was a guitarist with The Beatles. He only made the switch to bass when Stuart Sutcliffe, the band’s one-time bassist, left the group. He wasn’t happy about swapping instruments, either.
“When we were in Hamburg, Stuart fell in love with a local girl called Astrid and decided he was leaving the group,” McCartney said in the book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present. “So we were now without a bass player.
Paul McCartney and Quincy Jones | Kevin Mazur/WireImage The Beatle began playing bass when a bandmate quit
Initially, McCartney was a guitarist with The Beatles. He only made the switch to bass when Stuart Sutcliffe, the band’s one-time bassist, left the group. He wasn’t happy about swapping instruments, either.
“When we were in Hamburg, Stuart fell in love with a local girl called Astrid and decided he was leaving the group,” McCartney said in the book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present. “So we were now without a bass player.
- 1/30/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Ringo Starr songs rarely made the cut on Beatles albums (he wrote two Fab Four tunes). His playing almost never received the credit it deserved, either. Ringo’s drumming — subtle and situated perfectly in the song — often made him the most overlooked member of The Beatles, and yet there were very few places in the world where nobody knew Ringo. Though often overlooked for his playing, Ringo’s weirdest drumming happened in the studio when George Harrison briefly quit the band.
Beatles drummer Ringo Starr | Estate Of Keith Morris/Redferns Ringo Starr’s drumming got weird on one Beatles B-side
Former drummer Pete Best lost interest in The Beatles when they went heavily psychedelic on 1967’s Magical Mystery Tour. Maybe he wasn’t listening to the Fab Four a year earlier.
Revolver was a watershed moment for the band as it moved away from the saccharine pop of their early days.
Beatles drummer Ringo Starr | Estate Of Keith Morris/Redferns Ringo Starr’s drumming got weird on one Beatles B-side
Former drummer Pete Best lost interest in The Beatles when they went heavily psychedelic on 1967’s Magical Mystery Tour. Maybe he wasn’t listening to the Fab Four a year earlier.
Revolver was a watershed moment for the band as it moved away from the saccharine pop of their early days.
- 1/28/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles performed to screaming fans in concert. You can see those fans in the audience of their Ed Sullivan Show performance too. Their first film, A Hard Day’s Night, showcased the fanfare that followed The Beatles even in their daily life. It also chronicled some of their bad habits, like smoking.
L-r: George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon | Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
The Criterion Collection edition of A Hard Day’s Night includes several documentaries about the making of the film. In one, producer Walter Shenson speaks about his efforts to stop The Beatles from smoking on film. He wasn’t entirely successful.
‘A Hard Day’s Night’ producer didn’t want The Beatles fans to see them smoke
A Hard Day’s Night came out in 1964. By this time, The Beatles’ following had crossed the pond, as it were, since they’d performed on Ed Sullivan at the beginning of the year.
L-r: George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon | Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
The Criterion Collection edition of A Hard Day’s Night includes several documentaries about the making of the film. In one, producer Walter Shenson speaks about his efforts to stop The Beatles from smoking on film. He wasn’t entirely successful.
‘A Hard Day’s Night’ producer didn’t want The Beatles fans to see them smoke
A Hard Day’s Night came out in 1964. By this time, The Beatles’ following had crossed the pond, as it were, since they’d performed on Ed Sullivan at the beginning of the year.
- 1/27/2023
- by Fred Topel
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Saban Films has taken global rights to the John Travolta and Stephen Dorff feature, American Metal.
Writer and first-time feature director Nicholas Maggio’s film tells the story of a desperate and struggling family man who robs a pill mill. However, when the theft turns violent, he finds himself hunted by both the police and the Dixieland mafia. Filming just wrapped in Georgia with Saban Films looking at a 2023 release.
Shiloh Fernandez (Evil Dead) Ashley Benson (Spring Breakers) and Kevin Dillon also star.
The pic was produced by 308 Entertainment’s Corey Large and Bernie Gewissler in association with Bondit Media Capital.
The feature reps the second film with Travolta and Dorff for 308 Entertainment’s Large, following the upcoming Saban release Paradise City.
Travolta received two Best Actor Oscar nominations for 1977’s Saturday Night Fever and 1994’s Pulp Fiction.
Writer and first-time feature director Nicholas Maggio’s film tells the story of a desperate and struggling family man who robs a pill mill. However, when the theft turns violent, he finds himself hunted by both the police and the Dixieland mafia. Filming just wrapped in Georgia with Saban Films looking at a 2023 release.
Shiloh Fernandez (Evil Dead) Ashley Benson (Spring Breakers) and Kevin Dillon also star.
The pic was produced by 308 Entertainment’s Corey Large and Bernie Gewissler in association with Bondit Media Capital.
The feature reps the second film with Travolta and Dorff for 308 Entertainment’s Large, following the upcoming Saban release Paradise City.
Travolta received two Best Actor Oscar nominations for 1977’s Saturday Night Fever and 1994’s Pulp Fiction.
- 5/21/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated with Ringo Starr reaction: Astrid Kirchherr, photographer and early friend of the Beatles whose avant-garde style helped transform the young band from ’50s-era greasers to moptop trend-setters, died Wednesday in her native Hamburg, Germany. She was 81.
The German newspaper Die Zeit reports that Kirchher died following a “short, serious illness,” with no additional details provided.
Beatles drummer Ringo Starr tweeted a tribute today, saying: “God bless Astrid a beautiful human being And she took great photos peace and love.”
Kirchherr, along with her friend Klaus Voormann, befriended the Beatles during the group’s early, pre-Beatlemania Hamburg club residencies, and the pair’s fashion sense — they were part of the city’s “Exi” (short for “existentialist”) youth subculture — quickly entranced original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe. Soon, the biker jackets and greased, Elvis-inspired pompadours so beloved by the teenage John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison were history, replaced with the style...
The German newspaper Die Zeit reports that Kirchher died following a “short, serious illness,” with no additional details provided.
Beatles drummer Ringo Starr tweeted a tribute today, saying: “God bless Astrid a beautiful human being And she took great photos peace and love.”
Kirchherr, along with her friend Klaus Voormann, befriended the Beatles during the group’s early, pre-Beatlemania Hamburg club residencies, and the pair’s fashion sense — they were part of the city’s “Exi” (short for “existentialist”) youth subculture — quickly entranced original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe. Soon, the biker jackets and greased, Elvis-inspired pompadours so beloved by the teenage John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison were history, replaced with the style...
- 5/15/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Astrid Kirchherr, the German-born photographer who first captured the Beatles, has died at the age of 81.
German newspaper Die Zeit confirmed Kirchherr’s death, noting the photographer died of a “short, serious illness.”
“Intelligent, inspirational, innovative, daring, artistic, awake, aware, beautiful, smart, loving and uplifting friend to many,” Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn tweeted (via NME). “Her gift to the Beatles was immeasurable. She died in Hamburg on Wednesday, a few days before turning 82.”
After attending performances by the Beatles — then John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, drummer Pete Best, and...
German newspaper Die Zeit confirmed Kirchherr’s death, noting the photographer died of a “short, serious illness.”
“Intelligent, inspirational, innovative, daring, artistic, awake, aware, beautiful, smart, loving and uplifting friend to many,” Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn tweeted (via NME). “Her gift to the Beatles was immeasurable. She died in Hamburg on Wednesday, a few days before turning 82.”
After attending performances by the Beatles — then John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, drummer Pete Best, and...
- 5/15/2020
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Tony Sokol Sep 11, 2019
The Beatles mythology is dispelled by a tape recently unearthed by rock historian Mark Lewisohn.
"And, in the end, the love you make is equal to the love you take," the Beatles harmonized on the penultimate song of their last album, Abbey Road. But a new tape shows the band wanted to add to the equation. The story of the band is well-known even to the most casual Beatlemaniac and the common mythology maintains the group went into the studio fully intending to record a proper farewell. But the tape, found by Mark Lewisohn, captures the band planning further output, according to The Guardian.
The tape was made Sept. 8, 1969, two weeks before Abbey Road was released. It captures a band meeting between John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison at Apple headquarters in London’s Savile Row. It was recorded for Ringo Starr, who was in the...
The Beatles mythology is dispelled by a tape recently unearthed by rock historian Mark Lewisohn.
"And, in the end, the love you make is equal to the love you take," the Beatles harmonized on the penultimate song of their last album, Abbey Road. But a new tape shows the band wanted to add to the equation. The story of the band is well-known even to the most casual Beatlemaniac and the common mythology maintains the group went into the studio fully intending to record a proper farewell. But the tape, found by Mark Lewisohn, captures the band planning further output, according to The Guardian.
The tape was made Sept. 8, 1969, two weeks before Abbey Road was released. It captures a band meeting between John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison at Apple headquarters in London’s Savile Row. It was recorded for Ringo Starr, who was in the...
- 9/11/2019
- Den of Geek
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