Pipes of Peace

This Christmas is the 100th anniversary of the Christmas depicted in the Pipes of Peace video.

Behind the scenes at Hope For the Future

Wish You A Merry Merry Christmas

Richard Cruz Jr. of Wolftrane has taken a 45 year old unfinished Paul McCartney Christmas song idea and added lyrics and a bridge - making a complete song out of Paul's short idea that originally appeared on the final 1969 Beatles Fan Club Christmas flexi disc (record).
Recorded at Attic Recording in Escondido (San Diego) CA Nov 2014. 
Written by Paul McCartney and Richard Cruz Jr.
Vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards: Richard Cruz Jr. of - Wolftrane
Drums, percussion & backing Vocals: Nicolas Peters - of the Baja Bugs
Vocals & Guitar - Michael Hilding - of Sugarglider
with special guests
Psychedelic guitar - Peter Soros of Silky Seymour
Dan Colquitt - harmony guitar solo
Sueda: backing vocals

Paul McCartney on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - 12/16/2014

Ding Dong Ding Dong restored

Lennon or McCartney?

24 Hours: The World Of John And Yoko

December 15, 1969: the BBC documentary "24 Hours: The World Of John And Yoko" was first shown from 10.30pm on BBC 1. Extracts were also used in the 1988 documentary Imagine: "John Lennon". Lennon and Ono had agreed to the BBC following them for five days in exchange for the rights to the footage.

Don't Let Me Down

2003 Apple-produced video for "Don't Let Me Down". A mixture of two rooftop performances, with a soundtrack from "Let It Be...Naked".

Hope For the Future

Paul on the Jonathan Ross Show

Paul McCartney talks about the murder of John Lennon, you can see that he still gets emotional. The Daily Mirror also has a write up about the interview.

Minimation: John Lennon about Gene Vincent and Little Richard

Pittsburgh, PA

The Beatles at the Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, 9/14/1964 from copper&wOol on Vimeo.

Hamburg, late fifties, early sixties

Silent footage from Hamburg's Reeperbahn and Grosse Freiheit from the late fifties and early sixties, as provided by the Kino Library. Apparently filmed by Bruno Koschmider, the very man who hired the Beatles to play at his Indra and Kaiserkeller clubs in 1960. There is fotage of the Kaiserkeller here, the Bambi Lichthaus (not "Kino", although the British called it that), as well as the Star Club sign with the Beatles' name on the sign outside. The colour film gives a great view of all the neon lights which was an eye-catching feature of the district.

What is Life

We have already presented videos by Alvar Ortega before, here is his animated video for "What is life".

It had to happen

CCTV cameras captured the dramatic incident outside Abbey Road Studios. The video shows the girl running over the pedestrian crossing, seemingly unaware of the approaching car. She was then struck by a silver Volkswagen Polo.
She was taken to hospital in an ambulance following the collision and it is not known if she suffered any injuries.

Remember...

Thank Your Lucky Stars

The Beatles on Thank Your Lucky Stars

Thank Your Lucky Stars was a British television pop music show made by ABC Television, and broadcast on ITV from 1961 to 1966. Many of the top bands performed on it, and for millions of British teenagers it was essential viewing. As well as featuring British artists, it often included American guest stars. The Beatles appeared on Thank Your Lucky Stars eight times between January 1963 and March 1965.

Below: The Beatles topped the bill on their fifth appearance on ABC Television's Thank Your Lucky Stars, recorded at the Alpha Television Studios in Birmingham, England.
The show was recorded on the afternoon of Sunday 20 October 1963, and was broadcast the following Saturday from 5.50-6.35pm. The Beatles mimed to three songs: All My Loving, Money (That's What I Want) and She Loves You.
Two of the EMI recordings had not been heard before; the show's producer Philip Jones had been given advance acetate discs of them, and successfully persuaded Brian Epstein to have them premièred on Thank Your Lucky Stars before the release of With The Beatles.
While The Beatles were inside the studios, 3,000 fans blocked the streets outside and attempted to storm the building.

Saturday 14 November 1964: The Beatles rehearsed and recorded their seventh contribution to the television show Thank Your Lucky Stars at Teddington Studios on this day. It was screened on ITV the following Saturday, 21 November 1964, from 5.50pm.
The group mimed to four songs: I Feel Fine, She's A Woman, I'm A Loser and Rock And Roll Music. There was no studio audience present.
Despite their numerous previous appearances on the show, by November 1964 The Beatles were so famous that it was a coup for the producers to have them even mime for an edition. In recognition of this, the show was renamed Lucky Stars Special.

The Beatles' appearances on Thank Your Lucky Stars

13 January 1963 Please Please Me
17 February 1963 Please Please Me
14 April 1963 From Me To You
12 May 1963 From Me To You and I Saw Her Standing There.
20 October 1963 All My Loving, Money (That's What I Want) and She Loves You.
15 December 1963 I Want To Hold Your Hand, All My Loving, Twist And Shout and She Loves You.
14 November 1964 I Feel Fine, She's A Woman, I'm A Loser and Rock And Roll Music.
28 March 1965 Eight Days A Week, Yes It Is and Ticket To Ride.

Ringo Starr World Peace Day Update

John Lennon home movie 1968

1966 Police training film from the Beatles' visit to Hamburg

NEMS office, May 30th, 1964

Cilla, episode 3

Wings - Call Me Back Again

A brand new official video for one of my favourite Venus and Mars tracks, "Call Me Back Again".

John Lennon Interview - WNEW-FM (3 hours)

1. Dennis Elsas interviews John Lennon
2. Dennis Elsas interviews John Lennon, continued
3. Scott Muni interviews John Lennon on WNEW-FM New York circa late 70's. Plus Oddz 'n Soddz with George Harrison.

1973 commercial for "red" and "blue" albums

On Apple Records and Tapes.

Cilla, episode 2

The Beatles Come To Town (New edit)

Here's "The Beatles Come To Town" twice. The first version edits in footage of the Beatles on stage playing "She Loves You" and "Twist and Shout" from available outtake reels, replacing mainly audience shots. The outtake footage is in an unprocessed, brighter quality than the darker, more contrasty finished film. After this, an unedited original is here to allow you to see the difference.

Two Virgins

Cilla

Sheridan Smith takes the lead role in Jeff Pope's three-part drama charting Cilla Black's rise to fame in the 1960s. As the series opens, Priscilla White is a Liverpool typist with dreams of escaping the office and becoming a singer. It looks like her chance has come when she meets songwriter Bobby Willis, who claims to be in the music industry - so she's less than impressed to later discover his flash car is hired and he actually works in a bakery. Despite this inauspicious start, Cilla agrees to let him manage her, but will their arrangement still stand after her friends, a local band by the name of the Beatles, help her land an audition with genuine impresario Brian Epstein.

George Harrison - All Things Must Pass Album Promo

I Want You (She's So Heavy) - Hammond Organ, Drums and Rhythm Guitar

George Harrison - This Guitar (Can't Keep From Crying) (Rehearsal)

George Harrison - This Guitar (Can't Keep From Crying) with Dave Stewart & Bob Geldof (Rehearsal).

George Harrison Explains "This Guitar Can't Keep From Crying".

Paul McCartney The Hope Song

Here is the new Paul McCartney song called "The Hope Song".
The music of “Destiny” was a collaborative effort between Bungie's former in-house composer Marty O'Donnell, his partner Mike Salvatori and former Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney.
The New York Times reports that one of McCartney's contributions to the game's soundtrack, "The Hope Song" will be released as a single.
The Times calls McCartney's track the game's theme song, reporting that it is fully orchestrated and was recorded at Abbey Road Studios under the direction of Giles Martin, son of The Beatles producer Sir George Martin.
The song's producer is Mark "Spike" Stent, who has experience recording a handful of James Bond movie theme songs: Tina Turner's "GoldenEye" and Madonna's "Die Another Day."
McCartney announced his involvement in the Destiny score in 2012, tweeting, "I'm really excited to be working on writing music with @bungie, the studio that made Halo."
O'Donnell detailed his collaboration with McCartney last year when Bungie unveiled the first details on Destiny. He said the former Beatle was drawn to the project by his interest in the technology behind interactive music. "He didn't only want to do Paul McCartney music," O'Donnell said. "He wants to get involved in themes, how melodies and motives can be a touch point for people."

Shindig in colour

George Harrison - Cheer Down - Live in Japan 1991

George Harrison - Crackerbox Palace (Official Video)

George Harrison - When We Was Fab (Official Video)

George Harrison - This is Love (Official Video)

George Harrison - The Apple Years 1968-75 Box set

George Harrison - Wonderwall Music Album Promo

George Harrison - Electronic Sound Album Promo

Paul McCartney 'Early Days' (Exclusive Behind-The-Scenes Jamming - Full Version)

Mono vinyl player

Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)

George Harrison: The Apple Years 1968-75

As a teaser for the upcoming The Apple Years boxed set the George Harrison estate has chosen this previously unreleased concert clip from Japan. This video can be found on the bonus DVD in the new boxed set.

Paul McCartney radio interview 15 May 1969

BBC Radio Merseyside

Tower Records Commercial by John Lennon

It's The Beatles! Liverpool Empire 07.12.1963

Ron Howard: ALS Ice bucket challenge

Farewell to Candlestick Park

Destiny Beta Original Soundtrack

Soundtrack from the Beta release of the video game. The soundtrack is composed by Paul McCartney in collaboration with Martin O'Donnell and Michel Salvator.

00:00 The Restoration
03:53 The Dark Within
08:29 The Warmind
10:38 The Last Array
15:34 Deactivating The Mesh
20:08 Sepiks Prime
23:00 Temple of Crota
27:06 Main Menu 1
29:30 Main Menu 2
30:53 Main Menu 3
32:34 Main Menu 4
34:30 Main Menu 5
37:02 Main Menu 6
38:36 Main Menu 7
43:43 Main Menu 8
45:53 Destination
48:40 Orbit 1
49:14 Orbit 2
50:43 Orbit 3
51:40 Orbit 4
53:32 Orbit 5
55:37 Orbit 6
57:00 Orbit 7
58:35 Explore 1
01:00:41 Explore 2
01:03:49 Ocean of Storms
01:06:01 Explore Drums (Bonus)
01:08:26 Drums (Bonus)

Las Vegas 360: 50th Anniversary of Beatles' Las Vegas Concert

On August 20, 1964 the Beatles came to Las Vegas to play two unforgettable sold out shows at The Las Vegas Convention Center. Fifty years later, these iconic performances will always be remembered as one of Las Vegas' biggest events.

Jacksonville visit 1964

Clyde Montgomery from channel 4 in Jacksonville Florida interviews the Beatles in 1964. From historical archives.

Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band live - Greek Theatre, L.A. 7/19/2014

The Beatles in Minnesota

Five-Year-Old Beatles Fan Meets Ringo Starr

Variety Club Annual Awards 1963

On March 19, 1964 the Beatles took time off from filming "A Hard Day's Night" to attend the ceremony given by the Variety Club of Great Britain. The boys were presented with "Silver Hearts" awards for Show Business Personalities of 1963.  In this first clip, the TV programme starts, the Beatles arrive and pose for the press photographers while Paul McCartney interviews the other Beatles.

Pathé News reel: Beatles Get Show Biz Top Award is the most well known footage from the event.

As the Beatles are busy filming A Hard Day's Night, they hurry to get back to the film set. However, another cast member is the last one to get the award that day. Cue Wilfrid Brambell & Harry H Corbett (Steptoe & Son).

A modern day commentary on top of the Pathé News reel footage brings us context.

Paul in Albany, NY

Thank you, Paul McCartney

A fan gets to say "Thank you" to Paul McCartney in Kansas City.

Paul McCartney: Kansas City

Whenever Paul McCartney has a gig in Kansas City, he just can't resist playing the song.

The Beatles Live Project - trailer 2

Paul McCartney's Zenith Model 17 acoustic guitar reappears

Ringo Starr: With A Little Help From My Friends - AXS TV

BBC News Ringo, photobombs and birthday cakes

Paul McCartney: Early Days

Paul McCartney 5 July 2014, Albany, NY - full concert

It's a play list, so you may have to go to YouTube (click the YouTube logo) to see the songs beyond the opening song.

The Beatles Japanese Boxset

Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band in Cleveland, June 29 2014

Complete concert from the ongoing tour.

The Beatles on 60 minutes, New Zealand

Post by Prime TV.

John, Paul, George, Ringo.

It's been 50 years since the Fab Four touched down on kiwi shores. We look back on that whirlwind tour, speak to those who were there and and bring you exclusive footage of an unaired interview with John Lennon.

The Beatles, tonight, 9.30pm on 60 Minutes.

Paul McCartney 'Save Us' (Fan Video)

We are taking a holiday break after this - see you a bit into July!

Paul McCartney - Live At Coliseum, Rome, Italy - May 10, 2003

Sir Paul McCartney played an historic concert to just 400 people inside the Colosseum in Rome on Saturday, May 10, 2003. The event - one of the first live shows to be played at the venue - was held as a warm-up for the huge free concert that was hosted by Macca outside the 2,000-year-old ruin the day after.
Tickets for the event were sold for up to 1,295 Euros (£925) via an internet auction, with proceeds going towards landmine charity Adopt-A-Minefield and the upkeep of Rome's historic sites. "I think we're the first band to play here since the Christians," joked the former Beatle, as several hundred ticket-less fans stood outside the venue, hoping to hear the music.
The Colosseum was illuminated by multicoloured lights and was filled with dry ice during the mostly-acoustic 100-minute set.  "As you can imagine, this is a magnificent occasion for us," McCartney told the crowd.

Bunbury tails

Part 1: The Origin



Part 2: The bunnies and the cats



Part 3: Celebrity cricket match



Part 4: Festival



Part 5: Ride Rajbun

THE BUNBURY TAILS

Artist: Various Artists
Label: Polydor
Release Date: 5 Oct 1992
Format: CD
Track List:
01. We're the Bunburys - The Bee Gees
02. Bunbury Afternoon - The Bee Gees
03. Legend of Xanadu - Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
04. Eyes - Kelli Wolfe
05. Ride Rajbun - George Harrison with Dhani Harrison and Ravi Shankar
06. Down on the Street - Shakatak
07. Oakland Stroke - Tony! Toni! Toné
08. Fight the Good Fight - Eric Clapton and The Bee Gees
09. Everybody Move - Cathy Dennis
10. The Sun Goes Down (Living it up) - Level 42
11. Up the Revolution - Elton John and The Bee Gees
12. Seasons - No Hat Moon

The original 1992 edition is long out of print. The CD was re-issued in a limited run and was available exclusively from The Bunbury Cricket Club at their charity cricket matches in the UK from 2001 (disc in clear jewel case, no artwork). In 2009, the CD was made available again as a Limited Edition Collector's Item via The Bunbury Cricket Club Online Shop (now defunct).

Audio cassette

VHS video

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

John & Yoko Free Time

May 11, 1972. imdb

Beatles in Adelaide 1964

One hour and 24 minutes of good quality video from the Beatles' visit to Adelaide!

Mono vinyl albums

Congratulations, Macca!

Paul McCartney live in St Petersburg

20.06.2004 | Palace Square

Jet
Got to Get You into My Life
Flaming Pie 
All My Loving
Let Me Roll It
You Won't See Me
She's a Woman
Maybe I'm Amazed 
The Long and Winding Road
In Spite of All the Danger
Blackbird
We Can Work It Out
Here Today
All Things Must Pass
I'll Follow the Sun
For No One
Calico Skies
I've Just Seen a Face
Eleanor Rigby
Drive My Car
Penny Lane
Get Back
Band on the Run
Back in the U.S.S.R.
Live and Let Die
I've Got a Feeling
Lady Madonna
Hey Jude
Yesterday
Let It Be
I Saw Her Standing There
Helter Skelter
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
The End

Paul McCartney - 73 Hours in Russia

Russian documentary about Paul McCartney's visit to Russia in May 2003.

When The Beatles Drove Us Wild

Australian documentary, 2014.

Paul McCartney - Many Years From Now

John Lennon: "Open Eye" Granada TV, 1990

Documentary about the 'John Lennon Tribute Concert' in Liverpool 1990.

The Beatles in New Zealand

Wings 1979 Documentary (Nationwide)

TV documentary from 1979 dedicated to Wings concerts in Paul McCartney's hometown - Liverpool (Wings 1979 UK Tour)
Wings appearance in Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool - Celebration November 1979.
Rare interviews with the band, soundchecks and live performances

Beatles in Hong Kong

Paul McCartney & Wings Live in St. Paul

Live In Minnesota MN Civic Center, St Paul, USA. Friday 4th June 1976.

Top Ten Club (photos)

The Beatles in Holland

Denmark

Stop motion

Now and Then

Fan made.

Australia

EMI Music Australia: It was 50 years ago that The Beatles made their one and only tour of Australia. The Beatles touched down in Sydney on June 11, 1964 and for an amazing 13 days they captivated the nation.

Hundreds of thousands lined the streets everywhere, Beatlemania was more intense here than anywhere else in the world. It was a time of massive musical and cultural change and a time for teenagers to challenge and defy authority.

Over 300,000 people turned out in Adelaide - it was the biggest crowd anywhere in the world, anytime! The Beatles performed 20 shows across Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane leaving in their wake a trail of euphoric, captivated youth. Australia was never the same following The Beatles 1964 tour. This montage captures the highlights of their tour and the euphoria that followed.

'Then & Now - Australia Salutes The Beatles', a compilation of some of Australia's finest artists covering classic Beatles songs, is available from:

JB HI FI: http://smarturl.it/ThenAndNowJB
Sanity: http://smarturl.it/ThenAndNowSanity

1. The Beatles - 1964 Australian Tour Highlights Reel 4:49
2. The Beatles Leave For Australia (1964) British Pathé 3:21
3. The Beatles Arrive Back In Australia (1964) British Pathé 0:40
4. The Beatles in Sydney & Adelaide 1964 Newsreels 13:16
5. Beatles Down Under Part 1-6 45:00
6. The Beatles in Australia: Press Conference (1964) 15:25
7. The original pop stars: The Beatles in Australia Australia Network News 5:53
8. Ringo Starr on his way to join the Beatles in Australia June 1964, interviews and footage 11:43
9. The Beatles Live in Melbourne 29:49
10. 1964 John Lennon Interview In Australia During The Beatles Tour 8:45
11. The Beatles Festival Hall, Brisbane, Australia in 1964 3:20
12. The Beatles A Hit In Australia (1964) British Pathé 1:40
13. Beatles Conquer Aussies (1964) British Pathé 2:23
14. Jimmie Nicol's last moments with the Beatles 3:29

2 hours, 30 minutes

The Man Who Took Paul's Head

Paperback Writer

Studio version - Intertel

Chiswick Park version

Another studio version. Vocals only. And the occasional cough.

Top Of The Pops 1966. Their only Top Of The Pops appearance in person. The BBC tape was wiped in the seventies. Recreation by way of still photos.

Beatles Video Collection

From Love Me Do to A Day In The Life. Varying quality.

John Lennon & Yoko Ono interview at Twickenham (1969)

John Lennon & Yoko Ono seemingly intoxicated during an interview which they gave at the break of filming and recording Let it Be album and film at Twickenham Film Studios, January 14, 1969.

The Beatles and animation

Ten animated films or videos with a Beatles theme, some made by professionals - others by fans. Enjoy!

Cartoon series: Pinky and the Brain meet the Beatles.

Animation for the song "Blackbird", shown on a big screen during the "In My Life" Beatles Tribute/Theater show.  Made by Thayer DeMay.

Eleanor Rigby - first prize in a Beatles RockBand competition in Mexico. Made by Ginilla Chacon.

Beatles Get Back animation, made by beavis 6111.

I'm Looking Through You by Nick Cross

Please Mr. Postman by Melisa Ciputra. Kinetic Typography Animation, done in After Effect CS5.

Nowhere Man by stelos485.

Clematoon video of Octopus' Garden, Visit www.Clematoons.com

The official animated flash video for Come Together, made to promote the "1" album in 2000.

My favourite: created by HotDiggedyDemon in Flash, an interpretation of Maxwell's Silver Hammer.

The official animated flash video for I Feel Fine, made to promote the "1" album in 2000.

The official animated opening video for The Beatles Rockband, made by Quentin Vien for CreativeStation.

I'm not sure if this is the official animated flash video for Tomorrow Never Knows, made to promote the "1" album in 2000, but I remember it was made some time around then.

Seventies Super8 Film - Taxman by Paul Erlandson

Peter Sellers - She loves you. An animated tribute to Peter Sellers by Meliss, for Blowtoons.com.

Beatles Go Dutch 1964 Vol. 9

Highlights from June 3-7, 1964: London, Denmark, Holland and back in London.

The Sixties,The Beatles Decade

Episode 3: Swinging Britain

John and Yoko on the Dick Cavett Show (May 11, 1972)

Also appearing: a Shirley MacLaine who has no belief in spirits and paranormal things.

A Hard Day's Night - official

The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night - Digitally Restored & Available Now on iTunes in USA and Canada.

John Lennon - Behind The Music

A VH1 series. This episode chronicles the years John Lennon took for himself and his family, as well as the final months that marked his triumphant return to rock and roll. Available for viewing within the USA here, universally available here.

Paul McCartney Nobel Peace Prize Concert 2001

The 8th Nobel Peace Prize Concert was held in Oslo on 11 December 2001 in honor of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate for 2001, the United Nations (U.N.) and Kofi Annan. The Concert was hosted by Meryl Streep and Liam Neeson. George Harrison passed away on November 29, a fortnight before the concert, and this was Paul McCartney's first public appearance after that. He dedicated his songs to his friend, George.

The all-star band on stage at the end included Norwegian band, A-ha. I had the pleasure of attending this concert.

The Beatles Live In Chicago 1964

All available footage of The Beatles live in Chicago 1964 Upgraded.
Sources of Footage:
0:18 - 16mm B&W Film By WGN 2 Sources (Newsreels)
4:34 - 16mm B&W Film By Barbre Productions
8:01 - 8mm Color By Bill Diehl (Before The Concert)
9:09 - The Concert
13:15 - 8mm Color By an Amateur Fan (Actual Concert Audio)

The Beatles: Minnesota Mania (Full Documentary)

A documentary made in 1965. This is a interesting U.S. documentary because it shows how The Beatles came to fame along with some cool newsreels, press conferences, and interviews with fans who were at the concerts.

Paul McCartney: "Appreciate" music video

Paul introduces his new friend, "Newman"

We have no idea where he finds the time, but here's a new music video from Paul McCartney, for the song "Appreciate" off the "New" album.

First U.S. Broadcast?

Recording from late February, 1963 of "The Dick Biondi Show™", WLS in Chicago.
Recorded on a home recorder directly off a live radio broadcast approximately 750 miles from the broadcast station in the state of Delaware, on a Fisher console reel to reel recorder.
The announcement of the Beatles record, "Please Please Me" appears at 5:56 into the video.
Earlier in the segment, the radio show contains a teaser spot for the Hitchcock film "The Birds", which was released on March 28, 1963.

The Making of "The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit"

Parts 1-5, but part 4 is missing.

The Mini Documentaries: Rubber Soul

The Mini Documentaries: Let It Be

Let It Be outtakes

Interior decoration

Johnny Jones takes you on a tour of his Lakewood home, completely remodeled to show off his impressive collection of pop culture artifacts and love of the Beatles.

Intertel promo: Help!

The Beatles' "Help!" promo film, without those annoying logos. Due out on DVD in October? We shall see...

Colour photo taken during the shooting of the promo film for "Help!"

Thank You Girl in Blackpool

Footage of the Beatles at the ABC Cinema in Blackpool, with a live version of "Thank You Girl" as soundtrack.

Paul McCartney Live, Madrid - Spain

May 30th, 2004

Lovely Rita hunting for Paul McCartney in Verona, 2013 - a fan's perspective

Bonus: "Yesterday", Verona, Italy 2013:

Paul McCartney Lima soundcheck

McCartney: Opening film

This is the film that is being shown at the start of each Paul McCartney concert.

Apple iTunes ad campaign

A little touch of Cilla in the night

Paul is near the beginning and a bit of Ringo near the end, for the skippers among you!

George Martin plays with multitracks

George Martin shows Brian Wilson how to mix "God Only Knows".

"A Day In The Life".

George Martin's piano solo for "Lovely Rita" recreated.

Paul, Ringo, and George Martin Highlights from the documentary "Produced by George Martin" courtesy of Grounded Productions/BBC Arena. Features a Christmas Beatles fan club record outtake!

Discovering the "lost" guitar solo from "Here Comes The Sun".

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

A playlist of Beatles related videos from the official Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum YouTube channel. Starting with the Beatles' induction in 1988. A bit over an hour, all in all.

1. 1988 Mick Jagger inducts The Beatles 4:02
2. 1988 George and Ringo and Lennon's heirs accept award on behalf of the Beatles 7:05
3. 1988 All stars with Ringo and George - "I Saw Her Standing There" 2:56
4. 1988 All stars with Ringo and George - "All Along The Watchtower" - as above 6:52
5. 1994 Paul McCartney inducts John Lennon 8:16
6. 1994 Yoko Ono accepts John Lennon's award 1:10
7. 1999 Neil Young inducts Paul McCartney 5:55
8. 1999 Paul McCartney and all stars perform "Let It Be" 5:22
9. 1999 Paul McCartney and all stars perform "Blue Suede Shoes" 2:32
10. 1999 Paul McCartney and all stars perform "What'd I Say" 4:52
11. 2004 Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne induct George Harrison 4:45
12. 2004 Olivia and Dhani Harrison accept award for George 3:35
13. 2004 All star band of 2004 performs "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" 6:16

Note: items # 4, 9 and 10 are from other uploaders, so they may disappear again. In 2014, Brian Epstein was inducted, but there's no official footage published yet. So how about Ringo?

Paul McCartney: Out There - Ecuador

Sir Paul McCartney played his first ever show in Ecuador on Monday night.
The former Beatles star took to the stage at the Estadio De Liga in the country's capital of Quito, 2,800 metres above sea level, making it the highest concert Sir Paul has ever played.
He later took to Twitter and posted a photograph of himself carrying the flag of Ecuador on stage, along with the message to his 1.9m followers: 'Ecuador - what a night! Thank you.'

The complete Ecuador concert from April 28th 2014, amateur recording.

To celebrate his visit, local authorities organised for a meet and greet between the musician and the Ecuadorian Beatles Fan Club.

Romanian Angel Appeal

George and Olivia Harrison promoting the 'Romanian Angel Appeal' on "Wogan".

This version of this song was included on the "Nobody's Child: Romanian Angel Appeal" charity album released in 1990 to benefit Romanian orphans, under the auspices of the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation.

Artists donating tracks include the Traveling Wilburys, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Guns N' Roses, Ringo Starr, and Elton John. All songs were previously unreleased, and "Nobody's Child" (backed with "This Week") and "With a Little Help from my Friends" were released as singles.

The charity album

The project was organized by Olivia Harrison, who created the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation with the other wives of The Beatles (Barbara Bach, Yoko Ono and Linda McCartney) in April 1990.

A Beatles wives project

In Bucharest, a handful of good-hearted, dedicated and well-trained people (doctors, sociologists, nurses) helped the founding members and the international community to renovate Romanian orphanages, managing the funds, identifying people, talking, negotiating, persuading. They were the heart of the foundation which is today just as alive and active for Romania’s children and adults in need.

The single

Since 1991 Romanian Angel Appeal has been responding to the HIV/AIDS and TB epidemics across Romania through pioneering projects and programs, providing integrated treatment, care and prevention services to more than 4,000 beneficiaries per annum: children, adults, health workers and other professionals.

RAA counts of 34 staff members, and 30 collaborators nationalwide. RAA has been involved in various international programs, is an organization member of National Coordination Committee for Global Fund Romania, Member of the Penta Network. As Principal Recipient of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS TB and Malaria (2007 – ongoing) , RAA coordinated and monitored the activity of 35 governmental and civil society organizations involved in the implementation of the Global Fund HIV and TB grants in Romania.

RAA Foundation continues to work to this day in national and international projects dealing with: HIV and TB prevention; developing and delivering services and social integration opportunities for people affected by HIV, TB and ASD; advocacy campaigns; social, medical and operational research in the area of HIV, TB and ASD.

Old VHS bootleg videos

From the New Jersey based "Video Warehouse", here are some illegally released Beatles video cassettes from 1987. The contents came from old super 8 and regular 8 mm movies which were sold to the fans by some movie manufacturers in the sixties. We have featured upgraded versions of these films in this blog.

The back cover of the Shea Stadium film.

A colour concert from the 1966 Budokan concerts in Tokyo.

The backside of the Tokyo cover

Next up, the black and white Washington D.C. concert from 1964.

And the back cover.

Paul McCartney in Lima

Concierto Completo en DVD: mizares1012@yahoo.com

McCartney interview on February 1972

Uncut ABC news tape: Interview with Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney and their dog. Also rehearsals of "Give Ireland Back To The Irish".

Building the Höfner Violin Beatles Bass

More popular than Jesus

A furore occurred in August 1966 after John Lennon's remark that The Beatles had become "more popular than Jesus" was quoted by American teen magazine Datebook. Lennon originally made the remark when English newspaper reporter Maureen Cleave interviewed him for her series on the lifestyles of the four individual Beatles. When published in the United Kingdom in March 1966, Lennon's words provoked no public reaction.

The controversy erupted on the eve of the band's 1966 US tour. The strength and scale of the reaction against the Beatles led their manager, Brian Epstein, to consider cancelling the tour for fear of their lives. Two press conferences were held in the US, where both Epstein and Lennon expressed their regret at words taken out of context and offence taken. Christian spokesmen pointed out that Lennon had only stated what the church was itself saying about the decline of Christianity. The US tour went ahead but there was disruption and intimidation, including picketing of concerts by the Ku Klux Klan. At one concert the band believed they were the target of gunfire. From the close of the 1966 tour until their break-up in 1970, the group never played another commercial concert.

In August 1966, five months after Cleave's article appeared in the Evening Standard, American teen magazine Datebook printed a quote from Lennon's words on its front cover. There was uproar in response, starting with an announcement by two radio stations in Alabama and Texas that they had banned Beatles music from their playlists. WAQY DJ Tommy Charles said, "We just felt it was so absurd and sacrilegious that something ought to be done to show them that they can't get away with this sort of thing." Around two dozen other stations followed suit with similar announcements. Some stations in the South went further, organising demonstrations with bonfires, drawing hordes of teenagers to publicly burn their Beatles records and other memorabilia. The Memphis city council, aware that a Beatles concert was scheduled at the Mid-South Coliseum during the band's imminent US tour, voted to cancel it rather than have "municipal facilities be used as a forum to ridicule anyone's religion." The Ku Klux Klan nailed a Beatles album to a wooden cross, vowing "vengeance", and conservative groups staged further public burnings of Beatles records.

The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, was so concerned by the US reaction that he considered cancelling the tour for fear people would try to kill them. He flew to the US and held a press conference in New York, where he publicly criticised Datebook, saying they had taken Lennon's words out of context, and expressed regret on behalf of the band that "people with certain religious beliefs should have been offended in any way." Epstein's efforts had little effect. The controversy quickly spread beyond the US; in Mexico City there were demonstrations against the Beatles, and a number of countries, including South Africa and Spain, took the decision to ban national radio stations from playing Beatles music. Further concert performances scheduled for the US tour were cancelled by the venues. Even the Vatican got involved with a public denouncement of Lennon's comments. Shortly before the tour began, on 11 August 1966, the Beatles held a press conference in Chicago, Illinois to address the growing furore.

At the press conference Lennon described his own belief in God by quoting the Bishop of Woolwich, saying, "... not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us." When the tour began, it was marred by protests, cancellation of concerts, and disturbances. Telephone threats were received, and concerts were picketed by the Ku Klux Klan. The "cancelled" Memphis concert was held anyway, but a firecracker thrown during the performance led the band to believe they were the target of gunfire. After completing the tour, the Beatles never performed a commercial concert again.

Daily Express writer Robert Pitman, responding to the US outcry, wrote, "It seems a nerve for Americans to hold up shocked hands, when week in, week out, America is exporting to us a subculture that makes the Beatles seem like four stern old churchwardens." In the US too there was criticism of the reaction; a Kentucky radio station declared that it would start to give Beatles music airplay to show its "contempt for hypocrisy personified", and the Jesuit magazine America wrote that "Lennon was simply stating what many a Christian educator would readily admit."

The Beatles' press conference in Chicago, at the Ator Towers Hotel, August 11. 1966.

The Beatles' press conference at the Capitol Records Tower, Los Angeles on August 24th, 1966.

The press put them ill-at-ease from the start, with accusing questions to Lennon about his recent "Bigger than Jesus" remarks. A condescending reporter takes a shot at Ringo., and the cameraman can't tell Ringo from John.

The Good: They make the most of it with off-the-cuff quips from all four. Lennon pouts, but his inimitable at times raucous humor comes through. Paul and George take inane questions in stride.
Later presented with steak branding irons (huh?) and gold records from RIAA for Revolver. Closeups show Brian Epstein lecturing John and Ringo. In an on-camera interview with a Dick Clark stand-in, George is in a whimsical mood, while Paul goofs with the guy.

David Crosby, who at the time was a member of The Byrds,can occasionally be spotted in the film.

Following this interview the Beatles returned to the tour with a performance at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The group would close out their 1966 tour with their historic finale at Candlestick Park in San Fransisco - their last-ever concert. In the coming years, while there would be no more touring, the Beatles would focus on creativity in the recording studio, producing some of the finest albums of their catalogue.

Beatles In Portland - The Complete Story

This is a documentary produced in 1995 about the Beatles visit to Portland Oregon on August 22, 1965.

The Compleat Beatles

Video cassette

The 2 hour long "The Compleat Beatles" was the first commercially released home video telling the story of the Beatles. It was released on VHS and Beta video cassettes in 1982, as well as laserdisc in 1994 to accompany a two volume songbook of the same name.

The Beta video cassette cover

The documentary was never released officially on a DVD, but underground DVDs dubbed from a video cassette or a laser disc are available.

The two music publishing books were housed in a slipcase

The video cassette/laser disc was available for purchase as a separate release, and was not included with the books.

The laserdisc edition - front

The laserdisc edition - back

The Beatles clips used in the film have since been published in other documentaries like The Beatles' own "Anthology", in a superior quality. But for many, "The Compleat Beatles" brings back fond memories and it is a sought after relic from the early video age.

chapter 1 - Prologue
chapter 2 - Main Title - "RocK And Roll Music"
chapter 3 - "I Should Have known Better"
chapter 4 - Rock'n Roll roots;skiffle - "Jack O'Diamonds"
chapter 5 - John Lennon
chapter 6 - Paul McCartney;the first years together
chapter 7 - "Venus" - Liverpool Rock
chapter 8 - George Harrison;Stue Stucliffe
chapter 9 - Name changes
chapter 10 - The first gigs;Hamburg
chapter 11 - Bigger gigs;The Cavern - "Hippy,Hippy Shake"
chapter 12 - "My Bonnie" - Stu abdicates
chapter 13 - Brian Epstein
chapter 14 - George Martin;exit Pete Best
chapter 15 - Ringo Starr
chapter 16 - "Please Please Me" - Recording the first album
chapter 17 - "She Loves You" - The fans
chapter 18 - The Royal Command Performance - "Twist And Shout"
chapter 19 - The second album
chapter 20 - The Beatles land in America
chapter 21 - The Ed Sullivan Show - "All My Loving"
chapter 22 - The concert debut - "I Want To Hold Your Hand"
chapter 23 - "From Me To You"
chapter 24 - "A Hard Day's Night"
chapter 25 - The first world tour - "I Saw Her Standing There"
chapter 26 - The fans; A sprout of a new generation
chapter 27 - "I'm Loser" - A healthy competition
chapter 28 - "Things We Said Today" - "Ticket To Ride"
chapter 29 - "Help!"
chapter 30 - "Yesterday"
chapter 31 - "Norwegian Wood" - "Nowhere Man" - Rubber Soul
chapter 32 - "If A Needed Someone" - Beatlemania goes sour
chapter 33 - "Eleanor Rigby" - John experiments with drugs
chapter 34 - A new album - "Strawberry Fields Forever"
chapter 35 - Piccolo trumpet - "Penny Lane"
chapter 36 - Splicing together - "Being For The Benefit Mr.Kite"
chapter 37 - "Sgt.Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"
chapter 38 - "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" - Industry reaction
chapter 39 - "All You Need Is Love"
chapter 40 - The Maharishi ;Brian dies
chapter 41 - "Magical Mystery Tour"
chapter 42 - "Hello Goodbye" - Adios Maharishi
chapter 43 - "Yellow Submarine"
chapter 44 - "Hey Jude"
chapter 45 - "Mother Nature's Son" - "Glass Onion"
chapter 46 - Yoko Ono - "Revolution 9"
chapter 47 - The White album
chapter 48 - Mking Let It Be ; Billy Preston - "Get Back"
chapter 49 - "I've Got A Feeling" - Internal strife
chapter 50 - The Abbey Road album
chapter 51 - The Pull Of Domestic Life ; The decline of Apple
chapter 52 - The Beatles...were no more
chapter 53 - "Let It Be" - Is released - Let It Be
chapter 54 - Epilogue / End Credits - "Blackbird"