The Beatles Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

John Lennon Estate has partnered with the Lumenate app for a series of meditation mixes, developed from the musician’s 1973 track ‘Mind Games’.Unveiled today (May 1), the project has been developed to help people reach a relaxed, meditative state, and “help guide your mind into deeper states of consciousness”.In the newly transformed mixes, various sound design techniques and processes have been applied to the original 1973 recordings by late Beatles member John Lennon and, in some instances, have been enhanced with additional instrumentation from producer Sean Ono Lennon – who is also the son of Lennon and Yoko Ono.The song was written by Lennon after reading the 1972 book Mind Games: The Guide to Inner Space, by Robert Masters and Jean Houston, which offered brain training exercises to help people take a more positive outlook. The song then came as the title track for the album of the same name and has gone on to become a cult classic.“John was trying to convey the message that we all play mind games.

In partnership with Disney+ UKNME Screens returns next month for a special London showing of Let It Be, the 1970 film that documents the making of their 12th and final studio album of the same name – and has long been out of circulation. Find out how to get free tickets below.Creating exclusive film and TV experiences for NME‘s millions of readers in print, online and social media – NME Screens was launched last year, and has since hosted sold-out screenings of Amy Winehouse biopic Back To Black, saucy tennis thriller Challengers, Wes Anderson’s offbeat sci-fi comedy Asteroid City, acclaimed social satire Saltburn and many more.Our next event is an even hotter ticket – and a must-see for music fans.

David Gilmour has admitted he found The Beatles‘ Get Back documentary a “hard watch”.The Pink Floyd guitarist made the comments in a new print interview with Uncut (via Guitar.com), where he spoke about the Peter Jackson-directed documentary released in 2021. Get Back was constructed from over 60 hours of footage when they recorded their final album, 1970’s ‘Let It Be’.In the interview, he shared that he frequently watches documentaries of bands from the 60s and 70s, including The Beatles.

Ringo Starr has said there is “not a lot of joy” in The Beatles documentary Let It Be, ahead of its imminent re-release. Earlier this month, NME exclusively announced that Disney+ were to release a restored version of the 1970 film on May 8. Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Let It Be was first released in cinemas 54 years ago and has been difficult to obtain since – prompting considerable bootlegging.

A previously lost 12-string acoustic guitar that belonged to the late John Lennon will go up for sale at an auction in May after it was recently found in the attic of a home in Britain.The auctioneers said Lennon played the guitar, which is expected to exceed its estimate of $600,000 to $800,000, on the Beatles’ 1965 album “Help!”The guitar was lying in an attic and was rediscovered by the current owners during a house move.The founders of US-based Julien’s Auctions said they traveled to Britain to verify the guitar and found the original case – a Maton Australian-made guitar case – in the trash.Martin Nolan, executive director and co-founder of Julien’s Auctions, told Reuters the owners knew they had the instrument at one point, but thought it had been lost.The guitar is believed to have ended up in their hands through British musician Gordon Waller, a member of the 1960s pop duo Peter and Gordon.“Gordon was gifted it from John Lennon, then Gordon gifted it to his road manager, and that’s where the guitar stayed for all these years,” Nolan said.The guitar will be auctioned on May 29 at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York and on the auctioneer’s website.Earlier this year, a stolen Hofner bass guitar belonging to Paul McCartney was found and returned to Lennon’s fellow Beatle after 51 years following a global hunt.Musical instruments belonging to prominent members of the Beatles have fetched a high price at previous auction.In 2015, a guitar stolen from Lennon in the 1960s sold for $2.41 million at an auction in California.

John Lennon and George Harrison, which appeared in the movie Help!, is headed to auction after being lost for 50 years.The model is a 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar, made in the early ’60s by Bavarian manufacturer Framus. It famously appeared in the Beatles movie Help!, as Lennon used it to perform a rendition of ‘You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away’.It also features on the studio version of the song, and in ‘Help!’s title track, ‘It’s Only Love’ and ‘I’ve Just Seen A Face’.

Paul McCartney & Wings are set to release their 1974 live studio album ‘One Hand Clapping’ for the first time.The album was recorded back in August 1974, while the band were enjoying their seventh week in a row at the top of the UK album charts with ‘Band On The Run’. It was recorded when McCartney and Wings headed to Abbey Road Studios for the recording of a documentary and possible live studio album – ‘One Hand Clapping’.Filmed across four days and directed by David Litchfield, the album was never officially released despite overwhelming demand, although various bootleg versions emerged over the years.Set to arrive on June 14, the upcoming version of the LP marks the first time in 50 years that it has received an official release.“’One Hand Clapping’ showcased Wings‘ new line-up, fresh off their return from Nashville where they recorded the classic single ‘Junior’s Farm’,” read a press release.

All You Need Is Love: The Beatles in Their Own Words” (St. Martin’s Press), an illuminating page turner from former band aide Peter Brown and best-selling author Steven Gaines.The extensive oral history is made up of candid interviews with Gaines, captured in 1980-1981; a scheduled sit-down with Lennon never happened before his Dec.

Ringo Starr shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.In addition to releasing the four-song EP “Crooked Boy” on April 20, the former Beatle just announced a fall 2024 North American tour with his All Starr Band which includes Edgar Winter, Colin Hay from Men At Work and Toto singer Steve Lukather among others.The eight-show jaunt wraps at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 25.Prior to the tour, Starr and co.

Despite his already epic, nearly eight-hour docuseries, “The Beatles: Get Back,” getting released in 2021 (read our review), filmmaker Peter Jackson’s obsession with the Beatles is not quite over. The filmmaker has restored “Let It Be,” director Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s original 1970 film about The Beatles, and Disney+ will release the movie on May 8, 2024, the first time the film has been readily available in 50 years.

The Beatles released their debut single in the UK, 1962’s “Love Me Do,” as the first of many classic songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, their offspring have come together to bring back their tune-making magic.“Primrose Hill,” the new single by James McCartney — Sir Paul’s only son, with his late wife Linda — was co-written by Sean Ono Lennon, John’s youngest son from his marriage to Yoko Ono.And the next generation does their papas proud on this wistful beauty of a ballad that recalls some of the nostalgic reverie of “Now and Then” — which was released to much fanfare in November as the last Beatles song (and their first new tune since 1996).Released on Friday, “Primrose Hill” — which is a public park north of Regent’s Park in London — is the first-ever collaboration between McCartney, 46, and Lennon, 48.And if any song could sound just like taking a bittersweet stroll in the park with nothing but your longing memories, then this one pretty much captures it.There’s instantly something familiar about it — both the dreamy moodiness and McCartney’s lilting delivery — but it never seems to fall into Beatles mimicry.Nor does it ever reach the reach the heights of Beatles transcendence — I mean, how could it?The lyrics almost border on lovesick cliche at one point: “Forever’s not long enough to be loving you/Forever and a day/I look into your eyes, it’s such a great surprise/You take my breath away.”But if you just lose yourself in the warm, woozy feeling, you’ll get over that.And the bluesy guitar that comes in at the end adds a nice bite to the bliss.“ ‘Primrose Hill’ is here!” McCartney wrote in a post on Instagram, alongside a photo of him and Lennon.

the popular “The Beatles: Get Back.” The announcement of the rare film’s release will make fans twist and shout. Until now, the doc had only officially been sold on out-of-print — and grainy — VHS and laserdisc copies.Reviews of “Let It Be” weren’t euphoric at the time, but The Post enjoyed it.“The most remarkable thing about the picture is the way it sustains interest, so unexpectedly, throughout the long session and without all the written assists that customarily pep up entertainments of this sort,” Post critic Archer Winsten wrote in May 1970.Director Michael Lindsay-Hogg, 83, said in a statement that the release was hampered by the Beatles’ recent split.“ ‘Let It Be’ was ready to go in October/November 1969, but it didn’t come out until April 1970,” he said.

The Beatles’ classic 1970 documentary film Let It Be on May 8, NME can exclusively announce.The film, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, was first released in cinemas 54 years ago and has been difficult to obtain since – prompting considerable bootlegging. It features footage of the Fab Four while they were writing and recording their 12th and final studio album of the same name in January 1969 at London’s Twickenham Film Studios.Later in the film, the band moves to the headquarters of their company Apple Corps on Savile Row for further rehearsals and the iconic rooftop concert – the four Beatles’ last performance together as a group.As he did for the 2022 docuseries Get Back, which features extra archive material from the Let It Be shoot, acclaimed filmmaker Peter Jackson has used state-of-the-art digital technology to restore the 55-year-old film reels to crisp, modern quality.“Over the years, the original [film] print probably hasn’t been looked after that well and it didn’t look that good anymore,” Lindsay-Hogg told NME.

Sean Ono Lennon – the sons of Paul McCartney and John Lennon – have written a song together called ‘Primrose Hill’ – check it out below.The song is a tender acoustic number about spending time with a loved one at the popular London beauty spot, which appears on the single’s cover art.“I’ll always remember Primrose Hill,” James McCartney sings wistfully on the chorus, backed by a mellow guitar melody.“‘Primrose Hill’ is here!” shared James McCartney on social media alongside a picture with his co-writer. “Today I am so very excited to share my latest song co-written by my good friend @seanonolennon.

Paul McCartney was joined by The Eagles on a version of ‘Let It Be’ at a tribute concert for the late Jimmy Buffett at the Hollywood Bowl this week. The singer-songwriter, known for his tropical rock sound, died at the age of 76 last September after a four-year battle with skin cancer. The concert, titled ‘Keep the Party Going: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett’ took place at the Los Angeles venue on Thursday (April 11), including appearances from Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile, Zac Brown, Jon Bon Jovi and Buffett’s band The Coral Reefer Band.

legendary musician recalled that he initially wanted to play guitar for the band instead of bass. However, his hopes were dashed after an incident at a show early in his career.McCartney explained that he was good at playing the guitar while “at home,” and bandmate John Lennon’s aunt, Mimi Smith, used to tell him that he was “much better than John.”“Mind you, when I first met John, he played banjo chords,” McCartney remembered.

Paul McCartney has shared an embarrassing story from early on in his career that he says made him want to quit playing live music.The former Beatle was speaking on the latest episode of his iHeartPodcast, McCartney: A Life in Lyrics, when he spoke about one of the band’s earliest shows together, which featured McCartney taking the coveted lead guitar role.“We had this gig and it was the first thing I ever played, and I was lead guitar player,” he explained. “John [Lennon] was rhythm.

The Beatles has revealed George Harrison‘s inspiration to pick up the guitar.Due for release this Thursday (April 11), All You Need Is Love is described as “a ground-breaking oral history of the Beatles and how it all came to an end”.It is comprised of interviews taken from the controversial book The Love You Make (1983), which was written by Steven Gaines and Peter Brown – the personal assistant to Beatles manager Brian Epstein.In one section, Harrison speaks about what first ignited his interest in becoming a musician.“I remember being a kid of about twelve, dreaming of big motorboats and tropical islands and things which had nothing to do with Liverpool, which was dark and cold,” he explained to Brown and Gaines in 1980 (via The Times).“I remember going to see Cliff Richard and thinking fuck it – I could do better than that.”As Guitar.COM notes, this rivalry would eventually encourage Harrison to perfect his guitar playing – with Richard going on to envy the Fab Four’s fame and success.In 1964, the singer responded to The Beatles’ performance on The Ed Sullivan Show by saying: “It’s ridiculous! Has everyone forgotten me? What’s going on?”Despite the competition between The Beatles and Richard, John Lennon reportedly once argued that British music would not have been the same if the ‘Devil Woman’ artist hadn’t come along.“Before Cliff Richard and ‘Move It’, there was nothing worth listening to in England,” he is said to have claimed (via Gold Radio UK).All You Need Is Love also includes the claim that Yoko Ono instructed John Lennon how to use heroin and details a Lennon encounter that made The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger feel “uncomfortable”.An official description reads: “Based on never-before-published or heard

The Beatles has claimed that Yoko Ono once instructed John Lennon on how to take heroin.Set for release this Thursday (April 11), All You Need Is Love includes a part in which Lennon’s ex-wife Ono denied she “put John on H”.“It was just a nice feeling [being on heroin]. So I told John that,” explained Ono, who reportedly first used the drug when she was in Paris (via People).She noted that Lennon “wouldn’t take anything unless he wanted to do it”, claiming: “[He] wanted to take it, that’s why he was asking [about her experiences with the drug].”Ono stated that she was keen to refute the claim that the Beatles icon’s dependence on heroin was entirely her fault. She said that the couple “never injected” it, but usually just snorted it instead.In 1970, Lennon opened up about taking the drug.

Ringo Starr alongside the likes of Elton John, Slash and Iggy Pop.The musician, who plays drums for The Who, shared some details about the project in a post on social media last week. Starkey explained that it came together on the day The Who and Guns N’ Roses both played at Rock In Rio in 2017.“Duff [McKagan] and I went in a local studio and cut bass for a cover of T-Rex[‘s] ‘Children Of The Revolution’,” he wrote.“My dad played drums in LA (while I fudged the bass) then in Rio, Duff cut bass.

The Beatles has revealed a John Lennon encounter that made Mick Jagger feel “uncomfortable”.A new oral history of the acclaimed band called All You Need Is Love is set to be released on April 11. The book is comprised of interviews taken from the controversial book The Love You Make (1983), which was written by Steven Gaines and Peter Brown, the personal assistant to Beatles manager Brian Epstein.Upon the book’s original publication, the Beatles were not pleased with its contents, with Gaines claiming to The Times that “Paul and Linda [McCartney] tore the book apart and burned it in the fireplace, page by page.“There was an omerta, a code of silence around the Beatles, and they didn’t think anyone would come forward to tell the truth.”Now, Gaines and Brown will release All You Need Is Love, inspired by director Peter Jackson’s documentary Get Back.

Beyoncé and Paul McCartney.The “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer covers the 1968 Beatles beauty “Blackbird” — written by Macca, although credited to both McCartney and John Lennon — on her countrified new album “Cowboy Carter” that was released last Friday to rave reviews (including mine) and record-shattering streams.Bey’s honey- and harmony-coated rendition of “The White Album” classic — featuring African-American female country singers Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts making like Destiny’s Southern Child — is a revelation that repurposes the song from a black female perspective.And Sir Paul has given Beyonce’s “Blackbird” — which is styled as “Blackbiird” on “Cowboy Carter” — the most royal of blessings.“I am so happy with @beyonce’s version of my song ‘Blackbird,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “I think she does a magnificent version of it and it reinforces the civil rights message that inspired me to write the song in the first place.

Paul McCartney has commented on Beyoncé’s cover of his song ‘Blackbird’, commending her for using it to “ease racial tension”.Queen Bey included her version of the track on her new record ‘Cowboy Carter’, which was released last week (March 29). The song was originally released on The Beatles’ self-titled 1968 album, commonly referred to as ‘The White Album’.And now, McCartney has spoken publicly about the cover, saying: “I am so happy with @beyonce’s version of my song ‘Blackbird’.

Beyoncé used The Beatles’ original ‘Blackbird’ backing track in her cover of the song, recorded for ‘Cowboy Carter’.As well as covering the song for her new country album, it turns out the rendition of the band’s 1968 track are more similar than first thought – with it being revealed that the ‘Cowboy Carter’ version uses instrumental elements taken directly from the Beatles’ original master recording.According to Variety, that was confirmed by a representative for Beyoncé, who cited the singer’s team as well as other sourcesThe credits for the album have been gradually shared since the album’s release last week (March 29), and Paul McCartney is listed as playing guitar on the song, as well as one of the producers. However, there is no indication in the wording of the credits that his work on the track is taken from the 56-year-old original.Bey’s own spin on the song sees it renamed as ‘Blackbiird’ – making a nod to the album’s ‘Act II’ theme.

Paul McCartney has revealed how he came up the title of The Beatles‘ iconic album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’.Speaking about the 1967 record on a recent episode of his podcast Paul McCartney: A Life In Lyrics, McCartney said that it happened after a misunderstanding with one of his road crew.“I was with our roadie Mal [Evans], a big bear of a man,” he said.

Beyoncé’s cover of The Beatles classic ‘Blackbird’, included on her new album ‘Cowboy Carter’, has prompted a lot of reactions among fans.‘Cowboy Carter’ was released today (March 29), her eighth studio album and the second in an expected trilogy that began with 2022’s ‘Renaissance’.The second track on the album is a cover of the 1968 Beatles song, which she has renamed ‘Blackbiird’. Given the album’s embrace of country influences – including a cover of Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’ and appearances from Willie Nelson and Linda Martell – and its themes concerning race in American music history, the song has been chosen pointedly.Listen to ‘Blackbiird’ here:Paul McCartney wrote ‘Blackbird’ during the civil rights struggle of the 1960s, just weeks after the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

Paul McCartney for being “too unflattering” is now headed to auction.The artwork in question is a wooden sculpture created by Wilfrid Wood, which was originally set to be released as part of the 2024 ‘Secret 7’ vinyl project – in a bid to raise money for War Child.The project runs alongside the host of gigs that War Child puts on to raise money for the charity, and consists of various artists releasing a limited edition 7” record for a specific track, which are later auctioned off.Between 2012 and 2020, it has raised over £500,000 for good causes. Previous sleeve designers include the likes of Ai Weiwei, Sir Peter Blake, Yoko Ono, David Shrigley, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Martin Parr and more.This year, musicians including Celeste, Hozier, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Specials, The Chemical Brothers and Paul McCartney were all involved in the campaign, and all records were exhibited and free to view at the NOW Gallery between March 2 to 17.However, for the latter, the single was withdrawn after the Beatles bassist took issue with how he was depicted in the artwork.The wooden sculpture was banned from the exhibition after the rock veteran deemed it “too unflattering”, according to the artist.

Paul McCartney once attempted to convince Vladimir Putin to release a group of Greenpeace campaigners by quoting him some Beatles lyrics. As revealed in an upcoming BBC documentary series, On Thin Ice: Putin V Greenpeace, McCartney was moved by the plight of a group of climate activists after they were seized in Russia during a protest and thrown in jail in 2013.

Mark Knopfler’s re-recorded version of his song ‘Going Home’ has been shared, starring contributions from some of the biggest names in the rock world. Check it out below.After being teased earlier this year, the track officially dropped today (March 15), and sees all funds raised being donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America.A new take on Knopfler’s solo hit, the 2024 edition runs across nine-minutes, and sees the Dire Straits frontman join forces with rock icons including Queen‘s Brian May, Bruce Springsteen, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, Eric Clapton, Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and many more.It also includes the last ever recording by guitar virtuoso, Jeff Beck – which he laid down for the track shortly before his death in January 2023.As well as the truly astonishing number of renowned guitarists on the track, Knopfler also enlisted The Beatles’ Ringo Starr on drums, Sting on bass, and The Who frontman (and Teenage Cancer Trust patron) Roger Daltrey on harmonica.The charity track was recorded at British Grove Studios in West London, and produced by Knopfler’s longtime collaborator Guy Fletcher.

Paris Jackson, the 25-year-old daughter of Michael Jackson, sat thisclose to Paul McCartney — who famously went from friends to enemies with the King of Pop — in the front row of the Stella McCartney show during Paris Fashion Week on Monday.After MJ bought the rights to the Beatles catalog out from under his duet partner on “The Girl Is Mine” and “Say Say Say” in 1985, Jackson’s eldest child was squished between two of the Fab Four — Macca, 81, to her right, and Ringo Starr, 83, to her left — at the Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show by Sir Paul’s daughter Stella.It was the ultimate designer detente — amid a star-studded audience that also included singer-rapper M.I.A., model Ashley Graham, “The Good Place” star Jameela Jamil, British actresses Naomie Harris and Charlotte Rampling, and Barbara Bach, Starr’s Bond-girl wife.Sharing her late father’s animal-rights activism and environmental consciousness, Jackson — a singer, model and actress — gave her show of support for McCartney’s ready-to-wear collection promoting sustainable materials.“It’s not just the animals,” Jackson told Women’s Wear Daily about the need for eco-friendly “change” in fashion.“It’s the environment in general, it’s pretty much anything that’s not human about this planet. I support that [and] how do we make it a safer place.”Jackson noted that McCartney doesn’t use any animal leather in her products, instead favoring alternative materials such as mushroom leather.“It’s the vegan stuff and the anti-cruelty, but also just everything she’s doing,” she said of her fellow daughter of music royalty.“She’s very innovative and is finding a way to make activism chic.”But things weren’t always so cool between the Jacksons and the McCartneys.