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Beatles News Archives
2001 Page 1
Paul on Charlie Rose - A Full Report
Here is a report of Paul on the Charlie Rose Show by Frank Branchini.
On stage there was a podium with the logo of the 92nd Street Y,
a coffee table with chairs on either side. Hanging over the stage
was 92 St Y banner.
Before the lights dimmed an attractive blonde came out from
behind the stage and sat in the audience creating quite a stir.
I assume it must have been Heather, but I couldn't tell from where
we were. The director of adult education programs at the Y laid
down the ground rules (turn off cell phones and pagers, no taking
of photos) and introduced Charlie Rose who introduced Paul McCartney.
People snapped photos throughout the evening with the staff
of the Y being pretty aggressive about trying to stop them. McCartney
began by spending about thirty minutes reading poetry. He introduced
each poem with a story about what prompted him to compose it.
He was very charming, and very focused. What he said was often
very moving.
There were poems about Ivan Vaughan, John Lennon, and Linda.
I immediately had a sense that we were privileged to be a part
of an extremely special event. This is only the second time that
Paul McCartney has read poetry in public.
And we were there. And it was happening in New York City, which
was a very special place to both John Lennon, and Linda McCartney,
as Paul reminded us. Paul related that he and Ivan Vaughan were
mates because they shared the same birthday.
It was Vaughan that introduced Paul to John Lennon. Paul wanted
to write a poem in memory of Vaughan, who died of Parkinson's
Disease, because Vaughan had studied the classics at Cambridge
and Paul said he felt that writing poetry in his memory seemed
fitting.
Paul read a very moving poem about seeing signs of Linda's presence
after her death: wind chimes moving when there wasn't a wind,
and an unusual white squirrel that fixed her gaze on Paul when
he was out riding a horse. He read another very moving poem written
when Linda was in hospital in London. Paul set up a camp bed in
her room.
Every day he would run in Regents Park and he used his running
as a ritual form of prayer. He read a poem about growing up in
Liverpool recalling a 'nutter' on the top deck of a double deck
bus who was reciting the names of comedians to himself and laughing.
He also remembered a one-eyed dog named Prince. Paul read a poem
called 'Jerk Of All Jerks' about the asshole who killed John Lennon.
It also had some lines zinging those who would dispose of nuclear
waste in the environment. He read 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer', 'Here
Today', and 'Why Don't We Do It In The Road' inviting audience
participation on the last. Charlie Rose stumbled a bit during
the interview. Most of the questions were standard stuff.
At one point he asked Paul about meeting Paul. Paul responded
that he was Paul. At another point he referred to the Quarrymen
as the 'Everymen' and was gently corrected by Paul. I was appalled
when Rose asked Paul where the title 'Blackbird Singing' came
from as if he had never heard the song. Paul did say one totally
amazing thing.
He was telling Rose about how we wanted to enjoy himself and
related a story about taking Stella to visit the Maharishi. He
actually said that the Maharishi was genuine and was not some
one who was just interested in making money and chasing women.
He said that Stella had brought a video camera along and wanted
Paul to ask the Maharishi if she could videotape him.
He was expecting to have a short visit with the Maharishi but
they wound up talking for hours. As they were about to leave,
Stella reminded her father about the video camera. So they introduced
the Maharishi and asked him to say something on camera. His advice
was 'Enjoy.' One pretty unintelligent question that Rose asked
was where Paul got his love of family. Paul said that he has a
large family who treats him just as 'our Paul' and would never
refer to him as 'Sir Paul'.
It was lovely. Rose asked Paul to name the favorite song Paul
had written. Paul quickly said it wasn't 'Yesterday'. He said
that his songs were like babies and it wasn't fair to pick a favorite,
but he did mention 'Here, There, and Everywhere'. (Great choice!!!!)
He said he liked the way the song doubles back on itself. He talked
about 'Cheek To Cheek' which also doubles back on itself and he
sang a bit of it to illustrate his point. He said he had once
considered making a record of songs like 'Cheek To Cheek'.
Wingspan Latest
Wingspan will be shown on Channel Four in the UK on May 12th.
A new official Wingspan website has opened at http://hollywoodandvine.com/paulmccartney.
Very soon a new official Paul McCartney website will open at
http://www.paulmccartney.com
George Denies He's Selling Friar Park
George Harrison has denied reports that he was going to sell
Friar Park after almost being killed there by a knife-wielding
intruder in late 1999. The Mail on Sunday said earlier this month
the legendary guitarist had told friends he felt uncomfortable
in the 120-room house in Henley-on-Thames, outside London.
"A story carried recently in an English Sunday newspaper
reporting that George Harrison was planning to sell Friar Park
in Henley is without foundation and entirely untrue," Harrison's
lawyers said in a statement. "Mr. Harrison has no such plans,"
Eversheds said.
Paul McCartney Heads list of Richest Pop Stars
Sir Paul McCartney saw his bank balance swell by £163 million
last year, cementing his status as the richest musician in Britain,
according to The Sunday Times Rich List 2001.
The annual league table of the nation's wealthiest people, published
this weekend, estimates the former Beatle has a personal fortune
of £713 million, up from £550 million in 2000.
His wealth was boosted last year by the £138 million he
inherited from his wife Linda, who died in April 1998.
And he also earned millions from the huge sales of The Beatles'
1 album, which had sold more than 12 million copies by the end
of the last year.
Sir Paul's wealth puts him 36th in the overall list of Britain's
richest 1,000 people, up from 41st in 2000.
In the same list George came in equal 12th with £90 and
poor Ringo only 16th with £70
Abbey Road Crossing Featured on Official Beatles Site
Video of fans on the Abbey Road crossing is now featured on
the official Beatles Website http://www.thebeatles.com
The video camera is turned on at 1pm Abbey Road time every day
and runs for one minute. The footage is then shown the next day
- on the Yesterday section of the website.
Star's Beatles Collection to be Auctioned
A 'world famous' pop star is to sell off a large collection
of pop memorabilia, which includes the plans to the studio built
for the recording of John Lennon's Imagine.
Rumours were rife that the seller could be Sir Paul McCartney,
as many of the other items in the 1,200-strong collection to go
under the hammer at a Kent auction house have Beatles' connections,
but that has been categorically denied. Raj Bisram, co-director
of Cranbrook Auction Rooms, said he had been 'sworn to secrecy'
by his famous client but said that he was in the music industry
and lived in Sussex.
A total of 75 items are to be sold in the first auction, with
others to follow throughout the year, including an original John
Lennon guitar and airline tickets from the Fab Four's last tour.
The plans for Tittenhurst Hall, in Ascot, where the Imagine album
was recorded, are expected to fetch between £15,000 and
£20,000 in he first sale on May 5. The recording studio
has since been removed from the hall. Another rare item is a signed
Christmas card from Brian Epstein.
Paul and Heather Meet Colin Powell
Paul McCartney pushed for the worldwide eradication of land
mines during a meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell, but
evidently made no headway on a ban. The United States, which has
declined to sign a 139-country treaty outlawing land mines, has
a stockpile of the weapons estimated at 11 million.
"We still have some concerns about the convention."
Powell said. But, he added, "There are many areas in which
we can cooperate." Paul was in Washington with his girlfriend,
Heather Mills, who spearheads a charity campaign that provides
limbs for victims of wars around the globe. "We had a really
good meeting.
General Powell was very helpful," Paul said outside the
State Department after the morning meeting. Powell `expressed
his support for Adopt-A-Minefield, which is hoping to clear all
the mines in the world and to allow people to go back to their
fields and their towns and get on with life,' McCartney said.
Paul said the meeting with Powell was the start of a worldwide
campaign to raise awareness of the horrors of land mines and to
urge people to push their governments to support a ban.
Paul arrived early for the 9 a.m. scheduled meeting and created
a stir at the State Department. A group of women screamed as he
walked by. Paul posed for photos and signed autographs for agency
employees.
Ringo Tour Dates Announced
The first dates of Ringo's tour of the States has been announced.
They are as follows:
26/7/01 Casino Rama Rama, Ontario
28/7/01 Freedom Hill Sterling Heights, MI
1/8/01 Jones Beach Long Island, NY
2/8/01 Mohegan Sun Ucasville, CT
3/8/01 Today Show NYC
4/8/01 Fleet Boston Pavillion Boston, MA
5/8/01 Riley Park Manchester, VA
7/8/01 Meadowbrook Park Amphitheater Gilford, NH
9/8/01 P.N.C. Bank Arts Center Holmdel, NJ
10/8/01 Taj Mahal Atlantic City, NJ
11/8/01 Harbor Center Portsmouth, VA
13/8/01 Chastain Park Atlanta, GA
14/8/01 Broward Park Arts Center Fort Laurdeldale, FL
15/8/01 USF Sundome Tampa, FL
16/8/01 Horseshoe Casino Biloxi, MS
18/8/01 Billy Bobs Fort Worth, TX
22/8/01 Rosemont Theater Chicago, IL
23/8/01 Minnesota State Fare Minneapolis, MN
25/8/01 Fiddler's Green Denver, CO
27/8/01 Tue 8/28/01 Chateau Saint Michelle Seattle, WA
30/8/01 Universal Amphitheater Los Angeles, CA
31/8/01 San Franrisco or Albuquerque
1/9/01 Rio Hotel Las Vegas, NV
2/9/01 San Diego or Phoenix
Paul McCartney Chews Celery on New Record
The new album by the Super Furry Animals Paul McCartney chewing
on a piece of celery in rhythm to the song 'Receptacle For The
Respectable'.
The comical collaboration mirrors McCartney's contribution to
the legendary - and ultimately aborted - 'Smile' album by the
Beach Boys in 1967. He can be heard on the track 'Vegetables',
chomping carrots. Paul also worked with the Furry's on the Liverpool
Sound Collage.
Linda McCartney Tribute Album Progressing
According the Sun newspaper, the tribute album to Linda, which
we reported months ago, is progressing well. The Sun says the
projected lineup could include Madonna, Britney Spears, Queen,
The Corrs, Lenny Kravitz, Art Garfunkel, members of Wings and
The Eagles, plus Zak Starkey and Julian Lennon.
The producers are also trying to get Paul, Ringo and George
to play on it as well. The double CD will be a benefit project
for the charity Women And Cancer. Spokesman Darrol Edwards, said,
"We felt it would be a fitting tribute to Linda. "The
response from the big stars has been amazing.
About 12 tracks are in the bag ... Madonna is still making up
her mind over which song to cover while The Corrs are recording
'The Long And Winding Road.' Members of Queen are expected to
perform Paul's 'Souvenir' And a children's choir from the Peasmarsh
Primary, in East Sussex, the McCartneys' local school have recorded
And I Love Her.
As we reported earlier recording sessions have been taking place
at Abbey Road and George Martin's AIR Studios. A TV special is
also possible.
More On British Beatles Musical
More news has emerged about "All You Need Is Love"
the musical that opens at the Queen's Theatre in London on 29
May 2001, following previews from 21 May. The theme for the new
show is love in all its guises.
Over two hours, a man and a woman, one-time lovers, set off
on a magical mystery tour of yesterday. The portrait of the couple's
love affair is set against more than 50 Beatles' hits, which bring
back youthful hopes and forgotten passions. With a little help
from their friends, the couple recapture their treasured moments
of a time when all they needed was love and their troubles seemed
so far away.
All You Need Is Love is co-devised and co-directed by Jon Miller
and Pete Brooks. Miller was the assistant to Beatles' producer
George Martin during the late 1960s and early 1970s and has himself
produced over 30 albums. He also co-wrote Only the Lonely - the
Roy Orbison Story.
Brooks is an award-winning writer, director and designer who
has mounted over 40 shows. The show, which features a largely
unknown cast of 12 young performers, is designed by Laura Hopkins
and choreographed by Kate Prince. It features musical direction
by Chris Brooker, musical arrangements by Keith Strachan and musical
staging by Nigel Charnock.
Paul McCartney Has Busy Day in Liverpool
Paul McCartney had a busy day in Liverpool on March 21st. In
the afternoon he did a signing session for his poetry book Blackbird
Singing. Around 1000 people turned up at the branch of WH Smith.
As with other recent Macca signings people queued up all night.
In the evening Paul gave an unscheduled appearance at a poetry
reading at the Everyman Theatre along with Willy Russell, Tom
Pickard and Adrian Mitchell, who edited Blackbird Singing.
Paul and Heather 'to Marry in June'
In an interview with the Sunday Express newspaper, Heather Mills'
father, Mark, has claimed that Heather will marry Paul McCartney
in June. He said the most likely venue is St Peter and St Paul's
Church in Peasmarsh.
These details are identical to those published in another Sunday
tabloid, the People, some weeks ago. However Paul's spokesman
Geoff Baker is still insisting there is no wedding plans.
A Hard Day's Night Premiered in Liverpool
The UK Charity Premiere of the restored A Hard Day's Night took
place at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool on April 9th. Proceeds
for the event went to the Linda McCartney Cancer Centre. A Hard
Day's Night went on general release on Friday 13th April.
George To Sell Friar Park
It has been reported by the British 'Mail on Sunday' newspaper
that George is to sell Friar Park. They say that George has been
uncomfortable in the house since the attack on him in December
1999. The paper quote a 'friend' of George saying `George is quite
paranoid at the moment.
It is a difficult thing to forget and the memory of that night
is stuck in his head.' Please note however there has been no conformation
of this from George or the Apple press office.
Song "Imagine" as a theme song for a Brazilian soap
opera
After some negotiations between the most famous Brazilian TV
channel called TV GLOBO and Yoko Ono, Yoko finally agreed to allow
the use of John’s song "Imagine" to be used as
the opening theme song of a Brazilian soap opera that began last
month in Brazil.
The song is sung in English by the Brazilian singer PAULO RICARDO,
as the opening theme song when the credits are rolling down in
the beginning of every chapter. Besides, the very first scene
of the first episode of this soap opera, titled ESTRELA GUIA (which
means GUIDING STAR) was a scene from John’s video clip for
"Imagine", showing John singing and playing on his piano.
I believe that this has been the first time that one of John’s
song is included in a soap opera, also including a scene from
his "Imagine" video clip. This soap opera is about a
group of hippies who live in a secluded place in the center-western
region of Brazil.
Paul McCartney Day in Liverpool
16TH JUNE 2001............
The annual Paul McCartney day in Liverpool will be better than
ever this year - the highlight being - for the first time ever
- a party at new Clubmoor Hall - the place where Macca made his
debut as a Quarryman back in October 1957.
For details go to www.liveapool.com on the day in the life
page....
Contact Jackie at live@pool tours for more information.
New Beatles Song Found
Tapes of The Beatles rehearsing some of their greatest hits
have been found in a drawer by a 64-year-old woman.
The three-hour long recordings contain 30 tracks, including
'Let It Be', 'Sgt. Pepper' and an unknown song called 'Watching
Rainbows'.
It is not known where or when they were recorded. Radio One
disc jockey John Peel has described the cassette tapes as "an
exciting and almost dangerous find". He added: "There
is a version on one of the tapes which is just superb. It gave
me a tingle down the spine. I feel very privileged that I was
able to enjoy listening to them".
The tapes were given to Mrs. Elaine Bowden of Bury Street, Suffolk,
by a French friend of her sister. She put them in a drawer and
only thought of them after he died.
The Beatles New Record
Some 31 years after they split up, The Beatles have now set a
new world record for their greatest hits album '1'. Amazingly,
the multi-million selling CD has now topped the charts in more
countries than any other album.
In total, the album has now hit the top spot in 34 countries beating
the record of U2's 1997 album 'Pop', which made it to No1 in 32
different countries.
Paul McCartney Begins Work On New Album
With The Beatles riding a wave of renewed popularity, Paul McCartney
has begun work on a new album of original material.
The record, which does not yet have a title or projected release
date, will follow up the Grammy-nominated Liverpool Sound Collage,
Paul's experimental collaboration with the Welsh group Super Furry
Animals, among others.
According to his spokesperson, Paul will work in a yet-to-be-determined
capacity with David Kahne — who has worked on Sugar Ray's
14:59, Sublime's self-titled album and records by the Bangles
and Fishbone — on the new album. Also involved in the project
is Geoff Emerick, who engineered many Beatles albums. Neither
accompanying musicians nor a studio location has been announced.
If Paul does not complete his record this year, he will still
be part of what will likely be one of the biggest success stories
of 2001: The Beatles 1, a compilation of all the Fab Four's U.S.
and U.K. hits, has sold about 20 million copies, and dominated
the top spot on the Billboard 200 for seven straight weeks.
Liverpool Sound Collage will compete in the Best Alternative Music
Album category at the Grammy's, set for February 21 in Los Angeles.
Marriage Rumour Denied by Paul
Paul McCartney has stated to a reporter from the Daily Mirror
he is NOT getting married.
He added, 'I'm not getting married in the same church as Mary.
I'm NOT going to the Mull of Kintyre or Jamaica for my honeymoon'.
Liverpool Beatleweek 2001 Details Announced
Details have been announced of the 2001 Liverpool Beatles Week.
On Thursday 23rd August in the evening there will be a special
Beatleweek Gala at the Liverpool Town Hall in the city centre.
This is where the Fabs had their civic reception in 1964 before
the Premiere of A Hard Day's Night.
Friday 24th sees an afternoon concert featuring the solo work
of Lennon and McCartney featuring John Keats and Bob Bartey.
In the evening is a Beatles Years concert featuring the Overtures.
Saturday 25th in the morning is the annual auction followed
by a concert in Chavasse Park re-creating The Rolling Stones
Rock n Roll Circus, featuring The Counterfeit Stones and Gary
Gibson. This could be one of the highlights of the weekend.
The evening sees a concert by The Beats from Argentina, The
Fab Four from Australia, Revolution from LA Hard Nights Day
from Texas and the Snails from Moldova. Each group will play
a set from different stages of The Beatles career.
As usual the Convention takes place on Sunday 26th. Confirmed
guests so far include Pete Best, Klaus Voorman and Mike Smith
of Decca, the man who turned down the Beatles.
On Monday 27th is the Mathew Street Festival with a concert
by the Fab Faux in the evening.
Tuesday 28th sees a welcome return to Liverpool by 1964 - The
Tribute.
For more information go to the Beatleweek Website at http://www.cavern-liverpool.co.uk
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Beatles News Archives
2001
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