The Beatles at Darlington 10th aug 2019

As it's the 50th anniversary of more Beatles product (Abbey Road at the moment), l ventured along to Darlington Hippodrome to see The Magic Of The Beatles last night, and l have to admit, they were pretty good. It's always good to try and forget what year you are in and imagine you are witnessing a Beatles Theatre show, and watching them do the later stuff such as 'I am the Walrus', it's as close as anyone has got.

Don't know how to turn this the right way round, but better than nothing!

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meet the beatles and lennon and mccartney now

To follow on from the last post, here's some more Beatles stuff that tickles my fancy (Fnaar).

A dodgy looking Meet The Beatles album, and Lennon and McCartney nowadays.

I'll admit that the album looks like it's been touched up ever so slightly (Fnaar again) by a half blind drunkard, and the Lennon and McCartney picture is of their sons, but you can't have everything.

Thinking of which, it must be great having a  father who is so loaded you may never have to work in your life, but trying to live up to their reputations and match their body of work when you want to pursue a career in music is a sorry and pretty much impossible task that l would wish on no one.

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mick jagger running down the beatles at the abbey road crossing

Brilliant stuff! Mick Jagger running down The Beatles at the Abbey Road crossing. Whoever put this together deserves a medal.

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recent trips to the theatre

Some recent trips to the theatre - Darlington Hippodrome to be precise. 

The Travelling Wilburys was pretty good, but the worst one of them was 'Bob Dylan', the person l wanted to see the most. However, it was pretty surreal, and had many moving moments, especially watching 'George Harrison' singing My Sweet Lord. I must be getting sadder in my old age (if that's possible).

As for Aladdin - it was just what you would expect from such a show, some moments of hilarity, nothing particularly outstanding, but everyone went away happy, so job done.

I think the next visit there will be for The Meat Loaf Story, even if l will probably be hassled for autographs.

Stone me - what a life.

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out and about - the beatles and the stones in stockton

Once more, out and about, this time to see The Stones, as you may well have guessed, a Rolling Stones tribute band, at Ku in Stockton. The singer didn't sound a lot like Mick Jagger, but we still had a great night, and we were also treated beforehand to a stripped down version of Beatles songs done acoustically. The Beatles part of the show sounded more like them, but we prefered the Stones, as the songs are better.
This was also after watching Manchester United beat Arsenal, and myself and Robbo beating lads at pool in dodgy bars before the gig.
Marvellous!
Here's a video l made at the show.

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tune in - the beatles - all these years

Well, l finally got round to finishing the first of Mark lewisohn's biographies of The Beatles, which l've been reading on and off for a few weeks. 

The attention to detail, is, as expected, staggering, and although l've just ploughed through nearly 1,000 pages, the book only goes up to the end of 1962, so there's plenty more of the same to follow.

Hurrah!

I'm just the sort of sad git that loves projects like this, and relish as much information as possible (as long as it is correct).

Now it's the long wait until the second book is finished (there's going to be three).

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brexit sgt pepper picture updated, and leonard cohen - suzanne

Damn!!
Wasn't expecting the Brexit Sgt Pepper picture to be updated so quickly, and with someone l liked so much.
Here it is again, only this time with Leonard Cohen added.

And as a tribute to the sadly departed Mr Cohen......Here's 'Suzanne'



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george and dhani harrison's symmetrical faces, and what is life

George Harrison and his son Danni's symmetrical faces.
At first glance they look identical, but you then notice the many differences, and not just with the youthful skin of Dhani's.

And here's a song by George - 'What is Life'.

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jon isherwood and mike quinn - apple pie

Two versions of the same song today. Jon Isherwood was a folkie / comedy performer from Portsmouth, who very nearly signed to The Beatles Apple label, hence this song, the 'B' side to his 1969 single 'Old Time Movies' .
When the song got nowhere, Mike Quinn, a Carnaby street boutique owner had a bash with it. Still no joy.
An underrated classic.





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ringo starr takes the beatles test

Ringo Starr takes the Beatles test to see which one he is most like, and fails miserably!

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the new beatles statue in liverpool - plus more

                                                   
                                                        Photos by Paul Dean, from here

A new Beatles statue by Andrew Edwards has been unveiled on Liverpool's Pier Head by John Lennon's sister, Julia Baird, and the deputy mayor of Liverpool.
It is looking towards Ireland and the United States, and at least it looks like them, unlike some earlier efforts.

                                                           The one at Mathew Street

                                                       John Lennon outside The Cavern Pub

                                                                        Cavern Walks

     Ringo Starr outside the 'Hard Day's Night' hotel (and George Harrison, below, also outside said hotel)

And there's more!

                                                                   Altmaty, Kazakhstan

                                                                            Houston

                                                                          Mongolia

And last, but not least ....... the waxworks at Madam Tussauds

My favourite one is probably the John Lennon one in Cuba, which you can sit next to. One day, l intend to do so.

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the flaming lips and miley cyrus on the conan show

I'm a big fan of The Flaming Lips, and they are at their bonkers best on this recent Conan show appearance with Miley Cyrus, performing The Beatles 'A Day In The Life' with a magical swirling cape.
I also dig Wayne Coyne's longer hair style - very Bolanesque.



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this is not here

Another t shirt l will eventually get around to making or buying.  Based on the John Lennon / Yoko Ono art exhibition in New York (1972).
I just think it will mess with peoples minds, especially when they are drunk.  I might even print 'But this is' on the back.
Feel free to nick the idea if you are a t shirt maker, just send me a free copy (usual address) if you do.

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the beatles, john lennon, and the kite poster

When The Beatles were recording 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', John Lennon famously got the idea (plus a load of the words) for 'Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite' from an old poster he bought in Sevenoaks, advertising a Circus in Rochdale.  This has now been lovingly recreated and is currently for sale, but rather sadly, much as l wouldn't mind a copy, there is no way on God's green earth that l will be parting with nearly £300 for it, even if l could roll it up, stick it down my trousers, and impress the ladies with it. The poster itself is still great to look at, and if you have a hankerin' to buy one, viddy here, but l think l will wait for the knocked off pirate copies ("£2.99 at market soldier boy"), as l'm a poor and simple man, and can think of other things l'd rather waste £300 on.

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paul mccartney painting

It's good to know that Paul McCartney is not good at everything.  This is his 'Yellow Linda with Piano' from 1988, and l reckon l could do something just as good.  On the other hand, he has done some half decent things in music that l might not be able to match.  Bloody show off.

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the beatles in aldershot 1961

This photograph was taken of The Beatles in Aldershot in  December 1961, where, due to mix up, they played to only 18 (mostly uninterested)  people. Shortly afterwards, they would be the kings of the world, and nothing would be the same again. I bet there were plenty of people in Aldershot saying they had attended this gig once The Beatles became famous (and there's a good chance both of the women in the photograph are now dead).


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