In a momentous event for music enthusiasts and collectors worldwide, Bonhams London is set to auction a piece of musical history that resonates with deep cultural significance – Eric Clapton’s 1974 000-28 Martin acoustic guitar. This revered instrument is not just any guitar; it’s the creative fountain from which flowed the timeless love song, “Wonderful Tonight.” The auction forms a part of the anticipated Rock, Pop & Film sale, scheduled for 12 June at Bonhams Knightsbridge, London, and carries an estimate of £300,000 – 400,000.
The significance of this guitar transcends its association with one of rock’s most venerated guitarists. It served as Clapton’s primary tool during the pinnacle of his songwriting and performance career in the seventies. “That guitar went everywhere with me,” reminisced Clapton. It was his companion in the creative process, contributing to the soundtrack of countless life milestones – from the joy of weddings to the solemnity of farewells.
A...
The significance of this guitar transcends its association with one of rock’s most venerated guitarists. It served as Clapton’s primary tool during the pinnacle of his songwriting and performance career in the seventies. “That guitar went everywhere with me,” reminisced Clapton. It was his companion in the creative process, contributing to the soundtrack of countless life milestones – from the joy of weddings to the solemnity of farewells.
A...
- 5/13/2024
- by Alice Lange
- Martin Cid Music
Pattie Boyd was the subject of love songs by both George Harrison and Eric Clapton. She married each musician and collected piles of love letters from them. Recently, Boyd decided to place several of these letters up for auction. Here’s why she came to this decision and the amount of money the items are expected to bring.
Pattie Boyd has compiled her love letters from George Harrison and Eric Clapton
After years of carefully storing photographs and love letters from her time with Clapton and Harrison, Boyd has decided to auction them off to the public.
“I’m sure I would not like these to go on sale while I’m on my deathbed,” she said, per The Independent. “I think the time is right. I’ve lived with them for 40, 50 years or more and it’s time to move on to let other people share my treasures.”
She...
Pattie Boyd has compiled her love letters from George Harrison and Eric Clapton
After years of carefully storing photographs and love letters from her time with Clapton and Harrison, Boyd has decided to auction them off to the public.
“I’m sure I would not like these to go on sale while I’m on my deathbed,” she said, per The Independent. “I think the time is right. I’ve lived with them for 40, 50 years or more and it’s time to move on to let other people share my treasures.”
She...
- 3/26/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the 1970s, Pattie Boyd lived the unique experience of having two rock stars, George Harrison and Eric Clapton, fight over her. She married Harrison in 1966 and soon, Clapton began expressing interest in her. According to her, the two men were emotionally immature. They dealt with the complicated situation in the only way they knew: by having a guitar battle.
Pattie Boyd said George Harrison and Eric Clapton were immature
By the time The Beatles broke up, Boyd and Harrison’s relationship had reached a rough patch. He treated her coldly and was far more interested in his spiritual development than in their marriage.
“My diary is full of entries about my unhappiness and the disintegration of our relationship,” she wrote in her book Wonderful Tonight. “On July 24 it simply says, ‘Silence reigns and my cheeks get wet.’ I felt so helpless.”
Pattie Boyd and George Harrison | Afp via Getty Images
Around this time,...
Pattie Boyd said George Harrison and Eric Clapton were immature
By the time The Beatles broke up, Boyd and Harrison’s relationship had reached a rough patch. He treated her coldly and was far more interested in his spiritual development than in their marriage.
“My diary is full of entries about my unhappiness and the disintegration of our relationship,” she wrote in her book Wonderful Tonight. “On July 24 it simply says, ‘Silence reigns and my cheeks get wet.’ I felt so helpless.”
Pattie Boyd and George Harrison | Afp via Getty Images
Around this time,...
- 3/24/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Pattie Boyd, the former wife of George Harrison and Eric Clapton and the inspiration for the latter’s “Layla,” sold her private collection of letters, photos and more – including items from the two rock legends – at auction for $3.6 million.
Boyd’s stunning collection of 111 artifacts tells the story of her whirlwind romance with Harrison after they met on a set of A Hard Day’s Night in 1964, their time together at the height of Beatlemania, her disillusionment with him in the late Sixties, and Clapton’s attempts to steal her away...
Boyd’s stunning collection of 111 artifacts tells the story of her whirlwind romance with Harrison after they met on a set of A Hard Day’s Night in 1964, their time together at the height of Beatlemania, her disillusionment with him in the late Sixties, and Clapton’s attempts to steal her away...
- 3/24/2024
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
In 1964, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr made their on screen debuts in The Beatles film A Hard Day’s Night. The film took advantage of their ever rising fame and was both a critical and financial success. The band also enjoyed shooting the film, though they found some parts of the process embarrassing. Lennon shared the scene he found tough to film and watch.
John Lennon said The Beatles were embarrassed to film 1 scene in ‘A Hard Day’s Night’
The Beatles had no acting experience when they began filming A Hard Day’s Night but they jumped into their roles eagerly. They began filming in March at Marylebone Station.
“It was a great day out,” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology. “We filmed the scene where all the fans run into the train station then the train pulls off, leaving the fans, so then we could get on...
John Lennon said The Beatles were embarrassed to film 1 scene in ‘A Hard Day’s Night’
The Beatles had no acting experience when they began filming A Hard Day’s Night but they jumped into their roles eagerly. They began filming in March at Marylebone Station.
“It was a great day out,” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology. “We filmed the scene where all the fans run into the train station then the train pulls off, leaving the fans, so then we could get on...
- 2/21/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the latter half of the 1960s, George Harrison began writing more songs for The Beatles. While he hadn’t had much interest in songwriting early in the band’s career, he took it more seriously in later years. He was so dedicated to songwriting that he wrote one song while reeling from jetlag.
George Harrison wrote 1 Beatles song while suffering from jetlag
In 1967, Harrison traveled to Los Angeles with his wife, Pattie Boyd, road manager, Neil Aspinall, and friend, Alex Mardas. He went from the airport to his rental home, where Beatles press officer Derek Taylor was due to meet him. Taylor was running late, though.
“By the time we got there the song was virtually intact,” Taylor said, per the book A Hard Day’s Write: The Stories Behind Every Beatles Song by Steve Turner. “Of course, at the time I felt very bad. Here were these two...
George Harrison wrote 1 Beatles song while suffering from jetlag
In 1967, Harrison traveled to Los Angeles with his wife, Pattie Boyd, road manager, Neil Aspinall, and friend, Alex Mardas. He went from the airport to his rental home, where Beatles press officer Derek Taylor was due to meet him. Taylor was running late, though.
“By the time we got there the song was virtually intact,” Taylor said, per the book A Hard Day’s Write: The Stories Behind Every Beatles Song by Steve Turner. “Of course, at the time I felt very bad. Here were these two...
- 2/18/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1994, Yoko Ono gave Paul McCartney demo tapes that would eventually become the 2023 Beatles song “Now and Then.” She helped bring a major piece of Beatles’ history to the world decades after her husband’s death. Several years before she gave McCartney the tapes, Ono also helped preserve more of the Beatles’ history. After Ono learned Beatles road manager Mal Evans’ memoir was slated for destruction, she stepped in to save it.
Beatles’ road manager Mal Evans wrote a book that was nearly destroyed
In 1988, artist Leena Kutti accepted a temporary position at New York publishing house G.P. Putnam’s Sons. She was to go through their storage room and clear it out. This meant throwing away much of the artwork and manuscripts stored there.
While sifting through boxes, Kutti discovered thousands of vintage photographs of The Beatles and a manuscript titled Living the Beatles’ Legend: Or 200 Miles to Go by Malcolm Evans.
Beatles’ road manager Mal Evans wrote a book that was nearly destroyed
In 1988, artist Leena Kutti accepted a temporary position at New York publishing house G.P. Putnam’s Sons. She was to go through their storage room and clear it out. This meant throwing away much of the artwork and manuscripts stored there.
While sifting through boxes, Kutti discovered thousands of vintage photographs of The Beatles and a manuscript titled Living the Beatles’ Legend: Or 200 Miles to Go by Malcolm Evans.
- 11/26/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When Paul McCartney began a relationship with Linda McCartney, all three other Beatles were married. Once people learned about their relationship, Linda began dealing with Beatles fans just as the other Beatles’ wives had. Fans gathered outside of McCartney’s London home every day and shouted at Linda when she walked past. Once, McCartney felt fans had gone too far. When he scolded them, though, they were completely unapologetic.
Paul McCartney was not happy to hear of how fans treated Linda McCartney
When McCartney began dating Linda, his most dedicated fans turned their ire on her. Fans waited outside his home and shouted at her. They left hateful graffiti on the fence and, on one occasion, threw dessert at her.
Linda returned to the house, and when she walked past the fans, someone threw a frozen chocolate dessert at her. Shortly afterward, McCartney came out of the house.
Paul and...
Paul McCartney was not happy to hear of how fans treated Linda McCartney
When McCartney began dating Linda, his most dedicated fans turned their ire on her. Fans waited outside his home and shouted at her. They left hateful graffiti on the fence and, on one occasion, threw dessert at her.
Linda returned to the house, and when she walked past the fans, someone threw a frozen chocolate dessert at her. Shortly afterward, McCartney came out of the house.
Paul and...
- 11/20/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the early 1960s, Paul McCartney began dating Iris Caldwell, a former girlfriend of George Harrison. Harrison had dated Caldwell briefly as a young teenager, so her relationship with McCartney was more mature and serious. Still, the couple fought often and broke up regularly. Every time they split, Caldwell could count on Harrison to come knocking on her door to ask her out.
George Harrison was interested in Paul McCartney’s girlfriend
In the two years McCartney and Caldwell dated, they got into many arguments. She found his desire to always be the center of attention exhausting, particularly because he often followed John Lennon’s lead.
“One night we’d gone to this coffee bar in Birkenhead called The Cubic Club because everything was cube-shaped — the tables, the seats,” Caldwell said, per the book Paul McCartney: The Life by Philip Norman. “Paul’s showing-off got on my nerves so much...
George Harrison was interested in Paul McCartney’s girlfriend
In the two years McCartney and Caldwell dated, they got into many arguments. She found his desire to always be the center of attention exhausting, particularly because he often followed John Lennon’s lead.
“One night we’d gone to this coffee bar in Birkenhead called The Cubic Club because everything was cube-shaped — the tables, the seats,” Caldwell said, per the book Paul McCartney: The Life by Philip Norman. “Paul’s showing-off got on my nerves so much...
- 11/10/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Rolling Stones were another massively popular band to come out of England in the 1960s, so The Beatles’ John Lennon spent a good deal of time around them. While he liked the band members, he had some problems with their music. He believed they were, in some ways, knock-offs of The Beatles. He didn’t think their music was strong enough to survive the fan reaction to Mick Jagger’s wedding.
John Lennon thought The Rolling Stones’ success relied on Mick Jagger’s relationship status
Early in The Beatles’ career, Lennon married his girlfriend Cynthia. For a while, he kept the relationship quiet because of the concern that fans would turn on the band if they found out Lennon was taken. Ultimately, though, the news leaked out, and The Beatles didn’t suffer a hit to their popularity.
“I don’t think the two of us being married has...
John Lennon thought The Rolling Stones’ success relied on Mick Jagger’s relationship status
Early in The Beatles’ career, Lennon married his girlfriend Cynthia. For a while, he kept the relationship quiet because of the concern that fans would turn on the band if they found out Lennon was taken. Ultimately, though, the news leaked out, and The Beatles didn’t suffer a hit to their popularity.
“I don’t think the two of us being married has...
- 10/3/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Cilla Black landed The Beatles’ Brian Epstein as her manager after urging from John Lennon. He believed she was a talented artist and championed her to Epstein. Before this, Lennon scared Black to a point where she dreaded being alone with him. She once admitted this to him. Here’s how Lennon reacted.
Cilla Black was initially scared of John Lennon
Black first encountered The Beatles at Liverpool’s Cavern Club. She was a singer, and Lennon invited her to join the band onstage.
“I played truant from Anfield Commercial College to see the Beatles at lunchtime sessions,” she said, per the book Lennon: The Definitive Biography by Ray Coleman. “At that time I was singing with some of the local bands, billed as ‘Swingin’ Cilla,’ on a semi-professional basis. But this was the first time I had my chance to sing with the Beatles.”
Pattie Boyd, George Harrison, Cilla Black,...
Cilla Black was initially scared of John Lennon
Black first encountered The Beatles at Liverpool’s Cavern Club. She was a singer, and Lennon invited her to join the band onstage.
“I played truant from Anfield Commercial College to see the Beatles at lunchtime sessions,” she said, per the book Lennon: The Definitive Biography by Ray Coleman. “At that time I was singing with some of the local bands, billed as ‘Swingin’ Cilla,’ on a semi-professional basis. But this was the first time I had my chance to sing with the Beatles.”
Pattie Boyd, George Harrison, Cilla Black,...
- 9/23/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the late 1960s, the once-tight relationship between John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr became strained, and the four Beatles began working with other musicians. This was a surprising change for the band, who had previously only really worked with each other. Harrison, who had started to feel increasingly stifled by The Beatles, found this thrilling. According to those who knew the band, Harrison’s eagerness to work with other musicians drove The Beatles further apart.
George Harrison began working with other musicians while in The Beatles
In the first half of the 1960s, The Beatles spent practically all their time together. They stayed in cramped quarters in Hamburg, went on increasingly chaotic world tours, and recorded for long hours. Even when they weren’t touring or working on an album, they spent much of their time together.
As the decade wore on, though, this changed. The bandmates began to grow apart,...
George Harrison began working with other musicians while in The Beatles
In the first half of the 1960s, The Beatles spent practically all their time together. They stayed in cramped quarters in Hamburg, went on increasingly chaotic world tours, and recorded for long hours. Even when they weren’t touring or working on an album, they spent much of their time together.
As the decade wore on, though, this changed. The bandmates began to grow apart,...
- 8/18/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon was the first Beatle to have both a wife and a child. He married Cynthia Lennon just before the explosion of Beatlemania because they discovered she was pregnant. He wanted to keep their relationship private, but news of their nuptials leaked. The press quickly gave Cynthia and the couple’s son, Julian, nicknames, much to Lennon’s disgust.
John Lennon didn’t like the nickname the media gave his wife and child
Lennon and Cynthia married in 1962 after several years of dating. He didn’t have plans to propose to her, but they quietly tied the knot after learning about her pregnancy. He didn’t want people to know he was married, and Cynthia worked to keep her pregnancy under wraps.
John Lennon and Julian Lennon | Keystone Features/Getty Images
“If … the main man in the group, John, was found to be married, then it might take away from that particular success,...
John Lennon didn’t like the nickname the media gave his wife and child
Lennon and Cynthia married in 1962 after several years of dating. He didn’t have plans to propose to her, but they quietly tied the knot after learning about her pregnancy. He didn’t want people to know he was married, and Cynthia worked to keep her pregnancy under wraps.
John Lennon and Julian Lennon | Keystone Features/Getty Images
“If … the main man in the group, John, was found to be married, then it might take away from that particular success,...
- 8/14/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the early 1960s, John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe began courting the attention of Allan Williams, a Liverpool promoter and booking agent. He didn’t initially think The Beatles were very good, but he needed a band to send to Hamburg. When he agreed to do this, it helped that Lennon and Sutcliffe felt Williams owed them. He brought them much-wanted media attention that backfired so spectacularly that Sutcliffe lost his apartment.
John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe accidentally got Sutcliffe evicted
Williams ran into Lennon, Sutcliffe, and his roommate at a local Liverpool bar. He had a group of people with him who said they were reporters with the Empire News. They were working on a story about how students lived. Lennon and Sutcliffe were enrolled in art school, making them the perfect subjects. They were also in a band and hungry for media attention, so they agreed to talk to the group.
John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe accidentally got Sutcliffe evicted
Williams ran into Lennon, Sutcliffe, and his roommate at a local Liverpool bar. He had a group of people with him who said they were reporters with the Empire News. They were working on a story about how students lived. Lennon and Sutcliffe were enrolled in art school, making them the perfect subjects. They were also in a band and hungry for media attention, so they agreed to talk to the group.
- 7/30/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
George Harrison and Pattie Boyd met on the set of A Hard Day’s Night. Resistant to go out with the Beatle at first, Boyd eventually caved to Harrison’s advances. After their first official date, it wasn’t long before the new couple decided to move into a beautiful country bungalow together.
How George Harrison met Pattie Boyd
21-year-old Harrison noticed 19-year-old Boyd on the first day of filming the Beatles movie A Hard Day’s Night. When Harrison met the model, she was blond with a round face and big blue eyes. She wore a short fur jacket and a mini skirt that showed off her long legs. According to The Love You Make by Peter Brown and Steven Gaines, Boyd remembered Harrison staring at her on that first day of shooting. At the end of the day, she asked the Beatles for autographs. Harrison happily signed his name with two kisses for her sisters.
How George Harrison met Pattie Boyd
21-year-old Harrison noticed 19-year-old Boyd on the first day of filming the Beatles movie A Hard Day’s Night. When Harrison met the model, she was blond with a round face and big blue eyes. She wore a short fur jacket and a mini skirt that showed off her long legs. According to The Love You Make by Peter Brown and Steven Gaines, Boyd remembered Harrison staring at her on that first day of shooting. At the end of the day, she asked the Beatles for autographs. Harrison happily signed his name with two kisses for her sisters.
- 7/25/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon was the first Beatle to get married, but that didn’t stop him from pursuing other women, including, to a certain extent, Pattie Boyd. Boyd married Lennon’s bandmate, George Harrison, in 1966, but they began dating in 1964. As a result, Lennon knew her for years. In this time, he reportedly harbored a crush on Boyd. According to Lennon’s longtime friend, Pete Shotton, Lennon didn’t always do a good job of hiding this.
John Lennon had a crush on Pattie Boyd
Long before he met Boyd, Lennon developed a crush on Brigitte Bardot. She became his ideal type, and he encouraged his wife, Cynthia, to change her appearance to look more like Bardot.
“Of course, as a teenager, my sexual fantasies were full of Anita Ekberg and the usual giant Nordic goddesses,” Lennon said in The Beatles Anthology. “That is, until Brigitte Bardot became the love of...
John Lennon had a crush on Pattie Boyd
Long before he met Boyd, Lennon developed a crush on Brigitte Bardot. She became his ideal type, and he encouraged his wife, Cynthia, to change her appearance to look more like Bardot.
“Of course, as a teenager, my sexual fantasies were full of Anita Ekberg and the usual giant Nordic goddesses,” Lennon said in The Beatles Anthology. “That is, until Brigitte Bardot became the love of...
- 7/23/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
For years, John Lennon’s biggest celebrity crush was Brigitte Bardot. He developed crushes on women who looked like her and encouraged his girlfriends to dye their hair blonde. Because of his fame, he finally got a chance to meet his longtime crush. Unfortunately for him, it didn’t go over well. He took acid to soothe his nerves, but it kept him from being able to make conversation.
John Lennon didn’t make a great impression when he met his celebrity crush
After over a decade of having Bardot as his biggest celebrity crush, Lennon finally got the chance to meet her in 1968. Beatles press officer Derek Taylor organized a dinner for them.
“John, needless to say, was beside himself with excitement at the prospect of actually encountering in the flesh the woman he’d been fantasizing about for nearly fifteen years,” Lennon’s friend Pete Shotton wrote in the book The Beatles,...
John Lennon didn’t make a great impression when he met his celebrity crush
After over a decade of having Bardot as his biggest celebrity crush, Lennon finally got the chance to meet her in 1968. Beatles press officer Derek Taylor organized a dinner for them.
“John, needless to say, was beside himself with excitement at the prospect of actually encountering in the flesh the woman he’d been fantasizing about for nearly fifteen years,” Lennon’s friend Pete Shotton wrote in the book The Beatles,...
- 7/22/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
By the middle of 1964, there weren’t many places George Harrison could go and not be known. And there weren’t many places — restaurants, clubs — that wouldn’t welcome a world-famous member of The Beatles. Yet the guitarist found one, and the doorman insulted George to his face when his clothes didn’t meet the dress code.
A doorman made fun of George Harrison as The Beatles guitarist tried to enter a club
If the Beatles were world-famous by the middle of 1964, then they were legends in the making in late 1966.
Harrison and his bandmates traded their impersonal raucous live performances for studio devotion, and it paid off with seminal albums such as Rubber Soul and 1966’s Revolver. The Fab Four had also starred in two massively successful and popular movies — A Hard Day’s Night and Help!.
The Rolling Stones hadn’t yet fully come into their own. Jimi Hendrix was still starting out.
A doorman made fun of George Harrison as The Beatles guitarist tried to enter a club
If the Beatles were world-famous by the middle of 1964, then they were legends in the making in late 1966.
Harrison and his bandmates traded their impersonal raucous live performances for studio devotion, and it paid off with seminal albums such as Rubber Soul and 1966’s Revolver. The Fab Four had also starred in two massively successful and popular movies — A Hard Day’s Night and Help!.
The Rolling Stones hadn’t yet fully come into their own. Jimi Hendrix was still starting out.
- 7/7/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles created one of their best albums with Revolver. The record many fans consider the first psychedelic album is an essential starting point for new fans, according to Ringo Starr. The drummer sang “Yellow Submarine,” and though it might not be the best Beatles song, it’s the one that saw John Lennon save someone’s job while they recorded it.
John Lennon stopped someone from getting fired while making The Beatles’ song ‘Yellow Submarine’
The Beatles really never lived sober lifestyles. Booze and pills were frequently part of their routine during early marathon performances in Hamburg, Germany. They used recreational drugs more frequently after getting high with and pranked by Bob Dylan in 1964. That trend continued for years for each member of the Fab Four.
That included when they recorded “Yellow Submarine” in the middle of 1966.
Lennon and a host of friends — Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Marianne Faithfull,...
John Lennon stopped someone from getting fired while making The Beatles’ song ‘Yellow Submarine’
The Beatles really never lived sober lifestyles. Booze and pills were frequently part of their routine during early marathon performances in Hamburg, Germany. They used recreational drugs more frequently after getting high with and pranked by Bob Dylan in 1964. That trend continued for years for each member of the Fab Four.
That included when they recorded “Yellow Submarine” in the middle of 1966.
Lennon and a host of friends — Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Marianne Faithfull,...
- 7/3/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Like the rest of his Beatles bandmates, George Harrison grew up in a working-class family in Liverpool. Also like the rest of the band, he found success, fame, and immeasurable wealth with the band, which gave him access to England’s upper class. Harrison’s first wife, Pattie Boyd, introduced him to one food he never thought he’d like based on its appearance.
George Harrison never dreamed he’d fall in love with ‘the avocado scene’
Being in The Beatles became more trouble than it was worth for Harrison in the mid-1960s. Playing live was such a hassle that he said the band really didn’t care about continuing after a New York City concert in August 1965.
By then, Beatlemania had already spread around the world. The band was just months away from receiving Members of the British Empire medals. Four working-class lads from Liverpool were firmly part of the cultural elite.
George Harrison never dreamed he’d fall in love with ‘the avocado scene’
Being in The Beatles became more trouble than it was worth for Harrison in the mid-1960s. Playing live was such a hassle that he said the band really didn’t care about continuing after a New York City concert in August 1965.
By then, Beatlemania had already spread around the world. The band was just months away from receiving Members of the British Empire medals. Four working-class lads from Liverpool were firmly part of the cultural elite.
- 7/2/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It’s not a secret that drugs profoundly impacted The Beatles’ music. They completely changed their sound when they started using illegal substances and made some of the most enduring music of all time. But there were downsides, such as when George Harrison and his wife, Pattie Boyd, suspected his dentist of trying to start a drug-fueled orgy with them.
George Harrison and Pattie Boyd thought his dentist tried to start an orgy with them and John and Cynthia Lennon
The Beatles’ music wasn’t the only thing that changed in the 1960s. Harrison’s smile did, too. Dentist John Riley, something of a celebrity doctor in swinging London, helped straighten the guitarist’s teeth. Harrison and his first wife, Boyd, believed Riley wanted to have an orgy with them, John Lennon, and his first wife, Cynthia.
The two Beatles and their wives attended a dinner hosted by Riley one night in April 1965. Harrison,...
George Harrison and Pattie Boyd thought his dentist tried to start an orgy with them and John and Cynthia Lennon
The Beatles’ music wasn’t the only thing that changed in the 1960s. Harrison’s smile did, too. Dentist John Riley, something of a celebrity doctor in swinging London, helped straighten the guitarist’s teeth. Harrison and his first wife, Boyd, believed Riley wanted to have an orgy with them, John Lennon, and his first wife, Cynthia.
The two Beatles and their wives attended a dinner hosted by Riley one night in April 1965. Harrison,...
- 6/27/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
By the mid-1960s, every Beatle but Paul McCartney had gotten married. They moved to estates in the suburbs of London and commuted into the city when they needed to work. While McCartney was in a long-term relationship, he hadn’t yet taken the next step. His relationship status, coupled with the fact that he still lived in the city, made McCartney feel much hipper than his bandmates.
Paul McCartney felt he was hipper than his Beatles bandmates
John Lennon was the first Beatle to get married in 1962. Ringo Starr came next in 1965, followed closely by George Harrison in 1966. While Harrison and his first wife, Pattie Boyd, did not have children, both Lennon and Starr did. McCartney, though, had yet to tie the knot. He was in a long-term relationship with Jane Asher, and while he proposed, they ended their engagement in 1968.
The Beatles | Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images
McCartney also...
Paul McCartney felt he was hipper than his Beatles bandmates
John Lennon was the first Beatle to get married in 1962. Ringo Starr came next in 1965, followed closely by George Harrison in 1966. While Harrison and his first wife, Pattie Boyd, did not have children, both Lennon and Starr did. McCartney, though, had yet to tie the knot. He was in a long-term relationship with Jane Asher, and while he proposed, they ended their engagement in 1968.
The Beatles | Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images
McCartney also...
- 6/18/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1973, the world saw George Harrison as the Beatle who was winning the break-up. He became a solo superstar with All Things Must Pass, his big triple-vinyl extravaganza, then his noble and star-sudded Concert For Bangla Desh. He’d finally broken free of the Fabs and gotten everything he’d ever wanted. Right? Well, not exactly. George stripped it all down for his sleeper masterpiece: Living In The Material World, released 50 years ago at the end of May 1973. It’s the most profoundly weird album of his life.
Over the years,...
Over the years,...
- 5/31/2023
- by Rob Sheffield
- Rollingstone.com
Imagine you could go back in time and buy stock in The Beatles in 1960 or 1961. A small investment would be worth a fortune today. Allan Williams had some Beatles stock back then. What he did with it made him the biggest loser in Beatles’ history even while being one of the most important people to the band.
(l-r) Beatles manager Allan Williams, his wife Beryl, Lord Woodbine, Stuart Sutcliffe, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best | Keystone Features/Getty Images Allan Williams became the biggest loser in Beatles history by walking away over £9
The Beatles made it big in England in early 1963 when “Please Please Me” (No. 2) and “From Me To You” (No. 1) became the first of many top-10 hits. A little more than a decade later, the band turned down a $250 million reunion offer. In just eight years, The Beatles rose to the pinnacle of international stardom, became musical trendsetters,...
(l-r) Beatles manager Allan Williams, his wife Beryl, Lord Woodbine, Stuart Sutcliffe, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best | Keystone Features/Getty Images Allan Williams became the biggest loser in Beatles history by walking away over £9
The Beatles made it big in England in early 1963 when “Please Please Me” (No. 2) and “From Me To You” (No. 1) became the first of many top-10 hits. A little more than a decade later, the band turned down a $250 million reunion offer. In just eight years, The Beatles rose to the pinnacle of international stardom, became musical trendsetters,...
- 5/28/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1971, George Harrison became involved in a lengthy lawsuit that cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars. The suit accused the former Beatle of plagiarizing a song by The Chiffons when making “My Sweet Lord”. While the lawsuit cost George Harrison a lot of money, he still got a song out of it that made fun of the whole situation.
George Harrison lost a copyright lawsuit over his song ‘My Sweet Lord’ George Harrison | Dave Hogan/Getty Images
“My Sweet Lord” is one of the biggest hits from Harrison’s solo career. The track was released in 1970’s All Things Must Pass and was also released as a single, peaking at No. 1 on the charts in the U.S. and U.K. Since it was so popular, many noticed the song’s similarity to a 1963 song by The Chiffons titled “He’s So Fine”.
In 1971, Bright Tunes, the publisher of...
George Harrison lost a copyright lawsuit over his song ‘My Sweet Lord’ George Harrison | Dave Hogan/Getty Images
“My Sweet Lord” is one of the biggest hits from Harrison’s solo career. The track was released in 1970’s All Things Must Pass and was also released as a single, peaking at No. 1 on the charts in the U.S. and U.K. Since it was so popular, many noticed the song’s similarity to a 1963 song by The Chiffons titled “He’s So Fine”.
In 1971, Bright Tunes, the publisher of...
- 5/21/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
George Harrison wasn’t afraid of revealing the vulnerabilities and flaws in his music. In 1974, his marriage to Pattie Boyd was unraveling, and he struggled with alcoholism and drugs. While Harrison didn’t speak about this time often, he did write a song that expressed what he went through during this period.
George Harrison said ‘Simply Shady’ represents his life during his ‘bender’ George Harrison | Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Pattie Boyd and George Harrison married in 1966. Boyd experienced Beatlemania’s highs and lows and the band’s eventual downfall. She left Harrison in 1974, but the pair didn’t officially divorce until 1977. She then married Harrison’s friend, Eric Clapton, in 1979.
After Harrison and Boyd’s marriage unraveled in 1974, the former Beatle was in a dark place where he dealt with drinking and drug use. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Harrison admitted he went on a “bender” after he split from Boyd,...
George Harrison said ‘Simply Shady’ represents his life during his ‘bender’ George Harrison | Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Pattie Boyd and George Harrison married in 1966. Boyd experienced Beatlemania’s highs and lows and the band’s eventual downfall. She left Harrison in 1974, but the pair didn’t officially divorce until 1977. She then married Harrison’s friend, Eric Clapton, in 1979.
After Harrison and Boyd’s marriage unraveled in 1974, the former Beatle was in a dark place where he dealt with drinking and drug use. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Harrison admitted he went on a “bender” after he split from Boyd,...
- 5/17/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Model Twiggy will be making her debut at the Cannes film festival.
Sadie Frost’s documentary feature Twiggy is wrapping production in Cannes.
The UK model is making her debut visit to the festival to film the final scene at Film Soho’s virtual production stage on Wednesday (May 17), which will double up as London’s Carnaby Street in the 1960s.
Twiggy is being produced by UK studio Film Soho, who is teaming up with virtual production specialist Disguise and metaverse company Hadean for the end of shoot.
Twiggy is UK filmmaker Frost’s second documentary as director, following Quant.
Sadie Frost’s documentary feature Twiggy is wrapping production in Cannes.
The UK model is making her debut visit to the festival to film the final scene at Film Soho’s virtual production stage on Wednesday (May 17), which will double up as London’s Carnaby Street in the 1960s.
Twiggy is being produced by UK studio Film Soho, who is teaming up with virtual production specialist Disguise and metaverse company Hadean for the end of shoot.
Twiggy is UK filmmaker Frost’s second documentary as director, following Quant.
- 5/16/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Given the long history of the music industry and the vast amount of recorded songs, it isn’t surprising that many musicians have been accused of plagiarism over the years. Artists like Ed Sheeran have recently gone to court over these issues, but some musicians settle out of court. Here are five musicians who have landed in trouble after being accused of plagiarism.
Dolly Parton | Richard E. Aaron/Redferns George Harrison
After The Beatles broke up, George Harrison became the first member of the band to get a No. 1 hit. The song “My Sweet Lord” brought him success but also drew comparisons to another popular song. It sounded remarkably similar to “He’s So Fine” by the Chiffons.
The song’s publisher agreed and, in 1971, sued Harrison for copyright infringement. In 1976, a judge ruled that Harrison had subconsciously copied the song. While he said he didn’t feel guilty, the case rattled him.
Dolly Parton | Richard E. Aaron/Redferns George Harrison
After The Beatles broke up, George Harrison became the first member of the band to get a No. 1 hit. The song “My Sweet Lord” brought him success but also drew comparisons to another popular song. It sounded remarkably similar to “He’s So Fine” by the Chiffons.
The song’s publisher agreed and, in 1971, sued Harrison for copyright infringement. In 1976, a judge ruled that Harrison had subconsciously copied the song. While he said he didn’t feel guilty, the case rattled him.
- 5/9/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney and George Harrison were the two youngest Beatles, and they formed a friendship before they were in a band together. By the time The Beatles broke up, their relationship had disintegrated. Harrison was tired of the way both McCartney and John Lennon treated him, but he reserved most of his ire for McCartney. This was because McCartney viewed Harrison as his younger brother.
Paul McCartney and George Harrison | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Paul McCartney viewed George Harrison as a younger brother
McCartney and Harrison met on the bus to school. They were a year apart, but they bonded over their love of music.
“I knew George from the bus,” McCartney said, per The Beatles Anthology. “Before I went to live in Allerton, I lived in Speke. We lived on an estate which they used to call the Trading Estate. George was a bus stop away. I would...
Paul McCartney and George Harrison | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Paul McCartney viewed George Harrison as a younger brother
McCartney and Harrison met on the bus to school. They were a year apart, but they bonded over their love of music.
“I knew George from the bus,” McCartney said, per The Beatles Anthology. “Before I went to live in Allerton, I lived in Speke. We lived on an estate which they used to call the Trading Estate. George was a bus stop away. I would...
- 5/7/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
George Harrison created beautiful and experimental music with The Beatles. His best Fab Four songs are some of the greatest in the band’s catalog, and that happened despite his bandmates blocking his songwriting efforts from appearing on albums. The guitarist’s relationship with his fellow Beatles wasn’t always the best. You could say the same of Harrison’s personal life, such as the night in the late 1970s when George and Ronnie Wood swapped wives.
(l-r) Ronnie Wood, Johnny Cash, and George Harrison | KMazur/WireImage The night George Harrison and Ronnie Wood spent the night with the other’s wife
Fidelity was never a main concern for members of The Beatles. John Lennon reportedly cheated on his first wife with 300 women. Paul McCartney carried on various affairs during his relationship with longtime girlfriend Jane Asher.
George was no different. He declared his love for Ringo Starr’s wife...
(l-r) Ronnie Wood, Johnny Cash, and George Harrison | KMazur/WireImage The night George Harrison and Ronnie Wood spent the night with the other’s wife
Fidelity was never a main concern for members of The Beatles. John Lennon reportedly cheated on his first wife with 300 women. Paul McCartney carried on various affairs during his relationship with longtime girlfriend Jane Asher.
George was no different. He declared his love for Ringo Starr’s wife...
- 5/7/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
Paul McCartney sang The Beatles’ “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da” at a celebration and the Maharishi heard it. Paul discussed the way the Maharishi and other people reacted to the song. “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da” charted in the United States but it didn’t reach the top 40. The Beatles and the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi | Ullstein Bild / Contributor
Paul McCartney wrote The Beatles‘ “Ob-La Di, Ob-la-Da” while the Fab Four were studying meditation under the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Paul played “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da” for the Maharishi during a celebration. Subsequently, he revealed what the spiritual leader thought of the tune.
A wire fence kept The Beatles and the Maharishi away from the press in India
The Beatles famously traveled to Rishikesh, India to study meditation under the Maharishi. The 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now says George Harrison’s wife, Patti Boyd, had a birthday party during the retreat. The Maharishi lead the group...
Paul McCartney sang The Beatles’ “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da” at a celebration and the Maharishi heard it. Paul discussed the way the Maharishi and other people reacted to the song. “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da” charted in the United States but it didn’t reach the top 40. The Beatles and the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi | Ullstein Bild / Contributor
Paul McCartney wrote The Beatles‘ “Ob-La Di, Ob-la-Da” while the Fab Four were studying meditation under the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Paul played “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da” for the Maharishi during a celebration. Subsequently, he revealed what the spiritual leader thought of the tune.
A wire fence kept The Beatles and the Maharishi away from the press in India
The Beatles famously traveled to Rishikesh, India to study meditation under the Maharishi. The 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now says George Harrison’s wife, Patti Boyd, had a birthday party during the retreat. The Maharishi lead the group...
- 4/30/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
While those who knew George Harrison said he wasn’t exactly the Quiet Beatle, he was the most uncomfortable with fame, fan clubs, and paparazzi. He liked his privacy and grew tired of The Beatles’ fame by the mid-1960s. Still, it became a part of his life, and he dealt with it. In 1970, though, the fan club went too far. After learning about one of their plans, Harrison took steps to shut down the fan club.
George Harrison | William Lovelace/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images George Harrison was not happy with The Beatles’ fan club
Even after The Beatles broke up, their fan club continued on. Freda Kelly, the band’s longtime secretary and head of their fan club, stopped working for the band in 1972 but continued to answer fan mail until 1975.
“You can’t just close a fan club overnight,” she told The Guardian.
Check out the...
George Harrison | William Lovelace/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images George Harrison was not happy with The Beatles’ fan club
Even after The Beatles broke up, their fan club continued on. Freda Kelly, the band’s longtime secretary and head of their fan club, stopped working for the band in 1972 but continued to answer fan mail until 1975.
“You can’t just close a fan club overnight,” she told The Guardian.
Check out the...
- 4/25/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles are the most covered bands of all time. Even in the 1960s, bands and artists were already taking songs from The Beatles and putting their own spin on them. While the members of The Beatles didn’t love every cover, they did receive royalties, so they were mostly okay with them. However, George Harrison called one Beatles song cover “rubbish” and didn’t want to be associated with it.
The Hollies performed a cover of ‘If I Needed Someone’ George Harrison | Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
George Harrison didn’t write many Beatles songs, as Paul McCartney and John Lennon shared most songwriting duties. However, Harrison did get a chance to shine every now and then, and his songs appeared more frequently in The Beatles’ later projects. His song, “If I Needed Someone”, was released in 1966 with Rubber Soul. It’s a love song Harrison dedicated to his then-wife,...
The Hollies performed a cover of ‘If I Needed Someone’ George Harrison | Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
George Harrison didn’t write many Beatles songs, as Paul McCartney and John Lennon shared most songwriting duties. However, Harrison did get a chance to shine every now and then, and his songs appeared more frequently in The Beatles’ later projects. His song, “If I Needed Someone”, was released in 1966 with Rubber Soul. It’s a love song Harrison dedicated to his then-wife,...
- 4/21/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the 1960s, a number of celebrated musicians were arrested by Detective Sergeant Norman Pilcher. He became so notorious in the music world that The Beatles included a jab at him in one of his songs. Here are six musicians who Pilcher arrested.
Victor Kelaher and Norman Pilcher | Roy Illingworth/Mirrorpix/Getty Images Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
In 1967, Pilcher led a team of police officers in a raid on Keith Richards’ home. A party was taking place, and Richards, Mick Jagger, and Marianne Faithfull were all on acid when the police arrived.
“There’s a knock at the door, I look through the window and there’s this whole lot of dwarves outside, but they’re all wearing the same clothes! They were policemen, but I didn’t know it,” Richards wrote in his memoir, Life. “They just looked like very small people wearing dark blue with shiny bits and helmets.
Victor Kelaher and Norman Pilcher | Roy Illingworth/Mirrorpix/Getty Images Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
In 1967, Pilcher led a team of police officers in a raid on Keith Richards’ home. A party was taking place, and Richards, Mick Jagger, and Marianne Faithfull were all on acid when the police arrived.
“There’s a knock at the door, I look through the window and there’s this whole lot of dwarves outside, but they’re all wearing the same clothes! They were policemen, but I didn’t know it,” Richards wrote in his memoir, Life. “They just looked like very small people wearing dark blue with shiny bits and helmets.
- 4/19/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles had a squeaky-clean image compared to some of the other bands in the 1960s, but they were still arrested more than once. For the most part, they, like many other bands at the time, faced arrest for drug possession. While several members of The Beatles landed in legal trouble, one person was arrested far more times than the others.
The Beatles | Chris Walter/Contributor via Getty Paul McCartney and Pete Best were arrested for arson
In the pre-Beatlemania days, the band played a residency in Hamburg, Germany. When authorities found out George Harrison wasn’t old enough to be working in the country, they deported him. That night, Paul McCartney and one-time Beatles drummer Pete Best decided to move their belongings out of the place where they were staying. Needing light and finding themselves without a flashlight, they decided that the best course of action was to light...
The Beatles | Chris Walter/Contributor via Getty Paul McCartney and Pete Best were arrested for arson
In the pre-Beatlemania days, the band played a residency in Hamburg, Germany. When authorities found out George Harrison wasn’t old enough to be working in the country, they deported him. That night, Paul McCartney and one-time Beatles drummer Pete Best decided to move their belongings out of the place where they were staying. Needing light and finding themselves without a flashlight, they decided that the best course of action was to light...
- 4/18/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles didn’t have nearly as bad a reputation as bands like The Rolling Stones, but even they dealt with scandals in their time as a band. Many of these seem tame by today’s standards, but they still placed the band in hot water with the general public. Here are four of the scandals that The Beatles faced throughout the 1960s.
The Beatles | Roger Viollet Collection/Getty Images John Lennon caused a major scandal when he said The Beatles were more popular than Jesus
In 1966, John Lennon entangled The Beatles in what was likely their biggest controversy. In an interview, he spoke about the enduring quality of rock music versus religion.
“Christianity will go,” he said, per Rolling Stone. “It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I know I’m right and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now.
The Beatles | Roger Viollet Collection/Getty Images John Lennon caused a major scandal when he said The Beatles were more popular than Jesus
In 1966, John Lennon entangled The Beatles in what was likely their biggest controversy. In an interview, he spoke about the enduring quality of rock music versus religion.
“Christianity will go,” he said, per Rolling Stone. “It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I know I’m right and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now.
- 4/13/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles‘ cheesiest songs tended to be about love. At least the band knew how to change it up a bit most of the time. Thankfully, they grew out of writing about love all the time halfway through the 1960s. Here is a list of 10 of The Beatles’ cheesiest love songs.
The Beatles | Mirrorpix/Getty Images 10. ‘Misery’
“Misery” is one of The Beatles’ most miserable songs but is also one of their cheesiest. It’s an almost too-depressing breakup song where the speaker is talking about losing the love of their life. The corniest lyric in the tune is: “Send her back to me/ ‘Cause everyone can see/ Without her, I will be/ In misery.”
9. ‘P.S. I Love You’
The cheese in “P.S. I Love You” is in the title. The lyrics in the opening verse are so gooey that they get stuck in our teeth: “As I write this letter,...
The Beatles | Mirrorpix/Getty Images 10. ‘Misery’
“Misery” is one of The Beatles’ most miserable songs but is also one of their cheesiest. It’s an almost too-depressing breakup song where the speaker is talking about losing the love of their life. The corniest lyric in the tune is: “Send her back to me/ ‘Cause everyone can see/ Without her, I will be/ In misery.”
9. ‘P.S. I Love You’
The cheese in “P.S. I Love You” is in the title. The lyrics in the opening verse are so gooey that they get stuck in our teeth: “As I write this letter,...
- 4/13/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles did have some odd songs in their discography. Tracks like “I Am the Walrus” and “Happiness Is a Warm Gun” are perfect examples of when the Liverpool band got weird. One of their most bizarre deep cuts came from Paul McCartney, who wrote and performed it while in an “experimental mode.”
‘Wild Honey Pie’ almost didn’t make ‘The White Album’ Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney | Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
“Wild Honey Pie” is a solo recording from Paul McCartney. It’s a less-than-one-minute track that the artist wrote while in India. It’s a strange track that sounds like many instruments are being bashed together while McCartney annoyingly repeats the titular phrase.
According to McCartney, they weren’t sure what to do with “Wild Honey Pie”, but George Harrison’s wife, Pattie Boyd, liked the song so much they decided to keep it in the album.
“[‘Wild Honey Pie’] was...
‘Wild Honey Pie’ almost didn’t make ‘The White Album’ Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney | Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
“Wild Honey Pie” is a solo recording from Paul McCartney. It’s a less-than-one-minute track that the artist wrote while in India. It’s a strange track that sounds like many instruments are being bashed together while McCartney annoyingly repeats the titular phrase.
According to McCartney, they weren’t sure what to do with “Wild Honey Pie”, but George Harrison’s wife, Pattie Boyd, liked the song so much they decided to keep it in the album.
“[‘Wild Honey Pie’] was...
- 4/7/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Choosing the best Beatles songs might be a challenge, especially if you’re a uber-loyal fan who loves their whole catalog. However you feel about the Fab Four and their music, some songs are essential. They epitomize the group’s greatness and are so good that they make us wish they were still together.
The Beatles | Les Lee/Getty Images 10. ‘All My Loving’
“All My Loving” was a true group effort, and therefore, at the top of our list of top 10 Beatles songs that make us wish the band was still together. Paul McCartney wrote the tune, and John Lennon added the chugging rhythm guitar at the last minute. Something about “All My Loving” makes it a classic and one of the best Beatles songs.
9. ‘I Feel Fine’
“I Feel Fine” is just as much of a classic as “All My Loving.” The opening chord is one of the first...
The Beatles | Les Lee/Getty Images 10. ‘All My Loving’
“All My Loving” was a true group effort, and therefore, at the top of our list of top 10 Beatles songs that make us wish the band was still together. Paul McCartney wrote the tune, and John Lennon added the chugging rhythm guitar at the last minute. Something about “All My Loving” makes it a classic and one of the best Beatles songs.
9. ‘I Feel Fine’
“I Feel Fine” is just as much of a classic as “All My Loving.” The opening chord is one of the first...
- 4/6/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
George Harrison was best known for his guitar skills, but he also developed an interest in the sitar. The Beatle began fiddling around with the instrument while on the set of Help! In 1965. Soon, the instrument made its way onto a Beatles record. The instrument isn’t present in many of the band’s songs, but it did make repeat appearances. Here is every song that features George Harrison on the sitar.
‘Norwegian Wood’ George Harrison and Ravi Shankar | Bettmann / Contributor
“Norwegian Wood” is the first song featuring George Harrison playing the sitar. John Lennon wrote the 1965 Rubber Soul track, which is a Bob Dylan-influenced track with a blend of Indian music. Harrison bought the sitar he used for this song at a shop in Oxford Street called Indiacraft. Lennon suggested he use the instrument in the song, but it took Harrison a few tries before he could get the melody right.
‘Norwegian Wood’ George Harrison and Ravi Shankar | Bettmann / Contributor
“Norwegian Wood” is the first song featuring George Harrison playing the sitar. John Lennon wrote the 1965 Rubber Soul track, which is a Bob Dylan-influenced track with a blend of Indian music. Harrison bought the sitar he used for this song at a shop in Oxford Street called Indiacraft. Lennon suggested he use the instrument in the song, but it took Harrison a few tries before he could get the melody right.
- 4/4/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
With The Beatles, George Harrison achieved previously unseen levels of celebrity that would likely have been impossible for him to have reached as a solo artist. The band brought him massive success, but he wasn’t necessarily sad when they broke up. When looking back on his time with the group, Harrison said he didn’t miss them. Of all The Beatles, he had the most reason to be frustrated.
George Harrison | Chapman/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images George Harrison said it was a relief when The Beatles stopped touring
Even by the mid-1960s, Harrison had grown weary of his time with the band. Touring was chaotic and sometimes even dangerous, and he couldn’t step outside without being swarmed by fans. They decided to stop touring in 1966, which he said was a relief.
“All the tours merge into one in my mind” – George pic.twitter.com/BlEFtvrh...
George Harrison | Chapman/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images George Harrison said it was a relief when The Beatles stopped touring
Even by the mid-1960s, Harrison had grown weary of his time with the band. Touring was chaotic and sometimes even dangerous, and he couldn’t step outside without being swarmed by fans. They decided to stop touring in 1966, which he said was a relief.
“All the tours merge into one in my mind” – George pic.twitter.com/BlEFtvrh...
- 4/2/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
There were many important moments in The Beatles‘ history. Without one of them, the Fab Four’s course would’ve changed drastically. For this list, we kept out the moments when the band earned their hits and released their albums. Instead, we stuck to the moments that truly shaped and defined the group. Here are 10 of the most critical moments in Beatledom.
The Beatles | John Downing/Getty Images 10. John Lennon and Paul McCartney met in 1957
The official starting point of The Beatles happened on July 6, 1957. Ivan Vaughan introduced his friends Paul McCartney and John Lennon to each other at a village fete (garden party) at St. Peter’s, Woolton’s Parish Church in Liverpool. John’s band, The Quarry Men, performed at the event, and they impressed Paul. Once they met, Paul played for John and impressed him. A week later, John had another bandmate ask Paul to join the band.
The Beatles | John Downing/Getty Images 10. John Lennon and Paul McCartney met in 1957
The official starting point of The Beatles happened on July 6, 1957. Ivan Vaughan introduced his friends Paul McCartney and John Lennon to each other at a village fete (garden party) at St. Peter’s, Woolton’s Parish Church in Liverpool. John’s band, The Quarry Men, performed at the event, and they impressed Paul. Once they met, Paul played for John and impressed him. A week later, John had another bandmate ask Paul to join the band.
- 4/2/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the 1960s, The Beatles were the biggest band in the world, and their fans were willing to do anything to feel closer to them. This included breaking into their homes. While this seems like an extreme action to take, it happened more than once. Here are three times Beatles fans broke into their homes and stole things.
Beatles fans | Gab Archive/Redferns Beatles fans broke into George Harrison’s house more than once
Before George Harrison and his first wife Pattie Boyd married, she had moved a number of items into his home. His property had a high fence, but fans still managed to make their way onto the grounds.
“The gate was operated manually, though, and it wasn’t long before the marauding fans discovered where George lived,” she wrote in her book Wonderful Tonight. “Hordes of girls used to hang about outside, waiting for me to go out.
Beatles fans | Gab Archive/Redferns Beatles fans broke into George Harrison’s house more than once
Before George Harrison and his first wife Pattie Boyd married, she had moved a number of items into his home. His property had a high fence, but fans still managed to make their way onto the grounds.
“The gate was operated manually, though, and it wasn’t long before the marauding fans discovered where George lived,” she wrote in her book Wonderful Tonight. “Hordes of girls used to hang about outside, waiting for me to go out.
- 3/28/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Did The Beatles hold back George Harrison? We’ll never know, but Bob Dylan said George would have been as big as any musician with or without the band. Still, being a Fab Four member had its perks, such as meeting models, actors, and other musicians. When he met Pattie Boyd, George needed only a week and four words to begin his relationship with the person who later became his wife.
(l-r) George Harrison and Pattie Boyd | Jim Gray/Keystone/Getty Images George Harrison met Pattie Boyd while filming ‘A Hard Day’s Night’
The Beatles became overnight sensations in England with their debut album Please Please Me. It raced to the top of the charts in 1963 and remained there for months. The follow-up record, With the Beatles, did the same later in the year. To meet the public’s demand for all things Beatles, the band made their first film...
(l-r) George Harrison and Pattie Boyd | Jim Gray/Keystone/Getty Images George Harrison met Pattie Boyd while filming ‘A Hard Day’s Night’
The Beatles became overnight sensations in England with their debut album Please Please Me. It raced to the top of the charts in 1963 and remained there for months. The follow-up record, With the Beatles, did the same later in the year. To meet the public’s demand for all things Beatles, the band made their first film...
- 3/25/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
There were many songs where George Harrison was venting his frustrations, starting with the first song he ever wrote. Here are the top 11 songs George used to vent.
George Harrison | Express/Getty Images 11. ‘Don’t Bother Me’
“Don’t Bother Me” was the first song George ever wrote. He used it to experiment to see if he could write a tune, but he also vented in the lyrics. George was sick while The Beatles played a gig in Bournemouth, England, and the doctor treated his symptoms with morphine. He was exhausted and vented about wanting to be left alone in the song.
10. ‘Taxman’
George dared to call out the tax man on the Revolver track. He was so sick of how much money they took from him that he had to release “Taxman.” In The Beatles Anthology, George said he was so happy when he finally started making some money for doing what he loved.
George Harrison | Express/Getty Images 11. ‘Don’t Bother Me’
“Don’t Bother Me” was the first song George ever wrote. He used it to experiment to see if he could write a tune, but he also vented in the lyrics. George was sick while The Beatles played a gig in Bournemouth, England, and the doctor treated his symptoms with morphine. He was exhausted and vented about wanting to be left alone in the song.
10. ‘Taxman’
George dared to call out the tax man on the Revolver track. He was so sick of how much money they took from him that he had to release “Taxman.” In The Beatles Anthology, George said he was so happy when he finally started making some money for doing what he loved.
- 3/10/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
There are many Beatles songs that John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison based on real people. Around the mid-1960s, when their songwriting became more complex, they started incorporating characters and stories into their songs. Real people helped develop those characters and stories. Here are the top 13 Beatles songs based on real people.
The Beatles | Mirrorpix/Getty Images 13. ‘And I Love Her’
Paul McCartney wrote “And I Love Her” after he realized he wanted to tell his then-girlfriend, Jane Asher, he loved her. Paul and Asher dated for most of The Beatles’ lifetime. However, their romance fizzled out toward the end of the 1960s, and Asher broke up with the singer-songwriter on live TV. Paul based many Beatles songs on Asher.
12. ‘I Need You’
George Harrison wrote “I Need You” for his future wife, Pattie Boyd. It’s a simple love song that appears in The Beatles’ Help! George...
The Beatles | Mirrorpix/Getty Images 13. ‘And I Love Her’
Paul McCartney wrote “And I Love Her” after he realized he wanted to tell his then-girlfriend, Jane Asher, he loved her. Paul and Asher dated for most of The Beatles’ lifetime. However, their romance fizzled out toward the end of the 1960s, and Asher broke up with the singer-songwriter on live TV. Paul based many Beatles songs on Asher.
12. ‘I Need You’
George Harrison wrote “I Need You” for his future wife, Pattie Boyd. It’s a simple love song that appears in The Beatles’ Help! George...
- 3/6/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi became the spiritual guru of The Beatles in 1967. The following year, he invited the Fab Four to his ashram in India to learn Transcendental Meditation. However, their stay didn’t end well, and the group’s relationship with the guru soured. Here’s what happened to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi after he severed ties with The Beatles.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi with The Beatles | Archive Photos/Getty Images Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and his involvement with The Beatles
According to Rolling Stone, George Harrison’s then-wife, Pattie Boyd, saw Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s advertisement for Transcendental Meditation classes. She signed up and told her husband about it. Then, Boyd, George, and the rest of The Beatles went to see the guru speak in London in 1967.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi invited The Beatles to a retreat in Bangor, Wales. However, the group’s time there was cut short by the untimely death of their manager,...
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi with The Beatles | Archive Photos/Getty Images Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and his involvement with The Beatles
According to Rolling Stone, George Harrison’s then-wife, Pattie Boyd, saw Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s advertisement for Transcendental Meditation classes. She signed up and told her husband about it. Then, Boyd, George, and the rest of The Beatles went to see the guru speak in London in 1967.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi invited The Beatles to a retreat in Bangor, Wales. However, the group’s time there was cut short by the untimely death of their manager,...
- 3/4/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles wrote some of the most famous love songs ever. They were masters of romantic tunes and devised new ways of telling love stories. Some are about someone loving another. Others are more vulnerable and aching for affection. Here are 10 of the best Beatles love songs.
The Beatles | Keystone-France/Getty Images 1. ‘Ask Me Why’
The lyrics of “Ask Me Why” are so incredibly romantic. In the song, one person is singing to another about how glad they are that they found love together. The person is even moved to tears. There will be no more sadness because the other person loves them. John Lennon sings, “Now you’re mine, my happiness still makes me cry/ And in time, you’ll understand the reason why/ If I cry, it’s not because I’m sad/ But you’re the only love that I’ve ever had.”
2. ‘Do You Want to...
The Beatles | Keystone-France/Getty Images 1. ‘Ask Me Why’
The lyrics of “Ask Me Why” are so incredibly romantic. In the song, one person is singing to another about how glad they are that they found love together. The person is even moved to tears. There will be no more sadness because the other person loves them. John Lennon sings, “Now you’re mine, my happiness still makes me cry/ And in time, you’ll understand the reason why/ If I cry, it’s not because I’m sad/ But you’re the only love that I’ve ever had.”
2. ‘Do You Want to...
- 3/4/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
While many believed The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to be heated rivals, the bands were decent friends who often collaborated. For instance, Paul McCartney and John Lennon gave the Stones their first big hit with “I Wanna Be Your Man.” The two bands have some surprise collaborations, and The Rolling Stones members did appear on a few songs by The Beatles.
Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger | Victor Blackman/Express/Getty Images Here are 3 Beatles songs that feature Rolling Stones members ‘Yellow Submarine’
“Yellow Submarine” was released in 1966 as a single and was later included in The Beatles’ Revolver. The song is Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s attempt at writing a children’s song, which could explain the simplistic lyrics and various sound effects. The sound effects include items such as bells, chains, whistles, hooters, a cash till, and a tin bath.
McCartney and Lennon were friends with Rolling...
Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger | Victor Blackman/Express/Getty Images Here are 3 Beatles songs that feature Rolling Stones members ‘Yellow Submarine’
“Yellow Submarine” was released in 1966 as a single and was later included in The Beatles’ Revolver. The song is Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s attempt at writing a children’s song, which could explain the simplistic lyrics and various sound effects. The sound effects include items such as bells, chains, whistles, hooters, a cash till, and a tin bath.
McCartney and Lennon were friends with Rolling...
- 3/4/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
George Harrison Was Known as the ‘Quiet Beatle,’ But His Guitar Contributions Made Him Irreplaceable
George Harrison was given the nickname the “Quiet Beatle” because he was reportedly shy and was often in the background of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. However, his contributions often went underappreciated by fans, who were mainly focused on who sang or wrote each song. George Harrison didn’t receive the same attention as McCartney and Lennon, but his guitar skills made him irreplaceable.
George Harrison only wrote a few of The Beatles’ hits George Harrison | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Harrison proved in his solo career that he could write fantastic songs, but his songwriting talents were neutered in The Beatles. He did write a few hits, such as “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun,” but primary songwriting duties were given to Lennon and McCartney. In an interview with Salon, Harrison’s ex-wife Pattie Boyd said the singer was often frustrated that he was taking a backseat to his other bandmates.
George Harrison only wrote a few of The Beatles’ hits George Harrison | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Harrison proved in his solo career that he could write fantastic songs, but his songwriting talents were neutered in The Beatles. He did write a few hits, such as “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun,” but primary songwriting duties were given to Lennon and McCartney. In an interview with Salon, Harrison’s ex-wife Pattie Boyd said the singer was often frustrated that he was taking a backseat to his other bandmates.
- 3/3/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
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