Let It Be is back? Nobody thought this day would ever come. The Beatles’ 1970 lost-lost documentary Let It Be has always been dismissed as the band’s tombstone. It’s a movie that people regard as a disaster but hardly anyone has actually seen, just like Magical Mystery Tour. Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Let It Be came out in May 1970, right when the Fabs were splitting up, and went down in history as their “break-up film.” All four refused to show up for the premiere. Apple has kept it officially unavailable for decades.
- 4/18/2024
- by Rob Sheffield
- Rollingstone.com
While The Beatles and The Rolling Stones both led the charge during the British Invasion, they had wildly different public images. Mick Jagger’s girlfriend explained why The Beatles were seen as good boys and The Rolling Stones were seen as bad boys. Notably, John Lennon revealed that he was a huge fan of one Rolling Stones song.
Marianne Faithfull said The Rolling Stones were sexier than The Beatles
Marianne Faithfull was Jagger’s girlfriend in the 1960s. She’s most famous for a pair of ballads: “As Tears Go By,” which was co-written by Jagger and Keith Richards, and a cover of The Beatles’ “Yesterday.” If anyone has the right to pontificate on the differences between The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, it’s her.
In her 2007 book Memories, Dreams & Reflections, the “As Tears Go by” singer discussed the two defining British bands of the 1960s. “The Beatles completely evolved from the pop business,...
Marianne Faithfull said The Rolling Stones were sexier than The Beatles
Marianne Faithfull was Jagger’s girlfriend in the 1960s. She’s most famous for a pair of ballads: “As Tears Go By,” which was co-written by Jagger and Keith Richards, and a cover of The Beatles’ “Yesterday.” If anyone has the right to pontificate on the differences between The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, it’s her.
In her 2007 book Memories, Dreams & Reflections, the “As Tears Go by” singer discussed the two defining British bands of the 1960s. “The Beatles completely evolved from the pop business,...
- 3/26/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It would be an understatement to say John Lennon and George Harrison had some issues with each other. John felt he deserved credit for getting one of George’s songs released as the B-side of The Beatles’ “The Ballad of John and Yoko.” The latter song did well despite its edgy lyrics.
The connection between The Beatles’ ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’ and ‘Old Brown Shoe’
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features a 1980 interview. During the interview, the “Instant Karma!” singer said he didn’t like his unflattering portrayal in George’s book I, Me, Mine. John recalled times he looked out for George.
“I made sure George got the B-side of ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko,’ I think,” he said, referring to George’s song “Old Brown Shoe.” “And those little things he doesn’t remember.
The connection between The Beatles’ ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’ and ‘Old Brown Shoe’
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features a 1980 interview. During the interview, the “Instant Karma!” singer said he didn’t like his unflattering portrayal in George’s book I, Me, Mine. John recalled times he looked out for George.
“I made sure George got the B-side of ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko,’ I think,” he said, referring to George’s song “Old Brown Shoe.” “And those little things he doesn’t remember.
- 1/26/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When The Beatles told producer George Martin that they wanted to get back into the studio to record an album after Let It Be, he could hardly believe his ears. He assumed the band would break up. Recording Let It Be had been a miserable experience for all involved and he didn’t see a future for The Beatles.
George Martin said making The Beatles’ ‘Let It Be’ was a terrible experience
In early 1969, The Beatles gathered to begin working on Let It Be. Tensions among the band members were at an all-time high. Their recording sessions for the White Album had also been challenging, and Let It Be was no different.
“This was a very difficult period,” Paul McCartney said in the book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now by Barry Miles. “John was with Yoko full-time, and our relationship was beginning to crumble: John and I were going through a very tense period.
George Martin said making The Beatles’ ‘Let It Be’ was a terrible experience
In early 1969, The Beatles gathered to begin working on Let It Be. Tensions among the band members were at an all-time high. Their recording sessions for the White Album had also been challenging, and Let It Be was no different.
“This was a very difficult period,” Paul McCartney said in the book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now by Barry Miles. “John was with Yoko full-time, and our relationship was beginning to crumble: John and I were going through a very tense period.
- 12/17/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles gave us cult classic movies like Yellow Submarine and Help! It’s only fitting that John Lennon’s favorite movie was a cult classic Western. The movie in question is one of the most bizarre Westerns ever made. Fascinatingly, the director of the film said multiple rock stars connected with his work.
John Lennon loved a cult classic Western movie with a heavy dose of mysticism
Alejandro Jodorowsky is a surrealist filmmaker whose movies are like Salvador Dalí paintings come to life. According to Wired, John’s favorite movie was Jodorowsky’s mystical Western El Topo. The film is about an outlaw called El Topo (Spanish for “The Mole”) who becomes a holy man in a landscape filled with Judeo-Christian and occult imagery.
During a 2011 interview with Interviews with Icons, Jodorowsky discussed John’s relationship with the film. “I was lucky because of rock ‘n’ roll,” explained Jodorowsky.
John Lennon loved a cult classic Western movie with a heavy dose of mysticism
Alejandro Jodorowsky is a surrealist filmmaker whose movies are like Salvador Dalí paintings come to life. According to Wired, John’s favorite movie was Jodorowsky’s mystical Western El Topo. The film is about an outlaw called El Topo (Spanish for “The Mole”) who becomes a holy man in a landscape filled with Judeo-Christian and occult imagery.
During a 2011 interview with Interviews with Icons, Jodorowsky discussed John’s relationship with the film. “I was lucky because of rock ‘n’ roll,” explained Jodorowsky.
- 12/9/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1970, The Beatles released Let It Be, the final record John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr would put out together. Though it was not the last thing they recorded, the album sat unreleased for a while and came out after the band had already broken up. Lennon said this was because of how bad it was. According to him, none of The Beatles wanted to touch it. McCartney had a different perspective on the matter.
John Lennon did not think The Beatles’ ‘Let It Be’ sounded good
The Beatles recorded Let It Be in early 1969, but it wasn’t available to the public until May 1970. As it languished in the interim, manager Allen Klein brought in producer Phil Spector to work on it. Lennon felt that this was the best thing that could have happened to the album, even though Spector’s version has many critics.
“If...
John Lennon did not think The Beatles’ ‘Let It Be’ sounded good
The Beatles recorded Let It Be in early 1969, but it wasn’t available to the public until May 1970. As it languished in the interim, manager Allen Klein brought in producer Phil Spector to work on it. Lennon felt that this was the best thing that could have happened to the album, even though Spector’s version has many critics.
“If...
- 12/7/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney worked with Beatles manager Brian Epstein for years. Epstein helped lift The Beatles from relative obscurity to global fame. Still, McCartney felt his manager made some mistakes along the way. He explained why some of the deals Epstein made did not end up benefiting the band as they should have.
Paul McCartney said some of Brian Epstein’s business decisions hurt The Beatles
When The Beatles first started out, they desperately wanted a reputable record label to take them seriously. Epstein helped them achieve this.
“We were desperate to get a deal,” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology. “It’s like any young novelist who just wants to be published. They would just die for Doubleday; they wouldn’t care what the deal was, so long as they could say to their friends, ‘Oh, my new book’s coming out on Doubleday.’ — ‘What, the real Doubleday?’ — ‘Yeah!’ So...
Paul McCartney said some of Brian Epstein’s business decisions hurt The Beatles
When The Beatles first started out, they desperately wanted a reputable record label to take them seriously. Epstein helped them achieve this.
“We were desperate to get a deal,” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology. “It’s like any young novelist who just wants to be published. They would just die for Doubleday; they wouldn’t care what the deal was, so long as they could say to their friends, ‘Oh, my new book’s coming out on Doubleday.’ — ‘What, the real Doubleday?’ — ‘Yeah!’ So...
- 12/5/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon Said His Relationship With Beatles Manager Brian Epstein Was ‘Almost Like a Love Affair’
Shortly before the birth of his first child, John Lennon went on vacation with Beatles manager Brian Epstein. While Paul McCartney believed Lennon took the vacation to assert dominance in the band, Lennon said he did it because of how much he enjoyed his relationship with Epstein. The pair had a close friendship that, according to Lennon, bordered on a love affair.
John Lennon said he had a very intense relationship with Brian Epstein
While Epstein said that he grew to love all four Beatles in equal measure, he admitted that he was closest with Lennon in the band’s early years.
“I think Paul thinks I’m closer to John than I am with him,” he said, per the book The Beatles: The Authorized Biography by Hunter Davies. “It’s not really true. It was earlier on, but now I love them all equally.”
The Beatles and Brian Epstein...
John Lennon said he had a very intense relationship with Brian Epstein
While Epstein said that he grew to love all four Beatles in equal measure, he admitted that he was closest with Lennon in the band’s early years.
“I think Paul thinks I’m closer to John than I am with him,” he said, per the book The Beatles: The Authorized Biography by Hunter Davies. “It’s not really true. It was earlier on, but now I love them all equally.”
The Beatles and Brian Epstein...
- 11/24/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Following the death of their manager, The Beatles hired Allen Klein, a move that Mick Jagger warned John Lennon against. Klein had worked with The Rolling Stones as well, and Jagger felt that it would be a terrible idea for The Beatles to hire him. He called Lennon to try to warn him, but Lennon wouldn’t listen. Several years later, though, he realized Jagger had been right.
Mick Jagger told John Lennon not to work with Allen Klein
The Rolling Stones worked with Klein before The Beatles hired him, and their working relationship did not end well. The band alleged that Klein had pocketed their royalty payments, failed to pay their taxes, and stolen their publishing rights. Jagger was especially suspicious of Klein, and the band ultimately hired a law firm to look into the way he’d handled their affairs.
As this was happening, Lennon campaigned for Klein...
Mick Jagger told John Lennon not to work with Allen Klein
The Rolling Stones worked with Klein before The Beatles hired him, and their working relationship did not end well. The band alleged that Klein had pocketed their royalty payments, failed to pay their taxes, and stolen their publishing rights. Jagger was especially suspicious of Klein, and the band ultimately hired a law firm to look into the way he’d handled their affairs.
As this was happening, Lennon campaigned for Klein...
- 11/4/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Decades after The Beatles broke up, Mick Jagger is still captivating audiences as the lead singer of The Rolling Stones. The Stones have been performing together for 60 years and are still releasing music. While they’ve taken a short break before, they’ve never announced a permanent split like The Beatles did. Jagger once said that if The Rolling Stones did break up, they wouldn’t do it as dramatically as The Beatles had.
Mick Jagger said a Rolling Stones breakup wouldn’t look like The Beatles’ split
In 1969, John Lennon told his bandmates he no longer wanted to be in The Beatles, effectively breaking up the band. Paul McCartney broke the news to the public in 1970, and from there, the former bandmates began airing their dirty laundry.
They spoke negatively about one another in interviews and wrote songs about one another. McCartney even sued his former bandmates to ensure...
Mick Jagger said a Rolling Stones breakup wouldn’t look like The Beatles’ split
In 1969, John Lennon told his bandmates he no longer wanted to be in The Beatles, effectively breaking up the band. Paul McCartney broke the news to the public in 1970, and from there, the former bandmates began airing their dirty laundry.
They spoke negatively about one another in interviews and wrote songs about one another. McCartney even sued his former bandmates to ensure...
- 11/1/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney looks very happy on the back cover of his debut solo album, McCartney. Paul once discussed why he was so smiley in that particular photo. His smile had something to do with a famous lawsuit wherein he sued the other members of The Beatles. Interestingly, the album gave fans one of Paul’s most famous love ballads.
Paul McCartney said that his big smile on the back of the album ‘McCartney’ was genuine
According to NBC News, Paul sued The Beatles in 1970. He disputed The Beatles’ contract, which gave manager Allen Klein control over the band’s finances. Paul was told that suing the band was his only choice, as Klein himself was not the relevant party. Paul was alright with suing John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr in the process because he felt it was better for all of them in the end. In Paul’s recollection,...
Paul McCartney said that his big smile on the back of the album ‘McCartney’ was genuine
According to NBC News, Paul sued The Beatles in 1970. He disputed The Beatles’ contract, which gave manager Allen Klein control over the band’s finances. Paul was told that suing the band was his only choice, as Klein himself was not the relevant party. Paul was alright with suing John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr in the process because he felt it was better for all of them in the end. In Paul’s recollection,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The music industry’s biggest artists can earn a good chunk of change these days by selling the rights to their musical catalogs, but Mick Jagger isn’t so sure that The Rolling Stones will be the next band to cash out. In fact, they might donate the money from their extensive discography to charity instead.
The Rolling Stones are as much of a brand as a rock ‘n’ roll band, and fans know Jagger has maintained a strong hand in the group’s business dealings. Take his interview with The Wall Street Journal Magazine — where he discussed selling the copyrights to the band’s music — as proof. Still, he scoffed at the idea of a sale, quipping, “the children don’t need $500 million to live well. Come on.” Approving the suggestion that the money could go to charity instead of his estate, Jagger added, “You maybe do some good in the world.
The Rolling Stones are as much of a brand as a rock ‘n’ roll band, and fans know Jagger has maintained a strong hand in the group’s business dealings. Take his interview with The Wall Street Journal Magazine — where he discussed selling the copyrights to the band’s music — as proof. Still, he scoffed at the idea of a sale, quipping, “the children don’t need $500 million to live well. Come on.” Approving the suggestion that the money could go to charity instead of his estate, Jagger added, “You maybe do some good in the world.
- 9/28/2023
- by Carys Anderson
- Consequence - Music
John Lennon had a problem with more than one Beatles album. He discussed it openly in the studio and, when the band broke up, in interviews. While he didn’t have as much of a problem with Let It Be, he admitted that the album wasn’t quite finished. He didn’t think this was a detriment to the album, though.
John Lennon said a Beatles album was never finished
By the time The Beatles broke up, their dynamic had chilled considerably. Lennon said that working together was painful.
“It’s torture every time we have to produce anything,” he said, per the book Lennon On Lennon: Conversations With John Lennon. “Any artist, poet, anything, whatever you call yourselves, listening know what it’s like. Well, the Beatles haven’t got any magic you haven’t got. We suffer like hell every time we make anything … And we’ve got each other to contend with.
John Lennon said a Beatles album was never finished
By the time The Beatles broke up, their dynamic had chilled considerably. Lennon said that working together was painful.
“It’s torture every time we have to produce anything,” he said, per the book Lennon On Lennon: Conversations With John Lennon. “Any artist, poet, anything, whatever you call yourselves, listening know what it’s like. Well, the Beatles haven’t got any magic you haven’t got. We suffer like hell every time we make anything … And we’ve got each other to contend with.
- 8/21/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
After The Beatles disbanded, John Lennon and Paul McCartney were entangled in a public feud for a brief time. The feud manifested in a few of their solo songs, with the two former bandmates exchanging blows in lyrics the best way they knew how. Many theorized that one John Lennon song was about Paul McCartney, but Lennon clarified that it was “for sure,” not about Sir Macca.
John Lennon said the song ‘Steel and Glass’ was not about Paul McCartney
“Steel and Glass” is a song from Lennon’s fifth solo album 1974’s Walls and Bridges. It’s one of Lennon’s more vicious songs, like “You leave your smell like an alley cat.” This led many to speculate about who the song might be about, and one person who was a possible target was Paul McCartney.
John had previously targeted the “Band on the Run” singer in 1971’s “How...
John Lennon said the song ‘Steel and Glass’ was not about Paul McCartney
“Steel and Glass” is a song from Lennon’s fifth solo album 1974’s Walls and Bridges. It’s one of Lennon’s more vicious songs, like “You leave your smell like an alley cat.” This led many to speculate about who the song might be about, and one person who was a possible target was Paul McCartney.
John had previously targeted the “Band on the Run” singer in 1971’s “How...
- 7/25/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When Mick Jagger heard The Beatles were hiring Allen Klein, he sent a note to Paul McCartney. The Rolling Stones were working with the controversial manager, and Jagger wasn’t sure it was a good idea for The Beatles to hire him. When McCartney asked Jagger to speak to the rest of the band about this, though, he backed down.
Mick Jagger tried to warn Paul McCartney against hiring Allen Klein
After Beatles manager Brian Epstein died, the band was on the lookout for new management. The decision came down to one between Klein — who John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr supported — and Lee Eastman, McCartney’s pick. Eastman was McCartney’s father-in-law, which the others didn’t like. McCartney, though, had heard that Klein had landed in hot water over taxes. The note from Jagger was also cause for concern.
“Jagger gave me a note in an envelope...
Mick Jagger tried to warn Paul McCartney against hiring Allen Klein
After Beatles manager Brian Epstein died, the band was on the lookout for new management. The decision came down to one between Klein — who John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr supported — and Lee Eastman, McCartney’s pick. Eastman was McCartney’s father-in-law, which the others didn’t like. McCartney, though, had heard that Klein had landed in hot water over taxes. The note from Jagger was also cause for concern.
“Jagger gave me a note in an envelope...
- 6/25/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles’ final album, Let It Be, came as a shock to Paul McCartney. He was upset with the way some of his songs sounded, and the album as a whole was frustrating to him. Producer Phil Spector had taken control of the record and, in the process, pulled it away from McCartney’s initial vision. McCartney was upset about this, but he had a chance to release his own version of the record several decades later.
Paul McCartney couldn’t believe the changes made to ‘Let It Be’
Let It Be came out in 1970, after The Beatles decided to break up. Tensions among the band members were at an all-time high, and the quality of Let It Be didn’t help things. Allen Klein, the band’s manager, had brought in Spector. Klein, John Lennon, and George Harrison were excited about Spector, but McCartney was less certain. When he heard the album,...
Paul McCartney couldn’t believe the changes made to ‘Let It Be’
Let It Be came out in 1970, after The Beatles decided to break up. Tensions among the band members were at an all-time high, and the quality of Let It Be didn’t help things. Allen Klein, the band’s manager, had brought in Spector. Klein, John Lennon, and George Harrison were excited about Spector, but McCartney was less certain. When he heard the album,...
- 6/24/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
After The Beatles broke up, John Lennon and Paul McCartney couldn’t even get through a phone call without fighting. McCartney explained that Lennon’s vitriol was palpable. Even though he’d known his former bandmate for years, he felt frightened. On one phone call, though, McCartney walked away with some creative inspiration.
John Lennon insulted Paul McCartney in a creative way
Even though his bandmates were furious with him after The Beatles’ breakup, McCartney tried to maintain a relationship with them. He said he frequently called Lennon, but the calls didn’t often go well.
“I would ring him when I went to New York and he would say, ‘Yeah, what d’you want?’ ‘I just thought we might meet?’ ‘Yeah, what the f*** d’you want, man?’ I used actually to have some very frightening phone calls,” he said, per the book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now by Barry Miles.
John Lennon insulted Paul McCartney in a creative way
Even though his bandmates were furious with him after The Beatles’ breakup, McCartney tried to maintain a relationship with them. He said he frequently called Lennon, but the calls didn’t often go well.
“I would ring him when I went to New York and he would say, ‘Yeah, what d’you want?’ ‘I just thought we might meet?’ ‘Yeah, what the f*** d’you want, man?’ I used actually to have some very frightening phone calls,” he said, per the book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now by Barry Miles.
- 6/23/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1970, Paul McCartney announced that The Beatles had broken up, much to John Lennon’s irritation. Lennon told his bandmates he was leaving the group in 1969, but he kept the news quiet at the request of manager Allen Klein. McCartney said Lennon felt hurt when he announced the band’s split. He believed Lennon was jealous that he wasn’t able to announce the news himself.
Paul McCartney announced The Beatles break up, much to John Lennon’s disappointment
While promoting his solo album McCartney, the Beatles bassist broke the news that the band had broken up. He included a questionnaire in the version of the album he gave to the press that contained the information. Lennon was the one who initiated the split, but he hadn’t publicly spoken about it at this point. As far as people were concerned, the band was still together.
“Only the press got...
Paul McCartney announced The Beatles break up, much to John Lennon’s disappointment
While promoting his solo album McCartney, the Beatles bassist broke the news that the band had broken up. He included a questionnaire in the version of the album he gave to the press that contained the information. Lennon was the one who initiated the split, but he hadn’t publicly spoken about it at this point. As far as people were concerned, the band was still together.
“Only the press got...
- 6/19/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney was the first member of The Beatles to announce that The Beatles were breaking up officially. However, the choice to split had already been made before he said anything. The band would keep it secret for a while, but McCartney let the cat out of the bag first, shocking the world in the process.
Paul McCartney didn’t want the break up of The Beatles to be a secret
McCartney announced the end of The Beatles on April 10, 1970, in a press statement before the release of his first solo album, McCartney. The announcement was a shock to Beatles fans around the world but not to the band themselves. During a 1969 meeting with Allen Klein, John Lennon had already told the band he’d be leaving.
Instead of keeping the band going with George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they decided to call it quits. However, Klein wanted the band to keep it a secret.
Paul McCartney didn’t want the break up of The Beatles to be a secret
McCartney announced the end of The Beatles on April 10, 1970, in a press statement before the release of his first solo album, McCartney. The announcement was a shock to Beatles fans around the world but not to the band themselves. During a 1969 meeting with Allen Klein, John Lennon had already told the band he’d be leaving.
Instead of keeping the band going with George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they decided to call it quits. However, Klein wanted the band to keep it a secret.
- 6/19/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When The Beatles broke up, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, and John Lennon were on one side of the divide, while Paul McCartney was on the other. McCartney sued the band in order to wrest control from manager Allen Klein. The split and legal battle meant the dynamic between the former bandmates was a stormy one. Starr wanted to maintain a friendly working relationship with his former bandmates, though. While he trusted that Lennon and Harrison would continue collaborating with him, he didn’t know if McCartney would.
Ringo Starr worried his working relationship with Paul McCartney was over
After the death of longtime Beatles manager Brian Epstein, the band hired Klein. McCartney wasn’t happy with this decision, though. He wanted to hire Lee Eastman, his father-in-law, something the rest of the band stood firmly against. These business dealings muddied their musical relationship, and by 1970, they had announced their breakup.
Ringo Starr worried his working relationship with Paul McCartney was over
After the death of longtime Beatles manager Brian Epstein, the band hired Klein. McCartney wasn’t happy with this decision, though. He wanted to hire Lee Eastman, his father-in-law, something the rest of the band stood firmly against. These business dealings muddied their musical relationship, and by 1970, they had announced their breakup.
- 6/17/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It would be hard for music fans to argue Led Zeppelin didn’t leave a massive mark on popular music. In a little over a decade together, the band’s songs left their mark on fans everywhere, and manager Peter Grant’s strong leadership and business savvy helped the band make a fortune. Yet Grant never saw Led Zeppelin win a Grammy — he saw a fake band he managed win the award decades before Zep did.
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Bonham with their manager Peter Grant | Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images Peter Grant managed a made-up band that won a Grammy decades before Led Zeppelin did
Led Zeppelin featured four expert performers at the peak of their powers.
Jimmy Page solidified his spot as an all-time guitar legend. John Paul Jones showcased the wealth of musical talents that made him...
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Bonham with their manager Peter Grant | Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images Peter Grant managed a made-up band that won a Grammy decades before Led Zeppelin did
Led Zeppelin featured four expert performers at the peak of their powers.
Jimmy Page solidified his spot as an all-time guitar legend. John Paul Jones showcased the wealth of musical talents that made him...
- 6/11/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin had a significant impact on music, and it wasn’t only because of their tunes. Their manager, Peter Grant, changed everything about leading a group. But Led Zeppelin wasn’t his first showbiz rodeo. Before he guided that group, and before Allen Klein took over The Beatles, Grant threatened Klein and literally shook him down over $12,000 in a display of the managerial tactics he employed when Led Zeppelin formed.
(l-r) Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant, singer Robert Plant, and bassist John Paul Jones | Ian Cook/Getty Images Before managing Led Zeppelin, Peter Grant threatened Allen Klein over a $12,000 debt
Grant and Klein’s reigns over two of the biggest bands in the world briefly overlapped. Klein recognized Jimmy Page’s starpower while he managed the Yardbirds, and he stuck with the guitarist when he formed Led Zeppelin in 1968. Klein took over The Beatles just before the band completely disintegrated.
(l-r) Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant, singer Robert Plant, and bassist John Paul Jones | Ian Cook/Getty Images Before managing Led Zeppelin, Peter Grant threatened Allen Klein over a $12,000 debt
Grant and Klein’s reigns over two of the biggest bands in the world briefly overlapped. Klein recognized Jimmy Page’s starpower while he managed the Yardbirds, and he stuck with the guitarist when he formed Led Zeppelin in 1968. Klein took over The Beatles just before the band completely disintegrated.
- 6/8/2023
- 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
Paul McCartney Said He ‘Turned to Booze’ to Cope with The Beatles’ Split: ‘It’s Boozing or Sleeping’
Paul McCartney rose to fame alongside The Beatles — the four-piece British rock band that took the world by storm in the 1960s. To date, there has arguably never been a music group that created the chaos (known appropriately as Beatlemania) that The Beatles sparked with their uprising.
However, after a decade of fame, things ended for the bandmates on quite the sour note. McCartney wound up suing the other band members, and he had a major falling out with John Lennon. In the midst of all of it, McCartney revealed in an interview that he “turned to booze” to cope with the rollercoaster breakup.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon in 1964 | Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images Paul McCartney sued The Beatles in 1970
By 1970, The Beatles had been famous for 10 years, and things were unraveling quickly. There were plenty of disagreements, especially regarding who should manage the band’s finances, and it ultimately...
However, after a decade of fame, things ended for the bandmates on quite the sour note. McCartney wound up suing the other band members, and he had a major falling out with John Lennon. In the midst of all of it, McCartney revealed in an interview that he “turned to booze” to cope with the rollercoaster breakup.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon in 1964 | Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images Paul McCartney sued The Beatles in 1970
By 1970, The Beatles had been famous for 10 years, and things were unraveling quickly. There were plenty of disagreements, especially regarding who should manage the band’s finances, and it ultimately...
- 5/19/2023
- by Julia Mullaney
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney was just one fourth of the iconic rock band The Beatles, all of whom rose to fame in the early 1960s and spent about a decade in the spotlight before breaking up. Though the young quartet’s uprising was exciting in the moment, some say it eventually went to their heads, with disagreements ensuing and friendships nearly ending before the band finally decided to call it quits.
Paul McCartney has had plenty of years to reflect on his actions surrounding Beatles fame — one of which included suing the other band members, which he says was the only way he could “save The Beatles.”
The Beatles circa 1965 | Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images Paul McCartney sued his former bandmates in 1970
The Beatles’ rise to fame was something nobody could have seen coming. The band achieved worldwide recognition so quickly, and with a fan base so obsessive, that the whole movement was dubbed “Beatlemania.
Paul McCartney has had plenty of years to reflect on his actions surrounding Beatles fame — one of which included suing the other band members, which he says was the only way he could “save The Beatles.”
The Beatles circa 1965 | Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images Paul McCartney sued his former bandmates in 1970
The Beatles’ rise to fame was something nobody could have seen coming. The band achieved worldwide recognition so quickly, and with a fan base so obsessive, that the whole movement was dubbed “Beatlemania.
- 5/17/2023
- by Julia Mullaney
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
One is nearly certain to find The Beatles on the list of bands who worked well despite interpersonal dysfunction. When the band broke up, the former bandmates made their feelings toward one another clear. They spoke about each other negatively in the press, dealt with a very public lawsuit, and wrote pointed songs about one another. It’s easy to look at The Beatles and assume that, outside of their early years as a band, they did not like each other. The truth is far more complicated than that, though.
The Beatles | Fiona Adams/Redferns The Beatles were better friends than people might think
Soon after The Beatles broke up, Michael Lindsay-Hogg released the documentary Let It Be. For many viewers, the documentary captured the band on the precipice of a split; they bicker, condescend, and seem generally unhappy to be around each other.
This has been the prevailing narrative...
The Beatles | Fiona Adams/Redferns The Beatles were better friends than people might think
Soon after The Beatles broke up, Michael Lindsay-Hogg released the documentary Let It Be. For many viewers, the documentary captured the band on the precipice of a split; they bicker, condescend, and seem generally unhappy to be around each other.
This has been the prevailing narrative...
- 5/15/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It’s common knowledge that the Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds song “Red Right Hand” is the hit most associated with the Scream franchise. Still, there was another single that almost made its way into scary movie canon with the release of Scream 2 (1997).
Rather than an unnerving anthem for the villain, this song would have represented the complicated triumph of the hero. As it stands, Scream 2 concludes with Sidney standing tall and walking away from the terrors that had been deployed to exploit and destroy her. She’s accompanied by the song “She Said” by Collective Soul, a beautifully reflective rumination on a life filled with loneliness and regret, one in which truth, purpose and forgiveness is emotively sought.
But, as well as the song fits, it was not the first creative choice for the sequel’s concluding sequence. When Bloody Disgusting recently spoke with Grammy and Peabody...
Rather than an unnerving anthem for the villain, this song would have represented the complicated triumph of the hero. As it stands, Scream 2 concludes with Sidney standing tall and walking away from the terrors that had been deployed to exploit and destroy her. She’s accompanied by the song “She Said” by Collective Soul, a beautifully reflective rumination on a life filled with loneliness and regret, one in which truth, purpose and forgiveness is emotively sought.
But, as well as the song fits, it was not the first creative choice for the sequel’s concluding sequence. When Bloody Disgusting recently spoke with Grammy and Peabody...
- 5/12/2023
- by Paul Farrell
- bloody-disgusting.com
When The Beatles broke up, George Harrison and John Lennon were not happy with former bandmate Paul McCartney. Lennon disparaged his solo music and wrote pointed lyrics about McCartney. Harrison said that he would never work with him in a band again. They talked trash about him privately too, but they made it clear that the people they were talking to shouldn’t join in.
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon | Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images George Harrison and John Lennon were not happy with Paul McCartney when The Beatles split
When The Beatles broke up, McCartney sued the band in order to take control of their catalog from manager Allen Klein. This, coupled with festering irritation over McCartney’s behavior in the studio, infuriated his bandmates. Lennon wrote the brutal “How Do You Sleep?” about McCartney, and Harrison said publicly that he wouldn’t want to work with McCartney again.
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon | Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images George Harrison and John Lennon were not happy with Paul McCartney when The Beatles split
When The Beatles broke up, McCartney sued the band in order to take control of their catalog from manager Allen Klein. This, coupled with festering irritation over McCartney’s behavior in the studio, infuriated his bandmates. Lennon wrote the brutal “How Do You Sleep?” about McCartney, and Harrison said publicly that he wouldn’t want to work with McCartney again.
- 4/19/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When John Lennon was done with The Beatles, he was done with The Beatles. He wanted to concentrate on moving forward and not looking back. That meant a reunion was absolutely out of the question.
The Beatles | Chris Walter/WireImage/Getty Images John Lennon quit The Beatles
Lennon officially told his bandmates, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, that he’d decided to leave the group during a meeting with Allen Klein in Sept. 1969. Klein convinced Lennon to keep his decision hush-hush so as to not compromise a renegotiation that was in the works with the group’s Emi/Capitol contract.
“We were discussing something in the office with Paul and Paul was saying to do something, and I kept saying, ‘No, no, no’ to everything he said,” reads Lennon Remembers by Jann S. Wenner, according to Beatles Bible. “So it came to a point that I had to say something.
The Beatles | Chris Walter/WireImage/Getty Images John Lennon quit The Beatles
Lennon officially told his bandmates, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, that he’d decided to leave the group during a meeting with Allen Klein in Sept. 1969. Klein convinced Lennon to keep his decision hush-hush so as to not compromise a renegotiation that was in the works with the group’s Emi/Capitol contract.
“We were discussing something in the office with Paul and Paul was saying to do something, and I kept saying, ‘No, no, no’ to everything he said,” reads Lennon Remembers by Jann S. Wenner, according to Beatles Bible. “So it came to a point that I had to say something.
- 4/17/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the late 1960s, The Beatles struggled to manage themselves after the death of Brian Epstein, so they hired Allen Klein. The decision caused a rift between the band members that led, at least partly, to their break up. Klein continued to manage John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr after the split, but they ultimately ended their business relationships. In the years after he stopped working with The Beatles, here’s what happened to Klein.
Allen Klein | Jones/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images The Beatles hired Allen Klein after Brian Epstein’s death
In 1967, the band’s longtime manager, Epstein, died of an overdose. They struggled to manage without him and, on Mick Jagger’s recommendation, decided to hire Klein, who had been managing The Rolling Stones.
The Beatles, Allen Klein and John Eastman held a meeting at the Apple HQ, 3 Savile Row, London, in which Klein was...
Allen Klein | Jones/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images The Beatles hired Allen Klein after Brian Epstein’s death
In 1967, the band’s longtime manager, Epstein, died of an overdose. They struggled to manage without him and, on Mick Jagger’s recommendation, decided to hire Klein, who had been managing The Rolling Stones.
The Beatles, Allen Klein and John Eastman held a meeting at the Apple HQ, 3 Savile Row, London, in which Klein was...
- 4/14/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The exact cause of The Beatles’ break up has long been debated, but The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger isn’t often connected with the band’s demise. He didn’t cause their breakup by any means, but he did recommend Allen Klein as a manager for the group. The band’s appointment of Klein sparked such animosity and resentment that their collapse became inevitable.
Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger | Victor Blackman/Express/Getty Images The band’s manager, Brian Epstein, died unexpectedly
The Beatles began working with Brian Epstein in 1962, and with his help, they became the biggest band in the world. In 1967, though, Epstein suddenly died of an accidental overdose. The Beatles were in India at the time and could hardly believe the news.
“[T]hey said ‘Brian’s dead.’ I was stunned,” John Lennon said, per the book Lennon Remembers by Jann S. Wenner. “We all were.”
#Otd 1967: Brian Epstein,...
Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger | Victor Blackman/Express/Getty Images The band’s manager, Brian Epstein, died unexpectedly
The Beatles began working with Brian Epstein in 1962, and with his help, they became the biggest band in the world. In 1967, though, Epstein suddenly died of an accidental overdose. The Beatles were in India at the time and could hardly believe the news.
“[T]hey said ‘Brian’s dead.’ I was stunned,” John Lennon said, per the book Lennon Remembers by Jann S. Wenner. “We all were.”
#Otd 1967: Brian Epstein,...
- 4/11/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon was the most controversial Beatle, but Paul McCartney also had moments when the public turned against him. These days, most people view him in a positive, near-reverent light, but he’s courted controversy. Here are three times McCartney found himself in hot water with the public.
Paul McCartney | Fiona Adams/Redferns Paul McCartney announced the end of The Beatles
In 1969, Lennon announced he was leaving The Beatles, but the group kept this news quiet.
“There was all sorts of weirdness going on where record contracts were being negotiated, and our not-so-good manager at the time, this guy called Allen Klein, he was saying, ‘Don’t tell anyone because I’m in the middle of a negotiation,'” McCartney said in an interview with Apple Music. “I was saying, ‘You’ve gotta tell ’em.’ You can’t pretend the group’s still together. We’re gonna get a new...
Paul McCartney | Fiona Adams/Redferns Paul McCartney announced the end of The Beatles
In 1969, Lennon announced he was leaving The Beatles, but the group kept this news quiet.
“There was all sorts of weirdness going on where record contracts were being negotiated, and our not-so-good manager at the time, this guy called Allen Klein, he was saying, ‘Don’t tell anyone because I’m in the middle of a negotiation,'” McCartney said in an interview with Apple Music. “I was saying, ‘You’ve gotta tell ’em.’ You can’t pretend the group’s still together. We’re gonna get a new...
- 4/8/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1970, nearly a year after John Lennon left the band, Paul McCartney announced that The Beatles were no longer collaborating. Not long after, McCartney filed a lawsuit against the band. He wanted to take control of the catalog from their manager, Allen Klein. The rest of his bandmates vehemently opposed him in this, but they eventually realized that he was right. Lennon admitted this on this day in 1973.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Gab Archive/Redferns The bassist sued The Beatles when they broke up
The Beatles began working with Klein after the death of their longtime manager, Brian Epstein. McCartney had never wanted Klein as their manager, instead pushing for Lee Eastman, his father-in-law. He didn’t trust Klein, so in 1970, he sued the band to regain control.
“The only way for me to save The Beatles and Apple — and to release Get Back by Peter Jackson which allowed...
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Gab Archive/Redferns The bassist sued The Beatles when they broke up
The Beatles began working with Klein after the death of their longtime manager, Brian Epstein. McCartney had never wanted Klein as their manager, instead pushing for Lee Eastman, his father-in-law. He didn’t trust Klein, so in 1970, he sued the band to regain control.
“The only way for me to save The Beatles and Apple — and to release Get Back by Peter Jackson which allowed...
- 4/6/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney and John Lennon had a fraught relationship after The Beatles broke up, but they eventually got back on friendly terms as the years passed. Still, McCartney admitted that their relationship wasn’t perfect. He said that Lennon became extremely jealous toward the end of his life. An element of jealousy had always existed in their relationship, but not to this degree.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney | Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Paul McCartney and John Lennon repaired their relationship
After The Beatles broke up, McCartney sued the band in order to wrest control from their manager, Allen Klein. This caused the inner disagreements between band members to boil over publicly, particularly between Lennon and McCartney.
As the 1970s wore on, the relationship between McCartney and Lennon became less acrimonious. McCartney spoke to Lennon about returning to Yoko Ono during their period of separation, and he visited...
John Lennon and Paul McCartney | Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Paul McCartney and John Lennon repaired their relationship
After The Beatles broke up, McCartney sued the band in order to wrest control from their manager, Allen Klein. This caused the inner disagreements between band members to boil over publicly, particularly between Lennon and McCartney.
As the 1970s wore on, the relationship between McCartney and Lennon became less acrimonious. McCartney spoke to Lennon about returning to Yoko Ono during their period of separation, and he visited...
- 3/31/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney said it was very annoying that his song “Maybe I’m Amazed” got “caught in the publishing net” of The Beatles‘ Lennon-McCartney credit. The song wasn’t a Beatles song, but it was released as such.
Paul McCartney and The Beatles | ullstein bild/Getty Images Paul McCartney and John Lennon thought of themselves as Lennon-McCartney from the beginning
In his book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul explained that he and John Lennon thought of themselves as Lennon -McCartney from the beginning of their songwriting partnership. They started writing songs together in the late 1950s.
Paul wrote, “It was because we’d heard of Gilbert and Sullivan, Rodgers and Hammerstein. Lennon and McCartney That’s good. There are two of us, and we can fall into that pattern.”
The songwriting partners put their names next to their first songs in a school exercise notebook. “‘Love Me Do‘ came from around that period,...
Paul McCartney and The Beatles | ullstein bild/Getty Images Paul McCartney and John Lennon thought of themselves as Lennon-McCartney from the beginning
In his book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul explained that he and John Lennon thought of themselves as Lennon -McCartney from the beginning of their songwriting partnership. They started writing songs together in the late 1950s.
Paul wrote, “It was because we’d heard of Gilbert and Sullivan, Rodgers and Hammerstein. Lennon and McCartney That’s good. There are two of us, and we can fall into that pattern.”
The songwriting partners put their names next to their first songs in a school exercise notebook. “‘Love Me Do‘ came from around that period,...
- 3/26/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
George Harrison never held back regarding his former bandmate, Paul McCartney. Here are five of the snarkiest comments he made about his fellow Beatle.
George Harrison and Paul McCartney | Express Newspapers/Getty Images George Harrison didn’t know why Paul McCartney used so many Beatles songs in ‘Give My Regards to Broad Street’
During a 1984 press conference, George revealed that his relationship with Paul was going well and that he liked Paul’s latest hit, “No More Lonely Nights.” However, George couldn’t hold back one critique. He thought it was strange that Paul chose to cover many of his Beatles songs for Give My Regards to Broad Street.
“I can’t understand why he did it,” George said. “Makes me think it must be because he got the publishing of it or something… I think he would have been better off to have not done so many of them and had more new tunes.
George Harrison and Paul McCartney | Express Newspapers/Getty Images George Harrison didn’t know why Paul McCartney used so many Beatles songs in ‘Give My Regards to Broad Street’
During a 1984 press conference, George revealed that his relationship with Paul was going well and that he liked Paul’s latest hit, “No More Lonely Nights.” However, George couldn’t hold back one critique. He thought it was strange that Paul chose to cover many of his Beatles songs for Give My Regards to Broad Street.
“I can’t understand why he did it,” George said. “Makes me think it must be because he got the publishing of it or something… I think he would have been better off to have not done so many of them and had more new tunes.
- 3/24/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
On March 12, 1970, the High Courts of London ruled in favor of Paul McCartney in the legal battle to dissolve The Beatles’ partnership. His former bandmates, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, were not happy with this turn of events. The day they heard the verdict, the three former Beatles drove to McCartney’s house where Lennon allegedly put two bricks through his windows.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Gab Archive/Redferns The Beatles went to court after they broke up
One of the driving forces behind The Beatles’ breakup was the rift that occurred when they tried to pick a new manager. McCartney wanted his father-in-law, Lee Eastman, but the rest of the band won out and appointed Allen Klein. In order to take control of The Beatles’ catalog, McCartney had to sue the band.
Happy Birthday, Paul! ?#HappyBirthdayPaulMcCartney @PaulMcCartney @TheBeatles pic.twitter.com/nqt9SFT3Ie
— John Lennon...
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Gab Archive/Redferns The Beatles went to court after they broke up
One of the driving forces behind The Beatles’ breakup was the rift that occurred when they tried to pick a new manager. McCartney wanted his father-in-law, Lee Eastman, but the rest of the band won out and appointed Allen Klein. In order to take control of The Beatles’ catalog, McCartney had to sue the band.
Happy Birthday, Paul! ?#HappyBirthdayPaulMcCartney @PaulMcCartney @TheBeatles pic.twitter.com/nqt9SFT3Ie
— John Lennon...
- 3/12/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
Paul McCartney discussed “Another Day” with a famous producer. He said he wrote the song because he’s a “voyeur.” The song became a hit in the United States but John Lennon was not a fan of the song. Paul McCartney | Richard E. Aaron / Contributor
Paul McCartney‘s “Another Day” portrays a day in the life of a character. Paul once said he wrote the song because he’s a voyeur. Subsequently, John Lennon criticized the song.
Paul McCartney compared himself to The Beatles’ producer, George Martin
During a 2021 interview with Rolling Stone, Paul said he’s observant. “Well, I definitely am an observer,” he said. “I sometimes embarrass people because they say, ‘Oh my God, I didn’t think you noticed that.’ ‘Yeah, I did.'”
Paul compared himself to George Martin, the musician who produced most of The Beatles’ songs and some of Wings’ material. “Funnily enough,...
Paul McCartney discussed “Another Day” with a famous producer. He said he wrote the song because he’s a “voyeur.” The song became a hit in the United States but John Lennon was not a fan of the song. Paul McCartney | Richard E. Aaron / Contributor
Paul McCartney‘s “Another Day” portrays a day in the life of a character. Paul once said he wrote the song because he’s a voyeur. Subsequently, John Lennon criticized the song.
Paul McCartney compared himself to The Beatles’ producer, George Martin
During a 2021 interview with Rolling Stone, Paul said he’s observant. “Well, I definitely am an observer,” he said. “I sometimes embarrass people because they say, ‘Oh my God, I didn’t think you noticed that.’ ‘Yeah, I did.'”
Paul compared himself to George Martin, the musician who produced most of The Beatles’ songs and some of Wings’ material. “Funnily enough,...
- 3/7/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1970, The Beatles went to court, and John Lennon and George Harrison expressed regret that they had split. According to their affidavits, both Lennon and Harrison believed that the band was on the path to fixing their problems when Paul McCartney broke them up. Though they claimed to feel this way, a reunion never would have worked for the band.
The Beatles | Bettmann/Contributor via Getty The Beatles announced their breakup in 1970
In 1969, Lennon told his bandmates that he was leaving The Beatles, effectively breaking up the band. The Beatles’ manager Allen Klein wanted the band to keep this a secret.
“There was all sorts of weirdness going on where record contracts were being negotiated, and our not-so-good manager at the time, this guy called Allen Klein, he was saying , ‘Don’t tell anyone because I’m in the middle of a negotiation.’ I was saying, ‘You’ve gotta tell ’em.
The Beatles | Bettmann/Contributor via Getty The Beatles announced their breakup in 1970
In 1969, Lennon told his bandmates that he was leaving The Beatles, effectively breaking up the band. The Beatles’ manager Allen Klein wanted the band to keep this a secret.
“There was all sorts of weirdness going on where record contracts were being negotiated, and our not-so-good manager at the time, this guy called Allen Klein, he was saying , ‘Don’t tell anyone because I’m in the middle of a negotiation.’ I was saying, ‘You’ve gotta tell ’em.
- 3/6/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney said his and Wings’ song “Jet” draws imagery from the relationship between his first wife, Linda, and her father, Lee Eastman. The show business lawyer was a bit too strict for Paul. He was like a Sergeant Major.
Paul McCartney and his wife Linda | Michael Putland/Getty Images Paul McCartney used some of his Beatles songwriting skills when he wrote ‘Jet’
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he used some of his Beatles songwriting skills when he wrote Wings’ “Jet.” He explained that they learned how to make hits when he was with The Beatles. They had to because they were The Beatles, after all. They couldn’t write flops.
Around the time that Paul wrote “Jet,” he was deliberately trying to make Wings sound different from The Beatles. However, Paul needed the skills he used in The Beatles to make hits for his new band.
Paul McCartney and his wife Linda | Michael Putland/Getty Images Paul McCartney used some of his Beatles songwriting skills when he wrote ‘Jet’
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he used some of his Beatles songwriting skills when he wrote Wings’ “Jet.” He explained that they learned how to make hits when he was with The Beatles. They had to because they were The Beatles, after all. They couldn’t write flops.
Around the time that Paul wrote “Jet,” he was deliberately trying to make Wings sound different from The Beatles. However, Paul needed the skills he used in The Beatles to make hits for his new band.
- 3/5/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Some of the most successful bands of all time seem to have discovered a toxic ticket to success: constant fighting. Several artists had creative and personal issues with one another that became insurmountable. While some former bandmates have been able to reconcile after their groups broke up, others still hold on to bad feelings. Here are five bands with members who couldn’t stop bickering.
Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham | Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images Simon and Garfunkel: Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel met as school children and began performing together in the 1950s. Early on, though, they began having problems. Garfunkel was deeply hurt when Simon took a solo deal. Several years later, Simon was upset with Garfunkel for choosing to act in a movie instead of making a new album.
They broke up and reunited several times over the years, but they kept running...
Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham | Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images Simon and Garfunkel: Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel met as school children and began performing together in the 1950s. Early on, though, they began having problems. Garfunkel was deeply hurt when Simon took a solo deal. Several years later, Simon was upset with Garfunkel for choosing to act in a movie instead of making a new album.
They broke up and reunited several times over the years, but they kept running...
- 2/28/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
On Feb. 23, 1971, John Lennon and George Harrison went all in on their former bandmate, Paul McCartney. After ongoing disagreements about who should be managing The Beatles, McCartney sued the band. The rest of the band stood against him, requiring them to make statements about McCartney. Harrison and Lennon were incredibly frustrated with McCartney when The Beatles broke up, and they made their feelings clear in their affidavits.
The Beatles | John Pratt/Keystone/Getty Images Paul McCartney went against John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr in a lawsuit
In 1970, McCartney publicly announced that The Beatles had broken up. They had been arguing for a while and finally reached a breaking point. That same year, McCartney sued the band. He’d staunchly opposed his bandmates’ decision to appoint Allen Klein to preside over the band’s finances. McCartney felt the only way to save the band was to sue them.
“If I hadn’t done that,...
The Beatles | John Pratt/Keystone/Getty Images Paul McCartney went against John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr in a lawsuit
In 1970, McCartney publicly announced that The Beatles had broken up. They had been arguing for a while and finally reached a breaking point. That same year, McCartney sued the band. He’d staunchly opposed his bandmates’ decision to appoint Allen Klein to preside over the band’s finances. McCartney felt the only way to save the band was to sue them.
“If I hadn’t done that,...
- 2/23/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney believed in The Beatles surviving a rough 1969, but things obviously didn’t work out. The band broke up in 1970. He eventually felt optimistic following The Beatles’ split, but one of his Abbey Road songs seems to be miles away from that. He once said he didn’t write “You Never Give Me Your Money” about his Beatles bandmates, but it’s almost impossible to believe Paul was telling the truth.
Beatles bassist Paul McCartney | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Paul McCartney once said ‘You Never Give Me Your Money’ wasn’t directed at John, George, and Ringo
The Beatles fought about money as much as they argued about artistic differences toward the end of their run. The turmoil of the late 1960s and 1970 was the culmination of years of stress. John Lennon saw The Beatles’ end coming when manager Brian Epstein died in 1967.
Less than two years later,...
Beatles bassist Paul McCartney | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Paul McCartney once said ‘You Never Give Me Your Money’ wasn’t directed at John, George, and Ringo
The Beatles fought about money as much as they argued about artistic differences toward the end of their run. The turmoil of the late 1960s and 1970 was the culmination of years of stress. John Lennon saw The Beatles’ end coming when manager Brian Epstein died in 1967.
Less than two years later,...
- 2/19/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The way The Beatles broke up seemed to make a reunion impossible. John Lennon once said he and Paul McCartney were so good they could have been The Beatles without George Harrison and Ringo Starr. That seems doubtful even though Paul and John wrote most of the songs. Still, John and Paul’s tattered relationship as the Fab Four fractured made regrouping next to impossible. Paul signed a contract that proved he believed a Beatles reunion might happen, but the closest they ever came to getting back together was a Ringo solo album.
Paul McCartney | Frank Tewkesbury/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Paul McCartney’s role in The Beatles break up
John said he first saw the end of The Beatles coming when manager Brian Epstein died. The Fab Four held on for more than two years after Epstein’s August 1967 death, but it wasn’t easy. Ringo walked...
Paul McCartney | Frank Tewkesbury/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Paul McCartney’s role in The Beatles break up
John said he first saw the end of The Beatles coming when manager Brian Epstein died. The Fab Four held on for more than two years after Epstein’s August 1967 death, but it wasn’t easy. Ringo walked...
- 2/13/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles did not end well. John Lennon once asserted he and Paul McCartney could power the band without George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Yet the deep divisions in their personal relationship are part of what drove the band apart. The band was still together and active in March 1969 when Paul married Linda Eastman, but their wedding showed how far apart The Beatles had grown in four years.
(l-r) Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman | Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images Paul McCartney wasn’t there when Ringo Starr got married surrounded by his Beatles bandmates, but he sent a gift
When Ringo became the second Beatle to tie the knot in February 1965, it was a big celebration. That one day was a snapshot of how good The Beatles’ relationships were at the time.
George, who served as a witness alongside Ringo’s stepfather, rode his bike to the ceremony. That after...
(l-r) Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman | Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images Paul McCartney wasn’t there when Ringo Starr got married surrounded by his Beatles bandmates, but he sent a gift
When Ringo became the second Beatle to tie the knot in February 1965, it was a big celebration. That one day was a snapshot of how good The Beatles’ relationships were at the time.
George, who served as a witness alongside Ringo’s stepfather, rode his bike to the ceremony. That after...
- 2/11/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney gave The Beatles‘ “Get Back” a “wistful” aspect that reflected his feelings about the group. He wanted the band to return to their roots or get back to where they once belonged. If they had tried that, they wouldn’t have split up. However, Paul realized it was no good living in the past.
The Beatles | Freddie Reed/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images The Fab Four grew apart
There were many catalysts for The Beatles’ split. Contrary to popular belief, Yoko Ono did not break up the Fab Four, although she did have an indirect role to play. By the late 1960s, the group had begun to grow apart. That had nothing to do with her.
George Harrison was in another world starting in 1967 while recording for Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour. He wanted to explore spirituality. John Lennon spent all his time with Yoko instead of writing songs with Paul.
The Beatles | Freddie Reed/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images The Fab Four grew apart
There were many catalysts for The Beatles’ split. Contrary to popular belief, Yoko Ono did not break up the Fab Four, although she did have an indirect role to play. By the late 1960s, the group had begun to grow apart. That had nothing to do with her.
George Harrison was in another world starting in 1967 while recording for Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour. He wanted to explore spirituality. John Lennon spent all his time with Yoko instead of writing songs with Paul.
- 2/3/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When The Beatles broke up, Paul McCartney struggled to figure out how to move forward with his life and career. Not only was he unable to work with his friends and former bandmates, but he was also engaged in a lengthy legal battle with them. For his first solo album, McCartney wrote a song that summarized the emotions he dealt with during this uncertain time in his life.
Paul McCartney sued The Beatles after leaving the band Paul McCartney and John Lennon | William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty Images
While John Lennon was the first to tell the band he was leaving, Paul McCartney was the first to announce his departure publicly. McCartney did not get along with the band’s manager Allen Klein and was the only one who stopped being represented by him. According to NBC News, the “Michelle” singer wanted Lee Eastman, father of his first wife, Linda,...
Paul McCartney sued The Beatles after leaving the band Paul McCartney and John Lennon | William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty Images
While John Lennon was the first to tell the band he was leaving, Paul McCartney was the first to announce his departure publicly. McCartney did not get along with the band’s manager Allen Klein and was the only one who stopped being represented by him. According to NBC News, the “Michelle” singer wanted Lee Eastman, father of his first wife, Linda,...
- 2/3/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In an era when rockstars who had exciting and intimidating names began to emerge, The Beatles kept their real names, except Ringo Starr. Before Starr joined the band, The Beatles temporarily went under different names, with Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison creating their own “showbiz names.”
Ringo Starr was the only Beatle who used a stage name John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison | Mark and Colleen Hayward/Redferns
Ringo Starr joined The Beatles in 1962, becoming the band’s permanent drummer. Starr, born Richard Starkey, was the only band member who used a stage name. The nickname came from the drummer wearing many rings, and it began to stick. In a 1992 interview with Club Sandwich, McCartney said Ringo had previously established himself with the name at Butlin’s Holiday Camp, where several other stars started out.
“Ringo was the only one who stayed with a stage name,...
Ringo Starr was the only Beatle who used a stage name John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison | Mark and Colleen Hayward/Redferns
Ringo Starr joined The Beatles in 1962, becoming the band’s permanent drummer. Starr, born Richard Starkey, was the only band member who used a stage name. The nickname came from the drummer wearing many rings, and it began to stick. In a 1992 interview with Club Sandwich, McCartney said Ringo had previously established himself with the name at Butlin’s Holiday Camp, where several other stars started out.
“Ringo was the only one who stayed with a stage name,...
- 1/30/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney says it’s still a mystery to him that The Beatles formed. He doesn’t understand how four singer-songwriters found each other and started one of the most famous rock ‘n’ roll bands in music history. It’s pretty unbelievable.
The Beatles | Bettmann/Getty Images Paul McCartney doesn’t understand how The Beatles formed
Apparently, Paul would consider The Beatles’ formation one of the world’s greatest mysteries. In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul explained that he still doesn’t understand how it even happened.
When he’s back in Liverpool, he does a tour to see The Beatles’ old stomping grounds. It makes Paul wonder about “the chances of The Beatles getting together.”
He wrote, “We were four guys who lived in this city in the north of England, but we didn’t know each other. Then, by chance, we did get to know each other.
The Beatles | Bettmann/Getty Images Paul McCartney doesn’t understand how The Beatles formed
Apparently, Paul would consider The Beatles’ formation one of the world’s greatest mysteries. In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul explained that he still doesn’t understand how it even happened.
When he’s back in Liverpool, he does a tour to see The Beatles’ old stomping grounds. It makes Paul wonder about “the chances of The Beatles getting together.”
He wrote, “We were four guys who lived in this city in the north of England, but we didn’t know each other. Then, by chance, we did get to know each other.
- 1/29/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The time has come today for the Rolling Stones to introduce the 1966 song “Out of Time” into their setlist. Improbable as it may seem, given how often the song has been covered by others or licensed for the movies, the band had never performed the tune live until it showed up at the Stones’ European tour opening Wednesday night in Madrid, Spain.
There was a rumor the song might show up, as eavesdroppers on tour rehearsals had heard the Stones trying out “Out of Time,” although there are typically rarities that they test during rehearsal periods that seldom or never make it onto a tour. So its actual appearance at the Metropolitano Stadium opener was considered a blessed event indeed.
Given the enduring popularity of the song among fans, some might assume it was released as a single in ’66, but that wasn’t the case after it first appeared as an “Aftermath” album cut.
There was a rumor the song might show up, as eavesdroppers on tour rehearsals had heard the Stones trying out “Out of Time,” although there are typically rarities that they test during rehearsal periods that seldom or never make it onto a tour. So its actual appearance at the Metropolitano Stadium opener was considered a blessed event indeed.
Given the enduring popularity of the song among fans, some might assume it was released as a single in ’66, but that wasn’t the case after it first appeared as an “Aftermath” album cut.
- 6/2/2022
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
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