We were very fortunate to speak with the lovely and ever so gracious Ms. Pattie Boyd from The Mirage Hotel during our stint there at The Fest For Beatles Fans.  Her new book came out in August 2007 and is called "Wonderful Tonight - George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me" written by Ms. Boyd along with Penny Junor.  During our interview Pattie discussed how she first met George Harrison when she was cast as a schoolgirl in the film "A Hard Day's Night".  So, sit back relax and listen to our own Dr. Robert talk with Ms. Pattie Boyd. 

Paul McCartney last night played what was arguably the wettest concert in the history of rock, a historic gig in Ukraine designed to promote unity in the bitterly divided post-Soviet country.

The former Beatle took to the stage before tens of thousands of sodden fans in Kiev's independence square despite torrential rain, lightning and thunder. Flash floods sent water cascading past the set, where fans gathered under a sea of umbrellas.

 Paul McCartney plays in Independence Square, in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. Photograph: Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty

The free concert was McCartney's first in Ukraine. Organised by the Ukrainian billionaire Viktor Pinchuk, it was shown on giant screens in five cities across the country in an attempt to promote reconciliation between the orthodox pro-Russian east and the Catholic pro-European west.

There are deep divisions in Ukraine over the country's application to join Nato, and a political crisis following the defection last week of two MP's from the coalition led by Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukraine's pro-western prime minister.

Last night's concert was the biggest ever in the post-Soviet republic. After half an hour's delay because of the abysmal weather, McCartney – who turns 66 next week – emerged on stage.

He belted out the Beatles hit Drive My Car, following up with series of Beatles songs including – inevitably – Back in the USSR. "I've been waiting a long time to say that," he told the roaring crowd. McCartney even managed a few words in Ukrainian and Russian. "Spasiba," he said.

"The Beatles and Paul McCartney destroyed the Soviet Union," Bogdan Oniskov, a middle-aged fan wearing a Union flag T-shirt told the Guardian as rain pounded down. "We hope that he can now solve our problems in Ukraine. Everybody loves his music."

Oniskov, a 48-year-old old businessman, said he and his friend Alexey had sent a letter to McCartney back in 1977. "We asked him to get back with John Lennon. We didn't have his address but stuck it in an envelope with the words 'Paul McCartney, London'.

"We never heard back from him. But I guess the letter never arrived. It was the Soviet Union after all," Oniskov said, adding: "For our generation the Beatles meant freedom."

Younger fans agreed. "Our political problems in Ukraine have been exaggerated," said Kiril Philopovsky, 18. "Politics and music are different things. The politicians are fools. But everyone loves McCartney."

The independence square where McCartney played last night was the scene of the 2004 Orange Revolution. Peaceful mass protests overturned a fraudulent election and brought pro-western president Viktor Yushchenko to power.

Since then, however, his coalition with Yulia Tymoshenko has descended into bickering. Tymoschenko – who won December's elections with a wafer-thin majority – no longer has a majority in parliament, raising the prospect of early elections.

from the guardian by Luke Harding 

 

A 14ft image of John Lennon is the first of a series of murals to be completed to celebrate Liverpool being named this year's Capital of Culture.

The mural, along with publicity posters for the group's concerts, have been daubed on to the gable end of a house in Litherland as part of the Liverpool Mural Project. Images of the other Beatles have also been painted onto a nearby wall.

The project was launched to bring the skills and experience of mural artists from all communities of Belfast working together and with community groups in Liverpool.

The idea was backed by the Riverside Group, a housing regeneration organisation which is itself celebrating its 80th birthday this year.

The group commissioned the artwork by Belfast Loyalist Mark Ervine and Republican Danny Devenny who worked with Liverpool artists on the Riverside-owned house at the end of Croxteth Avenue.

The project, which has been in the planning for two years, is the brainchild of Liverpudlians Gregory Brennan and Peter Morrison of the Liverpool Mural Project.

Film director Ken Loach and writer Jimmy McGovern have also backed the project.

Peter Morrison, of the Liverpool Mural Project, said: "This is the first real collaboration between the leading mural artists from both communities of Belfast and Liverpool artists. Our plan was always to produce amazing and inspiring public art that can be enjoyed by everyone - not just in the city centre."

Hugh Owen, director of policy and communication at The Riverside Group, said: "The ethos behind the project is to encourage communities to work together - which is directly in line with The Riverside Group's mission to regenerate our communities on Merseyside and beyond.

"It's amazing the way that Mark and Danny are working together in a way that demonstrates that once divided communities can move on and embrace the future.

"The gable is located at a key gateway to the city, and this iconic image will be visible to thousands coming from Liverpool to the North."

The second mural is now in the planning stages, backed by the Liverpool Culture Company. 

The Beatles are to be celebrated, even more than usual, in their hometown of Liverpool on the first dedicated 'Beatles Day' on July 10 this year.

The day has been set aside for fund-raising activities for the Alder Hey Children's Hospital Imagine Appeal with 20, 000 moptop wigs being made and businesses encouraged to decorate with memorabilia and radio stations set to play more Beatles-related tracks as well as inviting listeners to share their memories on air.

Beatles' Day will culminate with a special gig at the local Liverpool Arena - 'Imagine - The Concert' is part of the Summer Pops series of shows, and hosted by Ricky Tomlinson, will see an array of artists cover the Fabs classic songs.

The city will also see Beatles tribute bands play on rooftops emmulating the band's iconic 60s gig, a fun run and pub quizzes take place all over Liverpool.

July 10 also marks the 44th anniverasary of The Beatles return to the UK after their first tour of the US.

from Uncut Magazine 

by ANDREI HARMSWORTH - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 metro.co.uk

The Beatles may be the greatest band in chart history but it looks like the awesome foursome's popularity just ran out after a national radio station bravely banned playing their hits.

Virgin Radio breakfast host Christian O'Connell pulled famous chart toppers like 'Hey Jude' and 'She Loves You' from his playlist after listeners sensationally voted off the Cavern Club heroes following an on air debate.

The band's fate was sealed when a listener known as 'Brendan' called up O'Connell pleading for him to boycott Paul McCartney and place him in the station's gimmick 'People Carrier of Doom'.

TELL US YOUR VIEWS BELOW

'Brendan' also insisted Sir Paul's career died with John Lennon and the Beatles were 'never that good anyway'.

Stunned, the breakfast DJ then consulted The Who singer Roger Daltrey who failed to spare his contemporaries saying: 'I didn't like all their music. I can understand that everything has it's sell by date'.

O'Connell then put Brendan and Daltrey's gripe to the nation, which resulted in thousands of listeners sensationally voting the Liverpudlians off air.

He told listeners: 'I love the Beatles. I've always been a big fan of Paul McCartney and as a station we've always supported them. I'm surprised and disappointed by the decision but it's my duty to honour it.'

I think it's a bit excessive to ban a particular band. Be it the beatles or not! There are plenty of music on the radio that get's repeated constantly and that not everybody likes. Very random thing to do I feel!

- Dale Fernandes, London

The Beatles have been turning young people on to good music forever, including today and tommorrow. I'd say ban Virgin Radio.

- Beatlesnumber9, Ohio, USA

Sickening. Most of the mediocre bands played on this station are weak, middle of the road immitations of the Beatles anyhow. These poeple are either ignorant of this or simply prefer to be spoon fed their taste in music according to whats currently 'cool.' Or they simply dont like the Beatles. Either way their idiots.

- Billy, London

It's about time someone had the courage to do this. The out dated over played boy band have had their day and we have to move on.

- Luther Blissett, Watford

Wow. What is wrong with this country. No wonder it's gone to pot. If you can't enjoy/ appreciate the Beetles, you don't deserve to breath the air this earth provides! Don't get me wrong, it's not a generational thing. I was born long after the Beetles. But things don't have a 'sell by date'. Once a good thing, always a good thing. And the Beetles were the only decent thing to be produced from this Island in the past century. Sure, artists like Winehouse have some great talent and music (I won't comment on any others), but at least the 'awesome foursome' were respectable as well.

- Non- Brit Beetle Fan, London

As a big Who fan, I wish Daltrey would have stood up for The Beatles. Because someday someone may want to ban The Who's music and that's a shame for everyone.

- Sean Kilkelly, New York, USA

Everybody's got their opinion on what kind of music is worth listening to, mine is that in the 40 years since, there are few bands that have created anything anywhere nearly as original, innovative and top notch as the Beatles did.

- Jaxon, Dallas TX USA