Tag Archives: The Beatles

Summer’s Last Gasp: “The Sun Is Shining” Soundcheck by The Fireman (Paul McCartney)!

Near record heat made me think of one of my favorite songs from “Electric Arguments” by The Fireman (Paul McCartney). Here’s Paul at a sound check giving it a run through:

Wings First Live Performance 41 Years Ago Today!

Paul McCartney started his post-Beatles performing career with his new band 41 years ago today. While his new band, Wings, started slowly, they evolved into an incredibly successful band on their own. I thought it would be interesting to look back at the very minor beginnings of the band as Paul reflects on those early tours:

Ringo Starr on Today Show Remembers the Good Times with The Beatles

Ringo is introducing a new e-book titled, Photograph, with many never-before-seen photos of his Beatles days. Check out this great interview on the Today Show and pick up a copy of his book on iTunes.

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This book release coincides with his new exhibit at the Grammy Museum called Ringo: Peace and Love. Find more info here. It’s open June 12, 2013 through March 2014 and even has an interactive element where you can take a drum lesson with Ringo! We hope to visit sometime in the fall, so stay tuned for more details and a first-hand review.

RIngo Peace and Love

Ringo: Peace and Love exhibit at The Grammy Museum. Photo credit www.johnwrightphoto.com

Peace and Love!

Bitsy

“I Now Declare Beatle Bits Open!!”

I thought the best way to start my new website would be a variation on a silly line that John Lennon used in “A Hard Days Night.”  I say that because I am looking to have a lot of fun writing about The Beatles, my favorite—anything!   Maybe I should step back a little bit and do some explaining.

If you have ever read anything on my other website, philmaq.com, you would put together the observation that I am crazy about music. All kinds of music! The Beatles are at the top of that obsessive interest. They have meant so much to me for as long as I have been aware of them. I can’t even tell you how many hours I have listened to their music both as a group or individually as solo artists. Whatever the number is, it far exceeds many of the closest artists combined by a large factor. I can honestly say that I still make new discoveries when listening to songs I’ve probably heard tens of thousands of times.

As a musician, Beatle songs are so much fun to play! They’re full of intricate surprises that sound so great when they come alive in your hands!

The extent of my musical obsession hit me hardest a few years ago when I felt saddened because I had a thought about my own mortality. But I wasn’t sad because I was getting older. No, I was sad because I realized that I had less time to listen to The Beatles! I’ve since come to grips with that dilemma, sort of, and I have just decided to appreciate listening in the moment.     

Being able to do anything about or with The Beatles is as close as it gets to a lifelong dream for me. “Beatle Bits” will consist of a mixture of many different things. It might be an item that was overlooked elsewhere. It might be upcoming news. It might be reviews, or gossip. But I also want “Beatle Bits” to have some musical analysis.

So, that’s the plan. Of course, I am open to any suggestions along the way. This will be “our site,” and I will always keep, you, the reader in mind. And I will always keep in mind John, Paul, George, and Ringo, as well as all of the other people who gave them support along the way and were a part of their lives. Thank you guys!

And I couldn’t think of a better day to launch this new site:

Happy 71st Birthday, Paul!  

This video is from last year, but it offers some great images of Paul throughout the years. Enjoy!