Rapper Brother Marquis, a member of Miami hip-hop group 2 Live Crew, has died at the age of 58.
“Brother Marquis of the 2 Live crew has went to the upper room,” read the group’s statement posted on social media Monday. The group’s manager, DJ Debo, confirmed Marquis’ death to Rolling Stone. A cause of death was not immediately available.
Brother Marquis — as a member of 2 Live Crew alongside Fresh Kid Ice, Mr. Mixx, and Uncle Luke — made history with their expletive-filled 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be. The album sold over a million copies,...
“Brother Marquis of the 2 Live crew has went to the upper room,” read the group’s statement posted on social media Monday. The group’s manager, DJ Debo, confirmed Marquis’ death to Rolling Stone. A cause of death was not immediately available.
Brother Marquis — as a member of 2 Live Crew alongside Fresh Kid Ice, Mr. Mixx, and Uncle Luke — made history with their expletive-filled 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be. The album sold over a million copies,...
- 6/4/2024
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
Brother Marquis, a member of the hip-hop group 2 Live Crew, has died at the age of 58.
2 Live Crew’s manager confirmed Brother Marquis’ death to TMZ on Monday, June 3rd. The cause of his death appears to be the result of natural causes, but details were not immediately known.
Born Mark Ross on April 4th, 1966, Marquis began rapping in his teenage years, eventually landing on the radar of 2 Live Crew’s Mr. Mixx in the ‘80s for his rap battle skills. After a position in the group opened, Mr. Mixx offered it to Marquis, who flew to Florida to join.
From there, the group — consisting of Mr. Mixx, Marquis, Fresh Kid Ice, and Uncle Luke (then known as Luke Skyywalker) — leaned into their humanistic sensibilities, and started gaining notoriety for raunchy, sexual songs, like “We Want Some Pussy” and “Throw the ‘D.’”
Ultimately, they came under national scrutiny with their third album,...
2 Live Crew’s manager confirmed Brother Marquis’ death to TMZ on Monday, June 3rd. The cause of his death appears to be the result of natural causes, but details were not immediately known.
Born Mark Ross on April 4th, 1966, Marquis began rapping in his teenage years, eventually landing on the radar of 2 Live Crew’s Mr. Mixx in the ‘80s for his rap battle skills. After a position in the group opened, Mr. Mixx offered it to Marquis, who flew to Florida to join.
From there, the group — consisting of Mr. Mixx, Marquis, Fresh Kid Ice, and Uncle Luke (then known as Luke Skyywalker) — leaned into their humanistic sensibilities, and started gaining notoriety for raunchy, sexual songs, like “We Want Some Pussy” and “Throw the ‘D.’”
Ultimately, they came under national scrutiny with their third album,...
- 6/3/2024
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Music
Classic rock music has produced few songs as layered, mysterious, and intertextual as Don McLean’s “American Pie.” The tune took many years to complete. McLean explained why it took so long to write “American Pie” and what he was trying to accomplish with the tune. Notably, “American Pie” was partly inspired by one of America’s most important rock stars.
Don McLean wrote ‘American Pie’ because he missed 1 singer’s music
“American Pie” starts with the sad story of a man dying young. This could apply to many people, but it’s often understood as a reference to the death of Buddy Holly. Holly died in a plane crash in 1959. Before Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, or the Sex Pistol’s Sid Vicous, Holly was arguably the first rock star whose early death shocked and shook the world of music.
During a 2022 interview with American Songwriter, the singer discussed the origin of “American Pie.
Don McLean wrote ‘American Pie’ because he missed 1 singer’s music
“American Pie” starts with the sad story of a man dying young. This could apply to many people, but it’s often understood as a reference to the death of Buddy Holly. Holly died in a plane crash in 1959. Before Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, or the Sex Pistol’s Sid Vicous, Holly was arguably the first rock star whose early death shocked and shook the world of music.
During a 2022 interview with American Songwriter, the singer discussed the origin of “American Pie.
- 5/13/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
This post contains spoilers for "Blue Velvet."
David Lynch's cinematic world tiptoes between stark reality and nightmarish dreams, where quaint, perfect lives and locales often hide Boschian hells. While some Lynchian small towns are infused with poetic romanticism despite harboring great evils (such as Twin Peaks), others, like Lumberton, weave an insincere facade with its aura of suburban bliss: a sentiment that forms the crux of Lynch's sensational, oft-misunderstood "Blue Velvet." Most of Lynch's work defies objective analysis, as the foundational ideas he embeds into his stories feel abstract and elusive, but are always tethered to reality in essential and terrifying ways. Although "Blue Velvet" helms one of the most straightforward narratives in Lynch's oeuvre — it is neither as labyrinthine nor heady as "Inland Empire" or "Mulholland Drive" — the film's graphic depictions of psychosexual impulses tend to confuse and alienate, with the merging of the real and the...
David Lynch's cinematic world tiptoes between stark reality and nightmarish dreams, where quaint, perfect lives and locales often hide Boschian hells. While some Lynchian small towns are infused with poetic romanticism despite harboring great evils (such as Twin Peaks), others, like Lumberton, weave an insincere facade with its aura of suburban bliss: a sentiment that forms the crux of Lynch's sensational, oft-misunderstood "Blue Velvet." Most of Lynch's work defies objective analysis, as the foundational ideas he embeds into his stories feel abstract and elusive, but are always tethered to reality in essential and terrifying ways. Although "Blue Velvet" helms one of the most straightforward narratives in Lynch's oeuvre — it is neither as labyrinthine nor heady as "Inland Empire" or "Mulholland Drive" — the film's graphic depictions of psychosexual impulses tend to confuse and alienate, with the merging of the real and the...
- 5/12/2024
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
A roadside diner. Not just a place to see peeling upholstery and rodent traps, and indulge in the occasional sugary slice, but a genuine icon of Americana from Edward Hopper to “Frasier.” A diner is the great, anxiety-drenched stage where most of first-time feature director Francis Galluppi’s “The Last Stop in Yuma County” takes place, and, though this thriller is packed with memorable characters, the diner itself might be its greatest.
“The Petrified Forest” meets Tarantino and the Coen brothers, “The Last Stop in Yuma County” revels in its Americana like few films in recent memory. There’s an olive green Ford Pinto, Roy Orbison’s “Crying” played from a jukebox, a sheriff with ’70s sideburns, and, of course, a couple of bank robbers on the run. There’s the oafish Travis (Nicholas Logan), who inquires about the location of the facilities with a repeated “Where’s the shitter?...
“The Petrified Forest” meets Tarantino and the Coen brothers, “The Last Stop in Yuma County” revels in its Americana like few films in recent memory. There’s an olive green Ford Pinto, Roy Orbison’s “Crying” played from a jukebox, a sheriff with ’70s sideburns, and, of course, a couple of bank robbers on the run. There’s the oafish Travis (Nicholas Logan), who inquires about the location of the facilities with a repeated “Where’s the shitter?...
- 5/9/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Francis Galluppi’s tense and darkly funny The Last Stop in Yuma County begins with an unnamed traveling knife salesman (Jim Cummings) rolling up at the titular Arizona rest stop, looking to fill his tank. The place is nothing more than a couple of gas pumps, a tiny motel, and an old-school diner, complete with red leather booths and an infinite supply of strong black coffee. Despite the locale’s humble appearance, it’s about to become the site of a thrilling showdown that finds a fascinating mix of misfit characters caught in the crossfire.
The attendant, Vernon (Faizon Love), gives our protagonist the bad news first: They don’t have a drop of gas left to sell and the next stop isn’t for a hundred miles. There’s no way the salesman’s car will make it that far, so he’s stuck here until the next delivery arrives.
The attendant, Vernon (Faizon Love), gives our protagonist the bad news first: They don’t have a drop of gas left to sell and the next stop isn’t for a hundred miles. There’s no way the salesman’s car will make it that far, so he’s stuck here until the next delivery arrives.
- 5/5/2024
- by Ross McIndoe
- Slant Magazine
The Beach Boys and The Monkees will forever be remembered as two of the best pop bands ever — even if they constantly get compared to The Beatles. During their peak era, The Beach Boys and The Monkees had the same number of chart-topping singles. One band managed to have another chart-topper years later.
The Beach Boys and The Monkees both evolved from bubblegum to psychedelia
The Beach Boys did very well for themselves in the 1960s. The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits says they had three No. 1 singles during that decade. They were “I Get Around,” “Help Me, Rhonda,” and “Good Vibrations.” Those songs encapsulate the band’s pea period pretty well. The first two show off the band’s bubblegum/doo-wop side, while “Good Vibrations” is one of their prime psychedelic experimentations.
During the same decade, The Monkees also had three No. 1 hits. They were “Last Train to Clarksville,...
The Beach Boys and The Monkees both evolved from bubblegum to psychedelia
The Beach Boys did very well for themselves in the 1960s. The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits says they had three No. 1 singles during that decade. They were “I Get Around,” “Help Me, Rhonda,” and “Good Vibrations.” Those songs encapsulate the band’s pea period pretty well. The first two show off the band’s bubblegum/doo-wop side, while “Good Vibrations” is one of their prime psychedelic experimentations.
During the same decade, The Monkees also had three No. 1 hits. They were “Last Train to Clarksville,...
- 4/27/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The cover of John Lennon‘s Double Fantasy depicts him kissing Yoko Ono. The record’s title is not simply a reference to the two of them working together. John revealed the name has a spiritual meaning.
John Lennon’s ‘Double Fantasy’ was inspired by John’s view of prayer
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. In it, John revealed his opinions about prayer. “The consciousness is, ‘Let’s see what we shall pray for together. Let’s make it stronger by picturing the same image, projecting the same image,'” he said. “And that is the secret. That is the secret. Because you can be together but projecting different things.”
Yoko said these dual projections were “double fantasies,” alluding to the title of their newest record. “Double fantasies at the same time,” John replied. “And...
John Lennon’s ‘Double Fantasy’ was inspired by John’s view of prayer
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. In it, John revealed his opinions about prayer. “The consciousness is, ‘Let’s see what we shall pray for together. Let’s make it stronger by picturing the same image, projecting the same image,'” he said. “And that is the secret. That is the secret. Because you can be together but projecting different things.”
Yoko said these dual projections were “double fantasies,” alluding to the title of their newest record. “Double fantasies at the same time,” John replied. “And...
- 3/6/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Exclusive: In a move that ought to make fans of The Beatles twist and shout, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Oscar-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes and his Neal Street Productions have set plans to make four separate theatrical films — one on each of the members of music’s most famous and enduring band.
Mendes will direct all four of the films, and this marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles – Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison – have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.
Mendes conceived this grand vision. He’ll tell interconnected stories, one from each band member’s point of view. The dating cadence of the films will be revealed closer to the films’ release. I’m told they are locking down writers quickly.
This is perhaps the most ambitious project Deadline has revealed exclusively since...
Mendes will direct all four of the films, and this marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles – Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison – have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.
Mendes conceived this grand vision. He’ll tell interconnected stories, one from each band member’s point of view. The dating cadence of the films will be revealed closer to the films’ release. I’m told they are locking down writers quickly.
This is perhaps the most ambitious project Deadline has revealed exclusively since...
- 2/20/2024
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
So’s begun the march to 2024’s first major film. Just a week since Janus and Sideshow announced Bertrand Bonello’s The Beast will begin its U.S. run on April 5, its French release, starting today, has brought the director’s soundtrack––latest in the best run of double-duty since John Carpenter. Bonello also being a master of the needledrop, the album features needledrops from The Pointer Sisters and Roy Orbison. Sadly no Visage or Patsy Cline, whose songs are used to incredible effect, but that’s why I made a Spotify playlist all the way back in September, since which time The Beast has stayed rattling somewhere in my mind.
Stream it and find album art below:
The post Stream Bertrand Bonello’s Original Score for The Beast first appeared on The Film Stage.
Stream it and find album art below:
The post Stream Bertrand Bonello’s Original Score for The Beast first appeared on The Film Stage.
- 2/7/2024
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
“Please Please Me” was an early hit for The Beatles, but it might not have made it far in its original form. According to Beatles producer George Martin, the initial version of the song was slow and dull. When he pointed this out to the band, they felt embarrassed that they hadn’t noticed.
The Beatles’ producer embarrassed the band when he asked them to change ‘Please Please Me’
When The Beatles first played “Please Please Me” for Martin, he could scarcely keep from yawning. They wanted it on the first single, but he thought it was too boring as it stood.
“In the first year, I had the final decision on songs, but they persuaded me to let them have their own songs on both sides of their first single,” Martin said in The Beatles Anthology. “I was still thinking that we should release their recording of ‘How Do You Do It.
The Beatles’ producer embarrassed the band when he asked them to change ‘Please Please Me’
When The Beatles first played “Please Please Me” for Martin, he could scarcely keep from yawning. They wanted it on the first single, but he thought it was too boring as it stood.
“In the first year, I had the final decision on songs, but they persuaded me to let them have their own songs on both sides of their first single,” Martin said in The Beatles Anthology. “I was still thinking that we should release their recording of ‘How Do You Do It.
- 1/23/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When The Beatles released “Please Please Me” in early 1963, both Paul McCartney and John Lennon received writing credit. The pair wanted to be the next Rodgers and Hammerstein, and they established the precedent of earning joint credit for their songs. According to McCartney, though, he didn’t have all that much to do with writing the song. He admitted that “Please Please Me” was more of Lennon’s song than his own.
Paul McCartney said John Lennon wrote more of ‘Please Please Me’ than he did
After achieving success with “Love Me Do,” The Beatles exploded with the release of “Please Please Me.” It was a song McCartney and Lennon worked on together, but McCartney admitted that it was more of Lennon’s song than his.
“We’d had a fair bit of practice writing over the years, though our legendary ‘first one hundred’ was probably in reality less than half that amount of songs,...
Paul McCartney said John Lennon wrote more of ‘Please Please Me’ than he did
After achieving success with “Love Me Do,” The Beatles exploded with the release of “Please Please Me.” It was a song McCartney and Lennon worked on together, but McCartney admitted that it was more of Lennon’s song than his.
“We’d had a fair bit of practice writing over the years, though our legendary ‘first one hundred’ was probably in reality less than half that amount of songs,...
- 1/16/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It’s almost impossible for John Stamos to imagine what would have happened to his life had he not met Beach Boys singer-guitarist Jeffrey Foskett 40 years ago. Foskett, who died Monday at 67, introduced Stamos to the Beach Boys in 1983, and helped him land a gig as a percussionist that continues to this day. When Stamos, who wrote about Foskett in his new memoir If You Would Have Told Me, hopped on Zoom with Rolling Stone on Monday evening, tears flowed throughout the entire conversation as he looked back on Foskett...
- 12/12/2023
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Paul McCartney‘s “Ebony and Ivory” and The Beatles’ “Hello, Goodbye” might not seem connected on the surface. However, Paul says the tunes are both about “a deep theme in the universe.” Stevie Wonder also had insightful things to say about “Ebony and Ivory.” In his opinion, the tune was reflective but didn’t challenge people, but politely asked them to do something.
Paul McCartney said ‘Ebony and Ivory’ and The Beatles’ ‘Hello, Goodbye’ are about duality
In the 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Paul discussed both “Hello, Goodbye” and “Ebony and Ivory.” “‘Hello, Goodbye’ was one of my songs,” he said. “There are Geminian influences here I think: the twins.
“It’s such a deep theme in the universe, duality man woman, black white, ebony ivory, high low, right wrong, up down, hello goodbye that it was a very easy song to write,” he said. “It’s just a song of duality,...
Paul McCartney said ‘Ebony and Ivory’ and The Beatles’ ‘Hello, Goodbye’ are about duality
In the 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Paul discussed both “Hello, Goodbye” and “Ebony and Ivory.” “‘Hello, Goodbye’ was one of my songs,” he said. “There are Geminian influences here I think: the twins.
“It’s such a deep theme in the universe, duality man woman, black white, ebony ivory, high low, right wrong, up down, hello goodbye that it was a very easy song to write,” he said. “It’s just a song of duality,...
- 11/12/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Legendary classic rock producer George Martin predicted that one of The Beatles’ songs would hit No. 1. He was wrong multiple times over. However, he still worked on many other Beatles songs and one of Paul McCartney’s most famous solo hits.
1 of The Beatles’ songs originally sounded like a Roy Orbison ballad
During a 2020 interview with Uncut, Martin discussed the impact Martin had on The Beatles. “‘Please, Please Me,’ originally we brought to him as a very slow [Roy] Orbison-esque ballad,” he recalled. “‘Last night I said these words … Come on — joojoo — come on — joojoo’ — you can imagine Roy Orbison doing it.
“George said, ‘It might be good a bit faster,'” he said. “We go, ‘No.’ He used this skill of persuasion and he got us. ‘Oh, go on then, we’ll try it.’ So we did, ‘Last night I said.‘ He goes, ‘There’s your first No 1.'”
‘Please...
1 of The Beatles’ songs originally sounded like a Roy Orbison ballad
During a 2020 interview with Uncut, Martin discussed the impact Martin had on The Beatles. “‘Please, Please Me,’ originally we brought to him as a very slow [Roy] Orbison-esque ballad,” he recalled. “‘Last night I said these words … Come on — joojoo — come on — joojoo’ — you can imagine Roy Orbison doing it.
“George said, ‘It might be good a bit faster,'” he said. “We go, ‘No.’ He used this skill of persuasion and he got us. ‘Oh, go on then, we’ll try it.’ So we did, ‘Last night I said.‘ He goes, ‘There’s your first No 1.'”
‘Please...
- 10/24/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Roy Orbison felt Elvis Presley‘s label wasn’t that great. He said the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll wasn’t a big fan of the music he made at that label. Orbison had a lot to say about his own experiences there. Regardless, the head of the label received an incredibly important honor the same night Elvis did.
Roy Orbison was on the same label as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins
During a 1988 interview with Rolling Stone, Orbison discussed signing on producer Sam Phillip’s label, Sun Records. Sun Records boasted many early rock ‘n’ roll artists, the most famous being Elvis. “Well, Johnny Cash was on Sun Records — he was making unusual records,” Orbison remembered. “And Presley was there, and Carl Perkins. I was really impressed with that little chicken on the Sun label, because it represented something unique.” The chicken in question was on the label’s logo.
Roy Orbison was on the same label as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins
During a 1988 interview with Rolling Stone, Orbison discussed signing on producer Sam Phillip’s label, Sun Records. Sun Records boasted many early rock ‘n’ roll artists, the most famous being Elvis. “Well, Johnny Cash was on Sun Records — he was making unusual records,” Orbison remembered. “And Presley was there, and Carl Perkins. I was really impressed with that little chicken on the Sun label, because it represented something unique.” The chicken in question was on the label’s logo.
- 10/20/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon‘s “(Just Like) Starting Over” was supposed to sound like one Elvis Presley song and one Roy Orbison song. During an interview, John said drawing inspiration from Elvis and Orbison was returning to his “roots.” Interestingly, Orbison said the song that inspired John had nothing to do with his personal emotional state.
John Lennon’s ‘(Just Like) Starting Over’ came from John’s ‘born again-rocker’ phase
The book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations With John Lennon contains excerpts from a Rolling Stone interview from 1980. Around the time John gave that interview, he released his song “(Just Like) Starting Over,” which is obviously indebted to the rock ‘n’ roll music of the 1950s and early 1960s. During the interview, John discussed the thought process behind the song. “All through the taping of ‘Starting Over,’ I was calling what I was doing ‘Elvis Orbison:’ ‘I want you I need only the lonely,...
John Lennon’s ‘(Just Like) Starting Over’ came from John’s ‘born again-rocker’ phase
The book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations With John Lennon contains excerpts from a Rolling Stone interview from 1980. Around the time John gave that interview, he released his song “(Just Like) Starting Over,” which is obviously indebted to the rock ‘n’ roll music of the 1950s and early 1960s. During the interview, John discussed the thought process behind the song. “All through the taping of ‘Starting Over,’ I was calling what I was doing ‘Elvis Orbison:’ ‘I want you I need only the lonely,...
- 10/20/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Roy Orbison wasn’t planning on pursuing music as a career — then he heard one Elvis Presley song. Orbison was later signed to Elvis’ label. The “You Got It” singer revealed he and the King had issues with the music they made at that label.
The Elvis Presley song that changed Roy Orbison’s life was a cover
During a 1988 interview with Rolling Stone, Orbison said he had a band in high school but thought about quitting music. “I went to college for a year,” he said. “I guess it was an attempt at being legitimate, or not being a free spirit. It was a good year, but it was a lonely year. I think the reason it was really lonely was that I wasn’t where I needed to be.
“But I met a couple of guys at school who had written ‘Ooby Dooby,’ and what convinced me that...
The Elvis Presley song that changed Roy Orbison’s life was a cover
During a 1988 interview with Rolling Stone, Orbison said he had a band in high school but thought about quitting music. “I went to college for a year,” he said. “I guess it was an attempt at being legitimate, or not being a free spirit. It was a good year, but it was a lonely year. I think the reason it was really lonely was that I wasn’t where I needed to be.
“But I met a couple of guys at school who had written ‘Ooby Dooby,’ and what convinced me that...
- 10/20/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It doesn’t take a genius to hear that John Lennon‘s “(Just Like) Starting Over” was inspired by Elvis Presley’s music. During an interview, John named the Elvis song and the Roy Orbison song that inspired “(Just Like) Starting Over.” He also revealed how much he was indebted to both artists.
John Lennon’s ‘(Just Like) Starting Over’ paid homage to Elvis Presley and ‘Only the Lonely’
During a 1980 Rolling Stone interview recorded in the book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations With John Lennon, John discussed the genesis of “(Just Like) Starting Over.” “All through the taping of ‘Starting Over,’ I was calling what I was doing ‘Elvis Orbison:’ ‘I want you I need only the lonely,'” he said. His words were a clear callback to Elvis’ “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” and Roy Orbison’s “Only the Lonely,” two songs that influenced “(Just Like) Starting Over.
John Lennon’s ‘(Just Like) Starting Over’ paid homage to Elvis Presley and ‘Only the Lonely’
During a 1980 Rolling Stone interview recorded in the book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations With John Lennon, John discussed the genesis of “(Just Like) Starting Over.” “All through the taping of ‘Starting Over,’ I was calling what I was doing ‘Elvis Orbison:’ ‘I want you I need only the lonely,'” he said. His words were a clear callback to Elvis’ “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” and Roy Orbison’s “Only the Lonely,” two songs that influenced “(Just Like) Starting Over.
- 10/18/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The music industry works in mysterious ways. John Lennon’s tragic death in 1980 might have catapulted one of his songs to No. 1 in the United States. The song in question was a tribute to the early rockers Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison.
A John Lennon song hit No. 1 the week after he died
There was a five-year gap between John’s 1975 covers album Rock ‘n’ Roll and his final album, Double Fantasy. The lead single from Double Fantasy was “(Just Like) Starting Over.” That gap would have led to plenty of anticipation for new music from the “Imagine” singer.
According to Stereogum, “(Just Like) Starting Over” was No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 the last day of John’s life. The following week, it hit No. 1. Stereogum theorizes “(Just Like) Starting Over” would have climbed to the top even if John had lived. After all, many Paul McCartney songs hit No.
A John Lennon song hit No. 1 the week after he died
There was a five-year gap between John’s 1975 covers album Rock ‘n’ Roll and his final album, Double Fantasy. The lead single from Double Fantasy was “(Just Like) Starting Over.” That gap would have led to plenty of anticipation for new music from the “Imagine” singer.
According to Stereogum, “(Just Like) Starting Over” was No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 the last day of John’s life. The following week, it hit No. 1. Stereogum theorizes “(Just Like) Starting Over” would have climbed to the top even if John had lived. After all, many Paul McCartney songs hit No.
- 10/17/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
George Harrison said an Electric Light Orchestra song sounded like The Beatles. He went on to work extensively with one member of Elo. John Lennon felt Elo derived their sound from one of the Fab Four’s most well-known psychedelic tracks.
George Harrison felt Elo sounded so much like The Beatles he wanted to work with Jeff Lynne
During a 1987 interview with Entertainment Weekly, George was asked about a time he said an unnamed Elo song sounded like The Beatles. “That’s one of the reasons why I tried to get Jeff Lynne, because he knew about … Ok, most people knew about The Beatles, but he really knew about ’em,” he said. “And I was looking to work with somebody who would know my past and not disregard that, but who I would also respect, as a writer and producer. But it is a bit ironic, I know.
“I think...
George Harrison felt Elo sounded so much like The Beatles he wanted to work with Jeff Lynne
During a 1987 interview with Entertainment Weekly, George was asked about a time he said an unnamed Elo song sounded like The Beatles. “That’s one of the reasons why I tried to get Jeff Lynne, because he knew about … Ok, most people knew about The Beatles, but he really knew about ’em,” he said. “And I was looking to work with somebody who would know my past and not disregard that, but who I would also respect, as a writer and producer. But it is a bit ironic, I know.
“I think...
- 10/5/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
Noel Gallagher said Oasis’ “Supersonic” was supposed to sound like George Harrison’s work. He didn’t expect listeners to notice any similarity. Gallagher felt Beatlesque music by other groups would get kids interested in starting bands.
Oasis’ “Supersonic,” one of the band’s most famous songs, was inspired by George Harrison‘s music. During an interview, Oasis’ Noel Gallagher revealed why he didn’t think there was anything wrong with taking inspiration from the Fab Four. On the other hand, George revealed why he wasn’t a fan of Oasis.
George Harrison’s music inspired the guitar riff from Oasis’ ‘Supersonic’
Gallagher was the lead songwriter of the British rock band Oasis. During a 2009 interview in the book The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters, he was asked about his reputation for “plundering” from older acts. “I don’t give a f***, that’s what it’s there for,...
Noel Gallagher said Oasis’ “Supersonic” was supposed to sound like George Harrison’s work. He didn’t expect listeners to notice any similarity. Gallagher felt Beatlesque music by other groups would get kids interested in starting bands.
Oasis’ “Supersonic,” one of the band’s most famous songs, was inspired by George Harrison‘s music. During an interview, Oasis’ Noel Gallagher revealed why he didn’t think there was anything wrong with taking inspiration from the Fab Four. On the other hand, George revealed why he wasn’t a fan of Oasis.
George Harrison’s music inspired the guitar riff from Oasis’ ‘Supersonic’
Gallagher was the lead songwriter of the British rock band Oasis. During a 2009 interview in the book The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters, he was asked about his reputation for “plundering” from older acts. “I don’t give a f***, that’s what it’s there for,...
- 9/4/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is the name of the Philip K. Dick novel that Ridley Scott famously adapted into Blade Runner. Wading into similar dystopian sci-fi waters, Bertrand Bonello’s latest feature, The Beast (La Bête), tosses together so many ideas, time periods and genres, its source material could have been called: Do French Girls Dream of Androids While Trying to Escape from Incels in L.A. After the 1910 Paris Flood?
In reality, the auteur’s ambitious new 146-minute film is a very loose adaptation of the 1903 Henry James novella, The Beast in the Jungle, about a man who never pursues the woman he loves because he fears a terrible fate will befall him — until he realizes, way too late, that he made his fate come true by never pursuing her. Bonello takes that initial conundrum, slices, dices and remixes it, then tosses it into a time machine.
In reality, the auteur’s ambitious new 146-minute film is a very loose adaptation of the 1903 Henry James novella, The Beast in the Jungle, about a man who never pursues the woman he loves because he fears a terrible fate will befall him — until he realizes, way too late, that he made his fate come true by never pursuing her. Bonello takes that initial conundrum, slices, dices and remixes it, then tosses it into a time machine.
- 9/3/2023
- by Jordan Mintzer
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Diana Nyad was a swimming legend, a stellar athlete in the 1970s who achieved the heights of her sport, and then went on to a successful decades-long career in the broadcast booth for ABC Sports, ESPN, and elsewhere.
The new movie Nyad is not about any of that. In this regard, the film, a first narrative effort from Oscar-winning documentary filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, has something in common with Bradley Cooper’s Maestro, which premiered today in Venice. Neither movie is a traditional biopic about their title subject, but rather a movie with a singular focus that digs much deeper into the weeds to discover what drove them and made them who they were.
For a film revolving around an athlete, making this the story of a champion who starts all over at age 60 is decidedly an un-Hollywood-like thing to do. The fact...
The new movie Nyad is not about any of that. In this regard, the film, a first narrative effort from Oscar-winning documentary filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, has something in common with Bradley Cooper’s Maestro, which premiered today in Venice. Neither movie is a traditional biopic about their title subject, but rather a movie with a singular focus that digs much deeper into the weeds to discover what drove them and made them who they were.
For a film revolving around an athlete, making this the story of a champion who starts all over at age 60 is decidedly an un-Hollywood-like thing to do. The fact...
- 9/2/2023
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Tl;Dr:
One of Elvis Presley’s songs became a top 5 hit for Roy Orbison. Tom Petty said a lyric from Elvis’ song “was pretty heavy stuff for a little kid like [him] to hear.” Petty recalled seeing the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll on the set of a musical.
An Elvis Presley song from one of his classic movies has a deceptive title. Roy Orbison covered the song as the B-side to his single “Blue Bayou.” Subsequently, Tom Petty said the King of Rock’ n’ Roll‘s version of the song inspired him musically.
1 of the songs from Elvis Presley’s film ‘Loving You’ became a hit for Roy Orbison
Despite its bluesy title, “Mean Woman Blues” is an uptempo rock number that featured on the soundtrack of Elvis’ film Loving You. The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits doesn’t mention “Mean Woman Blues” ever charting on the Billboard Top...
One of Elvis Presley’s songs became a top 5 hit for Roy Orbison. Tom Petty said a lyric from Elvis’ song “was pretty heavy stuff for a little kid like [him] to hear.” Petty recalled seeing the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll on the set of a musical.
An Elvis Presley song from one of his classic movies has a deceptive title. Roy Orbison covered the song as the B-side to his single “Blue Bayou.” Subsequently, Tom Petty said the King of Rock’ n’ Roll‘s version of the song inspired him musically.
1 of the songs from Elvis Presley’s film ‘Loving You’ became a hit for Roy Orbison
Despite its bluesy title, “Mean Woman Blues” is an uptempo rock number that featured on the soundtrack of Elvis’ film Loving You. The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits doesn’t mention “Mean Woman Blues” ever charting on the Billboard Top...
- 8/31/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
Producer George Martin felt The Beatles’ “Please Please Me” needed to be changed in a major way. Martin discussed what he thought of the Fab Four during their early days. “Please Please Me” was a hit once in the United States and twice in the United Kingdom.
The Beatles‘ “Please Please Me” was originally much more indebted to Roy Orbison’s songs. The Beatles’ producer, George Martin, didn’t like that version of the tune. Despite this, he had a positive view of Orbison.
George Martin decided The Beatles’ ‘Please Please Me’ should be twice the speed
During a 1999 interview with Westword, Martin discussed the origin of “Please Please Me.” “The first time they really connected with me was when they came up with the speeded-up version of ‘Please Please Me,'” he said. “In its original form, it was a dirge worthy of Roy Orbison, and I...
Producer George Martin felt The Beatles’ “Please Please Me” needed to be changed in a major way. Martin discussed what he thought of the Fab Four during their early days. “Please Please Me” was a hit once in the United States and twice in the United Kingdom.
The Beatles‘ “Please Please Me” was originally much more indebted to Roy Orbison’s songs. The Beatles’ producer, George Martin, didn’t like that version of the tune. Despite this, he had a positive view of Orbison.
George Martin decided The Beatles’ ‘Please Please Me’ should be twice the speed
During a 1999 interview with Westword, Martin discussed the origin of “Please Please Me.” “The first time they really connected with me was when they came up with the speeded-up version of ‘Please Please Me,'” he said. “In its original form, it was a dirge worthy of Roy Orbison, and I...
- 8/21/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley‘s songs have been a huge influence on Chris Isaak. For example, Isaak said one of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s tunes inspired him to make music. In addition, Isaak revealed the track made him want to “surrender.”
Chris Isaak found a copy of an Elvis Presley song that changed him at a junk store
Isaak is most known for two of his songs that appeared in 1990s cult classic movies. One is “Wicked Game,” which appeared in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart. That movie features several references to Elvis, including Nicolas Cage covering “Love Me Tender” and “Love Me.” Isaak’s other most famous song is “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing,” which appeared in Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing” also played in the risque commercials for Eyes Wide Shut.
During a 1996 interview with Entertainment Weekly,...
Chris Isaak found a copy of an Elvis Presley song that changed him at a junk store
Isaak is most known for two of his songs that appeared in 1990s cult classic movies. One is “Wicked Game,” which appeared in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart. That movie features several references to Elvis, including Nicolas Cage covering “Love Me Tender” and “Love Me.” Isaak’s other most famous song is “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing,” which appeared in Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing” also played in the risque commercials for Eyes Wide Shut.
During a 1996 interview with Entertainment Weekly,...
- 8/19/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2023 Grammys was hearing Bonnie Raitt’s name called as the winner of the prestigious Song of the Year award for “Just Like That.” While many were shocked at Raitt taking home the award over smash hits by artists like Adele, Harry Styles, and Lizzo, few would consider Raitt undeserving of the prize. This is especially true if you know how important Raitt has been to popular music for decades. But that wasn’t the only general field award she’s won. At the 32nd Grammy Awards, held in 1990, Raitt’s comeback record “Nick of Time” won her three trophies, including Album of the Year over legends like Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Don Henley.
To understand Raitt’s 1990 wins, you need to understand her career leading up to “Nick of Time.” Raitt got her start in the early ’70s, earning praise as one of...
To understand Raitt’s 1990 wins, you need to understand her career leading up to “Nick of Time.” Raitt got her start in the early ’70s, earning praise as one of...
- 8/2/2023
- by Jaime Rodriguez
- Gold Derby
It’s a hot summer day, the car AC is on turbo and the radio is blasting Miguel’s “Sure Thing.” My 8-year-old nephew is singing along happily — until I tell him the song is older than he is.
He’s extremely puzzled. But it’s true.
“Sure Thing” was released in 2010 and was named Billboard’s No. 1 R&b/hip-hop song of 2011. But TikTok resurrected the melodic track this year, and the platform thrust it to higher heights on the pop charts, as streaming platforms added it to current playlists and radio stations began replaying the song 13 years after its release.
Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” was released in 2019, but the addictive bop became a favorite on her ultra-popular Eras Tour, and now it’s in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Sia, thanks to TikTok, relaunched a platinum hit with “Unstoppable” late last year, though it was released...
He’s extremely puzzled. But it’s true.
“Sure Thing” was released in 2010 and was named Billboard’s No. 1 R&b/hip-hop song of 2011. But TikTok resurrected the melodic track this year, and the platform thrust it to higher heights on the pop charts, as streaming platforms added it to current playlists and radio stations began replaying the song 13 years after its release.
Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” was released in 2019, but the addictive bop became a favorite on her ultra-popular Eras Tour, and now it’s in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Sia, thanks to TikTok, relaunched a platinum hit with “Unstoppable” late last year, though it was released...
- 7/26/2023
- by Mesfin Fekadu
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Paul McCartney and John Lennon are among the most successful songwriting duos ever and wrote many songs that dominated the U.S. charts. When they had their first No. 1 hit in the U.S., it was a sign that Beatlemania was in full swing and signaled the beginning of the British Invasion. However, The Beatles did not perform the first song on the U.S. charts that is credited to Lennon-McCartney.
The first song on the U.S. charts credited to John Lennon and Paul McCartney was performed by Del Shannon
In the early 1960s, The Beatles were becoming rising stars in the U.K. Their first single, “Love Me Do,” debuted in the U.K. in 1962 and peaked at No. 17. In 1963, The Beatles released “From Me to You”, which became their first No. 1 hit on the official U.K. Singles chart.
In 1963, The Beatles played at Swinging Sound ‘63 in London,...
The first song on the U.S. charts credited to John Lennon and Paul McCartney was performed by Del Shannon
In the early 1960s, The Beatles were becoming rising stars in the U.K. Their first single, “Love Me Do,” debuted in the U.K. in 1962 and peaked at No. 17. In 1963, The Beatles released “From Me to You”, which became their first No. 1 hit on the official U.K. Singles chart.
In 1963, The Beatles played at Swinging Sound ‘63 in London,...
- 7/1/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Bob Dylan and George Harrison established a strong friendship after meeting in the 1960s. The pair collaborated on a few songs and formed a supergroup known as the Traveling Wilburys. While Harrison spent plenty of time with his idol, he never lost his awe for his music, and Tom Petty said he would sometimes record Dylan playing music and create “Bob Dylan bootlegs.”
George Harrison would secretly tape Bob Dylan and listen to the recordings later
Dylan was an influential musician for The Beatles, especially Harrison and John Lennon. His introspective and honest songwriting led to meaningful, deep lyrics that spoke to many artists. Harrison brought this style to his solo career, where he shined with songs like “My Sweet Love” and “All Those Years Ago”.
However, Harrison briefly put his solo work to the side to form the Traveling Wilburys. This supergroup was formed in 1988 with Harrison, Dylan, Petty,...
George Harrison would secretly tape Bob Dylan and listen to the recordings later
Dylan was an influential musician for The Beatles, especially Harrison and John Lennon. His introspective and honest songwriting led to meaningful, deep lyrics that spoke to many artists. Harrison brought this style to his solo career, where he shined with songs like “My Sweet Love” and “All Those Years Ago”.
However, Harrison briefly put his solo work to the side to form the Traveling Wilburys. This supergroup was formed in 1988 with Harrison, Dylan, Petty,...
- 6/30/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
George Harrison made his way into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame despite not having much support from his Beatles bandmates or producer George Martin. The so-called quiet Beatle made it as a member of the Fab Four and a solo artist. George’s friend Jeff Lynne made it to the Rock Hall with his group Electric Light Orchestra, but he beat Harrison into another musical hall of fame.
Jeff Lynne beat George Harrison into the Songwriters Hall of Fame with his 2023 induction
George, of course, gained fame with The Beatles in the 1960s. Even though his songs didn’t appear on Fab Four records as frequently as Paul McCartney and John Lennon tunes, his were some of the band’s best. See, for example, “Taxman,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” and “Something.”
Lynne co-founded Elo and was their chief songwriter throughout their career. Many of the band’s standout songs,...
Jeff Lynne beat George Harrison into the Songwriters Hall of Fame with his 2023 induction
George, of course, gained fame with The Beatles in the 1960s. Even though his songs didn’t appear on Fab Four records as frequently as Paul McCartney and John Lennon tunes, his were some of the band’s best. See, for example, “Taxman,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” and “Something.”
Lynne co-founded Elo and was their chief songwriter throughout their career. Many of the band’s standout songs,...
- 6/25/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
While George Harrison had an incredible solo career after The Beatles, he briefly formed a supergroup called The Traveling Wilburys. While the group had a limited run, it was still a legendary collaboration that featured rock icons such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and Roy Orbison. While getting all five of those legends together seemed impossible, Harrison quickly formed the quintet.
George Harrison got everyone to agree to join the Traveling Wilburys with minimal effort
Harrison was an icon worldwide just for being a part of The Beatles. Many artists wanted to work with him, not only because he was a Beatle, but also because he was a tremendous guitar player and songwriter. However, artists like Petty and Lynne were all busy with their own projects. Dylan almost exclusively worked by himself.
The idea of the Traveling Wilburys came to George Harrison while he and Jeff Lynne were working on his album,...
George Harrison got everyone to agree to join the Traveling Wilburys with minimal effort
Harrison was an icon worldwide just for being a part of The Beatles. Many artists wanted to work with him, not only because he was a Beatle, but also because he was a tremendous guitar player and songwriter. However, artists like Petty and Lynne were all busy with their own projects. Dylan almost exclusively worked by himself.
The idea of the Traveling Wilburys came to George Harrison while he and Jeff Lynne were working on his album,...
- 6/24/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Bob Dylan is an excellent songwriter whose intimate and introspective lyrics managed to capture the hearts and minds of his audience. His ability to relate to any demographic allows him to translate other people’s lyrics and discern their true meaning. He said one song he enjoys covering has a troubling psychological truth, as he believes it could belong to a “serial killer.”
Bob Dylan said ‘You Don’t Know Me’ sounds like it’s a song about a ‘serial killer’
In Bob Dylan’s book The Philosophy of Modern Song, the American folk singer discusses the works of many other artists. One song he discussed is “You Don’t Know Me”, written by Eddie Arnold and Cindy Walker. Dylan started his discussion of the song by analyzing the track’s main character and the lyrics.
“You’re not good at chewing the fat, and you don’t want anyone putting words in your mouth,...
Bob Dylan said ‘You Don’t Know Me’ sounds like it’s a song about a ‘serial killer’
In Bob Dylan’s book The Philosophy of Modern Song, the American folk singer discusses the works of many other artists. One song he discussed is “You Don’t Know Me”, written by Eddie Arnold and Cindy Walker. Dylan started his discussion of the song by analyzing the track’s main character and the lyrics.
“You’re not good at chewing the fat, and you don’t want anyone putting words in your mouth,...
- 6/16/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
George Harrison’s son, Dhani, grew up surrounded by legendary musicians. Harrison had many friends in the industry who would visit often, and Dhani got to know many stars that the average person could only dream of meeting. Reflecting on his childhood, Dhani said it was “mindbending” to see so many rock stars just casually hanging out in his house.
George Harrison’s son hung out with many rock stars at his home George Harrison | C Flanigan/WireImage for Kaaboo Del Mar via imageSPACE
George Harrison was friends with many classic rock stars. In addition to the other members of The Beatles, Harrison was also close with the members of The Traveling Wilburys, which included Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne. He was also close friends with guitarist Eric Clapton.
Since he worked closely with these excellent musicians, they often recorded and rehearsed at his home studio.
George Harrison’s son hung out with many rock stars at his home George Harrison | C Flanigan/WireImage for Kaaboo Del Mar via imageSPACE
George Harrison was friends with many classic rock stars. In addition to the other members of The Beatles, Harrison was also close with the members of The Traveling Wilburys, which included Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne. He was also close friends with guitarist Eric Clapton.
Since he worked closely with these excellent musicians, they often recorded and rehearsed at his home studio.
- 6/9/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Bob Dylan had cemented his legacy as a folk music legend before he met The Beatles. The Fab Four already loved his music before their in-person encounter. John Lennon gave Dylan high praise/a backhanded compliment when he said Yoko Ono was as important a singer as the troubadour. They were musical icons of the 1960s, but The Beatles denied Dylan his best shot at having a No. 1 hit on the Billboard charts.
(l-r) George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon; Bob Dylan | Bettmann; Stanley Bielecki/Asp/Getty Images The Beatles’ song ‘Help!’ stopped Bob Dylan from having a No. 1 hit in 1965
Escaping The Beatles’ shadow on the Billboard charts was next to impossible in the mid-1960s. The band tallied 47 of their 64 top-100 singles between 1964 and 1966. That run coincided with some of Dylan’s finest work of the decade. That included 1965’s Highway 61 Revisited.
Dylan had an incredible peak in the 1960s.
(l-r) George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon; Bob Dylan | Bettmann; Stanley Bielecki/Asp/Getty Images The Beatles’ song ‘Help!’ stopped Bob Dylan from having a No. 1 hit in 1965
Escaping The Beatles’ shadow on the Billboard charts was next to impossible in the mid-1960s. The band tallied 47 of their 64 top-100 singles between 1964 and 1966. That run coincided with some of Dylan’s finest work of the decade. That included 1965’s Highway 61 Revisited.
Dylan had an incredible peak in the 1960s.
- 6/4/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Bruce Springsteen emerged on the rock n’ roll scene in the 1970s. The New Jersey singer had a flare that combined so many aspects of early rock with a new sound that combined an energetic voice with distinct instruments. As a young musician, he was inspired by many popular rockstars of the 1960s, such as The Beatles and Bob Dylan. Bruce Springsteen once called Bob Dylan the “father of my country,” showing how influential Springsteen thinks Dylan is.
Bruce Springsteen believed Bob Dylan showed him the truth about where he was from Bruce Springsteen | Michael Kovac/WireImage
Bob Dylan was born in Minnesota, but his music had a universal truth that spoke to Americans from working-class families in working towns. Springsteen was raised in a working-class home in New Jersey, and much of that spirit is expressed through his music. While Dylan and Springsteen aren’t from the same town,...
Bruce Springsteen believed Bob Dylan showed him the truth about where he was from Bruce Springsteen | Michael Kovac/WireImage
Bob Dylan was born in Minnesota, but his music had a universal truth that spoke to Americans from working-class families in working towns. Springsteen was raised in a working-class home in New Jersey, and much of that spirit is expressed through his music. While Dylan and Springsteen aren’t from the same town,...
- 6/2/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
The Beatles’ “Please Please Me” was a collaboration between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Paul said “Please Please Me” was an example of The Beatles stealing from American artists. “Please Please Me” was a bigger hit in the United Kingdom than it was in the United States. The Beatles’ Paul McCartney | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer
Paul McCartney said The Beatles‘ “Please Please Me” was inspired by an American rock ‘n’ roll star. Paul said the song was originally slower to mimic that star’s style. Subsequently, The Beatles’ producer had a different vision for the track.
The Beatles’ ‘Please Please Me’ was supposed to sound like a slow Roy Orbison song
In the 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Paul revealed “Please Please Me” was inspired by Roy Orbison. “If you imagine it much slower, which is how John wrote it, it’s got everything, the big high notes,...
The Beatles’ “Please Please Me” was a collaboration between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Paul said “Please Please Me” was an example of The Beatles stealing from American artists. “Please Please Me” was a bigger hit in the United Kingdom than it was in the United States. The Beatles’ Paul McCartney | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer
Paul McCartney said The Beatles‘ “Please Please Me” was inspired by an American rock ‘n’ roll star. Paul said the song was originally slower to mimic that star’s style. Subsequently, The Beatles’ producer had a different vision for the track.
The Beatles’ ‘Please Please Me’ was supposed to sound like a slow Roy Orbison song
In the 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Paul revealed “Please Please Me” was inspired by Roy Orbison. “If you imagine it much slower, which is how John wrote it, it’s got everything, the big high notes,...
- 5/25/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 2005, Paul McCartney performed at the Super Bowl, and Keith Richards had a suggestion for the songs he should play. McCartney refused to take Richards up on a dare to play an old Beatles song. Here’s why he said he couldn’t play the song and what he decided to play instead.
Paul McCartney and Keith Richards | Kevin Mazur/WireImage Keith Richards told Paul McCartney to perform a song at the 2005 Super Bowl
Shortly before McCartney took the stage at the 2005 Super Bowl, he vacationed in Parrot Cay, where Richards has a home. McCartney dropped in on him one afternoon. While they had never been particularly close, they formed a friendship.
“Paul started to turn up every day, when his kid was sleeping,” Richards wrote in his book, Life. “I’d never known Paul that well. John and I knew each other quite well, and George and Ringo, but...
Paul McCartney and Keith Richards | Kevin Mazur/WireImage Keith Richards told Paul McCartney to perform a song at the 2005 Super Bowl
Shortly before McCartney took the stage at the 2005 Super Bowl, he vacationed in Parrot Cay, where Richards has a home. McCartney dropped in on him one afternoon. While they had never been particularly close, they formed a friendship.
“Paul started to turn up every day, when his kid was sleeping,” Richards wrote in his book, Life. “I’d never known Paul that well. John and I knew each other quite well, and George and Ringo, but...
- 5/20/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Purpose and character. These are now solidly enshrined as the buzzwords of copyright law on the heels of the Supreme Court’s 7-2 ruling earlier this week in the case involving the estate of Andy Warhol and photographer Lynn Goldsmith.
The decision at first blush seemed to be a clear-cut win for copyright owners and artists who create original works. But the court’s majority decision, penned with verve by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, is already proving divisive among experts on intellectual property rights. It demonstrates the difficulty of setting up hard and fast rules around highly subjective questions, such as when an artistic or literary work is “transformative” of an earlier work and whether its ultimate use is for commercial purposes, or not. The case has been closely watched in part because it’s sure to have implications for the tidal wave of AI-generated art and literary works that are to emerge,...
The decision at first blush seemed to be a clear-cut win for copyright owners and artists who create original works. But the court’s majority decision, penned with verve by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, is already proving divisive among experts on intellectual property rights. It demonstrates the difficulty of setting up hard and fast rules around highly subjective questions, such as when an artistic or literary work is “transformative” of an earlier work and whether its ultimate use is for commercial purposes, or not. The case has been closely watched in part because it’s sure to have implications for the tidal wave of AI-generated art and literary works that are to emerge,...
- 5/20/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Tony winner Lena Hall is set to star in a new Broadway-aimed musical from the & Juliet writing and directing team and featuring the hit songs of rock & roll pioneer Roy Orbison.
In Dreams, written by David West Read and directed by Luke Sheppard will have out-of-town tryouts at Leeds Playhouse in the UK and the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto before an expected transfer to Broadway.
The story revolves around the former lead singer (Hall) of a country rock band who, at a critical moment in her life, throws a party in a family-run Mexican restaurant to reconnect with old friends, while keeping her deeper motivations a secret.
Casting for the Leeds production (July 3-August 5) will include Oliver Tompsett, who appeared in the West End production of & Juliet. He’ll play a drummer from the Hall character’s past.
Hall is...
In Dreams, written by David West Read and directed by Luke Sheppard will have out-of-town tryouts at Leeds Playhouse in the UK and the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto before an expected transfer to Broadway.
The story revolves around the former lead singer (Hall) of a country rock band who, at a critical moment in her life, throws a party in a family-run Mexican restaurant to reconnect with old friends, while keeping her deeper motivations a secret.
Casting for the Leeds production (July 3-August 5) will include Oliver Tompsett, who appeared in the West End production of & Juliet. He’ll play a drummer from the Hall character’s past.
Hall is...
- 5/18/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Origins is a recurring series that gives artists a space to break down everything that went into their latest release. Today, legendary songwriter Yusuf / Cat Stevens takes us behind his new single, “All Nights, All Days.”
Legendary singer-songwriter Yusuf / Cat Stevens has released “All Nights, All Days,” the latest single from his upcoming album, King of a Land. The track boasts a bouncy acoustic instrumental and cuttingly political lyrics, a streak that’s furthered by the gorgeous animated music video.
Leaning more into country rock than the previous King of a Land singles, the track allows Stevens to showcase his versatility as both a songwriter and a performer. He cites the Traveling Wilburys — the iconic supergroup made up of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty — as a primary influence when it came to the composition and tone of the tune.
“There is a hint of...
Legendary singer-songwriter Yusuf / Cat Stevens has released “All Nights, All Days,” the latest single from his upcoming album, King of a Land. The track boasts a bouncy acoustic instrumental and cuttingly political lyrics, a streak that’s furthered by the gorgeous animated music video.
Leaning more into country rock than the previous King of a Land singles, the track allows Stevens to showcase his versatility as both a songwriter and a performer. He cites the Traveling Wilburys — the iconic supergroup made up of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty — as a primary influence when it came to the composition and tone of the tune.
“There is a hint of...
- 5/17/2023
- by Jonah Krueger
- Consequence - Music
"This house is unhinged!" drawls out Kent, Owen Wilson's priest character, in the latest trailer for "Haunted Mansion," where all kinds of spooky specters have come out to scare and torment. This latest offering from Disney is a remake of the 2003 Eddie Murphy-starrer and is based on the popular theme park attraction of the same name, which aims to thrill and haunt at the same time.
A lot seems to be going down in the newest "Haunted Mansion" trailer — ghosts creep up on the current residents of the mansion and scare the bejeezus out of them, the residents consider teaming up and performing an exorcism, and a myriad of entities hound poor Ben Matthias (Lakeith Stanfield) for some odd reason. The tone of the film retains the humor of the 2003 original but dials it down a bit, as it balances it out with eerie scares that lurk in every corner of the,...
A lot seems to be going down in the newest "Haunted Mansion" trailer — ghosts creep up on the current residents of the mansion and scare the bejeezus out of them, the residents consider teaming up and performing an exorcism, and a myriad of entities hound poor Ben Matthias (Lakeith Stanfield) for some odd reason. The tone of the film retains the humor of the 2003 original but dials it down a bit, as it balances it out with eerie scares that lurk in every corner of the,...
- 5/16/2023
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
Tom Petty was a rockstar in his own right, having shot to fame with his band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. However, he also gained notoriety after joining forces with former Beatles member George Harrison in the form of a band called The Traveling Wilburys. Petty spent plenty of time getting to know The Beatles — especially Harrison — and was a dear friend to them throughout most of his life. But when speaking about his connection to the rock band, Petty once said he didn’t “like to bring it up.”
Tom Petty, Sir Paul McCartney, and others attend George Harrison’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2009 | Michael Tran/FilmMagic Tom Petty had a close relationship with George Harrison and The Beatles
Despite being quite a few years younger than The Beatles, Tom Petty always had a close friendship with the band. Petty and his band, The Heartbreakers, formed in...
Tom Petty, Sir Paul McCartney, and others attend George Harrison’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2009 | Michael Tran/FilmMagic Tom Petty had a close relationship with George Harrison and The Beatles
Despite being quite a few years younger than The Beatles, Tom Petty always had a close friendship with the band. Petty and his band, The Heartbreakers, formed in...
- 5/14/2023
- by Julia Mullaney
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Despite having risen to fame six decades ago, The Beatles still remain a household name today. The quartet, comprised of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr, had plenty of hits together, solo, and even with other artists — the latter of which were not always so clearly known.
Every now and then, The Beatles were known to disguise themselves under silly pseudonyms and take part in other bands’ tracks. George Harrison was no exception; his fans might be surprised to learn he had a number of secret collaborations.
George Harrison and Eric Clapton in 1985 | Dave Hogan/Getty Images Cream featured George Harrison in ‘Badge’
Eric Clapton and George Harrison might have been the 1960s duo we never knew we needed. It’s widely known that Clapton and Harrison collaborated at least once when Clapton made an appearance on Teh Beatles’1968 song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” — still, Clapton never admitted the collaboration,...
Every now and then, The Beatles were known to disguise themselves under silly pseudonyms and take part in other bands’ tracks. George Harrison was no exception; his fans might be surprised to learn he had a number of secret collaborations.
George Harrison and Eric Clapton in 1985 | Dave Hogan/Getty Images Cream featured George Harrison in ‘Badge’
Eric Clapton and George Harrison might have been the 1960s duo we never knew we needed. It’s widely known that Clapton and Harrison collaborated at least once when Clapton made an appearance on Teh Beatles’1968 song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” — still, Clapton never admitted the collaboration,...
- 5/9/2023
- by Julia Mullaney
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison made up the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys. They released two albums in their time together but never went on tour. This was not for a lack of trying on Harrison’s part. According to Lynne, Harrison was the driving force behind the group, including the push to tour. Lynne shared Harrison’s off-the-wall ideas for how the band should put together a tour.
George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, and Eric Clapton | Fg/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images Jeff Lynne said George Harrison pushed for a Traveling Wilburys tour
The Traveling Wilburys were highly successful as a group, but they never played any concerts. Petty said that they often discussed the tour, but they were never able to make it work. This didn’t stop Harrison from pitching ideas about it.
“We never played any concerts, though George had some whack ideas about...
George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, and Eric Clapton | Fg/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images Jeff Lynne said George Harrison pushed for a Traveling Wilburys tour
The Traveling Wilburys were highly successful as a group, but they never played any concerts. Petty said that they often discussed the tour, but they were never able to make it work. This didn’t stop Harrison from pitching ideas about it.
“We never played any concerts, though George had some whack ideas about...
- 4/25/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
By 1963, the first flames of Beatlemania were ablaze, and The Beatles were on tour with Roy Orbison. Initially, Orbison was going to be the final act of the tour because of his popularity. By the time they got on tour, though, The Beatles were so popular that it didn’t make sense for anyone to follow them. This meant that Orbison played before they took the stage, which Ringo Starr admitted the band hated.
The Beatles and Roy Orbison | Bunny Atkins/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images The Beatles joined Roy Orbison on tour in 1963
The Beatles formed in 1960, and by 1963, their popularity was soaring in the United Kingdom. They went on a tour of the UK with a number of artists, including Orbison. At this point, Orbison was already a successful, established artist with hits like “Crying” and “In Dreams.”
George and @RoyOrbison on the Roy Orbison/The Beatles co-headlining UK tour,...
The Beatles and Roy Orbison | Bunny Atkins/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images The Beatles joined Roy Orbison on tour in 1963
The Beatles formed in 1960, and by 1963, their popularity was soaring in the United Kingdom. They went on a tour of the UK with a number of artists, including Orbison. At this point, Orbison was already a successful, established artist with hits like “Crying” and “In Dreams.”
George and @RoyOrbison on the Roy Orbison/The Beatles co-headlining UK tour,...
- 4/18/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
One of the most popular rappers is in legal hot water on a massive scale. Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny is riding high, with a Spider-Man spinoff movie on the way and a prominent role in an upcoming WWE pay-per-view. But a major lawsuit has come his way. It could put a damper on his otherwise great year.
The “Mia” rapper put something on one of his albums that may have been ill-advised. His vulnerable approach to lyrics and production may have hit too close to home for someone who used to be a big part of his life. The hit on his bank account might be far more than he ever thought possible.
Bad Bunny is on the wrong end of a massive lawsuit Bad Bunny at the 2023 Grammy Awards | Jc Olivera/WireImage
The media has romantically connected just a few women with Bad Bunny over the years. He...
The “Mia” rapper put something on one of his albums that may have been ill-advised. His vulnerable approach to lyrics and production may have hit too close to home for someone who used to be a big part of his life. The hit on his bank account might be far more than he ever thought possible.
Bad Bunny is on the wrong end of a massive lawsuit Bad Bunny at the 2023 Grammy Awards | Jc Olivera/WireImage
The media has romantically connected just a few women with Bad Bunny over the years. He...
- 4/18/2023
- by Agustin Mojica
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Rolling Stones‘ “Start Me Up” is one of the band’s most famous songs. In addition, it has a lyric that’s completely disgusting. That hasn’t stopped it from appearing in an Applebee’s commercial!
The Rolling Stones | Michael Putland / Contributor The Rolling Stones’ ‘Start Me Up’ is gross but somehow not controversial
For better or worse, The Rolling Stones were never afraid to be tasteless. For example, “Sympathy for the Devil” came at a time when Satanism in rock music was a lot more controversial. Mick Jagger sang “Midnight Rambler” from the perspective of the Boston Strangler at a time when his murders were fresh in the public consciousness. “Brown Sugar” is just about the most offensive classic rock song of all time.
“Start Me Up” doesn’t go as far as the latter two songs, but it’s still disgusting. Furthermore, it doesn’t seem to...
The Rolling Stones | Michael Putland / Contributor The Rolling Stones’ ‘Start Me Up’ is gross but somehow not controversial
For better or worse, The Rolling Stones were never afraid to be tasteless. For example, “Sympathy for the Devil” came at a time when Satanism in rock music was a lot more controversial. Mick Jagger sang “Midnight Rambler” from the perspective of the Boston Strangler at a time when his murders were fresh in the public consciousness. “Brown Sugar” is just about the most offensive classic rock song of all time.
“Start Me Up” doesn’t go as far as the latter two songs, but it’s still disgusting. Furthermore, it doesn’t seem to...
- 4/15/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Good things take time. The Beatles proved it. Paul McCartney and John Lennon needed time to grow as songwriters, so the Fab Four’s early records contained many covers. Another artist called John and Paul idiots as composers — then recorded one of their songs anyway. Even though The Beatles covered several of his songs in their live set, Paul threw Elvis Presley under the bus when explaining why Buddy Holly had a bigger impact on the Beatles.
(l-r) John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Paul McCartney of The Beatles; Buddy Holly| Bela Zola/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images; Harry Hammond/V&a Images/Getty Images Elvis inspired Paul McCartney and John Lennon when they formed The Beatles
Artists such as Elvis Presley, Bill Haley, Eddie Cochran, and Buddy Holly helped introduce post-War England to rock ‘n’ roll music. Judging by some of The Beatles’ earliest setlists, Elvis greatly impacted the band.
(l-r) John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Paul McCartney of The Beatles; Buddy Holly| Bela Zola/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images; Harry Hammond/V&a Images/Getty Images Elvis inspired Paul McCartney and John Lennon when they formed The Beatles
Artists such as Elvis Presley, Bill Haley, Eddie Cochran, and Buddy Holly helped introduce post-War England to rock ‘n’ roll music. Judging by some of The Beatles’ earliest setlists, Elvis greatly impacted the band.
- 4/9/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
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