Beatles

New Paul McCartney Music a Psychedelic Mess–Thank Goodness!

Published January 13th, 2009 by Karen

Paul McCartney is a fireman. Or, at least he’s part of the two-man band, the Fireman.
An odd pairing, the Fireman finds McCartney teamed up with Youth, a producer/performer best-known for his time as a member of punk/industrial noise-outfit Killing Joke.

But is it really as weird as it seems? Or is it the best work of McCartney’s post-Beatles career?

While the duo seems like an odd match on paper, on record the collaborations have resulted in what is easily the most exciting (and, unfortunately, most overlooked) output of McCartney’s post-Beatles career.

The third and latest offering from the Fireman, Electric Arguments, announces itself as a free-flowing exercise in sonic experimentation from the get-go—even the title, culled from an Allen Ginsberg work, alludes to the album’s wandering vibe. Continue reading »

"i believe that john lennon would not aprove . this kind of money making idea just makes me sick. remember john for what he stood for , not for what someone..."

Ron Froehlich

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Dead John Lennon Makes TV ad–is a New Lennon Album Next? Legal Beatles Downloads

Published January 9th, 2009 by Karen

John Lennon has been dead and buried for over 20 years, but the poor man still isn’t getting any peace.

As if having John Lennon quotes plastered on bumper stickers and his songs butchered by every frat boy with an acoustic guitar isn’t humiliating enough, the late-Beatle is now being paraded around in television ads for laptop computers.

Thanks, Yoko.

On the plus side, the ads are for a charitable organization that provides laptop computers to some of the world’s neediest kids, so some of this atrocity is almost forgivable. Still, there’s something very creepy about seeing and hearing a digitally manipulated film of Lennon talking about laptops, especially since computers were still rather uncommon at the time of his death in 1980.

If Yoko Ono stops here with the selling of Lennon, fans might forgive her. Let’s just hope this series of faux-Lennon commercials doesn’t expand to include commercials for electric cars and vegan food, or special performances during half-time at the superbowl.

Then again, this type of post-mortem digital resurrection could hold interesting, or horrifying, possibilities for Lennon’s music. What if this process were used to record his un-released songs with a digital Lennon clone/ voice impersonator? Same thing for Buddy Holly, Kurt Cobain, Jeff Buckley, Elvis and all of the other dead singers who fans still want to hear more from.

Actually, that’s a really horrifying idea and we hope it never ever happens.

Do you think the Lennon laptop commercial is cool or creepy?
Leave a comment and tell us what you think!

"What about Roger and Heather Daltrey....hasn't been 44 years but I believe they have been married for 38 or 39!"

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Secret to a Happy (rock star) Marriage and Free Wedding Music

Published October 7th, 2008 by Karen

Who has been married 44 years: One of the Beatles or the Rolling Stones?

With rock stars like Paul McCartney and Phil Collins making headlines for their $50 million dollar divorce settlements, it’s starting to seem as though all Hollywood weddings and rock’n’roll marriages are doomed.

However, long before Britney was divorced (twice) or Mariah Carey eloped, rock stars were walking down the aisle—and making it last.

Today we’re taking a look at some of the longest-lasting marriages in the rock music world. Members of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones have had successful relationships, but who comes out on top? Find out! (And, if you’re in the mood, check out some free wedding music mp3s).

Top Rock Star Weddings

11. David Bowie and Iman: Married 16 Years
A rockstar and a supermodel? Sounds like the recipe for marital success to us!
Free David Bowie MP3—Rebel Rebel MP3

10. John Cougar Mellencamp and Elaine Irwin: Married 16 Years

9. Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa: Married 17 Years

8. Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi) and Dorothea Hurley: Married 19 Years
Known for writing catchy love songs, it’s no surprise that Bon Jovi married his childhood sweetheart.

7. George Harrison (Beatles) and Olivia Trinidad Arias: Married 23 Years (until Harrison’s death in 2001).

6. Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones) and Jo Howard—Unfortunately, after 23 years of marriage, this couple seems to be headed for divorce court, but they’re still married for now, so they’re on our list.

5. Keith Richards (Rolling Stones) and Patti Hansen: Married 25 Years
Yeah, we were pretty shocked by this one, too!

4. Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne: Married 26 Years

3. Ringo Starr (Beatles) and Barbara Bach: Married 27 Years
The Beatle drummer found happiness with one of the Bond Girl beauties from the James Bond films, lucky fella.

2. Paul McCartney (Beatles) and Linda McCartney: Married 29 Years (until Linda’s death)
Paul and Linda had one of the best marriages in rock’n’roll history. Unfortunately, things with Heather Mills didn’t go quite as well.

Free Beatles MP3—Can’t Buy Me Love MP3

And, the winner of best Rock Star marriage is…
1. Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones
Charlie Watt married Shirley Ann Shepherd in October of 1964, which means they’ve been married for 44 years. While the other Rolling Stones were out partying, the soft-spoken drummer used to speak openly about how much he missed his wife and family while on tour.

Being married for 44 years is a long time by any standard, and considering Watts is a member of one of the most famous bands in the world—The Rolling Stones—it’s AMAZING!

Free Rolling Stones MP3—Satisfaction Free MP3

What do you think?
Are you surprised that Rock Stars can make their marriages last?
Can young stars learn something from these successful marriages?
Leave a comment and tell us what you think.

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McCartney Divorce costs $48mill, Spitzer Girl Nude photo brings $1mill

Published March 17th, 2008 by Karen

Love isn’t cheap, just ask Paul McCartney and Eliot Spitzer.

It has been a busy time for Sir Paul McCartney.

With the recent announcement of a long-awaited deal with iTunes that will finally allow fans to buy downloads of their favorite Fab Five music, McCartney struck a digital goldmine.

Which brings us to Heather Mills McCartney.

Viewed by many as a gold-digger, Sir Paul’s ex-wife has been embroiled in a lengthy battle with the Beatle over his vast fortune. Today a judge ruled that McCartney’s ex, the mother of his daughter Beatrice, is entitled to $48.6million.

Considering they were only married for about four years (they wed in 2002 and McCartney filed for divorce in 2006), that comes out to just over $12million per year, or a little over one million dollars a month.

Another gold-digger making headlines, Eliot Spitzer’s prostitute friend Kristen, aka Ashley Alexandra Dupre, is turning negative publicity into slightly smaller payday, with sales of her mp3 music downloads jumping in price from $0.20 to $0.98 each, AP reported.

That’s not too shabby considering the songs are practically worse than the similarly skanky Pussycat Dolls.

Of course, Dupre was reported offered one million dollars to pose nude for Larry Flynt’s infamous Hustler Magazine.

In honor of Sir Paul’s rough week and the high cost of cheap love, we offer Fab 5 Free Beatles downloads that sum up his short marriage to Heather.

Can’t Buy Me Love(video)
I Should Have Known Better(video)
Free As A Bird

I’m A Loser
I Feel Fine (video)

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Beatles iTunes, Finally.

Published March 10th, 2008 by Karen

It was just announced that Beatles mouthpiece Paul McCartney has inked a $400 million deal to put Beatles music on iTunes.

Odds are the other remaining Beatle, Ringo Starr, will get a cut of the cash as well, but Apple scarcely mentions him in connection with the deal.

But is it worth it?

The pay-per-song format of iTunes is useful when listeners only want one or two songs from an artist rather than a whole album.

However, the Beatles are already one of the top-selling bands of all time. So, odds are a good chunk of the population already owns several Beatles CDs or albums—which means they don’t need to download them, they can just rip their CDs and add them to their music player.

And, even if folks who own Beatles LPs decide they’d like digital versions for their mp3 players and iPods, Beatles downloads have certainly been available online without iTunes, both through legal free Beatles music downloads sites like EZ-Tracks, music streaming sites like Mp3.com and various illegal sites.

So, did iTunes just make a $400 million mistake? Only time will tell.

In the mean time, check out some of the Top Beatles Music Downloads.

Beatles—“Can’t Buy Me Love” free download

Beatles—“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” free download

Beatles—“Strawberry Fields Forever” free download

Beatles—“Help!” video

Beatles—“Yesterday” video

Is $400 million too much for McCartney?
Will you download Beatles music from iTunes?
Leave a comment and let us know.

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Top 10 Most Expensive Music Auction Items, inlcuding John Lennon’s 48k Haircut

Published December 12th, 2007 by Karen

Today at auction, a lock of John Lennon’s hair sold for $48,000.

That’s a much as a new car (or two, if you’re thrifty). Or, about 320 iPod nanos.

That’s insane. Seriously.

So, in honor of crazy holiday shoppers everywhere, I’ve put together a list of what might be the silliest, most expensive things collectors have ever bought at music memorabilia auctions.

Of course, most of this stuff was purchased by ultra wealthy collectors who treat this stuff like stock investments instead of rock’n’roll treasures… Oh well.

Top 10 Most Absurdly Expensive Music Memorabilia Ever Auctioned

10. John Lennon’s Hair in an autographed copy of A Spaniard in the Works was auctioned this week for $48k. That just might be the most expensive haircut ever.

9. Poems handwritten by Bob Dylan in 1960 sold for $78k in November 2005 at Christie’s.

8. A poster for the Beatles’ 1966 concert at Shea Stadium sold for $132k in 2004 through the rock’n’roll memorabilia auction company, It’s Only Rock’n’Roll

7. A fan paid nearly $168,000 for a pair of tickets to Led Zeppelin’s reunion concert in December 2007. Hope he had good seats!

6. Music memorabilia book author/collector Peter Blecha paid $497,500 for “Brownie,” the guitar Eric Clapton used to record the hit song, “Layla.”

5. Someone paid $550,000 George Harrison guitar at a Christie’s auction in 2004. 4. Another one of Eric Clapton’s guitars, “Blackie,” sold for $959,000 to Guitar Center. The Fender Stratocaster was Slowhand’s main axe from 1970-1985. 3. John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics to “All You Need is Love” sold for $1million in July 2005.

2. George Michael paid the second highest music auction price when he spent $ 2.1 million in 1990 for the piano Lennon used to write the song “Imagine.” Guess he made a LOT of money with the video for “Faith.”

And the winner, er, loser is:

1. John Lennon’s psychedelic 1965 Phantom V Rolls-Royce sold for $2.3 million at auction in 1982.

Would you spend this much cash on someone’s old guitar or car? Leave me a comment and tell me what’s on your music shopping list!

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Rock’n’roll Dictionary Pt. 2: Beatles, Ramones & More

Published December 5th, 2007 by Karen

Inspired by the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ recent lawsuit against Showtime tv series, “Californication” over claims that the band made up the word “Californication” and the show is using it without permission, we were inspired to create the Rock’n’Roll Dictionary to track down other words that were invented by songwriters and bands.

This time around, we’re taking a look at the wordsmith skills of the Ramones, the Beatles, Pink Floyd and more in Rock’n’Roll Dictionary Pt.2.

There are probably tons of other nonsense lyrics we’ve missed, so stay tuned for future installments of Rock’n’roll Dictionary! Did we forget your favorite? Leave a comment and let us know what’s on your list!

Rock’n’roll Dictionary Pt. 2

Badonkadonk—A word describing a woman’s backside, it was apparently first used on a recording by Keith Murray, but made more popular by Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott’s song “Work It,” and Trace Adkins country hit, “Honkey Tonk Bandonkadonk.”

Ob-la-di ob-la-da—Used by the Beatles in 1968’s “Ob-la-di, ob-la-da.” The phrase was reportedly picked up by Paul McCartney from Nigerian drummer, Jimmy Scott.

Gabba Gabba Hey—Catchphrase made popular byNew York punk legends the Ramones in the song, “Pinhead.” Inspired by a scene in the classic horror flick, Freaks.

Ummagumma—Used by Pink Floyd in “The Nile Song,” it’s a nonsensical word that is slang for sex in theUK.

Wooly Bully—Used by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs in 1965’s “Wooly Bully.” Like most of these phrases: it doesn’t mean a thing, but it sure is fun to sing!

Did we forget your favorite? Leave a comment and let us know who’s on your list!