Awesome Book

I picked up this book from the Pepperdine Library a while ago. It was a great look at each of the Beatles' beliefs of religion. I thought it was very interesting, and it does away with the typical views of John being an atheist or George being a Hindu. It takes a look at what role religion played in their childhood, adult life, music, and career. I really recommend it!

Helter Skelter

This song just came up on my ipod when I was listening to shuffle. I really never listen to this song because... I actually don't know why! Just thought I'd pay tribute to one of the strangest Beatle songs ever (although it's on the White Album so it's probably one of the more normal ones in that context). It seems like a very un-Beatle-like song with the heavy guitar and screaming the entire 4 1/2 minutes or however long it is. Paul mainly wrote this song, basing it on a recent Who song. Anyway, this song is awesome and deserves some recognition despite the horrific events related to it!

Happy 71st birthday Ringo!

Richard Starkey was born on July 7, 1940 in Liverpool. An only child, he never really knew his dad as he left their family when Richard was very young. He was therefore raised by his mother and his mother's friends. Like the other three Beatles, Richard hated school, but luckily for him, he didn't attend much of it as he was frequently sick as a child. Around the age of six, Richard had appendicitis and it was predicted by the doctors that he wouldn't live through the operation. But he recovered well and continued his time with school. Like John, Paul, and George, he soon was captured by rock n' roll but was uninterested in the guitar. He loved the drums. His mother bought him the cheapest drum set (his family lived in the worst part of Liverpool and he was the poorest of the Beatles) and he learned from that. By 20, he had become the drummer of a local Liverpool band called Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, a decently successful group that had its own act, uniforms, and manager. Incidentally, Rory Storm and the Beatles (who had recently changed their name from the Quarrymen) were playing in the same club in Hamburg, Germany. Richard, who had changed his name to Ringo Starr due to the number of rings he wore on his fingers, met John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best, and Stu Sutcliffe (the original members of the Beatles) in this club, but never really interacted with them until they all went back to Liverpool. When Stu left and Pete was sacked, there was an opening for the drummer position in the Beatles. John, Paul, and George, remembering Ringo from their Hamburg days, asked their manager, Brian Epstein and record producer, George Martin, if they could invite Ringo to become the fourth member of the Beatles. They finally agreed and asked Ringo to join for 25 pounds a week. Rory Storm offered 20 pounds so Ringo took the Beatles for the money. He didn't know then, that that was a life-changing decision. By August 1962, the Fab Four was complete and their first album "Please Please Me" was released. It took a while for Ringo to become acquainted with the other three, as they had been playing together for years and were best friends. Ringo was often left out of things and was considered a part of the Beatles but not a friend. This changed soon enough and after that the four were a very close-knit group. After the Beatles broke up in 1970, Ringo went on to do solo work, but was only mildly successful. Paul with his post-Beatles band Wings, was astronomically more successful but Ringo did have his share. Ringo has several children from several different marriages, the oldest of which, Zak (whom he had with Maureen Cox in 1965) is the replacement drummer for the Who when they go on tour. He lives in England but owns homes in several places, including Malibu which is where I live! I wish Ringo Starr a very happy 71st birthday!

44th Anniversary of the "All You Need Is Love" Recording!

Today, June 25, 2011, marks the 44th anniversary for the recording of "All You Need Is Love." The recording that went on the records was filmed and done all in one take. Such people like the Rolling Stones and other prominent people of the 60s were present for this truly momentous occasion. Yin yang symbols, hearts, and balloons covered the studio as well as people dressed in brightly colored outfits with (like Paul) flowers in their hair. The epitome of the hippy movement seems to have happened on June 25, 1967 in London.

Happy 69th Birthday Paul McCartney!

James Paul McCartney was born on June 18, 1942 in Woolton, Liverpool to Mary and Jim McCartney. Mary was a nurse and Jim was the conductor of Jim Mac's Jazz Band. His younger brother Michael, is a photographer. Paul started playing piano at an early age and after hearing Louis Armstrong on a record learned trumpet. But like other boys his age in the 1950s, rock n' roll took over the jazz genre and he picked up guitar, but he had to restring it because he realized that he was left-handed. Mary McCartney died when Paul was 12, and her death played a bit role in his songwriting career. When Paul was 15, he met John Lennon (who was 17) through a mutual friend at a church celebration. Paul was invited to join the Quarrymen (John's band) after a short audition and from there the Beatles began. One of the two Beatles left to keep the legacy going, Paul still tours and plays all of his songs, solo, Beatles, or Wings. But he has learned that the Beatle songs are by far his audience's favorite. Paul is recently engaged (after the death of his first wife of 30 years, Linda and the divorce of his second wife, Heather Mills) and has several children, Stella McCartney, one of the most famous fashion designers being his second oldest daughter. An active animals rights participant, Paul has led several campaigns in favor of vegitarianism. It seems that "All You Need Is Love" has now translated to animals!

Just found this picture!

I just found this picture and I really liked it! This seems like a weird thing to remark on, but Paul's eyebrows are absolutely incredible! They're so well shaped that most women don't have eyebrows like that. But, this a great picture clearly showing his leftedness.

Research Paper on the Beatles!

I'm down to my last  few weeks of school (one and half weeks left!!!!) and my teachers have brought up the issue of finals. I'm in AP European History and since I already took the AP test in May, which in a way is sort of like my final test, my teacher isn't giving us a test. Instead we have to write a research paper on any subject that has to do with some aspect of European history. The Beatles are European...they greatly affect culture...I guess I'm writing a research paper on the Beatles!!! My topic is specifically the effect of the Beatles on the West (UK and US) versus the effect on the USSR. I'm getting started on it as I write this so I don't have anything to say on the subject yet but I will in the future. Who knows, maybe I'll post my thesis and some of the things I found out?