Thursday 28 March 2019

Issue 69 in the post!

The first issue of 2019 is in the post to all our members! Read below to see what's stuffed into this issue. Non members can order a copy from our website here.

                                                                      Issue 69 (March 2019) includes:
  • The Beatles A Day In The Life
  • Coming Up-Forthcoming Events
  • Media Watch
  • George Harrison on Cloud Nine
  • The Beatles NOT For Sale
  • David Stark Book Preview
  • Magical Mystery Museum
  • Looking For Lennon
  • Paul McCartney Concert Reviews
  • When was the last time you played that?
  • Politics of John Lennon - Part 5
  • Paperback Writers
  • Beatles Boots
  • Try Some, Buy Some-New Releases
  • Offers and Discounts
  • Crap Photo of the Month

Saturday 23 March 2019

Review: Pepperland - Wow!


PEPPERLAND
Sadler’s Wells, London March 22, 2019.

Photo by Mat Hayward
Currently touring the UK, this excellent show is a celebration of the album Sgt. Pepper. The show was originally premiered in Liverpool in May 2017 as part of the Pepper at 50 celebrations.


Performed by the Mark Morris Dance Group, the show contains six songs from the album plus ‘Penny Lane’ intertwined with a score by Ethan Iverson based on the album, the concept and the album sleeve. It’s an interesting take on the album with virtually all the cast being from the USA.

The choreography throughout is superb. The dancers are in colourful outfits. The only thing I couldn’t work out was what the back drop of the set meant.


The show opens with ‘Sgt. Pepper’ followed by ‘Magna Carta’, part of the score which introduces some of those who feature on the album cover. What was particularly great about this was that some of those lesser known people on the sleeve were mentioned. The cast also didn’t try to look like those who were introduced. Marilyn Monroe appeared as a brunette and we also had a black Albert Einstein. These things added to the joy of the show which I took to mean that it doesn’t matter what or who we are- we are all one, something The Beatles would have appreciated with their messages of peace and love.




‘A Little Help from My Friends’ and ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’, come before one of the best parts of the show. ‘Within You, Without You’ has one of the dance group sat close to the front of the stage in dark glasses, which reminded me of the ‘Blue Jay Way’ sequence from the Magical Mystery Tour film. He is motionless throughout whilst the rest of the group dance around the stage. It was very pleasing that this song was included in the show.


'Within You, Without You' - photo by Mat Hayward
After some more music from the score we have ‘Penny Lane’ and then ‘A Day in The Life’. ‘A Day in The Life’ was for me the best part of the show. As the song was being played instrumentally, the dancers acted out the words with magical sequences. ‘I read the news today oh boy. The English army had just won the war’ was acted out with dancers crawling on the ground like soldiers, before standing up, saluting and giving the peace sign. This was just one example. I don’t want to give everything away.


We close with the ‘Sgt. Pepper Reprise’.


The songs are sung beautifully by Clinton Curtis. It would be wrong of me to single any of the dancers out for special praise as they were all superb. The show lasted just over an hour, and the cast received a standing ovation at the end.


Photo by Mat Hayward
If you are in the UK, you don’t need to spend thousands of pounds going to see Love in Las Vegas. You will have just as much fun seeing this magical show. If you get the chance go and see this magical show and celebration of one of the greatest albums ever made.


The show is also supporting people suffering with Parkinson’s Disease. There are special dance classes happening in the towns and cities where and when the show is touring. For more information go to www.danceconsortium.com or www.danceforparkinsonsuk.org
 

The show is touring the following locations between now and the end of April: Birmingham, Salford Quays, Bradford, Edinburgh, Canterbury, Cardiff, Plymouth, Southampton, Norwich, Newcastle and Dublin.


~Ernie Sutton.

Saturday 16 March 2019

Win Tickets to see LET IT BE!

The British Beatles Fan Club has partnered with the organizers of the Let It Be! to offer this competition.

THE PRIZE:  One pair of FREE tickets to the Let It Be Show (to the opening night of location of your choice). The newest version of the show includes a new second act with a "must see" reunion.  Five pairs to be won!

WHO CAN ENTER: This competition is open only to British Beatles Fan Club members.

HOW IT WORKS:  Answer the trivia question below and send the answer to us via email along with your name, membership number, and the tour location you want to attend (see list at the bottom of this page).

THE QUESTION: Which Bob Dylan song is mentioned in the lyrics of a song on the album Let it Be?  Please name the Beatles song that mentions it and the Dylan song.

THE FINE PRINT: The winner is responsible for all other costs for attending the show including but not limited to transportation.  The prize is two tickets only. 

HOW THE WINNERS ARE CHOSEN: All entries with the correct answer to the trivia question will be put into a hat.  Five names will be drawn and those winners will be contacted to identify which opening night date/location they want to attend.  The winners will work with the show promoters to arrange for their tickets.

THE DEADLINE: The contest closes at midnight UK time on Monday April 1, 2019.

ENTER HERE 
(Link opens your email - may need to double click)


WITH NEW UK DATES FOLLOWING SELL OUT EUROPEAN TOUR

LET IT BE 2019 UK TOUR
CAST ANNOUNCED
 
Tour opens in Portsmouth in April, followed by Inverness, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Blackpool, Bath, Bradford and Norwich
 
Act Two features ‘must see’ reunion that never was, featuring Fab Four’s iconic solo material
_______________________________________________

The super talented cast of singers and musicians appearing in the 2019 UK tour of Let It Be: A Celebration Of The Music Of The Beatles has been announced.

Let It Be UK Tour 2018 - Credit Anthony Robling
The smash-hit show returns to stages during Spring 2019 to present the updated show to UK audiences.

The new UK tour starts in Portsmouth on 23 April, before visiting Inverness, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Blackpool, Bath, Bradford and Norwich.

Emanuele Angeletti (Paul McCartney); John Brosnan (George Harrison); and Ben Cullingworth (Ringo Starr) all resume their respective roles from the previous tour. Richard Jordan as John Lennon completes the Fab Four line-up. The band will be joined on stage throughout the tour by musical director Michael Bramwell on keyboards.

Let It Be is a celebration of the iconic music of The Beatles and has already been seen by more than two million people worldwide, including a run in the West End and two UK tours.

Beatles fans are invited to join John, Paul, George and Ringo for an unforgettable night of live music – with Manny, John, Ben, Richard and Michael playing and singing live.

Act One takes audiences through the early days of the band as they embarked on their musical journey and onwards to the heights of global Beatlemania. The historic Royal Variety Performance, Shea Stadium and those iconic Sergeant Pepper costumes all feature. The first half of the evening features many of their most famous songs including I Want to Hold Your Hand, Day Tripper, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Penny Lane, A Day In The Life, Come Together, Get Back, and The End.

Let It Be UK Tour 2018 - Credit Anthony Robling
In a twist from the original Let It Be show, Act Two is set a decade after The Beatles went their separate ways. It gives fans a rare glimpse of how the Fab Four could have Come Together once again to perform – and is not to be missed.

Audiences are taken on a memorable and unique step back in time to the reunion concert taking place on 9 October 1980 – it’s John Lennon’s 40th Birthday. This is the ultimate concert that never was. The band reunite for one night only, just Imagine.

Let It Be UK Tour 2018 - Credit Anthony Robling
The band’s solo material featured includes Starting Over, Band On The Run, Black Bird, Got My Mind Set On You, My Sweet Lord, Live and Let Die, and Imagine.

The new tour coincides with a number of iconic anniversaries in the history of the most successful band of all time, The Beatles – who started out as just four young lads from Liverpool.

This year marks 50 years since The Beatles took those infamous steps across the pedestrian crossing outside EMI’s Abbey Road Studios in London, which went on to become one of the most famous album covers of all time.

Sadly, it also marks the 50th anniversaries of the group playing together for the final time with a rooftop performance on top of the Apple Corps building in London’s Savile Row. They also finished recording Abbey Road – and this year also marks half a century since the album was released.
Let It Be UK Tour 2018 - Credit Anthony Robling

Let It Be producer Jeff Parry said: “The original Let It Be was a hit with Beatles fans all over the world, but UK audiences’ reaction to the new show and the new Act Two reunion concert that never was, has been nothing short of phenomenal.

“It may be almost half a century since The Beatles split, but their popularity and their influence just seems to keep growing, with their incredible and creative catalogue of music attracting a whole new generation of fans. And with so many important anniversaries during 2019, we’re delighted to take this special show to thousands more Beatles fans here in the UK.”

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY ABOUT LET IT BE

A masterstroke’
British Theatre Guide

‘A rare glimpse of how the Fab Four could have Come Together once again’
Theatre News UK

“A joy to hear these beloved songs live”
The Mail on Sunday

‘The cast left me in complete awe during the second half of Let It Be’
Lowdown Magazine

Website:         www.LetItBeLive.com
Facebook:       /LetItBeUKTour
Twitter:           @LetItBeUKTour

LET IT BE UK 2019 TOUR

PORTSMOUTH
Kings Theatre
Tuesday 23 April – Saturday 27 April 2019
023 9282 8282
ON SALE NOW
PRESS NIGHT TUESDAY 23 APRIL 2019

INVERNESS
Eden Court
Monday 29 April – Saturday 4 May 2019
01463 234234
ON SALE NOW
PRESS NIGHT MONDAY 29 APRIL 2019 

GLASGOW
SEC Centre
Friday 10 May – Saturday 11 May 2019
0844 395 4000
ON SALE NOW
PRESS NIGHT FRIDAY 10 MAY 2019

ABERDEEN
His Majesty’s Theatre
Monday 13 May – Saturday 18 May 2019
01224 641122
ON SALE NOW
PRESS NIGHT MONDAY 13 MAY 2019

BLACKPOOL
Winter Gardens
Wednesday 22 May – Saturday 25 May 2019
0844 856 1111
ON SALE SOON
PRESS NIGHT WEDNESDAY 22 MAY 2019

BATH
Theatre Royal
Monday 27 May – Saturday 1 June 2019
01225 448844
ON SALE SOON
PRESS NIGHT MONDAY 27 MAY 2019

BRADFORD
Alhambra Theatre
Tuesday 4 June – Saturday 8 June 2019
01274 432000
ON SALE SOON
PRESS NIGHT TUESDAY 4 JUNE 2019

NORWICH
Theatre Royal
Monday 17 June – Saturday 22 June 2019
01603 630000
ON SALE NOW
PRESS NIGHT MONDAY 17 JUNE 2019

Tuesday 12 March 2019

Celebrating The Beatles in Shrewsbury in September

If you're going to Beatleweek at the end of the summer and want a cure for the inevitable downer that happens when you return home, or if you aren't able to go to Beatleweek and want an alternative, either way, the press release we are sharing below is your perfect solution!



It’s almost impossible to imagine the modern world without The Beatles. Their impact upon popular culture has been – and continues to be – enormous. Their music and their iconic image are loved by young and old alike.
This year, Shrewsbury will be celebrating all things Fab Four with the Shrewsbury Beatles Weekend.

On September 20th, 21st and 22nd there will be a whole range of events in the county town including live music, special guest speakers and Beatles film screenings – once again proving that All You Need Is Love.

The weekend will culminate with a concert at Theatre Severn featuring – from Liverpool – the top Beatles tribute band, The Mersey Beatles.

What’s more: the entire weekend is in aid of the Mayor of Shrewsbury’s charity 2019-20, the Samaritans of Shrewsbury.

Shrewsbury Town Councillor Phil Gillam, currently deputy mayor and due to be mayor from May, says: “I’m a lifelong Beatles devotee and I wanted to devise a fundraising event that would be tremendous fun but also something that would be close to my heart in every way.

“So, a Shrewsbury Beatles Weekend seemed the perfect answer – and the icing on the cake is that it will be in aid of the Shrewsbury Samaritans, a fantastic and entirely local, self-funding charity that does a phenomenal amount of good right across our community.”

Events for Shrewsbury Beatles Weekend will be centred largely around Theatre Severn with film screenings and special guest speakers – plus the main concert on the Sunday night.

There will be additional events across Shrewsbury including musicians presenting live renditions of Beatles songs in the cellars of The Butter market, a venue reminiscent of the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool where the Fab Four first attracted attention.

“Of course, Shrewsbury does have genuine connections to The Beatles,” said Mr Gillam. “They played here three times – once at The Granada, twice at The Music Hall – and they even wrote one of their biggest hits, ‘From Me to You’, while travelling from York to their next gig in Shrewsbury in February 1963.

In addition, it’s the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ classic album, Abbey Road, this September and The Mersey Beatles will be performing the album in its entirety as part of their act.

Fellow organiser Tim King said: “We are just so excited about this event. The world-wide impact of The Beatles extends far beyond music. Pushing aside the post-war drudgery of the 1950s, this band emerged as beacons of hope. With their attitude, their sharp wit and of course their extraordinary records, they influenced the worlds of fashion, media and so much more. Today – almost half a century since the group broke up – they continue to be loved the world over.”

Ticket information - Theatre Severn box office: 01743 281281.

www.shrewsburybeatles.com

Visit and like our Facebook Page at: -
www.facebook.com/ShrewsburyBeatles

All enquiries - or for further information, please contact:
Phil Gillam
Email: philoncloudbase@gmail.com
Tim King - 07948 419 008
Email: timothy.king@yahoo.com