Billy J. Kramer explained before an audience at last Sunday’s Liverpool Convention in the Adelphi Hotel why, after John Lennon broke up with Cynthia, he could no longer “chum up” with John. He said he saw John for the last time when he was still married to Cynthia. “I was a bit of a prude after he broke up with Cynthia and he took off with Yoko, so I didn’t take sides but I couldn’t “chum up” to John as I used to.”

In contrast, he’s still in touch with Paul, and goes to his concerts and he saw Ringo recently.

Interviewer Spencer Leigh who has been broadcasting on BBC Merseyside for 30 years asked Billy, “Was there a danger that his future wasn’t going anywhere signing on with Brian Epstein since Brian’s focus was the Beatles?”

Billy replied, “Brian devoted quite a lot of time with me, came to see me, came to critique me, how I sat on the stage, he would have it all written down when he came to see me. Though some of the criticisms were valid, some were not.”

Regarding how he had his first hit single, Billy says that Brian gave him a demo of “Do you Want to Know a Secret” that John Lennon had written, and the demo contained the sound of a toilet flushing which John had added to the tape for laughs. He said he wishes he still had those demo tapes but they’re long gone and he never thought about saving them back in the early days.

Billy said he was nervous playing in Hamburg at the Star Club, and that for most bands, they either got really good or they packed it up and went home. He said the Hamburg audiences didn’t respond to the new song, “Do you Want to Know a Secret”, so he didn’t expect the song to do much when it was released back home in England.

To his great surprise, when he came back home from Hamburg, “Do you Want to Know a Secret” was released and went straight to #1. Over the next few years, his band, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, had several hit singles and top selling albums.

He’s been in the states since the sixties and still enjoys performing. Billy says he’s thrilled and excited to be back in Liverpool to play after so many years. He hasn’t written a book yet, but says “it’s coming soon” and he joked he already has thought of the title for the new book, “I Was There”.

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Author appeared as a guest speaker Sunday at the Adelphi Hotel as part of the Liverpool Beatles Convention to talk about his new book on Paul McCartney, “Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney”, which was released last week in England and will be released in the US in October.

Interviewer Spencer Leigh asked Howard about how he went about researching his book on Paul McCartney and Howard said he started his research by reading many of the books written on Paul, and declared, “Most of the books written on Paul except for Barry Miles ‘Many Years From Now’ are just bad.”

Many books don’t start at the very beginning of Paul’s early years, Howard said, while his book starts at the very beginning and covers all of Paul’s life including the disastrous marriage with Heather. He also mentions how central Paul’s mother had been in his life and that she played a critical role throughout his life even after her early death when Paul was just 14.

Howard said one of the first things he did was, “I contacted Paul in writing and let him know about my book project on his life.” Fortunately, to his surprise and great relief, he said that not only got a reply back from Paul but he also received some help with his book, even though Paul doesn’t have control over what he is going to write.

Howard talked at length about the “pact with the devil” that he made with Daily Mail to publish a series of excerpts from his book, but that they have extracted the most sensational bits, sometimes out of context, which he has no control over but ultimately helps publicize his new book.

Surprisingly, he talked about how difficult Paul can be, for example when Paul refuses to hear what is being said to him.

“It’s very hard to tell Paul McCartney anything, especially if you’re in his financial pocket, when he owns the studio, pays for your hotel, airfare… People in the book tell the story about the ‘thumbs up Macca’ vs the ‘prodding thumb Macca’ whereby he’s jabbing his thumb in the center of your chest because he’s unhappy with whatever you did or said.”

Howard says he spoke to many people who knew and worked with Paul, and for those who he was able to interview, he learned that “all found him a handful, difficult. If you cross him, disagree with him, it can mean financial exile.”

He gave the example of what happened to Tony Bramwell when Paul had played a new song “London Town” for him, and Tony gave his opinion that the song needed more work. Paul didn’t like what Tony said, and so he turned into the “prodding thumb Macca” and then launched into a tirade. Tony was shocked that Paul then refused to talk to him for nearly 10 years, until one day showing up at Tony’s door, as if nothing had ever happened. This story was confirmed by Tony at the Liverpool Beatles convention.

Regarding Paul’s ex-girlfriend Jane Asher, Jane turned down Howard’s interview request as she has turned down every interview request regarding Paul for the past 40 plus years. Regarding Linda, Howard said, “I didn’t like Linda. I thought she was gauche and low class,” despite almost everyone who knew Linda saying what a great person she is and everyone saying that they had a fantastically happy marriage.

But, Howard did say that the “contrast between first and second marriage is incredible. Heather was a topless model with a spotted past. The whole thing is amazing.”

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THEY will come from far and near, descending on Liverpool city centre in their hundreds of thousands with one interest in common – music.

Visitors to this year’s Mathew Street Festival, taking place this Sunday and Monday, will find six stages filled with 95 bands from all over the world.

The free two-day event is marking its 18th birthday this year with more than 80 hours of live music and a fringe festival in venues across the city centre.

And this time round it aims to include music fans of all ages with the launch of a new family-friendly stage at the Albert Dock.

It will feature a diverse programme of local, family friendly talent, including a selection of the legendary Mersey Beat artists.

Juice FM Undiscovered will provide an opportunity for local, unsigned and original artists to perform on the British Waterways Floating Stage.

No Mathew Street Music Festival would be complete without a Beatles tribute or two providing the lead in a Beatles Sing-a-long, which will round off the perfect family day out at the Dock.

Jeremy Roberts, chair of Albert Dock Tenants Business Association, says: “Albert Dock is delighted to once again be celebrating Mathew Street Music Festival.

“We are also pleased to be working with Merseycats to add some of the legendary Mersey Beat bands

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Beatles hits sung by Russian monks in Antarctica will echo round Liverpool’s Anglican cathedral as part of a festival dedicated to peace.

It has taken months to track down singers from every continent willing to take part in the Peace, Love And Understanding concert on Saturday.

The monks from King George Island have recorded their Fab Four favourites and sent the video to the UK.

Organiser, John Keats, said: “We have singers from every continent now.”

The monks’ place of worship, Trinity Church, is believed to be the southernmost church in the world and was built near Bellingshausen Station, Russia’s permanent outpost in Antarctica.

Their tribute to John, Paul, George and Ringo will follow the likes of Japanese band, Beatribes, Charlie Guitar from the USA, Nube 9 from Argentina and other groups from around the world.

All of them will sing their own version of the Beatles’ songs in the grand cathedral in Duke Street.

The concert, which has been partly organised by Cavern City Tours, forms part of the International Beatle Week Festival, a five-day tribute to the famous Liverpudlian band which starts on Friday.

Festival venues include the Cavern Club and Cavern Pub in Mathew Street, the Adelphi Hotel, the Philharmonic Hall and, for the first time this year, Liverpool Cathedral.

To celebrate The Beatles’ legacy, the concert at the cathedral is taken from Paul McCartney’s belief that their music was about peace, love and understanding.

Mr Keats, of Cavern City Tours, said: “It’s taken a while but I am sure it’s going to be worth it, it really is amazing that performers from all over the world have got involved.

“The video from the Russian monks has been sent over from Antartica and is due in London this afternoon, we do not yet know which tunes they will be singing but we can’t wait to see it.”

The concert, which will be opened by the Bishop of Liverpool, will start with the cathedral’s bellringers chiming Across The Universe.

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The spirit of Beatles-mania will invade the Santa Monica Pier in the form of “Tribute to the Beatles 2010,” starting Thursday, Aug 26, until Saturday, Aug. 28.

The pier will be transformed into a festive tribute to the Fab Four whose music is still as popular as ever forty-six years after they landed on American soil. With the exception of the “Ticket to Ride” musical on the last night at Barnum Hall, this three-day Beatles party will be free and open-to-the public.

On all three days, Beatles fans will be surrounded by free live music performed by numerous tribute bands starting from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. A special British Invasion line-up of bands on Thursday, 7 p.m. will feature Led Zeppelin tribute band Led Zepagain, performing with hard rock Beatles tribute musician Mike Albert, the all-female Lady Beatles, and Rolling Stones tribute band Sticky Fingers.

The seaside festival will also feature Beatles karaoke and movies, live music and entertainment, the pier’s Park Pacific kid zone, raffles, food and a beer garden. There will also be booths for Beatles memorabilia and merchandise.

Beatles movies that will be playing include “Help!” and “Let it Be.” Photo opportunities will also be available with bands and different celebrities, including actor Dan Haggerty and professional wrestler Hulk Hogan.
The finale of the festival will be the Ticket to Ride musical on Saturday, Aug. 28, 8 p.m. at Barnum Hall. Chris Carter of ‘Breakfast with the Beatles’ on 95.5 KLOS will host the event. Tickets are available for $25 at all ticket master locations.

On Thursday the festivities will begin at noon and run through 10pm with a special performance of Led Zepagain during the Santa Monica piers Twilight Dance Series that begins at 7pm. From Friday to Saturday, hours will be from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. For more information on the event please visit www.tpclive.com or call (213) 219-1060.

The event has been sponsored and organized by L.A. Media Communications, KLOS 95.5, The Santa Monica Pier, The City of Santa Monica, The People’s Concert LLC, Abbey Road (The Total Beatles Tribute), NASCAR, Eastern Group Publications Inc., Royal Caribbean, Coke, The DoubleTree, Conciertos America, SuperStar Events, Red Chapter Clothing, Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau, La Jolla Booking Agency and many other local businesses.

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FLUSHING, N.Y., August 19, 2010 – More than 20,000 fans are expected to attend the premiere of Billy Joel’s documentary film “The Last Play at Shea” this Saturday night, August 21 at 8:00 p.m. at Citi Field. The event will mark the biggest outdoor movie presentation since 1919.

All tickets are priced at $10, available online at www.507TIXX.com and by phone at (718) 507-TIXX, with each ticket carrying a $2 per-ticket service charge. The Citi Field Advance Window, on the third base side of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, will be selling tickets without service charges through Saturday night. The show is rain or shine, and parking costs $5.

Fans will be entertained before the show starting at 6:00 p.m. with music, trivia contests, prize giveaways, and Mr. Met meet and greets.

On July 16 and 18, 2008, Billy Joel sold out the last concerts ever held at Shea Stadium, before a combined 110,000 fans.

“The Last Play at Shea,” produced by Steve Cohen and Nigel Sinclair, in conjunction with Billy Joel’s Maritime Pictures and Spitfire Films, examines the intersecting histories of a stadium, a team, and a music legend. The movie chronicles the life and career of Long Island native Billy Joel and parallels the history of both the Mets and their former home, Shea Stadium. Set to the soundtrack of Joel’s final Shea concerts, Last Play interweaves personal Joel interviews with exclusive concert footage featuring guests Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, John Mayer, Roger Daltrey, Steven Tyler and Sir Paul McCartney plus Mets greats, past and present. Shea Stadium’s musical send-off was a fitting tribute to the venue that hosted memorable concert events over the years, beginning with The Beatles in 1965.

The showing of “The Last Play at Shea” at Citi Field is expected to be the biggest outdoor movie presentation since “Motion Picture Day,” held July 4, 1919, in Columbus, Ohio. The studios of D.W. Griffith, Paramount Pictures and Famous Players-Lasky showed many of the films starring the most popular silent film actors of the time including Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks

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A Downingtown woman now has a permanent reminder of her fan fever for singer Paul McCartney.

Rose Ann Belluso went to the McCartney concert at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Sunday carrying a sign asking the superstar to sign her back.

With a list of checkboxes, the sign pointed out three tasks: “TA-2 guy on standby, Sharpie in my pocket, Paul signs my back please?”

The first two were obviously checked off, but by the end of the concert she could fill in the third.

“I held the sign up as soon as she came out and he looked right at me and he pointed at me and he went like…you,” Belluso said.

The former Beatle spotted the sign and called Belluso up on stage after the show to grant her request.

“He did it and then he turned me back around and gave me a big hug again and a kiss and then sent me on my way,” she said.

She spent the night sleeping on her stomach so not to smudge the ink. Then on Monday, Belluso decided to make the moment last forever — literally.

So, Belluso took a trip to a tattoo parlor in West Chester, Pa. to have McCartney’s signature permanently etched onto her body.

It’s her first tattoo. She says getting the autograph was the best experience of her life, behind the birth of her two children.

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October 19th is going to be a good day for hardcore Beatles fans. Dark Horse Records – the label which has handled the release of George Harrison’s non-Beatles music – has announced that on that day, fruits of the 20-year sonic partnership between “the quiet Beatle” and sitar-master Ravi Shankar will finally be released to the public. The collection – appropriately titled Collaborations – will be a three CD, one DVD, uniquely numbered, limited edition box set, which will also include a 56-page history of Harrison and Shankar that includes rare photos from family archives.

If you don’t already know, Shankar (who, coincidentally, is Norah Jones’ father) and Harrison’s most famous collaboration happened at the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh, which brought the likes of Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Ringo Starr, and Harrison and Shankar themselves onto the stage at Madison Square Garden for two sets of music to benefit refugees from what was then called East Pakistan. The benefit has already been released on film and tape to much acclaim, and that’s what makes the rare music on Collaborations sorta-kinda a big deal.

Harrison first met Shankar in 1965 and was subsequently inspired to use the sitar on the soundtrack for Help! and on “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)”, from the Beatles’ classic, Rubber Soul. The pair continued to collaborate, and now fans can watch the DVD and catch rare performance footage from Ravi Shankar’s Music Festival and indulge in the pair’s first joint recording project – 1974’s Shankar Family & Friends.

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Paul McCartney’s music is coming to the Seattle Symphony, September 16-19, 2010. And it promises to be more than just some violins and a sleepy conductor.

The Seattle Symphony website announces that “Live and Let Die:the McCartney Experience” combines the power of pop with the beauty of symphonic orchestration to bring an incredible concert experience to Paul McCartney and Beatles fans of all ages. Conductor Martin Herman leads the Orchestra and the band as they re-create McCartney’s most popular songs.

Live and Let Die features a four piece band and a full symphony orchestra. Tony Kishman (Paul), Jim Owen, (John) and Chris Camilleri (Ringo) are accomplished Beatles musicians from the group “Twist and Shout”.

Veteran of the Broadway hit, Beatlemania, Tony Kishman (Paul) has toured worldwide with many productions.

Jim Owen (John) starred in the masterpiece Beatles production, “Classical Mystery Tour” which has given him notoriety as a producer and band leader. Jim’s continued enthusiasm for his role as “John” in the show is irresistibly infectious to the audience, leaving them wanting more.

Chris Camilleri (Ringo) formed the internationally-renowned Beatles cover band Liverpool, which still reunites to perform at the Fests For Beatles Fans (formerly Beatlefest).

Some of the songs featured in the set include: Hey Jude, Penny Lane, Live and Let Die, Yesterday, My Love, Uncle Albert, Let It Be, Maybe I’m Amazed, Hello Good-Bye, Long and Winding Road, Get Back, Silly Love Songs, Jet, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club, plus many more.

Tickets to the event can be purchased at the Seattle Symphony website

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A parole hearing for John Lennon’s assassin was delayed until September, a court official said Tuesday, as the Beatles star’s killer sought conditional release after nearly 30 years in prison.

For the sixth time, Mark David Chapman, 55, is seeking release as part of a routine review of sentences at Attica prison in northern New York state, where he is an inmate. His hearing was scheduled for Tuesday.

“Mr. Chapman was informed today that his parole interview has been postponed one month,” the parole board said. “The Division of Parole is awaiting the receipt of additional information so that the record is complete for Mr. Chapman’s upcoming parole interview.”

The board’s decision would be announced the day after hearings are completed.

Chapman shot Lennon to death outside his Manhattan apartment building on December 8, 1980, an act that stunned the world and in the view of many historians marked the end of an era.

Chapman was sentenced in 1981 to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years in prison.

The widow of the former Beatle, Yoko Ono, has said on repeated occasions that she is opposed to Chapman’s release because she still considers him a threat to her family. His requests for parole have been rejected every two years since 2000

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