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That was the pronouncement of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the transformation of the Fab Four from the droll, cheeky mop-tops of 1964, to the lysergically induced hipster-gurus of 1967. Rumor has it that the Queen voiced this "turning funny" verdict to Sir Joseph Lockwood, chairman of the Beatles' British record company EMI, at a highbrow Buckingham Palace event that took place at the height of the boys' cosmic journey into all things metaphysical.
Post-communist Czechoslovakia was a country reborn of the fire of rock and roll! Today is the 26th anniversary of the start of the Velvet Revolution, a peaceful student-led anti-government protest movement that led to the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia in December 1989. The name of the revolution stemmed directly from Lou Reed's Velvet Underground, the house band of Andy…
The government of Richard Nixon spent thousands of taxpayer dollars, installed loads of surveillance equipment, and employed countless FBI agents in its four-year effort to deport America-loving peacenik John Lennon, whom they considered a major threat due to his left-wing political activism and relationships with anti-war "subversives." But Instant Karma got 'em all in the end.
Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr was so determined that his eldest son NOT follow in his footsteps that he gave the kid but one drum lesson in his life. Zak Starkey, who turns 48 today, would have to master the skill all by himself…with a little help from his godfather, Keith Moon of The Who.
"The Greatest Tea Room Orchestra in the World" is how British journalist and talk show host David Frost described The Beatles when they played "By George, It's The David Frost Theme" on his September 8, 1968, talk show. The tune was written by Beatles' producer George Martin. The boys appeared on the show to promote their new single, "Hey Jude," but couldn't resist hamming it up a bit. David Frost died this past Saturday at age 74. While I found his persona a bit annoying, I applaud him for snaring some great interviews. Beatle fans will be interested to know that Frost interviewed the Fab Four on various occasions throughout the years.
