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Here Come the Sons

Sometimes the people who should know the most about the benefits of protecting history know the least. James McCartney, Paul McCartney’s thirty-four-year-old son, has told the BBC that he and the other Beatle sons have considered creating a band called “The Beatles—The Next Generation.” Set aside the possibility that this is a particularly sadomasochistic April Fools’ joke, and you have, instead, a puzzling train of thought that cannot possibly stay on the tracks.

It’s not just that the Beatles’ offspring—McCartney, who is beginning to embark on a solo career; George’s son Dhani, who has recorded with a band called thenewno2 and, more recently, helped to develop a guitar app based on his father’s work; John’s son Sean, who has been a moderately successful solo artist and is now part of a duet act, The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, with his model girlfriend Charlotte Kemp Muhl; and Ringo’s son Zak, who has drummed with the Who and others—are different kinds of musicians than their fathers. And it’s not just that the chemistry that made the Beatles what they were, as individuals and as a collective, existed in a certain time and place, both defining and being defined by the massive social changes that surrounded it. It’s also that the very men who should be protecting that legacy are talking, even in passing, about burlesquing it. Lorne Michaels should offer them a thousand dollars each to abandon the idea.

McCartney’s idea, as whimsical as anything his father ever dreamed up, suggests another topic: why music genes don’t seem to be inherited in the same way as, say, intelligence, or appearance. In 2005, Rolling Stone published a cover story called “The Children Of Rock” (“They Grew Up In the Shadow of Legends—and Lived To Tell the Tale”). Sean Lennon was pictured on the front cover , along with Alexandra Richards (daughter of Keith), Nona Gaye (daughter of Marvin), Ben Taylor (son of James and Carly), and James Garfunkel (clone/son of Art). At the time, most of them were considering music careers: a decade later, few are recording regularly, having decamped instead for careers in modelling (Richards), acting (Gaye), and business (Garfunkel).

The second generation shouldn’t be maligned for their choices, of course. As the article details, children of famous rock stars have it easy in some ways (money, mainly), but hard in others (tumultuous home lives, a close-up look at the displeasures of fame, and, most dominantly, the pressure of their parents’ achievement). And, while there are plenty of second-generation talents (Teddy Thompson, Rufus Wainwright, Joachim Cooder, Justin Townes Earle), the kids that succeed most commonly do so by marking off the difference between their career and their parents’ careers. (It’s a dynamic that allows the parents, then, to be respectful and supportive—at a recent show at City Winery, Richard Thompson lovingly invited Teddy onstage to sing a few songs with him, and the Wainwrights have collaborated together often.)

Ironically, although talent and drive may not be inherited, vocal quality often is. Taylor’s vocals can sound eerily like his father’s. (As do, say, Harper Simon’s, who is Paul’s son.) The most famous example of this, of course, is the Lennon example—not Sean, but Julian, John’s older son, who briefly became a star in the eighties with hits like “Too Late For Goodbyes” and “Valotte.” John Lennon’s assassination was still a recent memory, and Julian served, at the time, as a kind of psychic replacement. His career tapered off quickly after that, though he released an album last year titled “Everything Changes.” It hadn’t, and the album didn’t make much of an impression.

So here’s to hoping that the Beatles—The Next Generation never happens, for the sake of the Beatles, the Beatles—The Next Generation, and for the rest of us. Jakob Dylan, who is perhaps the most successful second-generation rock star, used to cover The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” onstage when his band the Wallflowers were a going concern. Let’s all take that lesson to heart.

Photograph of James McCartney by Dwayne Senior/Eyevine/Redux.

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Will the Beatles’ Sons Really Form Their Own Band?

Beatles fans spent the 1970s hoping the band might get back together, before John Lennon's death put the kibosh on that. But a few dreamers held out and spent the '80s floating the idea that the Beatles could still always reunite and tour with Julian Lennon, who was a huge MTV star at the time, subbing for his dad. Naïveté is stronger than death, right?

But now a new sort of hope has drifted entirely toward the Beatle descendants. Paul's son, 34-year-old singer/songwriter James McCartney, told the BBC that he'd be up for forming a band with some other musically inclined Scions of the Fabs. The group could be called "The Beatles—The Next Generation," the BBC interview helpfully suggested.

James even suggested that he'd had discussions with other Beatle offspring that could result in a quorum…. with one major holdout to contend with.

[Related: Paul McCartney: The Beatles Considered Reuniting]

"I don't think it's something that Zak wants to do," said McCartney, referring to Ringo Starr's son Zak Starkey, a highly successful drummer. "Maybe Jason would want to do it," he added, throwing the name of a lesser-known Starr offspring into the mix. "I'd be up for it. Sean (Lennon) seemed to be into it, Dhani (Harrison) seemed to be into it. I'd be happy to do it."

While acknowledging that the idea didn't seem to have much traction at the moment, he said it could still happen with "the will of God (and) nature's support… So yeah, maybe."

Go, Lil Beatles!

This is simultaneously the best and worst idea ever. Best, if it were a one-off at a charity event, where everyone could be shocked and charmed and hold it in their memories for posterity. Worst, if there were really a thought of making some sort of touring attraction out of this literal Dad Rock homage. If it didn't work for Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees to put on the Sgt. Pepper suits, it's not going to go any better for the middle-aged kids to play dress-up.

That Zak Starkey wouldn't give the idea a moment's thought isn't surprising. This is a drumming legend in his own right who turned down an invitation to join the Who, for Pete's sake. (He was the group's drummer on tour for about a decade, but when Pete Townshend announced that they'd made it official, Zak promptly set it straight. He wanted to see other people… as in, his similarly unofficial membership in Oasis..)

It's a little surprising that Dhani Harrison apparently told young McCartney he'd be into it. Then again, maybe he was just humoring James. Have you seen Dhani? He's such a sweet young man, he'd probably nod knowingly if you suggested that he lead an all-star Concert for Bangladesh II, then quietly call security to make sure you didn't cause any ruckus on the way out. Anyway, he seems more interested in promoting the new guitar app he put together to showcase his late dad's collection than he does proving his own prowess to the world.

[Related: thenewno2 on Yahoo! Music]

And Sean Lennon, denizen of various New York City art scenes, seems way too cool and reserved to ever deign to belt out "Yer Blues" in public. He even stopped releasing uncommercial solo albums so he could concentrate on something even more obscure, the Ghost of a Sabertooth Tiger, the band he co-fronts with his girlfriend.

[Related: Sean Lennon on Yahoo! Music]

We would be more intrigued to know more about Jason Starkey, but as far as we can tell, the other Starr boy doesn't seem to be making much of a go at the drums, publicly—and who would, when you've not only got a dad who's the most famous sticksman in the world, but a brother who did a fine job of replacing freaking Keith Moon?

Now, you've got to wonder about poor Julian Lennon, not even in the limelight enough anymore to merit inclusion in James McCartney's fantasy lineup, apparently. He has a brand new album out overseas, Everything Changes , which is only available as an import. He also admitted in promoting the album that he's more focused on photography lately, which makes him sound like even less of a fire-in-the-belly guy than Sean.

But James McCartney may have reasons for not mentioning Julian besides forgetfulness. The elder Lennon son is not getting on with the Macca brood these days, it seems. He is the type to air his grievances on social media, which is just what he did when he was not invited to the Paul McCartney/Nancy Shevell wedding (among other events)."I & My Mother will NOT be eradicated from History," Julian angrily posted on Facebook. "How dare they."

Oh no, Jude—way to make sure your invitation for the Junior Beatles gets lost in the post, too.

But when it comes to bad relations with Paul McCartney, it sounds like James has had his share of those, as well. Or at least he alluded to bygones in his interview with the BBC.

[Related: Meet The Beatle: Russell Brand Interviews Ringo Starr In L.A.]

"Sometimes in the past, a few years ago, it can be difficult," James said about détente with dad. "It can be tense, like families can get. But beyond that it's beautiful."

What could James have done to make his famously mellow dad uptight? Oh, we don't know… maybe… suggesting that a Beatle offspring band could be a good idea?

Honestly, we wish James well, but he sounds the slightest bit naïve at times in his BBC chat. Things start off well, when he says he is playing the Cavern Club this month "to embrace the Beatles legacy rather than running away from it"—always a good, pragmatic position for a child of renown.

But his humility can sound like a humble brag. James said that, growing up, he "dreamt of being better than the Beatles. I'm not sure if I can do that. If anything, I would love to be equal to the Beatles— but even that's quite tough." Yes, it's always good for any young musician to be realistic and not set the bar any higher than exactly as good as the Beatles .

Also: "I don't really think I am quite as good as the Beatles or my father but there are definitely influences." We'd like to think the "quite" was the result of a bad translation, but the BBC does represent an English-speaking country.

In fact, James' two EPs so far, both produced with help from Paul, have some charm for Beatles fans—in much the same modest way that the albums Paul's brother, Mike McGear, did back in the '70s.

But taking the father homage any further than that, especially as far as an actual tribute band, would be horrific. Unless, of course, it was wonderful. In which case we'd say the more, the merrier. And rotate Starkey and Lennon boys if anyone gets tired!

Remember, it did work (well, sort of) for 1960s celebrity-sons band Dino, Desi & Billy. And, from the same era, let's not forget Pebbles & Bam-Bam's band, the Bedrock Rockers.

Would you want to see a band comprised of the Beatles' sons?

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The Beatles in London: The Best Beatles Tours & Places to Visit

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: November 25, 2023

Whether you want to take London Beatles tours on a self-guided basis or would rather join a group tour, this guide is for you! Included is a rundown of seven Beatles-related London locations to visit – as well as seven of the best Fab Four London tours.

Will it be the Beatles store, the London Palladium, Paul McCartney’s home, Savile Row or the iconic Abbey Road you head for first? Read on to discover The Beatles in London – and how best to follow in their footsteps. 

The Beatles in London – Tour Guide Summary

• The Beatles Store, London

The Beatles Museum, London

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Located on Baker Street, the Beatles shop in London is a treasure trove for fans of the Liverpudlian quartet’s music. 

The Beatles London store stocks what is said to be the biggest range of Beatles merchandise you’ll find anywhere on the planet, and is just a minute’s walk from Baker Street tube station.

The products on sale include keyrings, t-shirts, mugs, homeware, bags, posters, collectable items, musical accessories like guitar straps and even autographs. 

Contrary to popular belief there isn’t actually a London Beatles museum, but you can visit a couple of museums displaying artefacts relating to the Fab Four.

Artistic impressions of John, Paul, George and Ringo can be found at the National Portrait Gallery, while the British Library (part of the British Museum) has some original lyrics on show plus handwritten birthday cards and some photos. 

Another option is to visit Madame Tussaud’s, where you can of course see their waxworks. Otherwise, you’d need to head to the Beatles Museum in Liverpool known as The Beatles Story . 

Heading to Liverpool? Read our Liverpool itinerary for Beatles fans.

Abbey Road was catapulted to worldwide fame after starring on the cover of the album of the same name. The road and the recording studios can be found in north west London, near St John’s Wood tube station. It’s an incredibly popular place to visit among Beatles fans from across the globe.  

The location is included on many tours of Beatles sites in London, including six of the seven listed below. Or you can take the tube to St John’s Wood to find it.

At the tube station exit (there is only one here) continue westwards along Grove End Road. About half a kilometre along is the turn into Abbey Road, and you should easily spot both the studios and the crossing. 

The term ‘Beatlemania’ was apparently coined after the band performed at the venue. This took place in October 1963. A newspaper then used the term within their gig write-up, and it caught on. The building on Argyll Street in Soho is also visually stunning, so it’s well worth a visit if you’re a fan and near the area. 

The famous Beatles rooftop gig took place on Savile Row, where Apple Corp has their headquarters. It was the last time they’d play live together, and was called to a halt due to police intervention. The gig was previously unannounced. At the end, John Lennon thanked the crowd and said he hoped the band had auditioned well. 

Marylebone Station was used at the start of A Hard Day’s Night , a Beatles feature film, so is a must for serious fans of the band or the movie. Interestingly George Harrison falling and tearing his suit was accidental, yet was included in the final cut.  

In 1963, Paul McCartney bought number 7 Cavendish Avenue, close to the Abbey Road studios. Apparently he still owns the house, and continues to use it as a London base to this day. It’s in the St John’s Wood area, near Lord’s cricket ground. 

7 of the best Beatles tours in London

If you feel like letting someone else lead the way so you can max out your limited time in London, the following are all contenders as best Beatles tour in London. Options include daytime and evening tours by black cab, minibus and coach, or even a day trip to Liverpool. 

• Duration: 2.5 hours
• Destinations: A Hard Day’s Night locations, Abbey Road, Beatles Store
• Departure point: Royal Court Theatre, London (next to Sloane Square station)
• What’s included: Minibus transport, tour guide, walk across Abbey Road
• What’s not included: Food, drinks or extras
• Means of transport: Bus

The tour begins in the upmarket Kensington area so you can see where the band’s first photoshoot took place. As you tour London, your guide will provide lots of interesting background information while you see the places where hit songs were written or that starred in the Beatles movie A Hard Day’s Night . 

A stop at Abbey Road is of course included, and you can make the famous crossing here. The final leg of the tour is a walk from Marylebone station to the Beatles Store on Baker Street. 

CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR OF LONDON

• Duration: 2 hours
• Destinations: Soho, St James & Mayfair districts
• Departure point: The Granaio restaurant, London (near Piccadilly station)
• What’s included: Guided walking tour
• What’s not included: Abbey Road visit, food, drinks or extras
• Means of transport: Walking

If you want to take a Beatles walking tour in London, this very affordable one is recommended. You’ll learn all about city life during the swinging sixties, as well as the band themselves. Iconic locations visited include Carnaby Street, which was fashion central during the decade, and Ronnie Scott’s, a jazz club favoured by many prominent people as well as the Fab Four.

Do note that a visit to Abbey Road is not included on this particular itinerary, though you will see other sites such as the location of their last-ever gig, music venues and locations for Beatles photoshoots. 

CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BEATLES LONDON WALKING TOUR

• Duration: 3 hours
• Destinations: Gig venues, Beatles’ homes, filming & photo locations & more
• Departure point: Sloane Square station, London
• What’s included: Black cab transport, tour guide
• What’s not included: Food, drinks, extras or tips
• Means of transport: London taxi

This private Beatles London tour takes place in a traditional black London cab and is designed for one or two people. During the three hours you’ll learn all about the history of one of the biggest bands ever, visiting about 30 locations related to John, Paul, George and Ringo en route.

You’ll discover all the London districts that were important to the Beatles during the 1960s, including Mayfair, Soho, Chelsea, Marylebone and St Johns Wood – the latter being where the famous Abbey Road studios are located. 

CLICK FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE Private Beatles tour of London by black cab

• Destinations : Gig venues, Beatles’ homes, photo locations & Abbey Road
• Departure point: Original London Visitor Centre, London (near Piccadilly station)
• Means of transport: Minibus 

This 2.5 hour tour of London takes you to around 35 locations that are related in some way to The Beatles. Included is iconic Abbey Road, where you’ll get to follow in the Fab Four’s footsteps by making the same crossing they did. It lasts for two-and-a-half hours and takes place during the evening. 

You’ll also discover other places where the band posed for photographs as well as where they composed songs and played gigs. The only place the four all lived in together is also visited, as is the site of their final group performance and the art galleries where John met Yoko and where he exhibited his own works.  

CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ‘A Ticket to Ride’ evening tour of London

• Duration: 4 hours
• Destinations : Paul McCartney’s office, art galleries, Abbey Road & more
• Departure point: Central London hotel pick-up
• What’s included: Black cab transport, tour guide, complimentary water
• What’s not included: Food, extras or tips

Get a London black cab ride and a Beatles tour of London in one by booking this trip. You’ll be driven around the city in a black taxi after pick-up at your hotel, touring the key sights relating to the Fab Four. The guide grew up in the sixties, and will share all sorts of stories and snippets of information during the four hour tour. 

En route you’ll see various places where the band worked, lived and played, including Paul McCartney’s current office, the gallery where John and Yoko met, homes where various hits were composed and of course Abbey Road.

CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE Black taxi Beatles magical tour of London 

• Duration: 1 day
• Destinations: Liverpool, The Beatles Story, Cavern Club, Penny Lane & more
• Departure point: Euston Station, London
• What’s included: Return rail travel to Liverpool, Beatles Story entry, Magical Mystery Tour
• What’s not included: Food, drinks, extras & tour guide
• Means of transport: Train & coach tour in Liverpool 

Even if you only have a day at your disposal, it is possible to take a trip to Liverpool to visit the home city of the four plus The Beatles Story museum. This is an unguided tour, and includes all you need to discover the history behind the famous British band.

You’ll travel by train from London Euston to Liverpool’s Lime Street station in central Liverpool, where there’s free time to explore the city. A ticket to The Beatles Story is included, in addition to a two hour Magical Mystery Tour of iconic sites like Strawberry Fields, the Cavern Club and Penny Lane. Former homes and schools are also seen along the way. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT The Beatles day tour to Liverpool from London

• Destinations: Beatles’ homes, art galleries, last gig venue, Abbey Road
• What’s included: Black cab transport, expert tour guide, free water, hotel pick-up

This Beatles tour of London by black cab places you in the safe hands of a Beatles expert, who will show you photos of the Fab Four and tell tales from the sixties as you tour London’s related sights. 

Up to five can participate in this personal tour of the city, seeing where Paul lived and the apartment John and Yoko called home. You’ll see the famous Abbey Road studios and can also cross the road there just as John, Paul, George and Ringo did. The venue for their final rooftop concert and Apple Records HQ are also included.  

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE Fab Four black taxi tour of London

The Beatles in London – FAQs

Areas frequented by the Fab Four during the 1960s include Mayfair, Soho, St John’s Wood and Kensington. The band once shared a home in Mayfair – Flat L at 57 Green Street. The flatshare was fairly short-lived as the growing family of John, Cynthia and Julian Lennon soon needed more space.

A blue plaque unveiled by Yoko Ono marks the spot where John Lennon lived with her in 1968. The address is 34 Montagu Square, Marylebone. Ringo Starr was the one who took on the lease, renting it out to John and Yoko for several months. Paul McCartney also composed there, as did Jimi Hendrix who also lived there for a while. 

Abbey Road is in the St John’s Wood area of north west London, and the Beatles famously used the recording studios there. The zebra crossing the members of the band are walking across on the cover of the album is probably the most visited crossing in the world. The nearest tube station is St John’s Wood.  

John and Yoko met in late 1966 at a London art gallery. Yoko was about to exhibit there and was busy preparing her pieces for display. The connection was said to be instantaneous, and although the partnership attracted controversy they were wed in March 1969. 

The Beatles played an unannounced concert from a rooftop on Savile Row, London in 1969. This was the headquarters of Apple, the band’s record label. They were over 40 minutes in before they were asked by the police to turn down the sound. It turned out to be their last live gig as a foursome. 

John Lennon was shot in New York, not London. The killing took place in 1980 in Manhattan, when Mark Chapman shot him four times. Apparently, the gunman was obsessed with Lennon. 

From the homes of Lennon or McCartney to the site of The Beatles’ last live gig ever or shopping till you drop at the memorabilia store, how will you explore the part the Fab Four played in city life during the swinging sixties?

Whether you opt for an organised tour or go your own way, there’s no denying the influence this trailblazing band from Liverpool had on the pop music scene.

• Complete Guide to the Beatles in Liverpool
• Liverpool to London day trip (all the info you need)
• Liverpool Itinerary for Beatles fans
• London Travel Guide – links to everything you need to know to plan your trip
• Looking for accommodation? Read our guide to where to stay in London
• First time visitors? Read our top tips for visiting London for the first time
• Visiting with family? Read our guide to London with kids and/or our guide to visiting London with teens
• How to get around London? Read our guide to using public transport in London and our guide to London’s manin trains stations.
• What to see and do – Complete your London bucket list with a guide to all the top sights and attractions & Guide to the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
• How to purchase tickets for London attractions – Guide to purchasing tickets for the most popular London attractions & Best London bus tours reviewed
• Boat trips and cruises – Comparison guide to the best boat trips and cruises on the Thames
• Visiting on a budget? Read out budget guide to London with tips to save money when visiting
• Free things to do in London – Discover 32 free things to see and do in London
• Best day trips? Read our guide to the best day trips by train and ou r guide to the best tours from London
• Love castles? Our guide to the most popular castles to visit from London

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Now Booking 2025 Tour Dates!!!

Our 28th year, group tours to   the beatles' liverpool and london, from the cavern to abbey road , since 1996, we have been delighting beatle fans with our 7 night fanventure tour  itinerary  offering the history of the beatles, get on our email list.

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2025  Tour Dates Announced !!!

2025 tour dates, all 2024 beatle tours to london & liverpool are sold out there are a few seats available on our 'liverpool only' tour during international beatle week... scroll down to view details, all tours  3 nights in london and 4 nights in liverpool . all tours include our popular beatle tour's  ' fanventure ' itinerary april 26 - may 3, 2025  the tour for george june 14 - 21, 2025 paul birthday tour july 26 - aug 2, 2025 the ringo tour october 4 - 11, 2025 john birthday tour  , 2025 tour prices scroll below for price of 2024 'liverpool only' tour dur ing internationalbeatle week  all tours are the7 night beatles f anventure / tour b ook before june 1, 2024 - 2025 'fanventure' to ur price    $26 99. per fa n     book after june 1, 2024 - 2025 'fanventure' tour price  $2799. per fa n     price is per fan/dbl occ single supplement is $649..  price is for land package only, airfare not included optional car service from lhr  [$75.] or lgw [$110.] to london hotel per vehicle. car service from liverpool to manchester airport at check out is included in your tour package. plan air travel to arrive london and depart manchester airport and... we take care of the rest, special edition tour &  august 21 - 27, 2024    &, it's beatle week in liverpool , this is a 'liverpool only' special edition tour... london is  not included, 6 nights at the hard days night hotel w/ full breakfast, 2 full day tour including st. peter's church, the casbah coffee club all liverpool beatles locations included on our 'fanventure' tour itinerary., lunch at strawberry field, special 2 full day   tours of the beatles' liverpool   , national trust tour to john & paul's childhood homes, tour group 'welcome' dinner, prices for special edition tour , $219 9. per fan, dbl occ., $64 9. si ngle supplement for single traveler., $100. [optional] airport car service to/from manchester airport on aug 21 and 27 only, saturday thru monday are open for beatle week events on an individual preference and not included in tour price., read about extra nights in london extra, early arrival nights in london are subject  to availability... book early, sometimes paul forgets to close the blinds in his office or is he showing off those gold records .

Hotel Accommodations...

In London... cleanliness, safety & comfort  Premier Inn for The Beatles Tour for many years. The hotels we select are ideally located in the heart of London.  

In liverpool...   the fans demand we stay at the hard days nights hotel . it is a real treat for fans to take in the beatles subtleties that roam the hotel.  , what you will see on, the beatles  pilgrimage  tour, in london... y our amazing photo making the abbey road crossing bring your credit card because you will love the studio's merchandise shop  · asher home ·  paul's london home · king's road · trident studios · decca studios ·  the historic railway pub for lunch · beatles 'apartments' in help · ringo's flat at montagu square  · apple headquarters  (final rooftop concert) ·  indica gallery · the scotch of st james ·  lunch at ringo’s pub from a hard days night · bbc studio · paul's mpl office · 'rain' & 'paperback writer' video location · amazing beatles movie & video locations fans just love ... and much more., in liverpool...  casbah coffee club · the cavern club · lunch at strawberry field [gift shop sell great t's] ·  penny lane ·  the philharmonic pub (concert location of paul’s carpool karaoke event ) ·  the jacaranda club ·  the grapes ·  ye cracke · beatle birthplaces · ' in spite of all the danger', see ... percy phillip's studio · beatle homes including 'inside' tours of john & paul's childhood homes  ·  , st peter's church & hall including eleanor rigby's and john's uncle george's grave  · the beatles statue at dockside, liverpool · time for the beatles story... ​and much more., for george... a respectful visit to friar park, henley-on-thames, stop at stratford-on-avon en route to liverpool, from  liverpool  to  crossing abbey road …, walk in the footsteps of the beatles.

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Fans love our tour , info links ..., view our itinerary, what is included... what is not ​, reviews and photos ​ ​, watch our video ​ ​​, before you book. .. read this important information, get on our email list , finding flights to the uk, read tim smith's beatle tour journal.

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Your Beat;es Adventure Awaits

At Last - Let It Be

Share this website, “let it be” – out now, see the beatles like never before. let it be, fully restored for the first time, is streaming may 8, only on @disneyplus, michael lindsay-hogg’s original 1970 film about the beatles, meticulously restored by peter jackson’s team at park road post production to launch exclusively on disney+ may 8, 2024, “let it be” new music video.

Watch the new official music video for The Beatles’ “Let It Be”, filmed on the day after the January 30th rooftop concert.

The footage has been meticulously restored from the 16mm negative.

Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Director of Photography: Anthony B Richmond

Frank and Gaz take a cross-disciplinary deep dive into The Beatles 1964 tour of Australasia. They explore where The Beatles went, who they met, and their broader social impact. But they also look more deeply into the nature of the land downunder - culturally and socially - using the Beatles as their point of departure. Expect some unexpected turns like discussion of Taylor Swift’s 2024 tour vis-a-vis the 1964 Beatles tour, connections to Ancient Rome and the classical era, feminist perspectives on the band and its history, and a rarely heard ABC (Australia) interview with John Lennon.

The Beatles: They Came to a Land Downunder Frank and Gaz

• APR 21, 2024

The Beatles: They Came to a Land Downunder - Trailer 2

Some excerpts from the forthcoming podcast coming in May.

• APR 5, 2024

The Beatles: They Came to a Land Downunder

Australia topped the world in terms of people turning out to meet The Beatles. Where did they go, stay and play? Who did they meet? What was the land down under of 1964 really like - socially, culturally and politically? Stay tuned for more details ahead of the 60th anniversary in June 2024.

• © Frank and Gaz

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Worth the wait the beatles’ farewell film ‘let it be’ hits streaming 54 years later: review.

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For years, decades actually, it was more like “Don’t Let It Be.”

But for the first time, The Beatles’ 1970 documentary “Let It Be” — which had never been available on DVD, Blu-ray or, basically, anything other than VHS — is finally available to stream on Disney+ this week.

Was it worth the 54-year wait?

Well, yes — and no.

Some context is needed here first: If you watched “The Beatles: Get Back” — the three-part, eight-hour docuseries directed by none other than Oscar-winning “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson that also premiered on Disney+ in 2021 — you’ve already seen a lot of this.

And seen it in the kind of exhaustive detail — from the same footage that Jackson used from “Let It Be” director Michael Lindsay-Hogg — that you can probably break down the level of scruffiness in Paul McCartney ’s faux-badass beard.

But thankfully — whether or not you’ve already watched the tedious-at-times “Get Back” — this is only 80 minutes versus eight hours of your time.

For anyone but the biggest of Beatlemaniacs, that math is math-ing.

But here’s the real difference: Whereas “Get Back” captured every bit of Liverpudlian shade, side-eye and Yoko Ono rock-blocking, this “Let It Be” is all about the music that was made in the slow fade of the Fab Four.

For most of this film — which documents The Beatles working out songs for what would turn out to be their final album, 1970’s “Let It Be,” in January 1969 — it’s just like being a little four-winged insect on the wall of those sessions at their Apple Corps headquarters in London.

Rehearsing, working out songs and just jamming — even with all the mounting tension which is actually more between McCartney and George Harrison than Sir Paul and John Lennon (for all those who still blame Ono for the Beatles’ breakup) — it’s a magical mystery tour behind the scenes of what many consider to be the greatest band of all time.

When McCartney and Lennon are in such easy harmony and camaraderie on “Two Of Us” — with the latter whimsically whistling on the outro — it’s as if it was the dynamic duo was meant to be forever.

And when McCartney sits at the piano, in unfiltered close-up, to deliver “Let It Be” — which he wrote, although it’s credited to his penning partnership with Lennon — the raw emotion and earnestness is real, as they all give in to the majesty of the music.

Although there would ultimately be no “answer” for The Beatles — who would officially split up by the time their final album was released in May 1970 — in that moment, they just let the music be.

And it’s a beautiful thing to see.

But the real beauty of “Let It Be” happens in its final stanza. That’s when the broken-down Beatles hit the Apple Corps rooftop for what was their first live performance since 1966.

“Get back to where you once belonged,” sings McCartney, those words sinking in deep as the London crowd gathers, many looking above from the street — while impeccably chic.

I mean, even the bobbies are styling.

In retrospect, “Don’t Let Me Down” turns into a desperate last plea to save their band of brothers.

But “Let It Be” fittingly ends with a bit of Lennon levity: “I hope we’ve passed the audition.”

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‘Let It Be’ review: The Beatles dust off their spellbinding 1970 break-up doc

Released weeks after the Fabs split, Michael Lindsay-Hogg's unfairly maligned film has long been out of circulation

“I t really didn’t get a fair shake the first time,” Michael Lindsay-Hogg tells Peter Jackson in a new introductory interview to the first release since 1970 of Lindsay-Hogg’s fly-on-the-studio-wall Beatles film Let It Be . “Finally it’s going to get a chance to be embraced for the curious and fascinating character that it is.”

Its original release, Lindsay-Hogg has argued, was overshadowed by the band’s split just weeks before; 1970’s viewers watched Let It Be in a state of grief. As it arrives on Disney+, though, the audience of 2024 will find themselves similarly tainted towards it – this time, though, we know too much. Refreshed and revitalised as the film has been by the brushing-up process of Jackson’s 2021 exhaustive eight-hour series Get Back – drawn from Lindsay-Hogg’s original 1969 footage – it’s now glaringly obvious how much has been left out. The tedium and tension that made Jackson’s series so engrossing – particularly George ’s “whatever it is that will please you” frustration and departure mid-session – is brushed over in the original film so as not to rock any boats. Twenty minutes in, the band just switch from the cavernous Twickenham soundstage to a cosy studio at their Apple HQ with no indication that, if they hadn’t, The Beatles would have been over.

Songs like ‘Two Of Us’, ‘I’ve Got A Feeling’ and ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’ come together in cinematic seconds, robbing the film of the creative grist that powered Jackson’s series. Banter is kept to bare snippets, en route to posed renditions of ‘The Long And Winding Road’ and the title track. The effect, post- Get Back , is to reduce the first hour of Lindsay-Hogg’s Let It Be to an extended promo clip, with insights into the fractious state of the band politely tucked away in the vault.

What Let It Be has gained through the decades, though, is historical weight. The sight of The Beatles playing and rehearsing together, freely and candidly, will never lose its window-on-history magic. Meanwhile, tracks that might have felt new – even a bit throwaway – in 1970 have become stone cold classics, adding to the thrill of watching John and Yoko waltz along to ‘I Me Mine’, John and Paul fluff lines of ‘Two Of Us’ into the same microphone, Paul slip into a reggae ‘The Long And Winding Road’ or Yoko do a crossword while the band polish up ‘Dig A Pony’. Great cultural import is here, and never more so than in the still wonderful footage of the scenes on the street as The Beatles take to the Apple rooftop for what would be their last ever performance. The pipe-smoking gents clambering over roofs for a better view. The excited mods and Twiggy-alikes crowding the pavements. The stern policemen uncertain if they should be clamping down or rocking out.

There may not be a more punk rock bit of film on earth than George being told the police were on the roof to shut them down, and casually turning his amp back on. For that alone, for all its whitewashing and line-toeing, Let It Be remains a staggering watch.

• Director: Michael Lindsay-Hogg
• Release date: May 8 (Disney+)
• Related Topics
• George Harrison
• John Lennon
• Paul McCartney
• The Beatles

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Ringo Starr talks hanging with McCartney, why he's making a country album and new tour

To look at Ringo Starr is to observe a legend who looks decades younger than his soon-to-be 84 years.

The regular workouts , jogs and healthy diet can be credited to an extent.

But Starr seems to thrive on work.

Since 2021 he has released four EPs, and a fifth, “ Crooked Boy ,” arrived in April. The four tracks written by musician/producer Linda Perry range from the reflective title track (which includes a Starr-specific line, “I speak of love, I speak of peace”) and the jubilant “Gonna Need Someone.”

Starr also resumed touring with his All-Starr Band in 2022 after pandemic-related closures halted momentum and will return May 22 for a few weeks of shows before another spate of dates in September.

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Joining him for this excursion are Men At Work frontman Colin Hay, Toto veteran Steve Lukather , keyboard stalwart Edgar Winter, saxophonist Warren Ham (Toto, Kansas), drummer Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth, Joe Satriani) and Hamish Stuart (Average White Band, Paul McCartney).

Chatting from his home studio in Los Angeles, the affable drummer leapfrogged topics from his upcoming country album to his feelings about The Beatles’ final recording to hanging out with McCartney.

Question: You’ve worked with Linda Perry on a couple of songs in the past, and now she’s written all of the songs on your new EP. What is it about her vibe that makes you two click?

Answer: Her songwriting is really great; she plays really great and she does all of her demos in a Liverpool accent (laughs). We just became friends and got on right away. She’s very straightforward , very bossy.

You look like you’re having so much fun in the video for “Gonna Need Someone.” How do you stay so upbeat?

I just always believe in keeping the energy up. It’s never a bad thing to be energized, but I’m quite lucky because I can be the other guy, too. Besides, “Crooked Boy” is out now, and Linda is great and I’m working on a real CD. I haven’t done one in so long.

What can you tell us about it?

It’s a country one. I’m working on it with someone very special – T Bone Burnett. He’s doing stuff in Nashville and he comes to LA and it’s all working out. He came to me with nine songs. It won’t be out until October, at least.

How often do you play your drums if you aren’t on the road?

I don’t even look at them. I’ve never liked just drumming by myself. I always want to be in a band with players. If you play whatever, I’ll play with you all night. (As a kid) I went upstairs the traditional way from all of those black and white movies where the drummer goes upstairs to his kit and hits them. Well in my neighborhood, I was this close to being stabbed! Everyone in the neighborhood was going, SHUT UP! (Laughs.) But I’ll play anywhere. My first band was the guy from next door, Eddie Miles, and my best friend Roy taught us bass and that’s what we’ve done: just keep playing with other guys.

More: Beatles movie 'Let It Be' is more than a shorter 'Get Back': 'They were different animals'

How do you feel about “Now and Then” finally being out?

I did love “Now and Then,” and we did hear it in 1995 and we’d done (the other two vault songs) already, and then it came to a halt. And then I got a call from Paul (in 2022) and he asked, "Do you want to drum on it?" It’s great for me to have John’s (Lennon) voice coming at me. Thanks to Peter Jackson with the machine that can pull out anything from anything. Paul went in with a string section; he worked really hard on it and I just sang on some of it.

Is it sad to think that is the last-ever true Beatles recording?

I think I’m past that, really. I miss them, but we’re getting on with our own things now. Paul and I will have dinner together; we’re still buddies. George (Harrison) and John , I certainly miss them. I’m an only child, and suddenly I had three brothers and it was great.

It seems like you and Paul are spending more time together lately.

If he comes to LA we certainly do something, and when I get to England we’ll do something there. It’s just what we do. We went to Paris together (in March) for Stella McCartney’s clothing line . But really we went there for the lunch. (Laughs.) But no, really, we were hanging out. We went by train and were all sitting in the same carriage. We had a good time.

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Most of the guys in the All-Starr Band have been with you for years. What is it about this group that complements the show so well?

When I first started this, I was invited to put a band together and go on tour, and I said yes, and then I said: What do you mean, yes? You‘re the drummer in other people’s bands! But I opened my phone book and called everyone I knew and they all said yes. So I had to close my book.

And there are frequently changes in the lineup.

I’ve had like five new bands. Just to change it up years ago, some people were asked to leave and others brought it. Like (Steve) Lukather was brought in (in 2012). This time … we have Colin (Hay) , who is great and has hits, and Hamish (Stuart) I had in one of the other All-Starr Bands and he came back. But Luke (Lukather), I’ll never get rid of Luke. He has a lifelong ticket. He’s my last best friend. You need time to make best friends. He’s an incredibly good musician and an incredible human being.

How much longer do you see yourself going out for these tours?

Until the end of this year, at least. We have the May-June shows and then the fall. That’s where I get my rocks off playing. I play to all of their songs, they play mine. This band is very close and very interested in the other person. No one is hanging out alone having a cigarette.

The Mersey Beatles

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TV tonight: space babies, the Bogeyman and the Beatles … it’s Doctor Who

Ncuti Gatwa kicks off his first thrilling series as the new Time Lord. Plus, it’s Eurovision party time, baby! Here’s what to watch this evening

6.20pm, BBC One

Ncuti Gatwa is all charisma and then some in his first full term as the Time Lord in the new series of Doctor Who. Written by Russell T Davies, the opening double bill picks up where the Christmas special left off – with street-smart Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) stepping into the Tardis and ready for adventure. First stop: a baby farm, run by freaky talking babies, who like to call Ruby and the Doctor Mummy and Daddy, and are terrified of the Bogeyman lurking beneath them. Then it’s a total vibe change: the pair travel to the 60s, where they meet the Beatles, and the powerful Maestro (Drag Race’s Jinkx Monsoon) who is trying to change the band’s role in history. Hollie Richardson

Bettany Hughes’ Treasures of the World

7pm, Channel 4

Hughes takes another fact-packed tour, roving around the eastern Mediterranean to muse on human ingenuity and creativity. Turkey throws up evidence of a very early form of government, while Greece offers a cache of artefacts at the tomb of Alexander the Great’s sister. In Albania, there are traces dating back to the bronze age of Illyria, the ancient kingdom immortalised in Twelfth Night. Jack Seale

Eurovision Song Contest 2024

8pm, BBC One

It’s finally Eurovision time! The 68th contest is at the Malmø Arena in Sweden this year – 50 years after Abba won with Waterloo. Your hosts for the evening are actor Malin Åkerman and Eurovision veteran Petra Mede, while Graham Norton provides the real entertainment with his snarky commentary. In case you have somehow managed to avoid hearing it so far, our entry is sexy bop Dizzy by Olly Alexander. HR

Our Dream Farm With Matt Baker

8pm, Channel 4

Wanted: a new farmer for Wallington Estate, a National Trust farm in Northumberland. Must be available for 10 years. Which of the remaining four applicants will impress with their livestock handling skills and sustainable grazing plans? While Sally and Giles oversee the cattle herding, Matt assists a hopeful with a ewe giving birth to twins. Ali Catterall

Doctor Who: Unleashed

8pm, BBC Three

Who fever is rife this weekend, and superfans can find out more about the latest series with this spin-off, in which Steffan Powell goes behind the scenes of each episode. This week he’s interviewing the Bogeyman, guest star Jinkx Monsoon and “the Beatles”, as well as finding out how space babies are made. HR

9pm, BBC Four

Panic stations all round when Ceaușescu’s right-hand man and Soviet secret agent Victor Godeanu goes missing, in episode three of the chilly cold war thriller. But is his new CIA-arranged safe house really that safe? “There’s enough windows to make us sitting ducks, and the fire escape ladder might as well be a welcome mat!” AC

Film choice

The Blackening, 10.45am, 6.15pm, Sky Cinema Premiere

Tim Story’s enjoyably knowing comedy upends the horror movie cliche that the Black character is always the first to die by making all the characters Black. A group of African American friends (including Dewayne Jenkins and Grace Byers) congregate at a cabin in the woods on Juneteenth for a reunion. But their hosts have vanished and they find a sinister talking board game, The Blackening, which demands answers to questions about Black culture and history (and Friends) – or else one of their missing pals dies. Not quite a spoof but still full of callbacks to classic slasher flicks, the film smartly skewers Black representation, while also having a dig at closer-to-home racial prejudices. Simon Wardell

The Final: Attack on Wembley, out now, Netflix

Rob Miller and Kwabena Oppong’s film documents one of the most depressing chapters in the recent history of English football. Canvassing a wide range of views – from embattled Wembley staff to rowdy supporters – it tells the tale of the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, when many England fans without tickets stormed the stadium. The lead-up to the match was a crowd-safety nightmare, with drunk and coked-up young men massing outside and becoming increasingly threatening. There is some focus on the game itself, but it feels like a footnote to a riot. SW

Jupiter Ascending, 5.25pm, 5Star

The expansive vision of the Wachowskis may have faltered a bit here, but cinema is still a better place for their ambition. In a sci-fi adventure of cyberpunk weirdness, Mila Kunis plays Jupiter Jones, a human who discovers she is the genetic reincarnation of the mother of a powerful alien dynasty – whose children (Douglas Booth, Tuppence Middleton, Eddie Redmayne) have competing plans for her … The baroque flamboyance of The Fifth Element is spliced with the comic bureaucracy of Brazil (Terry Gilliam even has a cameo) in a sublimely silly, amped-up escapade. SW

Office Space, 11pm, Comedy Central

The surreal dreariness of working in an office has rarely been captured so succinctly as in Mike Judge’s 1999 comedy. From the boss’s middle-management double speak and a worker saddled with the name Michael Bolton to a man whose desk is being moved incrementally to the basement, it’s enough to make a decent guy such as Peter (Ron Livingston) quit trying. Naturally, his laissez-faire confidence is catnip to the visiting redundancy consultants. A satire that will make you look at your own workplace in a new light. SW

Cycling: Giro d’Italia, 11am, Eurosport 1 Stage eight of the Grand Tour, from Spoleto to Prati di Tivo.

Premier League Football: Fulham v Man City, 11am, TNT Sports 1 At Craven Cottage.

Women’s T20 Cricket: England v Pakistan, 2.15pm, BBC Two Heather Knight leads the home side in the first of a three-game series, at Edgbaston.

Premiership Rugby Union: Bristol v Saracens, 2.30pm, ITV/TNT Sports 2 Followed by Exeter v Harlequins at 5.15pm on TNT Sports 2.

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Mick Jagger on building the perfect Rolling Stones tour: 'You've got to feel the energy'

Mick Jagger is speaking by phone from New Orleans.

Two days earlier, on Thursday, May 2, the Rolling Stones did “Time Is On My Side” with local soul queen Irma Thomas, whose 1964 recording of that classic inspired the British Invaders to cut their own rendition that same year, resulting in the Stones’ first Top 10 entry on the Billboard Hot 100.

Jagger and Thomas revisiting the song together as a deeply soulful duet turned out to be an aptly titled highlight of a set that was, remarkably enough, the Stones’ first time to take the stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Two days later, Jagger says he may go out and catch more music while he’s there — which he does, popping in on the festival’s Gospel Tent on Saturday afternoon — before he makes his way to Arizona for the Stones’ first metro Phoenix concert since the death of founding member Charlie Watts in 2021.

The Stones are playing State Farm Stadium on Tuesday, May 7. It’s the third date on the Hackney Diamonds Tour , named for the Stones’ first album of original material in nearly 20 years.

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Boasting guest appearances by Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and founding bassist Bill Wyman, who left the group in 1993 , the album has been hailed as their best work since “Tattoo You” or “Some Girls,” depending on the individual music critic’s level of enthusiasm.

Before the interview gets underway, the singer has a question for the interviewer.

“How hot is it there?” he asks. “ I remember the last time , it was warning you not to go out. Of course we did.”

Jagger laughs, as he does easily and often in the course of a 15-minute conversation that despite the actual presence of a phone never feels like he's phoning it in.

The man is unerringly affable, endearingly self-aware, impressively candid and refreshingly down-to-earth for one of rock and roll’s defining icons, widely held to be its greatest front man, a master of phrasing and a criminally underrated lyricist to boot, all while still doing stadium tours at 80.

Here’s what else he had to say.

Phoenix meets the Rolling Stones: First Phoenix concert in 1965 was a fever dream: 'So raw and so real'

Mick Jagger on introducing 'Hackney Diamonds'

The videos I've seen on social media from Jazz Fest and opening night have been amazing. Is the feeling you get from doing what you do on stage any different today than it was in the ‘60s or ‘70s?

Well, yeah, I mean, of course (laughs). You were younger and more crazy, more excited. And you were new. You weren't like treated like legends and all this. But you're the same person doing the same thing, even doing some of the same songs, so in some ways, it's the same. But it's a different time in the world, so there's a different vibe. It's the same, but only different, yeah.

How does it feel to have new music in the set?

Actually, really great. I love playing the old songs and all that. But it's great to be able to have something new, because you haven't done it before. It's a challenge to you to get it over to the audience and see if they like it, to see if they want to hear it.

It’s easier in a smaller place to play new songs. It's more difficult with a stadium crowd because they want to hear you know…. "Oh, I've come here to hear 'Paint It, Black'” “When are they gonna play 'Honky Tonk Women'?"

Are they gonna really like these songs? Are we gonna play them well enough? We haven’t played them that many times. We've only done “Angry,” like, three times, compared to “Paint It, Black.” (laughs) You go, 'Ugh, I made a mistake! Oh God.’ So yeah, it's challenging, but I enjoy it.

I would love to do more. We're doing three. I'm sort of changing them around, playing the three or four that are the most well-known. I'd love to put some others in, but there's only so much you can do, as I said, in a stadium. Red Hot Chili Peppers have got a new album. They're on tour and they're doing four songs. And I think we're on the same page here, when you're playing a big show. It's about all the audience can really take. (laughs)

Mick Jagger on being back in the studio with the Rolling Stones

How did it feel to get back in the studio and work on new material?

Oh, I loved it. It was great. I mean, I had a lot of songs I'd done during lockdown. I had a lot of time to write. So I had a lot of different kinds of songs and was glad to get them finally down. I thought, “When are we gonna get these songs down?” And it actually was really quick and fun and quite enjoyable. I like being back in the studio doing new things.

How do you decide “All right, it's time. Let's get in there and make an album” ?

I told this story when the album came out so I don't want to repeat myself too much. But I said to Keith, you know, “We've just gotta go make an album.” I didn't say, “I don't want to tour unless we have a new album.” But I said, “It would be better to go out with a new album when we next go on tour. So let's go do an album.” Keith said “Yeah, absolutely.”

We always used to have a deadline, you know? Like you guys at newspapers. You gotta write that story. And it's gotta be in here by this time. So I said, “We have to have a deadline.” Because otherwise we just keep going in the studio but we don’t finish anything. So everyone was down for that. And then we did it and we made the deadline. It all happened according to plan.

That's great. Were there specific goals you wanted to achieve artistically with this record?

Well, I wanted it to sound like a record made in 2024. The temptation with an old band is to go in and rehash something you've done before. And of course, the band is still the band. That's why I always say, “It's still gonna sound like the Rolling Stones, no matter what happens.”

But I said, “When you hear it, it's gotta sound like a record that's made by a rock band in this era,” you know? That crispness. If you listen to, say, a 1970s Rolling Stones record compared to this, you might love it because you've listened to it hundreds of times and that's the sound you like. But it's different, you know what I mean? It's a different period of sound.

It's much crisper and you can hear everything more clearly. But it's still got the energy level. To me, the energy level in a rock band is the most important thing. You've got to have that. You've got to feel the energy. That's a big part of it. And you've got to hear what everyone's playing.

Mick Jagger on working with Paul McCartney on 'Hackney Diamonds'

It's definitely got that energy. What was it like to work with Paul McCartney on this record?

Oh, it was great fun. We've all known Paul a long time. We worked in the '60s a little bit. He sang vocals with us and stuff. I've played with him in his house. Ronnie (Wood) has played with him a lot. And Andy Watt, the producer, was doing some work with him. So it was very fortuitous.

That's LA, you know. Next door there's Lady Gaga, Dolly Parton, Paul McCartney. It was great having him come by and he played great on "Bite Your Head Off."

Mick Jagger on losing Charlie Watts and recording with Bill Wyman

This is your first time in Phoenix since Charlie died. What was it like to sort of dust yourself off and get back to the music after losing someone that much at the core of who the Stones are?

Well it's very hard, you know, having Charlie since we first really started. I played with Charlie before the Rolling Stones existed. I played with Charlie as a singer in the Alexis Korner Band. He was playing the drums and I was the singer. Keith was sometimes playing with me. Sometimes he wasn't. So it was a difficult period to be without him.

But, you know, we decided to carry on. We had a tour planned. And Charlie said, 'You should go and do the tour,' you know? 'Go and do it.' So we did. That was tough, you know, doing it. Now, having done a tour with Steve (Jordan), we're kind of into that. But I miss Charlie. I look around and he's not there. But he is on the record. And we've got some other tracks he's on as well that we haven't released yet. So, you know, he's here.

One of the Charlie tracks has Bill Wyman on it. How did it feel to have him come in and kind of complete the circle ?

That was fun because we had this track with Charlie, and Andy and I said, “Well, let's marry up the old rhythm section.” It does sound a bit more like the old Stones, that particular track, “Live By the Sword.” It sounds slightly different from some of the others. But it's great. It's a different feeling.

Mick Jagger on building the ultimate Rolling Stones setlist for 2024

I love that you guys started doing “Out of Time” recently. I've always loved that song. What brought you back around to that?

I've always loved it. But the audience in America doesn't seem to know it as well as the European audience. So I think I'm going to give it a miss.

Uh oh. So we're not gonna hear that one in Phoenix?!

In Europe, they all sang along and everything. Here, they don't seem to know the song, you know? I mean, it's not a particularly well-known Stones song. It got a bit of popularity because it was in that (Quentin) Tarantino movie as a playout song. But they don't seem to know it. I put it in the front of the set, or near the front. And everyone's looking around like, “Ehh, what's this?” I don't know. I like to switch the set around. We've only done two shows. And I don't like doing the same set every night.

How do you go about putting a setlist together at this point?

Well, I have a list of all the numbers we rehearsed, right? We rehearsed for four weeks. So then, I go through all the ones I think we have to do, that people expect, that if we didn't do them, people would go, “Well, I came here to see ‘Honky Tonk Women' and they didn't do it.” And of course, I enjoy doing it. It's not a problem.

But then, the front half of the show, I kind of switch around a bit, just to keep everyone on their toes and interested with different ones on different nights. And now I've got to incorporate songs from the new album, which we rehearsed quite a few of them. And as I said before, we're only doing three so I'm switching it around a bit.

Are there other older songs you've never done live that you'd like to get around to someday?

I've tried to hit everything (laughs). I mean, I've been through the whole thing. And we do really weird ones. I mean, we did “I Wanna Be Your Man” (an early Stones single written by Lennon-McCartney) in Liverpool. That was really funny. We do that kind of thing from time to time out of the blue.

Mick Jagger on the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and rock & roll vs. pop

Speaking of "I Wanna Be Your Man" and Paul being on this record, there's been this ongoing debate for decades where Stones fans argue that the Stones are proper rock and roll and the Beatles are a pop band. What's your take on that?

Well, we're both pop bands, really. In the ‘60s, if you listen to the Rolling Stones, of course we played more blues than the Beatles. And The Beatles used to play more Tamla/Motown covers. We were all cover bands. But we both play pop music. We play blues. The stuff we played in early '60s, it's all influenced. But it's pop music.

“Time Is on my Side,” that we did here, that’s a pop song, you know what I mean? "Let's Spend the Night Together" is a pop song. "Ruby Tuesday" is a pop song. "Angie" is a pop song. Of course, we play rock. The thing about the Rolling Stones, though, and the Beatles, is there are very wide musical influences. Both bands incorporated a lot of styles into their music. Country music, blues, R&B, English music. So we had a very broad range, both of us.

It's difficult to pigeonhole either band, in my opinion. But obviously, the Rolling Stones are the more blues band, right? But we always were a pop band.

You know, one of the things that was so great about the era you guys came up in and defined was that being in a rock and roll band could mean playing any of those types of songs that are on any of those albums either of your groups recorded in the '60s. It seemed as though the possibilities were limitless.

We played Elizabethan songs like "Lady Jane" and "She's a Rainbow." "Paint It, Black" is not really a rock song. It's our most popular streamed song and it's like a Middle East-influenced pop song.

At this point, Jagger is reminded that the interview was scheduled to conclude five minutes earlier.

"Hey listen, I've got to leave you; thank you so much," he says.

And with that, he's off to hear some gospel in New Orleans, time still very much on his side.

Rolling Stones Phoenix 2024 concert: State Farm Stadium in Glendale AZ

When:  8 p.m. Tuesday, May 7.

Where:  State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Way, Glendale.

Admission:  $63 and up.

Details:  800-745-3000,  SeatGeek.com .

Reach the reporter at  [email protected]  or 602-444-4495. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter)  @EdMasley .

Support local journalism.   Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

Why Didn’t The Beatles Play Any Songs From ‘Revolver’ on Tour?

• The Beatles’ Revolver and Rubber Soul were similar in one major way.
• George Harrison revealed what he thought of both records.
• He contrasted them to the soundtrack for Yellow Submarine .

The Beatles never played Revolver songs live. On one hand, The Beatles’ technical limitations stopped them from playing those songs on tour. In addition, death threats reportedly caused them to quit touring.

The Beatles’ ‘Revolver’ and ‘Rubber Soul’ were too complex to recreate on a stage

According to the 2011 book The Beatles Uncensored: On the Record , the band grew less interested in playing live after the release of Rubber Soul and Revolver . This was because tunes from those albums involved lots of studio trickery the band couldn’t replicate on tour. The Fab Four weren’t able to use synthesizers, a sophisticated sound system, or a live orchestra on tour. 

The Beatles Uncensored also says the band’s drug use made them too lazy to perform a track such as the psychedelic masterpiece “Tomorrow Never Knows” live. Because of this, the group stuck to more straightforward, older songs, including “Help!,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” and “Please Please Me.”

1 infamous John Lennon comment caused The Beatles to receive death threats

Then John Lennon made his infamous “more popular than Jesus” comment . Subsequently, the Fab Four incurred death threats, and obtaining proper security became more difficult in the United States.

George Harrison, in particular, grew tired of touring. He was frightened to go on the stage and he didn’t enjoy performing “Twist and Shout” repeatedly. The rowdiness of the crowds made George declare he wasn’t a Beatle anymore. All these factors combined to make The Beatles quit performing live.

1 Song From The Beatles’ ‘Revolver’ Didn’t Become a Hit Until Years After the Band Broke Up

George Harrison revealed what he thought of ‘Rubber Soul’ and ‘Revolver’ in retrospect

The book George Harrison on George Harrison: Interviews and Encounters features an interview from 1977. In it, the “My Sweet Lord” singer was asked if he still listened to any of the Fab Four’s albums. “I liked when we got into  Rubber   Soul ,  Revolver  — each album had something good about it and progressed,” he said. “There were albums which weren’t any good as far as I was concerned, like  Yellow   Submarine .”

George said he enjoyed the Rubber Soul / Revolver era. “We’d get into doing harmonies and this and that,” he remembered. “Because in the early days, we were only working on four-track tapes. So what we’d do would be work out most of the basic track on one track, get all the balance and everything set, all the instruments. 

“Then we’d do the vocals or say, overdub,” he continued. “If there was guitar, lines would come in on the second verse and piano on the middle eight with shakers and tambourines. We’d line up and get all the sounds right and do it in a take and then do all the vocal harmonies over. Those old records weren’t really stereo. They were mono records and they were rechanneled.”

The Beatles didn’t play Revolver songs live but George looked back on the album fondly.