The Beatles: All These Years Volume 1 - Tune In - New Book by Mark Lewisohn

The world's leading authority on the Beatles - and author of the bestselling Beatles Recording Sessions - has completed the riveting first volume in a groundbreaking trilogy about the iconic band that changed the face of pop music. Tune In uncovers the lives of John, Paul, George and Ringo as never before.

Forget what you've read or know about the Beatles, tune in, and start anew.

This is the lesser-known Beatles story - the pre-Fab years of Liverpool and Hamburg - and in many respects the most absorbing, extraordinary and incredible period of all. Here is the warts and all story of their family backgrounds, childhoods, and their infatuation with American music. As Tune In chronicles in amazing nuance, everything comes together in these years and in this one book: the Beatles' talent, charisma, looks, sex appeal, personalities, honesty, humor, attitude - and the Lennon-McCartney partnership.

Their enduring fame and legendary exploits have led to countless biographies of the Beatles, but now we have the ultimate portrait. Tune In is the first book in a genre-defining trilogy, telling the story of the Beatles from before their beginning up to the final night of 1962, with success within their grasp and on the cusp of a whole new kind of celebrity.

The Beatles: The BBC Archives: 1962-1970

The Beatles exploded into British popular culture in the 1960s and changed the face of music for ever. Central to this success were the BBC radio and television programmes that brought them from the clubs of Hamburg and Liverpool into the living rooms of an adoring public. The Beatles performed on countless BBC programmes, performing both their hit songs and rare cover versions of the music that inspired them.

In this landmark book, BBC producer and Beatles expert Kevin Howlett delves deep into the BBC archives to reveal hundreds of rare photographs and long-forgotten interviews that document the early rise, steady evolution and eventual split of the group. Uncovering additional archive documents such as early audition reports, audience feedback forms and internal memos from startled BBC executives, the files give a fascinating insight into the biggest band of all time.

Beautifully packaged and extensively researched, The Beatles: The BBC Archives is a definitive guide to a unique relationship between two cultural icons.

Book Review: Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust by Ken Scott & Bobby Owsinski

Ken Scott, who began his career as tape operator and then engineer for the Beatles at EMI Studios, reveals fascinating insights in Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust into the recording process and the history of what is now known as Abbey Road Studios. My first introduction to Scott was his "take 2" announcement on the slow version of "Helter Skelter" on Anthology 3 - not recognizing the voice (having listened to many outtakes, the voices of George Martin and Norman Smith were more familiar to me) and finding the name in Mark Lewisohn's liner notes for the disc, I thought at the time it would be interesting to learn what Scott saw and heard during the making of these classic recordings. Scott, along with his co-author Bobby Owsinski, in this book successfully presents the Beatles from a different angle than most, having worked on many Beatles and solo sessions, including the White Album, Abbey Road, and All Things Must Pass, among others.

Scott's memoir is a fine blend of the personal as well as the technical aspects of recording. In reading through the chapters there is an attention to detail that shows that stories are not simply relayed as remembered but that there was also research done to match them up with the history (as noted in the introduction, facts were independently verified whenever possible). In addition to the Beatles, also included are his remembrances of his work with many other artists, including Elton John, Pink Floyd, Procol Harum, Jeff Beck, Harry Nilsson, the Rolling Stones, Lou Reed and others. A must read for Beatles fans and those interested in music production.

Celebrate Paul McCartney'​s 70th with Free Beatles Book

Download a free copy of Alistair Taylor's With the Beatles e-book here.

Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Beatles & Bournemouth

Like looking through a scrapbook or time capsule, Yeah Yeah Yeah captures many unseen moments of the Beatles appearances in Bournemouth, England. There are plenty of rare photos, facts, and remembrances contained in this impressive volume. For example, I was not aware the Beatles started their Roy Orbison Tour sets in 1963 with "Some Other Guy," underlining their fondness for the Richie Barrett song (John Lennon would later lift the riff for the intro of his 1970 single, "Instant Karma"). I had previously only seen one alternate shot of the With the Beatles album cover, while page 49 contains two. There are an abundance of Beatles backstage photographs I have not seen before that add life to the recollections of the people that were there interspersed throughout. So many interesting tidbits are to be found, including what happened to the 1963 Beatles audience tape at Gaumont that went up for auction several years ago. There are also some great pictures from later in the Beatles' career as well, including a unique photo of John, Julian, and Aunt Mimi at the Sandbanks ferry in 1967. All in all, a wonderful collection.

An exhibition of rare and previously unseen photos is running at Bournemouth Central Library until January 18. Art prints of many of the photos are now available to order at www.beatlesandbournemouth.com along with copies of the book.

When Will Mark Lewisohn's New Beatles Biography Be Released?

Mark Lewisohn's latest book on the Beatles (whose working title is The Beatles: The Complete Story), which is being billed as the definite biography of the group, will be split into three volumes. The first will go from the beginning until December 1962. The second volume will cover from 1963 until 1966/67. The final volume will continue until the early 1970s. The release date for Volume 1 is tentatively scheduled for the fall of 2012.



Lewisohn's other Beatles books can be found below:

Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Beatles & Bournemouth

by Nick Churchill

The definitive account of the connections between the greatest rock ’n’ roll group that ever was and a small town on the south coast of England.

- In just 14 months from August 1963 to October 1964 The Beatles played more shows at the Bournemouth Gaumont than any other concert venue in the UK outside London.

- A tape of a full Beatles concert recorded during their first visit to Bournemouth is the earliest known example of their theatre show. Despite the excellent quality of the recording it remains unreleased.

- The iconic cover photograph for the With The Beatles and Meet The Beatles albums was taken in Bournemouth.

- Howie Casey, who played with Wings in the 1970s and has lived in Bournemouth since 1978, has links with The Beatles that go back to their very earliest days. With his band The Seniors, Howie was at the same audition in 1960 when John, Paul and George first performed as the Silver Beatles. The Seniors were the first Liverpool band to go to Hamburg, paving the way for The Beatles.

- The first American TV audiences saw of The Beatles was not the Ed Sullivan show as is widely believed, but film from the band’s appearance at the Winter Gardens, Bournemouth two months before.

- George Harrison’s first Beatles song, "Don’t Bother Me" was written while staying in Bournemouth.

- John Lennon bought his Aunt Mimi a home just outside Bournemouth and until he left the UK in 1971 was a regular visitor to the area.

- The story told in The Ballad of John and Yoko began while John was travelling to Mimi’s house before he ended up “standing in the dock at Southampton.”

- Launched in August 1963, Beatles Monthly conducted its first extensive interviews and photo shoots with the band in Bournemouth, forging a relationship that resulted in the magazine being published for almost 30 years.

With previously unseen and rare photographs of The Beatles taken in Bournemouth, photos licensed from Beatles Monthly and unpublished images of Mimi at home, the story is told using first-hand accounts from the people who were there – the fans, reporters, photographers, venue staff and musicians.

This book will be available from 22nd September 2011.

The Devil and Preston Black

by Jason Jack Miller

You'd think finding a song named after you on an old record would be kind of cool. But that's not how it goes down for Preston Black.

What starts out as a search for his old man turns into a quest for an original version of "The Sad Ballad of Preston Black". Turns out the song is about his deal with the devil, a deal Preston doesn't really remember making.

When the devil decides it's time to cash in things get really interesting. People he loves get hurt, and Preston starts to wonder if a long fall into an icy river is his only way out.

Lucky for Preston, he has help. A music ethnographer with connections in some of Appalachia's darkest hollows convinces him that his salvation can be found in the music. Preston can buy that. It's the hexes, curses and spells he has a hard time with.

And it's the ghost of John Lennon who convinces Preston to do something about it.

The Beatles: Fifty Fabulous Years

by Robert Rodriguez

It has been fifty years since John, Paul, and George named themselves the Beatles and soon after recruited Ringo Starr. The Beatles: Fifty Fabulous Years includes fascinating and little-known stories, never-before-published photographs, and nostalgic memorabilia.

The Beatles: Fifty Fabulous Years is an interactive e-reading product that captures John, Paul, George, and Ringo like never before. Released for the Amazon Kindle App and Kindle Store, the product features fascinating and rare clips, little-known stories, amazing interviews, and photographs. The pandemonium of Beatlemania is brought to life, from madcap movies, interviews with each of the Fab Four, and footage of delirious fans.

iPad Edition
Video Documentary by Les Krantz

A complimentary documentary, "The Beatles: The Golden Age," is woven throughout the vook's narrative and captures the pandemonium of Beatlemania, from their delirious fans and madcap movies to interviews with each of the Fab Four.

The Lost Beatles Photographs: The Bob Bonis Archive, 1964-1966

Recently released by HarperCollins, The Lost Beatles Photographs compiles the photos taken by U.S. tour manager Bob Bonis on the Beatles' three major American tours from 1964 to 1966. The complete set comprises a mixture of black and white and color pictures that cover many facets of their tours: the behind-the-scenes relaxing at their hotels, the press conferences, the airplane trips, and the on-stage performances. It's also interesting to see photos of the Beatles' opening acts, who are often left out of similar histories.

The concert photos are wonderful and are mostly taken from close range from Bonis' vantage point, either on or directly in front of the stage. Of particular interest are rare pictures taken at Portland, Oregon in 1965, where the Beatles don their "Shea" outfits, behind-the-scenes rehearsals shot in Detroit, Michigan in 1966, where the Beatles play to a Revolver drawing backdrop. and color close-ups from the infamous Memphis, Tennessee concert where a cherry bomb was thrown onstage.

Providing a memorable look back at the people, places, and performances of the Beatles' U.S. tours, The Lost Beatles Photographs would make a welcome addition to any Beatles library and is a must for Beatles photo collectors.

Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney

by Howard Sounes

Fab: the epic story of the musical and personal odyssey of Sir Paul McCartney, the torch bearer of the greatest band in pop history, the Beatles, told in deeply researched detail by the acclaimed biographer of Bob Dylan.

Howard Sounes, author of the definitive Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan, spent more than two years investigating every aspect of Paul McCartney's life and work, including interviewing over 200 people for Fab. The result is the richest, most detailed, and most comprehensive life of McCartney ever written.

Unlike previous biographies of McCartney, the author pays equal attention to the story of his time with the Beatles and the ongoing story of his post-Beatles career, creating a comprehensive volume that spans the long arc of the artist's life and work. Fab culminates with the fascinating and sensational human story of Sir Paul's calamitous second marriage to Heather Mills, which is fully revealed for the first time. Sounes proves a judicious critic of the music of an iconic star while also delivering a superb psychological portrait of the man behind the music.

"Dylan comes alive," the New York Times wrote of Sounes's biography of the music legend. Now, Sir Paul McCartney comes alive in Fab, a detailed, revelatory, and hugely entertaining account of one of the most famous men in the world, spiced with anecdotes and candid comments from those who know him best.

'Beatles Book' Describes Madness of Mid-Sixties

October 17, 1968

"The Beatles Book," edited by Edward E. Davis, 205 pages, Cowles Education Corp., New York, N.Y.

By BETH PHILLIPS

The Beatlemania of the mid-sixties has somehow survived or been revived by the recent spate of books concerning the mop-topped foursome.

Whatever their inspiration, nostalgic or commercial, the three latest books by Hunter Davies, Julius Fast and Edward E. Davis contain a wealth of information on John, Paul, Ringo and George.

Unlike the Davies and Fast books, however, the Davis book is not a biography of the Liverpudlian lads. Instead it is a critical evaluation of the Beatles as musicians, folk poets, social documentarians and innovators of cinematic techniques.

"The Beatles Book," edited by Davis, is a collection of controversial articles by 15 of the country's foremost musicians, artists, writers, psychoanalysts and yes . . . even political scientists.

Contrived Criticism

Much of the book consists of praise and even the criticism seems somewhat hollow and contrived.

Author Nat Hentoff criticizes the Beatles for not appealing to ghetto blacks, but still considers them liberators for "turning millions of American adolescents onto what had been here hurting all the time."

Composer Ned Rorem claims that he and his colleagues have been happily torn from a long nap by the energy of rock, principally as embodied in the Beatles.

At the same time, high priest of LSD Timothy Leary calls them "the four evangelists in the psychedelic movement."

Free-lance writer and photographer Edward Davis, who compiled the articles, considers the Beatles' widely acclaimed album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" a new art form and the group's most stunningly original album.

Technical Excellence

Poet Al Lee said that "when their technical excellence serves a serious theme, the Beatles merit the pinnacle of the sixties they have seized, regardless of merit, by stunning the popular sensibility with new forms."

Some criticism, of course, is naturally forthcoming.

According to reviewer Richard Goldstein, "the Beatles jester approach to serious music and deep thought clamors for interpretation and their intentional embrace of ambiguity sets a tempting critical trap, hard to resist when ideas are the bait."

The only real blast, however, is leveled by William F. Buckley Jr., whose remarks will seem no less than sacrilegious to Beatle fans.

Buckley, editor of National Review, gives the conservative viewpoint when he describes the group as "not merely awful but godawful.

Crowned Heads

"They are so unbelievably horrible, so appallingly unmusical, so dogmatically insensitive to the magic of the art," said Buckley, "that they qualify as crowned heads of anti-music, even as the imposter popes went down in history as anti-popes."

Other contributors include Allen Keesee, who examines the influences of Indian philosophy and music on the Beatles, Herbert Freudenberger, who tells how the quartet mirrors the loneliness of contemporary youth and Ralph J. Gleason, who looks at the current pop scene.

Joshua Rifkin criticizes the musical structure of the Beatles and Leonore Fleisher discusses their movies, "Help!" and "A Hard Day's Night."

"The Beatles Book" is packed with facts brilliantly borne out in some passages and totally bogged down in others.

Hopefully the reader can stumble through these wordy and woefully long essays, for much insight on the Beatles can be obtained from experts who dare to discuss something besides grass and gurus.

At any rate it's nice to know the Beatles are alive and well and living in Liverpool, or is it London now that they are successful businessmen?

John by Cynthia Lennon

Cynthia Lennon (née Powell) (born 10 September 1939) is the former wife of musician John Lennon. She grew up in the middle-class section of Hoylake, on the Wirral Peninsula, and at 12 years old was accepted into the Junior Art School, and later was enrolled in the Liverpool College of Art. Lennon also attended the college, meeting Powell in a calligraphy class, which led to a relationship.

When Lennon was performing in Hamburg with The Beatles, she rented Lennon's bedroom from his aunt and legal guardian, Mimi Smith. After she became pregnant with Julian Lennon, the Lennons were married on 23 August 1962, at the Mount Pleasant Register office in Liverpool. In 1968, Lennon left her for Yoko Ono, and planned to sue for divorce and sole custody of their son. During this time Paul McCartney visited her, composing "Hey Jude" on the way. The Lennons' divorce was legally granted on 8 November 1968.

She married Italian hotelier Roberto Bassanini in 1970, divorcing him in 1973. In 1976, she married John Twist, an engineer from Lancashire, but divorced him in 1983. After her divorce, she changed her name back to Lennon by deed poll and met Jim Christie, who was her partner for 17 years. She published A Twist of Lennon in 1978, and later married Noel Charles, a night club owner, in 2002. In September 2005, she published a new biography, John. In 2006, she and her son attended the Las Vegas premiere of the Cirque du Soleil production of the Beatles Love, which marked her only joint public appearance with Ono. She currently lives in Majorca, Spain.

December 8, 1980: The Day John Lennon Died

by Keith Elliot Greenberg

In a breathtaking, minute-by-minute format, December 8, 1980: The Day John Lennon Died follows the events leading to the horrible moment when Mark David Chapman calmly fired his Charter Arms .38 Special into the rock icon, realizing his perverse fantasy of attaining perennial notoriety. New York Times bestselling author Keith Elliot Greenberg takes us back to New York City and the world John Lennon woke up to. The day begins with a Rolling Stone photo session that takes on an uncomfortable tone when photographer Annie Leibowitz tries to maneuver Yoko Ono out of the shot. Later Lennon gives the last interview of his life, declaring, "I consider that my work won't be finished until I'm dead and buried and I hope that's a long, long time." We follow the other Beatles, Lennon's family, the shooter, fans, and New York City officials through the day, and as the hours progress, the pace becomes more breathless. Once the fatal shots are fired, the clock continues to tick as Dr. Stephan Lynn walks from the emergency room after declaring the former Beatle dead, Howard Cosell announces the singer's passing on Monday Night Football, and Paul McCartney is lambasted for muttering "Drag, isn't it?" - his bereavement confused with indifference. The epilogue examines the aftermath of the killing: the considerable moment when 100,000 New Yorkers stood in silence in Central Park, the posthumous reunion of the Beatles in the studio - with George, Paul, and Ringo accompanying the recordings of their old friend - the unveiling of a bronze John Lennon statue in Fidel Castro's Cuba, and the durable legacy that persists today.

Keith Elliot Greenberg is a New York Times bestselling author and producer for America's Most Wanted. In addition to producing programs for VH-1, 48 Hours, MSNBC Investigates, the History Channel, and Court TV, among others, Greenberg has authored more than thirty non-fiction books and written for such outlets as Maxim, The Village Voice, The New York Observer, USA Today, Playboy.com, and US Weekly.

You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup

by Peter Doggett

“Peter Doggett’s book about the Beatles’ split is a real page-turner.” — Annie Lennox

“Enthralling… Impossible to put down.” — The Independent

Acclaimed journalist Peter Doggett recounts the previously untold story of the dramatic final chapter in the lives, loves, and legal battles of John, Paul, George, and Ringo—aka The Beatles—from their breakup in 1969 to the present day. Called “refreshingly straightforward and highly readable” by The Daily Telegraph (London), You Never Give Me Your Money is the dramatic and intimate story of the breakup and aftermath of The Fab Four as it’s never been told before.

The world stopped in 1970 when Paul McCartney announced that he was through with the Beatles. His statement not only marked the end of the band's remarkable career, but also seemed to signal the demise of an era of unprecedented optimism in social history. Though the Beatles' breakup was widely viewed as a cultural tragedy, one of the most fascinating phases of their story was just about to begin.

Now, for the first time, You Never Give Me Your Money tells the behind-the-scenes story of the personal rivalries and legal feuds that have dominated the Beatles' lives since 1969. Journalist Peter Doggett charts the Shakespearean battles between Lennon and McCartney, the conflict in George Harrison's life between spirituality and fame, and the struggle with alcoholism that threatened to take Richard Starkey's life. In vivid detail, Doggett also describes the wild mismanagement of the Beatles' fortune staked largely in Apple Corps.

You Never Give Me Your Money is a compelling human drama and an equally rich and absorbing story of the Beatles' creative and financial empire, set up to safeguard their interests but destined to control their lives. From tragedy to triumphant reunion, and chart success to courtroom battles, this meticulously researched work tells the previously untold story of a group and a legacy that will never be forgotten.

The Big Beat Scene

by Royston Ellis

The Big Beat Scene “a forgotten classic of rock literature” which Royston Ellis wrote in 1960 and which has been out of print since 1961, is being republished with new material (including his relationship with the Beatles) in June 2010.

Liddypool: Birthplace of The Beatles

When it comes to the Beatles’ history, Liverpool lore is a bit like Hollywood: the legend seems to be told and printed more often than the truth.

Liverpudlian and Beatles historian David Bedford has penned an entertaining and informative new book on the Beatles that will not only give readers a glimpse of the real Liverpool, but hopes to separate fact from fiction.

Growing up in post-1960s Liverpool – or “Liddypool” as John Lennon renamed it – one cannot avoid The Beatles. They are “Here, There and Everywhere.” Much to Bedford's dismay authors were writing about The Beatles’ hometown, and getting their facts wrong.

“To understand The Beatles, you have to understand Liverpool,” says Bedford, who spent nearly a decade compiling Liddypool: Birthplace of the Beatles (Dalton Watson Fine Books, Ltd). “Most authors who have written about the Beatles write about Liverpool from their computers in another country. All of my research was done the old-fashioned way – by visiting sites, talking to eyewitnesses, collecting stories from friends and acquaintances, and viewing hundreds of documents and previously unseen photographs.”

Former Beatles drummer Pete Best, who wrote the foreword to Liddypool, certainly believes Liddypool is the definitive book on his hometown.

“Without going into too much detail because that would spoil it for when you read the book, I found it to be different in layout, ideas and topics, and, before I forget, here is an author that isn’t afraid to express his own views and theories and blow some fresh air into early Beatles history. Having been a Beatle for two years and not professing to be a Beatle historian, to me this book is totally enlightening.”

Liddypool is the first major book to concentrate solely on The Beatles and Liverpool, covering their rise from childhood in the 1940s and obscurity to their triumphant civic reception at Liverpool Town Hall on 10th July 1964, when the city said goodbye to the Fab Four, their favorite sons, and shared with the world the most famous quartet in the universe.

Bedford uses local knowledge and eyewitness testimony to chart every band member and name-change and lineup, from The Black Jacks to The Beatles: the story of the “Fab 27”.

• Were they really John, Paul, George, Stuart and Norman? • Who was Ken Brown, and why was he such an integral part of this story?
• Who changed the course of Beatles folklore because she won on the horses? Over the course of a decade, Bedford has tracked down every birthplace, home, school and music venue across Liverpool and Merseyside relating to every musician from The Quarrymen to The Beatles. If you want to know which schools John Lennon attended, find all seven of Paul McCartney’s childhood homes, where George Harrison made his musical debut, why Ringo missed out on so much schooling, where Stuart Sutcliffe lived and why Pete Best’s cellar became the focal point for Merseybeat music, then this comprehensive book answers all these questions and more. It is Liverpool in a book.

Whether you are a fan, a fanatic or a “fanorak”, this book is:
• A history book – the history of Liverpool, plus a chronological long and winding road through the life of John, Paul, George, Stuart, Pete, Ringo, Brian Epstein, The Quarrymen and many more. Bedford has interviewed; Pete Best, Allan Williams, The Quarrymen, Bill Harry, Alistair Taylor, Ken Brown, Julia Baird and many more, to get first-hand, eyewitness accounts. Their stories are told here, as well as those of friends and family, together with 800 historical and rare images, some never published before, including up-to-date colour photographs and descriptions for the reader to discover.
• A reference book – search by date, song, venue, geography or favourite Beatle to find out facts, such as; what happened when John met Paul; what the song “Penny Lane” is really about; where The Quarrymen cut their first record.
• A guide book – Bedford provides maps and directions for every suburb within Merseyside connected with The Beatles. You can follow walking tours around Liverpool City Centre, the Dingle, the Penny Lane area, Wavertree, Childwall and Woolton with information and photographs about The Beatles. Discover and explore 59 homes, 24 schools and 103 venues. Locate Strawberry Fields, Mendips, Forthlin Road, The Cavern, The Casbah and Penny Lane, and some of the more obscure venues like the Barnston Women’s Institute and the Liverpool Corporation Passenger Transport Employees Social & Athletic Club, with ease.

DAVID BEDFORD is a life-long Beatles fan who grew up in the Dingle, Liverpool, at the bottom of the street where Ringo Starr was born; attended the same school as the famous drummer – though many years later – and has been involved as a parent and governor at Dovedale School, where John Lennon and George Harrison attended; he has lived by Penny Lane for 20 years. Bedford is also a feature writer for The British Beatles Fan Club since 2000. He has been interviewed on BBC Radio and several national British newspapers about his knowledge of the Beatles. He was most recently chosen by Paul McCartney’s production team to lead and direct the film crew around McCartney’s childhood haunts for the pre-show film on his Back in the World tour.

What others are saying about Liddypool: Birthplace of The Beatles:

“The depth of David Bedford's research is unprecedented. This is a fascinating, valuable and devoted piece of detective work which will appeal to any fan of the Beatles.” Janine Ross, Marketing Manager, The Beatles Story Ltd.

“It's great to see a book from an author who is trying to sieve his way through all the various myths, legends and half-truths and paint a realistic picture of what really happened.
Rod Davis, The Quarrymen

“David has always been a stickler for detail and passionate for facts. If I needed to know some obscure piece of information relating to The Beatles or Liverpool I knew I could rely on him to provide the answer. With the publication of this book, all the information I could require is now handily available within these pages!"
Pete Nash, Editor: British Beatles Fan Club

Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years: 1970-1980

by Robert Rodriguez

In the years following the 1960s, Beatle fans around the world were twice-stunned: in 1970, when their beloved group disbanded, and ten years later when the murder of John Lennon ended a decade of hope that somehow the Fab Four would reunite. Between those milestones were astounding highs and unfathomable lows. George Harrison's 1971 benefit for the suffering of Bangladesh showed the world the possibilities of rock's altruism, while Lennon asked the world to "imagine" universal peace before sitting out half the decade to raise his son. Ringo Starr, the most overlooked Beatle, carved himself a surprising niche in film before launching a string of hit singles. And Paul McCartney, widely seen as the instigator of the Fabs' breakup, became one of rock's most beloved performers, racking up record-breaking smashes that climaxed with a triumphant world tour in 1976. Fab Four FAQ 2.0 picks up the story where the acclaimed Fab Four FAQ left off. Loaded with images of rare period ephemera, including periodicals, single sleeves, and movie stills, this is the first comprehensive biography of all four ex-Beatles. This book covers everything from their recording careers in the decade after the band's dissolution to the musicians they played with, the bands they influenced, the manifestations of latter-day Beatlemania, and the constant clamor for reunion expressed by fans and - sometimes - by the four themselves.

Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments from Stage to Studio

by Andy Babiuk

Even though their songs are known by millions around the world, only now has a book been published that reveals how The Beatles sounded the way they did. This lavishly illustrated hardcover volume is the first to examine all the instruments and equipment The Beatles used to compose, rehearse, perform and record some of the best-loved popular music of all time. It features over 300 color and black & white photos of The Beatles – many never before published – as well as prime memorabilia, including instrument sales receipts, manufacturers' ads, concert posters and more. The book's year-by-year format analyzes in detail The Beatles' entire touring and recording career. Beatles Gear was written by Andy Babiuk, a staff consultant to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a 20+-year employee of House of Guitars, and an advisor to auction houses on music-related memorabilia. Includes a foreword by esteemed Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn.

Treasures of the Beatles

by Terry Burrows

“The impact of the Beatles - not only on rock & roll but on all of Western culture - is simply incalculable.” – Rolling Stone magazine

You know they caused a revolution! The Beatles transformed the face of music, youth, and popular culture. Here is their story, from the backstreets of Liverpool to the rough clubs of Hamburg to worldwide pandemonium. Featuring 15 pieces of unique, removable facsimile memorabilia, beautiful photographs, and superb commentary, Treasures of the Beatles captures the thrill of it all: sold-out concerts at Shea, half of America’s population tuning in to see them on The Ed Sullivan Show, 400 million TV viewers watching them record “All You Need Is Love.” A treat for Beatles fanatics and ordinary music lovers alike. Facsimile memorabilia includes:
- 1960 contract for their Hamburg gigs
- Signed flyer for Parlophone records, 1963
- Handwritten set list, 1963
- Concert poster for The Beatles and Roy Obison, 1963
- Poster from New Zealand Tour, 1964
- signed postcard from set of Help!, 1965
- Invitation to Magical Mystery Tour party, 1967
- and more!

Terry Burrows is a musician of experimental pop music responsible for roughly 30 commercial releases under such guises as Yukio Yung and the Chrysanthemums. His is also a prolific author and contributor to books and CD-ROMS on subjects as diverse as popular psychology, business and management, history, computer software, and music. Previous publications include the KISS Guide to Playing the Guitar, which sold over 100,000 copies, The Complete Illustrated Story of the Beatles, and a Courtney Love biography, to name a few.