Paul still rocks!

Remembering the victims of 9/11

Last so many of us, Paul has vivid memories of exactly where he was on September 11, 2001.   As we get farther and farther away from that date, it gets harder and harder for me to believe just how long ago it truly happened.     It seems so recent because everything I did on that day is vividly engraved in my memory.  

On November 26, 2016 Paul visited the September 11 museum in New York City and paid his respects for those who lost their lives on that day.  

Tony turns 91

Meeting Paul in the desert

Catching up with Macca

Always reflecting on the Beatles

Spotting a McCartney in the crowd

The hottest ticket in town

Traditionally the McCartney family spends the week of Christmas in New York City.  While they are in the Big Apple. they will catch a Broadway show.    Last night, Paul McCartney was seen at the hottest ticket on Broadway, the hit musical, Hamilton.    Word is that it is next to impossible to obtain tickets to this sold-out show, especially this time of year.    But I would guess that two people could snag tickets without any issues:  Paul McCartney and Santa Claus.

We have seen that when Paul has gone to a Broadway show in the past, he will pose for a photo or maybe two with members of the cast.    This time around, he went all out and let everyone get a photo with him!

It looks like someone in the audience snapped a photo of Paul in his Christmas red sweater during the curtain call. 

The Meat Free Monday bunch

MTBFR Thanksgiving contest

Hello to Beatle friends around the globe!

This week here in the United States we will be celebrating Thanksgiving.   I want to take the time to say thank you to everyone that visits the "Meet the Beatles..For Real" blog.    I really have fun with this blog and I hope all of you do as well.  

To show my thanks to you viewers I purchased a few things for a contest.   I am sorry that I wasn't able to get amazing things for this Fall 2016 contest, but I hope you understand that I buy these prizes myself and I am not always able to get a hold of great Beatles things.

Prize A:
A copy of the book The Beatles and Me on Tour by Ivor Davis.   The book is signed by Ivor.   If you haven't read this book, it is one I recommend.    Ivor traveled as a journalist with the Beatles during their 1964 North American Tour and also was with them in 1965 when they met Elvis.   He is a great storyteller and his book is great!

Prize B:
One Beatles drum Christmas ornament (these are sold right now at Target) and a $15 gift card for Itunes.


If you would like to participate in the fall contest all you have to do is email me at meetthebeatlesforreal@gmail.com and let me know if you are interested in Prize A or Prize B.   It is that easy!    I will have a notebook here next to the computer and as the emails come in, I will assign everyone a number.   Then on December 4, 2016 at 8:00pm (Central Time), I will use an online number generator to determine the winner.  

The contest is open to anyone and everyone, but only one entry per household.    The winner will have 48 hours from the time I announce the winner to contact me at the same email address with his/her address.   If I do not receive the address without the 48 hour time period, the prize is forfeited.


I also wanted to remind you all of two great opportunities to purchase Beatles items for your Beatle friends for Christmas or for yourself.

My book "Happiness is Seeing the Beatles:  Beatlemania in St. Louis" is selling out fast!   Only 130 copies remain of the 500 I had printed.   So if you wanted a copy of my book, now is the time to order!   They are $25 each and you can order them directly from the book website www.stlbeatles.com   I also have photographs of the Beatles and their family members for same on the site, so it is worth checking out!


If you are wanting to order the Beatles Yellow Submarine Lego set, please do so by clicking on the photo below.  You will be taken to the official Lego website.   It is set for the UK, so you if you live in another country, just change the region at the top of the page.   A small percentage of each sale of the Yellow Submarine Lego sets from my blog goes back to me and will be used to help keep the blog running.    So far no one has used this deal, but I know as Christmas is approaching, many people will want a Beatles Lego set.  

I again thank you all for your support.
Peace and Love,
Sara S.




If you want to order the Lego set:  just click on the cute Lego Beatles below!

He's with her

As I watch the election results coming in, I thought it would be as good of a time as any to post this recent photo of Paul McCartney and Hillary Clinton.    I remember that when Bill Clinton was president, he stated many times what big fan of the Beatles, and especially Paul he was.   Paul sent him a copy of "Flaming Pie" to the White House.  

Please note:  I will not publish any political comments.   I am posting this not because of any of my own views, but because it shows someone who met one of the Beatles for real.   If Paul had posed for a photo with Trump, I would have shared it as well.  

Ringo's have trouble finding new All Starr Band Members...

Ringo's Halloween Show in Japan 2016

Tatum Verbeck is having the best month ever!

I would guess that  it will be a long time before Tatum Verbeck comes down out of the clouds.   She managed to do something that the majority of us only dream about.   She has met both Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr all within the same month!

This 12 year old middle schooler is one luck girl!   She was called up onto the stage and held hands with Paul --who also kissed her on the cheek-- on October 6th during Paul's Sacramento concert.   Then on October 19th she went to Reno, where she was able to interview Ringo backstage before the show as a reporter for American Girl magazine.   The report I read claims that they "exchanged autographs," if that is correct, I would be highly surprised, as it would be the first autograph Ringo has given out to a fan since he declared no more autographs in 2008.

Tatum is a very lucky girl!!

Photobombing couple

This is a great photo of Ringo---but look at that couple in the background!   They are perfectly posing in the photo with Ringo!  This photo made me laugh.

Elaine meets Paul

Let's just hope she didn't try to teach him any dance moves.  

The strangest Beatles related photo of 2016....

Is Ringo holding a John Lennon face mask?   Is Paul doing a John Lennon at Shea Stadium impression?   No idea, but this photograph makes me laugh.

Eight days a week of autographs

Paul and Ringo's live Facebook chat: A review

This morning, September 14, 2016, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr did something they had never previously done:   the answered questions on a live Facebook chat.   Along with Ron Howard, they spoke for about thirteen minutes.  Fans from all around the world sent questions through Facebook comments.  And unlike other forums similar to this one, fans were to ask the guys questions about the Beatles because the entire reason for this live chat was to promote the Ron Howard documentary about the Beatles touring years, "Eight Days a Week."

Ringo and Paul along with Ron were inside Abbey Road Studios and were interviewed by Edith Bowman.  Both Paul and Ringo looked relaxed and healthy.  Ringo was supporting a tan, confirming that he was vacationing in Malibu and not in rehab again.

It seemed a bit silly to conduct this interview before Paul or Ringo had seen the finished film, however; they did a ice job answering the questions and giving Ron Howard the chance to put in his comments as well.   I know the questions came from fans, but they were basic questions and not different than what I would've expected from an interviewer.   However, I am sure it was a thrill for the few fans that had their questions asked to hear Paul and Ringo respond.

There really wasn't anything new discovered in the interview.  Ringo told the same joke about how on their one day off a month Paul would have to judge a beauty contest.  While nothing new was uncovered, there was something almost magical about watching Ringo and Paul together talking about the Beatle days.

My biggest issue with the interview was with Edith Bowman.  Her Scottish accent was at times difficult for me to understand, plus her voice wasn't very loud.  That being said, she did display energy and kept the interview moving.

The last question was about why the title of "Eight days  a Week" was chosen for this documentary about the Beatles touring years.  This has been a questions going around in Beatle fans circles since the title was announced.  The song that the title comes from is one that the Beatles never sang in a live concert.   Ron Howard gave an answer about how he wanted people to know that the film was just one part of the Beatles' story.  Ringo then encouraged Paul to tell how he came up with the name of the song.  Paul tells a story we first heard through the Anthology about how he had a driver who said he was working "eight days a week" while driving Paul to John's house.

In watching the interview, it hit me that moments like these won't be around much longer.  It was great to see these two old friends talking about their band.  I have a feeling this is an interview we will remember for a long time.

The restaurant sneak

Paul was spotted out to eat (apparently alone?) recently  at his favorite Vegan restaurant in New York City.     And these lads sitting near him did what any Paul-loving person would do:   sneak a photo of him!     It appears that someone is taking a photo of these two guys, all the while Paul McCartney is in the background studying the menu.   Success!

5 Reasons why Paul McCartney is worth seeing in a stadium---at least once!

Photo by Coral Schmidt 

Tonight for Wednesday Review I am going to talk about the Paul McCartney concert I saw at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on August 13, 2016.    As I have said before, since Paul McCartney can do no wrong in my eyes, it isn't fair for me to "review" a Paul concert.   I am a Beatles fan.  I love Paul McCartney--obviously you do too and you will most likely agree with me, that his concerts are awesome.  

I was able to again see Paul arrive at the venue and saw him quickly (the fastest ever!) drive by and wave to the extremely small group of fans gathered around.   Why was it such a small group?   Well, a big group had gathered and then some guy texted his buddy who worked security inside the stadium and asked if McCartney had arrived yet.   His friend texted back that Paul was inside.   The news quickly spread and a lot of fans dispersed.    However, a few of us "Fans on the Run" loyals were suspicious of that news, because we saw police setting up more barricades, and so we waited about 15 more minutes and low and behold---here he came!    I got nervous and only snapped a photo of a police guard, but luckily my mom got a decent shot of the moment.

Photo by Coral Schmidt

My opinion is that Paul's voice sounded much stronger than it had in April in Little Rock.   "Maybe I'm Amazed" was still rough and I still think needs to be cut from his set, but other songs such as "You won't see me" were spot on and sounded great.   However, the audience in Little Rock was much, much better than the audience in St. Louis.    If it wasn't a Beatles song, the St. Louis crowd didn't like it---and I should point out if it wasn't a Beatles song that they knew.     The guy behind me kept a running commentary for me to know what he thought of each song.   He would often say things like "Finally a Beatles song!"   I know "In spite of all the danger" is a Quarry Men song, but it is on a Beatles' album, so I thought it should be considered a Beatles song.   And rude of all was after Paul was explaining how he had written "Here Today" as a conversation with John that he never had, people decided en mass to take a potty break during the song in tribute to John Lennon.   How disrespectful.      But it is their loss, because I personally had an amazing time!

People told me over and over that I would not enjoy seeing Paul at a stadium and while stadium concerts sure have their issues, I am going to let you know why I think all fans should experience Paul McCartney in a stadium setting---at least once!

Photo by Sara Schmidt 

5.   It is an outdoor concert.    There is just something fun about seeing a concert outdoors at night.  The atmosphere is different.   And as long as you have decent weather and a nice breeze, it can be a great experience.   Paul McCartney under the stars--you can't beat that!

4.   Live and Let Die    If you have ever experienced a Paul McCartney concert since 1976, you will know that the song "Live and Let Die" is a sight to be seen.   The pyrotechnics is amazing.   Well if you see Paul at a stadium, it is ten times bigger than it is in an arena!   The fireworks go off and the fire is blazing.   Photos and video does not do it it justice.  Really--it is something you have to be there and experience yourself!

Photo by Sara Schmidt 

3.  The Sound.   The Beatles had a terrible experience with the sound system in large stadiums in the 1960's.   Thankfully times have changed and the sound system has improved greatly over the years.   I thought the whole concert sounded better in the stadium than in an arena.   There was a bit of an echo and I liked that as well.  


2. You get to hear the soundcheck for FREE.    With an outdoor venue, it is easy to hear what is going on in the stadium on the outside of the venue.   I saw on the news that many people that weren't able to get tickets to the concert, stood outside and listened to it and some were standing in the right spot to even be able to see the big screens.     Well---I did the same thing, but with the soundcheck.  I couldn't see anything, but I heard the entire soundcheck while sitting at the 3rd base entrance.   I got to hear songs like "On my way to work" and "Let 'em in" that I wouldn't have heard otherwise.   Sure being at the soundcheck is awesome, but hearing it was the next best thing.

Photo by Sara Schmidt 

1.  Sharing the moment.   During the song "Let it Be" everyone traditionally gets out their cell phones and shines the light in the way that oldtimes will remember doing with a lighter.    I was on the field and I turned around and saw 40,000 people all shining their lights around the stadium.  It was enough to give you goosebumps.     There I was---sharing this moment with all of these other people that love Paul McCartney and the song "Let it Be."     Paul was touched too because he stated, "thank you for all the lights."      That was something that I had never experienced in the arena setting and I am glad to have been there for it.


Yes, there are a LOT of reasons why arena shows are better than stadium shows.   But stadium shows are worth a try--at least once!