Tina Turner - rest in peace

 

Paul performed with Tina Turner in 1986 at the Prince Trust concert.   

25 years without Linda

 

Linda McCartney passed away from her fight with breast cancer 25 years ago today.   I know that I allow a lot of junk to be spoken about Linda, but personally, I really admire her and was devastated when I learned that she had passed.   Rest in Peace, Lovely Linda.

Ladies, please remember to get a yearly mammogram once you turn 40 (earlier if you have a history of breast cancer in your family), check yourself frequently, and go to the doctor if you discover anything strange.    Breast cancer has affected the Beatles family and many fans that I have met along the way.   I don't want to lose anyone else to this -- look after yourself, please. 

Ringo and Raquel

 

Raquel Welsh passed away yesterday.   After hearing this sad news, I thought about how she starred with Ringo in the film "The Magic Christian."   

Louise Harrison -- Rest in Peace

Me with Louise in Benton, Illinois, in 2013 

 

Sad to hear the news that George's oldest sibling, Louise, passed away yesterday (January 29).   She was very supportive of The Beatles in 1963-64 and tried her hardest to promote them in the United States.   Love to her family during this time.  

Thinking of David Crosby

 

It is sad that so many of The Beatles contemporaries are no longer with us, and today we lost another one -- David Crosby.   My first thought when it comes to David Crosby and The Beatles is the 1966 press conference.  You see him peeking out behind a curtain and a journalist asked about the "long-haired gentleman," and David quickly hides behind the curtain and John says something like "oh that's just our friend Dave." 

He was a great musician and sang some of my favorite songs.  He will be missed.    

Jamming with George and Bob

 Rest in Peace Jeff Beck ...

Saying Goodbye to Hilary

 

I am very sad to learn that Hilary Gerrard has passed away.   He was Ringo's producer from the 1970s and beyond -- but with as many photographs that you see of Hilary and Ringo throughout the years, it is obvious that he and Ringo were good friends.   I read that he was the best man at Ringo and Barbara's wedding in 1981 (but then I also read that Harry was the best man and that BOTH of them were the best men!).    He went through a lot with Ringo and was one of the few friends that remained close to him and Barbara after they went to rehab.    My condolences go out to the Starkeys and to Hilary's family during this time.     And whenever you see a photo of Ringo -- take a look in the background because Hilary Gerrard most likely isn't too far behind him.  

Rest in Peace Henry

Photos by Henry Grossman 

 

One of the best Beatles photographers, Henry Grossman passed away this past November.   The announcement was just made last week, so that is why this post is in January of 2023.

Grossman took so many amazing photographs of John, Paul, George, and Ringo.  From the photos he took during the making of Help! in the Bahamas to photos, he took of George at Kinfauns and Ringo and Sunny Heights, Sgt. Pepper era photos to the photos he took of them individual photos during the solo years (London Town anyone?), each photo was able to capture The Beatles right where they were at that moment.   There is just something special about his shots.  

He is sadly gone but his amazing photos will be around for as long as we keep talking about The Beatles.   

Rest in Peace 

Barbara Walters - Rest in Peace

 

Sad news tonight that journalist Barbara Walters has passed away.   I have always seen her are a pioneer as a women's journalist.   She did things that typically only men had been allowed to do before and made a name for herself.   She became known as the woman that could make any interviewee cry.    I know I watched plenty of her interviews over the years and watched her on 20/20 with Hugh Downs.    I lost a little respect for her when she interviewed John Lennon's murderer in prison, but I also knew that she was doing a job, and interviewing killers was part of that job.  I just hated that she gave him publicity.    I thought her original idea for The View television show was good.  To have women of all different ages, races, beliefs, and backgrounds sit around a table and discuss the topics of the day and then have those women interview famous actors and musicians was something that had never been done on daytime television in the 1990s.   Sadly, I think the program has now strayed far away from her initial idea, and I haven't watched it in at least a decade. 

In 1981 Barbara Walters was the first person to speak to a Beatle after John's murder.   Her interview with Ringo Starr remains one of the lasting interviews from that time to really display how the world felt after John's death (yes, she made Ringo cry).

The craziest thing was discovered when Paul started dating Nancy Shevell.   Barbara Walters casually says something on The View about how Nancy is her cousin!    Suddenly Ms. Walters is part of Paul's extended family.  She always stands out in the photos of Paul and Nancy's wedding because she wears a stunning red outfit.  

My deepest condolences go out to all of Barbra Walter's family and friends during this challenging time.  

Anthology Director - Rest in Peace

 

Joe Wisbey posted this photo in the "Nothing is Real" group on Facebook along with the information that Geoff Wonfor, who directed The Beatles Anthology, has passed away.    The Beatles Anthology is still a masterpiece as far as I'm concerned.  Sorry to hear that he is no longer with us.  

In Memory of Ed Rudy

Ed Rudy is the interviewer standing close to John. 

 

Another person with a strong Beatles connection has recently passed away.  Journalist Ed Rudy died on November 7, 2022.    Ed traveled along with The Beatles during all the stops during their first trip to the United States in February 1964.    He interviewed them along the way and made two very well-known records of those interviews.   Just about every Beatle fan in the United States had at least one of those Ed Rudy records because you got to hear their actual voices!  That was gold to a fan during that time, especially since A Hard Day's Night hadn't been released quite yet -- this was the first opportunity many fans had to really hear The Beatles accents and speaking voices.  (besides the short news clips of the press conference they might have seen on T.V.).

Ed Rudy made another record following the first North American tour in 1964.   Until a few years ago, Ed Rudy was a major presence on Facebook in Beatles groups -- he was typically selling his CDs (what used to be the records had been upgraded to CDs).   But he also took the time to answer questions.  I did a short interview with him during the 50th anniversary of the Beatles coming to America, and he was very nice to answer my questions and had a good memory of what was happening.  

While Ed Rudy isn't a significant player in the Beatles story, like so many people, their paths crossed, and he used that to further his career.   And who could blame him?   Many fans recall his records with great fondness.   Much sympathy goes out to his family and friends.   

If you follow the "Ed Rudy" tag, you can read some of what he wrote about the Beatles in fan club newsletters in the 1970s.  

In memory of Ken Mansfield

 

Ken Mansfield being interviewed at the Fest for Beatle Fans in Chicago 2019
photo by Sara Schmidt 

Ringo and Ken, 2006

Best buddies - Mal and Ken

Paul and Ken in 1968

Mal, Ken, and George in 1968

George and Ken in the 70s

Ken in his white coat on the rooftop 

I am very sad to say that Ken Mansfield passed away on November 17, 2022.  Ken worked with Capitol Records in Los Angeles and had many interactions with The Beatles.  He was then promoted to the head of Apple Records in the United States.   

Most Beatle fans remember him as the guy in the white coat on the rooftop during the concert.   He was the only guy sitting with Yoko, Maureen, and Chris.   

Many people might not realize that Ken and Mal Evans became best friends, and they hung out together a lot.  Actually, Ken was supposed to meet Mal for lunch the day after he died in 1976.   Ken knew that something wasn't right with Mal and that something had to be bothering him and so he and Mal made plans to have lunch the next day because Ken had to go to the Billboard Music Awards.    He always spoke of Mal with such kindness, and I think he might have felt guilty because he should have done something sooner.   

Ken was a very soft-spoken, kind man.   He answered my email in the early 2000s when I wrote to him about I was being bullied online about being a Beatles fan.   He always showed kindness towards Beatles fans and was an all-around great man.   

I hope that Ken has now reunited with his friend, Mal, and they finally got to have that lunch.  

In his pocket is a portrait of the Queen

 

My heartfelt condolences to everyone in England on the passing of their wonderful Queen Elizabeth II.   While I know that she lived a long, full life and touched so many people, it is still sad to get the news today. 

Paul McCartney always seemed to think of the Queen sort of like a mother.   Well, maybe they weren't THAT close, but he always spoke so highly of her.   So I thought in remembrance of the Queen, I would post these photos of her with Paul plus one of her with Stella.   

Remembering Olivia Newton John

 

I am sure everyone joins me in the sadness of hearing that the talented and beautiful Olivia Newton-John.   I really admire the courage and outspokenness she had in regards to having cancer three times.   She really will remain a role model for everyone who is going through a terminal illness.  It is so sad that she is no longer here, but her movies and music will not be forgotten. 

I couldn't help but think of the 1975 Grammy Awards when she won Record of the Year for the song "Honestly I love you."   John Lennon and Paul Simon were the presenters for this award and hilariously the award was accepted by none other than Art Garfunkel because Olivia was not there in person.    It is a shame that she was not there, as I am sure that John Lennon would have liked to have met her.   Apparently, John was a fan and especially enjoyed her song, "Magic"(although that song wasn't released until 1980).

She covered a few Beatles songs and even some George Harrison songs over the years, but I could not find any photographs of her with one of the Beatles (although I would have thought she met Paul at one point in her life).   

Mo Mo Mo --- Rest in Peace

 

Sadly Mo Ostin, the former Warner Brothers executive passed away today at the age of 95.  Mo was really one of a kind and everyone that knew him has incredibly kind things to say about him.   He worked with Jimi Hendrix, Madonna, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Joni Mitchell, The Kinks, Fleetwood Mac and the list goes on and on.   The person that he worked with that this site is the most interested in was George Harrison.    Mo and George were pretty good friends from the mid-late 1970s.  They were such good friends that George wrote Mo a song for his 50th birthday in 1977 that was originally supposed to have been on the "Somewhere in England" album.   

Mo had a full life and touched many people along the way.   Thanks Mo!