Happy New Year!

 Wishing all of you a very Happy New Year!   I can't wait to see what new Beatles things will happen in 2024.   

Happy New Year Beatle fans everywhere!

 

Happy New Year Beatle Fans!   I hope you all have a safe and healthy 2023.   I hope we have a lot of Beatle fun to be had in the upcoming year. 

My new book, Dear Beatle People:  The Story of  The  Beatles North America Fan Club will be published in February or March, so that is really exciting.    And who knows what else the year will bring?

Cheers to 2023!

New Year's Eve Homecoming

 

December 31, 1982 

For many years, Paul and Linda would ring in the New Year in Liverpool with Paul's extended family members.   40 years ago they were in a pub in Wirral with family and friends.   (And some fans that couldn't resist getting photos and a autographs).   

Looking forward to 2021!

 Hello Beatle fans!

Usually, on New Year's Eve, I take a look back on things from the past year and comment on them.   I am not really in the mood to do that this year.   There really isn't a whole lot to comment on for 2020.   There were a few good things Beatles wise that went on:  the Yellow Submarine sing-a-long, 2 Beatlefest (virtually), the Meet the Beatles in India film, Ringo's virtual birthday party,  several great solo Beatles box sets (Flaming Pie, Gimmie Some Truth, Plastic Ono Band), an amazing new song from Ringo and a new album from Paul.       It still isn't a great list, but it is better than nothing.

I am looking forward to 2021.   I hope that things are able to open up again and we are back to getting together to see one another.   I miss spending time with my fellow Beatle fans more than anything else.   We know that 2021 is going to bring us the new Get Back film and I know all of us are super excited about that!   I hear that we are also going to get Let it Be (the film) on DVD/Bluray.   I won't believe it until I have it in my hand though because we've been tricked way too many times before.   As of right now, Ringo is still scheduled to tour in the summer of 2021.   I was supposed to go to Liverpool/London/Paris in 2020 and so I have a postponed trip waiting for me that I hope to still be able to do.   Things are still really up in the air, but if nothing else -- 2021 has a little more hope in it than there was in 2020. 

Lastly, I want to thank each of you for visiting this site.   I know that it helped me during the pandemic to keep up with my schedule and keep finding new and rare stories and photos to share with all of you.  The Beatles' music and their pictures and stories have always helped me in hard times and I know that I needed that during 2020 more than ever.    I hoped that the things I posted here this past year brought you a little bit of happiness as well.   I hope you had that little spark of joy that you feel when you see a photo of The Beatles you have never seen before or read a new little tidbit of information you didn't know.    I know that I cannot do much from my little house in southern Illinois to help the world, but keeping this site going is one small thing that I CAN do.  

Anyroad --  have a wonderful weekend and New Year's Eve.   And let's all look forward to 2021. 

Peace and Love

Sara S. (Starshyne) 

Have a Rockin' New Year!

I want to wish all of you that read Meet the Beatles... For Real a very happy New Year.  I want to send my deepest condolences to all of you that lost a loved one in 2019 and once again thank each of you that reached out to me after the death of my beloved boyfriend, Shawn.    It has been a rough year in many ways for me personally and I am thankful that the Beatles music has remained the one constant in a time of difficulties. 


We enter into a new year / new decade with uncertainty.    However, one thing I knew for sure:  the future will bring continued Beatles music and events for all of us to enjoy.     I am especially looking forward to seeing Let It Be released officially  (because my bootleg copy looks terrible!).  I hope for the opportunity to see Paul or Ringo in concert again and who knows -- maybe a trip back to jolly England is in order. 

I send each and every one of you my best wishes into the New Year.    Take time to spread the Beatles' message of peace and love to those around you.

Sara S.

Wishing you all the best in 2019!

Well Beatle friends, we sure had another exciting Beatles year, didn't we?   The box sets for John Lennon Imagine, the White Album (and from what I hear) Paul McCartney early Wings were outstanding!     Ringo was knighted and is now and forevermore known as "Sir Ringo."    Some of you were able to see Paul in concert and many of us in the U.S. got to see Ringo (and I got to meet him!).    Yellow Submarine was on the big screen and sold out all over the place.  The Beatles were celebrated in Festivals, concert halls, and conventions around the globe.    Thanks to all of us, they remain on top without any decline. 

2019 has hopes to be another great Beatle year.   I know that I have tickets to see Paul twice in June!  Ringo has announced another tour as well.   Abbey Road will turn 50 this year and so while nothing official has been announced about it, you and I both know that important anniversary isn't going to pass by unnoticed. 

Speaking of important anniversaries:  Meet the Beatles...for Real turns 10 years old in March!   I want to do something special to celebrate this milestone.    I was thinking about having a "party" on Facebook live and giving away prizes and things.   Would any of you be interested in that? 

I am getting the notice that I need to renew this site.   Two friendly folks donated this year towards the renewal and a few of you clicked on the Amazon links that I post, but I still need about $12 to keep the site running.   Not that I mind paying the fee, but many, many of you have asked over the years how you can help.     There is a donation button on the "about me" page.    Any money that I make that goes past the amount needed to keep the site going ad-free will go towards buying contest prizes. 

I hope you all have a great New Year's Eve and stay safe tonight.

Peace and Love
Sara S.

The Top 10 posts of 2018

As another year comes to a close,  I will take some time to do my MTBFR tradition of looking at the yearly stats on the site and seeing what some of the most popular posts were from the past 365 days. 

One this that is for certain:  readership was WAY down in 2018 from previous years.   I don't know why.   And at first, it sort of bothered me.   Are Beatle fans no longer interested in the content I have on this site?    But then I realize that it really doesn't matter.   I am not getting paid for this site, so it isn't like my income went down.    And I do this mainly for fun.  I enjoy doing it.   That hasn't stopped, so what does it matter honestly if I used to get 2,500 hits a day and now I get 1,300?

So let's take a look at the most popular posts of 2018.   It gives us a chance to remember as well as gives you a chance to look at it in case you missed the posts. 

10.  John and Yoko with Tommy

       Posted February 20, 2018

       429 hits

This post is more than just a great 1980 photo of John and Yoko.  It is a search for Tommy, who is photographed with them.   As far as I know, Tommy's former penpal is still trying to find him.  Maybe you can help?

9.  Arrested in Japan

     Posted January 17, 2018

     431 hits

What can I say?   Paul's arrest in Japan in January 1980 is always a popular topic among us fans.  

8.   The Plaza

Posted February 12, 2018  

432 hits

There is nothing I like more than piecing together information to figure out when and where a certain photograph was taken.    Working together, we became certain that this photograph was taken outside the Plaza hotel.   But was it taken on the last day Ringo and John saw each other?    Go back and read through the comments and see what you think.   (Personally, I like to think that it was taken that day).

7.  Arm in Arm

Posted June 11, 2018

441 hits

It is always a special treat when a fan shares a photo with this blog.   Again much thanks have to go to Annette for sharing these special photos of Paul and Jane from 1968. 

6.  Visiting Dylan

Posted November 26, 2018

524 hits

Just a single photograph of George Harrison and Robbie Robertson.  However, it is a great photograph from 1968.  

5.  New Yellow Submarine Contest

Posted July 12, 2018

618 hits

I am not going to even post a link to this one.   Over the summer I ran a contest to win some great Yellow Submarine themed prizes in honor of the 50th anniversary of the film.    It actually was a very popular contest.    Which reminds me:   2019 will be this blog's 10th anniversary and I have some great contests planned, so keep visiting for the upcoming contests!

4.  John Lennon's many wives

Posted April 1, 2018

1120 hits

As you look at the date this was posted, it should be obvious that this was an April Fool's joke.  I sure had a lot of fun writing it and I hope you all got a chuckle.   

3.  Penny Lane Pub

Posted March 4, 2018

1568 hits

One of my all-time favorite photo of all four Beatles with fans.   When I posted this, it had just been unveiled by Mark Lewishon.   Some people on Facebook were saying it was a fake, but come on--- look at it and you will know it is the real deal. 

2.  I met a Beatle...for Real!!!

Posted September 9, 2018

2565 hits

photo copyright by Sara and Coral Schmidt 

Well on September 7, 2018 backstage at the Fox Theater it happened.   I finally met one of the Beatles!  I met Ringo and lived to tell the tale on this blog.   It was a real dream come true.  I gave Ringo a copy of my book and stood there as he flipped through it and made comments.     It truly was the highlight of 2018 for me and maybe even one of the biggest highlights of my life.  

1.  Remembering Paul Goresh

Posted January 15, 2018

4223 hits

It is always sad when the most popular post on this site is because someone passed away.   But I think it really speaks volumes about Paul Goresh that so many people came here after his death in January to pay their respects and share their memories.   And it is an honor for me that my site about fans that met the Beatles is where people come to look for information about Paul and his special relationship with John.  

Wishing you all a happy new year!

Another year over and a new one just begun....     I had a very nice 2017 mostly because I was able to do a lot of traveling.    In one year's time I went to:   New Jersey,  Chicago, Arkansas, Iowa, Las Vegas, Liverpool, London, and all of the Netherlands.     And I would say that all of that was for Beatles reasons in one way or another.      I don't think I can afford another year like that, but I hope that Paul tours again this summer so I can go at least one place to see him. 

I want to thank each and every one of you that visit this site.   I know some of you visit daily and others weekly or monthly or just whenever you remember.   I thank you all for sticking with me and my silly little Beatles blog.     I want to thank those of you who have been understanding that I am not perfect.   I am going to misspell names and get dates wrong.   I am going to have typing mistakes and computer errors.     Thank you for knowing that I try my best to bring you different Beatles information.   I mostly keep this site going because I think it is fun.   I hope that you do too.


Who knows what 2018 will bring?    I guess we know that it is bringing us a "Sir" Ringo, which is really, really cool.    I hope it's a good one.   Without any fear.

The top 10 viral posts of 2017

One of the things I enjoy doing at the end of each year is look over the stats for this blog and see what has been going on during the year.     In 2017 I surpassed 4 millions hits on this site.     Of course, that has been spread over 8.5 years, so it isn't nearly as impressive as you might think.    Beatle fans come here mostly from the United States but also from the UK, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Germany (and other countries too!).    It still baffles me that all of you have been so invested in this site. 

I realize that most of you do not click on the individual links on this site.   Most of the site is photographs and you don't need to click on the link to see the photographs.    But everyone once in a while, there are some posts that become "viral."    People on facebook, twitter and other social media sites post the links and I see numbers shoot through the roof.   It is cool when that happens, but I know it is just someone looking at one "viral" post and most likely isn't someone that is going to stick around for the long run like so many of you.    But for fun I like to post the most viral posts of  2017.



10.   The Party's Over for the Beatles
        661  views
        March 24, 2017

This is a wonderful article written by Derek Taylor about the break up of the band.    Derek has such an unusual writing style.   



9.  Sara's 10 Best Things for the Fest for Beatles Fans (2017)
          675 views
          March 8, 2017

Here I am with other Beatlew authors at the Fest in New Jersey in March 

I went to the Fest for Beatle fans in New Jersey this past March and I tried to sell my book.    It was a good time and I highlight all the fun things in this post.   However --   I won't be going back.   I am going to stick to the Chicago Fest for a variety of reasons.



8.  Interview with Tommy Smothers
      708 views
      December 5, 2017

This Tommy Smother's interview from the late 1980's was really interesting.   He talks about George and John's lost weekend time and the infamous Troubadour performance.



7.   The Fab 3 and Jimmie in Darwin
      762 views
       February 27, 2017

This is just a photo post, but it is a very, very rare photograph of John, Paul, George and Jimmie Nichol in Darwin during the start of the Australian tour. 


6.  Who is Aunt Milly and why should she come back?
      782
      June 25, 2017

I am happy to see that one of the articles I wrote made the list!    I spent a lot of time researching this one because I really wanted to find out exactly who "Milly" was in the sign seeing in the All You Need is Love Tv broadcast and who wants her to come back and why.   

5.  John Lennon returns to Mendips???
      783 views
       March 30, 2017

This is another photo post.   However it was a mystery that we worked together to solve.   In the end it was determined that John was not back at Mendips, but visiting Aunt Mimi at Sandbanks.    Great working together to figure out this one!


4.  Sgt. Pepper at the Saville Theater
      788
      June 4, 2017

This was my attempt at debunking the story that Jimi Hendrix heard the song Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band on a Friday and played it on a Sunday.    I am not sure how much I debunked, but got a good conversation going about the topic -- which is pretty awesome.


3.  The Cutting Edge by Leslie Cavendish:  A Book Review
      855 views
      October 18, 2017

I was fortunate to go on a tour of London with the Beatles' hairdresser, Leslie Cavendish as my guide this summer.    I was so looking forward to his book and it didn't disappoint at all!   Best Beatles book of 2017.   



2.  Intervidew with S. Cardinal - author of a brand new book about Tittenhurst Park
         868 views
         April 5, 2017

I conducted this interview with S. Cardinal who puts out all of collector's books about the Beatles' homes about this project he was working on at the time, Tittenhurst Park.    The book is now available and is being mailed out to those who have ordered.    If you are interested, please order a book from him, and check out this interview again.    http://www.campfirenetwork.com/shop




1.  Remembering David Cassidy
     1,800 views
     November 22, 2017

It might seem silly that a Beatles blog posted something when David Cassidy sadly passed away.   But there were some pretty interesting Beatle connections that I felt were worth mentioning.   I am sorry that a tribute to David Cassidy was the most popular post.   I just hope that it somehow brought a little peace and comfort to David's fans.     While I am not a David Cassidy fan myself, I respect those that are because going through the death of John Lennon  (and even George Harrison), I know the feelings and I empathize with any fan community that as lost a member.   



Honorable Mention

Free Falling
619 views
March 21, 2017

This was my personal favorite post of 2017.    I knew nothing about it until I watched the 3 minute 'documentary' about the guy that got badly hurt at a John and Yoko demonstration.   And it just facinated me.   Check it out if you missed it the first time.   

Those we have lost---saying farewell to 2016

First and foremost I want to wish each and every visitor of Meet the Beatles...for Real a happy New Year.   I wish you only the best in health and happiness as we enter into 2017.

I am aware that most of you out there had a terrible 2016.    I want to extend my sympathies to you. I hope that this blog was able to bring a little of happiness into the gloom of the year for some of you.  

I had a wonderful 2016 and I feel  a bit guilty saying that.  But it is true.   I was able to see Paul McCartney in concert twice as well as two Beatle sons.    My book, "Happiness is Seeing the Beatles:  Beatlemania in St. Louis" was published and I was on television and radio talking about my book.   It was such an exciting year for me.       A big thank you to each of you who sent me messages and emails and supported me in any way with my book.   I appreciate it.

I hope that all of us have a great 2017.   It will be the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper and the Summer of Love, which should be a lot of fun.     I hope that Paul tours Australia this year because i think our friends Down Under deserve to see him again.  

As we say goodbye to 2016, I wanted to take a moment and remember those in the Beatle world that passed away this year.



1.   George Martin

George Martin passed away on March 8, 2016.    No one can say that George Martin didn't live a long and full life.    However, the death of the Beatles' producer left all of us feeling empty and sad.    His influence on the Beatles' music was huge and I know that we all are thankful for his contribution to their music and especially for taking a chance on them in 1962.     George Martin will never be forgotten.


2.  Tony Barrow

Tony left us on May 14th.    Tony was the Beatles' PR guy for a long time and traveled with them on the 1965-1966 tours.    He was remembered in death as the guy that named the Beatles the "Fab Four."   But I think he did so much more for the Beatles than just that.     I always enjoyed the stories he shared on Beatles documentaries and specials.   He had a unique relationship with the guys.


3.  Sam Leach

As you know, Sam passed December 20th.   Sam was a key figure in booking the Beatles concerts outside of the Cavern Club in the early days.  He was also a fixture on the Liverpool music scene in the early 1960's.    


4.  Henry McCullough

Henry is the only person on this list that wasn't connected to the Beatles, but to one of the guys during the solo days.  But since this blog is about all aspects of the Beatles from birth until today, he needs to be on the list.   Wings guitarist, Henry McCullough passed away June 14, 2016.   He was an amazing guitarist and helped shape Wings.   He will always be remembered for his guitar solo on the song "My Love."  


5.   Al Brodax

Al passed away on Thanksgiving day, November 24th.   I know that his direct connection with the Beatles is a bit far-fetched, but he is a part of the Beatles story.    He was the creator of the Beatles cartoons and the Yellow Submarine.     While he wasn't friends with the Beatles, his Yellow Submarine is an image that is going to live on forever and will always be connected with the Fab 4.


Others we have lost this year that had a Beatles connection:  Leon Russell, Carla Lane, David Bowie, George Michael, and Carrie Fisher.     Prince might not have had a Beatles connection, but we felt the impact of his death in the Beatles community.  

May all of these individuals rest in peace and let their friends and family find comfort in knowing that a community of fans mourn with them.

My best wishes again to each of you for 2017.

Peace and Love,

Sara S.

Here's to a happy 2016!

I want to wish each and every viewer of Meet the Beatles...for Real! a very Happy and Healthy New Year!    Regardless if you are a daily viewer, commenter, occasional viewer, or a lurker I appreciate you spending a little bit of your life here.    Starting this blog has been one of the most positive and rewarding experiences of my life.   I am so blessed to have met so many wonderful friends because of this blog.   I also have been honored to help reunite old friends as well as help friends and family heal from the death of a loved one.

2016 promises to be a big year for me.   My book, Happiness is Seeing the Beatles:  Beatlemania in St. Louis will be published later in the year.  As of today, the book is complete and has been edited.  I have gotten the first chapter to review for layout and will be working with the layout designer next.   I will keep you all up dated as the book gets closer to publication.  

Meanwhile---2016 brings us to the 50th anniversary of my all time favorite Beatle year, 1966!  I am excited to see what great things I can find to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Far East Tour, North American tour, Revolver, How I won the War, Paperback Writer/Rain and so much more!

Please continue to visit in 2016, which will be the blog's 7th year for more rare Beatles photos, stories, contests, reviews and fun!

Peace and Love,
Sara S.

Beatles New Year Cake

I have to give a big thank you to Ted Hutchens who did ALL of the research on this story!   He kindly sent me the information that he found as he was researching it.    I would like to point out that Ted has a really neat Beatles display currently available for viewing at the Springfield, Missouri Library.   It has some one of a kind items, including the clarinet case that three of the Beatles autographed for a young fan while they were at Reed Pigman's ranch.    If you live in the area, it would be well worth your time to go see the exhibit.  I hope I can make it out there before it is taken down.  

Ted also runs a facebook page called "MO Beatles" which is about the Beatles in Missouri (a topic that I love---since I have written an entire book basically on this topic!)   

On New Years' Eve of 1964, a radio station from KICK radio station in Springfield, Missouri decided the best way to get the Beatles' to perform a concert in their area in 1965 was to send a cake to Liverpool.    Now I am not sure what they really expected to happen since the Beatles themselves hadn't lived in Liverpool for at least 3 years by 1965, but maybe they thought the fan club located in Liverpool would eat the cake and spread the message to the Fab 4.   Or maybe it was just a publicity stunt for the radio station....

But anyhow....a cake that was 8 foot 3 inches was baked and decorated in what was called a "Kaleidoscope of pastel colors"   It appears that the cake had drawings of each of the Beatles in circles and wished the guys a Happy New Year for 1965.     It was then put into a gold painted wooden box with Red letters that once again wished the Beatles a Happy New Year and had the names of the DJ's from KICK.    It was locked up with 7 padlocks and the keys were mailed to Liverpool separately from the cake. 

It then was loaded onto a Campbell 66 truck and was taken to the airport in St. Louis.

From St. Louis it flew on a T.W.A. flight to New York City, where it was to be put on the Queen Elizabeth and float over to Liverpool.    However---the Beatles cake never left the dock in New York.  At the time, people were told that a "shipping technicality"  stopped it from boarding the liner and that it would be kept in "cold storage" until the ship arrived back in New York on January 20th.   However, one person from that time recalls that there was a shipping strike going on during that time period and the Beatles cake "wasted away on the docks there and never made it to Britain."

Here's to a great 2015!

I have had a blast in 2014.  It isn't every year that you get the opportunity to see both living Beatles in concert in the same week, or attend two Beatle conventions, or have a fun part in a community theater production of a musical.

I have read so many people saying how terrible 2014 was for them, and I my heart goes out to anyone who lost a loved one or went through a difficult time in the past year.   I hope that the music of the Beatles and some of the fun photos I have posted on this blog brought at least a small glimmer of happiness in your life.

As the year of the Beatles 50th anniversary comes to an end, I want to take the time to thank some people who really made this year special:

To my mom, Coral Schmidt:  Thank you for always being ready to go on another Beatles adventure with me.

To Jude Southerland Kessler:  Thank you for allowing me to be on your radio show this year.   It was really a fun experience.  You have been such a great Beatles friend.

To Lana Staggs:   Thanks also to you, Lana for putting me on your radio show this year!  It was so great to see you at the Ringo concert.

To Brother Michael:  Thank you for your kind words and encouragement.   I appreciate your help in typing things up and for your emails.   You are MTBFR's #1 fan!

To Mister Kite:  You make me laugh and make me shake my head at the same time.  Ringo and Paul are still amazing to me.   But I thank you for making me think.

To Ben in France:  Thank you for the photos and conversations.

To Lizzie, Bruno, Graame, Mark  Luis, Since1963, Vincent  and anyone else who has sent photos and/or stories to me this past year!   Thank you so much!   It is folks like you that make this blog better and better every year.

To Mark Lewisohn:  Thank you for writing the best Beatles book ever and for meeting me this year.  The mere fact that you look at this blog still freaks me out.


And to everyone who visit MTBFR every day and even those who right click and save without saying anything to me....I thank you for coming here and I hope you all continue to enjoy this place in the future.

I hope  as we get into 2015 that great things will continue.   Plans are in the works for the 50th anniversary of Help as well as other things from 1965 to tie into 2015.   Happy new year Beatle friends!

Ring out the old Ring in the new

I hope you all have a very nice New Years Eve tomorrow and ring in the New Year in a very happy way!    Now you might be wondering why I posted these vintage New Years Eve party photos from most likely 1964.   If you look in the background of the photos there are Beatles glasses on the shelves.    I would have made a toast out of them if I was there!

Happy new Year my friends!

Wishing you all a very happy new year!

A man we all love once sang "Another year over and a new one just begun..."   And so it goes, doesn't it?   The end of 2013 somehow snuck up on me.  

For me, 2013 was a wonderful year.   I was able to travel on the Beatles Pilgrimage Tour and meet some great Beatle fans on my trip.   I also went to Memphis and saw Paul McCartney in concert and met a great fan there as well.    As I won't let anyone forget, the highlight of the year (what am I saying...it is basically the highlight of my LIFE) was when Paul read my sign at the concert and he looked right at me.     I also really, really enjoyed this year's Fest for Beatle fan moreso than I have years past and I think it is because I was able to meet so many of you!

This blog has gone through some transformations because of a surge in popularity in 2013.   I am still extremely honored to be one of the few blogs Mark Lewisohn recommends on his sight.   I except as we enter the 50th anniversary year of the Beatles in America, the number of hits on this blog will just continue to grow.   Regardless, I promise you all the same Beatles photos, stories and fun as you have grown to expect from Meet the Beatles For Real.  

2013 was such a great year to be a Beatles fan.   Many of you wrote to me excited to see Paul or Ringo in concert this year.    This blog shared with many fans who met one of the two remaining guys and we rejoiced at your successes.    I thank everyone who sent me a photo or story about meeting Paul or Ringo this year.  

We were blessed this year with a new Paul McCartney album, new Beatles BBC music, the amazing Mark Lewisohn volume one book, the BBC book and more.   Seriously:  what a great year to be a Beatles fan!

I know that 2014 is going to be even more exciting.   I am anxious to get the 50th anniversary started. 

A big thank you goes out to anyone who sent me photos or information for the blog this year.   Also a thank you to those of you who did not have anything to send me, but sent me encouraging emails.  Sometimes things around here were rocky, and it is so nice to have such amazing friends that read this blog.

I have many New Years Resolutions that I need to start in my life, but the one that deals with this blog is that I am not going to allow things people do online bother me as much this year.   If someone posts photos that I have bought and didn't link back, oh well.   I am going to try my best to keep calm about it because it isn't the end of the world.    I am not going to find myself getting wrapped up in online drama like I am in middle school again.  I am not going to allow mean things that people post about me get to me  because I know that people that spend their time posting mean comments on a blog that is about a band that spreads peace and love are jealous and just want to take all of the love out of Pepperland.   I am going to come back and read this paragraph when needed during the year and stick to it the best that I can.

Happy new year to you all!
Peace and Love
Sara S. (aka Starshyne)

Wishing you all a Happy new year!

I wish all readers of the Meet the Beatles for Real blog a happy, healthy and safe new year! I am a little "freaked out" because I do not have very much in the works for January for this blog. I usually have a back-log of photos and stories planned for each month, and for the first time in the 2 1/2 years I have been doing this, I do not have enough material for the entire month. So if you have something you would like to share, a photo or story, please by all means send me an email! In the meantime I will keep searching for things and most likely will find many Beatle goodies.

I hope each of you have a great 2012. Anyone have any Beatle plans for the new year? I am beginning to save money for a trip to Liverpool and Hamburg in 2013. My biggest plan for 2012 is to lose a substantial amount of weight. I am going to do this by rewarding myself with Beatle goodies (such as DVDs and books) for every 20 pounds I lose. I hope this actually motivates me. Thanks again to everyone for the support of this blog and for putting up with this fat girl in Illinois who teaches reading and is a little too obsessed with the Beatles.

John and Yoko New Years Eve 1976

I should have posted this last night, but I was too busy ringing in the New Year! (Actually I was watching a really scary movie and eating nachos...but anyhow...). In 1976 John and Yoko left baby Sean with the sitter and ring in 1977 at the Shun Lee Dynasty restaurant in Manhattan. They were joined by Carly Simon and James Taylor. John has a hair-style that I have only seen during this period. Here are some fan / Paparazzi photos taken that night.