NBC Sweetens Terms of New Beatles Offer (1976)

 

NBC Sweetens Terms of New Beatles Offer

No writer listed

The Dispatch

June 6, 1976

 Undaunted by the non response to his initial offer, and buoyed by the recent acclaim given NBC Saturday Night ( four Emmy Awards), the producer Lorne Michaels has renewed his efforts to effect a Beatles reunion on the show by convincing NBC to "sweeten the pot."

     Since his earlier offer of $3,000 failed to trigger any mad rush on the part of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Michaels announced on the Saturday Night telecast that NBC is now prepared to up the original offer to $3,200.

     "Off the record", Michaels continued, "this increase comes to an extra $50 for you each, that's if you split it equally. I'm still not sure what your situation with Ringo is." Michaels also announced that NBC was offering, as part of the deal, free accommodations at a hotel located in the heart of New York's fashionable garment district, guaranteeing the Beatles such amenities as round the clock elevator service, glasses sanitized for their convenience, room service till nine, a coin operated soft drink machine, 48 hour dry cleaning service (in by Tuesday, out by Thursday), and a leisurely checkout time of 10am.

     "I've always respected you", Michael said. "You were always my favorite group, and I always liked Yoko, even at the beginning, when things were difficult. I would like to see you do our show, and so would the American people. You know where I can be reached. I'm waiting for you."

Reunion Wouldn't Surprise Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney (1976)

 Reunion Would Surprise Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney 

Associated Press

April 28, 1976

    Paul McCartney and the Wings group he formed after the Beatles broke up begin their delayed tour of the United States on May 3.  McCartney won't be surprised if the audiences include John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, and maybe the four Beatles will even come around to performing together again.

     A spokesman for McCartney said Tuesday, "If the former Beatles do meet up with one another again, it would be no surprise. They tend to turn up at one another's concerts." The spokesman said, "Paul would be delighted to see them. They are all friends despite their old disputes."

     McCartney was unavailable for comment, but the spokesman indicated that if the Beatles do meet again during the Wings tour, it's a safe prediction that they will discuss the possibility of a reunion on stage. "Paul McCartney's answer to the question, 'Will there be a Beatles reunion on stage?' is a definite, maybe", the spokesman said.

     In New York, however, McCartney's American lawyer and father-in-law, Lee Eastman, cautions Beatle fans against counting too heavily on seeing the four play together again. "At this point, there is absolutely no plan of any kind to get together," he said. "That may vary tomorrow, but at this moment, there is no decision by any of the four to get together."

     McCartney and the other former Beatles have been offered millions of dollars, primarily for television, radio, and recording rights to play together on stage again, even for a single evening. The Beatles broke up in 1972. [sic]  

    McCartney has emphasized that although he is interested, music, not money, is what counts with him. He has also said he is very happy with Wings, whose members include his American wife, Linda Eastman. The Wings tour opens on May 3 in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Money Can't Buy the Beatles (1996)

 Money Can't Buy the Beatles

By Felicity McCormick

Yorkshire Post

March 5, 1996

    "Can't Buy Me Love" sang the Beatles 32 years ago, and yesterday proved they were not just empty words. For the love of John, Paul, George, and Ringo have turned down a £147 million offer to perform live on a world tour as the Threetles. It would have been the first time the Beatles had performed live for 30 years, and the first time they had been together on stage without John Lennon, who was murdered in 1980.

     But to Paul McCartney, "The size of the offer is scandalous. It's ridiculous, from a money point of view, most people would do it. But to me, the three of us isn't as exciting as the four of us. The Beatles were always the four of us. Of course, people will say that we could get someone else to fill John's place, but it just wouldn't be the same."

     A Beatles aide said, "Talk about real love. They have such love for John that they won't play with anyone else, even for a paycheck of $75 million each."

    The 22-night tour of America, Japan, and Europe, proposed by a consortium of German and American businessmen, would have seen Paul, George, and Ringo back on the road this summer, but they have always resisted offers to reform after their split at the end of the 60s, and they can hardly be said to need the money.

     Paul has an estimated £580 million with shares in the Beatles' two main companies, Apple Corps and Maclen Music. George Harrison has been rumored to be down to his last few million, but he still owns a quarter of Apple, or £75 million, and another £10 million through Maclen.  As for Ringo Starr, he has a quarter share in Apple and a fortune estimated at £30 million, much of it in offshore accounts.

Elegant Birthday Party Turns Into Brawl (1976)

 

Elegant Birthday Party Turns Into Brawl

By Patrick Snyder

The Sun Telegram

March 8, 1976

    Actor Oliver Reed threw an elegant party for his brother David's 40th birthday recently at a private suite at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. But push came to shove when Who drummer Keith Moon (one of Reed's favorite drinking buddies since they met during the making of Tommy) arrived.

     A long table appointed with candelabras and hundreds of dollars' worth of flowers had been set up for the 24 guests. When the maitre d brought the first course, Reed, sitting at one end of the table, leered up at him and said, "Everyone hates this consommé," and Moon chucked his bowl down the table, upsetting one of the candle holders. The maitre d smiled and brought a new one. 

    Multiple toasts were drunk, and Moon threw his glass over his shoulder and down the table. As the food was brought, it quickly became airborne. For entertainment between courses, Keith snatched Ringo Starr's serving plate, held it on his head, and broke it. He broke his own over his own head.

     When the Prime Rib came, Keith picked it up in his hands and began gnawing on it. "I didn't eat," said one of the guests. "There was too much glass flying around."

     After a giant cake was rolled in and a woman jumped out of it, Keith and Oliver rolled around in the debris now covering the floor. The ever-indulgent maitre d finally succumbed when Moon picked up a table, lofted it into the air, and smashed a crystal chandelier, sending sparks cascading from the ceiling.

     The police were called, but Moon had already left, bleeding from various hand cuts. A small price to pay for an evening of fun.

     Now that the Rona Barretts and John J Millers have had their fun with Beatles reunion concert rumors, let's throw in a couple of facts. While promoter Bill Sargent has upped his concert guarantee from $30 million dollars to $50 million, Ringo Starr's lawyer Bruce Grakal said, "He didn't reply to Sargent by the February 20 deadline, and I'm sure no one else has." If the four of them ever got together, it will be because they want to, not because of dollar offers."

     About the report that lawyers for Ringo, John Lennon, and George Harrison would meet in Australia to discuss plans for a concert and a Columbia /Warner Brothers record deal. Grakal said, "I'm not going anywhere." He added that Harrison's attorney, David Braun, "Would leave shortly for Australia, but only to work with fellow client, Neil Diamond, who's touring there." Grakal said he had not been contacted by Columbia or Warner.