Liverpool's Fab Four Support Epstein Play

Liverpool's Fab Four Support Epstein Play

Liverpool’s big four Beatles attractions have given their seal of approval and partnered with the new long-awaited EPSTEIN The Play, which runs from 15 November until 1 December 2012, at the city’s Epstein Theatre. The Cavern, The Beatles Story, Hard Days Night Hotel and the Magical Mystery Tour are all onboard as partners for the theatrical production based on the life of legendary Beatles manager Brian Epstein. The play is also part of the official programme of the city’s 50th Anniversary of the Beatles.

EPSTEIN The Play is brought to you by Bill Elms and Heyes Productions Ltd (Tales from Haunted Liverpool, Tales From Charles Dickens), written by Andrew Sherlock (Wall Talks and The Shankly Show) and created and directed by Jen Heyes (Blood Wedding, I love Vinegar Vera and Wall Talks).

Bill Elms co-producer of EPSTEIN said “We are delighted to have the support of these iconic Beatles organisations for Epstein the Play, it shows how Liverpool businesses work together to enhance the city’s tourism and cultural experience. Our vision is for the production to become as equally internationally recognised as these well established Beatles institutions.”

The play charts Brian Epstein’s adult life and illustrious career from his drama school days to managing the world’s biggest pop group. Brian’s short life was crammed with success and controversy; he was an intelligent man whose presence, taste, vision and passion left a lifelong impact on the world. Born in Liverpool in 1934 to Jewish descent, he spent his early adult years working for the family business NEMS (North End Music Stores) before being drafted into the Royal Army Service Corps, after a brief stint in London joining RADA and living a more openly gay life he returned to Liverpool to manage the new NEMS city centre music store making it one of the biggest in the North. Not long after was the historic lunchtime visit to the famous Cavern Club to hear four Liverpool lads perform and the rest was history.

Jerry Goldman, MD of The Beatles Story said “Brain Epstein was such an integral part of the Beatles story. It is not before time that his contribution to the city was recognised in this way.”

Dave Jones, Director of Cavern City Tours said “The world famous Cavern Club in Mathew Street Liverpool is proud to be associated with this wonderful production about the life of Brian Epstein and the massive contribution he made to the global success of four lads from Liverpool...The Beatles.”

Mike Dewey, General Manager of Hard Days Night Hotel said “We were delighted to show our support to an exciting new theatre production in the city and we aim to create the perfect, Beatles themed theatre break at the Hard Days Night.”

Brian Epstein was best known as a music entrepreneur and legendary manager of The Beatles and was the person responsible for their rise to mega-stardom all over the world. He also managed other popular artists such as Gerry & The Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer, The Foremost, The Dakotas and Cilla Black.

EPSTEIN The Play is sponsored by Gregory Abrams Davidson LLP Solicitors (Matthew Street and Penny Lane).

The production is supported by the Liverpool Echo; the official charity of production is C.A.L.M.

More information on Epstein the Play can be found at www.epsteintheplay.com.

LISTING INFORMATION

EPSTEIN the Play

The Epstein Theatre

Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DY

Thu 15 November – Sat 1 December 2012

Preview Performances: 15-17 November 2012

Thu and Sat Matinees: 2.30pm

Mon – Sat Evenings: 7.30pm

Ticket Prices: £10-£24 (Concessions Available)

How to Book:

Box Office: 0844 8000 410* or 0844 888 4411. Online at www.ticketquarter.co.uk* or www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk* or or in person at the TicketQuarter, Queens Square, Liverpool*

*Subject to booking fee.

New Beatles L.A. stage musical to be previewed at concert

Celebrating the Life and Works of John Lennon
9/10/40 – 9/12/80

A special preview of a new L.A. stage musical based on The Beatles early years at Abbey Road Studios has been added to the line-up of Lennon Remembered on 9^th December at the Liverpool Echo Arena. The Sessions, due to open at Paramount Studios next May has legendary Beatles recording engineer Geoff Emerick as the musical producer.

Geoff Emerick was a trainee recording engineer at Abbey Road studios in the early 60’s, and on his third day at work, aged 15, he was sent along to a session by a new group from Liverpool. It was of course The Beatles, and Geoff went on to work with John, Paul, George & Ringo throughout their recording career as the Beatles. Geoff is widely recognised as one of the best recording engineers in recording history.

In April this year, Geoff, along with Artistic Director Stig Edgren, spent two days at the world famous Cavern Club in search for the next John, Paul, George and Ringo for The Sessions. After a search which took in auditions in New York, LA and London, Geoff Emerick, musical producer of the show, chose 5 singers from the Cavern auditions, including four of the Cavern’s resident artists.

For Lennon Remembered, Soundstage Theatre Company, under the musical direction of Geoffrey Foskett, (Brian Wilson’s Musical Director), will perform a special preview of the show to focus on John’s Beatle years. The Sessions will join a whole host of friends and artists at the one-off concert who worked with the late, great John Lennon.

Jon Keats – Concert Director and Operations Director for Cavern City Tours Ltd “We are delighted to have THE SESSIONS as part of our bill for Lennon Remembered. They are featuring some of John’s finest Beatle songs and the attention to detail is incredible. To have our resident artists working alongside Geoff Emerick will be an absolute honour for the Cavern”.

The concert will see 9 periods of John’s life represented by those who were there, including John’s first band The Quarrymen, the Beatles fellow Hamburg musician and lead vocalist on ‘My Bonnie’ Tony Sheridan, art school friend and editor of Mersey Beat Bill Harry and Beatles Press Officer, close friend and ex CEO of Apple Tony Bramwell. Also appearing are Alan White who played drums on Lennon’s classic hits including ‘Instant Karma’ and ‘Imagine’. Joey Molland, guitarist with Apple signed Badfinger who played on Lennon’s Imagine, Grammy award winning sound engineer Dennis Ferrante who worked on a plethora of Lennon’s albums during his New York years, as well as Liverpool born actor Mark McGann who is famed for his honest and powerful portrayal of John both on stage and film. He will present a special performance of his award winning stage show, John Lennon – In My Life.

Co-event organiser and Cavern Club owner Bill Heckle says “Anyone who loves the music of John Lennon and The Beatles should not miss this night. You will be witnessing history with contributions from those who helped John create it.”

Profits from the entire night are going to local charities Alder Hey Imagine Appeal, Radio City’s Cash For Kids and the Mathew Street Festival.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

LENNON REMEMBERED - The Nine Faces of John

Liverpool Echo Arena

Thursday 9 December,

Doors open 6:30pm, show starts 8pm.

Tickets: £27.50 (plus a limited number of higher priced gold circle tickets)

A limited number of Gold Circle tickets and VIP tickets are available. For VIP packages, including food, beverages and after-show hospitality please contact Jan Owen (0151 708 6050 / 07932 763107 janowen@cmplive.com)

LENNON REMEMBERED tickets are on sale now from:

Echo Arena (0844 8000 400) www.echoarena.com

Ticketmaster (0844 844 0444) www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Ticketline (0151 256 5555) www.ticketline.co.uk

See Tickets (0871 220 0260) www.seetickets.com

Gigantic (0115 959 7908) www.gigantic.com

John Lennon 70th Birthday Monument

A celebration of John Lennon's 70th Birthday really couldn't be held anywhere but in his home city of Liverpool. So to celebrate the event a monument has been erected to symbolise peace and harmony, something Lennon beleived strongly in. And who better to open this monument than Cynthia and Julian Lennon. The event brought together 2000 people made up of dignatries, local councillers,celebs and the people of Liverpool themselves.Aided by the fabulous Liverpool deaf choir signing 3 of John Lennon's greatest songs this was defintiley an event well organsied and with John in mind.
One of the highlights of the John Lennon birthday tribute in Liverpool is coming from a young American. Nineteen-year-old Lauren Voiers from Cleveland has created the monument called "Peace and Harmony" that was unveiled in the city's Chavez Park, and she too was there to celebrate the moment. This is just the start of what is to be a 2 month celebration of the man himself. Various events are going to be held across the city from a bed-in by the Bluecoat to a Celebration of John Lennon's work and life in "Lennon Remembered" at the Echo Arena.
A fitting tribute to a legend of the city and a legend within the world of music.

LENNON REMEMBERED AT THE ECHO ARENA LIVERPOOL

Chas Cole for CMP Entertainment in association with The Cavern Club

Celebrating the Life and Works of John Lennon
9/10/40 – 9/12/80



Liverpool’s favourite son John Lennon is remembered in his hometown at the Official 30th Anniversary Memorial Concert.



Musical stars of all eras will unite on stage when the ‘John Lennon Tribute Season’ closes with a unique and emotional charity concert finale LENNON REMEMBERED, on Thursday 9th December 2010, at the Liverpool Echo Arena. All proceeds from the concert will go to the Alder Hey ‘Imagine’ Appeal, Radio City’s Cash For Kids and The Mathew Street Festival.


LENNON REMEMBERED will take place in John’s birthplace 30 years on from his tragic, early death which shocked the world, and will commemorate what would have been his 70th birthday. The Memorial Concert, organised by The Cavern Club in association with Chas Cole, of CMP Entertainment, will form the climax of two months of celebrations of John Lennon’s unique contribution to the cultural landscape, not only of the city of his birth, but also his immortal position in global popular music.

John Lennon’s significance and appeal continues to span the generations, and musicians from every era will congregate on stage to remember, celebrate and perform unique versions of Lennon’s most famous songs – and, no doubt, one or two forgotten gems alongside them as well.

Performers confirmed to appear will be announced in the weeks to come, as this event unfolds and undoubtedly builds momentum and becomes a highly-charged, long-awaited tribute to one of the City’s, best loved sons.

John’s half sister, Julia Baird, has whole-heartedly backed the Concert – along with the whole John Lennon Tribute Season.



Julia Baird said “This will be a very emotional evening, not only for our family, but I’m sure it will be a very special night for the other performers on stage and for the audience, as we all unite in our love for John and his wonderful, immortal music.”

Bill Heckle, Director of The Cavern Club said “We have enjoyed many great musical nights in this City over the years, but an evening dedicated to John, attended by those who knew and loved him, as well as those who worked with him, plus the thousands of fans who, purely and simply, have been touched and moved by his music throughout our lives, will really make it into something special.”



A Liverpool and worldwide occasion not to be missed and a celebration and emotional evening of the musical legend himself, LENNON REMEMBERED.



PERFORMANCE DETAILS

LENNON REMEMBERED

Liverpool Echo Arena

Thursday 9 December, 7.30pm

Tickets: £27.50, £19.50 (plus a limited number of higher priced gold circle tickets)



How to Book: In person at The Echo Arena box office, Monarchs Key, Kings Dock
Liverpool, L1 4BX or alternatively call 0844 8000 400 or click www.echoarena.com

Pope Forgives the Beatles for their sins

At the height of their fame, The Beatles enraged the Roman Catholic Church when John Lennon famously declared that they were bigger than Jesus.

Their enthusiastic pursuit of the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll life also did little to convince the Vatican that they were anything other than a thoroughly bad influence.

But now, in a move sanctioned by Pope Benedict XVI, the Catholic Church has forgiven the Fab Four for their various excesses and even gone so far as to laud them as a "precious jewel."

In a front-page article, L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican's official newspaper, offers a glowing assessment of The Beatles' achievements 40 years after they split up, heralding their "beautiful melodies" and asking "what would pop music have been like without the Beatles?"

In an astonishing turnaround, the Church dismisses previous moral outrages, including blasphemous remarks, drug taking and even what it claims could have been Satanic messages contained in their music.

While recognizing that John, Paul, George and Ringo were no saints during their time in The Beatles, the Vatican assures followers that they were by no means the worst-behaved of their generation.

Offering the band complete absolution, the article, Seven Years That Shook Music, L'Osservatore Romano said: "It's true they took drugs, lived life to excess because of their success, even said they were bigger than Jesus and put out mysterious messages, that were possibly even Satanic.

"They may not have been the best example for the youth of the day, but they were by no means the worst. Their beautiful melodies changed music and continue to give pleasure."

The glowing praise may come as a surprise to many Catholics, given the band's very public attacks on organized religion.

John Lennon sparked international condemnation from Christians of all denominations when he famously declared in an interview in 1966 that The Beatles were bigger than Jesus, saying, "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about that; I'm right and I'll be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first, rock 'n' roll or Christianity."

At the time, the Catholic Church was at the forefront of attacks on the remarks, but two years ago forgave Lennon for his comments, insisting it had merely been the "boasting of an English working-class lad struggling to cope with unexpected success."

Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison were baptized as Catholics, but neither followed the faith.

In the late 1960s, all four members of the band became fascinated with Eastern mysticism.

Earlier this year, Ringo Starr, who will be 70 this year, admitted he had finally found religion, saying: "For me, God is in my life. I don't hide from that. I think the search has been on since the 1960s."

Madonna 'most played' artist of decade

Madonna was the most played artist of the last decade in the UK, according to music licensing body PPL.

The singer, 51, who had her first UK hit with Holiday in 1984, beat The Beatles into second place and Robbie Williams into third.

Queen were fourth and Take That were fifth in the chart compiled for BBC Radio 2.

It was based on plays - between 2000 and 2009 - on TV, radio and in public places including pubs, clubs and shops.

PPL collects royalties for sound recordings.

Madonna was the only female solo singer to make the top 10.

MOST-PLAYED OF THE DECADE 1. Madonna 2. The Beatles 3. Robbie Williams 4. Queen 5. Take That 6. Sugababes 7. Elton John 8. Elvis Presley 9. Abba 10. Coldplay Source: PPL

Girl band Sugababes, meanwhile, who entered the UK charts for the first time in 2000 with Overload, were the only act in the top 10 who emerged within the decade being scrutinised.

The chart was revealed on Radio 2 show People's Artist Chart, presented by comedian Patrick Kielty.

In December, PPL announced that Snow Patrol song Chasing Cars was the most widely-played song of the decade.

Last year, another chart compiled for Radio 2 - also by PPL - found that Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale was the most played song in public places in the previous 75 years.

The song, which features a distinctive organ riff, stayed at number one for six weeks in the UK in the summer of 1967.