Product Description
Patrick Humphries was there for the 1963 tsunami of Beatlemania – he still has his Fan Club membership card. Today, he feels the Beatles’ UK origins have been overlooked for too long.
Inside With the Beatles:
Previously unknown details of the Beatles’ third film are revealed… Paul talks about the controversial Lennon/McCartney songwriting credit… George reflects on Beatlemania and Ringo on his skiffle roots… Plans for Lonnie Donegan to act as go-between to coax John Lennon out of his New York exile… First-hand accounts of Liverpool and Hamburg paint a picture of the Beatles’ roots, plus an exhaustive analysis of how their American breakthrough was achieved… There are fly-on-the-wall accounts of Paul rehearsing for a world tour… and the Beatles’ Love musical in Las Vegas… There are interviews with George Martin, “fifth Beatle” Chas Newby, Cavern DJ Bob Wooler, E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg and his memories of Beatlemania, and Tom Jones discussing plans for him and Elvis Presley to recruit the Beatles as their backing band… And the last words John said to Paul.
As well as telling the story from the birth of Ringo Starr in 1940 to the group’s break-up in 1970, With the Beatles also tells the story of how the Beatles’ brand continues to live on long after their demise. With unique access to archives, interviews and all media, Patrick Humphries traces the Beatles’ progress in cyberspace, on film and in print. The author reveals how the group dominates auction house sales, including an interview with Hilary Kay from BBCs Antiques Roadshow on the group’s enduring appeal. The long battle with Steve Jobs’ Apple is chronicled and how the Beatles’ own Apple meticulously guards their legacy with box sets, re-releases and documentaries.
With the Beatles is that rarest of things, a new look at the enduring impact and legacy of the world’s most influential band.
AUTHOR
Patrick Humphries’ professional career began when he was recruited as a ‘hip young gunslinger’ on the weekly New Musical Express in 1976. He went on staff at Melody Maker and from there to become Film & Books Editor of the monthly Vox magazine. He later edited the magazine’s Record Hunter supplement.
On going freelance, Patrick conducted features and contributed reviews to The Times, The Guardian, Sunday Express, Evening Standard, The Observer and The Daily Telegraph. He has written for numerous magazines, including GQ, Empire, Mojo, Uncut and Record Collector.
Patrick has written and presented documentaries on BBC World Service, Radio 1, 2, 4 and 6 Music. Subjects include Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Beach Boys, the Bee Gees and Elton John.
His first book, on Fairport Convention, was published in 1982. Since then, he has published a bestselling biography of Nick Drake, as well as well-received titles on Richard Thompson, Tom Waits and Lonnie Donegan. His Guide to the Music of the Beatles was published in 1998.
Patrick has written sleeve notes for many releases, including Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Paul Simon, Ian Dury, Procol Harum and Marianne Faithfull.