The former Beatles drummer, Sir Ringo Starr, is following up his 2025 album, ‘Look Up’, which marked his first number one in the UK charts in the country category. The Liverpool born artist was said to be “blessed to have T Bone (Burnett) in his life”, before following up his intentions for the new album: “After we did the last record, which I love listening to, this one just sort of happened.”

Whilst, the legendary rock star has a past in a indie, pop-rock and psychedelia genres from his time in The Beatles, he has taken a solo route to the country genre. His solo endeavours started in 1970, right after the split of The Beatles, and he has successfully been releasing popular streams of music since. Starr, born Richard Starkey, laid down all of the songs of his new album across different studios in America, including Nashville and Los Angeles.

The album embraces a “traditional Nashville sound”, exploring the texas-style of his distinctive drumming, giving way to a revitalised honky-tonk country sound, that appeals to mainstream audiences through a polished pop sound.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ringo Starr (@ringostarrmusic)Lo

Many have enjoyed the the record with one fan stating: “Choose Love’ is definitely one that caught my ear. Sounds like some of the india-era Beatles songs.” Bringing nostalgia into the tracks has definitely blasted a few to the past, and its paying off.

Though, some have issues with the sound, with complaints over the effort in branding and vanilla songs.

One fan admitted: “I just can’t help but feel like everything from Ringo continues to be late 1980’s early 90’s country pop (and not the fun catchy type). It all just sounds like bad karaoke bar tracks.”

Another responded, in response to the lack of passion that seems to be found for an ex-Beatles member: “What’s with these low effort front covers for the recent ex-Beatles albums, come on boys at least hire an artist of some kind.”

With mixed emotions, the first day of the release of ‘Long, Long Road’, seems to be creating conversations, the future for the album’s love and critiques has only just started. With the release, Starr will be taking the new music on the road with him, when he starts a US tour with his All Starr Band that starts in May 2026.

Best known for his role in Stranger Things, Wolfhard continues to build a parallel career as a filmmaker and musician, now adding a major classic-rock commission to his résumé. He was invited by the Harrison estate to create a visual companion for ‘Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)’, originally released on Harrison’s 1973 album Living in the Material World and later a US number one single.

Despite his rise to fame as an actor, Wolfhard has established his career as a knowledgeable, talented rock musician himself, touring with previous bands Calpurnia and The Aubreys, as well as embarking on his first solo tour across North America post-debut album Happy Birthday. Wolfhard described the chance to work with the Harrison family as “a great honour”, calling George Harrison a huge and ongoing inspiration to his own artistic life. The video arrives more than five decades after the track first appeared, underscoring the continued cultural relevance of Harrison’s catalogue.

Rather than a performance clip, the video leans into handcrafted stop‑motion animation to evoke the spiritual warmth of the song. Viewers follow a Harrison-like figure wandering through the gardens of Friar Park, the musician’s historic estate in Henley‑on‑Thames, tending hedges, greeting gnomes and sailing across a dream-like landscape.​

The film is rich with Easter eggs for Beatles and Harrison fans, nodding to his solo career, spiritual journey and well-documented love of gardening. Wolfhard has said the concept hinges on the idea of a man finding solace and meaning in his relationship with the living world around him.

The production was mounted in collaboration with Toronto-based Nobody Told Me Studios and animation house Tye Down Pictures. A team of 20 Canadian stop‑motion artists built every element by hand, animating the story frame by frame to create a tactile feel that mirrors the song’s intimacy.​

While Wolfhard directed the overall piece, animator Akash Jones steered the animation direction, with Jason Baum and Michael Wamara producing. Dhani Harrison, George’s son and longtime collaborator David Zonshine served as executive producers, helping to guide the project from concept to release.

Dhani Harrison has publicly praised Wolfhard’s interpretation of his father’s song for a new generation. 

“Finn is one of the sweetest and most talented people I know of his generation, and he is the perfect person to direct a video for my dad. My dad would have loved this, and I hope his wonderful, creative, heartfelt ideas help this song reach another generation. Great job, Finn — we love you”.

The video is available on Youtube.

The MA in The Beatles: Heritage and Culture is no novelty course. Delivered by the University’s Department of Music and its Institute of Popular Music, the programme takes a serious look at how the band shaped not only popular music but also heritage, tourism and British identity.

Students aren’t simply asked to listen to albums or admire the band’s legacy. Instead, they analyse how the Beatles became part of the fabric of 20th-century Britain, and how their story continues to influence creative industries and heritage projects today.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by University of Liverpool (@livuni)

No other city could host this programme. Liverpool isn’t just the birthplace of the Beatles; it is the city that nurtured them and still carries their imprint. Every year, millions of visitors come to see Penny Lane, Strawberry Field, or the legendary Cavern Club, making Beatles heritage worth more than £80 million annually to the local economy.

Students on the course can take part in an optional two-week residency in Liverpool, which includes site visits, lectures and workshops. It’s a chance to walk the same streets, visit the same venues and understand how Liverpool itself has become inseparable from the Beatles’ legacy

The programme includes modules such as:

• The Beatles in the 20th Century
• Heritage and Culture
• Research Skills in Music and Heritage

Assignments range from traditional essays to practical projects like cultural event proposals, tourism plans or walking tours. In this way, the MA balances academic rigour with skills that translate directly into careers in the arts and heritage sectors.

Though Beatles fans are welcome, this course is particularly aimed at those working or aspiring to work in heritage, museums, tourism or the creative industries. Graduates emerge with expertise that can lead to roles in arts management, heritage organisations, journalism or cultural policy.

By turning the Beatles into a subject of serious scholarship, the University of Liverpool has recognised what many Britons already know: the band were not just entertainers, but one of this country’s greatest cultural contributions to the world.

The music icon has been on his global ‘Got Back’ tour since 2022, playing across Europe, North and South America, and Australia. It was his first tour since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The last stop of his tour was in November of last year at the London O2 Arena, where he was joined on stage by former bandmate Ringo Starr and Rolling Stones rock star Ronnie Wood, as well as a bass guitar that was stolen from him 50 years prior.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Paul McCartney (@paulmccartney)

Yesterday, 9 June, Paul McCartney took to his Instagram stories, posting an image of two guitar picks that read: “Paul McCartney” and “Got Back In 2025″. The picks, being coloured red, white and blue, hint at a possible US leg of his ‘Got Back’ tour. Along with this, McCartney posted a link to his stories, directing his followers to “receive information on tour dates, pre-sales and much more.”

Paul McCartney has seemingly announced a new tour in 2025 via social media: pic.twitter.com/Pjn0ESvxGC

— The Beatles Earth (@BeatlesEarth) July 9, 2025

His latest performances were in February of this year, playing spontaneous gigs at the 525-capacity Bowery Ballroom in New York, marking his first time in New York City in three years. Only a few days later he would perform at the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary.

McCartney also has a new book on the way, entitled ‘Wings: The Story Of A Band On The Run’, which will be about the history of his band, Wings, formed in 1971 with his wife Linda McCartney and musician Denny Laine. The book will collate over 42 hours of new, archived, and recently discovered interviews. In the book’s foreword, Paul McCartney wrote: “Suddenly Wings has found its moment. We have a generational shift at work, and it’s like being transported back on a magic carpet. Working on the book has awakened so many beautiful memories of our times back then.” The book is due for release on 4 November of this year.

Click here to sign up to Paul McCartney’s mailing list.

The singer has been performing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London for the past week and included her cover of The Beatles 1968 classic ‘Blackbird’ to her setlist. The cover was a part of her most recent album ‘Cowboy Carter’ which was acclaimed upon release in 2024 and won Grammys for Best Duo/Country Group Performance, Best Country Album and Album of the Year.”.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)

Beyoncé took to Instagram to post a snapshot of herself wearing a Blackbird themed outfit designed by Paul’s very own fashion designer daughter Stella McCartney and said: “Thank you, Sir Paul McCartney, for writing one of the best songs ever made. Every time I sing it I feel so honoured. And it is a full circle moment to wear your beautiful daughter’s design. Thank you, London, for creating unforgettable memories for me and my family. Holla at ‘ya when I come on tour again! (sic)”

Sir Paul MCartney sang the praises of the singer, saying her rendition of the song was a “killer version”. Also taking to Instagram back in 2024, he wrote the following words:  “I am so happy with @beyonce’s version of my song ‘Blackbird’. I think she does a magnificent version of it and it reinforces the civil rights message that inspired me to write the song in the first place. I think Beyoncé has done a fab version and would urge anyone who has not heard it yet to check it out. You are going to love it! I spoke to her on FaceTime and she thanked me for writing it and letting her do it. I told her the pleasure was all mine and I thought she had done a killer version of the song. When I saw the footage on the television in the early 60s of the black girls being turned away from school, I found it shocking and I can’t believe that still in these days there are places where this kind of thing is happening right now. Anything my song and Beyoncé’s fabulous version can do to ease racial tension would be a great thing and makes me very proud.”

Legendary lead singer of the Beatles John Lennon, and his wife Yoko Ono, once spent a holiday as newlyweds at the Grade II listed Corbett Arms in the Welsh town of Tywyn, in the summer of 1969. 

The Corbett Arms has been shut for a decade, and after numerous failed attempts to contact the owner, the local council has applied to demolish the 19th-century Georgian building. 

In recent years, the hotel has been in a state of disarray, with parts of the rear and roof of the building crumbling. In the Welsh seaside town, the Corbett Arms was a local landmark, even before the likes of visitors such as Lennon and Ono. The couple, with their children Kyoko and Julian, first stayed there mere months after their marriage in 1969.

Alan Finlay, who worked at the hotel when he was 13, was there to greet the family when they first arrived. He washed Lennon’s car, and took a photo of the couple with their children. His daughter Gaby shares his story with the BBC: “He was a huge music fan and was like ‘oh my god’, he couldn’t believe it. 

“John Lennon then asked dad to clean his car. So he did with pride and couldn’t believe it when John Lennon paid him, he said he’d have done it for free! But John paid dad quite a lot of money!” 

The family’s visit to the Corbett Arms was between the recording of Lennon’s first solo record ‘Give Peace A chance’, recorded a few weeks earlier. The Beatles were on a break at this time, and this visit wasn’t long before the band would split for good.

Despite the council’s claim that the building needs to be demolished due to structural instability, the people of Tywyn have been tirelessly pleading with them to prevent the iconic landmark’s demolition. SAVE Britain’s Heritage, an independent organisation “fighting against needless and wasteful demolition of historic buildings”, has been at the forefront of this campaign. They sent a specialist conservation engineer, Jon Avent, and a team of structural engineers to investigate. 

Breaking News // Save the Corbett Arms Hotel!

“No justification”: SAVE engineer refutes total demolition of Welsh hotel planned for this Friday!

Read our press release: https://t.co/g7LQ6Ssj5C

Email the CEO of Gwynedd Council to object dafyddgibbard@gwynedd.llyw.cymru pic.twitter.com/LogwLEdiHW

— SAVE Britain’s Heritage (@SAVEtoReuse) April 29, 2025

Avent says: “There is simply no justification for demolition. 

“When asked to inspect this building due for demolition, I expected to see a building presenting widespread structural failures and beyond repair. What I saw was an impressive piece of history in need of some care and attention. A small area of collapse at the rear, but nothing to unduly challenge those with a willingness to see a sustainable future for this lovely building.” 

The building is continuously monitored, and the council has erected safety fencing and closed the road to ensure public safety. Gareth Jones, Gwynedd Council representative, states that “the condition of the building has deteriorated to a point where immediate action is now required to protect public health and safety, and sadly there is no other option.”

The demolition is set to take place over the next few months.

Click here for more MXDWN coverage relating to John Lennon.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rob Frith (@frith.rob)

Frith shared his discovery on social media, writing, “I picked up this tape years ago that said ‘Beatles Demos’ on it. I just figured it was a tape off a bootleg record. After hearing it last night for the first time, it sounds like a master tape. The quality is unreal. How is this even possible to have, what sounds like a Beatles 15-song Decca tapes master?”

The tape, recorded on January 1st, 1962, features a youthful Beatles lineup with Pete Best on drums. The band had auditioned for Decca Records in London, only to be famously rejected. Decca’s decision is often cited as one of the biggest blunders in music history, as The Beatles would go on to sign with Parlophone Records and release ‘Please Please Me‘, launching their legendary career.

In an interview with CBC, Frith described the surreal moment of discovering the tape’s authenticity. “I thought it was just a reel-to-reel tape that somebody had put bootleg things on,” he said. However, after listening closely and consulting with Beatles experts, it became clear the recording was a genuine piece of music history. “It felt like the Beatles were right in the room,” Frith added.

Following the revelation, Frith was connected with Jack Herschorn, the former owner of Vancouver’s Mushroom Records, who originally brought the tape to Canada. Herschorn had obtained it in the 1970s during a trip to London when a producer gifted him the recording. Despite being encouraged to sell copies, he ultimately chose not to.

“I took it back and I thought about it quite a bit,” Herschorn explained to CBC. “I didn’t want to put it out because I didn’t think it was a totally moral thing to do.” Recognizing the Beatles’ immense legacy, he believed they deserved proper credit and royalties for their work. “It deserves to come out properly,” he added.

Frith, too, has no immediate plans to profit from the tape. Instead, he has made a generous offer to Decca Records, giving them the opportunity to release the recording if they choose. Additionally, he extended a personal invitation to Paul McCartney, suggesting the former Beatle visit Neptoon Records in Vancouver to receive the tape in person.

The discovery of this long-lost Beatles recording has reignited fascination with the band’s early days, serving as a powerful reminder of their humble beginnings before they became global icons.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by John Lennon (@johnlennon)

According to Deadline, Sean Ono Lennon, the pair’s son, has overseen the audio remastering of the One to One concert, having fulfilled a similar role on various Lennon remasters in recent years. The benefit concert was played twice, with the afternoon show featuring more songs than the evening show. Among the songs played across both shows are ‘Power to the People’, ‘Instant Karma!’, and ‘Give Peace a Chance’. The remastering of the audio suggests that an accompanying album could be released alongside the documentary, possibly a remaster of ‘Live in New York City’, which was recorded at the concert.

  Magnolia Pictures co-CEOs Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley saw the film as “a revelation,” while director Kevin Macdonald described the documentary as “a movie about music and love and politics and about immersing yourself in the year of 1972—a period in time that feels uncannily like the world we are currently inhabiting.”

The documentary focuses on Lennon and Yoko’s time living in Greenwich Village, which was the happening place on the US’s East Coast. It had become the centre of countercultural movements in the late 60s, and was the birthplace of Beat poetry. The pair were a natural fit for the artist’s haven, and were both involved in protesting through their bed-ins and their own form of  resistance, ‘bagism’.  

Given the period that will be covered, fans should be expecting the documentary to explore Lennon’s relationship with the Nixon administration. His outspoken criticism of the US president and anti-war stance landed him in various deportation meetings, and it was revealed after his death that he had been closely monitored by the FBI, with the files eventually being released to the public.

Today in Rock History December 20, 2006 The FBI release documents related to their investigation of John Lennon in the early ‘70s. The Nixon administration thought Lennon, an anti-war (Vietnam) advocate, was aiding left wing causes and therefore an undesirable alien.… pic.twitter.com/XWfxqx3jWy — Rock History Live! (@KTrain939913) December 20, 2023

The trailer, along with the earlier teaser, suggests candid moments between the couple will play a big role. It was the intimate, behind-the-scenes moments that made ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ and ‘Beatles ‘64’ as insightful as they were, and early reviews from the documentary suggest that viewers won’t be let down. 

 The reception to the film from its limited film festival last year was overwhelmingly positive, earning the film a Metacritic score of 82. Reviewing the film for The Guardian, Xan Brooks gave it four out of five stars and said, “If only more nostalgic music documentaries could muster such a fun, fierce, and full-blooded take on old, familiar material. One to One, against the odds, makes Lennon feel somehow vital again.”

The documentary will receive a theatrical run in the UK. It will be released on IMAX on 9 April, before expanding to smaller theatres on 11 April. The full list is available here, along with dates.

With its mix of unseen footage, remastered concert audio, and political intrigue, One to One: John and Yoko will appeal to fans of the ex-Beatle as much as those interested in the social and political history of the early 70s.

It was a night of nostalgia and reinvention as both bands secured wins. The Beatles took home Best Rock Performance for ‘Now and Then,’ the long-awaited “final” Beatles song, pieced together using an unfinished John Lennon demo, with contributions from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and even a recording of the late George Harrison’s guitar work.

Meanwhile, The Rolling Stones claimed Best Rock Album for ‘Hackney Diamonds,’ their first album of original material in nearly two decades. The record, featuring guest appearances from Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, and Elton John, reaffirmed the Stones’ staying power in a genre they helped define.

The resurgence of these two titans of rock wasn’t just a coincidence. The Beatles harnessed the power of AI to bring ‘Now and Then’ to life, blending the past and present in a way no one had ever quite done before. Meanwhile, The Rolling Stones embraced their blues-rock roots while pushing forward with fresh material, proving that their swagger and grit remain intact. A collaboration with Lady Gaga gave the album a tantalisingly modern twist. 

It’s rare for both bands to be celebrated at the same Grammys, let alone to win in the same night. The Beatles’ last Grammy nomination was in 1997, making this their first in 28 years. The Stones, while having been nominated 12 times, had not won a Grammy since 1995. This moment marked a reunion of sorts—not just for fans of either band but for the ongoing debate of Beatles vs. Stones that has fueled rock discourse for six decades.

Sixty years on from the peak of their rumoured rivalry, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones are still shaping the music world. Their victories at the 2025 Grammys aren’t just about nostalgia—they’re about relevance, innovation, and the lasting impact of truly great music. As Paul McCartney reminds us with his repeated warnings against AI having too much power in the music industry, the world is constantly evolving, and there is something comforting, even poetic, about seeing these legends of a simpler time back at the top, reminding us that rock and roll never dies—it just gets better with age.

The donation of Randall’s French horn by his daughter encouraged the museum to reach out to the family of John Burden, who also played French horn on the album. Relatives of the two attended the ceremony, travelling to Liverpool from Ireland and the US, with members of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra performing the same parts performed by Burden and Randall on the album’s opener, ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Liverpool Beatles Museum (@liverpoolbeatlesmuseum)

Tim Burden, John’s son, was interviewed by ITV, and said: “It’s something we as a family are all so proud of. Growing up, it’s such a cool thing to think that your dad was part of this iconic album, and now it’s being displayed in this wonderful museum.”  

Paul McCartney and George Martin are often credited for the album’s unique feel, but session musicians like Randall and Burden were instrumental in bringing its sound to life. Burden later revealed how McCartney would hum melodies, which he then transcribed into sheet music that the other horn players could then read.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Liverpool Beatles Museum (@liverpoolbeatlesmuseum)

“It was amazing to see Paul so hands-on with the overdubbing process,” Burden recalled before his death in 2010. “They didn’t really know what they wanted, but Paul had this incredible vision that came to life as we worked together.”

Randall enjoyed a distinguished career beyond his work with the Beatles. He conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and taught brass at the London College of Music. Burden’s life followed a similar path, playing in orchestra’s before moving into teaching, working at the Trinity College of Music. 

The brass sections on ‘Sgt. Pepper’ helped shape the album’s distinct music hall style, giving tracks like ‘She’s Leaving Home’ their old-timey charm. Affectionately known as ‘Pepper’ to some fans, the record is widely recognised as one of the most innovative of its time, and effectively ended the “Beatles vs. Beach Boys” debate.

George Martin, one of the few bestowed with the title of “The Fifth Beatle,” was pivotal in blending classical and pop elements, using his traditional musical background. At the time, the album’s scale was immense, with more than 40 musicians contributing to its standout track, “A Day in the Life.” The album was the most expensive album ever recorded at the time, and took over 700 hours to complete. 

The Beatles remain Liverpool’s most famous sons, and their legacy continues to boost the city’s economy. In 2015, the BBC reported that Beatles tourism brought in £82 million annually and supported over 2300 local jobs. Though the report is relatively old, the appeal of the Beatles hasn’t dwindled, with the band nominated for two Grammy’s at the upcoming 2025 awards for their song ‘Now and Then’, as well as a nomination at this years BRIT Awards for the same song.

The Beatles Story museum, spread across three floors, is filled with memorabilia, from Shea Stadium seats to Hamburg-era instruments. The new additions of Randall and Burden’s French horns honour the unsung heroes behind the Fab Four, who helped achieve their timeless sound.

What a great morning, the Philharmonic were fab, and it was lovely to chat to the family of Tony Randell and hear their memories of the talented musician. Well done Roag. pic.twitter.com/CjAs9mOWPB

— Paul Sudbury (@PaulSudbury1) January 23, 2025

One attendee at the unveiling posted on social media: “What a great morning! The Philharmonic were fab, and it was lovely to chat with the families of Tony Randall and John Burden.” 

That two French horns from an album released nearly 60 years ago could draw such attention speaks volumes about The Beatles’ enduring appeal. The donation celebrates not only the genre-defying album the instruments appeared on, but also all of the musicians who gave the Fab Four the foundations on which to shine.