This is an exciting time for The Beatles enthusiasts. In addition to Peter Jackson’s impressive Get Back documentaries, we’ve been able to enjoy projects like the film Beatles ’64, which captures a fan's perspective on Beatlemania taking over America. Four biopics are on the way, featuring an outstanding cast of Hollywood stars, while the long-awaited fourth installment of the Anthology series is set to release.
There’s an abundance of content available, offering even more details, context, and nuance about what many consider the greatest pop group in culture.
The presence of former drummer Pete Best continues to linger in the background. How will he be depicted in the biopics? Will he be included at all? And will the newly discovered and enhanced material in Anthology 4 showcase his powerful drumming?
Notoriously removed from the band just as they were about to achieve fame, Pete Best initially faced a difficult time trying to escape The Beatles' shadow. He stepped away from music for 20 years, only returning to the stage in 1988, by which time he had built a life far removed from the drumming world.
The Anthology project revisited the past, and Pete Best is acknowledged for playing on seven tracks in the first installment of the series. It was immensely popular, selling over 400,000 copies in its first day upon release in 1995.
Author Philip Norman notes that Paul McCartney was tasked with making the pivotal phone call. “Some wrongs need to be righted,” McCartney reportedly told him. “There’s some money here owed to you, and you can take it or leave it.”
However, in a 2020 interview with the Irish Times, Pete Best claimed that it was Neil Aspinall, not McCartney, who actually made the call.
He stated, “Seven out of 60 tracks was quite a lot. I’d like to think that with that many tracks over a brief time, it demonstrated the significant role I played. Whether that’s accurate or not, I’m not sure—you’d have to ask them.”
The royalties accumulated quickly—Pete Best estimates he earned around £1 million from that release alone, and the upcoming Anthology 4, along with the reissues of previous installments, will certainly increase that amount further.
The pain of rejection has faded over time. The drummer recalls crying over the passing of “dear, tender” John Lennon but holds no resentment towards Paul McCartney.
“I have nothing to forgive him for... they made a decision as young men to secure their future. Sure, it could have been managed better. I was the scapegoat for it, I suffered, but I’m not blaming them. If I had been in the same situation as another band member, perhaps I would have been seen as a villain.”
The Beatles Anthology will be available on Disney+ starting November 26th.
Singer-songwriter Izzy Escobar shares her thoughts on crafting music that reflects "what feels authentic and resonates profoundly" on her EP 'Sunny in London'—a genuine approach she brought with her to the Oceans Calling stage for her debut festival performance this summer.
“I suppose the foundation of my music lies in how the younger influences the older.” Similar to how layers of sedimentary rock accumulate to create something new.
Selected by Mitch Mosk, this week's Editor's Picks highlights music from Amanda Bergman, The Paper Kites, Mon Rovîa, Jade Street, Dollpile, and Elliott Skinner!
Singer/songwriter Evan Honer explores the creative energy and emotional landscape of his expansive third album 'Everything I Wanted.' He discusses how the places that influenced him, the production process that centered him, and the insights he gained throughout the journey all culminate in his most genuine and personal record to date.
Black Country, New Road explores themes of friendship, transformation, and artistic bravery in their striking third album ‘Forever Howlong,’ which is a rich, multi-layered art-rock collection that transforms their enduring bond into a personal, wide-ranging depiction of connection in its various forms of comfort, intricacy, and awe. In an interview with Atwood Magazine, the band members share insights on evolving while remaining true to themselves, sharing the spotlight among three songwriters, and discovering warmth, trust, and liberty within the collaborative environment they have cultivated together.
This is a wonderful moment for The Beatles enthusiasts. In addition to Peter Jackson's impressive Get Back documentaries, we've also had the opportunity to enjoy works like