Latest news with #GeorgeHarrison
Telegraph
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Angry residents block Beatles fans from Harrison's home
Liverpool residents have chained off the street where former Beatle George Harrison lived, in an attempt to stop disruption from day-trippers. Access to Arnold Grove, the site of Harrison's childhood home, was blocked on Monday morning as residents complained that Beatles enthusiasts would regularly peer through windows and doors on the street. Chris Bennett, who lives on the street, told BBC Radio Merseyside that 'you get people looking through the window and if you leave your front door open, they look through the door'. He also complained that his family 'don't get any peace' due to traffic caused by private tours. The area is a regular destination for guided Beatles tours of Liverpool, with the Magical Mystery tour run by the Cavern Club – the venue that hosted the first Beatles concerts – frequently stopping at the site. Mr Bennet said: 'Lately there has been a lot more tours coming – private tours, taxis and minibuses – and unfortunately it is getting very busy down here.' A spokesman for the Magical Mystery tour told The Telegraph that they had received no previous complaints about an increase in tourism, and claimed they had a 'great relationship' with residents. They also said that customers were reminded to respect the privacy of those living on Arnold Grove. A blue plaque commemorating Harrison's birth in the house was unveiled last year, one of the first installed outside London. The unveiling was described as a 'source of family pride' by Olivia, Harrison's widow. Mr Bennett, the licensee of a nearby pub, claims that since the plaque was installed the traffic 'has been ridiculous'. He said: 'The first taxi could come at 09:00 and my wife will see another on the road when she gets home at 21.15 [...] The minibuses and taxis will come in and block the entrance of the grove.' Other residents said that they had no part in installing the chain, and that the increase in tourism and traffic had not caused them any bother. 'It doesn't make a difference to me. People can do what they like on the road,' one told BBC Radio Merseyside. When travelling, the Beatles legend used to sign hotel check-in books using the pseudonym 'Arnold Grove' and often supported other musicians using the moniker. Harrison lived in the house for seven years, before moving to the nearby suburb of Speke. The three-bed townhouse they lived in is now an Airbnb marketed towards Beatles fans.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The Zombies were the most cursed band in British pop. Now they're having their moment
George Harrison, speaking on Juke Box Jury on 25 July 1964, was unequivocal in his enthusiasm for the disc he and his fellow judges – who included future On the Buses star Reg Varney – had just heard. 'The voices are marvellous,' he told host David Jacobs in a timbre that was unhurried, adenoidal and very Scouse. 'And the chord sequences are very nice. And I think it'll be a hit.' Tuning in at home, five teenage, 'skinny little kids from rural England', in the words of lead voice Colin Blunstone, could scarcely believe it. A Beatle had anointed She's Not There. Beatlemaniacs would surely do Harrison's bidding and make a hit of the debut single by St Albans' finest, The Zombies. They did, and then some – She's Not There reached Number 12 in the UK. In America, the beat-boom bop reached Number 2 on the Billboard charts. But it went all the way on the rival Cash Box countdown, making The Zombies, according to the song's composer, keyboard player Rod Argent, the first band since The Beatles to reach the top in America with a self-written song. A debut album, Begin Here, knocked out across two evenings, followed a year later, then in 1968 they released one of the defining records of the Sixties, Odessey and Oracle. Made for a tight £1000, it's a 35-minute chamber-pop masterpiece that – infamously poorly spelled title notwithstanding – is perfect from start to finish. It was sent skywards by Blunstone's remarkable, fluting voice and included timeless standards such as Care of Cell 44, Time of the Season and This Will Be Our Year. But by that time The Zombies were already un-walking dead, splitting in late 1967 before the record was even released. It would only take half a century for the album, and The Zombies, to be fully appreciated, with some of music's biggest stars echoing Harrison's praise, from Harry Styles to Dave Grohl and Paul Weller. As recounted in a new career-spanning documentary, Hung Up on a Dream, released on June 24, this comeback was rather unexpected for the provincial British group from the Sixties whose story is a saga of bad luck, bad timing and bad actors, not to mention bad spelling. I'm talking to three of The Zombies over Zoom. Drummer Hugh Grundy, 80, is beaming in from Minorca, his home for 16-odd years. Songwriter and bassist Chris White, 82, is ensconced in his music studio at his house in Salisbury. Blunstone, 80, is in a hotel room in Chicago – he's currently on a North American tour in support of Hung Up on a Dream and performing a few songs. Not with us today is Rod Argent, 80, still recovering after suffering a stroke last year, and guitarist Paul Atkinson, who died, aged 58, in 2004 after a long battle with liver and kidney disease. One of the first assessments of The Zombies' career in the film comes from Blunstone. Musing about whether the band were lucky or unlucky, he comes to the assessment that 'nothing went to plan'. One such example of bad luck: their song Time of the Season, from Odessy and Oracle, became a hit in the US two years after the band's dissolution. These Zombies could not be reanimated. By then Blunstone was manning the phones in the burglary department of a London insurance firm, while trying out a solo career, Grundy was selling cars, Atkinson was working in computers, while Argent and White were forming a band called Argent. Into the void stepped not one but two bands of fake Zombies – one of which comprised two thirds of the future ZZ Top – both managed by Delta Promotions, who insisted they had legally acquired the songs from the real Zombies and had them both tour to unsuspecting US fans. The American music industry thought Blunstone had died in a car crash, which was the standard explanation for why the fake Zombies sounded so different. 'Yes, it was a little bit upsetting to have to die so early,' says Blunstone wryly. 'You must be a real Zombie now!' chips in Grundy cheerfully. 'And perhaps some of the choices of people to represent us weren't as sound as they could have been,' Blunstone adds, reflecting on their bad luck. 'But it's not just us. I don't think there's a band that was successful in the '60s that didn't have challenges with regard to management and finances, and we were no exception.' That said, 'we were really lucky to be in the music business in the mid-'60s, when everything seemed to be possible, particularly for British bands,' he replies. 'That was completely due to the success of The Beatles.' Initially, at least, The Zombies progressed relatively quickly. Formed from a bunch of schoolmates in St Albans, from 1962 onwards they played the pubs and clubs round their Hertfordshire hometown, notably the Old Verulamians rugby club. Then in 1964 they entered 'Herts Beat', a talent contest hosted by the Watford Observer. One hundred groups took part over 10 heats, with The Zombies ultimately coming out on top. 'Well, it's over and The Zombies are the best group in Hertfordshire,' announced the newspaper, 'with £250 in their pockets to prove it!' A record deal with Decca followed, She's Not There became a hit, and by the end of that year they were onstage in New York, performing on disc jockey Murray the K's Christmas variety show alongside Patti Labelle and the Blue Belles, Ben E King and The Shirelles. Back in the UK, they toured the country in a package tour with The Searchers, Dionne Warwick and The Isley Brothers. Running the show, according to the small print on the poster, were 'comedy compères Syd and Eddie' – the future Little and Large. More international touring followed, notably in the Philippines. The Beatles had had a notoriously terrible time there in 1966 – after reportedly snubbing an invitation to attend an event hosted by Imelda Marcos, they were manhandled by Marcos regime loyalists as they hurriedly left the country. 'We were aware that The Beatles had had, um, challenges while they were there,' says Blunstone, ever the diplomat. 'And in fact, we were the next British band to go into the Philippines after them – which goes back to [the idea of] whether The Zombies were lucky or unlucky!' 'We thought we were just going to play in a hotel foyer or something,' says White. It was a reasonable assessment given that their manager, Tito Burns, an impresario who had also looked after Cliff Richard, had told them the booking paid £100 a night – between the five members. 'So when we turned up and found we had four or five records in the charts there, it was astounding. And then actually going to play in the Araneta Coliseum – that was frightening, to be quite honest, it was so big.' The coliseum was, at the time, the second largest indoor venue in the world. So, after costs, Blunstone reckons 'we were probably getting a tenner each for playing to 28,000 people – and the Saturday night was 32,000 people!' Then, when the call came from the Presidential palace, The Zombies advisedly said yes. 'I don't think it was quite homage,' says Grundy of their visit with the Marcos's. 'It wasn't bow and scrape. It was duty. I think we thought it would be rude not to. So we did.' Back in the UK, The Zombies found themselves penniless. And, after the flop of their 1967 cover of Goin' Out of My Head – a 1964 hit for Little Anthony and the Imperials – they lost their record deal. But a contract with CBS followed, which secured a tight budget for their second album. At least they were going to record it in Abbey Road, the hallowed studio still warm from the making of Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn and The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. But the first two singles from Odessey and Oracle flopped, then Atkinson announced he was getting married and had been headhunted for a job in computers. So the group of old friends decided to call it a day. In Hung Up on a Dream there's brilliant audio of Kenny Everett, then a radio DJ, asking the band, in a rare moment of lucidity for the gonzo performer, whether it might be a better idea to wait to see how the as-yet-unreleased album fares before deciding on their future. But their minds were made up. By the time that Time of the Season was a belated hit in the US, reaching number three in 1969, all the members were on different paths. White and Argent would embark on Argent, a rock band who had big, shouty early '70s hits with Hold Your Head Up and God Gave Rock and Roll to You. They also produced 1971's One Year, the debut solo album by Blunstone (once again recording under his own name). It included his ear-tingling cover of Say You Don't Mind, a song by future Wings member Denny Laine. Atkinson and Grundy, meanwhile, would end up working for CBS. The former became a highly regarded label executive in Los Angeles, the latter an A&R man in London. Grundy's job was to sift through the bags of cassette tapes submitted by hopeful musicians. Most of them, he says, were useless. 'Until one day, I put one tape in, and it sat me back in my chair. I made an appointment for the band to come and sit in my office, which they did.' He went to see them perform 'and they just blew me away.' Grundy took his passion for the unsigned rock band to his bosses. 'But by then they had got the interest of quite a few other record companies, and their managers had started putting up the price. In the end, CBS management said: 'Look, we don't think we can afford this, so we're going to pass on them.' And I said: 'Well, you're wrong, because within this next year, Queen are going to be huge.'' As for The Zombies, their moment in the sun would take a lot longer to come. But in 2019, they were finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 'It's nice in your seventies to find out that you were actually successful in your twenties,' says White with a chuckle. 'And the great thing is we are still friends, which is rare for people in 1960s bands.' 'Overall, isn't it a story of hope, really?' offers Blunstone. 'It should give hope to all artists who are struggling in their early years. Because here we are, in the autumn of our careers, shall we say! We're being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and touring all around the world in wonderful venues at our advanced ages. So, you never give up hope.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Residents tired of Beatles fans block off Harrison's childhood home
A chain has been put up across the Liverpool street where Beatles legend George Harrison was born to block traffic after residents complained about tourists invading their privacy. Chris Bennett, who lives on Arnold Grove, told BBC Radio Merseyside he and his family "don't get any peace" due to the steady stream of visitors, minibuses and taxis. Visitors have thronged to the Harrison's childhood home since a blue plaque was put up there in Pike, a tour guide with the Magical Mystery Tour which runs up to six tours of the city a day, said "unfortunately it is getting very busy down here." The chain was put up on Monday and runs across the unadopted road to block access. Other residents told BBC Radio Merseyside that they were not consulted about the chain and neither were bothered by the tourists coming down the street."It doesn't make a difference to me people can do what they like on the road," one said. "Since the blue plaque went up it's been ridiculous. The volume of traffic is too much now and we don't get any peace," Mr Bennett, licensee of the nearby Cock & Bottle pub," he said."The first taxi could come at 09:00 and my wife will see another on the road when she gets home at 21.15."You get people looking through the window and if you leave your front door open they look through the door." Mr Bennet said: "The minibuses and taxis will come in and block the entrance of the grove."Customers on tours are told to respect residents' privacy, Mr Pike said. "Lately there has been a lot more tours coming, private tours, taxis and minibuses and unfortunately it is getting very busy down here."He said the tour company supports the residents and understand why the chain has been put up. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Beatles Send Multiple Albums Back To The Billboard Charts
The Beatles return to the Billboard lists with Abbey Road reappearing on the Vinyl Albums chart and ... More 1 reentering the Top Rock & Alternative Albums ranking. Photo of the Beatles, April 1963; L-R: Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon - posed, group shot - jumping on wall, Used on the Twist & Shout EP cover (Photo by Fiona Adams/Redferns) The Beatles may be the bestselling musical act of all time, but the group isn't guaranteed a spot on the Billboard charts in the United States at all times. The rockers regularly appear on one list or another, as consumption of the band's music remains high, even decades after the musicians went their separate ways. The band does disappear from the rankings occasionally, only to, sometimes, return with multiple wins at once. This week fits into the latter category, as several of The Beatles' most famous releases bounce back onto Billboard's rankings. Abbey Road Becomes a Vinyl Bestseller Again Abbey Road returns to the Vinyl Albums chart this week, landing at No. 19. The former champion is about two months shy of reaching 500 weeks on the list of the bestselling vinyl releases in the U.S. While it might take a few more months or even a year, it's highly likely that The Beatles' bestseller will hit that milestone. The Beatles' 1 Returns At the moment, Abbey Road can be found on only that one list. Meanwhile, 1, one of The Beatles' most famous compilations, returns to a different tally. The compilation reenters the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart this frame, settling in at No. 49, which is second-to-last place. Unlike Abbey Road on the Vinyl Albums chart, 1 has somehow never managed to conquer the Top Rock & Alternative Albums tally. At its peak, the band pushed the compilation to No. 3. The Beatles Join Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift It's a quiet frame in terms of debuts on both the Vinyl Albums and Top Rock & Alternative Albums charts. On the vinyl list, The Beatles join Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, SZA, and Kendrick Lamar, as all those artists and others mount comebacks with hugely popular projects. Ozzy Osbourne scores the only debut on the rock and alternative ranking, as The Essential Ozzy Osbourne opens at No. 29 following his final live performance. When it comes to returning favorites, Bruce Springsteen, Blink-182, Kid Rock, and — appropriately, given that the last tracking period included the Fourth of July — the band America all reappear on the ranking alongside The Beatles.
STV News
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Eric Idle says he feels ‘lucky every single day' after surviving cancer
Actor and comedian Eric Idle has said he feels lucky 'every single day' after surviving pancreatic cancer. Idle, 82, revealed in 2022 that he had received an early diagnosis and been successfully treated for the illness. In a Letter To My Younger Self for the Big Issue, the Monty Python star said: 'I miss a lot of people. Great people like Mike Nichols. 'I will find myself thinking of a funny line and thinking, you must tell Mike that. Or Jonathan Miller. So many of my heroes have gone, like Robin Williams. I still kind of occasionally speak to Billy Connolly, but I really miss him. 'You've got to find other people, you know, because there are still other funny people you can have dinner with or play guitar with. 'I got lucky, because I had to, I survived pancreatic cancer. So I feel that since 2019 I've had a reprieve. So I don't know or care what people say about me, I'm lucky every single day.' Idle also reflected on some of the issues financing Monty Python's Life Of Brian, which saw the film's creators receive help from Beatles star George Harrison. He said: 'For a while we had no money. (Media impresario) Lew Grade read it and just went nuts. He said, we can't possibly make this. I went to America to find money. 'I had been talking to George Harrison who was a huge fan, and he said, 'I'll phone you in the morning, don't worry'. And I thought, well, nobody's got four and a half million dollars. 'But finally, when everybody turned us down, there was a call from him saying, 'I've got you the money'. 'He had mortgaged his house and his business and raised the cash and put it all on a Python film. The most extraordinary thing to do.' Idle, John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam and Sir Michael Palin fronted the ground-breaking sketch show Monty Python's Flying Circus. A huge hit, 45 episodes were made between 1969 and 1974, as well as five films including 1975's The Holy Grail, on which hit musical Spamalot – written by Idle – is based. Read the full interview with Idle in the Big Issue, out now. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
