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Paul McCartney Warns One Direction

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: The Charts, Pop, Rock

Paul McCartneyPaul McCartney has warned One Direction being compared to The Beatles could be a "kiss of death."

The Beatles are one of the biggest bands in history, but Paul - the group's songwriter and bass player - thinks too much pressure is put on artists when they're compared to such iconic acts, and instead people should just call them "the next terrific band."

"There are so many bands who all get called, 'The next Beatles'. Suddenly it puts an awful lot of pressure on them to be the next Beatles. Oasis were, 'The next Beatles' once if you remember. It's a pressure, because suddenly you've got to live up to all the things that we did, and it was a different time. So let's just call them, 'The next terrific band.'"

One Direction are currently taking America by storm, and earlier this month made history by becoming the first UK act to top the American chart with their debut album, Up All Night.

Paul wishes the boy band well for the States, where they are returning for another tour later this year: "They're doing well in America. It's good - good luck lads."


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Lionel Richie Wants to Duet With Adele

Lionel RichieLionel Richie wants to work with Adele and Sir Paul McCartney.

The "Hello" hitmaker is releasing an album of his hits re-recorded with country artists - including Shania Twain and Willie Nelson - but says there are still some artists on his list he would love to work with.

"If I had my choice right now - Adele, I would go into the studio, say, tomorrow four o'clock. Then you have Coldplay - any day of the week. McCartney, forget about it! That guy, still, has got it all. He was a Beatle, one of the guys, right? But just give me some time and we'll find all these people."

Lionel, 62, also said he picked the title of his country album, Tuskegee, after the town in Alabama where he grew up, which was also home to his earliest musical inspirations:

Click to continue reading Lionel Richie Wants to Duet With Adele


Paul McCartney Named Artist of the Year

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Awards, Rock

Paul McCartneyPaul McCartney has been named Artist of the Year at the inaugural Ultimate Classic Rock Awards.

The 69-year-old musician beat off strong competition from Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx, Chickenfoot's Sammy Hagar and Alice Cooper to take home the honour with 34 per cent of the vote in the poll.

"The 69-year-old McCartney had his (meat-free) plate full for all of 2011. Whether it was releasing re-issues of his two truest solo efforts, McCartney and McCartney II, collaborating with the New York City Ballet, producing a film marking the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 or embarking on his huge On the Run tour, he pretty much did it all. Congratulations, Paul!" said a statement on ultimateclassicrock.com.

AC/DC were the big winners with wins in three categories including Best Reissue or Archival Release, Best DVD and Best Commercial while Chickenfoot received two gongs, Album of the Year for Ill and Song of the Year for "Big Foot." Slash took home the Best Live Album gong, with his former band Guns 'N Roses voted Tour of the Year and Ozzy Osbourne won Best Box Set. 230,000 votes were cast in the 2011 Ultimate Classic Rock Awards.


Paul McCartney Plays Tribute to John Lennon on SNL

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Performances, Videos, Rock

Sir Paul McCartney helped to create one of SNL’s most memorable episodes over the weekend.

In-between appearing in skits, McCartney took to the stage no less than four times to perform several hits -- but the most poignant was definitely when he honored former bandmate and collaborator John Lennon. This year marks the 30th since the rocker’s death, and McCartney played tribute by playing “A Day in the Life” and Lennon’s own “Give Peace a Chance.”

Watch (and listen!) in the video above.

Click to continue reading Paul McCartney Plays Tribute to John Lennon on SNL


VIDEO: Paul McCartney, Prince Hit the Talk Shows


Thursday was an exciting day musically in the talk show scene.

Early in the day, Prince made a surprise appearance on The View – much to the surprise of the audience and cohost Sherri Shepherd. The singer, who stopped by to promote his Welcome 2 America tour, came to deliver tickets – but walked away with an awkward confession from Sherri.

“You don’t understand, Prince. I’ve wanted to make love to you my whole life,” Shepherd admitted after trying to take his gloves. (He, understandably, left quickly thereafter.)

Click to continue reading VIDEO: Paul McCartney, Prince Hit the Talk Shows

Read More | The Huffington Post

Paul McCartney Music to be Featured on Glee

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Artist News, Gossip, Rock

Paul McCartneyIt’s not every day that writers, even highly popular writers, get a personal message from a Knight. But that’s exactly what happened when Sir surprised Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy with a mixed tape recently. Murphy dished on the details at a recent press conference for the show.

“It just sort of came out of the blue,” he said of the tape, which was accompanied by a personal note. “It said ‘Hi Ryan. I’d hope you’d considered these songs for .”

The two-disc mix is full of tracks, some of which will make a definite appearance on the series. Murphy said of the correspondence, “I was gobsmacked. Of course we’re going to do something.”

Read More | Los Angeles Times

Can You Guess, Guess, Guess Michael Jackson’s Biggest Hit?


“Thriller” may have been the video most fans wanted to watch, but it surprisingly wasn’t the song most people wanted to play, play, play.

According to Billboard, it was a tune that Jackson did with that ranks as the late singer’s best hit. “Say, Say, Say” topped a list of 50 tracks followed by “Billie Jean” and “I’ll Be There.”

The list, which was compiled to help commemorate the upcoming anniversary of Michael’s death (June 25), took a number of factors into consideration to determine a track’s performance in the Hot 100. (You can read the full explanation behind the inverse point system here.) Although “Billie Jean” spent more weeks at #1, the Jackson/McCartney collaboration lasted longer on the charts.

Click to continue reading Can You Guess, Guess, Guess Michael Jackson’s Biggest Hit?

Read More | Billboard

Paul McCartney’s Son Forges Own Musical Career

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gossip

James and Paul McCartney

Sir inspired his own son to make music.

The Beatles legend is a massive influence on James, 32, who has formed The Light with pals Bryan Johnson on drums and bassist Charlie Turner, who grew up in Allerton, the same area of Liverpool where Paul spent his childhood and inspired many of the group’s later hits.

James - who plays a cherry-red Fender Stratocaster guitar given to him by the international star - said: “I have been playing music since I was nine and writing along the way. I met my band about a year ago. Producer David Kahne introduced us and my dad helped.”

Click to continue reading Paul McCartney’s Son Forges Own Musical Career

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Simon Cowell Points Out Beatles’ Weak Spot

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gossip

Simon CowellSimon Cowell has blasted , claiming they would have failed auditions on The X Factor.

The music mogul - who once rejected the Spice Girls, the best-selling girl group of all time - says he would have kicked the iconic band off his British TV talent show unless they fired drummer Ringo Starr. “If The Beatles came on the show we would have said, ‘We’ll take those three - , John Lennon and George Harrison - but probably lose the drummer,’” the 49-year-old said. “With Ringo, I’m afraid, we would have said ‘bad news’.”

Speaking in a US television interview with his Britain’s Got Talent co-star Amanda Holden, Simon also revealed what drives him. “I like winning, Amanda. That’s what excites me,” Cowell admitted.

Simon is now focusing on the career of Scottish singing sensation , who will perform on the final of America’s Got Talent next week. Her debut album is due for release in November, and is expected to shoot to the top of the charts in America and Britain.


New Old John Lennon Interview Revealed

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Artist News, Rock

John Lennon

An old interview with John Lennon has recently come to light, revealing that there might have been a great deal of animosity among the post-breakup members. In an interview with Rolling Stone’s Jann Wenner, Lennon unleashed some anger toward former band mates.

“We got fed up with being sidemen for Paul [McCartney],” says Lennon at one point. He also said the “music died” in the group and that “we never improved,” which I think plenty of critics would argue with.

Click to continue reading New Old John Lennon Interview Revealed

Read More | KTVX

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