Roag Best to open museum with his collection of Beatles rarities in Liverpool

We spent some time on the phone Tuesday with Roag Best, who told us about his upcoming plans to open a multi-story Beatles attraction called "The Magical History Museum" in Liverpool. "We bought a four-story building on Mathew Street between the Cavern Club and the Hard Day's Night Hotel," he said. The building faces the Cavern Club "so our position I think is pretty wonderful."

The ground floor will have a bar-restaurant called "Sgt. Pepper's" and will be the first part of the building to open, which will happen on July 28. The museum will open later, he said. 

The building will have displays of Beatles history going up through 1970 with memorabilia he inherited from his mother, Mona Best ("who was a hoarder") and from his father, Neil Aspinall (whose link to the Beatles should be known to anyone reading this) and stuff he has collected himself over a 30-year span. (Pete is not involved.)

"I only go after rare items," he said. Among ,the things he owns is the 1962 color silent film footage of the Beatles playing at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, believed to be the earliest known color footage of the group. You can see a short version of it on this page, but Roag said there is more that has never been made public. "I think the maximum we've put out is about 15 or 16 seconds, and it runs to just over a minute. It was a valentine's dance, but not on Valentine's Day. They were playing on a different night."

 He said the gentleman who sold Roag the film wasn't there to film the Beatles, but for a family event. After learning of the film, Roag said it took him 18 months to track him down and finally he worked out a deal.

The last time we saw Roag was when the Pete Best Band toured the U.S. A great show that was. 

Finder of possibly the earliest picture of Paul McCartney comments

The Liverpool Echo ran a story today with a photo that could be the earliest picture of Paul McCartney. We have some exclusive comments here from Peter Hodgson, who discovered it going through the Echo archives and is also quoted in the story. The photo is below.  

On the one above, Hodgson said, "Just a normal photo of children having fun on a beach. Oglet Shore Speke circa 1947. Well, a normal photo until you take a closer look. Paul facing the camera, Mike looking out to the Merse (Mersey)."  

This is blown up from the one above. "Paul and Mike always wore braced up shorts when they were little boys. There are many photos proving this. See the girl standing with them wearing white dress, white ribbons in her hair?"

"White dress, white ribboned hair. Paul in his braced up shorts," Peter Hodgson says. "The photo of Paul sitting down with the girl is what convinced me as the girl also had white dress and white ribboned hair. As soon as I'd seen her on the beach with them, I immediately remembered a photo of her with Paul, in Paul's backyard in Speke. "

McCartney's brother Mike weighed in today to the Echo and said he's not positive, but he says there's a chance the top photo could be he and Paul. “I couldn’t say it is definitely us, but it might well be! I’d say there is a 50/50 chance it’s us. We did wear shorts like that with the braces on. Our hair did look like that. And the height difference between the two boys looks right as our kid is 18 months older than me," he told the Echo.

He also said the girl resembles one that used to live next door to them on Western Avenue. "She was more our kid’s age, and she did look like the girl standing next to the boy in the photo who could be Paul. It’s a fascinating story!"

Hodgson adds, "Pure luck that I examined the photo. I only examined the photo as it stated it was taken on Oglet Shore in Speke as I knew that the McCartneys used to play there. I wouldn't have bothered otherwise."

If you know who the girl is or have any other clues, leave a comment here.

George Harrison "I Me Mine" book gets expanded edition

Photos -- Genesis Publications

Genesis Publications announced today an expanded version of "I Me Mine," the book that Harrison first released by Genesis in 1980, then later published in a mass market edition by Simon & Schuster in 1981, and reissued by Chronicle Books in 2007. Genesis says the new version contains 53 rare photos, with several unearthed for this new edition, and contributions from Olivia Harrison and Derek Taylor. It will be issued in a limited edition of 1,000 numbered and stamped copies. The book has been expanded to 632 pages and 59 more songs have been added for a total of 141 songs.

Part 1 is the story of George Harrison's life and music through his own words, and those of his friend Derek Taylor. Part 2 has his song lyrics. A new cover has been designed by Sheperd Fairey. 

More details and purchase information is on the Genesis website. Genesis says it will also be released as a trade version this fall. 

Unseen Beatles photos from Tokyo

Photos copyright Genesis Publications

Genesis Publications is celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Beatles in Japan with a limited edition book of rare photos taken during the trip by Japanese photographer Shimpei Asai. The pictures have never before been published outside Japan. Genesis says Asai is the only Japanese photographer to have been given official access to The Beatles in Tokyo, and his photos, taken onstage and off-, have remained unknown to most outside Japan. 

The book will ship in November. More details on their website. 

Hear Chris Carter's full interview with Ringo Starr from July 3, 2016

Ringo Starr called into Chris Carter's KLOS-FM "Breakfast With the Beatles" show on July 3, 2016.

Listen to the full interview here. 

Read our story about the interview here.

New Arthur Alexander compilation

The Beatles were big fans of songs done by Arthur Alexander. They released "Anna (Go To Him)" on LP and also covered other songs he recorded like "Soldier Of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)," "Where Have You Been" and "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues" on either the BBC or in Hamburg. 

This week, Jasmine Records is releasing a new compilation of his work called "Lay Down Your Arms." The company says the 27-track CD includes all his early recordings for the Dot label in 1961-62, including "You Better Move On," "A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues," "Where Have You Been," "Soldier Of Love," "Anna (Go To Him)," "Go Home Girl," and the stereo version of his LP "You Better Move On," plus his rare debut single, "Sally Sue Brown"/"The Girl That Radiates That Charm," on which he was billed as "June Alexander" (instead of Junior). Quite a talented man. Good to see him get some recognition again.  

Exclusive pictures from Ringo Starr and the All-Starrs in Lincoln, Nebraska

David Sukovaty

David Sukovaty

Ringo Starr and the All-Starr Band's show at Lincoln, Nebraska's Pioneers Park was an evening of great fun, according to David Sukovaty, who attended and provided some of the photographs on this page. Sukovaty says he was just grateful to be there. “We were doing VIP and had third row center seats. Having just been in a head-on collision I was lucky to even be going,” he said. He said he photographed the show with both arms bandaged.

He said the band was great. “(They were) rocking from the very start The All-Starrs appeared on stage and broke into 'Matchbox' followed by 'It Don't Come Easy.' The crowd was enthusiastic from the beginning and never let up. Ringo has always had a unique presence on stage and of course played drums, backing everyone and playing his own music. Whether he is playing drums or out front being able to watch Ringo drum is the other half of the show and The All Starrs are extraordinary musicians who respect each others music, each one had their moment.” And he said of Todd Rundgren, “What didn't he play? He seemed to be everywhere.” Sukovaty said the audience had a great response for all of the band.

But he also said the weather wasn't very cooperative. “The humidity was a bit brutal and then a rain began about halfway through. but the 5,500-plus crowd stayed wanting to hear the entire show.” Sukovaty said the show ended with "A Little Help From My Friends" and "Give Peace A Chance" with the audience singing along, then Ringo flashed the peace sign and ran off as the band took their bows.

Set list: “Matchbox,” (Ringo), “It Don't Come Easy,” “What Goes On,” “I Saw the Light” (Todd Rundgren) “Evil Ways” (Gregg Rolie), “Rosanna” (Steve Lukather), “Kyrie” (Richard Page), “Bang the Drum All Day” (Rundgren), “Boys” (Ringo), “Don't Pass Me By,” “Yellow Submarine,,” “Black Magic Woman”/“Gypsy Queen” (Rolie), “You're Sixteen” (Ringo), “I'm the Greatest,” “You Are Mine” (Page), “Africa” (Lukather), “Oye Como Va” (Rolie), “I Wanna Be Your Man” (Ringo), “Love Is the Answer” (Rundgren), “Broken Wings” (Page), “Hold the Line” (Lukather), “Photograph” (Ringo), “Act Naturally,” “With a Little Help From My Friends”/“Give Peace a Chance.”

David Sukovaty

David Sukovaty

David Sukovaty