Beatles Bits: Bowie, Bowie, Bowie - and B.B.

Members of the Beatles family all paid tribute online to David Bowie, who passed away earlier this week.

Paul:
"Very sad news to wake up to on this raining morning. David was a great star and I treasure the moments we had together. His music played a very strong part in British musical history and I’m proud to think of the huge influence he has had on people all around the world.
"I send my deepest sympathies to his family and will always remember the great laughs we had through the years. His star will shine in the sky forever."
Ringo:
"God bless David Bowie peace and love to all his family."
Yoko:

 Sean Ono Lennon:
Absolutely devastating news. I feel so lucky to have considered you a friend. R.I.P. Thank you for everything.
Julian Lennon:
“So very saddened by this news... One of My all time Heroes... A truly original musical genius like no other... Thank you for the moments we shared... I don't know what else to say.... except My thoughts & prayers are with his family & friends at this very, very sad time.....”
Stella McCartney:
"The man who fell to earth, became a star and left us holding him in our hearts. He inspired me from the first time I dreamt and still inspires me as I sleep... Thank you for being you, David, my heart goes out to Iman and the kids whom I love dearly X Stella."
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Not to detract from Bowie or to diminish his own huge influence, but this assessment from Bowie biographer and British GQ editor Dylan Jones is plain silly:
David Bowie meant so much more than The Beatles, because he didn’t just create a huge body of music, didn’t just release a bunch of singles and albums which influenced people at formative stages of their lives. He also influenced how they looked, what they read and how they lived their lives.
The idea that the Beatles didn't influence behavior is ridiculous: From long hair, a variety of fashion trends to Eastern philosophy to advocating for peace and questioning authority, the Beatles clearly had influence beyond creating a "huge body of music."

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Via the Lennon Examiner: Bowie reflects on the creation of "Fame" with John Lennon.
“God, that session was fast!,” he told rock writer Timothy White. “That was an evening's work! While John and Carlos were sketching out the guitar stuff in the studio, I was starting to work out the lyric in the control room. I was so excited about John, and he loved working with my band because they were playing old soul tracks and Stax things. John was so up, so much energy. It must have been so exciting to always be around him.”
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Stevie Calrow, a 74-year-old Liverpudlian auditioning for the UK version of "The Voice" TV talent show recalls singing with the Beatles at the Cavern Club.
“I did sing with The Beatles. Three songs. It’s the best backing I’ve ever had in my life,” he jokes. “It’s a memory to treasure”.

Joining the legendary band was actually somewhat of an SOS.
“They’d done 14 days of gigs on the trot and they’d worn their voices out completely,” Calrow told the Liverpool Echo in 2013.

“I got up on the Reslo mic and sang two early Elvis numbers – So Glad You’re Mine and Blue Suede Shoes – and Rip It Up by Little Richard,” he said.

“I had Paul and John behind me and I remember I did two verses and then George did the guitar breaks and they were just out of this world.”
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Ringo Starr will among those interviewed in a PBS "American Masters" tribute to BB King, set to air Feb. 12.

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