Beatles News Roundup: More Reports from Ringo's B-day Celebration, Paul's Tribute to 'Tug of War' Cover Artist, More

See Who Turned Up to Celebrate Ringo Starr’s 85th Birthday - Parade

Ringo Starr’s longtime touring group is called His All-Starr Band. The same “all-star” designation could be applied to the celebrities who turned out to celebrate the former Beatles drummer’s 85th birthday on Monday, July 7, in Beverly Hills.

Among those making the scene were singer-songwriters Jackson Browne, Sam Phillips, Molly Tuttle, the pop duo Lucius, and producer/singer-songwriter T-Bone Burnett.

...There was also an impromptu version of “With a Little Help From My Friends,” as well as a version of the Beatles’ “Birthday,” sung in Ringo’s honor. At the song’s conclusion, Ringo held up his phone and proclaimed, “Paul said it sounded great!” Lewis revealed in his post.

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Ringo Starr reveals what he would say to George Harrison and John Lennon if they were here today - Daily Mail

When asked what he'd say to George and John if they were there, Ringo said with a laugh, 'What are you doing here?'

He then added, 'Actually I would say I love you and I miss you, that is what I would say.'

...Decades after the band went their separate ways, British film director Sam Mendes is in the midst of creating four Beatles biopics that will be released in April 2028.

And Ringo revealed that he's been heavily involved in the films, telling the Daily Mail that he spent 'two days' working with Sam to ensure the way he depicts their story is accurate.

He gave the movies his seal of approval, explaining that he's a big fan of Sam's work and that he was extremely happy with the script. 

'I have spent time with [Sam] and on the scripts,' he shared. 'He knows what he is doing, he is fabulous, he has a great love of The Beatles.

'We love his films and he is a very kind guy. He will do great. I spent two days with Sam and we made only a few changes.'

He jokingly added, 'But I am not going to say anything good or bad about it until I see it and it comes out.

'It's strange, four movies are coming out on the same day, but he is filming them all together, don't ask me.'

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Paul McCartney’s Wings tour bus stops at Adam Hall Group - AV Magazine

Adam Hall Group is celebrating its 50th anniversary by welcoming a piece of music history to its campus.

The bus used by Paul McCartney and his band Wings on their 1972 tour of Europe has gone on display as part of the company’s Rock‘n’Roll Library in the Experience Centre at its German headquarters in Neu-Anspach, near Frankfurt.

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Paul McCartney pays tribute to ‘dear friend’ and Tug of War album artist Brian Clarke - Cult Following

Paul McCartney has paid tribute to Brian Clarke, the artist who passed away at the age of 72 earlier this week.

Clarke was best known for his mosaic artworks, which was used for the McCartney solo album, Tug of War. McCartney has since paid tribute to the artist who also created the images for the Paul McCartney World Tour, which ran from 1989 to 1990. Clarke would also work with Linda McCartney a year after providing The Beatles member with designs for his New World Tour shows in 1993. The Wings frontman has since paid tribute to Clarke, who died just a day after his 72nd birthday. Clarke died on July 1, 2025. Tributes from various government bodies in Oldham were also shared for the artist, who was born in the Greater Manchester town.

In a statement released to Instagram earlier today (July 8), McCartney wrote: “Brian Clarke was a dear friend of our family whom we had known for years. Sadly, he passed away recently but we all have lovely memories of the times we had together. We always laughed.

“Brian often had some great artistic endeavours to show or talk to us about. He made some stained glass windows for us and did a great collaboration with Linda using her photographs to make stained glass pictures out of.

“He was commissioned to make stained glass for Bahrain Airport (Concordia), Stansted Airport (a collaboration with Sir Norman Foster), and Queen Victoria Street Arcade in Leeds, and these are just some of the works he was famous for.

“Ever since I met him in the 70s with Robert Fraser the art dealer, we always had the best times together. We will all miss him but have fond memories of him to cherish and his incredible artwork to remind us of Brian himself.”

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Robin Nolan’s Gypsy Jazz Spin on George Harrison - Downbeat

[Robin] Nolan has recorded over a dozen albums of Django-styled gypsy jazz in various configurations over the years, but his recent 15th release is truly something special. Recorded at Friar Park using three of Harrison’s own guitars, For The Love Of George was released on the ex-Beatle’s Dark Horse Records on Feb. 25, to commemorate what would’ve been the legendary musician’s 82nd birthday. And for a kicker, the title track is one that Nolan wrote based on a chord sequence that Harrison had scribbled down on an envelope shortly before his passing in 2001.

“Just seeing his handwriting ... and it’s all just crossed out with an arrow going here and something else going there … it gives me chills,” said Nolan of the mysterious envelope that Harrison had left behind. “You’re kind of looking at it and then you get the vibe. You stare at it a little longer and you go, ‘What did he mean there? Did he mean F#7 or was that a C# minor 7?’ So it took me a while, but I figured out what I thought he meant with that chord progression.”

Once the harmonic puzzle was solved, Nolan crafted a melody. As he recalled, “I just thought, ‘I’ve got to come up with a gorgeous melody which is all about George.’ And then I just kind of heard him humming a really simple melody that fits over those chords. So I recorded a simple version of it and sent it to Olivia, a bit nervous, you know, hoping that she would like it. And she said, ‘Oh, it sounds so George!’ And, of course, it does sound so George because that’s his unique harmonies in there. I just laid the melody on top. And the publishing credit on that tune is Harrison/Nolan, which is like a dream for me.”