1984
"Broad Street has taken over $1.4 million at the American box office
and it's currently in the top 20 of the American films. The reviews
have been 50% good and 50% bad and people are going to see it,
not in huge droves, but they are going to see it!"
- Paul
January
 The UK press prints a report suggesting that Paul and Bill Wyman, the bass player of The Rolling Stones, will soon narrate a 12-part TV series on the history of rock music on UK TV. This does not materialise. Also this month, Paul and Linda take a memorable vacation in Barbados, West Indies. Paul's single 'Pipes Of Peace' reaches number one in the UK singles chart.
Sunday January 1
Following delays of almost a year, Granada TV in England finally broadcasts, across the ITV network between 5:41 and 6:29pm, the programme The Early Beatles: 1962-1965. The 45-minute documentary, which came about only because the show's producer Johnny Hamp wanted to transfer the best of Granada's archives onto videotape and stop them disintegrating, comprises fascinating Beatles interviews, TV appearances and newsreels shots. Johnny Hamp is asked why it does not feature a narrative accompaniment: "Putting together this material was more a labour of love than work. We decided we didn't need any commentary as we felt the film speaks for itself, to quote the opening credits." Johnny is also asked why Granada Television didn't use more of the unscreened four and a half hours of Beatles film discovered in their archives, and simply make the programme longer: "Naturally, we just had to use the cream of it in the time available. It would have been nice, for instance, to see the full 22-minute interview with Ken Dodd. We also found a 10-minute interview with Pete Best and his mother Mona shortly after his sacking, which is very interesting, especially as Mona does most of the talking."
Tuesday January 3
Paul, Linda and family depart from Heathrow Airport en route to New York and then Barbados for a two-week holiday. Reporters, who naturally haven't seen the Pipes Of Peace video, ask him why his hair had been cropped so short. "I had it cut for my Pipes Of Peace video, which was set in 1914, so I styled my hair to the period," he explains.
Thursday January 5
In America, an interview with Paul carried out on the set of 'Say Say Say' on Wednesday October 5, 1983, is transmitted on the WKYC News channel, a local NBC station.
Friday January 6
The first single release off Milk And Honey takes place when John's 'Nobody Told Me', backed by 'O'Sanity', performed by Yoko, is released in America. (The UK release takes place on January 9.)
Friday January 13
To promote his radio programme tomorrow, the DJ Andy Peebles is a guest on BBC Breakfast Time on BBC1. The feature also includes the first ever UK screening of the promotional film for 'Nobody Told Me'.
Paul, Linda and their children James and Stella arrive in Bridgetown in Barbados from New York. They set up base in a private home called Potter's House on the Caribbean island's west coast.
Saturday January 14
BBC Radio One broadcasts, between 1:00 and 1:59pm in FM Stereo, the programme Life Without Lennon, featuring Yoko Ono in conversation with Andy Peebles in Tokyo, Japan.
During the McCartneys' Barbados holiday, Paul is spotted skiing and surfing on a rubber raft.
Sunday January 15
Paul and Linda's Barbados vacation turns sour when, acting on a tip-off, their villa is raided by local police who discover 10 grams of marijuana on Paul and seven grams on Linda. The McCartneys are immediately charged with drug possession. Local police inspector Alan Long says: "We received a tip-off that they were in possession of marijuana. Four uniformed officers went round to the McCartneys holiday villa with a search warrant. Mr. McCartney freely admitted his guilt and accompanied the officers to the police station." They are ordered to appear in court the following day.
Monday January 16
In the Barbados courthouse, Paul and Linda appear before Judge Haynes Blackman and plead guilty to possession of marijuana. They are fined 200 Barbados dollars ($100 dollars) each. Paul's Barbados lawyer David Simmons tells the judge: "Paul is a very talented and creative person. People who have this talent sometimes need inspiration." Following the hearing, they get ready to head back to England, the flights having been booked before their court appearance. Chief Immigration officer Kenrick Hutson is quick to point out that the McCartneys were not deported and they will be free to return. (Paul's court appearance takes place four years to the day after he was arrested in Japan.) As Paul leaves the court, he remarks to waiting reporters: "I've got absolutely no grudges and no complaints. It was a small amount of cannabis and I intended to use it, but the police came to my place and I gave them 10 grams of cannabis. Linda had another small carton of cannabis (seven grams) in her handbag."
Meanwhile in America, Paul's videotaped message to Michael Jackson is syndicated across the country on the American Music Awards.
Tuesday January 17
The McCartneys arrive back in England at London's Heathrow airport and, following an unhindered walk through customs, Paul emerges alone to face the waiting reporters. He takes the opportunity to air his views on marijuana: "Can we get one thing straight. Whatever you think, or whatever you think I've done ... this substance cannabis is a whole lot less harmful than rum punch, whisky, nicotine and glue, all of which are perfectly legal. I would like to see it decriminalised because I don't think, in the privacy of my own room, I was doing anyone any harm whatsoever." Joined by Linda, Paul and his family are driven a short distance to board their private aircraft, but just as they are boarding the plane customs men ask Paul and Linda to return to the customs hall where, at approximately 12 noon, they are interviewed and more marijuana is found, this time in Linda's hand baggage. She is charged with possession and arrested at Heathrow's police station on the airport's perimeter. Linda is released on unconditional bail and ordered to appear before Uxbridge magistrates court on Tuesday January 24 (see entry). News of Linda's arrest does not reach the media for another six hours. The incident at Heathrow features largely on news reports around the globe, including both BBC and ITN news bulletins in the UK and CBS Morning News in America.
Friday January 19
John and Yoko's album Milk And Honey - A Heart Play is released in America. (The UK release takes place on January 23.) The album appears on compact disc in the UK, the first ever Beatles related CD to be released in the country. The original sleeve design for Milk And Honey was due to feature over 200 heart shaped photographs of the couple.
Paul, from his Rye home, rings a national newspaper to say that Linda's recent drug bust "wasn't her fault!" He adds: "All our bags were thoroughly searched by police in Barbados after we were busted there. They told us we were clean but they obviously didn't do a thorough job. Most of the time, Linda doesn't know what's in her bag anyway. It wouldn't have been there if they'd done their job properly!"
Tuesday January 24
Following her arrest at Heathrow Airport last Tuesday, Linda appears at Uxbridge Magistrates Court in Middlesex. Paul and Linda arrive early but still face massed ranks of cameramen. During the 13-minute hearing, Paul sits in the public gallery and listens while Linda pleads guilty to illegally importing a small quantity of cannabis weighing 4.9 grams, with an estimated street value of £4.90. Her defence council, Mr. Edwin Glasgow, tells the magistrates: "Linda is genuinely sorry, and wishes to make a genuine apology. I urge the court not to make an example of her just because she is famous. Linda is a thoughtful, likeable woman who has done far more for other people than those who sneer at her." After a few moments deliberation, the magistrates fine her £75 ($105). As the McCartneys leave the courts Linda, who had given her address as Soho Square in London, remarks to waiting reporters: "It's all much ado about nothing," adding, "I am unhappy about being treated as a criminal when I am just an ordinary person."
In Liverpool, Yoko and Sean, who arrived in England only this morning on a Milk And Honey promotional visit, are on a sightseeing tour of Beatles landmarks, followed every inch of the way by a posse of photographers, reporters and television cameras. The Lennons are seen at Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields, where Yoko promises a gift of £250,000 to the children's home.
Friday January 27
NBC TV in America broadcasts the second half of a taped interview with Paul on the programme Friday Night Videos. The show also screens the promotional film for 'So Bad'. Meanwhile, in the latest edition of the London entertainment magazine Time Out, there appears an article by Paul recommending legislation to legalise marijuana.
Tuesday January 31 (daily until Friday February 3)
In an attempt to cash in on Paul's recent drugs problem, the Sun newspaper prints a four-part article by his former Wings partner Denny Laine about his life and times with Paul. The TV commercial to promote the series features a ridiculously thick Birmingham accent amateurishly dubbed over Lame's moving lips.
February
The four-man Beatles committee meets at EMI's headquarters in Manchester Square to discuss plans to release an album of The Beatles' BBC recordings. The project is so far advanced that the album's artwork has already been prepared but, somewhat predictably, the album is scrapped due to legal objections from Apple just prior to release. Mike Heatley, the general manager of EMI's international department, releases this statement: "There is a possibility that the BBC material will be released in the future, but it is very much in the lap of the gods."
Thursday February 2
Humphrey Ocean's officially commissioned portrait of Paul is unveiled at The National Portrait Gallery in London. Paul and Linda miss the event as they are still engaged with work on their film Give My Regards To Broad Street.
Friday February 3
The French television station TF-1 screens the 1972 film of John and Yoko's One To One Concert, originally recorded at Madison Square Garden in New York on August 30, 1972.
Saturday February 4
George's appearance on the NBC TV show Saturday Night Live, originally screened in America on November 20, 1976 (see entry), receives its UK TV premiere when it is broadcast on London Weekend Television only, in the south-east area of the ITV network.
Sunday February 5
In the UK, an interview with Yoko is published in the Sunday Times.
Monday February 6 (daily until Thursday February 9)
The ABC TV breakfast show Good Morning America begins a four-day 20th anniversary celebratory look back at The Beatles' first visit to America.
In the UK, an interview with Yoko, carried out with Nicholas Wapshott, is published in The Times.
Tuesday February 7
The 20th anniversary of The Beatles' arrival in America is celebrated at a six-day EXPO in Miami, Florida.
Friday February 10
In America, tonight's edition of Friday Night Videos, features another appearance by Paul and a screening of the newly created Capitol Records 20th anniversary promo film for The Beatles' 'I Want To Hold Your Hand'.
Saturday February 11
'So Bad' reaches number one on the American singles chart.
Monday February 13
To further celebrate the 20th anniversary of both The Beades' first visit to America and their first number one in the country, Capitol Records reissue the single 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' complete with its original black & white picture sleeve (Capitol 5112). To promote the release, Capitol mounts a massive advertising campaign, which includes 40,000 posters and 2,500 T-shirts and metal badges. In addition, over 400 American radio stations play Beatles-related programming. To coincide with the 20th anniversary celebrations, Life magazine features The Beatles on their cover, just as they did in 1964, as does Rolling Stone.
The planned Paul and Michael Jackson UK single 'The Man' (Parlophone 6066), backed with the unreleased track 'Blackpool', as featured on the unreleased film The Backyard (see entry for Thursday August 15,1974), is cancelled just prior to release. The scheduled 12-inch single was due to feature an unreleased instrumental version of the A-side. The promotional film clip to accompany the song remains untransmitted.
Friday February 17
The Beatles' American 20th anniversary celebrations continue when the 10th annual Beatlefest convention takes place in New Jersey.
Tuesday February 21
At the annual British Rock and Pop Awards in London, transmitted live on BBC1, Paul's Pipes Of Peace film receives the award for Best Video of 1983. Paul, currently on a skiing holiday with Linda and the family, is unable to attend the ceremony so instead, he records a video message, which is screened during the ceremony. The director Keith MacMillan collects the award on behalf of Paul.
Friday February 24
George celebrates his 41st birthday on holiday in Hawaii with Olivia and Dhani.
Tuesday February 28
In the UK, Videoform Pictures release on home video Judith Krantz's 1983 made-for-TV film Princess Daisy starring Ringo and Barbara.
Wednesday February 29
In America, Paul's Tug Of War album is released on CD.
There are further record activities in the UK when EMI officially delete from their catalogue The Beatles' compilation albums Rarities and Reel Music, the latter being scrapped by EMI less than two years after its original release.
Also today, EMI release their first Beatles-related compact disc, in the shape of Paul's album Pipes Of Peace.
March
The current issue of Playboy magazine features an alarming report by David Sheff on the theft of many of John's personal belongings from his Dakota apartment, sadly some only days after his tragic death. These include his handwritten diary and demo tapes of unreleased songs. John's former employee Fred Seaman is charged with the theft and later arrested. Many of the stolen items are recovered. According to the story, which is entitled The Selling Of John Lennon, Seaman had kept 10 notebooks in which he stated his intention to use the information contained in the stolen items in a book of his memoirs. Seaman also reportedly planned to plant false stories in the news media casting doubts on Yoko's sanity, character and even of her sexual habits. He even allegedly purchased illegal drugs, claiming that they were intended for her. Seaman was ultimately convicted and sentenced to five years probation. Seaman's lucrative book deal with Simon and Schuster collapsed when the publisher learned of the deception and then immediately sued Seaman for $47,500, the advance already paid to him plus $1 million in punitive damages. (Seaman would eventually release a book in September, 1991, entitled The Last Days of John Lennon.)
John Barrett, the sound engineer at Abbey Road and one of the inspirations behind last year's Beatles At Abbey Road show, dies after a long illness. John, aged 31, spent many hundreds of hours going through The Beatles' tape archives at EMI, discovering the many different takes of songs used in the special Abbey Road presentations.
In London at the end of the month, following a holiday in Switzerland, Paul films a cameo appearance for the Bob Marley promotional clip of 'One Love', where he is seen miming the title of the song and embracing the video's director Don Letts. (On May 8, the film is released on the Island Bob Marley home video release entitled Legend.) Paul also records at AIR Studios in London with George Martin. During one of these sessions he loans out his prized left-handed Beatles bass guitar to the group Wang Chang, who were recording in an adjacent studio. Apparently their guitarist had left his own bass guitar at home.
After years of lying derelict, the old Apple building at 3 Saville Row, London, is sold along with the other buildings on the block to the Midlands Council Workers' Pension Fund for $3.2 million. The block soon serves as the headquarters for the Building Societies Association.
Thursday March 1
The newspaper The Dallas Morning News reveals that both George and Ringo will be accepting Liverpool's Freedom of the City award and that Yoko will be accepting it on behalf of John.
Saturday March 3 & Sunday March 4
A two-day Beatles convention takes place at Glasgow's Central Hall in Scotland, an event organised by the Paul McCartney Fan Club of Scotland.
Monday March 5
In London, Geoff Dunbar wins the British Academy of Film and Television Award for 'Best Short Animated Film' with Rupert And The Frog Song. He collects the award from TV personality Rolf Harris.
Tuesday March 6
The Daily Mail newspaper publishes an interview with George, by Margaret Minxman, in which he discusses Handmade Films, his current fondness for big band music and his love of movies.
Thursday March 8
In the UK, the Daily Express newspaper reveals, one week after The Dallas Morning News, that Ringo will be accepting his Freedom of the City award.
Friday March 9
John's single 'Borrowed Time'/'Your Hands', performed by Yoko, is released in the UK (The American release takes place on May 11.) The single record is also available as a 12", John's first in the UK.
Saturday March 10
In the UK, the London Weekend Television series of selected episodes of NBC TV Saturday Night Live shows continues when tonight they broadcast the episode originally transmitted on October 2,1976 which features the first ever clip of The Rutles (see entry).
Monday March 12
In the UK, EMI release 15 classic oldies singles as part of a series called Golden 45s. Amongst the first set is John's 'Give Peace A Chance'/'Cold Turkey' and Ringo's 'It Don't Come Easy'/'Back Off Boogaloo'.
An interview with George is published in the European editions of Newsweek magazine where again he talks about the rise of Handmade Films. (This interview is not featured in the American editions of the magazine.)
Thursday March 15
John's single 'I'm Stepping Out'/'Sleepness Nights', performed by Yoko, is released in America.
Friday March 16
The promotional film for John's 'I'm Stepping Out' is premiered in America on tonight's edition of NBC TV's Friday Night Videos. MTV also screens the clip later this night, but trims the brief nude scenes. In England, the UK premiere of the film also takes place tonight on BBC2's The Old Grey Whistle Test. Also today in the UK, Polydor releases a limited edition (10,000 copies) version of 'Borrowed Time' housed in a special poster bag.
Wednesday March 21
Yoko, flanked by both Sean and Julian, officially opens Strawberry Fields, a teardrop-shaped memorial garden dedicated to John, in New York's Central Park.
After their return from a vacation in Switzerland, Paul and Linda attend a musical reception at St. James's Palace to help launch a £1 million appeal for the Aldeburgh foundation. The McCartneys are seen chatting with the Queen Mother.
Friday March 23
In the UK, Milk And Honey releases continue thick and fast when Polydor release a 12-inch picture disc version of the album. The issue is strictly limited to only 2,000 copies.
Saturday March 31
The 20th anniversary reissue of 'Can't Buy Me Love' peaks at number 53 in the UK singles chart.
April
During this month, several American TV stations transmit the 30 minute programme Paul McCartney: The Man, His Music, His Movies as part of the US series On And Off Camera, which focuses on the making of Paul's Give My Regards To Broad Street film. This month, fresh from his acting role in Broad Street, rumours in the industry suggest that Paul is to concentrate more on his acting career by signing with the top theatrical agent Duncan Heath. "Paul will definitely do more films," says the enthusiastic Broad Street producer Andros Epaninom. "Believe you me, he's amazing! I've worked with Jack Nicholson, Ryan O'Neal, Ralph Richardson and Paul's up there with them. He's absolutely superb!"
Yoko is quoted as saying: "I couldn't bear to look at Sean - he reminded me too much of John."
During the month, Paul and Ringo announce officially that they will both accept Liverpool's Freedom of the City award, while George remains noncommittal. It is now believed that Julian will collect the award on behalf of John.
Ringo and Barbara spend their Easter weekend at the Cipriani Hotel in Venice.
Monday April 2
In New York, after a trial which had lasted several days, the State Supreme Court orders that Yoko must pay the record producer Jack Douglas $2,524,809 plus three years interest for the work he carried out on the 1980 album Double Fantasy. The court ruling also insists that she must also pay Douglas a percentage from the royalties arising from the release of the recent Milk And Honey album, which contains the left-over tracks from the 1980 sessions. Yoko had maintained throughout the hearing, which she attended every day, that Douglas had agreed to a one-off fee before the recordings commenced on August 4, 1980. Also today, at the Palm Springs Spa Hotel, Yoko donates one of John's lithographs to the Barbara Sinatra celebrity art auction, an event that will benefit the family counselling service of Coachella Valley's programme for sexually abused children.
A three-part interview with Paul begins today in the Scottish newspaper the Daily Record. (Part two is printed tomorrow while part three appears on Wednesday April 4.)
Wednesday April 4
In the UK, an interview with Paul is published in the Sun newspaper.
Friday April 6
Ray Coleman promotes his upcoming two volume John Lennon biography on the BBC regional television programme Scotland Today.
Monday April 9
At 10:30am, the multi-million pound "multi-media experience" permanent Beatle City exhibition centre officially opens in Seel Street, Liverpool.
Tuesday April 10
Location filming for the promotional clip to accompany 'No More Lonely Nights' takes place today at the Old Justice Pub at the Dock Head in Bermondsey, London SE16. The shooting continues late into the night with scenes of exploding fireworks. The firecrackers annoy local residents and police receive calls of complaint. Callers are simply told: "I'm sorry, but Mr. McCartney is simply doing some filming!" In between takes, Paul and Linda chat to the regulars in the pub, one of whom is an old lady who asks Paul: "Are you famous? What groups have you been in?" Paul replies: "The Beatles?" "Nah," the lady replies. "Never heard of 'em!"
Wednesday April 11
The first of a two-part pre-recorded interview with Paul is transmitted on Capital Radio. The concluding part is aired one week later on April 18.
Thursday April 12
Lawyers acting on behalf of Mark David Chapman tell a New York court that Chapman was mentally incompetent when he pleaded guilty in 1981 and his sentence should be reduced. The appeal is turned down.
Saturday April 14
In England, Woman's Own magazine publishes the article "Yoko Faces The Wife Of Lennon's Killer", in which she announces: "I'm still angry - I can't forgive yet." dt Linda appears alongside the legendary Sixties photographer David Bailey in a programme about photography on BBC Radio One.
Monday April 23
Pre-recorded interviews with Paul are transmitted today on BBC Radio Merseyside, in a show called McCartney: The Man, and on BBC Radio Northampton.
Wednesday April 25
The former "Apple Scruff" Carol Bedford, plugging her book Waiting For The Beatles, appears on the London radio station LBC.
Thursday April 26
Paul's brother Mike unveils the £40,000 statue of The Beatles by John Doubleday at the new £8 million Cavern Walks shopping centre in Mathew Street, Liverpool. Fans close to the statue cannot hide their disappointment. "From close up," Mike McCartney remarks, "I didn't even recognise any of them - not even my own brother!" Other guests in attendance include John's first wife Cynthia. The ribbon-cutting grand opening of the Cavern Walks complex in the Royal Life insurance complex, which includes the newly rebuilt, newly reconstructed Cavern Club, also takes place today. The three Beatles fans who started the "Beatles monument in Liverpool campaign" back in 1977 are not present. Asked about this, a spokesman for Royal Life says: "This particular statue has been commissioned and paid for by Royal Life. Our only obligation to John Chambers (one of the founders of the 'Beatles monument campaign') is to keep him informed."
Tonight's edition of Top Of The Pops (Thursday April 26) on BBC1 in England includes the promo film for Bob Marley's 'One Love', which features a brief cameo appearance by Paul.
Saturday April 28
Paul's video message to Michael Jackson is repeated in certain parts of America during the American Music Awards ceremony.
Monday April 30
The Sheffield Art Gallery secures, from an auction in London, a collection of four hand painted acrylic emulsion drawings as used in The Beatles' 1968 animated film Yellow Submarine. The items, two of George and two of Ringo, cost £320 apiece.
Wednesday May 2
In Liverpool, Her Majesty The Queen, Queen Elizabeth II, officially opens the Beatle Maze at the Liverpool International Garden Festival. During her visit, she steps aboard the life-size Yellow Submarine, which is a part of the exhibition.
Sunday May 6
At the McCartneys' family home Rembrandt, in the Wirral on Merseyside, Paul and Linda are the guests of honour at a 6pm family get-together.
Tuesday May 8
The Art Of The Beatles Exhibition, which portrays three decades of the group in the form of cartoons, paintings, photographs, album covers, lithographs and sculptures, opens in London. (The event runs until September 30.)
Monday May 14
The PMI (Picture Music International) home video Ready Steady Go! Volume 2 is released, featuring The Beatles' October 4, 1963, appearance, performing 'She Loves You', 'I'll Get You' and 'Twist And Shout', plus interviews with Dusty Springfield and Keith Fordyce.
Ringo appears unannounced as a surprise guest on the Thames/ITV network comedy quiz show What's My Line?
Friday May 18
In America, a sneak preview of Paul's film Give My Regards To Broad Street is shown tonight at the Phipps Plaza Cinema in Atlanta, Georgia.
Monday May 21
George is to be found in the relative tranquillity of the annual Chelsea Flower Show in London. His appearance does not go unnoticed, and a camera crew from America's CNN (Cable News Network) interviews the former Beatle in a report on the horticultural get-together.
Thursday May 24
The Lennons' former Tarot cards reader, John Green, releases his book on his time with the couple, entitled Dakota Days.
Wednesday May 30
In the UK, Vestron Video International schedules for release, for the very first time on home video, The Beatles' 1964 cinema film A Hard Day's Night, featuring a new Dolby stereo soundtrack. Just prior to its issue, PMI (Picture Music International), the music video division of EMI, claims that they control the rights to the music contained on the tape, and are granted a High Court order which temporarily restrains Vestron from releasing the video. Vestron plead that they had acquired the rights from Walter Shenson, the film's producer, a point disputed by PMI who claims that the UK rights were never Shenson's to sell. The case continues.
Thursday May 31
Just two years after it was first issued, EMI Records in the UK delete the compilation single 'The Beatles' Movie Medley'.
June
Apple's 1971 film The Concert For Bangla Desh is finally released in America on home video.
Sunday June 3
The world premiere of the MTV 26-minute programme Milk And Honey takes place in America, and features the first US showings of the promotional videos for 'Borrowed Time' and 'Grow Old With Me' as well as the previously transmitted clips for 'Nobody Told Me' and 'I'm Stepping Out'. The show also features interviews with both Yoko and Sean.
Monday June 4
Stanley Paul Publishing prints the book Tales From The Saddle, a collection of over 40 hilarious and hair-raising encounters with horses compiled by the pop star Alvin Stardust and featuring a short anecdote by Paul and Linda.
Saturday June 9
In England, Paul and Tracy Ullman are the guests on the very first edition of the networked London Weekend Television ITV show Aspel And Company, hosted by Michael Aspel and recorded at the Television Studios on the South Bank in London. Following the pre-recorded interview, which was taped on Thursday June 7, in which they speak at great length about the Give My Regards To Broad Street film, Paul and Tracy perform a duet of 'That'll Be The Day' to close the show.
In Holland, the Dutch Beatles fan club Beatles Unlimited celebrates the 20th anniversary of the group's appearance at the Treslong Television Studios in Hillegom, Holland, by holding their fifth annual convention in the exact same venue. A special guest at the gathering is Jimmy Nichols, the drummer who deputised for Ringo when he had a bout of tonsillitis back in 1964.
Monday June 11
In Australia, the 20th anniversary of The Beatles' one and only visit to the country is celebrated on the television show The Mike Walsh Show.
Sunday June 17
Paul gives a live interview to Stuart Grundy on the BBC Radio London show Echoes, in which he discusses his passion for rock and roll. In October this year, the interview is syndicated around America to promote Paul's Give My Regards To Broad Street film.
Monday June 18 & Tuesday June 19
In America, a two-part interview with Paul is transmitted on NBC TV's Today show.
Sunday June 24
At an auction in New York, Yoko sells many items from her private collection. The sale is titled Yoko's Attic Sales.
Thursday June 28
In the UK, Sidgwick & Jackson publish Ray Coleman's biography John Winston Lennon 1940-1966, the first volume of a two-part account of John's life.
July
At his home studios in Sussex, Paul records a demo of 'On The Wings Of A Nightingale', a song he has written especially for The Everly Brothers to record.
At the London studios of Britt Alcrott, Ringo begins recording his narration for Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends.
Wednesday July 4
In America, Ringo performs as a special guest at two Beach Boys American Fourth of July concerts. During the afternoon he appears with the group on The Mall in Washington, DC, drumming on 'Back In The USSR', and later he joins the group to perform at an evening concert in Miami, Florida.
Back in England, Cynthia Lennon and Ray Coleman are the special guests on this morning's TV AM breakfast show.
Thursday July 5
The Home Theater Network in America shows the Keef & Co. television film of the December 1979 concerts for Kampuchea, entitled Rock For Kampuchea.
BBC Radio Merseyside transmits The Beatles tribute programme Magical History Tour.
Friday July 6
Following the conclusion of the legal dispute between Vestron and PMI, The Beatles' 1964 film A Hard Day's Night is simultaneously released on Vestron home video cassette in America and in the UK. (In the States, the film is also released on laser disc.) In addition to the 1981 re-mastered version of the film, the tape also includes the photomontage to accompany the song 'I'll Cry Instead' which appears at the very start of the video.
Monday July 16
John's single 'I'm Stepping Out' backed with 'Sleepless Night', performed by Yoko, is released in the UK. A 12-inch version featuring a third track, 'Loneliness' extracted from Yoko's 1982 album It's Alright, is also released today.
Friday July 27
Rumoured US premiere screenings of Give My Regards To Broad Street in Cincinnati and various other American cities fail to take place today.
Saturday July 28
Today at AIR Studios in London, Paul spends the day mixing the disco version of 'No More Lonely Nights'. Meanwhile, in an adjacent studio, fellow recording legends Pete Townshend and Mick Jagger are also recording, and as today is Jagger's birthday Paul takes a bottle of Scotch whisky to their session and joins them reminiscing about "The good old days".
Prior to the transmission of today's Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4, host Roy Plomley reads out an apology to Larry Parnes, stressing that Paul's comments on the programme about Pames, two and a half years ago on January 30, 1982, were intended as a joke. (Larry Parnes was offended when Paul said that The Beatles never received any money for backing Johnny Gentle on the tour of Scotland back in 1960.)
Today, the reissue of The Beatles' 'A Hard Day's Night' reaches number 52 in the UK singles chart and the A Hard Day's Night home video reaches number two in the Music Week video chart. It will reach the top spot one week later.
August
In England, rumours in the record industry suggest that five unreleased Beatles tracks will soon be included on an upcoming TV-advertised EMI Beatles compilation album.
Friday August 24
In the UK, The Everly Brothers release the single 'On The Wings Of A Nightingale', a track written and mixed by Paul.
Sunday August 26
In Liverpool, the 1984 Beatles Convention takes place at the St. George's Hall. Guest speakers at the one-day affair include Mike McCartney, Ray Coleman and Tony Barrow.
Thursday August 30 & Friday August 31
A two-day Sotheby's rock and roll memorabilia auction takes place in London. The Beatles' section takes up both the morning and afternoon sessions on the first day. During the Beatles' auction, 24 out of the 356 lots are withdrawn at Paul's request before the sales begin. When the sale gets underway, "The Beatles" Ludwig bass drum skin sells for £4,200 and two of John's harmonicas go for £950 and £850. In addition, John's 1960 hand drawn unpublished 16-page manuscript called A Treasury Of Art And Poetry, featuring poetry, drawings and cartoons, sells for an amazing £16,000.
Saturday September 8
In America, MTV broadcasts the short MPL Buddy Holly documentary film entitled The Music Lives On. The show, with a running time of only 14 minutes, also features Paul's September 14, 1979, Hammersmith Odeon in London performance of 'It's So Easy' and 'Bo Diddley'. On this date the show is also transmitted in the UK on Channel Four/ITV network at 1:30am, totally unannounced, and is repeated later this morning on the ITV region of London Weekend Television. The screening neatly coincides with the annual MPL Buddy Holly Week, which begins in London today and runs until Friday September 14. To promote the event, MPL run a national competition, with the assistance of the ITV breakfast station TV AM, where people are asked to draw portraits, sketches or drawings of Buddy Holly.
Sunday September 9
In New York, at Forest Hills, Yoko and Sean are seen in the VIP enclosure at the United States open tennis championship final between John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl.
Thursday September 13
The album Every Man Has A Woman is released in America and features John's solo harmony vocal of the title track, originally recorded for Yoko's version of the song back in 1980. (The album is released in the UK on September 21.)
Sunday September 16 & Monday September 17
The two-part American TV film Princess Daisy receives its UK premiere across the ITV network between 7:46 and 9:28pm. (Part two is screened the following night.)
Monday September 24
Paul's single 'No More Lonely Nights' (ballad version)/'No More Lonely Nights' (playout version, featuring a running time of 3.56) is released in the UK. The 12-inch edition features 'No More Lonely Nights' (extended playout version, lasting 8.10)/'No More Lonely Nights (ballad)-Silly Love Songs'. (The American release takes place on October 5 and October 2 respectively.)
John's first electric guitar is returned to England, smuggled out of West Germany to avoid a possible export ban. It will go on display at Liverpool's Beatle City. The Homer guitar, signed by all four Beatles, was given by the group as a prize in a talent contest at a club in Hamburg in 1962. Its owner, Frank Dorstal, reveals that he once refused a six-figure sum for the guitar.
October (onwards)
The marathon radio special entitled Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, featuring a history of The Beatle Years 1962-1970 is aired in America and in the UK The series features many rare Beatles recordings, including a 1962 Cavern rehearsal, songs from the October 24, 1963, concert from Swedish radio, John's 1963 demo for 'Bad To Me' and, from the 1964 UK TV special Around The Beatles, a performance of the unreleased track 'Shout!' alongside a medley of their hits.
October
During the first week of this month, a secret agreement is reached by which Northern Songs, owned by the Associated Communications Corporation's company ATV, pay Paul McCartney and the estate of John Lennon approximately £2 million and increase the royalty rates to the two ex-Beatles. Due to a "no-publicity" clause in the agreement, no further details are leaked. However, it is revealed that ATV Music, the owner of the Lennon/McCartney song catalogue copyrights, has been put up for sale by Associated Communications. As this case ends, another opens in London with Paul, George, Ringo and Yoko filing a lawsuit against EMI over audit and royalty discrepancies, mainly in America.
The videotape of The Beatles' June 30, 1966, Tokyo concert at the Budokan Hall is released by The Beatles Collectors' Shop on home video, titled The Beatles Live In Japan.
In England, Paul's soundtrack album Give My Regards To Broad Street reaches number 1 in the UK album charts.
In Poland, an exhibition of Linda's photographs opens at the ZPAF Gallery in Warsaw. Due to American Broad Street promotions, Paul and Linda are unable to attend. At the start of the month, Paul gives a lengthy interview to Terri Hemmert of the WXRT radio station in Chicago. Further Broad Street promotional interviews this month include TV appearances on news and magazine shows such as Canada AM, Hollywood Happenings, Channel 4 LA, Franklin Reports, and CNN.
Tuesday October 2
Paul's promotional film for 'No More Lonely Nights' receives its world premiere on MTV in America.
Friday October 5
Paul's single 'No More Lonely Nights' (ballad version)/'No More Lonely Nights' (playout version 3:56) is released in America. The B-side is later changed to the Arthur Baker 'Special Dance Mix'. While the labels are reworded with this information, the American picture sleeves remain unaltered. No official announcement of the change in this release is ever made to the public.
John's single 'Every Man Has A Woman Who Loves Him'/'It's Alright', performed by Sean Ono Lennon, is released in America. (The UK release takes place on November 16.)
Tuesday October 9
To help promote Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends, Ringo appears as a special guest on the TV AM show Good Morning Britain in the UK. Besides being interviewed, he also takes part in a cooking segment. The 13-week Thomas The Tank Engine series premieres across the ITV network later this day (at 12 midday and repeated again at 4pm) and, all told, features 26 five-minute segments.
On what would have been John's 44th birthday, Yoko donates another $90,000 to the Strawberry Fields Salvation Army home in Liverpool. This brings the total to $100,000 given to the children's home.
Wednesday October 10
A 30-minute interview with Paul, carried out by Roy Leonard, to promote Broad Street is transmitted on Chicago's WGN radio station.
Sunday October 14
In England, London Weekend Television's The South Bank Show features a one-hour programme devoted to Paul and the making of his film Give My Regards To Broad Street. The 48-minute programme, shown across the ITV network between 10:31 and 11:29pm, also marks the first public broadcast of Paul's new versions of The Beatles' classics 'Eleanor Rigby', 'For No One' and 'Yesterday'. The show is transmitted later in America, with the title The Making Of Give My Regards To Broad Street.
Monday October 15
Paul and Linda arrive in New York for promotional activities for Give My Regards To Broad Street. Their schedule includes several taped interviews and many appearances on TV shows. Paul is also honoured for his services to music at an ASCAP luncheon, held at New York's Jockey Club.
In the UK, Charisma Records release Julian Lennon's debut album, Valotte.
Tuesday October 16
At the Plaza Hotel in New York, Paul and Linda take time off from Broad Street promotions to meet the winners of the 'Meet Paul McCartney' competition, set by Paul's London based Wings Fun Club. After which, Paul and Linda board a plane and return to Chicago.
Thursday October 18
Paul and Linda, now based in Chicago, hold a press conference for Broad Street. Meanwhile, back in England, Paul's promotional film for 'No More Lonely Nights' receives a screening on tonight's edition of BBC1's Top Of The Pops.
Friday October 19
Paul gives another, albeit brief, Broad Street promotional interview, this time to the Chicago station WLS.
Monday October 22
Paul's soundtrack album to his film Give My Regards To Broad Street is released simultaneously in both the US and UK. The line-up is, side one: 'No More Lonely Nights', 'Good Day Sunshine', 'Corridor Music (incidental music)', 'Yesterday', 'Here, There And Everywhere', 'Wanderlust', 'Ballroom Dancing', 'Silly Love Songs'; side two: 'Silly Love Songs (incidental reprise)', 'Not Such A Bad Boy', 'No Values', 'No More Lonely Nights (incidental ballad reprise)', 'For No One', 'Eleanor Rigby'/'Eleanor's Dream', 'The Long And Winding Road', 'No More Lonely Nights (playout version)'. EMI releases the album simultaneously on standard black vinyl and on compact disc, the first time that the organisation has done this. The cassette edition of Broad Street features additional dialogue and a new recording by Paul of his song 'So Bad'. In addition, the CD version features these and a brand new McCartney song, not included in the Broad Street film, entitled 'Goodnight Princess', intended to be played in cinemas when the lights go up as patrons leave the theatre. Also today in England, the second promotional video for 'No More Lonely Nights' (dance version) is prepared for television distribution. This clip, aimed purely for the influential MTV market, was shot on Saturday October 20 at the Hippodrome in London and features Jeffrey Daniels of Starlight Express fame, who also cameos in Paul's Broad Street film.
Tuesday October 23
The day begins with Paul and Linda holding another press conference for Give My Regards To Broad Street at the Beverly Hills Hotel, in Los Angeles, California.
Later, in Studio 1, NBC Studios, 3000 W. Almeda Avenue, Burbank, sixteen years after appearing on the show with John, Paul records an appearance on the long running NBC TV Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. (This is actually Paul's first appearance with Carson, as back on Tuesday May 14, 1968, Paul and John were interviewed by the major league baseball player Joe Garagiola while Carson was temporarily unavailable for duty.) Besides being interviewed about the Broad Street film, Paul picks up an acoustic guitar and performs a mock-drunken version of a few lines from 'Yesterday' and 'You Are My Sunshine'. Paul's 23-minute appearance is transmitted by WNBC TV later this evening.
Wednesday October 24
Promotions for Broad Street continue unabated with Paul appearing live for 90 minutes on the American radio call-in show Rockline. Then, later in the day just prior to the press screening of Broad Street, Paul and Linda host a party for the gathering at the Bistro Restaurant in Beverly Hills, California. Also today, a short pre-recorded interview with Paul is featured in the ABC TV programme Rocker Special. Paul and Linda return to New York early the following morning.
Thursday October 25
At last, following the heavy promotional tour, Paul's big-screen film Give My Regards To Broad Street receives its world premiere at the Gotham Theater in New York. (A further 8pm screening also takes place tonight at the Capitol 3 Cinema, situated at 820, Granville Street, in Los Angeles, California.) The following day, the film begins to run nationally, accompanied by Paul's short animated film Rupert And The Frog Song.
American media reviews of the film are almost totally negative. Variety magazine describes it as: "Characterless, bloodless and pointless!" The Washington Post writes: "There are only 50 shopping days till Christmas, so let's go out on a limb - Give My Regards To Broad Street is the worst movie of the year!" In his review of the film for CBS Television, the respected American entertainment reporter Joel Siegel states: "McCartney's performances are lifeless. He can't act and he sings like he seems he's above performing for us. This is nothing more than a $9 million home movie. Compared to The Beatles' films. Give My Regards To Broad Street needs Help!"
To coincide with Broad Street's release, MTV run a competition where you can win Paul's 1955 Ford Popular as featured in the film. Out of over 200,000 entries, the winner is Annette M. Smith, who lives in Kenmore, New York.
Thursday October 25 (until Wednesday October 31)
Paul appears on five consecutive Good Morning America weekday shows to help promote Broad Street.
Friday October 26
As expected Give My Regards To Broad Street opens nationwide across America in 311 cinemas. Within a month, the number of theatres still running the film has dropped to just 28. According to the Hollywood Trade papers, the film, has thus far taken just $1.4 million at the box office.
Sunday October 28
Paul gives a Broad Street promotional interview to the New York radio station WPLJ.
Monday October 29
The remixed 7-inch and 12-inch versions of the 'No More Lonely Nights' singles are released in the UK, thus replacing the original September releases. Several unique mixes of 'No More Lonely Nights', such as the "Mole Mix", appear as promo releases.
Tuesday October 30
The second part of Ray Coleman's extensive biography of John, John Ono Lennon 1967-1980, is published in the UK by Sidgwick & Jackson.
In the States, a pre-recorded interview with Paul is featured in the MTV programme Linear Notes.
Through a press statement, issued in Los Angeles, George announces that he has declined his Freedom of the City award in Liverpool.
November
Reports emerge in the press that Linda has been the subject of a kidnap plot. Scotland Yard detectives believe Linda was to have been snatched from the McCartneys' Scottish farmhouse and held until Paul paid £10 million ransom.
The long established family chain store Marks & Spencer branch out into music when, for a two-month trial period, they begin issuing a £4.99 Beatles package. This consists of a 64-page book, edited by Joyce Robbins, and a 16-track cassette, featuring an exact track-by-track replica of EMI's 1966-compilation album A Collection Of Beatles Oldies...
At the start of the month, George re-records, at his Friar Park studios, the Bob Dylan composition 'I Don't Want To Do It', later to be released on the Porky's Revenge film soundtrack album. A slightly different mix of the track is released as a single in America only. During these ten day (periodical) sessions, George also records a new vocal, featuring slightly different lyrics, for 'Save The World', which is included on the 1985 charity album Greenpeace.
Friday November 2
A pre-taped interview with Paul appears on the American CBS TV show Entertainment Tonight. Paul and Linda also appear on the radio show A.M. Chicago.
Monday November 5
PMI home video in the UK releases Ready Steady Go! Volume 3, featuring excerpts from The Beatles' performance on November 27, 1964, which includes 'She's A Woman', 'Baby's In Black', 'Kansas City'/'Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey' and an interview with the host Keith Fordyce. (The track 'I Feel Fine', also performed on the show back in 1964, is not part of the compilation.)
Paul's single 'We All Stand Together' (from the MPL short animated film Rupert And The Frog Song)/'We All Stand Together' (humming version) is released in the UK only.
Wednesday November 7
Earlier in the day, Paul records an interview at New York's Carlyle Hotel for NBC TV's Friday Night Videos, a show which also features an interview with Julian Lennon. Due to Julian being caught in a traffic jam, which means he arrives later for his taping session, they accidentally meet for the first time in 10 years. Paul and Julian's separate interviews are transmitted on Friday November 16.
Sunday November 11
The first of a two-part, pre-recorded, interview with Paul is transmitted by Capital Radio in London to promote Broad Street. (Part two is aired one week later on November 18.)
Monday November 12
In America, Paul is heard on both Radio Radio's Top 30 USA and on Rock Notes.
Wednesday November 14
George leaves Los Angeles (at 9:45pm) on flight Pan Am PA 815 en route to Sydney in Australia, where he will arrive at 7:25am on Friday November 16. Then, at 9:30am, on the Trans Australian Airways flight TN 436 (DC9), he boards a plane to Brisbane, arriving at 9:45am.
Friday November 16
Paul appears on the American TV show New York Hot Tracks. Still in the States, Paul's recent meeting with Julian Lennon is featured on the NBC TV show Friday Night Videos.
Saturday November 17
Back in England, Paul's promotional film for 'We All Stand Together' receives its World TV premiere this morning on BBC1's Saturday Superstore, hosted by the DJ Mike Read.
Sunday November 18
Paul, now back in England, appears in a Broad Street promotional interview, transmitted this evening on Capital Radio in London.
Monday November 19
Paul, and his Broad Street film, appear in a pre-taped feature on the US TV show P.M. Magazine.
Thursday November 22
Handmade's film A Private Function, starring Michael Palin, premieres in London. Amongst the guests tonight are Ringo and Barbara.
Friday November 23
Paul continues with promoting his Broad Street film for its UK release. His first assignment, recorded this morning at BBC Broadcasting House in Portland Place, London, is with the BBC Radio One DJ Simon Bates. The session will form a three-part feature, which is broadcast over three days on the station between Monday November 26 and Wednesday November 28. Later, in the Greenwood Theatre at the BBC TV Centre, Wood Lane, in London, Paul videotapes a special programme with Russell Harty for the show, titled, Harty With McCartney, which is transmitted on BBC1 on Monday November 26 between 6:55 and 7:39pm. During the recording this evening, Paul also appears unannounced during BBCl's annual fundraising event Children In Need, where he pledges £5,000 to the cause. On the set of Harty, in front of an audience comprising 100 members of the Wings Fun Club, Paul and Russell record three special BBC TV trailers for the show, all of which, along with another 30 minutes of conversation, do not appear in the finished 39-minute programme. Earlier this evening, while Paul is at the Greenwood Theatre, Linda gives a nine-minute live interview, promoting Broad Street, on the regional news magazine programme London Plus.
Saturday November 24
Back in England, Broad Street promotions continue when a pre-recorded interview with Paul is transmitted this evening on BBC Radio Two's film magazine programme Star Sound Extra. Also on Radio Two this evening, Paul's Give My Regards To Broad Street album is featured by Howard Pearce on his radio programme Album Time.
Sunday November 25
Although unable to attend the recording session, Paul involves himself with the special Christmas charity single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'/'Feed the World', proceeds of which will go to benefit the starving African drought victims. He donates two brief spoken messages on the B-side of the single. The charity release goes on to become the largest-selling record in UK history, eventually breaking the sales record held by Paul's own 'Mull Of Kintyre', back in 1977. Paul, meanwhile, is to be found with Linda, in the audience at the Odeon cinema in Marble Arch, London Wl, where the first UK screenings of Rupert And The Frog Song and Give My Regards To Broad Street are taking place. These llam showings are intended for special guests only. Across London, this time at the Empire Theatre in Leicester Square, simultaneous llam private screenings of the two films are also taking place.
Monday November 26
A brief pre-recorded message from Paul is included in this morning's broadcast on TV AM, transmitted across the ITV network.
Tuesday November 27
In America, an interview with Paul conducted shortly before he last left the States, is transmitted on the CBS TV show Entertainment Tonight.
George arrives in Auckland at 08:20 on Air New Zealand flight TE-001, following a 90-minute stopover at Papeete.
Wednesday November 28
At 7:15pm, the UK gala premiere of Give My Regards To Broad Street takes place at the Odeon Cinema in London Road, Liverpool, where The Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night received its premiere back in 1964. The Odeon Cinema received over 25,000 applications for the 900 seats on offer to the public. Outside the venue, a crowd estimated at 2,000 are there to see Paul and Linda's arrival. Earlier in the day, in the Picton Library, in the centre of Liverpool, Paul accepts the Freedom of the City Council award. Originally presented to all of The Beatles by the Liverpool City Council, only Paul turns up in person to collect. The group joins only 41 other recipients, including Gladstone, the MP Bessie Braddock and the Liverpool football manager Bob Paisley, since the award was started 98 years ago. Inside the circular, book-lined room, as the guests wait for Paul to arrive, Lennon & McCartney songs are played through the building's loudspeaker system. When Paul does appear, he strolls up to the podium with his hands in his pockets to receive a gilt-edged scroll, and announces: "I'm chuffed! I would like to thank the 'Pool itself because we couldn't have made it without you."
Afterwards, at a press conference in the Picton Library, in front of journalists from as far away as Argentina, Japan, France and America, Paul speaks about the award ceremony: "I did feel very nervous, but it's a great honour. I would like to think it's the people of Liverpool giving it to me. If that's true, then it's the greatest honour." Sipping tea, Paul is asked by a reporter how long he intends to go on writing. "Until I drop," he replies. (The last time Paul appeared in this library was back in 1953 when, at the age of 11, he had been called upon to receive a prize for a school essay.)
Pre-recorded interviews with Paul concerning the Freedom of the City investiture and the Broad Street film, are transmitted on BBC Radio One, BBC Radio Merseyside and on Capital Radio in London, where he is interviewed by David "Kid" Jensen. In America, a pre-recorded interview with Paul to promote Broad Street is transmitted on the television programme Hour Magazine.
George joins Derek Taylor in Auckland, New Zealand, where he helps promote Taylor's limited edition book, Fifty Years Adrift. After a special literary luncheon, they conduct a joint 45-minute press conference to launch the book at the Hyatt Kingsgate Hotel in front of an audience of 300 reporters, photographers and television news crews. Excerpts of the event are screened this evening on TVNZ (Television New Zealand) News. Also present is Brian Roylance of Genesis Publishing, the publishers of Fifty Years Adrift. During George's visit to New Zealand and Australia, he will give over eighty different interviews.
Thursday November 29
Following the previous evening's UK premiere screening of Broad Street, the English press prints several unfavourable reviews of the film. Today's Guardian newspaper writes: "Broad Street offers an object lesson in how not to integrate musical numbers into a narrative." The Daily Star. "Give my goodbyes to this awful movie. You can't revive a corpse and this is a complete non-starter!" The Sun: "Paul's oldie is no goldie! With a gossamer thin story line, it is overblown video rubbish!" The Times newspaper continues with the onslaught, describing it as: "The worst film that ever cost $9 million and two years work..."
Unperturbed by the savaging from the critics. Give My Regards To Broad Street receives its London Premiere tonight at 8:30pm at the Empire Theatre in Leicester Square. Coverage of the film's premiere is featured on BBC Radio Two as well as on the major BBC and ITN news programmes. Prior to the screening, Paul and Linda are guests of honour at a premiere party at the Empire. Paul gives a live interview, at approximately 7:20pm, to the Channel Four news presenter Peter Sissons who, coincidentally used to go to school with Paul and, once the news programme is concluded, is on his way to join Paul at the premiere. During the interview, a defiant Paul does his best to defend the film and is quick to point out the following points: "Broad Street has taken over $1.4 million at the American box office and it's currently in the top 20 of the American films. The reviews have been 50% good and 50% bad and people are going to see it, not in huge droves, but they are going to see it." On the subject of its budget, Paul is quick to point out: "It's not a huge budget film. It's a very small budget so, for what it cost to make, it's doing quite well!"
Near the end of Broad Street's West End premiere screening, at the point where Bryan Brown says: "We've got the tapes", someone in the audience screams out "Thank God!" The heckler is none other than Paul himself.
In America this morning, a pre-recorded interview with Linda is transmitted on the ABC TV breakfast show Good Morning America.
George flies out from Auckland, en route to Sydney in Australia. Also premiered in London this week is George's Handmade Films production of A Private Function.
In London, Christie's hold their two-day 20th Century Entertainment's Memorabilia auction, where the highest price paid is for John's platinum disc for the American 'Let It Be' single, which raises £2,600.
Friday November 30
George and Derek Taylor attend another press conference, this time in front of 200 media representatives at the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
On the Granada Television programme Weekend, transmitted in north-west regions of the ITV network only, Cynthia Lennon makes her debut as an interviewer. Her first subject is her only child by John, Julian. Tonight's show also includes an interview with Paul's brother Mike and a report on Wednesday's Broad Street premiere in Liverpool.
Saturday November 31
In the States, the CBS TV showbiz programme Entertainment Tonight reviews Paul's film Give My Regards To Broad Street.
December
EMI Records announce details of a new Beatles compilation album called Sessions featuring, on its cover, previously unreleased Beatles photographs (circa 1962/63). On the record itself, the tracks intended for the disc are, side one: 'Come And Get If (1969), 'Leave My Kitten Alone' (1964), 'Not Guilty' (1968), 'I'm Looking Through You' (1965), 'What's The New Mary Jane' (1968); side two: 'How Do You Do It?' (1962), 'Besame Mucho' (1962), 'One After 909' (1963), 'If You've Got Troubles' (1965), 'That Means A Lot' (1965), 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' (1968), 'Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues' (1969), 'Christmas Time (Is Here Again)' (1967). Within weeks of the announcement, the release is scrapped, with EMI citing the album's non-appearance as due to "unforeseen hitches!" EMI had already completed the artwork and allocated a catalogue number for the album, and further embarrassment is heaped on the label when they realise that a number of advance listening cassettes, which had already been dispatched to European EMI outlets, had not been returned despite pleas for their immediate return. EMI's fears that a bootleg release of the album will emerge soon become real when, within months, a top quality track-by-track bootleg, featuring a wonderful counterfeit sleeve, goes on sale unofficially around the world. A Parlophone/EMI single to coincide with Sessions, comprising 'Leave My Kitten Alone' and alternate takes of 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' (on the American B-side) and 'Hello Goodbye' (on the UK B-side) are scheduled for release on January 18 but this does not take place.
Paul and Linda's interview with Joan Goodman, conducted at their MPL offices in Soho, London, is published in the December issue of Playboy magazine. Among the many topics discussed, Paul says that he resisted discussing John's death because he was in shock and felt that he could never really put his feelings about it into words. Further Give My Regards To Broad Street promotional interviews this month include a 55-minute cable and satellite Music Box television special, which is carried out by Simon Potter at his MPL offices in London.
Towards the end of the month, both Paul and George spend Christmas out of England. Paul visits America, while George again soaks up the sun in Australia.
Saturday December 1 (until Monday December 10)
Paul records the first version of 'We Got Married' during sessions co-produced by Paul and David Foster. The recordings also produce the unreleased track 'Lindiana'. (Incidentally in 1990, Foster spoke about these sessions on Canadian Television's Much Music programme, where he cited 'We Got Married' as the "weakest" of the songs he and Paul worked on.) 'We Got Married' is eventually released in 1989 as part of the Flowers In The Dirt album. In England on December 1, a pre-recorded interview with Paul is transmitted on the ITV breakfast station TV AM.
Sunday December 2
At the Sydney Opera House in Australia, George and Derek Taylor hold another press conference to launch the book Fifty Years Adrift.
In England, Paul's Broad Street film is reviewed on the ITV network tea-time show Sunday Sunday by the host Gloria Hunniford and guests Kenny Everett and the actress Maureen Lipman.
Monday December 3
BBC2 in England broadcasts, as part of the Horizon documentary series, a film about the struggle against Parkinson's Disease by 43-year-old Ivan Vaughan, the original member of The Quarry Men who first introduced John Lennon to Paul McCartney. Paul offers the production team free use of his 1968 song 'Blackbird' for inclusion in the programme.
Tonight's edition of BBC1's top-rated cinema review programme Film '84 features Barry Norman's favourable review of Handmade Film's A Private Function and his most unfavourable analysis of Paul's Give My Regards To Broad Street. Norman, whose opinion of a film can make or break it at the UK box office, says: "In this, we discover, that the master tape for McCartney's next LP has vanished. Goodness, what a calamity! Well it is, because we have to sit through the next 108 tedious minutes while they try to find the damn thing..." Ringo's acting skills also come under fire, when Norman remarks: "Ringo Starr drifts in and out in a performance which suggests he should run, not walk, to the nearest acting school."
Monday December 3 (until Sunday December 16)
An interview with Paul on the Westwood One Radio programme Star Track Profiles is syndicated across America during these dates.
Tuesday December 4
Handmade's A Private Function is screened at the Glasgow Film Theatre in Scotland.
Thursday December 6
The American TV programme, Paul McCartney: The Man, His Music, His Movies, is premiered in certain UK areas of the ITV network late this evening, including Thames. (Further regions of the ITV network, including TVS, who serve the Southern area of the country, receive the programme on Saturday December 22.)
Friday December 7
The Band Aid Christmas single, 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'/'Feed The World', featuring Paul's brief messages on the B-side, is released simultaneously in both the US and the UK. A 12-inch edition is issued on December 14. Paul also appears today, unannounced, on Channel Four's music programme The Tube in the UK In a 15-minute interview with the co-host Paula Yates he discusses his former partner John.
Saturday December 8
To commemorate the fourth anniversary of John's death, MTV in America screen a tribute entitled Remembering John. In the UK, the ITV network (between 11:46 and 12:28am) screen the 1983 American documentary Yoko Ono: Then & Now.
In England, on TV AM's Good Morning Britain, Paul appears in a pre-recorded 30-minute interview to remember the fourth anniversary of John's death.
In America, as 'No More Lonely Nights' reaches number six in the US singles chart, Paul is seen in a video segment recorded the previous month, on the show Solid Gold, where he appears giving a tongue-in-cheek introduction to the song 'Disco Duck'.
Still in the States, Ringo becomes the latest in the line of ex-Beatles to appear on the NBC-TV show Saturday Night Live. Recorded at 8pm at New York's Radio City, in the RCA building (and transmitted later this evening between 11:30pm and 1:00am), the programme opens with a comedy sketch, which sends up the prices people pay for original Beatles memorabilia. At a mock BeaUes auction, a guitar pick used by John on the recording of 'Eight Days A Week' and a toothbrush, used by Paul on the recording of Rubber Soul, are seen selling for a vast sum of money. Then, as lot 36, a real-life Ringo, dressed in his 1963 Beatles collarless jacket outfit, is wheeled in on a trolley, but the auction house cannot sell him and prospective buyers begin to leave the hall. During his stint, Ringo performs in further comedy routines with the Saturday Night Live regulars and reappears to perform a medley of songs with Billy Crystal, who is dressed as Sammy Davis Junior. This includes 'With A Little Help From My Friends', 'What Kind Of Fool Am I?', 'Act Naturally', 'I've Gotta Be Me', 'Octopus's Garden', 'Photograph', 'Yellow Submarine' and 'With A Little Help From My Friends' (reprise). One of the most recent re-broadcasts of the show occurs in Europe on the Paramount Comedy Channel during the early hours of Sunday October 11, 1998.
Back in England, the 20th anniversary re-issue of 'I Feel Fine' peaks at number 65 in the UK singles charts.
Tuesday December 11
A pre-filmed interview with Paul, at his Soho Square offices, is featured on the ITV network children's programme CBTV, where Paul largely takes questions from the kids about the cartoon character Rupert The Bear.
Thursday December 13
The High Court in London finally resolves the 1979 lawsuit involving the unpaid royalties by EMI to Apple Corps Ltd. Apple had charged that The Beatles were owed $2.5 (£1.2) million in backdated royalties, unpaid from the period of 1966 to 1979. A complete audit of the accounts is immediately ordered. Meanwhile, in a separate American lawsuit, also going back to 1979, Apple had requested $42.5 million from Capitol Records, including the sum of $20 million in back royalties. This action also requests that The Beatles be released from any remaining legal ties to Capitol. Capitol, in turn, immediately file a $1.5 million countersuit claiming that The Beatles have failed in their agreement to deliver two albums required by their original contract. Capitol also state that John's 1972 album Some Time In New York City did not count as one of the required albums.
Friday December 14
George, on holiday in Australia, appears as a surprise guest with Deep Purple on stage in Sydney. He is introduced to the audience as "Arnold Grove from Liverpool". (12 Arnold Grove was the Harrisons' family address at the time of George's birth in 1943.)
In America, Paul appears on Rick Dee's Weekly Top 40 Radio Show. (Further excerpts from Paul's appearance are transmitted on December 15 and 16.)
In the UK, CIC Video release on home video The Bee Gees' 1978 flop musical Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Saturday December 15
On MTV, Paul introduces the promo film for 'No More Lonely Nights' on the MTV Top 20 programme.
Julian Lennon continues with his heavy round of UK promotional appearances by guesting on the ITV network programme Tarby & Friends, hosted by the Liverpool comic, and friend of John Lennon, Jimmy Tarbuck. During his spot, Julian mimes his debut single 'Too Late For Goodbyes'.
Sunday December 16
Still in America, Paul grants another interview to the 24-hour music station MTV. He will return to England the following day.
Friday December 21
In the UK, a pre-recorded interview with Paul is transmitted on the ITV breakfast television station TV AM, where he is seen briefly participating in a Christmas pantomime audition with the show's puppet celebrity Roland Rat.
Tuesday December 25
A pre-recorded Christmas day message from Paul is transmitted on the station TV AM. Later, another Christmas message from Paul appears in the ITV network show Top Pop Videos Of 1984, which also transmits the promotional clip for 'We All Stand Together'.
Wednesday December 26
On Boxing Day, BBC Radio One broadcasts another pre-recorded interview with Yoko by Andy Peebles, in which they discuss the Polydor compilation album Every Man Has A Woman.
On Radio Four today, with the legal threat of Larry Parnes now out of the way, the BBC repeats Paul's January 30, 1982, appearance on the programme Desert Island Discs.
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