Book Review: 'All You Need Is Hull' by Lynda Hill

Lynda Hill with the Beatles in 1963.

I recently had the pleasure of receiving the book 'All You Need Is Hull' from it's author and compiler, Lynda Hill. For those of you that may not be familiar with Lynda, she was one of the lucky few who met the Beatles, her story is so wonderful it's like a fairytale, a dream, the inspiration for many fan fictions and the envy of all of us who were not yet born and missed out on that fabulous time. In November 1963, Lynda was a young girl, crazy about the Beatles like all the young girls in Britain at the time and when news broke of the band coming to Hull for their appearance at the ABC, Lynda was going to go and see them.

Her boss at the time mentioned that she would like Lynda to queue for tickets for her and her daughter too. After queuing all night, Lynda realised that she would be late for work and just as she was about the get those golden tickets, she decided to go to work. A difficult choice but the right one.

After sadly telling her boss that she didn't get the tickets, Lynda's boss decided that Lynda's loyalty to her company should not go unrewarded. She rang the Hull Daily Mail and arranged for Lynda not only to attend the concert but to MEET THE BEATLES.

Lynda had no idea about this. She was told by her boss that she had to have her hair done for an interview with the employment exchange who wanted to know how she was getting on with her job. On the day of the concert, Lynda's boss picked her up and they drove to the Hull Daily Mail offices, which was just across the street from the ABC cinema. Lynda's boss instructed Lynda to follow her into the building, mystified, Lynda followed and was greeted by a man who asked her if she knew why she was there, when Lynda shook her head he told her she should probably sit down. Lynda chose to stand and the man continued...

"Well, in about ten minutes I'm going to take you across the road where you will meet the Beatles."

Lynda was in shock. She had to sit down. A plan was hatched, Lynda would be dressed as a cleaner and smuggled into the ABC theatre so as to avoid the attention of the national press. When she was safely in the building, she was allowed to change back into her own clothes. After waiting in the hall, the Beatles appeared and were herded into a room, she caught a brief hello from them all before they were gone. After an agonizing ten minute wait they reappeared and sat down with her and the above photograph was taken.

Lynda's book has all the stories from fans from around the Hull area who either saw the Beatles play in Hull or met them.

It's a wonderful book with many treasured memories from the fans who were there in 1962, 63 and 64 and saw the Beatles play.

What's interesting to note is their first appearance in Hull in 1962 was seen by less than 40 people as it was Hull Fair Week. Their second appearance in early 1963 was more frenzied as Beatlemania in the UK was on the climb. By November that year, their popularity was at an all time high and fans queued overnight for tickets. By the time of their last appearance in the city in 1964, the mania had subsided somewhat. One fan recalled being able to just walk into the box office and buy the tickets and not having to queue in 1964.

You can find Lynda Hill on Twitter @boppyblue_hill

#MusicMonday - James Calderone - 'I Need You'

Here is James Calderone with a fantastic cover of 'I Need You'. Enjoy!

#MusicMonday - The Bugs - 'Penny Lane'

Here are The Bugs with a cover of 'Penny Lane'! Enjoy!

#MusicMonday: Man On The Moon - 'Magical Mystery Tour'

Here's another Music Monday, this time from Man On The Moon and they are covering The Beatles' 'Magical Mystery Tour' Enjoy!

Podcast 03: Tea & A Butty - 'A Hard Day's Night'

Here is our third Tea & A Butty Podcast and this time we are looking at 'A Hard Day's Night' and we are also excited to have Erika Abrams joining us from the wonderful And We Love Them website to talk about a couple of the songs and have a general Beatles chat. If you want to be a part of the conversation in a future podcast then please email us!

Tea & A Butty #03 - 'A Hard Day's Night' by Tea & A Butty on Mixcloud

Join the Tea & A Butty Forum!

HEY BEATLE PEOPLE! Do you like to talk (er... type)? Do you have LOTS of opinions? Ever posted on a message board? Then, the new ‪#‎TBTTY‬ ‪#‎Beatles‬ ‪#‎Forum‬ might be the place for you! It's VERY new (like, still kinda-under-construction-NEW), but we're anticipating it's going to be a new favorite for fans of the ‪#‎fab‬ ‪#‎four‬ to have discussions about everything that makes their favorite ‪#‎band‬ GREAT! Join now! And please, feel free to go ahead and share this with your Beatle fan friends!

http://tbtty.proboards.com/

This forum is a message board for Beatles fans to come and chat about the Beatles and everything related to them, discuss Ringo, John, George and Paul and everyone involved with them including Brian Epstein, George Martin, Neil Aspinall, Mal Evans and their wives, girlfriends and mistresses.

If you like you can also chat about whatever you like on our General board. You can discuss other popular musical artists and even your favourite TV shows, films and actors or even food! We want to know what you had for breakfast! (We're that nosey, yes!) 

So please, sign up, start posting and you'll make us very happy! We'll respond! We promise!  We look forward to hearing from you! 

There's Nowhere You Can Be That Isn't Where You're Meant To Be... It's Easy!

This one time, many moons ago (aka 2006), I heard on the radio (MaccaRadio, that is) that Paul McCartney was going to be doing a signing of his CD, Ecce Cor Meum, and his DVD, The Space Within US, at the Virgin MegaStore in Times Square (which is now the Disney Store, I believe) in New York City.  I had heard the news on a Monday, I think, and it was something like the following Monday that it was going to occur.  I had a week to decide and had been wishy-washy for most of that time, because getting to meet him wasn't going to be a sure thing.  (Did I mention I live in Texas?)  I had posted a few blogs on MySpace (I know) about the matter, after I'd heard the news, and had received mixed advice on what I should do, but the Saturday before it was set to happen I decided I couldn't let the opportunity pass me by.  The following is a blog post from November 20, 2006, that I saved before I closed down my MySpace.

 - by Erica Williams

---------------------------

As you may or may not know, I was debating whether or not I should go to New York City to meet Paul McCartney.   It was too expensive, not worth the time in the long run, crazy, etc., etc., etc...   BUT, last Saturday I still wanted to go.  I wanted really, really badly to go.  Music is very important to me and the man is like a God in my eyes.  One of the geniuses of our time.  (If you don't agree, please remove yourself from my "Friends" list.)  And, after much whining on my part, my mother thought she'd taunt me a little.

"Stop whining and go! You're not married. You don't have any kids. You can take off from work. You should go. No guts, no glory," she said. (Or something to a similar effect.)

Now, whether or not she really believed I would go, I don't really know.  But I had been to New York a couple of times already and the thought of going alone didn't scare me in the slightest.  So I responded very determinedly,

"All right.  When I get home, I'm going to check flights."  (I would have to leave that day in order to make it to NYC to be assured a place in line, so I never thought I'd be able to afford the flight at the last minute like that.)

Surprisingly, there was a fairly affordable flight.   (Well, except now no one is getting Christmas presents from me this year.)  By this time it was about 3:00 in the afternoon.  I tried to book the flight online, but the flight left Austin at 5:20pm, so it wouldn't let me.  I jumped in the shower and when I got out, I tried to book the flight over the phone, but the woman said I would have to try at the airport.  She couldn't book it because it was so close to the departure time.  So, I threw some stuff in a bag, grabbed my coat and rushed out the door making it to the airport at around 4:30pm.  (But forgetting my reading glasses.   It was going to be an interesting trip not being able to read anything the whole time!  lol!)  The man at the desk said I could still book it, so I did!

I got to LaGuardia around 11:30pm and decided to stay there for a few hours before going to get in line, so I found a gate where there were a bunch of people from a canceled flight (at least I assumed that was why they were there), asleep on chairs and on the floor and I decided to join them.  I don't know if I was too excited or just too uncomfortable, but I couldn't get to sleep.  I tossed and turned for hours.   I slept for about an hour total!  And by 4:45am I was done.   I went to the bathroom and washed my face, brushed my teeth, and then caught a cab to Times Square.  I arrived at the Virgin Mega Store at 5:30 in the morning and was #46 in line!  I was guaranteed a chance to meet Paul McCartney!

A view of the Virgin Mega Store where I was camped out, from across the street at this hotel where all of us in line kept going to warm up and to use the restroom!

I watched the sun come up in Times Square and the crowds begin to pick up and I made friends with the other people that were in line around me.  It was nice because we knew we all had something in common, otherwise we wouldn't be there.  We all took care of each other's things when we needed to go use the restroom, or to get something to eat, or just to stretch our legs.  They were mostly all New Yorkers (complete with the accent) and they were well prepared with chairs etc. and all I had brought with me was a little blanket, so one of the men that was there gave me a chair to use while we were in line, which was unbelievably nice.  Especially when it started raining!  I would have been completely soaked had I been on my blanket on the ground.

Everyone passing by asked why we were in line, which became pretty annoying after a while.  Some people in line started messing with them, giving them ridiculous answers like, "We're waiting for the parade." and "We're queuing to meet Ali G." and "We're already lined up for the new Playstation!"   (Although now I see the Playstation excuse may not have been so silly after all since people really did line up for that!)  And when we'd tell them we were waiting for Paul McCartney, the reactions were priceless.   I particularly loved this one woman who almost started crying when I told her Paul was going to be at the Virgin Mega Store tomorrow (Monday).

She said, "Oh, I love him, but I have to teach a seminar tomorrow!"  And the look on her face was amazing because you could tell she was really trying to figure out how she could get out of doing it!   lol!  She was an older lady, so I'm sure she had probably been a fan as long as I've been alive, and probably longer!

Lined up to go inside to get our wristbands. The line goes around the corner! Over 400 of us!

And so, Sunday came to an end with me running on about 2 hours sleep.  There were approximately 200 people in line at that point and as it got later, they just kept coming.  We were all wet and freezing to death!  One woman offered me $100 for my place in line.  She must have been out of her mind if she thought that was enough!  I'm not sure there is enough money in the world, really.  By about 1:30am, the pedestrian traffic in Times Square had slowed a little and I decided to try and sleep.  I was exhausted.  I woke up every hour on the hour, but somehow was able to get some sleep in all the bright lights and busyness of the streets.   (Fire trucks and garbage trucks and taxis, oh my!)  I woke up about 5:30 that morning and ran off to get cleaned up.  A friend in line gave me the key to their hotel room while they held my place in line and I popped in and cleaned up.   (I couldn't look like a street urchin when I met Paul!)

At 8:00am they let us into Virgin to buy our CD and DVD for him to sign and in doing so we got our wristbands to meet him.  Then we, all 400 of us by this time, were herded like cattle downstairs and into the tiniest, hottest, most cramped queue ever in the history of queues… and left to die… Or so, it seemed.  I thought I was going to be sick.  It was bad enough my stomach was already in knots over the fact that I was about to meet Paul McCartney, but I was dressed in layers to boot!  Thankfully they moved us into another line that was more spread out and airy, but I still had to go peel off some layers.  I felt nauseous and like I might pass out, but I know that I was not alone.  Other women in line for the ladies room were all expressing to each other that they hoped they didn't "throw up on Sir Paul!"  And I know they were not just joking because that was exactly how I felt.  I made it out of there and back to my spot in line where I would have had a prime view of Paul coming down the escalator, only I didn't anticipate the media circus that was about to begin.

So when he came down the escalator I could barely hold the camera still. I was all nervous as if he was coming down to propose to me!

The Associated Press, The Times, MSNBC, CBS, BBC… everyone… all came down and sat up their equipment RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!!   But before long, there he was.  And it was all I could do to stop shaking long enough that I could hold my little disposable camera and snap some pictures.  He was really right there.  I couldn't believe it!  He began walking down the escalator and then he would stop and pose for pictures every few steps.


Like my new Beatles friend, Michael, had said just a little while earlier, it is unbelievable to think all the things he's accomplished in his life.  That his huge twirling, amazing lifeline, that included events like playing the Cavern, filling Shea Stadium, writing with John Lennon, his success with Wings, his solo achievements, his activism, his knighthood… everything, could one day… for one moment… cross with my little lifeline.  Meeting me became, however minuscule, an event on that very same lifeline.  UNBELIEVABLE.

 Flashes were going off everywhere.  People were screaming his name from every direction, including from the upper floors of the store.  He would stop signing and look up and wave to them which resulted in a chorus of screeches.  You would have thought it was Beatlemania all over again.   I can't imagine having spent most of my life like that, the way he has.

By this point, I was so close my knees were shaking, full-on cartoon style!

I took as many pictures as I was able to and then threw all of my belongings into the security basket just like at the airport, and waited to meet "the man."  A sudden sense of calm washed over me.  I wasn't sure what happened, really.  I stopped shaking, stopped being nervous.  (I must have been in shock.)  I had thought about different things I might say to him, but when I got up there I couldn't really remember any of them.  The woman right in front of me, a blond with long hair, had slipped him a little folded piece of paper.  Paul was whistling as he unfolded it, read it really quickly, and then either put it in his pocket, or dropped it on the floor beneath the table, I'm not sure which.  (If I hadn't been so nervous, I should have joked, "If I would have known ahead of time that it was possible, I would have brought you a piece of paper with my phone number on it too!"  I think he would have laughed!  lol!)



But all I could manage was,

"I love you so much, Paul, I came all the way from Austin, Texas to see you."

"Did you?" he asked in a voice that was so familiar.

"Yes, I did.  And I'm supposed to also tell you that my mother loves you, or I'm going to be in trouble when I get back home," I laughed.

He looked at me; right into my eyes.

"Please send her my love as well," he said sweetly.

"May I shake your hand?"

"Suuuuure, sure."

And as we shook hands he looked into my eyes again and said "Thank you, thank you," sort of quietly.

When it came my turn to meet him, a strange sense of calm rushed over me.   I told him I loved him!  lol!  And that my mother did as well, to which Paul wished my mother ALL HIS LOVIN'!!!  Holy God!  Then I asked if I could shake his hand.  I touched the hand that's fingered that Hofner so many times over the years...  I can die happy.

It was strange how, even with 400 people on that lower level of Virgin Records, he could make you feel like you were the only person in the room.  His handshake was firm and he waited for me to be the first to let go (which I must admit was a risk, because I could have held on forever!), rather than sort of shooing me off.  ("NEXT!")  He just stayed there looking into my eyes.  We finally broke and my moment was over.  I was immediately directed upstairs, where I wanted to wait around to get a couple more photos, but it just wasn't happening.  They had to "clear the floor."  So, I rode the escalator up and then back down several times just so I could look at him for as long as possible!  lol!   There he was, a living legend, and I had just met him.  I didn't get sick, I didn't pass out, I didn't even cry.  I was amazed I had held it together so well.



Finally I decided there probably wasn't much hope of seeing him leave the building, so I caught a taxi up to Central Park, to Strawberry Fields, so I could pay my respects to John while I was still in town, as my flight back to Austin left first thing the next morning.  And as soon as I saw the Dakota (which I had already been to twice before on different trips to NYC) and made my way into Strawberry Fields, I began to think about John, and about all of the Beatles, and everything they meant and still mean to music and culture and the world, and especially to me.  And like a lightening bolt, the enormity of what had just taken place hit me.  I had just met Paul McCartney!  Easily one of the most important figures in history.  I began to cry, sitting there all alone in Central Park, and I didn't even care.

And after meeting Paul, of course I had to go pay my respects to John. Well... Lennon and McCartney go hand in hand, don't they?

Central Park was as beautiful as I expected it to be.  I had never been to New York at this time of year, but had always wanted to.  I finally had my opportunity.  I walked back towards Times Square and passed some children getting out of school.  Little spoiled upper westsiders, carrying their backpacks, as they walked alongside their nannies.  And I hung around Columbus Circle for a while watching all the traffic both on the street and on foot.  And when I finally made it back down, closer to Times Square I passed by a man who was calling out:

"Win free tickets to David Letterman today and tomorrow."

I stopped and walked over to him.

"Did you say today?"

"Yes I did."

"What do I have to do?"

"Do you watch the show very often?"

"Well, no, not very often."

"Well, you have to answer a trivia question about the show."

"Okay?" I figured I might as well try.  I didn't have anything to lose.

"What does the 'Grinder Girl' do?"

Is this a trick question?  I wondered.

"What do you mean what does she do?  She just grinds her stomach."

"You DO watch the show!  That's the right answer!"



So, I won a ticket and went to the taping from 7:00 – 8:00pm.  I had nothing else to do and suddenly here I was in the Ed Sullivan Theater, continuing my Beatley adventure!  The theater is much smaller inside than it looks on television. The guests on the Late Show weren't anyone super impressive (Kevin Pollack, Sen. John Edwards, and Will Arnett) but it was still fun!  (And I saw me in the crowd shot on Friday's episode! lol!)

Aaahhh... to be in the old Ed Sullivan Theatre where Beatlemania began in America. What a PERFECT way to wrap up my little adventure!

After that, I wandered around aimlessly, and went over to Rockefeller Center to see if the tree was up yet and sure enough, it was!  There was scaffolding around it because they still have to add the lights, but I always wanted to see the tree in Rockefeller, so I was super excited.  And there were people ice skating just below it!   It was great.  And this guy driving a horse and buggy asked me, in a thick Russian accent if I wanted a ride.  I told him no thanks and then he said it was free for me!  I figured there had to be some kind of catch, so I said no again, but while I was walking away I thought I should have done it!  It sure seemed like my lucky day.


After some more wandering around I decided I was too exhausted to continue, so about midnight I caught a taxi back to LaGuardia, where this time, I had absolutely no trouble sleeping.  I kept my newly autographed CD and DVD secure in my purse.  Purse secure in my lap, with the strap around my arm.  No one was getting those things!  (I officially have prized posessions now!)  I woke up and 3:45am, so I could go check in and get through security.  My flight left New York at 6:00am last Tuesday morning and it took me a couple of days to recuperate.  (Especially considering the fact that Wednesday I turned around and went to Dallas to see Aerosmith play.  Which was great, by the way.)  Actually if I'm being completely honest, I think I've only just now recuperated from my little adventure, so that's why it's taken me so long to share with you guys.

I still can't believe it.

I met Paul McCartney…

And I do it again tomorrow if I had the chance!


(A note about the pictures - I didn't take a digital camera because I had read online that pictures weren't allowed, but it turned out they were, so all I had was a crappy little disposable camera. The pics came out all dark, but they're better than nothing I suppose.)

Fan Art Friday - The Beatles

A post from @smlshin on Twitter. The Beatles. Amazing quality!

Fan Art Friday - John Lennon

Another great piece of work by Tabrizi Karimi! John in 1966!

Newcastle Road - Celebrating The Beatles Fan Experience.

Fans of the Beatles show their affection for the legendary band from Liverpool in various ways. Some create websites celebrating the lives and careers of the Fab Four. Others turn a room in their home into a shrine, with album covers, photographs, posters, books, concert and movie DVDs and assorted memorabilia taking centre stage. Many fans travel to London to visit the now iconic crosswalk that featured on the cover of the Abbey Road album, and they journey up to Liverpool to see the numerous locations associated with the early lives of Ringo, John, Paul and George. And those with sufficient musical ability of their own form Beatle tribute bands that draw their repertoire from the more than 200 songs penned by Liverpool’s most famous sons.

But a Vancouver musician and his songwriting partner, a former Vancouver resident now based in Zurich, Switzerland, are taking a bold step further by writing and recording a CD of music that describes the experience of being inspired on various levels by the creativity of The Beatles. Under the name Newcastle Road they are now putting the finishing touches on a CD called Under The Influence which consists of 14 original songs designed to resonate with Beatlemaniacs from Vancouver to Venice, Vienna, Vladivostok and beyond.

Musically, the songs on Under The Influence have a playful “Beatle-esque” flavour designed to delight fans of the Fab Four. The lyrical narrative explores experiences readily familiar to Beatle fans: visiting the famous Abbey Road crosswalk, recalling the impact of The Beatles on North American teens with their legendary debut on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, attending Liverpool’s annual Beatle Week festival, and reminiscing about the thrill of receiving a Beatles album for Christmas while growing up during the Sixties. Four of the songs form a mini-suite on the theme of “Meet The Beatles” in which the respective narrators reflect on a real or imagined encounter with a Beatle. Collectively, the 14 songs examine the nature of the fan-idol relationship in moods that range from light-hearted to serious. The disc closes with a surrealistic nine-minute dreamscape in which characters created by The Beatles meet and interact.

The vocal and musical “front man” of Newcastle Road is Tim Readman, a resident of Vancouver since 1987, having relocated to the West Coast from the North East of England. His career spans more than 30 years and covers every genre of folk and popular music imaginable. In recent years he has been a fixture on the Vancouver music scene, hosting hosted regular sessions at the Montmartre Café on Main Street for many years and also serving as the artistic director for the Vancouver Celtic Festival in 2008 and 2009. His band Fear of Drinking enjoyed success in the Celtic music world and he has performed on stages far and wide across North America and the UK.

Speaking of their joint love of Beatle music that inspired the creation of their own original tribute to the musicians to whom they owe so much, Alan said: “We wanted to show our appreciation in a way we think the Beatles themselves would have approved of, namely by creating something completely original but with a clear nod in their direction.” Among Alan’s most prized Beatle-related artifacts are a bootleg vinyl album called Vancouver 1964, which includes the entire concert at Empire Stadium on August 22, 1964 and full radio coverage of the event by radio station CKNW. A life-size plywood rendition of the Beatles in their Sgt. Pepper gear, which was discovered in a Zurich thrift store a few years ago, and a copy of Revolver signed by cover designer and Beatles insider Klaus Voorman are other noteworthy mementos.

The Internet first brought Alan and Tim together back in 2002. In the meantime they have released three CDs of songs by, for and about Newcastle United, the English football team they have both supported since boyhood. In 2008 they released a CD of original material called All Over The Map, for which they adopted the name The Eventually Brothers in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Craig McKerron.

Where to buy: The music will be available from CD Baby, iTunes, Spotify and all leading on-line download sites of via www.timreadman.com.

Contact: tim@timreadman.com / admillen@gmx.ch

For videos of the songs go here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/beatlecorner

Celebrate the Beatles http://cdbaby.com/cd/newcastleroad
Blue Suburban Skies http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/newcastleroad2

Fan Art Friday - Paul McCartney

Today's Fan Art comes from Tabrizi Karimi! She and her sister Shanti are fantastic artists and have done several works of the Beatles. Follow Tabrizi on Twitter @breezywinds7

Video: The Beatles in Hamburg, Germany, 1966.

In 1966, the Beatles returned to Hamburg to play two concerts. The last time they were in Hamburg was 1962, when they were playing the Star Club on the Reeperbahn. Now, they were returning as international stars and the Hamburg Police Department decided to film the event as a training video so they could better understand how to control the fans.

Alan Millen has edited the public domain footage and provided on screen English captions to describe the events. The film opens with fans on the platform waiting for the Beatles' early morning train to arrive from Munich. We then catch fleeting glimpses of the band as they rush out of the station through the throng and into a waiting car.

The action then moves to the concert venue where fans patiently (and impatiently) await the Fab Four to take the stage, they then do and hysteria ensues.

Check it out....

Fan Art Friday - The Beatles

By Nicole Tonchella 

This Friday, we have the massively talented Nicole's work to display! You can find more on her twitter @nicole30890

 

Fan Stories: Adriana Tabisova

Adriana with her big sign and fab shirt at Paul's Stockholm concert.

Today we have another fan story! This time all the way from Slovakia! We are excited to welcome Adriana Tabisova on the blog with her story of going to see Paul McCartney in Stockholm, Sweden. Adriana is 16 and is a huge fan of the Beatles and is also Slovakia's Ambassador to The Beatles Story Museum in Liverpool! So, we have a VIP on the blog today!

So, without further ado, here is Adriana in her own words...

Hello! I'm Adriana from Slovakia. I'm 16 years old and I'm a huge fan of The Beatles. I'd like to tell you my story that I've  experienced recently! I'm very lucky to say I've experienced one of the Out There tour concerts. I went (actually flew) to the one in Stockholm, Sweden which is more than a thousand miles from my home in Slovakia, but it was certainly worth it! This was the second time I've been to see Sir Paul and I knew this time I had to do something more than just go to his concert. I wanted to meet him. I started to look for blogs and videos giving advice on how it would be possible to meet Paul, but I thought all the people that met Paul were just pretty lucky and it wouldn't happen to me. I made a huge sign saying "The Beatles Story Ambassador Here, CAN I HAVE A HUG?'' because I was hoping Paul would call me on the stage as he does to many people. 

 

Adriana gets excited to see Paul in Stockholm.

 

 

I'm an Ambassador for the Beatles Story in Liverpool for my country, Slovakia, so I thought that may be a reason he would invite me on the stage. I messaged Brian Ray (Paul's guitarist), thinking there's no chance he would get back to me. But he did! I almost fainted! He told me Paul usually comes at 4.30 - 5.00 pm to the arena for sound check and I should be there and wait for him if I want to see him. Brian is such a nice guy! So I went there pretty early. There were a few people in front of the arena and I didn't give great odds to it. I also had no idea where to go. Then I asked a nice security guy if he knows where should I go to see Paul and he told me to go behind the arena! So I ran there like crazy and there were few people wearing Beatles shirts and stuff like that. I tried to ask them if they knew anything but they all had no idea. 

 

Adriana's wonderful shirt!

 

A few minutes after that, Paul's road manager came and he told us to go a bit further. Nobody trusted him, they thought he was shoo-ing us away! but I knew who he was, I'd read about him on the blogs,  he is a such a nice guy and you should trust him if you want to see Paul drive in. So I did and I started to really think that something unforgettable was going to happen! We waited there for maybe an hour which isn't that long and then Paul came! He drove past! It was only a few seconds, but it was precious! He sent us air kisses, he played air bass (his typical gesture), waved at us, smiled and he was so nice! We all screamed, shouted 'I love you Paul' and 'Thank you'. 

 

Adriana waves at Paul during his drive into the venue.

 

It was just amazing. If you're ever going to Paul's concert, just do this! You will never forget it! I can't even describe how I felt. I know that you understand it well! Who else if not you? 

 

Then, full of euphoria, I went to the concert. I found the playlist of the concert before I went there, but Paul changed it quite a lot and I really liked that. He added 'One After 909', 'Got To Get You Into My Life' and many other songs I love! He told us funny stories, he was in such a great mood, dancing, joking and all the other stuff I'm sure you know about when you've seen Paul. 

 

I realised how much his music connects people, although it's kind of sad that people only scream when he starts to play 'Hey Jude' or 'Let It Be', but on the other side, it's so nice to realise that everyone loves that song and thousands of people sing it together!

 

Adriana's view of the stage.

 

I cried a lot when he played 'Maybe I'm Amazed' (I adore Linda), 'Here Today' (This doesn't need any words), 'Something' (Same with this one), 'The Long and Winding Road', 'Band on The Run' (The best song Paul has ever written, in my opinion!), and during 'Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/ The End' because these songs are very extraordinary for me! But I also felt like crying the whole concert! It's just so wonderful to see Paul McCartney! 

 

The thing with my sign didn't work out, but he didn't invite anyone on the stage. I then realised I don't really know if this is the way I would like to meet Paul anyway. I mean, it would be really cool, but if I had the choice, I think I would prefer to just personally tell him big THANK YOU when there was no one else around. But this doesn't happen every day. 

 

 

 

Anyway, it was a great night, show, great band, people, the best cultural experience of my life and I'm happy to share it with you! 

 

 

Adriana proudly wears her 'Out There' Tour shirt.

 

I also have my blog on Facebook if you'd be interested in more of my crazy Beatle life: www.facebook.com/beatleadriana

 

We'd like to say a huge thank you to Adriana for telling us her story! Be sure to check her out on Facebook! If you want to tell us your Beatles experience, please get in touch with us!

Fan Art Friday - The Beatles

This Fan Art Friday painting comes by way of @danska_ on Twitter! Isn't it wonderful?!

Melissa Danielle's Liverpool Adventure, Part 2.

In Part 1, we read about Melissa arriving in Liverpool, England from Melbourne, Australia a few days before Paul McCartney's concert at the Echo Arena. She saw the sights of Liverpool that will forever be synonymous with the Beatles and now she's going to see her favourite Beatle, Paul McCartney for her first time live in his hometown and she's got a perfect view....

"The time had finally come...I was in the arena! DJ Chris Holmes was playing mixes of Paul/Beatles songs..."

"I couldn't believe how close I was to the stage!

and then after what felt like an eternity..."

"I was totally in awe! I felt like I was in a dream.  I distinctly remember Paul looking at me, reading my sign that said I'd come from Australia just to see him and sort of nodding at me and making a "wow!" face...he did that twice! Once during Hey Jude when he was at the magic piano which was right in front of me and again during another song which I forget but I'm pretty sure it was Got To Get You Into My Life!" 

"During Back In The USSR Paul looked STRAIGHT at me and sang for about 20 seconds or so but it felt like so much longer! I had the biggest smile on my face and I was singing back to him! I wish I got it on video! I couldn't stop shaking, I was in shock!"

"Paul looking right at me! (He did this 4 times) I was jumping around like a crazy woman trying to get his attention so he might have been frightened! After playing for almost 3 hours including 2 encores the show was finished.  I didn't want him to go! I had the best time of my life and I'm so glad i faced my fear of traveling to another country alone so I could see him.  It was well worth it! He is the
GREATEST!"

 The End.

I'd like to thank Melissa for sharing her story and her pictures with us. She is one of Paul's most devoted fans and we are so glad that she got the chance of seeing Paul McCartney in his hometown. As a Paul fan myself, I know exactly what she went through on her first time seeing him but seeing him in Liverpool is just magical. I hope she manages to see Paul several more times!

Melissa in the grip of PPD (Post Paul Depression) Albert Dock, Liverpool on the day after the concert.

You can follow Melissa on Twitter for more Beatles & Paul McCartney goodness!
  

Fan Art Friday - George Harrison

This Fan Art Friday sketch of George comes by way of @siyahligirl on Twitter. I think it's pretty fab!

Melissa Danielle's Liverpool Adventure, Part 1.

As you may have read, Melissa Danielle has told her fan story to us at TBTTY before and after we learned she was going to Liverpool to see Paul McCartney in concert at the Echo Arena in May, we begged her to tell us the story of the adventure she had there so we could share it with you all. She agreed and she even let us have some of her pictures of the trip too!

So here it is, in her own words and photos, Melissa Danielle's Liverpool Adventure, Part 1!

"I've been dreaming of seeing Paul McCartney in concert for what feels like a VERY long time and I was beginning to think it would never happen.  I live in Australia and Paul hasn't toured here since 1993 when I was only 3 years old, Why the bloody hell not, Paul?!

So when he announced a UK tour I knew I HAD to go no matter what the cost!  I was sitting at my computer an hour before the tickets were to go on sale on Paul's website because I was so nervous I was going to miss out!  As soon as the tickets went up I managed to get a VIP 2nd row from the stage ticket to the Liverpool show!  What better place is there to see Paul for the first time?!  I was so happy I cried and then cried a little bit more when I saw how empty my bank account was.  Here are a few photos of my adventure from Melbourne, Australia to Liverpool, England..."

 "After 3 very long flights and 3 different trains I finally arrived in Liverpool. I've never been so happy to see Lime Street!"

"My view from the Premier Inn, Albert Dock where I stayed. You can see the River Mersey and the Echo Arena where I saw Paul play!"

"Some shots of the Royal Liver Building and a close up of the Liver Bird!"

"And here are some shots from the Beatles Story Museum, which my hotel was right next to!"

"Some more Liverpool shots! The Mersey River, the Billy Fury monument, the Lambananas, the Fab 4 Cafe, the Cavern club and Paul on a pillar!"

 "I decided to go on the Magical mystery Tour of Liverpool! I went to all the usual Beatles sites such as John, Paul, George and Ringo's childhood homes, Strawberry Field, Penny Lane, St. Peter's church where John and Paul met and many other places!"

"After the sightseeing, the big day had finally arrived....I was going to see Paul! This is my VIP Ticket! We attended a VIP dinner and drinks at the Hard Day's Night hotel before the show where we got given this Wristband. The whole room was filled with pictures of Paul and they served champagne and vegetarian snacks, which was great as I am a vegetarian!" 

"It was nearly time for the show but I couldn't wait to get a glimpse of Paul! I met up with my friend Shannon and her boyfriend Stew and waited for Paul to drive into the arena...it was freezing cold and he was very late! After lots of false alarms a black car started to drive slowly up the road and a window rolled down...IT WAS PAUL! I SAW HIS CUTE LITTLE FACE!! He waved smiled and drove off into the arena...I couldn't believe I just saw THE Paul McCartney..."

End of Part 1. 

In Part 2, Melissa's story of seeing Paul live in concert in his hometown of Liverpool! Stay tuned!