#from the es about my new buddy november

[asleepinawell]

relatable

[helen-with-an-a]

The object that stood in the way of a World Cup

Hi. So this is going to be a 2 part (maybe 3 part) story that I've had floating in my head for a while now.

It's angsty - I do want it to end with a fluffy end, but it's getting a little too long to be 1 thing ahahaha. Anyways.

Ona Batlle x Reader

TW: Angst, no direct mention of bad mental health, but it's clear R ain't ok.

Word count: 3.3k

Part 1 : Part 2 : Part 3 : Part 4 : Part 5 : Epilogue

Flashbacks are written in Italics; for anyone not aware of the British school system GCSEs you take at 16 (you have 3 or 4 choice subjects and 5 or 6 compulsory subjects) and A-levels you take at 18 (you choose 3 or 4 subjects)

Description: R sees Ona again for the first time since their breakup

This is what you had been waiting for. All summer. All year. Hell, probably all your life. The World Cup Final. And the thought absolutely terrified you.

Your first thought after the final whistle wasn’t one of joy or happiness. You weren’t elated like Lessi or Tooney who barrelled into you and squeezed you so tight it hurt. You weren’t jumping for joy like Gee, Kiera and Lucy who manhandled you into the middle of their huddle. You weren’t screaming so loud your voice went hoarse like Hempo and Es. You weren’t standing in disbelief like Mearps and Millie.

Your first thought was of your ex- girlfriend, friend-with-benefits, situationship, Ona. Your first thought was of Ona. Spain had won against Sweden yesterday. And now you had won against Australia. The last time you had seen her was not a fun experience for you. Screaming. Tears. Spiteful words she didn’t mean. But that was the last time you spoke to her. It had been a long 8 months without her.

You weren’t quite sure what you were to each other when you were both at United. You had met on her first day. You were meant to be her buddy. The management had asked around during pre-season if anyone spoke any Spanish. You had done it at A-level, so you stuck your hand up. Barcelona was The Dream for you, so you had tailored your studies at school as much as you could to help you achieve it – taking Spanish at GCSE and A-level and continuing to watch Spanish shows and reading books to help you maintain it. You weren’t fluent but you knew enough that it would help Ona feel more comfortable. And you clearly had.

After winning the first derby of the season, the team had gone for drinks. Alcohol flowed, inhibitions were lost, and boundaries were blurred as Ona ended up in your bed. You had thought it would be a one-time thing. A drunken mistake that wasn’t much of a mistake to you. And it was … until it wasn’t. The next time it happened was at your birthday. And then her birthday. And then the end of the season. And then alcohol wasn’t a factor in taking you both to bed. She was suddenly all around you. Her jumpers were in your wardrobe. Her football boots were by the door. Her stuff was in the shower. Her snacks were in the cupboard. You had never spoken about what you were, but you drove her to training, she cooked you her mother's dishes, you snuggled into her side when watch your show, she slept in your bed every night.

And then it all came crashing down.

November 2022

You knew you needed to tell her as soon as possible. You wanted to tell her the news that had you pouncing on her the moment she stepped through the door. You were happy and giddy and so, so excited. You hadn’t thought that she wouldn’t be all of those things for you. You had made no secret that Barcelona was your dream. Everyone know that if Barcelona came knocking you would be gone without a doubt in your mind. You had received a phone call from your manager that afternoon.

“Hey, Y/N. Are you free to talk? There’s an offer for you.” Paul said down the phone. He sounded composed but happy, it intrigued you.

“Yeh, I’m free. What’s the offer? It’s mid-season though and I’m out of contract in the summer, why are they wanting to talk now?” You were questioning but not closed off. You knew joining a team mid-season would be hard but not impossible.

“Well… it’s Barca. They’ve but in an offer for you.” You were in complete shock. Barca wanted you. You were going to play for Barcelona. That’s all you’ve ever wanted. You screamed. It was the only thing you could think of. “I’ll take that as a yes, then?” Paul laughed. He knew Barca was the dream. He’d already written up the acceptance email.

“Oh my god! Of course it’s a bloody yes. I’m gonna play for Barcelona” You shouted.

“They want you to sign on the first day of the January signing window. It’ll be announced just after El Clásico. Is that ok with you? It gives you a couple of months to get everything sorted. And since United haven’t played in the Champions League, you aren’t cup tied or anything.”

You were floating on a cloud of happiness when the door clicked open. Ona was back from having a ‘Spanish Day’ with all the Spaniards living in Manchester. She had barely made it into the living room when you jumped her. Lips trailing everywhere you could reach. She laughed that gorgeous sound as you shoved her gently to the bedroom, her coat slipping off as you went.

You lay with your head against the pillows, hair fanned out to the side. You were sweaty and out of breath in the best way. Ona collapsed down next to you, her arms quickly wrapping around your waist.

“I had a phone call today.” You said nonchalantly. “From Paul,” you added as you tucked the duvet around the both of you. “There’s been an offer for me in the January window”. She looked at you expectantly. “Oni, Voy a jugar para el Barcelona” you breathed out. She stiffened in your arms.

“Qué quieres decir, amor?” She choked out after a few moments of silence, sitting up and moving away from you. You knew she wanted to go back to Spain, go back to Barca … but this was not the reaction you were expecting.

“Paul phoned. They’ve put in an offer for me for the January window. I’m signing on the 1st with it being announced after El Clásico.” You stated the facts. The simple outline of the facts that made you feel so, so happy.

“Are we not going to talk about this? You can’t leave in the middle of the season. United need you. We need you…. I need you, amor” She started off loud, angry, and upset, but by the end of the sentence it was barely a whisper. You had never seen Ona so… you could describe the look on her face. The way her body seemed slumped over in sadness.

“Hey… hey. No, don’t think like that. I’m here until the break. We’ve got a month or so. Everything will be fine, Oni. You are well aware that Barcelona is only a few hours on a plane. Everything will be fine!” She seemed to accept your comforting words.

But everything wasn’t fine.

There was a shift in the relationship arrangement whatever this was. Fewer jumpers were in your wardrobe. When she ran out of body wash, she didn’t replace it with a new bottle. Less of her snacks were added to your weekly shopping list. You still drove her to training but her music no longer blasted out of the speakers. She still cooked for you but there were never leftovers for the next day. She still slept in your bed, but she held onto your arm rather than curling up on top of you.

And then it was the Christmas break. Your last day at United. You weren’t sad to be leaving the club. But you were sad to be leaving the people. Of course, you knew you would see some of them during the international windows and whenever you came home but it wasn’t the same. Once again, the alcohol in your system led you to be on top of Ona. The first time you had done anything since you told her about your move. Something felt different this time. She was leaving to go back to Spain the following morning and you wouldn’t see her again before you left.

You woke up with a slight headache, but that wasn’t what pulled you from your sleep. Catalan came drifting across the flat. Ona was awake, and by the temperature of the bed, she had been for a while.

“Hey. Qué ocurre? Qué pasó?” She was pacing the living room, muttering away to herself. “Oni? Hey, estás bien?” She wasn’t paying any attention to you. “Ona”. Your hands rested on her shoulders, halting her scattered movements.

“Don’t touch me,” she snapped. You jumped at the harshness in her tone.

“What’s wrong, Oni?” You asked again.

“I can’t do this.” She answered back. Her tone just as sharp. You knew what she was implying but you hoped you were wrong.

“This being…?” You trailed off.

“Us.” She stated simply. You waited a heartbeat, hoping she would realise you would do anything for her.

“It’s not like there was really an ‘us’ to begin with!” She spat at you. You felt your heart begin to splitter into a thousand pieces. Ona was looking for an argument. She was terrified you’d leave her behind at Manchester without a second look. Ona was hopelessly in love with you. She had been for some time. It wasn’t fast or scary. It was subtle and peaceful. One day she had woken up next to you and she knew it was you. It would always be you. But she didn’t know if she was yours. You were never a tactile person but with Ona, you always had some form of body contact. She thought it little of it. She was Spanish after all, touching your friends was fairly normal – she didn’t realise that you didn’t hug Lessi or Tooney unless they forced themselves at you. She didn’t consider how you were quick to shake off Mary or Maya’s arms. To you, and to everyone else but Ona, it was really obvious that she was yours and you were hers. You just hadn’t had the ‘what are we’ conversation yet. She was also jealous. Barca wanted you. Her home wanted you. Not her. Never mind that her agents had mentioned that Barca wanted her in the summer when she was out of contract. Barca offered money for you. Barca wanted you so badly that they offered a record-breaking fee in the middle of a season. She was scared, angry and jealous. How was she to know that you rarely argued back with someone? How was she to know that your easy-going nature was a result of growing up in a household where shouting was the norm? How was she to know that your mild-mannered temperament was due to your habit of placating your family to stop the noise? You had never told her that particular part of your childhood.

So, she hit you where she knew it would hurt the most, hoping to get a reaction out of you. “Eres sólo un polvo rápido. Fácil. Nada mas para mi. Something to pass the time. I don’t even know why Barca want you, honestly. No eres lo suficientemente buena.” She waited for a reply, but none came. She waited for you to lash out at her. Snap. Do something to make this … breakup? … easier. She wanted to be able to hate you in the same way she was trying to make you hate her. She did the second most painful thing she could think of. She spun on her heels and marched out the door.

You knew she was lying… you think. You hoped she was lying. You knew Ona could get mean when she was upset or scared. You had witnessed it after a particularly bad game – her harshness, her biting words. But she had said those words with such conviction, and you couldn’t think of a reason as to why she would be scared or upset. It had been a wonderful night. Laughter, soft touches exactly where you needed them, and love. You could feel the love between the two of you. Every lingering touch, every passionate kiss, ever whispered word. Everything was done with love, for the pure enjoyment of the other. Everything was perfect.

You're just a quick fuck. Easy. Nothing more to me. Was that all you were to her? Did the late nights mean nothing to her? Did the secrets you whispered into her hair mean anything? Were all the promises she made you lies? Was everything she ever said to you just so she could get her regular fix? Did she really think you weren’t good enough for Barcelona? She knew her opinion of you and your football meant a lot to you. Was every reassurance that you were good enough for the starting XI mean nothing? Was every calming word when you were waiting for Sarina’s call false? Did she genuinely think that you weren’t good enough?

You were in a daze all throughout Christmas. Seeing you family was fun, but you couldn’t shake the clouds in your mind. When you met with the some of the Lionesses in Manchester in between Christmas and New Year, everyone could tell something was wrong. You were normally on the quieter side, preferring to listen rather than speak. But you didn’t really do either. You were just there; not contributing to conversations or laughing along like you usually would. Something was wrong but no one knew what. And then you were on a plane, staring out the window as you watched Spain get closer and closer. You had never been to Spain outside of camps and tournaments. Ona had promised to take you there, to show you Barcelona, to show you her home. But you had to make it your home without her by your side.

And now you were about to play Ona in a World Cup Final.

Lucy knew something was eating at you in the days leading up to the final. She had phoned Leah to come to the hotel to cheer the whole team up and boost morale. It had worked for the other girls but not you. Kiera phoned Alexia as well. But the comforting words had washed straight over you. Everyone thought that it was because you were facing the Barca girls. No one in Barcelona knew of your history with Ona beyond that of teammates at United. If she was ever in town for a quick break, you always, miraculously, had other plans you couldn’t get out of. They didn’t know you lied and hid yourself away in your flat – moving your car a few streets along and leaving your phone off so the location couldn’t be tracked. You’d even gone so far as to phone up Hayley Raso in Madrid to ask if you could come visit her when you found out Ona would be at a team bonding event due to her free schedule coinciding with game-less weekend for Barca. Hayley was a little confused, but you were close enough friends from your time at Manchester that she didn’t question it.

Ona’s words had stayed with you. Every time you failed gave the ball away, passed a too-wide cross, or missed a shot on goal, her words echoed in your mind. You’re not good enough. The venom lacing her tone permeated your brain. You pushed yourself hard then ever before. You went for runs before training to improve your stamina, stayed late to practice free kicks and penalties. You lifted heavier weights and broke your old PBs in the gym. You were eating correctly and always seemed cheery enough, so no one really questioned it. Slowly the muscles started to grow. You were always on the stockier side, the muscles you had slowly built up helping you with your defence. But now you were really built. Your muscles were obvious, even under looser fitting clothes. Not that you really wore loose clothes anymore. At first, it was because everyone on the team, everyone in Barcelona, looked good. Their styles were just rubbing off on you, you had justified to yourself. But eventually, the tops became tighter and shorter. The trousers became low rise, and the hemlines became higher. The Barca Glow Up (and Lotte had coined it) was definitely real. You told yourself it was for you. The clothes you were wearing, the muscles you liked to show off, was because you were proud of them. Which you were. But you couldn’t lie to yourself for long. The Barca media frequently posted game day fits. You knew Ona followed Barca. You knew you would appear on her timeline. Yes, you were a little more tired than you used to be. But that was fine. You didn’t tell anyone the words that rattled around in your head when you were alone. You were fine. Everything was fine. You were playing the best football of your life at Barca. You were a key part of their defence, making your way into the Starting XI quickly and constantly proving your worth in every game.

You were fine. Ok, you hadn’t had sex, or even looked at another girl, since Ona arriving in Spain. Ok, you had to have some form of noise constantly in the background because every time there was silence your thoughts drifted back to Manchester. Ok, you couldn’t be around Ingrid and Mapi or anyone else in a relationship for too long otherwise you might start crying. Ok, you were still very much broken hearted. But you were fine. You weren’t necessarily good, but you were fine

The morning of the final, you were quiet. But everyone was, even Tooney. The buzz of anticipation. The air of expectation. Everyone was doing their own pre-match routine. You had followed yours to the letter. A gentle walk alone this morning followed by breakfast. A full bottle of water on the coach to the stadium. Pitch inspection with Less and Tooney. Warm up with Lucy and Millie. Hair slicked into a bun. A spray of perfume and into the tunnel to walk out.

She was standing just a head of you. Perfect. Breath-taking. Even with her game face on and her concentration as Irene spoke to her, you could see the usual kindness in her features. Those soft warm eyes that you had been lost in far too often. The freckles that littered her skin that you had traced and played dot-to-dot with as you laughed sleepless nights away. The braid that you used to tug on to get her attention before a match that always made her smile and break her focus. You knew you were still desperately in love with her. You shook your head. You couldn’t let her get to you. Not now. Your walls went back up as you pushed all thoughts from her mind. She wasn’t your Oni – even though you knew in your heart she would always be that to you –, she was the object that stood in your way of a World Cup. As Jess and Alex pulled your attention away from the Spanish players, you missed her looking at you.

She knew you had more muscle than before but seeing you in the flesh was something else. Your eyes that have the ability to truly look at a person, looked a little more tired than she was used to. The genuine smiled that was a defining feature for you was replaced with a hard line and a smirk every now and again. She thinks you have had a haircut since being in Barca – your bun wasn’t as big as it used to be in Manchester. She wanted nothing more than to trace her fingers gently over the new scar just above your eyebrow. She knew exactly how you got it. She watched every game of yours, live if she could – on repeat if she couldn’t. You had collided with a player during Chelsea Champions League match. She had been so terrified she almost picked up the phone to call you several times. She did play a little more brutally the next time she faced Chelsea. She had been carded after she left a particularly nasty tackle on the girl that had hurt you. She didn’t know that you also watched all of her games. She didn’t know that you also wanted to phone her after that match but was so scared of her rejection. But right now, you weren’t her Amor – even though you would always be that to her –, you were the object that stood in her way of a World Cup.

Part 2 will probably be out fairly quickly as a lot of it is already written but yeh

[waitmyturtles]

Turtles Encounters Her First Full GMMTV Upfronts Experience: A Personal Journey Into GMMTV2024

LOL, I don't mean to be dramatic -- I was around a little bit (?) last November for the GMMTV2023 upfronts, and I honestly did not know what was going on, except to scream about Cherry Magic Thailand. Back then, I was much more of a Japanese BL gal (see: Cherry Magic), but now I'm down with the GMMTV scene, as it were, through my Old GMMTV Challenge project, and I'm ready to wax on deez trailers.

One huge overall note: YES TO DUDES NOT BEING IN BRANDED PAIRS. Your Gawins, your Ohms, your Thors, your Joss-es. YES. This is an exciting line-up to me to see the dudes getting mixed up. As much as I loved Be My Favorite, I don't need to see GawinKrist again.

I am stealing the formats of the wonderful @bengiyo and @neuroticbookworm to offer my thoughts on the trailers! (My list is literally gonna look like everyone else's list, LMAO).

FUCK YES

My Golden Blood: Joss, Gawin, Mond, Neo. Vampires. Blood. Baseball bats. LSKDJFLSJDFLKSJDGLKJSDLGKJSLDKGJLDSKF. The SFX are gonna be SO BAD. Joss sucking Gawin's blood will be SO FUCKING GOOD. I AM STILL SCREAMING. OBVIOUSLY.

Kidnap: Ohm Pawat's next BL. While he had previously said that he wanted Bad Buddy to be his last BL, the bullying scandal that he encountered this past year makes this decision a sensible one to get back on the brand engagement train. His co-star, Leng Thanaphon, is gorgeous looks like he's making a strong debut. I am very happy for Ohm, but I think I am a bit spoiled by knowing his previous non-GMMTV oeuvre so well (Make It Right, Dew, He's Coming To Me), and I'm feeling like GMMTV isn't pushing his acting chops as much as they used to. (Meaning.... I'd be okay if he left GMMTV one day to do more movies.) Time will tell, but I am happy for him -- he is a king of BL, the most prevalent actor on the OGMMTVC list, and this'll let him rebuild his career. He deserves it, and is a personal fave of mine.

Wandee Goodday: YO. So obviously this looks intriguing! But like -- I'd expect Golf Tanwarin to be doing this for another network. Full-frontal, heavy (HEAVY!) sex talk, smoochin' everywhere. I'm impressed GMMTV is going here. It's perhaps because I have Domundi on the mind heavily with my recent ZeeNunew education, but I have been feeling as of late that GMMTV has been choosing fluff and/or crap romance (SEE: DANGEROUS ROMANCE -_-) over... pure sex, as it were, and this is getting closer to a Domundi-style show than even where Only Friends went. I LOVE THOR. I LOVE THOR!!!! I'm excited for this, and me likey the looks of Inn.

On Sale: I am LOVING this new we're-not-in-school-we-are-just-insane TayNew era. And Jan is a FAVE FAVE FAVE of mine, and looks like she's gonna level this show the FUCK up. I'm SO INTO THIS.

Pluto: For sure I am watching this for Film (oh, and hi, Thor and Arm!). I'm not the biggest Namtan fan? I wasn't the biggest fan of her acting in Midnight Museum or UMG. Kinda flat. But she's at the top of the popular actress list at GMMTV, and it's great that someone of her prominence is flirting in the QL space. Film, though -- Film has CHOPPPPPPPPPPS and will likely eat this role. We might never get EarnPear, but this might be close.

My Precious: For NanonFilm, anything. But this is just the movie with more scenes, right? I don't know if it was ever going to get international distribution as a movie anyway. K. I'll buy it!

The Trainee: Tell me where I've seen OffGun do movie shit before -- and I don't mind the slight theme repeat. KapookPiploy, huh? I have not seen Vice Versa, but I really enjoyed Sea Tawinan in that. Gun crying, not surprising, but I officially stan OffGun because of Not Me, and I'll stand by this one.

UMMMM

My Love Mix-Up: See here for my initial thoughts. I came to Thai BLs from Japanese BLs. Kieta Hatsukoi was one of the first JBLs I discovered specifically through Tumblr. Japanese BLs are so varied -- and I think, when one is watching JBLs, to have a gentle/general sense of how sex is perceived/managed/dealt with in Japanese culture. I'm not gonna get into this too much here, but the ways in which Japanese and Thai societies deal with sex is very different. Anyway. I think my own mental dissonance on this conversation is coloring my thoughts on My Love Mix-Up Thailand/Kieta Hatsukoi Thailand. Pairs are not repeated in Japan (unless you have second seasons of the same show), and to have an established branded pair in GemFourth in Ida and Aoki's roles -- I'm just, I'm not sure. I don't want the show to feel pressured to go to a place it wouldn't go to without a branded pair. Will Thailand pay homage to Ida's unique and inquisitive demi identity? Can the branded ship economy manage that? I dunno. Let's wait and find out.

Summer Night: I'm going to be gentle on this one. I like that Phuwin takes on various het roles. I happened to LOVE HIM in The Warp Effect. And I like Bimbeam in here -- she actually showed some firm chops in 55:15 Never Too Late. Only if the schedule allows will I take this one, but I actually like the smell of it a bit.

Ossan's Love: What in the EarthMix. Ossan's Love was often cited as queerbaiting material for early Japanese BLs (EDITING TO ADD: just want to clarify that that statement literally came from my early days in JBLs reading Twitter; thank you to @twig-tea and @nieves-de-sugui for the clarifications in the comments!); I have never watched it, but understand its importance in the Japanese BL repertoire. I'm gonna remain sus on this until we find out more. (Although, I'm VERY EXCITED to see a channel like TV Asahi break out of the Japanese paradigm of not collaborating with other countries to get this on Thai TV air. TV Asahi and TV Tokyo for Cherry Magic are real groundbreakers, and I do dig that.)

Only Boo: When I was talking about this show with friends, and @neuroticbookworm said "Book's in this," I WAS LIKE, WHO'S BOOK? LMAO. Let me see Book away from Force for a GOD DAMN SECOND. I know we don't know anyone in here, but the actors actually seem strong! This was a fun preview.

We Are: Lots of couples. PondPhuwin, MarcPawin, WinnySatang, Aou and that other dude. What is this, a New Siwaj show? I might have enough to watch next year without needing to watch ANOTHER school drama. We'll see.

LIKELY NOT

Enigma 2: Not a fan of Win Metawin, and didn't watch the trailer.

High School Frenemy: I understand this is a K-drama remake of School 2013, which I haven't seen. I... am trying to understand the story here, but happy for View/June/Mark/Prom to be in a show together, and I'll pay more attention when the show's closer to airing.

HARD PASS

Ploy's Yearbook: Did not watch the trailer. I understand there's a storyline with Joong's character romancing his adopted sister. HARD. NO.

[lovemesomerafael]

El Amor Todo Lo Puede       Chapter 34:  La Roca

Source:  @Crowzley

Chapters 1-31  Chapter 32  Chapter 33

It was winter, but it was hot in the mobile command van.  There were too many anxious people trying to do too many things to resolve this crisis.  Amanda Rollins was not going to get out of this situation unless everything went right. There was no room for mistakes.

Laura Parker was at the very back of the van, talking with the one man who might be able to make things come out well for Rollins.  But only if Laura was very, very careful.  The guy was more afraid of his buddies in the apartment than he was of the police, and the only way Laura was going to be able to get him to cooperate was to change that.  Which wouldn’t be easy, because this was a group that was into everything: drugs, guns, prostitution, trafficking in children for sex.  And word had it that their leader had a bad meth problem. Great.  Hair-trigger temper combined with paranoia and a complete lack of reason.  The guy Laura was questioning, Manuel Ocampo, was not wrong to be afraid of them. Amanda was in trouble.

Laura heard a new set of noises in the crowded van - the sound of the door opening and new conversations - and caught a glimpse Rafael’s camel colored wool coat through a gap between cops.  It gave her an idea.  

“Mierda[1],” she said, ostensibly under her breath, but loud enough for the man in the chair to hear.

“What?”  He asked, seeing her demeanor change and looking in the direction she was scowling.

“Things did not just get better for you, Manny.”

“Why?  What’s going on?”

Barba pushed through the crowd to stand before Laura, who was leaning over a disheveled, nervous-looking Hispanic man in khakis and a torn down vest over a hoodie.  The guy had a cut on his cheek and his left eye looked like it was beginning to swell.  

Laura stood up fast, looking anxious and holding out her hand to Rafael.  “Detective Laura Parker, Sir.”

He squinted at her as they shook hands.  “Yes.” What was she up to now?

“Manuel Ocampo,” she said to the guy in the chair, “This is A.D.A. Barba.  He’s the attorney who will decide what charges we file against you, and what sort of sentence the State will recommend to the court.”

Barba inclined his head slightly, waiting for a cue from Laura as to what she needed from him.

“Sir,” she said, turning back to him.  “If you could just give us a few more moments…?”  

Sir.  That meant…  “Why is this man injured?”  Rafael demanded.

“Ummm, there was a chase, and a brief… ah, scuffle before the arrest.”

Rafael’s lips flattened and his brow furrowed.  “Detective, we’ve been over this.”

“Yes, Sir.”  Laura looked down at Manny, then at the floor.

“I can give you five minutes,” Rafael said archly.  He turned to move back past cops and technicians monitoring video feeds, and other cops strategizing, toward the front of the van.  

Laura knelt down next to Manny.  “You might be screwed, jefe[2].”

“Why?  Who is that guy?”  Manny started to panic.

“The last D.A. you want on your case, man.  They call him La Roca[3].  You cannot impress him.  And he never makes deals.”

“But I’m not even in there! I din’ do nothing!  He can’t charge me if I din’ even do nothing!”

“You ran away from me, that’s resisting arrest.  And we got about a million witnesses that say you’re part of this crew, that saw you leave this storefront earlier.  You think he’s gonna believe ‘I didn’t’ do nothing’?  Try it.  Let me call him over right now and we’ll see how far that gets you with La Roca. He’ll put you away just for wasting his time.”

“Oh, man – “

“Look, Manny, this changes things.  You gotta work with me now, man.”

“What do I gotta do?”

“Answer my questions. Tell me all about that place: doors, windows, layout, what’s inside, who’s in there.  And I mean everything.  You hold out on La Roca…”

“But they’ll kill me!”

“They’re across the street, barricaded in, with a cop as a hostage.  They can’t bother you now, they got their own problems.  But you… La Roca is right here.  And you got one chance.  I’ll try to help you, but you gotta give me everything.  Only way the world doesn’t fall in on you right now is if you help us end this thing.”

“All right, all right…”

“You ready to cooperate? I’ll call over my Lieutenant and the IRT Captain, but only if you’re ready to do everything you possibly can to help us take your guys and get those hostages out safe.  Otherwise…”

“La Roca…” he muttered, nodding agreement.

As Olivia Benson and the Captain of the Incident Response Team listened, Manny answered questions and drew a map of the storefront and the rooms behind it.  Rafael, standing on the other side of Manny from Laura, tried to remember to scowl as Manny snuck looks at him.  It was hardest when Manny would lean over to Laura, still squatting beside him, and ask quietly if he was doing OK.  Laura would flick her eyes at Rafael and nod gravely.  

When the IRT Captain felt she had enough information, she and Olivia formulated a plan.  They were going to need Manny’s help, however, which was going to be delicate.  Manny was still very, very afraid of the group holding Rollins hostage in the storefront.  

They knew Rollins would be working from her side, trying to convince the leader of the group to let the hostages go and end the situation.  The situation was especially delicate because the hostage situation had begun when they’d discovered Amanda was an undercover cop.  

“All right, Mr. Ocampo, it’s time.  We need you to call Esteban, try to get him to let you in,” Olivia told him.  

Manny looked up at Laura, who was strapping on a bulletproof vest in preparation for her part of the rescue. “This is it, Manny.  This is where you have to come through for us.” She sent a meaningful look toward Rafael, who stood with his arms crossed, actually looking pretty fierce.

“Yeah, yeah,” he said, also looking at Rafael.  “I’ll do it. Anything.”  

“Let’s go,” Olivia told Laura, and the two worked their way past the cops and technicians to the front of the van.  It was a relief to Laura to step out into the cold, early-November air.

Rafael and the IRT Captain could hear the ringing through the speaker of Manny’s phone.  

“Yo, ese[4], why you callin’ me?  Didn’t you get pinched?  You with the cops?”

“Naw, man, I’m outside. Lemme in.”

“Whadda ya mean, outside? There’s cops all over the fuckin’ place, man.”

“I know!  That’s why you gotta let me in.  I’m just in back.  I’m trapped behind a dumpster.  You gotta let me in.”

“That’s your problem, man. I’m not opening the door.  How do I know you didn’t call all these cops? How do I know you’re not with them right now?”

Rafael could see Manny start to revert to his long-held fear of Esteban.  If he folded now…  

Rafael took a step toward Manny, lifting his chin in challenge.  

“No, No, Esteban, I swear, I’m right outside.  I can’t keep talkin’, man, they’ll hear me.  Let me in.  And I got the stuff.  Open up, man.”

“You got the stuff?”

“Yeah.  I swear.”

“OK, I’m sendin’ Aguilar back there, but he’s only gonna open the door for like one second.  And if there’s any cops there, I swear to La Virgen[5]…”

The line went dead.

Rafael elbowed someone aside so he could see the video feeds from the scope cameras that had been snaked into the storefront.  All the hostages appeared to be sitting against a wall except for Rollins, who was duct taped to a chair toward the center of the room.  She was in a terrible position if there was a firefight.  

Minutes later, the screen showed a chaotic scene with people running through the room.  Rafael thought he saw Olivia deliberately knock Amanda’s chair over, shoving it roughly to one side to get her out of danger as much as possible.  Rafael heard gunshots, but the chaotic video feeds on the screens told him nothing.

Manny started yelling. Without looking up from the video screens, Rafael held up a finger toward Manny, who instantly went quiet.  

The excitement was over in moments.  The call of “Clear, clear, clear” came from the IRT Team Leader over every radio in the van.  Rafael breathed easier, although he couldn’t tell whether anyone had been hurt.  He worried about Olivia and Rollins, but he was especially worried about Laura.  He knew Fin and Carisi were outside the storefront, not directly involved in the rescue.  

It seemed like hours before the IRT Team Leader announced that Esteban was dead and two other hostage takers wounded, and called for immediate medical help.  The fact that he hadn’t mentioned wounded cops meant Laura was unhurt. But he still wanted to see that for himself.  

Several of the cops who had been in on the rescue came in, Olivia and Laura supporting Rollins to a chair. She still had duct tape on her wrists and ankles, but it had been cut to free her from the chair.  She appeared unhurt, and to be arguing with Olivia about needing to be checked out by the paramedics.  When she was settled, Laura went to the back of the van to where Manny still sat on a metal chair in the corner.  

“All right, Manny, I need you to stand up and put your hands behind your back,” she said, pulling handcuffs from her back pocket.  

“But I cooperated, though, right? What about La Roca?”  He looked helplessly from Rafael to Laura as he stood.  

“You did good, Manny,” Laura said, cuffing his hands behind his back.  “I’ll talk to Mr. Barba.  I’m sure he’ll cut you a deal now.”  As she pushed Manny toward the front of the van, past Rafael, she held out a fist behind Manny’s back.  Rafael bumped it, neither of them breaking character.  

 Dinner at Amanda’s that night was a spur-of-the-moment, noisy, chaotic affair.  Carisi commanded the kitchen, strictly controlling who went in or out, shamelessly conscripting anyone who caught his eye whenever he needed something done, regardless of rank.  Chief Dodds, for example, was currently chopping scallions while the IRT Captain stirred a red sauce that smelled phenomenal.  

“So here’s the Killa, fillin’ this boy’s ears with all kinda bullshit about how Barba’s the Antichrist,” Fin was animatedly telling a group of IRT officers.  “And he’s just standin’ there, lookin’ like he’s about to eat a live baby.  Poor hump was pissin’ his pants, couldn’t do enough to help us out.”

Everyone laughed, even those who knew the story by now.  Partly it was because Fin was so obviously tipsy.  It was probably about time to put the kids to bed in the girls’ room.  As blood alcohol levels rose, there was a corresponding decrease in the politeness of the language used in the several conversations going on in Amanda’s small, very crowded apartment.

As Fin launched into the story of how Olivia had dumped Amanda, chair and all, to the ground during the rescue, Laura leaned over to Amanda.  Amanda was settled comfortably on her couch, Billie in one arm and Jessie, sitting next to her, cuddled in with the other.  Jessie was blinking with sleep.  

“You want me to get these ladies to bed?”  Laura asked.

“Would you?  That would be great.”

Laura took Billie in her arms, settled her, and reached out a hand to Jessie.  “Let’s go, Princess.”

“Nooooooo,” Jessie began to whine.

“Uncle Rafa will sing you a song. But only one, and only if you’re good.”

“Does Uncle Rafa get a vote?” Rafael muttered grumpily in Laura’s ear, although he’d leaned down to pick Jessie up, clearly on board.

“C’mon, Noah,” Laura called to him, where he sat on his own mother’s lap, leaning against her and also looking very sleepy.  

“I don’t have to go to bed yet, Aunt Lala.  The girls are babies.  I’m a big boy.”  

“C’mon, hombrecito[6],  we’ll sing the pirate song,” Rafael said, holding his free hand out to Noah, confident that such a treat would be all he needed.  Noah loved to try to sing the song with Rafael, although he had no idea what the words meant.

Rafael and Laura quickly got the baby settled in her crib.  Jessie made Rafael promise that she got her own song, since Noah got to hear the pirate song, which Rafael deftly negotiated in turn for her putting on her pajamas and brushing her teeth.  Soon Jessie and Noah were under the covers in Jessie’s bed.  Rafael sat on the side of the bed and began to sing the pirate song with Noah.  Laura stood leaning against the door, watching how cute Rafael was with the kids despite his attempts to appear above such things.  She felt a surge of love for him, so strong and tough when he needed to be, so soft when he allowed himself to be.  

Jessie and Noah fell asleep before Rafael was done singing the song about horses that Jessie had requested. Rafael smoothly stood, trying not to disturb them.  He held his hand out to Laura as he came toward her, pulling her to him for a steamy kiss.  

“Let’s get out of here.”

“I thought you were having fun.”

“I’ve had enough conviviality for one evening.  I want to take you home.”  His insistent, progressively intimate kisses were very convincing.  “I want to get my hands on you,” he growled.

Just then, they heard Carisi announce that dinner was ready and bark instructions about plates and things.

“Dinner’s ready,” Laura breathed as he sent chills down her spine with his lips.  

“You’re dessert,” Rafael muttered into her neck.

“Yes, Sir.”

[1] Shit

[2] chief

[3] The Rock

[4] Guy, dude, but with gang connotations

[5] The Virgin Mary

[6] Little man

[craigrcannon]

Employee #1: Yahoo

Employee #1 is a series of interviews focused on sharing the often untold stories of early employees at tech companies.

Tim was the first employee at Yahoo, its Chief Product Officer for eight years, and is now a partner at YC, so we thought it would be fitting to kick things off with him.

Discussed: Meeting the Founders, Writing Yahoo’s Business Plan, Leaving Harvard Business School Early, Creating the Banner Ad, Yahoo’s First Ad Sales, Being an Early Employee After a Management Change, and Founder vs. Early Employee Differences.

Craig : What did you do before Yahoo?

Tim : Before Yahoo, I learned that I preferred working at small companies. I really didn’t think of it as entrepreneurship at that point. My first work experience out of school was at Motorola – a big company. And at the time, in the early ’90s, Motorola was held up as a model of a well-run company. Every business magazine at the time portrayed Motorola up as the ideal.

I went there with a positive attitude. The work was interesting. It was rewarding and intellectually challenging. But after a few months, I remember looking at my boss and my boss’ boss, and my boss’ boss’ boss, and saying to myself, “You know what? I don’t want any of their jobs.” I saw how they spent their time and didn’t find it interesting or very rewarding. They spent their time managing meetings and office politics.

This wasn’t my vision of what work was. To me, work was doing and making things and being able to see the fruits of that labor. At the end of the day or at least after a short period of time, I need to point to something and say to myself ‘that’s what I’ve been building.’

My experience in this big company was very different from that idea. If I rose up the managerial ranks in this big company, I could easy see myself going home and asking myself, “What did I do today?” and not having a very satisfying answer.

Craig : You couldn’t point at stuff.

Tim : That’s right. It‘s not that these managers weren’t doing things, but everything was so time inefficient. In big companies, time scales are longer. And the bullshit factor of office politics is high. For me, maintaining passion for your work when the feedback mechanism is that slow is difficult.

Once I internalized that big companies weren’t my cup of tea, I decided to go to business school in order to make a change.

Craig : But you ended up leaving Harvard Business School for Yahoo, right?

Tim : That’s right. I left in the middle of my second year. The whole point of going to business school was to figure out what I wanted to do and get exposed to a lot. The case study method was great for that.

I soon concluded that small companies were where I would thrive. I also thought that it would be great to work with friends. What could be more rewarding that working hard and doing something important with friends? And so here I was in business school thinking this when my friend Jerry Yang calls and says, “Hey, I want you to come out and join me and my co-founder start a company.”

Craig : That was the opportunity.

Tim : Exactly.

Craig : Just to rewind for a second, how did you guys meet?

Tim : Undergrad. Jerry and I were both double E’s [electrical engineers]. We spent 4 years studying together.

Craig : Cool. So Jerry calls and you’re thinking, “Oh, this might be it.” Did you know that Yahoo would be a thing, or did you just feel like this is a good first step?

Tim : The latter. I didn’t know it would be a big thing. Jerry came to visit me at the beginning of my second year at HBS. At the time he was a PhD student in EE at Stanford. He knew I was looking for a new job, and I told him, “I want something small.”

He called me a couple of months later and said, “Hey, a buddy of mine, my research partner and I started this thing. You should check it out,” and he showed me the world wide web for the first time. There was almost nothing online at that point, but I clearly remember a website company called Satchel.com, which published live sports scores.

I’m a sports junkie. So before I found this website, I used to sit and watch ESPN just for the score ticker that runs across the bottom of the screen. At the time, it only came on twice an hour. I was pathetic. I literally would just sit there and wait 30 minutes for the damn ticker to get the live score for Detroit Piston games. There was no other way.

Craig : Hahaha.

Tim : So Jerry showed me this site and I asked, “You mean I can just hit refresh and I get the live score instantly?” Okay, I got it.

Craig : That’s how you got the internet?

Tim : That’s how I got the internet.

Craig : That’s the best example I’ve ever heard.

Tim : After that, I was hooked. Jerry and his cofounder, David, had built a directory of the world wide web, which was finite at that point. Given where the internet is today, it’s hard to imagine. It was largely just double Es and technical folks posting their dissertations and sharing their papers. Only gradually did they make sites about their hobbies and quirky things, because they realized, “Hey, it doesn’t have to be just dissertations.” So Jerry and Dave started collecting these things and organizing them for everyone.

And so when Jerry called me at school, he said, “Hey, I have no idea if this is going to be big, but I know you’re looking for a job. So how about if you join David and me? Come out to Silicon Valley and get a regular 9 to 5 at a place like at SGI [Silicon Graphics], and then you can moonlight with us. And we’ll see where it goes.” I’m like, “Sounds good.”

Craig : And so where does this fall? Is this the summer before your second year?

Tim : No, this is November of my second year. And I’m thinking, “Sounds good. I’ll ramp up my job search in Silicon Valley, at SGI or Intel or wherever.”

Craig : Yeah, there are plenty of places like that.

Tim : Yes, plenty of places. But that’s also the time when internet usage started to take off.

A couple weeks later Jerry calls me and says, “Hey, we’re going to go raise some money. We need a business plan. Can you help us write a business plan?”

So I flew out to Stanford for Christmas break. I spent two weeks with them, wrote the business plan, then went back to school. They took the business plan, which they probably really didn’t need, it was mostly just a formality at that point, and they raised money from Sequoia Capital.

But in those two weeks I learned a ton from them about the opportunity and put it into a business plan format.

Again, that was about the same time that internet usage started to take off. So a couple weeks after I returned to school, Jerry called and said, “Ah, you know what? This thing is taking off. It might not be a moonlighting job by the time you graduate. It might be a full-time gig.” I’m like, “Fine by me.”

Craig : That just saved me time.

Tim : Exactly, I wouldn’t have to look for another job.

So a few weeks later Jerry calls and says, “Sequoia is going to give us money and we’re going to go for it.” I’m thinking,

“That’s awesome. I’m in. I will see you in June right after graduation.”

Two weeks later, Mike Moritz, a partner at Sequoia, calls me, “Tim, we have a problem.” “I’ll be out after my graduation on June 8th. What’s the problem?”

“We don’t need you in June.”

“Huh? Jerry said I’m in. What’s changed?”

“Well, this ship is sailing. You either need to get on now or don’t bother coming.”

“What’s that mean?”

“We need you in February, not June. Your position will be filled by June.”

So I’m like, “I’m in.”

Craig : Wow. So you just ditched business school?

Tim : It was a little more involved than that. It included a very uncomfortable phone call with my parents, who paid for business school. Luckily, I did end up graduating.

Craig : Nice. So what was your day-to-day when you moved out?

Tim : It was whatever needed to be done. I was an EE, but the other three were all more technical than me. They hired me as the business person so I had to do all the operations and business stuff – including figuring out if there was even an ad market. No one had ever sold advertising on the Internet.

Craig : So advertising was the clear strategy from the very beginning for you. That was in the business plan.

Tim : That was in the business plan. I shouldn’t say that nobody had sold ads online before though. Other people had sold advertising on the Internet, but not at scale and not as their primary business.

I think it was Wired Magazine that was the first one to sell an ad online. So there were the beginnings of something, but Wired was an offline magazine company. It wasn’t their primary business. There wasn’t much else being sold online.

So we came up with the traditional banner ad size that still exists today and tried to figure out how to sell it. At the time, the only people that used the Internet were traditionalists. And what I mean by that is the internet was used exclusively for the non-commercial sharing of information at the time. The idea of commercializing the internet wasn’t accepted by the very people using the internet. Of course, the number of people and the demographics of those people were rapidly changing.

Craig : So your job was to shift how that community was thinking or bring other people online or both?

Tim : Both.

Craig : And so you are cold calling people to sell ads? What were you doing?

Tim : Jerry and I tried to figure out the business side of things and we quickly realized that we were not the best people to sell ads. So we hired an outside agency in L.A. and convinced them to try to sell ads on the internet.

We decided we’ll sell every page on our site, except the home page, to five advertisers for a million bucks a pop. That made us $5,000,000, but they were the same 5 ads on the site for an entire month. Our users hated it.

Craig : What was the traffic at that point?

Tim : I can’t remember the exact number, but it was a double digit percentage of the traffic on the web. It was a big number.

Once we got advertising going, I was thinking, “Oh my god, we’re in the ad business. I’m an engineer, not an ad sales guy. As much as I’d love to pull an ad sales guy out of me, I’m not that guy.”

Jerry realized he wasn’t an ad sales guy either so we hired a CEO, a guy by the name of Tim Koogle. He came on in August of 1995 and helped us build an ad-supported media company. But that was a full seven months after I got there. Traffic on the site was growing at an amazing rate, but we were really struggling to build an organization that could keep up with the growth.

We knew we were on to something potentially really, really big and we knew we didn’t have enough experience to execute it alone.

Craig : So what interests me is throughout this phase it sounds like because you’re buddies with the founders and you’re sort of treated as this co-founder-type guy. How did that dynamic work?

Tim : Jerry and David were the founders and when a big decision needed to be made, like who to raise money from, they would lock themselves in a room and come back with a decision. That said, the day-to-day operational decisions were all made by consensus at the time. There were four of us, and in that sense, I certainly felt like a co-founder.

Craig : After you closed those first ad sales were you all still freaking out over if this would be viable to not?

Tim : It was probably a full year of discomforting uncertainty. Even after we brought Tim Koogle in, it wasn’t a sure thing. The Internet was a sure thing but Yahoo wasn’t a sure thing. It probably took until the end of ’95 to guarantee that.

Craig : Interesting. Did how you feel about the company change as you scaled?

Tim : Nope. I was all in the whole time.

Craig : How long did you stick around?

Tim : I was there until 2003.

Craig : How was it to ride that wave, especially when the bottom fell out in 2000?

Tim : When things are going well and you’re in a growth industry, you don’t have to deal with many difficult issues. It’s the old cliche, winning solves everything.

Craig : For sure.

Tim : It’s really true. It solves everything… or maybe better said, it masks all your mistakes. A lot of the mistakes you make get masked because you receive almost no negative feedback.

But then the bottom fell out and the board let Tim Koogle go. The upper ranks of management emptied out pretty quick, except for me and the CTO who stuck around. We got a new CEO and set of peers in upper management. Let me just say, I learned a whole lot more about business on the way down than I did on the way up.

Craig : When you think back on your time at Yahoo, how do you feel about it?

Tim : Well, I definitely made some of my closest friends there. I compare them to childhood friends. I can pick up the phone and call any of 50 people and talk to them as if no time had passed. It’s a pretty cool feeling.

Craig : That’s really neat.

Tim : It was formative in so many different ways. Granted it was early in my career, but then again most of the entrepreneurs at YC are early in their careers, too. It’s this intense experience where for the first time in your life where you’re defining your own test and seeing if you measure up. You find out a lot about yourself in that environment.

Craig : I imagine it really builds confidence.

Tim : It does.

It was certainly career defining. The financial success was nice, but it was way more than that. The entire process helps define who you are, what you’re good at, what you want to do, and what you think is important.

Craig : When it does work out for someone in your shoes, I feel like it really helps solidify your belief in how you understand people and markets.

I’ve been wondering if through these interviews we’ll find a strong correlation between early employees and people who are good investors. The way I see it, someone like you, you’re like, “Ok, good people, good product, and I can add value. I’m in.” Founders might be much more singularly focused. You know what I mean?

Tim : I do.

I guess Imagine K12 is the exception because that was my idea with Geoff, but Yahoo wasn’t my idea and QuestBridge wasn’t my idea. It was me recognizing a good idea and then being able to contribute to it, and I did that twice in a row. Even with Imagine K12, you could say, “Well, PG is really the one that kind of defined how to help companies… I just applied it in a different realm.”

Craig : Yeah, exactly.

Tim : But I guess you could say that about almost any idea.

I’ve never felt like an idea had to be mine in order for me to be passionate about it or want to contribute. I hope that helps me be a better advisor and investor.

Craig : I think whatever that quality is, that is the exact differentiator between the person who needs to start something and the person who’s comfortable accepting risk but will work on someone else’s idea.

Tim : You think so?

Craig : I think it can be easier to do your own thing, even if it’s a bad idea, because it feels cooler.

Tim : I think there’s social cache to starting your own company now. Back in the 90s, it wasn’t like that. There was no social backdrop to it. You didn’t go to bars and talk about it.

On one hand, I guess it could be seen as a lack of confidence to not do your own thing. But on the other hand, it could be seen as not letting your ego get in the way of recognizing a good idea. I can see both sides and honestly, I don’t know where the truth lies.

For me, my sweet spot is when I can say, “That’s a great idea. It’s just getting started. Count me in.”

[thejustinmarshall]

Will Johns and 50 Years of Cream Coming to The Count Basie Theatre

Interview by Danny Coleman

  “It’s going over really well I think,” says Will Johns of Cream. “We’ve got a really nice range of age groups coming to the shows and a lot of young guitar players as well; which is really great to see; every young guitar player that I know plays that riff from, “Sunshine of Your Love.”  

Smack in the middle of a, “50th Anniversary Tour” celebrating the music of one of rock’s first power trios, these three men not only bring the music of Cream back into focus but do so literally through their blood lines.  

Kofi Baker, the son of drummer Ginger Baker, Malcolm Bruce, the son of bassist Jack Bruce and guitarist Will Johns, nephew of Eric Clapton have combined to pay homage to the music of their fathers and uncle.  

Johns, an avid fisherman was working on fishing vessels in the English Channel when he got the call from his buddy Malcolm asking him to stop out at a show he and Baker were doing near his home town.   

“A few years ago, I’d say 2013 just after I lost my dad, I was in a pretty sad place and the phone rang and it was Malcolm Bruce. He phoned to say that he was coming to England on tour with Kofi and a great guitarist that they were playing with at the time named Godfrey Townsend and they were going to be doing a show fairly near to where I live and he invited me to come sit in on one of the shows; at the time I was really flattered that he thought that I could do something like that. So, I went along to the show and had a jam with the guys and things progressed kind of slowly from that point. It’s been a bit of a roller coaster ride; we had a tour of England but there were visa complications for Kofi so Malcolm and I ended up doing a couple of runs in the UK with another drummer. Then it all kind of came together last year with our new manager who put this particular project together and we toured Australia and New Zealand last year.” 

Being the nephew of Eric Clapton; does Johns feel any additional pressure in his presentation of the material and has he received any help from old, “Slow Hand” over the years? 

“I started out hitting the drums downstairs at my Uncle Eric’s house at stupid o’clock in the morning and I think I pissed him off a time or two and he’d come down at like six in the morning and say, “What the fuck are you doing? I’m trying to sleep; what are you learning and why don’t you learn a proper instrument? (Laughs)” I don’t think he meant the didgeridoo. Which by the way, all the time we were on tour in Australia I don’t think I saw anyone playing a didgeridoo; I didn’t see a kangaroo either.”  

“He actually showed me the opening part of, “Crossroads” as a young guitarist and once I figured that out, I went back to him and said, OK I’ve got that bit, he nixed it and that was when he put me on the path of,”You’ve got to figure that bit out for yourself.” A little tough love but I guess it went a long way because here we are,” he said with a laugh as he recounted those earlier days.  

” I think I may have felt some pressure before but I’ve been doing it for quite a while now and seems I’ve come to terms with that aspect of it. It’s a big pair of boots to fill but I don’t think that we as a band are necessarily trying to emulate or copy what’s been done before; it’s just more of an honoring of it and tipping our hat to it while still retaining our own musicianship and sense of personality; if that makes sense. We’re not wearing the clothes of the era or using big Marshall stacks of amps to recreate that sound; however Gibson Custom Shops have been very, very generous and sent me out a very beautiful cherry ES-355 to play on the tour and of course that’s the guitar that Eric used at the farewell concert back in November of 1968.” 

Unlike many other classic acts these days, this lineup gives those who come to the show more than their money’s worth. 

“You know, it’s a little bit elasticated where we can stretch it out or pull it back, there’s a lot of jams in the show but right now it’s running about two and a half hours. Sometimes it depends on what the venue requires, sometimes we have a break and sometimes we just run all the way through. Sometimes it’s a bit long to concentrate and be hit over the head with loud guitar, bass and drums,” he explained with a hearty laugh. “What we’re working on is a basic premise, Kofi is doing, “Toad”  which features a drum solo that can be anywhere from 12 minutes to 20 minutes depending on the night and to be honest, there hasn’t been a night where after he plays his drum solo that he hasn’t pretty much gotten a standing ovation. I have to say, hand on heart that he’s probably one of the most phenomenal drummers in the world today. I think he has probably surpassed his father, so yeah.”  

After two earlier shows at the Bergen and Mayo PACs, they will wrap up their New Jersey run with an October 23 show at Red Bank’s famed Count Basie Theatre. Johns reiterated once again the band’s pleasure with the diversity of the audiences. 

“I think we’ve probably got one of the broadest age ranges of interest. Younger people are coming in, younger people with their grandparents and they’re obviously young players just starting out wanting to see where the riffs have come from.” 

Even though they are technically not Cream, they are cut from the same cloth and Johns is very pleased with how they are being received and what they present every night on stage.  

 “The show is definitely a multi-media experience; we’ve got an incredible light show. Once again, it tips its hat to the lighting effects of time; the oil lamp and the psychedelia but then it also has modern contemporary aspects too. Included in that is footage and stories from our experiences and our upbringing with our respective parents and my uncle; combined with that we cover a lot of the Cream material and the well-known songs, so there’s some set pieces and also a lot of jam and free form. Both Kofi and Malcom have what I might call a genetic bond musically; it’s almost spiritual and bordering on telepathic and as a blues guitarist and somewhat of a simpleton, sometimes for me that can be a bit of a challenge (laughs). We turn it up and I’d like to think that we do our best to honor the music.” 

To obtain tickets or discover more about Cream and this current tour, please visit www.musicofcream.com. 

Danny Coleman (Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled “Rock On Radio” airing Sunday evenings at 10 p.m. EST on multiple internet radio outlets where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.)

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There's probably 100's of car insurance companies. What do you have? Are you happy with it? How do the rates compare? How do you get treated after a claim? Ever dealt with those advertised on TV? Who have you had bad experiences with?

Why do liberals keep referring to the new health insurance system as affordable? ?

I work on film crews. It an be a long time between movie projects, so I deliver pizzas between crews instead of going on unemployment like many of my film crew buddies. I also own some crappy land, which I inherited, that won't sell. It's just sitting there on the market, screwing me out of qualifying for anything and everything my tax dollars are used for in the way of entitlement funding. I live in a travel trailer. As soon as I have to start paying an upwards of $200 a month for health insurance that is only going to go up, up and up now that pre-existing conditions must be covered, I'm going to have to move into a tent. What part of this is affordable?""

Can i get car insurance from a different adress?

basically where i live my car uinsuranmce would be double that of where my boyfriend lives and i was wondering if i could use his adress for my car insurance. i got o his house for half teh week anyway and im thinking im gunna leave my car there most of trhe time and only bring it home on teh odd accassion and put down on my insurance that i use it for commuting. but teh agress on my license will be different to that on the insurance. i will register the car to my boyfriends adress though. so is this ok? thank you for any help :)

Is there a life insurance that can be purchased for a 90 year old lady?

Is there a life insurance that can be purchased for a 90 year old lady?

Average car insurance for 17 year old male?

An average second hand car, In the UK.""

Does anyone in Las Vegas know where I can get Dirt cheap car insurance if so please provide a number and name.

Thanks for your help!!!

Can I still be insured with my mother?

So, my crappy old car just broke down. In the last few months I have managed to save up some money and I have decided to purchase a used car. The car cost about 6000 dollars and I have gotten a 3000 dollar loan in my name to pay the rest of the cost. So I'm trying to get all the paper work done because everything is in my name. My mom already purchased a car so she couldn't' even help my out to get a loan. Before I could even get the car, the bank needs a binding from an insurance company. When I had my old car my mom had me under her insurance because the car was under her name. So I want to know if after I get my insurance on my new car if I will be able to switch it over with my mom. Or will I be able to transfer the old car insurance into the new one. Right now I am planning to get the same insurance she has. Will I always have to have the insurance under my name is it is my car? This is in Massachusetts""

Cheapest london minicabs/private hire insurance ?

I AM LOOKING FULLY COMP PAY MONTHLY INSURANCE THANKS ALL

Question about college health insurance?

If my current health insurance is expiring this end of December, am I able to opt-out of the university health insurance for this fall and reapply for the university health insurance for the spring term--just to save money?""

How much is car insurance?

I'm 17 years old male and i have a 2001 ford mustang in great shape I live in Nashua Nh. and I just got my liscence. can anyone tell me how much my insurance would probley be?

Car Insurance (Geico) ?

My parents don't have me on their insurance but I have a license does geico know I have my licence because I live with my parents? And by how much will they raise the insurance cost if they put me on?

""Lowest insurance with DUI, California?""

I just need to find out from real life members I did some checking around with the big companies and found out that Nationwide was cheaper Me 38 with the DUI my insurance went from $70 bucks to $89 a month. I think that is high and I only have the state minimum, which in California the department of motor vehicles pounds you. Anyone else can recommend someone cheaper. Before I checked with Geico, Allstate, Farmers, AAA, and Progressive, 21st century all liars. Also I know what happen Im taking responsibility so NO NAZI MADD responses.""

I'm trying to make a car insurance for eu driving license?

Hi, everytime when I make a quote on e.g. (comparethemarket.com or moneysupermarket.com) I get a car insurance around 7000 ponds. Is there any way how I can get cheaper insurance? I'm in UK.""

Motorcycle insurance for a 17 year old in ontario?

So im going to get a motorcycle in april hopefully or when time permits within the next 2 years. I am going to write my m1 as soon as possible and im going to do the learning course and get everything done correctly. So onto the bike i want, I want a yamaha wr250r around 2008 and will be riding a lot and ride for however long i could until it gets really cold. So can you guys give me a rough estimate of what it will cost. Im guessing around 3500-4000 does that sounds about right thanks.""

How much do you pay for car insurance?

I'd like to know the insurance price for a 1.8 litre car, about 5 years old, driver being older than 26 years old, and no claims bonus not included, in different countries. In Ireland I get a quote about 1,200 Thanking you all in advance !!""

Need affordable car insurance for 16 yr. old can you help!?

do you have a teen that drives or just know what the best prices are!

Health insurance rates. Switch or stay?

In the past 2 years my family's health care plan (which is offered through my husband's work) has gone from great to way too expensive. We pay 250 a month as a premium, then we have a 1,000 each deductible, then our copays kick in 25 for office visit, 35 for specialty, 100 emergency room visit (must be okayed by dr. first, or they don't pay anything), 100 each day in the hospital. Perscription copays are 25/30/50, and not all things are covered. Two years ago we paid 275/a month and had 20 copays for everything (except hospital stays were always 100 and perscriptions they were 5/10/20). They do not pay for any vision, dental, or contraceptive. Certain (most) perscriptions are not covered. Is this similar to what everyone is paying, or should we start looking outside of his work for insurance?""

Have you ever added an additional driver to your car insurance?

Did it raise the cost of your premium? By how much? I realize this will differ for everyone. I'm only asking because I will be added on as a driver to my mother's car after I receive my license in a couple of weeks. I'm 21 (i realize this is late to be getting a license, there were some things that unabled me to throughout the years) but not a student. I realize what we will get charged (if at all) is not the same as what someone else did/did not get charged, just wondering what might come up.""

""17 year old having 2 cars, insurance?""

So, I got my 03 Grand Cherokee when I was 16 last year, I really love it but I get like 17mpg in it and I work part time because of school. Insurance on it isnt too bad, never had a ticket or accident or anything. I want another car, maybe a civic or something, I have about 4k saved up right now and I am looking at this civic 4 door that supposedly gets like 30mpg. Idk, I want to have both though, I go offroading with the cherokee and all that, but I want the car for a commuter. Any advice on what kind of plan I would need and all that?""

Am I eligible for the good student discount for auto insurance if I'm a part-time student?

I have the grades (3.0+), but I'm not a part-time student. I live in California, am I still eligible for the good student discount?""

""I am 18, how much approx will car insurance be?""

I am going to be getting my first car soon, i'm not sure what kind of car yet. But, I was wondering if anyone knows an approx. price for what car insurance could be for me?""

How Much Liability Insurance Should a Typical Middle Class Family Have on Their Car?

What are good amounts of coverage to have? How about bodily injury coverage, etc?""

What is the cost of average car insurance that a 19 year old boy and girl pay?

Well, I am taking my test soon (hopefully I will pass) and I am 19 --- and I heard that car insurance is worth a lot for youngsters that they can buy a BMW second hand with same amount money that they pay for 3 years. so, how much do 19 year old boys pay monthly for it and how much do girls pay ( heard it is a lot cheaper for girls). -- my younger sister will turn 19 in 2 years time till then if she passes her test -- how much will she pay when she gets licence---- what would be your solution -- if I want to get cheaper option (I heard of pass plus scheme - would it work)""

Car insurance help for teens?

im getting my drivers license this summer and next year november we have an extra car that a hundai that we can trade in to get a new car i was wondering if i buy a Mitsubishi lancer es or even something better would my insurance go sky high??

Insurance help please?

I'm currently looking for insurance and I can't get it cheaper than 6 grand I've got a vw polo 1L 1999 how an I get that down do you know any cheap insurers

How to find cheapest car insurance for young drivers?

How to find cheapest car insurance for young drivers?

What car in your opinion would cost the least on insurance?

A acura rsx, Lexus is300, scion tc""

My girlfriend battles with sever depression. anyone know of free health insurance?

long history together. she has admitted to feeling very depressed and loosing the drive to do things she typically loves to do... however, she has no health insurance and she doesn't know who to turn to. any solutions? Southern California residents. in orange county/la area.""

Approximately how much is my insurance going to rise?

I am an 18 year old male. I got a ticket for going 10 over about a month ago and got it deferred a week ago. I am on my parents insurance and I pay about $100 a month for insurance. Tonight, I got a ticket for going 17 over on the highway. The first ticket was $124 and the most recent ticket was $174. Help me out here haha, how ****** am I? Also, is there any way for my parents to not find out?""

Trying to be a first time homeowner - any advice before I sign?

I'm not there yet, but I plan to be ready in March of 08 to buy my first house. I've taken 15 hours of credit classes, I have $5k saved up, and I'm trying to get down payment assistance. Does anyone have any additional advice like unexpected costs (besides closing costs) and surprises that maybe happened to you when you bought your first house? I know to stay in my budget and not buy something I really can't afford. But for instance, do I find a lender first and then a house, or is it vice versa? And after I find a house and a lender, how long does it take to close? Is it stressful getting all your paperwork together?""

Do you think my car insurance would go up?

I am 18 years old. If my father were to buy me an Eclipse, do you think my car insurance would raise?""

Do you have to have car insurance just because you have a drivers license?

My mom is bent on the idea that just because I have a drivers license I have to have car insurance as well. I go away for college and I dont drive all year long. We have a family car that I drive once or twice over the summer but other than that I don't get behind the wheel of a vehicle. I don't have any problem with just not driving at all. Am I really legally obligated to have car insurance even though I do not drive? Will it somehow make me less likely to get insured in the future if I remove myself from her insurance package now?

How much do you pay for home insurance?

So we are paying like $132 for car insurance on two vehicles with American Family Insurance and we both have clean records although we are young 22 (f) and 24 (m). We just got a quote from Wawanesa they said we could do full coverage through them for half the price 80 a month! Although they don't do home insurance and I know you can save a lot by combining the two. So now through AFI we pay about $40 a month for home insurance is that a good price with the combined home and auto?? How much do you think it will go up if we cancel the car insurance and go with wawanesa?? Is there cheaper insurance agencies that will cover only home? In the end I am just looking for how much you pay and if you combine your auto with the same company. Thanks!!

Car insurance for new driver 16 years old?

my son just got his license and he is 16 and he will be insured on a 1962 vw bug and i was wondering what the average cost would be a month for insurance and what is the best but also cheap insurance he could get help?

Whats the cheapest Auto insurance company in WA state?

i had AIS in CA and my insurance was super cheap i moved to WA and the rates here are way higher i was wondering if anyone in WA state could refer me to a good cheap company cheapest full coverage possible its for my gf 25 yo female no tickets no dui Thank you very much for you time

What is the cheapest insurance company for 17 year olds?

im 16 but will be turning 17 in a few months. to get ahead of the game and in the know i decided to start looking at cars and insurance straight away. my car of choice would be a 1995-1999 Vauxhall corsa 1.0 0r 1.2 litre as they cheap to buy, run and supposedly insure. ive looked around for insurance qutoes for myself when i turn 17 and recieve my full ik license but all quotes so far are above 4,000 even with a pass plus. is there any companys to get it below 3,000 or anywhere close. i realise i am never going to get cheap insurance straight away but i would consider 3,000 a much more reasonable quote and would love it to be closer to 2.000. also any tips or advice on getting cheaper insurancewould be greatly appreciated thanks guys""

What would be considered as a franchise of Allstate ? ?

Would it be the actual insurance agent ?

If the insurance is group 6 then how much ROUGHLY would the insurance be for a 17 year old?

the car is the rover streetwise so it's pretty new with good safety features.

Are insurance premiums negotiable?

My home insurance rate goes up every year but this year it was $400 bec they said they redistribute my home and lumped it with a neighboring more expensive one. I called their main office spoke with the lady who answered the phone who wouldn't budge a dollar!! She gladly emailed a document to sign to terminate my policy. It really pist me off. Would it make a difference to call and ask to speak to the agent?

Car insurance for teen?

I'm 18 and only had my license for 4 months. I can afford monthly car payments but insurance is over the ceiling, the cheapest policy I got was $270 from geico w/o collision. One with collision is $371 - month w/$500 deductible. My mom had an accident so itll be cheaper by myself. Any suggestions? It's so frustrating!""

Car insurance for a 19 year old?

So my dad bought me a 2004 Mercedes Benz C320 Sport today and he is thinking of putting me under his insurance. I want to find out how much insurance is going to be be, since I want to help out as much as I can because I don't want to be a dousche. I am looking for an insurance that covers everything. Anyways, I am 19 years old, college student, 3.2 GPA, living in Irvine, CA, and have never been in a traffic accident. This is going to be my daily driver (40 miles a week), and it is kept in a garage. Thank you for your help and I hope I was clear. http://1webproxy.cn/car-insurance.html""

What are the monthly insurance rates for a 2007 GT Eclipse and 2007 GT Tiburon?

I am trying to compare which would be a better/more affordable car to have. I am 19. I know age has alot to do with it, so even if you are older just tell me your payments plz, and if you can estimate how much it would be for me, that would be great. Thanks.""

How much will motorcycle insurance cost approximately?

Im 17 and I have had my Minnesota drivers license for about a year. Im looking to buy a 250cc Kawasaki ninja or something similar. I will take the MSF safety coarse. I have good grades and have never crashed my car. Give me a rough estimate. Thanks!!

Would not getting your permit prior to getting your license increase car insurance costs ?

I know there are many things that increase insurance costs but would not getting your permit prior to getting your license be one if them? If so how can insurance companies tell you didn't get your permit first ?

""I need a good independant health insurance broker near Houston, Tx.?""

Can anyone recomment a good independant heath insurance broker in the Houston, Tx. area that I can go talk to. I need to sign up for individual health insurance for my family but I would really like to talk to someone in person who would look out for me and not themselves. Has anyone had good experiences with any that they could recommend? Thank you.""

How much should i pay for insurance of my car as a new driver in toronto?

Do the insurance companies in toronto accept my no claim record of driving from other insurance companies of the other countries or not? I have a 20 years record of driving in asia and a 10years record of no claim in my current insurance co. thanks to everybody who could give me information

17 Year old insurance rates?

On average, how much would insurance be for a 17 year old male with a 2001 BMW 740li? I have an okay job but I don't wan't to spend over 5k on insurance a year, as that would eat almost a fifth of my salary. Would insurance be cheaper on a coupe such as a 1991 Nissan 240sx? Also, do you have to pay a higher rate if your car is turbocharged? Will they insure you if your pushing over around 500 horsepower? If I buy a 240sx I'm going to do an engine swap for sure, so I want to know if it would be better to wait. Any answer is a good answer, so thanks for anything!""

Anyone knowing the best/cheapest auto insurance for young drivers?

Hello! I am a young driver (19) who is looking to buy a new 2007 ford mustang (the deep red color). I really want this car but it looks like there is no way that I will be able to afford the auto insurance for this thing. Anyone know the best company for me to speak with? Any advice or tips will help. Thanks!

""If i want lighter trnasportation like a motorcycle or scooter, how much do they cost?""

how much for insurance, my car is nothing but trouble, and really i would love to just have a scooter, how much for one?""

Will my insurance rise if i get a motorcycle permit?

i have a drivers license, and my dad has his license and motorbike license, im on his insurance, will his insurance increase if i just get a bike permit, but no license?..(do they find out the minute the permit is issued or do you have to call them and tell them)""

What factors affect car insurance premiums?

My mom is going to give me her old car once she gets a new one, and she said insurance is about $100/mo. My friend asked what insurance would be and I told her, and she thought that was really low The car is a 1999 saturn SL1 and it's standard, is the insurance cheap for this car? My mom has a great driving record I'm now wondering what affects car insurance premiums? I know age, gender, driving records, and other stuff.. but what else?""

How to find cheapest car insurance for young drivers?

How to find cheapest car insurance for young drivers?

The cheapest way to change insurance to a new car whilst keeping current car insured whilst i sell it?

Hi, I am 20 years old and I have just bought a new car. I am trying to find the best and cheapest way to change my current insurance ( with one years no claims) to my new car and then i need to insure my old car whilst I sell it. My current car insurance policy on my car runs out on 15th February 2013 and I have cancelled my renewal. I have received the renewal which is proof of my no claims which will be transferred to my new car. Another question is... can I claim the one years no claims on my new car whilst it still runs out for a week on my old car? I have looked at temporary insurance for my current car but this was almost 400 for 28 days?!?!? If insurance companies want me to do it the legal way, they are not making it very easy! Any advice on the best way around this would be great. I know it's confusing! Thanks, Adam White""

How much is non owners SR22 insurance in Florida?

My license is suspended because of 12 points in 12 months. I am required to have SR22 non owners insurance and i do not have a vehicle. I don't even know where to begin with all of this. Are there special insurace companies that deal with this sort of thing? Please help!

How much would a mustang cost for a 17 year old? ?

So I've tried googling this a lot of times but it hasn't really helped me so I'm just gonna ask myself... First off, I'm 17 but will be 18 in 2 months maximum. (not that it would really matter, but just putting that out there.) and I've had insurance on my parents car for about a year and a half now; never had any wrecks or anything. And their car is a year like 2009 Pontiac G8, V6. But I only have to pay $80. And I do believe my mother told me that we have Allstate... But as for the car I'm hoping to buy, it's nothing fancy. Just a 2000 mustang. It's not a convertible. I'm just hoping it won't be anymore expensive than what I pay now. And I've also had my license since I was 16. So I think that covers all the info but it'd really help if someone gave me like a range of what I might be paying for that. Thanks! :)""

How much should insurance be for a 19 year old?

im a 19 year old male and i am going to buy a old 1987 ford f-150, how much should i expect to pay for insurance on my truck?""

Question on insurance discount?

So im 15 turn 16 in April so I was wondering you know that car insurance stuff like if your on A-B honorol you get a discount well the first 9 weeks I got a 78 in math is there anyway I can get that discount how far back do they check your grades

""What is the average cost of homeowner's insurance for a home that is appraised at 169,000 and bought for 166k?

Home is in Rhode Island.

Proof of insurance in Georgia?

If I will be driving someone elses car and they have auto insurance do I have to have insurance as well?

Will insurance cover a salvage car?

I need to know cuz im buying a car. what insurance company will cover it. and will it be expensive??

How much will my insurance cost?

I know this is going to be different by state, and maybe even by zip code, but all I want is a average, or rough estimate what my insurance will cost. I'm 18 years old,(male)and have had my license for two years, and I have a clean history, and have never had an accident or ticket. My car is a 2000 Ford Focus ZX3, with a 2.0 Zetec engine, and 5 speed manual transmission. I also live in the state of Virginia. So how much would my insurance cost me monthly? I'll be on my fathers insurance aloso by the way. As I said, I know this will not be accurate, but I just want a guess to start with to have an idea on what I'll be paying monthly.""

What health care insurance I can get that is affordable?

I need health insurance. And I can't afford it with my pay checks. I work part time. I have research over and over for health insurance. And nothing that I can afford comes up. So please help.

Would having a Dodge Charger raise your insurance cost?

I'm almost 17 and got my liscense a few months ago and I can get pretty much any reasonble car i want. I'm leaning on getting a used charger (not new cos im prob gonna reck it or at least mess it up). I was just wonder will it raise my insurance up just bc its a Charger? (I already know my age and new driver will be more expensive)

How much is car insurance for a 17 year old female?

im 17 and would love to buy myself a car but i worry about the insurance. i am thinking of buying a used 1998 jeep grand cherokee, its a really good price but i dont want to go and buy the car if insurance is way to expensive. any ideas on how much insurance would cost. if it counts i do get good grades in school.""

What is the blue sheild of california (health insurance) code format?

Please help.. like the number on the card you get. I need to draw a picture and i want to make it as accurate as possible :) what is the blue sheild of california (insurance company) code format? for example if it is ABC123 = letter letter letter # # #

Insurance after 1st DUI?

I recently received my first and last dui. I currently have USAA and pay about 60 a month for coverage. I am 31 years old and have a clean driving record. I had a tint violation when I moved to another state.There was no accident involved with the dui. Will USAA drop me? I do know I will need SR22 once my work permit gets approved.

How much would insurance cost for a 2011 mustang or 2011 camaro?

for a 16 year old male driver please give a price range not anything like Too Much or Alot thank you

How to get cheap dodgy insurance?

how can i get cheap insurance that doesnt actually cover me but then im legally insured

Cheap car insurance company in vegas. 2 cars paid off?

Cheap car insurance company in vegas. 2 cars paid off?

Employer health insurance?

When you have employer health insurance is there a waiting period for maturnity coverage to start?

No health insurance? need prenatal care and sonograms?

i don't have any health insurance and have become pregnant, what do i need to do until my health insurance can kick in or until i can have the baby then get affordable health ...show more""

Insurance california?

hi I'm an international student who goes to college in Iowa. I have a college insurance and I guess it convers most of meetings with doctors. Now, I'm taking 3 months-summer session at University of California. I think I 've heard some stuff that I need to have Californian insurance to stay here. What is this? Is it wrong? Plus, my wisdom teeth is coming out recently. It starts to hurt. Does insurance in America covers dental work?""

Insurance doesn't want to fix car?

Ok, So I have insurance through UAIC. I was not aware till the research i've done they are the biggest losers in the business. Here's my issue, my car was vandalized on november 12 of this year. I have full coverage insurance. Prior to insurance, we agreed to have photos taken by the local insurance so they can note any problem.. Car clear perfect which it was. No a scratch, ding or dent showroom conidition I would say at the time. I filed the claim the same day of the 12th of November. It took them 2weeks just to come estimate the car, estimate was 1500 and let me tell you. My smallest quote was 2900$ so immediately I was a little worried about it. Well I finally got a call back today on december 13th. Telling me the insurance estimator for them said the car had prior wear and tear. Which it was absolutely not! i treat my car great and have pictures to proof it. What can I do, and I see no point in full coverage with these guys! I don't know if i should be angry, do a legal matter or just cut my losses and switch back to liberty mutual""

How can I get affordable health insurance?

I'm 19, in good health, not pregnant nor do I already have a child. I was told by the state that I have to either be under 18 or have a child to get Medicare. My job does not offer insurance. What can I do? I'm on a very low income, and can't afford very much, but I am willing to pay something.""

Divorced Parent's Car Insurance?

I'm under my mothers car insurance policy, so does that mean if i drive my fathers truck and I get into an accident, Were not covered? and does someone in your immediate family need car insurance when driving it if you are the registered owner""

Car insurance question.?

I'm working on transferring my current car insurance to Geico and am filling out the electronic form to get a quote. My car is brand new, and I have had it for like eight months. I don't know much car insurance; in the electronic form, what coverage do I pick for full insurance instead of liability? Thanks.""

A better way acquire an affordable health insurance to cover my family?

if I work for, say Pizza Hut as a part-time while I earn $65K/yr full-time job? I dont want to spend too much monthly payments on health insurance?""

How to find cheapest car insurance for young drivers?

How to find cheapest car insurance for young drivers?

Anyone own more than one car and buy comprehensive insurance for all?

does anyone own more than one car and buy them all comprehensive insurance by yourself? I found it's so expensive and considering to buy third party insurance only. anyone advise pls

I am 19 and own a 1978 camaro in Michigan what would be the cheapest insurance company?

I am 19 and own a 1978 camaro in Michigan what would be the cheapest insurance company?

What car can i hav 4 dead cheap insurance and whats the best insurance comp.... (im 18)?

I passed my test 6 months ago and still aint gotta car! i hav been looking at a honda civic 1.6 but im not sure what i can get insured on.. i know i can get insured on a 1.0L corsa but i want sumat a bit better (sumfin like a ferrari lol)?

Harley Davidson Insurance -Typical Cost?

I am a 19-year old male who has been riding a motorcycle for about 3 years and took a rider safety course. I was wondering what possible insurance costs would be for a Harley 883 Sportster, probably a 98 or newer (probably nothing newer than a 2005 though). Specifically, I was wondering about American Family Insurance (but any general info would be appreciated too). I am looking to upgrade my bike (along with the size of my engine, ive been driving a 250 for a while now). I beleive american family cant even cover sport bikes for a rider like me, so i was thinking about getting another cruiser/standard style bike. i have kind of been drawn towards Harley, but if insurance is too expensive, ill have to look for something else. Does anyone have any other suggestions for bikes? or general info? thanks""

Can you swap your bike for a hire bike with insurance?

I have a hire bike with my insurance while my bike is in repair, the hire bike is perfect and really fits my needs perfectly, is it possible they could swap mine for the hire bike even if it means paying money for it""

Bike insurance on a r6 in the uk?

ok so at the minute im banned 23years of age my ban is up next year so will be 24 when im looking to get insured im not even going to atemp to drive a car i know it will be to dear but have rode bikes my hole life so a big bike head would love to be leagul on a r6/zx6r 600cc sports bike does anybody know what it would cost me for a year for insurance serious answers please no idiots thanks

Can i go on another person's insurance?

im 18 and my mom doesnt drive. i got quoted for 358/month (female) would it be possible to go under another family members insurance (aunts, uncle) or does it have to be your parents (same adress)?""

Statute of limitations on no car insurance fine?

how long has to go by before statute of limitations is in effect after you have had a no insurance ticket handed to you and does this stand the same if you had hit another persons vehicle with the car that was uninsured.i live in calgary alberta and am unsure of how this statute works.i am not looking for a cop out of this.this occured 3 years ago and i was sent home under the condition that i show up for court.i was unable to show up for court because i had been kicked out of where me and my mom were living and tried to find a place for us.

Car insurance for 16 year olds...?

How much difference would the insurance be for a 16year old if the car make was either a comaro with a v6 or something else with a v6, like a nissan or mazda. Does the make of the car make a difference? I have good student and a bunch of other thngs that make discounts but was wondering if there is a big difference between just the make of the car. Im looking at buying the 2010 comaro if the insurance doesnt change tht much...... any info is great! :) thanks!""

What is the cost of car insurance with out drivers ed.?

I am an 18 year old girl, looking to get a small used car something like a older civic. What would the average monthly payment be. I live in NH and I have good grades, never been in ...show more""

Expired car insurance ticket?

So I got pulled over in may and had expired car insurance of about 10 months. I had presented my expired car insurance document and the cop had my car towed to a nearby car shop, where i got it back a few days later. The cop called another cop to drive me back to my university since my car was towed. I was talking to the cop who drove me back and asked what I can do and he told me to just plead not guilty on my ticket and get new insurance and bring it to the court. I don't understand, how can I plead not guilty? It was his advice and he knew my insurance expired. How can getting new insurance do anything for my cause? Any help appreciated, thanks.""

Life Insurance - Can I insure my mom?

I am 34 years old. My mom is in her late 60's and in good health. Can I get a life insurance policy on her and collect on it when she passes? I can't imagine this being so - how could insurance companies stay in business if it were this easy? The monthly rates that I'm seeing seem to good to be true - I'd be stupid to not do it. I'm thinking I must be missing something. Is life insurance only for accidental death? Thank you.

Good car and renters insurance companies?

I'm in the process of getting a car and plan on moving to the Berlin area of New Hampshire this summer so i'm looking for a car insurance company that also offers renters insurance so that, when i move, i can bundle the two and try and get a bit of a discount. I'm just wondering if anyone knows any good companies (hoping to stay reasonably priced but it's my first car and i'm a newer driver) with offices in the Berlin area and offices in the Cape Ann area of Mass (where I am currently) that offer a car and renters bundle and have treated treated you well. I'd prefer fist hand opinions and experiences with companies.""

""I have been issued a speeding ticket, what will it do to insurance?""

I was borrowing my moms car and i got a speeding ticket..i showed them my license/ her insurance card, registration, etc..... will anything happen to her insurance???..and how much is an average speeding ticket? kay thnx!""

Insurance premium increase?

I was involved in a fender bender where no party admitted fault. Other persons insurance company went to arbitration against my insurance company to recover their loss. Arbitration Panel decided in our favor i.e. I am not at fault hence need not pay the damages. Total loss amount listed by other party was $800. My car did not have any damage worth repairing. (Also, I am lazy and passive enough to not pursue too hard for a minor dent.) After arbitration settlement other person filed a lawsuit against me in small claims court. I was pretty sure that a judge cant do anything after arbitration. To my surprise judge assessed that out of $800 - $250 was the deductible paid by other person. Prior Arbitration did not include that amount hence he can adjudicate on this $250. He adjudicated against me for $250 + legal fee. Judge also told me that I need not worry about this money as my insurance will pay for it. (Most ridiculous judge and judgment I have ever seen, but thats a separate matter) I called up my insurance company. They are willing to pay this amount. My question is  will making them pay increase my insurance premium. I have a pretty clean record with no at-fault accidents. I pay about $1000 per year for two cars in WA state. Insurance company is: Farmers""

How can i get cheap car insurance?Compare website's don't work for me?

hi there i want the cheapest car insurance that you can get i have already used comparing websites but the quote's are too much! Is there any other website that can help me get them quotes get knocked down or another way to get around it?

How much is your car insurance per year?

what company? what are the pros and cons?

How can a medical group charge different prices for people with insurance and no insurance and medicare?

is this legal to charge people with medicare a higher price to go to the Doctor than people that don't have medicare, I thought that medical groups are to charge less so medicare don't go broke and people with insurance, so there monthly don't go up higher""

Do you have good Car Insurance Rates?

I was just wondering if anyone out there had advice for some good car insurance rates or coverage? I found this guy who talked about car insurance coverage that was based on your driving behavior... unfortunately I don't live in the area... http://www.sodahead.com/question/271859/car-insurance-rates-based-on-behavior-do-you-have-good-car-insurance-coverage/?link=wenf_ya So you have any suggestions for a car insurance company that has good rates?

Self employed and need affordable health insurance for self and children?

Self employed and need affordable health insurance for self and children?

What is the average insurance for a 11 hyundai elantra for 18 year old?

What is the average insurance for a 11 hyundai elantra for 18 year old?

Is there any insurance companies that will insure after a fire claim?

me and my family had a fire in july of 2008 and our homeowners insurance dropped us after the claim was over. now we are having major difficulty obtaining homeowners insurance. is there anybody that knows of a insurance company that takes people with these issues? we also live in indiana

Can I drive without my name on car insurance?

I'm 18 living in California. I am not on my parents insurance because I don't have a job to help pay the monthly fee. I do however drive the car with my parent in the car with me. My mom signed a waiver that said something like My child is not responsible for any damages if in a collision. Basically saying that my mom is taking full responsibility if anything happens to the car wile we are driving. So I guess y question is; Is it illegal to drive without being on the insurance, but an adult who is on the insurance is in the car? In other words can I still drive with a parent whose name is on the insurance, even though my name isn't? I apologize if this sounds confusing.""

What is the cheapest auto insurance for 16 year old boy?

Thanks in advance

UK: how does the ncb function for car insurance?

The insurer of my new(ish) car wants a proof of no claim. I already have a insurance on a first car with ncb of 9 years, protected. How come I can't use this ncb for the second car? the cost of insuracne is outrageously expansive if I start again from zero year ncb for the second car... how does this work? why can't I carry on having the ncb for the second car too?""

How to find cheapest car insurance for young drivers?

How to find cheapest car insurance for young drivers?

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/aig-car-insurance-quote-dubai-dennis-medina/"

[tylerdoe1dafuq-blog]

The Beatles waren eine britische Beatband und später auch Rockband in den 1960er Jahren. Mit mehr als 600 Millionen – nach Schätzungen ihrer Plattenfirma EMI sogar mehr als einer Milliarde – verkauften Tonträgern sind sie die bisher kommerziell erfolgreichste Band der Musikgeschichte.

Die musikalischen Ursprünge der Band liegen im Rock ’n’ Roll der ausgehenden 1950er Jahre, in den dann sehr bald Stilelemente der Liverpooler Beatmusik einflossen. Ihre erste Single Love Me Do erschien 1962. Den weltweiten Durchbruch schaffte die Gruppe im Jahr 1963 mit der Single I Want to Hold Your Hand. Aufgrund ihres damals neuartigen Musikstils und ihres öffentlichen Auftretens entwickelten sie sich schnell zu einer der populärsten Bands. Den Höhepunkt ihrer Karriere erreichten die Beatles zwischen 1964 und 1968, als sie zeitweise in fast allen Ländern die Hitparaden anführten.

Im Jahr 1970 trennten sich die Wege der vier Bandmitglieder aufgrund interner Spannungen. Die Musiker verfolgten danach erfolgreich eigene Musikprojekte.

Frühe Jahre (1956–1960)

Die späteren Beatles gingen Ende der 1950er Jahre aus einer Reihe von Vorläuferbands um den Liverpooler Schüler John Lennon hervor. Der musikbegeisterte 16-Jährige gründete gegen Ende des Jahres 1956 in Liverpool die Skiffle-Gruppe The Quarrymen, benannt nach der Quarry Bank High School, die er besuchte. Erste Mitglieder dieser Schülerband waren neben Lennon (Gesang/Gitarre) der Gitarrist Eric Griffiths, der Schlagzeuger Colin Hanton, der Banjospieler Rod Davis, der Bassist Len Garry und Pete Shotton am Waschbrett.

Die Besetzung der Quarrymen, die bei privaten Feiern und Schulfesten ihre ersten Auftritte absolvierte, wechselte allerdings ständig, was nicht unwesentlich am exzentrisch-launischen Bandleader Lennon lag. Zum Repertoire der Gruppe gehörten Stücke damaliger Musikgrößen wie Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran und Lonnie Donegan.

Der wohl wichtigste Tag der noch jungen Bandgeschichte war der 6. Juli 1957, als die Quarrymen bei einem Gartenfest der Pfarrgemeinde von Liverpool-Woolton auftraten. Nach dem ersten der zwei Konzerte wurde John Lennon von seinem Schulfreund Ivan Vaughan dem 15-jährigen Paul McCartney vorgestellt. Lennon war beeindruckt, als McCartney textsicher eine Version des Cochran-Stücks Twenty Flight Rock zum Besten gab. Einige Tage später wurde er in die Gruppe aufgenommen.

Der erste gemeinsame Auftritt fand am 18. Oktober 1957 in der Liverpooler New Clubmoor Hall statt. Die Aufnahme von Paul McCartney bedeutete für John Lennon einerseits den Verlust seiner unumschränkten Führungsposition, andererseits aber eine künstlerische Konkurrenz auf Augenhöhe und eine gewinnbringende Quelle der Inspiration. Im Sommer 1957 begannen Lennon und McCartney mit dem gemeinsamen Komponieren eigener Stücke, zu den ersten gehörten Too Bad About Sorrows und Just Fun. Viele davon entstanden im Wohnzimmer des Reihenhauses der McCartney-Familie in der 20 Forthlin Road.

Im Januar 1960 stieß John Lennons Freund von der Kunstschule, der angehende Maler Stuart Sutcliffe, als Bassist zu den Moondogs. Der musikalisch unbedarfte Sutcliffe hatte sich auf Lennons Anraten hin vom Erlös eines seiner Gemälde eine Bassgitarre gekauft. Kurze Zeit später wurde die Gruppe in Anlehnung an die Buddy-Holly-Band The Crickets (Die Grillen) in The Silver Beetles und im Juli 1960 in The Silver Beatles umbenannt, wobei Beatles eine gedankliche Verbindung des Musikstils Beat und des englischen Wortes für „Käfer“, beetles, herstellt.

In einem Artikel, den Lennon für das Liverpooler Musikmagazin Mersey Beat verfasste, erläuterte er in seiner eigenen Weise, die Idee sei von einem Mann auf einem brennenden Kuchen gekommen, der ihnen in einer Vision erschienen sei.

Im August 1960 verzichtete die Gruppe auf den Zusatz Silver im Namen und nannte sich fortan The Beatles.

Lehrjahre in Hamburg und Liverpool (1960–1961)

Auf der Suche nach englischen Musikgruppen für seine Hamburger Nachtlokale wandte sich der deutsche Veranstalter Bruno Koschmider im Sommer 1960 an seinen Liverpooler Geschäftspartner Allan Williams.

Dieser hatte zeitweise das Management der Beatles übernommen und bot ihnen ein entsprechendes Engagement an. Am 16. August 1960 kamen John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison und Stuart Sutcliffe sowie der wenige Tage zuvor rekrutierte Schlagzeuger Pete Best in Hamburg an.

Am 17. August 1960 gab die Gruppe im Hamburger Rotlichtviertel St. Pauli ihr erstes Konzert unter dem Namen „The Beatles“. Von nun an spielten sie täglich im „Indra“, einem Stripclub an der berüchtigten Großen Freiheit. Nach und nach passten sich die Gruppenmitglieder dem spannungsgeladenen Umfeld aus Gewalt, Alkohol, Drogen und Sex an.

Durch die bis zu neun Stunden dauernden Arbeitstage wurden Repertoire, Spontaneität und Selbstbewusstsein vergrößert. Die Aufforderung des Clubbesitzers, eine „Schau“ zu machen, mündete in wüsten Bühnenauftritten, die das Publikum anlockten und die Band zum angesagtesten Geheimtipp der Großen Freiheit machten.

In Hamburg lernten die Beatles die Fotografen Astrid Kirchherr und Jürgen Vollmer sowie den angehenden Künstler Klaus Voormann kennen, die später den Stil und das Auftreten der Gruppe in Bezug auf Kleidung und Frisuren („Pilzkopf“, engl. moptop) entscheidend prägten. Zudem war Kirchherr, die sich besonders mit dem zurückhaltenden Bassisten Sutcliffe anfreundete, die erste, die die Band im Rahmen professioneller Fotoaufnahmen ablichtete.

Der Beatles-Haarschnitt, die sogenannte „Pilzkopf“-Frisur, wurde von dem deutschen Fotografen Jürgen Vollmer kreiert. Er selbst hatte sich diese Frisur geschnitten, lange bevor ihn Astrid Kirchherr und Klaus Voormann kennenlernten.

Weil der Indra Club wegen Ruhestörung geschlossen werden musste, zogen die Beatles Anfang Oktober in den Kaiserkeller um. Hier trat auch die ebenfalls aus Liverpool stammende Gruppe Rory Storm & the Hurricanes mit ihrem Schlagzeuger Ringo Starr auf. Am 15. Oktober 1960 vereinigten sich die beiden Gruppen zu einer privaten Aufnahme des Titels Summertime in einem kleinen Studio an der Kirchenallee 57. Im Laufe der Jahre gingen allerdings alle neun gepressten Platten dieser ersten gemeinsamen Produktion von Lennon, McCartney, Harrison und Starr verloren.

Ende November mussten die Beatles wegen der Minderjährigkeit von George Harrison (der zu diesem Zeitpunkt erst 17 Jahre alt war) und einer angeblichen Brandstiftung durch Paul McCartney und Pete Best Deutschland verlassen. Nur Stuart Sutcliffe blieb bei seiner Freundin Astrid Kirchherr in Hamburg, wo er am 10. April 1962 im Alter von nur 21 Jahren an einer Hirnblutung starb. In den folgenden zwei Jahren absolvierten die Beatles noch vier weitere Spielzeiten in der Hansestadt, davon eine im Top Ten Club, die restlichen im renommierten Star-Club.

Am 27. Dezember 1960 spielten die Beatles ein Konzert in der Liverpooler Litherland Town Hall, bei dem die Gruppe ihren Status als „beste Band der Stadt“ festigte und erste Anzeichen der aufkommenden Popularität zu spüren bekam. Bei diesem Auftritt wurde Sutcliffe durch den Studenten Chas Newby vertreten. Wenig später übernahm Paul McCartney endgültig die Rolle des Bassisten, und die Beatles wurden zu einer Vier-Mann-Band.

Die nachhaltige Wirkung ihres Konzertes in der Litherland Town Hall ermöglichte den Beatles Auftritte in zahlreichen Clubs von Liverpool und die damit verbundene Steigerung ihres Bekanntheitsgrades. Am 9. Februar 1961 feierten Lennon, McCartney, Harrison und Best ihr Debüt im Cavern Club, einem rauchig-düsteren Kellerlokal in der Mathew Street, das schnell zum Stammlokal der Gruppe wurde und heute durch 292 nachgewiesene[15][16] Auftritte einen Kultstatus innehat.

Amerika und die Welt (1964–1965)

Bereits kurz nach den ersten Erfolgen der Beatles hatte ihr Manager Brian Epstein versucht, die Gruppe auch auf dem US-amerikanischen Markt zu etablieren. Britische Musiker hatten es diesbezüglich in den USA traditionell schwer. Das US-Plattenlabel Capitol Records, das eigentlich die US-Vertriebsrechte für EMI wahrnahm, lehnte jedoch zunächst die Veröffentlichung von Beatles-Platten ab.

Im Februar 1963 sprang das kleine Label Vee-Jay Records ein, das die Single “Please Please Me / Ask Me Why” in den USA veröffentlichte. Ende Mai folgte die Single “From Me to You / Thank You Girl”. Beide Veröffentlichungen konnten sich nicht in den US-amerikanischen Hitparaden platzieren. Die nächste Single – “She Loves You / I’ll Get You” erschien in den USA im September 1963 auf dem Label Swan Records. Erst im Dezember 1963 war Capitol Records bereit, einen Tonträger der Beatles – die Single “I Want to Hold Your Hand / I Saw Her Standing There” – in den USA auf den Markt zu bringen. Capitol machte Promotion, Zeitungen schrieben über die seltsame Gruppe aus England, und die Radio-DJs fingen an, die Single zu spielen.

Am 16. Januar 1964 erreichte die Gruppenmitglieder in ihrem Pariser Hotelzimmer die Nachricht, dass mit I Want to Hold Your Hand die Eroberung der Spitzenposition in den US-Charts gelungen war. Der Durchbruch der Gruppe auf dem US-amerikanischen Markt war geschafft. Als Resultat dieses Erfolgs brachte Vee-Jay Records die früheren Tonträger ein weiteres Mal heraus und veröffentlichte im Januar 1964 das Album “Introducing… the Beatles”, um von der Popularität der Beatles zu profitieren.

Es kam zu Rechtsstreitigkeiten, die einen systematischen Vertrieb der Beatles-Singles in den USA behinderten. Folge war, dass gleich vier Plattenfirmen Beatles-Platten konkurrierend herausbrachten. Im April 1964 einigten sich Vee-Jay Records und Capitol Records darauf, dass Vee-Jay die 16 Beatles-Stücke, die vom Label bereits veröffentlicht worden waren, bis zum 15. Oktober 1964 weiterhin vertreiben durfte. Anschließend fielen die Veröffentlichungsrechte an Capitol.

Am 9. Februar 1964 traten die Beatles mit fünf Stücken (“All My Loving”, “Till There Was You”, “She Loves You”, “I Saw Her Standing There” und “I Want to Hold Your Hand”) in der populären Ed Sullivan Show auf. 73,7 Millionen Zuschauer an den Fernsehschirmen verfolgten die Live-Sendung.

Während der Show verlas der Moderator Ed Sullivan ein Glückwunschtelegramm von Elvis Presley und dessen Manager Tom Parker. Nach Konzerten in Washington und in der New Yorker Carnegie Hall flog die Gruppe nach Miami Beach (Florida), wo während eines Kurzurlaubs ein Treffen mit dem Boxer Cassius Clay stattfand. Nach einem weiteren Auftritt in der Ed Sullivan Show am 16. Februar kehrten die Beatles am 22. Februar 1964 nach London zurück.

Bis heute unerreicht ist die musikalische Dominanz, mit der die Beatles im April 1964 die Hitlisten beherrschten: In den USA besetzten sie am 4. April[25] die ersten fünf Plätze der Single-Hitparade (an der Spitze die am 16. März 1964 mit 1,7 Millionen Vorbestellungen veröffentlichte Single Can’t Buy Me Love), in Australien waren es sogar die ersten sechs Ränge. Zudem war die Gruppe mit sieben weiteren Stücken in den US-Top 100.

Wegen des anhaltenden Erfolgs wurde den Beatles geraten, sich auch im Filmgeschäft zu versuchen. Am 2. März 1964 begannen auf dem Londoner Marylebone-Bahnhof unter der Regie von Richard Lester die Dreharbeiten für die Musikkomödie “Yeah Yeah Yeah” (Originaltitel: A Hard Day’s Night). Das Titelstück “A Hard Day’s Night” komponierte John Lennon nach einer von Ringo Starr erfundenen Redewendung: Jener ging nach einem langen Arbeitstag aus dem Aufnahmestudio und wollte sagen “It’s been a hard day”, doch noch während er es sagte, bemerkte er, dass es bereits dunkel war und fügte in seiner typischen Art ein “’s night” an.

Der Schwarzweißfilm feierte am 6. Juli 1964 in London Weltpremiere und wurde zu einem Kassenschlager. Am 10. Juli erschienen das dazugehörige Soundtrack-Album, das erstmals nur Kompositionen von Lennon/McCartney enthielt (unter anderem Things “We Said Today”, “I Should Have Known Better”, “And I Love Her” und “If I Fell”) sowie die Single A Hard Day’s Night.

Nach einem knapp einmonatigen Urlaub gingen die Beatles ab dem 4. Juni 1964 erstmals auf Welttournee. Da Ringo Starr an einer schweren Mandelentzündung litt, wurde er bei den Auftritten in Europa und Hongkong durch den Session-Schlagzeuger Jimmie Nicol ersetzt. Erst in Sydney traf Starr wieder mit der Band zusammen. In Adelaide wurde die Gruppe von 300.000 Fans in der Innenstadt empfangen – der größten Menschenmenge, die sich bis dato in Australien versammelt hatte.

Am 10. Juli 1964 kehrten die Beatles für die Nordengland-Premiere von Yeah Yeah Yeah nach Liverpool zurück, wo sie von 203.000 Menschen an den Straßen begrüßt wurden. Zum Ende des Monats war die Gruppe erneut in Schweden zu Gast.

Vom 19. August bis 20. September 1964 absolvierten die Beatles ihre erste große US-Tournee, die einem Triumphzug glich. Neben Auftritten in San Francisco, Kansas City, Dallas und New Orleans spielte die Gruppe am 23. August in der Hollywood Bowl von Los Angeles. Am 28. August besuchte Bob Dylan die Band in ihrer Hotel-Suite in New York und führte sie in den Genuss von Marihuana ein.

Nur drei Wochen nach ihrer Rückkehr starteten die Beatles am 9. Oktober 1964 eine weitere, einmonatige Großbritannien-Tournee. Am 23. November wurde die Single “I Feel Fine” veröffentlicht. Das Album Beatles for Sale erschien am 4. Dezember 1964 und offenbarte nach Meinung von Kritikern erste Ermüdungserscheinungen.

Nur 8 von 14 Stücken waren Eigenkompositionen, darunter Eight Days a Week, Baby’s in Black und I’m a Loser. Tatsächlich hatten die vielen Konzerte und anderen Verpflichtungen den vieren kaum Zeit gelassen, neue Songs zu schreiben, was der Grund für die sechs Coverversionen auf dem Album war. Das Jahr endete mit der zweiten Auflage der Beatles Christmas Show im Londoner Hammersmith Odeon, die 39 Auftritte in drei Wochen beinhaltete.

Am 23. Februar 1965 begannen auf den Bahamas die Dreharbeiten für den zweiten Beatles-Film Hi-Hi-Hilfe!, diesmal in Farbe. Regisseur war erneut Richard Lester, zu den Nebendarstellern gehören Victor Spinetti und Eleanor Bron. Weitere Aufnahmen entstanden in Obertauern, London und auf dem Salisbury Plain in der Nähe von Stonehenge.

Die eher seichte Slapstick-Komödie feierte am 29. Juli 1965 im Beisein von Prinzessin Margaret in London Weltpremiere. Die Single Help! erschien am 19. Juli, das gleichnamige Soundtrack-Album (u. a. mit “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away”, “Another Girl” und “You’re Going to Lose that Girl”) am 6. August 1965.

Die neunte Beatles-Single Ticket to Ride war bereits am 6. April 1965 veröffentlicht worden. Zwei Monate später, am 14. Juni, produzierte die Gruppe in den Abbey Road Studios mit “Yesterday” eines ihrer bekanntesten Stücke.

Paul McCartney hatte die Ballade mit dem Arbeitstitel Scrambled Eggs (‚Rühreier‘) nach einer Melodie geschrieben, die ihm eines Tages beim Aufwachen im Haus seiner Freundin Jane Asher eingefallen war. Das als McCartney-Solo aufgenommene und mit Streichern unterlegte Lied wurde nicht als Single, sondern im Rahmen der Help!-LP und auf einer EP veröffentlicht. Es gehört heute zu den berühmtesten Pop-Stücken der Musikgeschichte.

Vom 20. Juni bis zum 3. Juli 1965 absolvierten die Beatles eine zweiwöchige Europatournee. Nur einen Monat später ging es erneut in die Vereinigten Staaten. Am 15. August 1965 spielte die Gruppe im ausverkauften New Yorker Shea Stadium vor 55.600 Zuschauern (darunter Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Barbara Bach und Linda Eastman) den größten Live-Auftritt ihrer Karriere.

Es war das erste Mal, dass eine Popgruppe in einem offenen Stadion auftrat und die bis dahin größte zahlende Zuschauermenge bei einem Konzert. Der Lärmpegel der weiblichen Fans war während der 30-minütigen Show so hoch, dass weder die Zuschauer noch die Beatles die Musik hören konnten.

Nachdem sich die Beatles während der Tournee bereits mit Stars wie Bob Dylan, Del Shannon, Joan Baez, Peter Fonda und Peter, Paul and Mary getroffen hatten, fand am 27. August 1965 das langerwartete Treffen mit ihrem Idol Elvis Presley in dessen Haus in Bel Air statt. Man unterhielt sich und ging schließlich zu einer Jam-Session über. Angeblich wurde dabei eine Coverversion von “You’re My World” auf Band mitgeschnitten.

Am 12. Juni 1965 gab das britische Königshaus bekannt, dass die Beatles wegen ihrer Verdienste um die britische Exportindustrie von Königin Elisabeth II. mit dem MBE-Orden ausgezeichnet werden würden. Die Ehrung fand am 26. Oktober 1965 im Londoner Buckingham Palace statt. 4000 Fans und Journalisten harrten vor dem Gebäude aus.

Die Hysterie um die Ordensverleihung blieb allerdings nicht ohne Folgen. Vornehmlich Militärs waren es, die ihre jahrzehntelange Pflichterfüllung im Dienste der Krone durch die Verleihung desselben Ordens an eine Popgruppe herabgesetzt sahen und daraufhin ihre MBE-Orden zurückgaben.

Neue Klänge und das Ende der Tourneen (1965–1967)

Am 3. Dezember 1965 veröffentlichten die Beatles die Doppel-A-Seiten-Single “We Can Work It Out” / “Day Tripper” und das Album Rubber Soul. Die Stücke der LP (unter anderem “Drive My Car”, “Nowhere Man”, “Girl” und “In My Life”) lassen erste Anzeichen eines musikalisch-geistigen Reifungsprozesses der Gruppenmitglieder erkennen.

Bei Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) spielte George Harrison auf einer Sitar, einem indischen Instrument, das er während der Dreharbeiten zu Hi-Hi-Hilfe! kennengelernt hatte. Paul McCartney steuerte mit Michelle eine englisch-französische Ballade bei. Zu einigen der Lieder drehten die Beatles erstmals sogenannte „Promotionfilme“, Vorläufer von Musikvideos.

Zur selben Zeit starteten die Beatles ihre sechste und letzte Großbritannien-Tournee (unter anderem mit The Moody Blues als Vorgruppe). Während dieser Tour bestritten sie auch den letzten Auftritt in ihrer Heimatstadt Liverpool am 5. Dezember 1965. Viele ihrer Freunde und Verwandten saßen im Publikum.

Am 1. Mai 1966 standen die Beatles im Rahmen des NME-Poll-Winners-Konzerts zum letzten Mal auf einer britischen Konzertbühne. Einige Aufregung verursachte im Juni 1966 die Veröffentlichung des US-Albums Yesterday and Today. Das Coverfoto zeigte die Beatles inmitten von rohem Fleisch und zerbrochenen Puppen (Butcher Cover). Nach scharfen Protesten aus der Öffentlichkeit wurde die LP zurückgezogen und erschien mit einem neuen Cover. Am 10. Juni 1966 kam die Single „Paperback Writer“ in die Läden.

Vom 24. Juni bis zum 4. Juli 1966 absolvierten die Beatles eine weitere Welttournee, die im Rahmen der BRAVO-Beatles-Blitztournee auch sechs Konzerte an drei Tagen in Deutschland umfasste (München, Essen und – zum letzten Mal am 26. Juni – Hamburg). Für Unfrieden sorgten Proteste von Traditionalisten in Japan, die einen Auftritt der Gruppe im Budōkan, einer vorwiegend der Kampfkunst vorbehaltenen Halle in Tokio, ablehnten.

In Manila spielte die Gruppe zwei Konzerte vor insgesamt 80.000 Zuschauern. Die Tour endete mit einem Eklat, als Brian Epstein im Namen der Band eine Einladung der philippinischen Diktatoren-Gattin Imelda Marcos zum Abendessen ablehnte. Während der darauffolgenden hastigen Abreise wurden die Beatles und ihre Mitarbeiter auf dem Flughafen der Hauptstadt von „Sicherheitskräften“ attackiert. Ringo Starr ging nach einem Kinnhaken zu Boden, ein Chauffeur erlitt einen Rippenbruch.

Die Veröffentlichung der LP “Pet Sounds” durch die Beach Boys spornte Lennon und McCartney zu neuen Höchstleistungen an. Am 5. August 1966 erschien das Album Revolver, mit dem die Beatles in Bezug auf Klang und instrumentale Bandbreite musikalisches Neuland betraten, was einzelne zeitgenössische Kritiker bewog, das Album vorschnell als „Selbstmordwaffe“ des Quartetts abzuwerten. Das Cover des Albums wurde von Klaus Voormann, dem Freund aus Hamburger Tagen, gestaltet.

Die langwierig ausgefeilten, teilweise auch unter Drogeneinfluss entstandenen Stücke, darunter Eleanor Rigby, Taxman, Good Day Sunshine, I’m Only Sleeping, For No One und das psychedelisch angehauchte Tomorrow Never Knows, waren aufwendig mit klassischen Elementen und Tonbandschleifen aus dem Studio angereichert worden. Gleichzeitig wurde die populäre Single Yellow Submarine veröffentlicht, ein Kinderlied, das Paul McCartney für den stimmlich etwas eingeschränkten Ringo Starr komponiert hatte. Die Single erreichte in den USA „nur“ Rang 2 der Hitlisten.

Am 12. August 1966 starteten die Beatles in Chicago ihre vierte US-Tournee. Die Vorkommnisse in Asien und die Tatsache, dass durch den enormen Lärmpegel während der Auftritte kaum noch Musik zu hören war, sorgten bei den Gruppenmitgliedern zunehmend für Verdrossenheit. Neue Aufregung entstand durch die Veröffentlichung einer Bemerkung John Lennons aus einem früheren Interview, wonach die Beatles „schon jetzt populärer als Jesus“ seien.

Nach nervenaufreibenden Pressekonferenzen, öffentlichen Plattenverbrennungen und Demonstrationen des Ku-Klux-Klans entschloss sich die Gruppe, nicht mehr auf Tournee zu gehen und ihre Arbeit ausschließlich ins Studio zu verlegen. Die Tournee endete am 29. August 1966 mit einem Konzert vor 25.000 Zuhörenden (Eintrittspreis damals fünf US-Dollar) im Candlestick Park von San Francisco.

Im Herbst 1966 gönnten sich die Beatles einen fast dreimonatigen Urlaub, der einen radikalen Imagewandel nach sich zog. John Lennon wurde in Celle, wo er für den Richard-Lester-Film Wie ich den Krieg gewann vor der Kamera stand, der Pilzkopf gestutzt. Die Anzüge der Liveshows gehörten der Vergangenheit an und wurden durch farbenfrohe Kleidung ersetzt. Zudem ließen sich die vier Bandmitglieder einen Schnurrbart stehen.

Allen Trennungsgerüchten zum Trotz begann die Gruppe am 24. November 1966 mit den Aufnahmen für ein neues Album. Am 13. Februar 1967 erschien die Doppel-A-Seiten-Single „Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane“, auf der sich die Beatles musikalisch-nostalgisch ihrer Heimatstadt Liverpool widmen.

Erstmals seit 1963 erreichte die Platte nicht die Spitze der britischen Hitparade, sondern blieb auf Rang 2 stehen, was darauf zurückzuführen ist, dass die Verkaufszahlen der Single durch zwei geteilt wurden, um somit als zwei einzelne Singles in den britischen Charts geführt werden zu können.

Fünf Monate lang arbeiteten Lennon, McCartney, Harrison und Starr in den Abbey Road Studios an ihrer LP „Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band“, die als eines der ersten Konzeptalben in die Musikgeschichte einging.

Die unbegrenzt verfügbare Aufnahmezeit ermöglichte es den Beatles, alle Studioressourcen einzusetzen und wochenlang an einzelnen Musik- oder Textpassagen zu feilen. Es entstanden Stücke wie “With a Little Help from My Friends”, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds und When I’m Sixty-Four.

An den Aufnahmen zu A Day in the Life wirkte ein 41-köpfiges Orchester mit. Für das Coverfoto ließen sich die Beatles in Kostümen vor einer Bilderwand berühmter Persönlichkeiten (unter anderem Stan Laurel, Mae West, Bob Dylan, Shirley Temple, Aleister Crowley und Marlon Brando) ablichten. Begleitet von großem Medieninteresse wurde Sgt. Pepper am 1. Juni 1967 veröffentlicht.

Peace & Revolution (1967–1968)

Nachdem Bob Dylan die Beatles 1964 mit der Droge Marihuana bekannt gemacht hatte, griffen die Gruppenmitglieder im Laufe der Zeit auch zu stärkeren Drogen. John Lennon und George Harrison waren bereits 1965 mit LSD in Kontakt gekommen. Paul McCartney gab im Juni 1967 während eines Fernsehinterviews öffentlichkeitswirksam bekannt, viermal LSD konsumiert zu haben.

Am 25. Juni 1967 traten die Beatles mit der von Lennon komponierten Friedenshymne “All You Need Is Love” in der per Satellit weltweit übertragenen BBC-Fernsehsendung Our World Live auf, die von 400 Millionen Zuschauern gesehen wurde.

Zu den Gästen in den Abbey Road Studios, wo die Aufnahmen stattfanden, gehörten Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Keith Moon und Marianne Faithfull. Die Single All You Need Is Love wurde am 7. Juli 1967 veröffentlicht. Sie brachte die Gruppe beiderseits des Atlantiks an die Spitze der Hitparaden zurück.

Ende Juli 1967 verbrachten die Mitglieder der Beatles mit ihren Frauen einen gemeinsamen Urlaub in Griechenland. Die Idee zum Kauf einer privaten Insel und die damit verbundene Einrichtung eines Aufnahmestudios wurde verworfen, nachdem die griechische Regierung den Besuch zur Touristenwerbung genutzt hatte. Am 19. August 1967 wurde Ringo Starrs zweiter Sohn Jason in London geboren.

Auf Pattie Harrisons Anregung hin besuchten die Beatles am 24. August 1967 einen Vortrag des indischen Gurus Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, der in London für die Techniken der Transzendentalen Meditation warb. Die Gruppe wurde zu einem Einführungs-Wochenende nach Bangor eingeladen. Mit dabei waren auch Mick Jagger und Marianne Faithfull. Während des Kurses erhielten die Beatles die Nachricht, dass ihr Manager Brian Epstein am 27. August 1967 tot in seiner Wohnung aufgefunden worden war.

Schockiert vom Tod ihres Freundes begannen die Beatles am 11. September 1967 mit den Dreharbeiten für ihren dritten Film Magical Mystery Tour. Die psychedelische Komödie nach einer Idee von Paul McCartney entstand völlig ohne Drehbuch. McCartney übernahm weitgehend die Rolle des Regisseurs, was bei Lennon und Harrison für Verstimmungen sorgte.

Das Soundtrack-Album “Magical Mystery Tour” (unter anderem mit The Fool on the Hill und I Am the Walrus) wurde am 27. November in den USA veröffentlicht. Die Single Hello, Goodbye erschien bereits am 24. November. Am 26. Dezember 1967 feierte Magical Mystery Tour im BBC-Fernsehen Weltpremiere, um kurz darauf – als erster Misserfolg – von Presse und Kritikern verrissen zu werden.

Mitte Februar 1968 reisten die Beatles mit ihren Frauen nach Rishikesh (Indien), wo ein mehrwöchiger Meditationskurs des Maharishi stattfand. Weitere Teilnehmer waren Mia Farrow, Mike Love und Donovan. Ringo Starr kehrte bereits Anfang März nach England zurück, Paul McCartney folgte drei Wochen später.

John Lennon und George Harrison verließen Indien erst Mitte April, nachdem Lennons Freund Yanni „Magic Alex“ Alexis Mardas das Gerücht verbreitet hatte, der Maharishi habe Mia Farrow und andere weibliche Kursteilnehmer sexuell belästigt – ein Gerücht, das von Farrow selbst nie bestätigt wurde und für das sich George Harrison später beim Maharishi entschuldigt haben soll.

Während der Indienreise erschien am 15. März 1968 die an den Stil von Fats Domino angelehnte Single Lady Madonna. Der Aufenthalt in Rishikesh war nach Ansicht von Paul Saltzman, Autor eines Bildbandes über jene Tage, die kreativste Zeit der Beatles: 48 Songs seien in diesen sieben Wochen komponiert worden.

Am 11. Mai 1968 flogen John Lennon und Paul McCartney nach New York, wo sie bei Pressekonferenzen und Fernsehauftritten das neue Beatles-Unternehmen Apple vorstellten. Der Konzern mit Abteilungen für Musik, Film und Kunst sollte sich vorrangig der Entdeckung und Förderung von Talenten aller Art widmen. Als Leiter ihrer Pressestelle engagierten sie den Journalisten Derek Taylor, der 1964 bereits einmal als Pressesprecher für die Gruppe gearbeitet hatte.

In der Folgezeit entwickelte sich Apple jedoch durch den mangelnden Geschäftssinn der Beatles und ihrer Mitarbeiter zum Millionengrab. Bereits im November 1967 war in London eine Apple-Boutique eröffnet worden, die jedoch mangels Einnahmen nach wenigen Monaten geschlossen werden musste. Zu den wenigen Lichtblicken gehörte die Entdeckung der Sängerin Mary Hopkin und der Gruppe Badfinger durch Paul McCartney.

Die fortschreitende Liebesbeziehung John Lennons zu Yoko Ono – er hatte die japanische Avantgarde-Künstlerin am 9. November 1966 bei einer ihrer Londoner Ausstellungen kennengelernt – führte im Mai 1968 zur Trennung von Ehefrau Cynthia.

Am 30. Mai 1968 begannen die Beatles mit den Aufnahmen zu einem neuen Album; in Anbetracht der Fülle der in Indien komponierten Stücke entschloss man sich zur Produktion eines Doppelalbums. Die Arbeiten, die wegen des Termindrucks teilweise getrennt stattfanden, wurden von einer zunehmend schlechten Stimmung zwischen den Gruppenmitgliedern geprägt.

Neben der offenen Abneigung, die McCartney, Harrison und Starr gegenüber Yoko Ono hegten, war man sich auch über die Single-Auskopplung des Lennon-Songs „Revolution“ uneinig. Nach einem heftigen Streit verließ Ringo Starr die Gruppe, konnte aber zur Rückkehr überredet werden.

Trotz aller Schwierigkeiten bewerkstelligten die Beatles die Aufnahme von Liedern wie „Back in the USSR“, „Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da“, „Dear Prudence“, „Helter Skelter“ und „Happiness Is a Warm Gun“. Bei George Harrisons Komposition „While My Guitar Gently Weeps“ wurde die Gruppe von Eric Clapton unterstützt, der das E-Gitarren-Solo spielte.

„Yellow Submarine“, ein Zeichentrickfilm, der auf dem gleichnamigen Lied basiert, feierte am 17. Juli 1968 in London Weltpremiere. Das dazugehörige Soundtrack-Album erschien erst am 13. Januar 1969 und ist die einzige Beatles-LP, die nicht die Spitze der Charts erreichte – möglicherweise, weil die zweite Seite des Albums nur Instrumentalmusik im „Klassikstil“ von George Martin enthält.

Mit der Veröffentlichung von „Hey Jude“ am 26. August 1968 (erstmals auf dem Apple-Label) gelang der Gruppe ein weiterer Welterfolg. Das von Paul McCartney komponierte Stück über die Situation von John Lennons Sohn Julian nach der Trennung seiner Eltern wurde zur erfolgreichsten Beatles-Single überhaupt.

Am 4. September spielte die Gruppe das Lied in der britischen Fernsehsendung „Frost on Sunday“ – der letzte gemeinsame Fernsehauftritt der Beatles. Das Album „The Beatles“, wegen seines vollständig weißen Covers auch als „White Album“ (deutsch: ‚Weißes Album‘) bekannt, erschien am 22. November 1968. Die ersten Auflagen waren mit einer fortlaufenden Nummerierung versehen, sodass jedes Cover ein Unikat war.

Am 1. November 1968 veröffentlichte George Harrison sein erstes Soloalbum Wonderwall Music, das den Soundtrack zum Film Wonderwall darstellt. Am 12. November folgten John Lennon und Yoko Ono mit ihrer Avantgarde-LP Unfinished Music No.1: Two Virgins, die vor allem wegen des Coverbildes, das Lennon und Ono nackt zeigt, für Aufregung sorgte.

Die Trennung (1969–1970)

Am 2. Januar 1969 begannen die Beatles in den Filmstudios von London-Twickenham mit den Dreharbeiten für die Musikdokumentation „Get Back“ (später: “Let It Be”). Nach der Idee von Paul McCartney sollte die Gruppe bei der Produktion eines neuen Albums und der Ausarbeitung einer Liveshow von Kameras beobachtet werden. Die Stücke sollten ohne Orchesterbegleitung und Doppelspur-Aufnahmen eingespielt werden.

Regisseur war Michael Lindsay-Hogg. Schon nach wenigen Tagen bildeten sich erneut Spannungen zwischen den Bandmitgliedern. Während sich John Lennon zunehmend unbeteiligt zeigte und bei Entscheidungen Yoko Ono für sich sprechen ließ, übernahm Paul McCartney wiederholt die Rolle des Produktionsleiters. George Harrison und Ringo Starr debattierten über das Ausmaß der geplanten Liveshow.

Am 10. Januar 1969 verließ Harrison das Aufnahmestudio, nachdem er von McCartney vor laufenden Kameras für sein Gitarrenspiel kritisiert worden war. Nach einem klärenden Gespräch setzten Lennon, McCartney, Harrison und Starr die Dreharbeiten zwölf Tage später in den neu eingerichteten Londoner Apple-Studios fort. Mit dabei war der Keyboarder Billy Preston, der zur Beruhigung der Situation beitrug.

Nach dem Ende der Dreharbeiten wurde das Get-Back-Projekt im Februar vorläufig auf Eis gelegt. Am 12. März 1969 heiratete Paul McCartney die Fotografin Linda Eastman in London. Gleichzeitig wurden George und Pattie Harrison von dem Rauschgiftfahnder Norman Pilcher, der im Herbst 1968 bereits John Lennon und Yoko Ono verhaftet hatte, wegen Drogenbesitzes festgenommen und später zu Geldstrafen verurteilt.

John Lennon und Yoko Ono heirateten am 20. März im britischen Konsulat von Gibraltar. Anstatt einer Hochzeitsreise entschloss sich das Paar, eine Woche lang in einem Hotelbett in Amsterdam für den Frieden zu demonstrieren (Bed-in). Später folgten weitere Friedensproteste, darunter ein weiteres Bed-in in Montreal, mehrere Auftritte in Säcken (Bagism) und die Rückgabe von Lennons MBE-Orden.

Im Frühling 1969 nahmen die geschäftlichen Probleme der Beatles überhand, als Dick James und dessen Partner Charles Silver ohne Wissen der Gruppenmitglieder ihre Anteile an Northern Songs Ltd., die die Lennon/McCartney-Kompositionsrechte beinhalten, an die Associated Television Corporation (ATV) verkauften.

Im Laufe der Bemühungen zu einem Rückkauf stellte sich heraus, dass Paul McCartney seine Anteile ohne das Wissen von John Lennon erhöht hatte. Für zusätzliche Verwicklungen sorgten Lennon, Harrison und Starr am 8. Mai, als sie den Geschäftsmann Allen Klein gegen den Willen von McCartney als neuen Beatles-Manager einsetzten.

Am 11. April 1969 veröffentlichten die Beatles ihre Single Get Back. Bereits am 29. Mai folgte das ausschließlich von John Lennon und Paul McCartney eingespielte Stück „The Ballad of John and Yoko“.

Trotz der persönlichen und geschäftlichen Differenzen begannen die Beatles am 16. April 1969 mit den Aufnahmen für ein neues Album. Durch die von den Gruppenmitgliedern angestrebte Konzentration auf ihre Musik und die von Produzent George Martin unterstützte Rückbesinnung auf die Machart früherer Arbeiten verlief die Produktion weitgehend harmonisch.

Unter einer spürbaren sentimentalen Abschiedsstimmung entstanden Klassiker wie „Come Together“, „Golden Slumbers“, „Oh! Darling“, „Octopus’s Garden“ (eine Komposition von Ringo Starr) und Here Comes the Sun (Harrison). Am 20. August 1969 waren die Beatles zum letzten Mal zu viert im Studio, und zwei Tage später fanden im Tittenhurst Park die letzten gemeinsamen Fotoaufnahmen statt.

Paul und Linda McCartneys erste Tochter Mary wurde am 28. August 1969 in London geboren.

Am 20. September 1969 unterzeichneten John Lennon, Paul McCartney und Ringo Starr in London einen neuen Tantiemen-Vertrag mit der EMI und Capitol Records. Als McCartney während des Treffens eine Reihe weiterer Beatles-Konzerte vorschlug, erklärte John Lennon seinen Ausstieg aus der Gruppe.

Sechs Tage später wurde das Album Abbey Road, auf dessen berühmtem Cover die Beatles den Zebrastreifen der Londoner Abbey Road überqueren, veröffentlicht. Die LP endet nach einem mehrteiligen Medley mit dem Stück The End, das mit den Worten schließt:

“And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.”

„Und am Ende ist die Liebe, die du empfängst, gleich der Liebe, die du gibst.“

Die Dreharbeiten für den Promofilm zur Single Something, die am 6. Oktober erschien, und die Aufnahme einer Weihnachtsplatte für die Fanclubs im November gingen bereits getrennt vonstatten. Nach einer Fernseh- und Presse-Umfrage wurde John Lennon am 2. Dezember 1969 neben John F. Kennedy und Mao Zedong zum Mann des Jahrzehnts gewählt.

Im Oktober 1969 und Anfang der 1970er Jahre geriet das White Album noch einmal in den Fokus der Weltöffentlichkeit, da das Doppelalbum eine Rolle bei einer Mordserie in Los Angeles spielte, die aufgrund der Prominenz der Opfer ein großes Medieninteresse hervorrief und die Aufklärung der Morde in diesem Zeitraum erfolgte.

Der Sektenführer Charles Manson und seine Anhänger meinten aus einzelnen darin veröffentlichten Liedern (Helter Skelter, Piggies, Blackbird, Honey Pie, Revolution 9) Botschaften herauszuhören und initiierten nachfolgend eine Mordserie, deren prominentestes Opfer die hochschwangere Schauspielerin Sharon Tate war (siehe: Mansons „Helter Skelter“).

Die Beatles distanzierten sich von Mansons Interpretation ihrer Lieder. Die Verkaufszahlen des Weißen Albums stiegen in den USA aufgrund des Medienhypes um den Prozess stark an. Das White Album ist bis heute das Beatles-Album mit den meisten Auszeichnungen der RIAA in den USA.

Während sich John Lennon mit seiner Frau Yoko Ono in Dänemark aufhielt, arbeiteten Paul McCartney, George Harrison und Ringo Starr am 3. Januar 1970 in den Abbey Road Studios an der Harrison-Komposition I Me Mine. Einen Tag später vollendete McCartney sein Stück Let It Be, das am 6. März 1970 als Single veröffentlicht wurde. Am 27. März 1970 erschien Ringo Starrs erstes Soloalbum „Sentimental Journey“.

Ohne das Wissen von Paul McCartney hatte John Lennon den Produzenten Phil Spector mit der Abmischung der Filmbänder vom Januar 1969 beauftragt. Dieser veränderte den ursprünglichen Get-Back-Gedanken einer einfachen Aufnahmetechnik und versetzte die Stücke mit klassischer Begleitung und Gesangsdoppelungen.

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeiten fand am 1. April 1970 die letzte Beatles-Aufnahmesitzung statt, als Ringo Starr in den Abbey Road Studios für drei der Stücke Schlagzeug-Overdubs einspielte. Das Soundtrack-Album wurde schließlich als Let It Be am 8. Mai 1970 veröffentlicht. Der gleichnamige Film feierte am 20. Mai in London Weltpremiere und wurde ein Jahr später mit einem Oscar für die beste Filmmusik ausgezeichnet.

Am 10. April 1970 schickte Paul McCartney der britischen Presse ein in den Vorabexemplaren seiner ersten Solo-LP McCartney enthaltenes Interview, in dem er die Trennung der Beatles bekanntgab:

Am 8. Dezember 1980 wurde der 40-jährige John Lennon, der gerade mit dem Album Double Fantasy sein musikalisches Comeback gefeiert hatte, vor seinem Wohnhaus in New York von dem psychisch gestörten Fan Mark David Chapman erschossen. Paul McCartney (gerade in London), George Harrison (in Henley-on-Thames) und Ringo Starr (auf den Bahamas) wurden telefonisch über den Tod ihres Ex-Partners informiert.

Starr flog am 9. Dezember mit seiner Freundin Barbara Bach nach New York und besuchte Yoko Ono und Sean Lennon im Dakota-Haus. Eine Woche später trafen sich die restlichen Ex-Beatles mit Ono im Plaza Hotel, um die geschäftlichen Konsequenzen von Lennons Ermordung zu diskutieren.

„Nach allem, was wir durchgemacht haben, mag und respektiere ich ihn immer noch sehr. Ich bin bestürzt und fassungslos. Jemandem das Leben zu rauben ist der schlimmste Raub, den man im Leben begehen kann. Dieses ewige Eingreifen in den Freiraum anderer Menschen wird durch den Gebrauch einer Waffe aufs Äußerste getrieben. Es ist ein Gräuel, dass man das Leben eines anderen nehmen kann, wenn man sein eigenes Leben nicht im Griff hat.“

– Presseerklärung von George Harrison

Als Ringo Starr am 27. April 1981 die Schauspielerin Barbara Bach in London heiratete, gehörten auch Paul und Linda McCartney sowie George und Olivia Harrison zu den 70 Gästen. Während der Feier traten McCartney, Harrison und Starr mit Harry Nilsson und Ray Cooper als All-Star-Band auf. Am 11. Mai veröffentlichte George Harrison die John-Lennon-Tribut-Single „All Those Years Ago“, die musikalische Beiträge von Paul McCartney und Ringo Starr enthält. Starrs Album „Stop and Smell the Roses“ vom 27. Oktober beinhaltete je zwei McCartney- und Harrison-Kompositionen.

Die am 26. April 1982 veröffentlichte Paul-McCartney-LP „Tug of War“ enthält das John-Lennon-Tribut-Stück „Here Today“. Ringo Starr spielte bei „Take It Away“ Schlagzeug. Am 24. Mai besuchten George Harrison und Ringo Starr die Aufführung des Films The Cooler (mit Starr und McCartney) auf dem Filmfestival von Cannes. Am 23. Juni spielten Paul McCartney und Ringo Starr ein gemeinsames Konzert vor Fanclub-Mitgliedern in den Elstree Film Studios in Hertfordshire.

Den möglichen Rückkauf der Firma Northern Songs erörterten Paul McCartney, George Harrison und Ringo Starr bei einem Treffen am 25. Juli 1983 im Londoner Gore-Hotel. Im September klagten die drei Ex-Beatles gegen eine Veröffentlichung der Beatles-Fan-Club-Weihnachtssingles aus den Jahren 1963 bis 1969. Bei einem weiteren Geschäftstreffen mit Yoko Ono am 1. Dezember wurde über die Zukunft von Apple diskutiert.

Am 25. Oktober 1984 feierte der Paul-McCartney-Kinofilm Broad Street in New York Weltpremiere. Der Film und der Soundtrack Give My Regards to Broad Street entstanden in enger Zusammenarbeit mit Ringo Starr. Im Dezember verhinderten die drei Ex-Beatles die Veröffentlichung des Albums The Beatles Sessions, das bisher unveröffentlichte Aufnahmen enthalten hätte.

Im Jahr 1985 flammten die geschäftlichen Auseinandersetzungen zwischen den Ex-Beatles erneut auf. Am 25. Februar wurde Paul McCartney von George Harrison, Ringo Starr und Yoko Ono verklagt, da er angeblich seine Tantiemen-Quoten an den Beatles-Platten heimlich erhöht hatte. Am 4. April feierte der von George Harrison produzierte Film Wasser – Der Film Premiere, in dem Harrison unter anderem mit Ringo Starr und Eric Clapton das Lied Freedom singt.

Am 10. August kaufte Michael Jackson für 47,5 Millionen Dollar die Rechte an allen 251 Lennon/McCartney-Kompositionen. Der unterlegene Bieter Paul McCartney war entsetzt, da Yoko Ono ihm versichert hatte, ein Angebot von fünf Millionen Dollar würde ausreichen.

Ab dem 26. Februar 1987 wurden sämtliche Beatles-Alben auf CD neu veröffentlicht. Dabei stieg Sgt. Pepper zum 20-jährigen Jubiläum bis auf Rang 3 der britischen Hitparade. Am 5. Juni traten George Harrison und Ringo Starr gemeinsam bei der Prince’s Trust Rock Gala in der Londoner Wembley Arena auf. Auf dem am 2. November veröffentlichten Harrison-Album „Cloud Nine“, das auch den Beatles-Tribut-Song „When We Was Fab“ enthält, spielte Starr Schlagzeug.

George Harrison und Ringo Starr nahmen am 20. Januar 1988 an der Einführung der Beatles in die Rock and Roll Hall of Fame im New Yorker Waldorf Astoria-Hotel teil. Paul McCartney blieb wegen der andauernden geschäftlichen Differenzen fern. Harrison und Starr gaben mit Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen und Mike Love ein All-Star-Konzert. Am 8. März wurden die Alben „Past Masters Vol. 1 & 2“ veröffentlicht, die eine Zusammenfassung aller Beatles-Singles und EPs enthalten.

Am 8. November 1989 wurden die Plattenfirmen EMI und Capitol dazu verurteilt, 100 Millionen US-Dollar unbeglichene Tantiemen an die Ex-Beatles nachzuzahlen. Ende des Monats enthielt eine Presseerklärung von George Harrison das Zitat, die Beatles würden sich nicht wiedervereinigen „solange John Lennon tot bleibt“.

Im April 1990 wurden vier in den Jahren 1983/1984 entdeckte Asteroiden von der Internationalen Astronomischen Union in Lennon, McCartney, Harrison und Starr umbenannt. Im Oktober 1991 endete der zweite Rechtsstreit zwischen Apple Corps und der Computerfirma Apple in einer außergerichtlichen Einigung.

Am 6. April 1992 trat Ringo Starr auf einem von George Harrison organisierten Wohltätigkeitskonzert zugunsten der Meditiations-Organisation Natural Law Party in der Londoner Royal Albert Hall auf. Am 8. Oktober trafen sich McCartney, Harrison und Starr mit Yoko Ono zu einer Geschäftsbesprechung in der Londoner MPL-Zentrale.

Anthology (1994–2001)

Bereits 1970 und 1980 hatte es Pläne für eine groß angelegte Fernsehdokumentation unter dem Arbeitstitel The Long and Winding Road gegeben, bei der Neil Aspinall die Geschichte der Beatles aufarbeiten sollte. Kurz vor der Ermordung John Lennons waren die Verhandlungen mit den Ex-Mitgliedern, die als Teil der Werbekampagne sogar einem gemeinsamen Live-Auftritt zugestimmt hatten, weit fortgeschritten.

Am 19. Januar 1994 wurde John Lennon postum in Anwesenheit von Paul McCartney und Yoko Ono im New Yorker Waldorf-Astoria-Hotel als Solointerpret in die Rock and Roll Hall of Fame aufgenommen. Auf der anschließenden Pressekonferenz bestätigte McCartney die Gerüchte um eine bevorstehende Beatles-Reunion. Ono übergab McCartney vier von Lennon in den 1970er Jahren angefertigte Demobänder, die bis dato unveröffentlichte Stücke enthielten.

Ein Querschnitt der Beatles-Rundfunkaufnahmen aus den Jahren 1963 bis 1965 wurde am 30. November 1994 auf dem Doppel-Album Live at the BBC veröffentlicht, das die Spitze der britischen Hitparade erreichte. Ringo Starrs ehemalige Frau Maureen Tigrett starb am 30. Dezember im Alter von 48 Jahren in Los Angeles an den Folgen einer Leukämie-Knochenmarktransplantation.

Am 6. Februar 1995 nahm die Gruppe in Peasmarsh die Arbeit zu ihrer zweiten neuen Single Real Love auf. Die Produktion gestaltete sich diesmal schwieriger, da die Tonqualität des Demobandes katastrophal war. Die Vollendung der weiteren neuen Stücke, „Now and Then“ und „Grow Old with Me“, wurde einen Monat später wegen Meinungsverschiedenheiten abgebrochen.

In Anwesenheit von George Martin begannen die Beatles am 22. Mai 1995 in den Londoner Abbey Road Studios mit der Auswahl und Abmischung der Stücke für die geplanten drei Anthology-Alben, die Outtakes und unveröffentlichte Stücke der Gruppe enthalten sollten. Ihr langjähriger Freund Klaus Voormann wurde mit der Covergestaltung beauftragt. Im Oktober und November fanden Dreharbeiten für die Videoclips zu „Free as a Bird“ und „Real Love“ statt.

Begleitet von einer monströsen Werbekampagne feierte am 19. November 1995 der erste Teil der fünfstündigen Dokumentation „The Beatles Anthology“ im US-Fernsehen Weltpremiere. Zwei Tage später wurde das Doppelalbum „Anthology 1“ mit Titeln aus den Jahren 1958 bis 1964 veröffentlicht. Es erreichte die Spitze der US-Hitparade. Am 4. Dezember kam die Single „Free as a Bird“ in die Läden, die entgegen allen Erwartungen hinter Michael Jacksons Earth Song auf Rang 2 der britischen Hitlisten stehen blieb.

Am 4. März 1996 erschien die zweite Comeback-Single „Real Love“, die vom britischen BBC-Rundfunk wegen „tontechnischer Gründe“ aus dem Programm verbannt wurde. Anthology 2 (mit Titeln von 1965 bis 1968) erschien am 18. März und stieg beiderseits des Atlantiks an die Spitze der Hitlisten. Der Beatles-Produzent George Martin wurde am 15. Juni zum Ritter geschlagen. Am 7. Oktober erschien die Anthology in einer achtteiligen Videobox.

In einer Presseerklärung gaben McCartney, Harrison und Starr am 17. Oktober 1996 bekannt, dass es keine weiteren gemeinsamen Aufnahmen geben würde. Das am 28. Oktober veröffentlichte Doppelalbum Anthology 3 (mit Titeln von 1968 bis 1970) erreichte wiederum Rang 1 der US-Hitlisten.

Die Beatles sind damit die einzige Gruppe, von denen zweimal innerhalb von zwölf Monaten drei Alben die Spitze der US-LP-Hitparade erreichten (1964 und 1996). Insgesamt wurde die Gruppe für die dreiteilige Anthology mit 15 Multi-Platin-Schallplatten und drei Grammy Awards ausgezeichnet.

Am 11. März 1997 wurde Paul McCartney im Londoner Buckingham Palace von Königin Elisabeth II. zum Ritter geschlagen. Zwei Monate später veröffentlichte er das Album „Flaming Pie“ (benannt nach Lennons Äußerung zur Entstehung des Namens „Beatles“), das musikalische Beiträge von Ringo Starr enthält.

McCartney revanchierte sich ein Jahr später bei dessen CD Vertical Man. Am 14. Oktober besuchten die beiden Ex-Beatles gemeinsam die Weltpremiere von McCartneys Orchesterwerk Standing Stone in der Royal Albert Hall.

Im Mai 1998 klagten Paul McCartney, George Harrison und Ringo Starr gegen eine Plattenfirma, die den Mitschnitt eines Star-Club-Konzerts der Beatles auf CD veröffentlicht hatte. Am 8. Juni nahmen McCartney, Harrison und Starr in London an der Trauerfeier für Linda McCartney teil, die am 17. April in Tucson (Arizona) ihrem Brustkrebsleiden erlegen war. Am 28. Dezember wurden die Beatles mit einem Stern auf dem Hollywood Walk of Fame verewigt.

Am 14. September 1999 wurde der digital restaurierte Zeichentrickfilm Yellow Submarine auf DVD veröffentlicht. Gleichzeitig erschien ein neu zusammengestelltes und abgemischtes Soundtrack-Album. Zum Ende des Jahres wurden die Beatles in einer landesweiten Umfrage unter 600.000 britischen Bürgern zu den Bedeutendsten Künstlern und zur Besten Musikgruppe des 20. Jahrhunderts gewählt. „Sgt. Pepper’s“ gewann die Wahl zum Besten Album.

Am 30. Dezember wurde George Harrison bei einem Messerattentat in seiner Villa in Henley-on-Thames im Brustbereich verletzt.

Bereits im August/September 1997 hatte sich George Harrison nach der Entfernung eines geschwollenen Lymphknotens in London einer Radium-Strahlentherapie unterzogen. Im Januar 1998 folgte eine Behandlung in der renommierten Mayo Clinic von Rochester (Minnesota). Am 21. März 2001 wurde Harrison mit Verdacht auf Lungenkrebs erneut ins Krankenhaus eingeliefert.

Bei der anschließenden Operation wurde ein bösartiges Krebsgeschwür von der Lunge entfernt. Paul McCartney besuchte seinen Ex-Kollegen am 8. Mai während dessen Erholungsurlaubs in der Toskana. Nur eine Woche später diagnostizierten Ärzte der Krebsklinik von Bellinzona einen schweren Hirntumor. Das letzte Treffen von Paul McCartney, George Harrison und Ringo Starr fand am 12. November im University Hospital von Staten Island (New York) statt, wo Harrison mit einer starken Chemotherapie behandelt wurde.

Am 29. November 2001 starb George Harrison im Alter von 58 Jahren in Los Angeles (Kalifornien).

Musikalische Bedeutung

Die Beatles werden vielfach als wichtigste Popband der 1960er Jahre bezeichnet[63] und haben nahezu alle Genres der Pop-/Rockmusik nachhaltig beeinflusst. Bis zum Jahr 2012 haben sie mehr als 600 Millionen Tonträger verkauft.

Anfänglich standen sie namensgebend für die Musikrichtung des Beats. Dies war ein gitarrenlastiger Musikstil, der sich durch schnellen 4⁄4-Takt und eingängige Melodien auszeichnete. Seine Bedeutung liegt darin, dass er zum ersten Mal einen eigenständigen Rockstil in Großbritannien etablierte und damit eine musikalische Unabhängigkeit von den US-amerikanischen Vorbildern ermöglichte.

Ab 1964 begannen die Beatles, sich musikalisch weiterzuentwickeln und mit anderen Musikstilen zu experimentieren. So zeigt das Album Beatles for Sale deutliche Einflüsse aus der Folk- und Country-Musik. Das folgende Album Help! enthält erstmals Gastmusiker, und zwar – wie nachfolgend regelmäßig – aus dem klassischen Bereich:

Unter anderem ist mit der Ballade „Yesterday“ ein Stück zu hören, in dem der Sänger (McCartney) neben seiner Akustikgitarre nur von einem Streichquartett begleitet wird. Auf dem 1965 veröffentlichten Album Rubber Soul wurden erstmals indische Einflüsse hörbar. Das 1966er Album Revolver beeindruckte durch eine breite Palette unterschiedlichster Pop-Derivate. Darin zeigte sich eine wesentliche Stärke der Beatles: Sie vermochten verschiedenste Geschmäcker zu bedienen, ohne dabei ihren eigenen Charakter zu verlieren.

Mit dem Album „Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band“ von 1967 legten sie eines der ersten Konzeptalben der Popgeschichte vor, das auch von „Pet Sounds“ der Beach Boys inspiriert ist. Sgt. Pepper war auch die erste Platte in der Popgeschichte, auf deren Cover die Texte der Lieder abgedruckt waren.

Mit der Doppel-LP The Beatles – wegen des Covers gemeinhin „White Album“, das „Weiße Album“, genannt – demonstrierten die Beatles noch einmal ihr gesamtes musikalisches Spektrum, unter anderem mit Helter Skelter, einem der ersten Hard-Rock-Stücke der Rockgeschichte.

Somit bediente die Musik der Beatles Stilrichtungen von Rock ’n’ Roll, Beat und Balladen über Country, Folk, Music Hall und Blues bis zu Psychedelic Rock, klassischer Musik und auch Hardrock.

Die Musikzeitschrift Rolling Stone wählte die Beatles im Jahr 2004 auf den ersten Platz der 100 größten Musiker aller Zeiten.

Bedeutung für die Popkultur

Bis zu den Beatles hatten lediglich Frank Sinatra in den 1940er sowie in den 1950er Jahren Elvis Presley eine ähnliche Welle der Begeisterung und fanatischen Verehrung ausgelöst. Dabei nahmen die Beatles gegenüber den Rolling Stones die Rolle der „braven Jungs“ ein und blieben auch textlich noch recht lange dem harmlosen Schlager treu.

Doch im Rahmen der geistigen und gesellschaftlichen Veränderungen der späten 1960er Jahre änderten die Beatles ihren Stil. Ab 1965 wurden die Texte, inspiriert durch Bob Dylan, allmählich tiefgründiger und persönlicher. Die Kompositionen und Arrangements wurden zunehmend komplexer.

In Liedern wie „She Said, She Said“ verarbeiteten sie die ab 1966 gemachten Erfahrungen mit LSD. Sie beschäftigten sich mit indischer Spiritualität und bekannten sich 1967 zu dem Guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi und seiner Meditationstechnik. Letztlich verstanden es die Beatles meisterhaft, sich den jeweiligen gesellschaftlichen Strömungen anzupassen, ohne sich zu sehr zu exponieren.

So experimentierten sie zwar 1967 mit psychedelischen Elementen in der Musik, blieben dabei aber wesentlich gemäßigter als etwa Pink Floyd zur selben Zeit. Nicht zuletzt durch ihre Filme – insbesondere durch Yellow Submarine (1968) – übten sie einen nachhaltigen Einfluss auf die Popkultur aus und trugen zur Entwicklung des Musikvideos bei, da sie zeitweise kurze Filme speziell für ihre neuen Single-Erscheinungen drehten und diese an die Fernsehsender schickten.

Ihre Clips für „Paperback Writer“, „Rain“, „Strawberry Fields Forever“ und „Penny Lane“ waren somit die ersten Musikvideos der Popgeschichte, in denen die Band nicht einfach ihren Song spielte, sondern in denen auch andere Dinge passierten. Allerdings waren sie damals noch auf Film aufgenommen und nicht auf Video. Starr und Harrison sagten später dazu, sie hätten diese Filme gedreht, um ihre Titel nicht mehr live in Fernsehstudios präsentieren zu müssen.

The Beatles The Beatles waren eine britische Beatband und später auch Rockband in den 1960er Jahren. Mit mehr als 600 Millionen – nach Schätzungen ihrer Plattenfirma EMI sogar mehr als einer Milliarde – verkauften Tonträgern sind sie die bisher kommerziell erfolgreichste Band der Musikgeschichte.