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April 2005
April 28, 2005 -- Houston Chronicle
Paul McCartney fans have a right to be irate
If you got shut out from buying tickets to the Paul McCartney concert, then hit the ceiling when hundreds of tickets went on sale on eBay (for 10 times their face value), Toyota Center management feels your pain.
And anger. And frustration.
More important, Toyota Center is doing something about it.
"I've got a whole stack of complaints from fans," said Andrea Bouchey, director of event marketing for Toyota Center. "These fans either weren't able to buy tickets or didn't get the tickets they wanted. So we are looking at ways of dealing with the situation for future shows."
The vast majority of concert tickets are purchased via home computers, so Toyota Center will begin limiting the number of browser windows a person can have open at one time.
"The ticket limit for the McCartney concert was eight per order, but if a person had four windows open, he could have purchased 32 tickets. We will fix it so computers can have only one window open on our Web site," Bouchey said.
"The problem is, because of the Internet, everybody can be a ticket broker."
It's true. I know someone who routinely sells concert tickets on eBay. He needs only two tickets but buys four ... or six ... or eight.
He uses what he needs and sells the rest - for a neat profit. "That way, I get to go to the concert for free," he says.
Bouchey said Toyota Center may discuss restricting the number of tickets allowed per order, too, but that limit is usually set by the promoter or artist.
"The McCartney concert was the greatest demand for any event yet at Toyota Center, more than U2, more than anything else. We could have sold out a bunch more McCartney concerts," she said.
Tickets for the McCartney concert went on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Saturday. Within minutes, the "sold out" sign went up.
However, there was a special "ticket pre-sale" the day before that sold 3,000 tickets. This is what sent many fans over the edge. They didn't know how to be included in the pre-sale.
Members of the Official Paul McCartney Fan Club got first crack at tickets. I received my "secret personalized password" a few days earlier, with instructions on how to buy tickets from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday.
Later that day, members of radio station listener clubs and the Toyota Center Insiders Club were able to buy tickets before the general public.
To become a member of the Toyota Center Insiders Club, click on www.toyotacentertix.com and follow instructions. It's free to join.
"Nearly every concert at Toyota Center has a pre-sale for Insider Club members," Bouchey said.
Neil Diamond is coming to Toyota Center on Oct. 11. No date has been announced for general ticket sales, but the "pre-sale" starts at 9 a.m. today.
Here we go again.
April 27, 2005 -- Tour
Rumor
Paul and Mickey?
The latest
rumor circulating is that Paul
will perform at Disney World in Orlando, FL. The possible date
would be September 19th. Reportedly there is already a 'waiting
list.'
April
27, 2005 -- Gossip
Heather A Soap Star?
Unconfirmed reports out of
Hollywood say Paul
McCartney's wife Heather has taped an episode of NBC's Daytime soap, "Days
of Our Lives " where she will play herself. The show was
reportedly taped on April 25th and will air around the middle
of May.
April 26, 2005 -- PRNewswire
Second Annual
Chevy Chase Earth Day Auction (Closes May 6 at 3:36pm ET)
Bid on a Paul
McCartney VIP backstage pass with backstage tour and concert!
High-bid
so far $2,000!!!
http://www.charitybuzz.com
Based on their success last year, Jayni and Chevy are thrilled that scores of their friends from the world of Hollywood and professional sports will be participating in The Second Annual Chevy Chase Earth Day Auction which is now live online at http://www.charitybuzz.com.
April 26, 2005
Paul's new album is tentatively slated to be released by Capitol on September 13th.
April 26, 2005 -- Macca sighting
Paul was spotted recently
at a Starbucks in Los Angeles dressed incognito drinking coffee
and sitting with a friend from Canada. Apparently his disguise
didn't fool anyone, but patrons played along to give him his
privacy.
April 26, 2005
If you had
trouble getting McCartney tickets online after
1pm ET on Ticketmaster Monday, it's because they had a system
crash. There were so many people trying to get tickets it overloaded
the system. Not all areas were affected and tickets managed to
sellout.
April 26, 2005 -- Omaha News
Ticket To Scalp - Fans raise questions
Fans who lined up early Monday for a chance to get tickets to the Paul McCartney concert had a scant 14 minutes to score or get shut out. Some question whether they ever even had a fair shot.
Not all tickets went on sale Monday morning. The Qwest Center (Omaha) set aside 4,000 of them for fan club members and for McCartney and his band.
The remaining 11,000 went on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. and by 10:14 a new Qwest Center record had been set for the fastest sell-out ever.
But some fans are not happy about where some of those tickets went.
For every Sandy Van Sant, first-in-line for tickets, it seems there's a Ron Deyo.
Line two-thirds of concertgoers these days, he headed online instead of heading to the Qwest Center and at 10:01 found out he won't be seeing Paul McCartney.
"It's disheartening," he says.
It's especially disheartening when he checks ticket brokers' websites and sees plenty of available tickets.
Ron looks over the broker offerings and says, "I feel like there's something illegal going on. I don't think it's fair certain people can buy blocks of tickets somehow."
A recent investigation by NBC and Rolling Stone Magazine confirms the problem.
When you log onto Ticketmaster's website, you're taken to a page with a randomly selected word you retype. That word is supposed to be partially camouflaged to block automated systems however NBC and Rolling Stone found that hackers' software can read the words and sign up for huge blocks of tickets automatically.
John Pleasants is Ticketmaster's CEO and he says, "Your system, you think it's impenetrable, and then someone finds a way around it."
It leaves even music veterans like promoter Jim Johnson at a loss.
The co-owner of One Percent Productions says, "It just seems like it's getting harder and harder. I don't know how the average fan can get tickets. I don't know."
With the astronomical prices scalpers are asking, like $1,700 apiece, Ron Deyo will be sitting this one out.
He says, "I won't go to eBay or Ticket Express or any other vendor because I think they're ripping everyone off."
Ticketmaster did try to limit
sales. Each person could only buy eight tickets but with the
popularity of eBay, anyone can turn around and sell them.
The Qwest Center would love to have McCartney schedule a second
show but we're told that won't happen.
April 26, 2005
BARELY LEGAL
Aging former "Mod Squad" star Peggy Lipton was just
17, if you know what I mean, and the way she looked was way beyond
compare, when she caught the eye of Paul McCartney at an L.A. bash for the Beatles in 1964.
According to her soon-to-be-published memoir, "Breathing Out," she planned her
seduction with military precision, got herself invited to the
party, looked soulfully into McCartney's eyes on the receiving
line, then slipped the Beatle her phone number. He ended up calling,
and they had an on-again, off-again romance.
April 25, 2005 -- Des Moines Register
Sellout! McCartney tickets gone in one hour
Iowa Events Center officials declared a sellout shortly after
11 a.m. for tickets to Paul McCartney's
Oct. 27 concert at Wells Fargo Arena, the first major event to
go on sale for Des Moines' new arena scheduled to open in July.
About 16,000 tickets were available for the McCartney concert.
Though a sellout was technically declared, because of the vagaries of online purchasing, those standing in line at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium box office were still able to snag single seats and the occasional pair of tickets past 11 a.m.
More than 200 people were waiting in line at the box office when tickets started selling g at 10 a.m. The first fan in line, Jeff Bappe of Ames, had been camped out since 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
April 25, 2005 -- Omaha World-Herald
McCartney sells out in record time
Tickets to
Paul McCartney's Oct. 30
concert in Omaha sold out in 14 minutes after going on sale today.
April 25,
2005 -- Song Rumors
Paul to write next James Bond song?
Rumors are
circulating that Paul may be writing the title
song for the next James Bond film.
April 24, 2005 -- KATU NEWS (SEE VIDEO)
Paul McCartney
show in Portland sells out in an hour
There one of the hottest items in Portland.
Tickets to Paul McCartney's November 4th show at the Rose Garden sold out in less than hour.
Tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, and sold out less than 50 minutes later.
You can still get tickets to McCartney's show on e-bay, but a pair of floor seats could cost as much as $800.
McCartney's last show in Portland
was in 2002, 38 years after his first performance here as a member
of The Beatles.
April 23, 2005
Anti-bullfighting petition presented
Former Beatle Paul
McCartney and the Dalai Lama
are among a half-million animal rights activists who signed a
petition to stop bullfighting in Spain.
The petition was handed Thursday to Ernest Benach, head of the
Catalonian Parliament, EFE reported. Some 250,000 signatures
were collected in Catalonia over a six-month period and a like
number was collected elsewhere in Spain and from celebrities
all over the world.
April 23, 2005 -- Reuters
"Red Rose Speedway" album designer dies at 81
Eduardo Paolozzi, one of Britain's
foremost artists and a founder of its Pop Art movement, has died
at the age of 81, a gallery showing a major exhibition of his
work said on Friday.
Born in Edinburgh to Italian parents who owned an ice cream shop,
Paolozzi produced a wide range of work embracing sculpture, collage,
painting and screen printing.
His major commissions included colorful mosaics for the Tottenham
Court Road underground rail station in London and a giant bronze
statue of Isaac Newton outside the British Library.
He also created some of the artwork for an album by Paul McCartney and his group Wings,
"Red Rose Speedway".
April 22, 2005 -- Macca Report Photos 1 Photos 2
Macca performs for the 'hole in the wall' kids (Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall - NY)
Paul McCartney and other stars performed Thursday April 21at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall for the Hole in the Wall Camps star-studded benefit. The show lasted nearly two hours.
Tony Bennett opened the show and others performed after him. Then Robin Williams joked about Paul being a Knight, "just like Elton John is is a Knight ...and something else."
Then, one of the camp kids (who were featured between the acts) came on and introduced Paul, asking him how he wrote "Yesterday." Paul told the "I dreamed it" story, complete with reference to the original Scrambled Eggs lyrics. Laughter from the audience.
Then, only accompanied by a string quartet, he played "Yesterday" on the Epiphone guitar that he always uses when he plays the song -- the one from the Ed Sullivan show.
A woman in the audience shouted out "I LOVE YOU!" Paul heard her but couldn't make out what she said. He replied, "I'm not talking to you now... I'm doing a show." She shouted again something unintelligible, and he stopped, looked towards her, and said. "OK, then, what do you want to say?" He paused. No response. "See, it happens that way all the time," he said and then went on with the show.
Next was "Lady Madonna" with Paul at the piano, backed by the string quartet. The sound wasn't mixed right (even though Paul brought his tour soundman Pablo with him) at the start of the song, but the vocals gradually grew louder after a few bars.
After Paul there was one final
performer (?), who did a song, which ended the show. During the
last chorus all the night's performers came out, thanked Paul
Newman and took several bows. Paul stood onstage near the end
of the line of performers, between Robin Williams and Tony Bennett.
Paul and Robin were doing some funny dance steps as they stood
in the long line of entertainers taking a bow.
Thanks to
"Macca Reporter" Dave McLean
NOTE: Watch the TV Entertainment programs tonight for footage
from the benefit.
April 21, 2005 -- The News Journal (Delaware)
WATCH VIDEO (ONLY FOR TODAY!)
Heather Mills McCartney speaks of overcoming obstacles
The rumors had swirled for weeks. Paul McCartney might pop into the DuPont Theatre in Wilmington
on Wednesday to visit his wife, Heather Mills McCartney, who was in town as a speaker in the Smart Talk
Women's Lecture series.
While the Beatle did not make an appearance, many in the audience showed they were not let down. They laughed at his wife's self-deprecating humor and applauded her message of perseverance.
Curiously, she spoke of the rumors of her husband's appearance soon after taking the stage. She talked about misconceptions of how the public should act around Paul.
Mills McCartney, 37, said that someone told her: " 'We've been told not to look into your husband's eyes. We must hold our heads down as we walk by."
"It's funny to see how these things get started," she said.
Long before she met Paul, Mills McCartney was an up-and-coming model. She was making quite a success of it when in 1993 she was struck by a police motorcycle and lost her left leg below the knee. She kept a positive attitude and soon resumed her career. She also became an advocate for amputees, delivering prosthetic limbs to war-torn countries, which earned her a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.
She showed off her prosthetic leg on stage, turning her ankle this way and that and waving her hands downward as a model would do to show how real the limb looks.
"We created this leg, which you have to admit looks pretty fantastic," she said.
She spoke of two incidents when her prosthetic leg came off unexpectedly.
The first time was five months after leaving the hospital while on a skiing trip, of all things. While sitting in the ski lift, the leg slipped off and went dropping far down to the snow below.
"This German guy is freaking out," she said. "And I said, 'No, no, no, don't look. There's no blood.' "
The second time, she was in a posh restaurant on a hot day when the leg went flying off while she was walking. The elastic of her stocking caught the leg and it came back like a yo-yo on a string. It was such a hoity-toity restaurant that no one even stopped eating. They acted as if something like that happens all the time, she said.
Mills McCartney is perhaps most identified as a patron of Adopt-a-Minefield. She has worked for years to raise funds and awareness to ban land mines. She screened a video about land mines near the end of her talk that depicted some of the worldwide devastation and reported that 28,000 people are killed every year by land mines - a third of them children.
Linda Lee Fuski, of Claymont, said she was anticipating hearing Mills McCartney because she admires how she overcame adversity.
"So many of us give up after something bad happens and they have a hard time with life," she said. "You just have to persevere. You can't give up, and you will be a happier person."
Lisa Brand, of Delaware City, and her mom, Helen Reagan, of New Castle, came to see Mills McCartney because they are big Beatles fans. They both said it would be nice if Paul dropped in.
"That would be great," Brand said. "But I don't think he'll do it, though. He's the kind of person that, if it's her night to shine, he's not going to take it away from her."
Both are looking forward to seeing Paul McCartney when he visits Philadelphia Sept. 22 on his recently announced U.S. tour.
Paul first met Heather Mills
at a charity function in 1999, a little more than a year after
his longtime wife and Wings musical collaborator, Linda, succumbed to cancer. The musician and model/activist
were married in 2002 and have a 1-year-old daughter, Beatrice Milly McCartney.
April
20, 2005 -- Macca Report News
by Jorie B. Gracen
Macca takes to the trampoline
New York based photographer
Bill Bernstein recently returned from a photo session
in London with Sir
Paul McCartney. Bernstein
photographed McCartney's promotional photos and posters for the
US tour which begins in September and will be documenting the
rock star in photos as the official tour photographer.
During the photo session Bernstein got Paul to leap in the air
with the help of a trampoline.
Bernstein said, "I wanted to get some real action shots
with Paul so he agreed to get on a trampoline for my camera.
No one got hurt and we all had a blast!"
"McCartney clowned around and did some impromptu vocals,"
said Bernstein who added, "Paul is a great subject in front
of the camera, and brings a lot to the party!"
April 20, 2005
Heather Mills McCartney will
be the key speaker at the DuPont Theatre in Wilmington, Delaware on
April 20 as part of the "Smart Talk Women's
Lecture" series.
The series is sponsored by The News Journal and Delaware Woman
and presented by the DuPont Co. Tickets are sold out.
April 20, 2005 -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Mills McCartney: From homeless to world-renowned
"It's not what happens to you in life that matters - what matters is how you react." That was the lesson Heather Mills McCartney brought to Uihlein Hall on Monday evening in the Smart Talk Women's Lecture Series.
Mills McCartney came to international fame through her marriage to former Beatle Paul McCartney. But she was well-known in Europe, particularly in Britain, before that.
The model-turned-activist lived the extremes of life by the time she was in her 20s.
The child of a wildly dysfunctional home, Mills McCartney was forced into independence as a teenager. She pulled herself from sleeping on a flattened cardboard box in an encampment of homeless people to the point of owning and selling a business franchise she had created - all while still a minor.
She won a modeling contest without entering, when someone submitted her photo without her knowledge, and used the international travel to send goods back to her businesses in England.
Then, on a beautiful sunny day, a false alarm at Kensington Palace sent police vehicles careening down a street she was crossing. She was struck by a police motorcycle and lost her left leg. Her subsequent experience with prosthetics opened a new chapter in her life.
While she was learning to use a prosthetic, she discovered that an amputee's residual limb changes shape and size as the result of using a prosthetic. Once the prosthetic no longer fits, it has to be replaced.
When she asked what happened to the discarded prosthetics, she was appalled to learn that they were simply thrown away. She began collecting discarded prosthetics for amputees around the world who could not afford them, primarily children who had lost limbs to land mines.
She now campaigns for the banning and removal of land mines around the world and continues to help secure prosthetics for those in need, work that has brought her a Nobel Prize nomination and dozens of awards.
Mills McCartney spoke frankly Monday evening, tempering her story with genuine wit and a mischievous delight in life's ironies. She spoke of the horrors and hardships of her past without bitterness or anger, summing up her look-to-the-future attitude with the words, "Life's short - get on with it."
But there is tenderness in her approach to life as well, particularly in her understanding of human failings. She remains tireless in her campaigns for her various charities, and encouraged her audience to get involved in similar work.
April 20, 2005 -- The Enquirer (Cincinnati)
McCartney shares trials of life, helping others
Heather Mills McCartney regaled her audience Tuesday night when she recounted some of the defining moments of her life.
"I want to tell you a little bit about my life," McCartney told a crowd of about 2,200 at the Aronoff Center.
Those events included an difficult childhood, a successful business and modeling career while still in her teens, the loss of part of a leg in motorcycle crash, her continuing efforts to provide artificial arms and legs to civilian victims of war and land mines, and her marriage to former Beatle Paul McCartney.
An abusive father and neglectful mother prompted her to leave her home near New Castle, England while still a teen, McCartney said. She went to work for a carnival, was homeless for a time, and got fired from a bakery job for eating too many croissants.
"I said I'm never going to work for anyone else again," she said.
Her modeling career began after a boyfriend entered a swimsuit photo of her in a contest. By age 21, she had quit modeling and opened her own modeling agency.
After a move to what was then Yugoslavia, she begin collecting medical supplies and wheelchairs for civilians injured when war broke out there, McCartney said.
In 1990, while crossing a street in London she was struck by a police motorcycle. The impact severed part of her leg.
Her injury attracted media attention, and she took the opportunity to publicize the need for artificial limbs for civilians injured during wars and by land mines.
She met Paul McCartney at a charity event, she said. "I had never
been a Beatles fan." To romance her, "he had to work
at it."
April 20,
2005 -- Contact Music
ONO PRAISES McCARTNEY'S DESIGNS
John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono is a huge fan of Stella McCartney's designs, in spite of her tumultuous relationship
with the style guru's father Sir Paul McCartney.
The Japanese singer and artist, 72, regularly buys Stella's clothes, and admits she treats the female fashion prodigy like a member of her family.
Ono says, "She's part of the Beatles family, and I'm very proud of her.
"She has incredibly high
taste and originality. I've been buying her clothes for years."
April 18, 2005
McCARTNEY RETURNS TO ROCK WITH 'US'
ALL NEW Beatles, Wings and Solo Concert Tour To Launch In Miami On September 16th; Coincides With New Album Release
Paul McCartney is ready to rock with 'US' this fall, nearly four years after his critically hailed, Billboard Magazine Concert Tour of the Year, 'Back In the U.S.' swept through the U.S. Since his return to the stage in 2002, after a decade long performance hiatus, millions from countries across the globe have experienced his sold-out concerts.
But Americans can expect the unexpected when 'US' kicks off at Miami's American Airlines Arena on Friday, September 16th. The all-new tour, which is planned to coincide with a new McCartney recording, will be highlighted by the classics from McCartney's Beatles, Wings and solo career, as well as songs that have yet to be or haven't been performed on American soil in nearly 15 years.
"We are looking forward to playing again in America," said McCartney. "They know how to have a good time and we're there to give it to them. It'll be fun to visit some new places, to see some old faces and to do things a bit differently this time. We're ready to rock."
'US' will rock and roll through the United States for 28 performances that will span a nearly 11-week period before its close on Tuesday, November 29th at Los Angeles' STAPLES Center. While highlights include return visits to Boston's Fleet Center, New York's Madison Square Garden, Chicago's United Center and Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena, 'US' will mark a first for some. On Thursday, October 27th and on Sunday, October 30th, Des Moines, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska will experience their first EVER Paul McCartney performance (including Beatles and Wings). In addition, Miami and Seattle, amongst other cities, will celebrate McCartney's return after nearly 15 years.
If McCartney's appearance at Superbowl XXXIX or his last concert in front of 125,000 muddied fans at England's prestigious Glastonbury Festival (NME Magazine's Best Event for 2005) are any indication, fans can expect to see another groundbreaking production.
"Only McCartney can top McCartney," said Brad Wavra, ClearChannel Entertainment. "But if you think you've already seen him, think again."
AEG/Concerts West representative Paul Gongaware added: "Half the fun of this tour is wondering which songs he's going to play. There's so much that we didn't see in 2002."
McCartney's band mates Abe Laboriel, Jr. (drums), Rusty Anderson (guitar), Brian Ray (guitar and bass) and Paul "Wix" Wickens (keyboards) return for 'US.'
Tickets for Paul McCartney's 'US' Tour go on sale beginning Saturday, April 23rd. Check local listing for details. For more information about 'US' go to www.paulmccartney.com.
Lexus will be the presenting sponsor of the 'US' Tour.
"I'm very pleased to be a part of this new project with Lexus because I think there is a natural fit," said McCartney.
PAUL McCARTNEY THE 'US' TOUR
DATE CITY
VENUE
Friday, September 16th -
Miami, FL - American Airlines Arena
Saturday, September 17th - Tampa - St. Pete, FL
- Times Forum
Tuesday, September 20th - Atlanta, GA
- Philips Arena (Sept. 19 possible second show)
Thursday, September 22nd - Philadelphia, PA
- Wachovia Center (Sept. 23 possible second show)
Monday, September 26th - Boston, MA
- Fleet Center (Sept. 27 possible second show)
Tuesday, October 4th - New York, NY
- Madison Square Garden CORRECT DATE
Wednesday, October 5th - New York, NY
- Madison Square Garden CORRECT DATE
Saturday, October 8th - Washington DC
- MCI Center (Oct. 7 possible second show)
Monday, October 10th - Toronto, Canada
- Air Canada Centre
Friday, October 14th - Detroit, MI -
The Palace
Tuesday, October 18th Chicago, IL
- United Center (Oct. 19 possible second show)
Saturday, October 22nd - Columbus, OH -
Value City Arena
Sunday, October 23rd - Milwaukee, WI
- Bradley Center
Wednesday, October 26th - St. Paul, MN
- Xcel Energy Center
Thursday, October 27th - Des Moines, IA
- Wells Fargo Arena
Sunday, October 30th - Omaha, NE -
Qwest Center
Tuesday, November 1st - Denver, CO
- The Pepsi Center
Thursday, November 3rd - Seattle, WA
- Key Arena
Friday, November 4th - Portland, OR
- Rose Garden
Monday, November 7th - San Jose, CA
- HP Pavilion
Friday, November 11th, Anaheim, CA
- Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim
Wednesday, November 16th - Sacramento, CA
- ARCO Arena
Saturday, November 19th - Houston, TX
- Toyota Center
Sunday, November 20th - Dallas, TX
- American Airlines Center
Wednesday, November 23rd - Phoenix, AZ
- Glendale Arena
Friday, November 25th - Las Vegas, NV -
MGM Grand Garden Arena
Saturday, November 26th - Las Vega, NV
- MGM Grand Garden Arena
Tuesday, November 29th - Los Angeles, CA
- Staples Center (Nov. 30 possible second show)
April 17,
2005
Paul plays Phoenix November 23rd!
The Arizona
Republic newspaper had a full page ad today advertising Paul McCartney's "US"
tour with a concert on Nov. 23 at the Glendale Arena in West Phoenix with tickets
going onsale April 23rd at 10AM PT.
April 17, 2005 -- MACCA REPORT EXCLUSIVE!
Macca's Bushie-Tushie
According to a source, Paul's
anti-landmine song, "Bushie-Tushie"(Jelly Jam) is not
an attack on President Bush though it refers to Bush not signing
the landmine treaty.
The song is not confrontational or negative. It is a song about
making the world landmine free so children can have a safer place
to play.
There is a childrens chorus and background vocals that are spoken
and sung. World leaders are named and nations that have signed
the landmine treaty.
There is a woman's voice that sings in a high falsetto:
Oh Bushie...put your tushie,
on the bottom line,
and JUST SAY NO, SAY NO,
to NO MORE LANDMINES...
April 16, 2005
Paul McCartney's 2005 US tour announcement is expected Monday (April 18) afternoon. The tour itinerary will be posted here with dates, times and links to buy tickets.
April 16, 2005 -- Daily Mail
Ballad of put-upon Paul and harassed Heather
When Sir Paul McCartney married Heather Mills, there
were many prepared to say that she wasn't good enough for him.
The multi-millionaire's young bride was condemned as a fantasist,
a gold-digger and even worse.
Since then she has been criticised for everything from her love of publicity to the way she has changed the former Beatle, while all sorts of allegations have been dredged up from her past.
But now the couple are planning a musical revenge on their critics. Sir Paul, 62, has written a song for his latest album which bitterly attacks those in the media who have been mean about Heather.
And she is believed to have helped the former Beatle with the lyrics to "Hometown Papers."
They include the lines: "Said she was a gold digger/ Said I was a fool/ Said I was rich, crazy, lonely/ She was beautiful but crude".
"Paul is so angry about what people have been saying about Heather," said a source close to the star.
"Writing is his way of expressing himself so it is no surprise that he has composed this song. Heather has been really upset by a lot of the criticism about their relationship, it has really dragged her down and he can't stand to see her so low. He knows this will stoke up even more problems with the press.
"This is particularly written about the British newspapers because they don't get anything like the same sort of criticism in the American newspapers. There, the journalists still seem to be in awe of him as an ex-Beatle and Heather is taken seriously.
"Paul has written the song for his new album - he is presently deciding whether to definitely put it on as he knows this will stoke up even more problems with the press."
Sir Paul married the former model, who lost a leg in a road accident, in June 2002. They have an 18-month-old daughter, Beatrice, and there are rumours that Heather is pregnant again.
Two months ago, Sir Paul expressed his contempt for what has been written about the couple with an 800-word rant on 37-year-old Heather's website.
He wrote: "It hurts me to see her wounded by these scurrilous reports and not have anyone to put the record straight.
"Although some of these articles can be funny, there are others that are plain malicious and you need to be strong not to be hurt by some of the cruel suggestions that flow from these people's pens.
"I only hope that these words of mine help genuine people to get a clearer view of the realities of our lives and encourage them to think for themselves, and not give credence to words by people who simply don't care for the truth."
Sir Paul follows in the footsteps of two of his former bandmates in hitting back at press criticism.
He actually worked with John Lennon on "The Ballad of John and Yoko" which is about how Lennon was 'crucified' by the press for his antics with his new wife.
George Harrison also wrote of his hatred for journalists in his song Piggies, with lyrics including: "In their eyes there's something lacking/ What they need's a damn good whacking."
Journalists are not the only people who will be slated by Sir Paul on his new album, which is provisionally titled "Timelines" and is due for release on August 20 (???NOTE: Albums are released on Mondays in the UK and Tuesdays in the US). He has also written a song called "Bushie-Tushie Jelly Jam" in which he attacks George Bush for not signing the treaty to ban landmines.
There are also two tributes to his late wife Linda (NOTE: the song "You Are Still Here") and one for Lennon (???) called "Comfort of Love."
THE LYRICS
Oh it had to be true,
because I read it in the news of my hometown papers.
He was wearing red,
when in the photo,
it was clearly blue,
'cause I saw it in the photo news,
of my hometown papers...
Said she was a gold digger,
Said that I was a fool,
Said I was rich, crazy, lonely,
She was beautiful, but crude,
I wasn't so surprised,
because that's the kind of s*** they print,
in the hometown papers,
Hometown news
April 16, 2005 -- PRESS RELEASE
SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY IS NEW PATRON OF MUSIC EXAM BOARD AS LEARNING TO PLAY THE GUITAR NOW HELPS STUDENTS ON THEIR WAY TO UNIVERSITY
Sir Paul McCartney joins David Gilmour and Ronnie Wood as new Patrons of the RGT, as the organisation's graded examinations receive QCA accreditation
The Registry of Guitar Tutors (RGT), a UK organisation that administers graded music exams for guitar and publishes a directory of registered guitar teachers, has announced today that Sir Paul McCartney joins legendary musicians, David Gilmour (of Pink Floyd) and Ronnie Wood (of The Rolling Stones), in becoming Honorary Patrons of its organisation. Existing patrons include Hank Marvin, Mick Green and Suzi Quatro.
Tony Skinner, RGT Director said, "We're delighted that such distinguished musicians have chosen to give their support to the RGT. It's a great boost to everyone teaching or studying with the RGT and will undoubtedly help us in our aims to positively promote guitar education."
The support from the international artists comes at the same time as the RGT's practical examinations in electric & classical guitar, bass guitar and music theory have been accredited by the QCA along with its partner organisations in Wales (ACCAC) and Northern Ireland (CEA). Thames Valley University has also been approved as the awarding body. Students who now attain passes in RGT exams at grades six, seven and eight will be awarded UCAS tariff points.
Mr .Skinner said, "Everyone in the organisation has been working hard for this to happen. Now, any student who meets the standards required to pass one of the higher RGT exams will be able to use that achievement when applying to study for any subject at university. It takes consistent levels of self-discipline, organisational skills and dedicated time for today's young people to reach high skill levels on a musical instrument such as a guitar and that deserves to be recognised in the wider educational environment. There's now real academic value in learning to play the guitar."
Mr. Skinner added, "These
are significant developments for us and mark the launch of an
extensive and proactive new phase for our organisation that will
see the RGT leading the way in setting international standards
for guitar education."
April 15, 2005
Macca gives Brit band "Kaiser Chiefs" a nod
"McCartney saw us at the NME Awards, which is surreal
because I'm a Paul fan as well," says Kaiser Chiefs drummer
Nick Hodgson.
"We did one song at the awards, and I saw Paul nodding his
head. And we heard him interviewed a couple times afterward on
radio and TV, and he mentioned us. That's a great endorsement."
April
14, 2005 -- Macca Report Exclusive!!
Sources say
Paul has written with Heather (unconfirmed) a song
called "Hometown Papers" that lashes out at the media
with lyrics that angrily mock the tabloid stories about the couple.
Oh it had to be true,
because I read it in the news of my hometown papers.
He was wearing red,
when in the photo,
it was clearly blue,
'cause I saw it in the photo news,
of my hometown papers...
Said she was a gold digger,
Said that I was a fool,
Said I was rich, crazy, lonely,
She was beautiful, but crude,
I wasn't so surprised,
because that's the kind of sh*t they print
in the hometown papers,
Hometown news...You get the drift...right?
April
13, 2005 -- Rolling Stone
"Rock & Roll Vacation" Dylan, U2 and McCartney
offer fans deluxe travel packages
Last summer, Christina Giannoni, 40, had an experience that would thrill
any Beatles fan. For about $1,700 plus the cost of airfare, the
California fan got VIP treatment at Paul McCartney's show in Gijon, Spain, including hotel accommodations,
great seats and a pass to the sound check.
"I held up a sign, and Paul smiled and pointed," says
Giannoni. "It was a surreal experience." The previous
summer, Giannoni bought a similar package to Liverpool for McCartney's
homecoming show; fans from as far away as Japan caught a rehearsal
and visited the Cavern Club, where the Beatles got their start...(read the rest)
Congrats
to "Macca Reporter "Christinia Giannoni (Harleyblues)
for the Rolling Stone mention!
April 13, 2005 - UPDATE
The Houston Chronicle reports that tickets for Paul McCartney's November 20th concert at the Toyota Center will go onsale April 23rd.
April 12, 2005 - UPDATE
Macca ticket sales on hold
Clear Channel has REMOVED Las Vegas, Sacramento and the Toronto dates from their site.
Sales of tickets is being held up until the official tour announcement is made.
April 11, 2005 -- Daily Mail/This is London
McCartney daughter's marriage split
Sir Paul McCartney's eldest daughter has separated from her husband of six years.
Mary McCartney, 35, has remained in the couple's home in West London with their two sons, Arthur, five, and Elliot, two. Her husband, Alistair Donald, has moved into a house the couple recently bought on the other side of the capital.
Both are said to regard the separation as temporary. According to a source close to them, Donald, a television producer, has found it difficult living in the shadow of the famous McCartney name. Their marriage problems have also coincided with Miss McCartney's increased success as a photographer.
The couple have also been tackling a major renovation project at their new house in St John's Wood.
"Problems between Mary and Alistair started shortly after they commissioned work to be done on their new home," a friend of Miss McCartney's said. "They had planned to completely renovate the property and make it their new family home. But the cost of renovations has been extortionate and unbelievably problematic; they even had to get the house next door under-pinned. This has been a constant source of tension for the couple.
"To compound matters, Alistair has had problems with work and has been unable to establish himself as a television producer. In contrast, his wife's career has taken off. Amidst such a famous family, he has been plagued by feelings of inadequacy.
"But both Mary and Alistair are desperate to sort out their differences and neither view the split as a permanent thing.
"They hope to be reconciled if for nothing else, the sake of their two young children."
The couple married in September 1998 at a 12th century church close to Sir Paul's estate at Peasmarsh, near Rye, East Sussex, where Miss McCartney grew up with her half sister Heather and sister Stella and brother James. She came into the spotlight when she took the official portraits of Tony and Cherie Blair's youngest son, Leo, in May 2000.
Sir Paul, who married second
wife Heather
in 2002, is said to be 'devastated'
at the breakup.
A spokesman for Miss McCartney was unavailable for comment last
night.
April 10, 2005 -- Sunday Telegraph (UK)
Mary McCartney splits with husband
The Sunday Telegraph reports that Mary McCartney Donald has split from her husband Alistair. The report states that the marriage has had difficulties for some time and that Alistair has moved out of the family home leaving Mary "devastated."
The couple were married September 26, 1998.
April 10, 2005
Read the transcript of Heather Mills McCartney's "Larry King Live" show (April 9, 2005) on the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilia Parker-Bowles. Click here.
April 8, 2005 -- Houston Chronicle
Guitarists lead way on Houston concert stages
Three of the year's hottest tickets will take their time passing through Houston. U2 won't play the Toyota Center until Oct. 28. The Dave Matthews Band brings its seemingly endless tour to town Sept. 5 at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.
And details of Paul McCartney's fall visit should be announced later this week.
April 8, 2005
Heather Mills McCartney to host Larry King Live
Saturday, April 9, Heather Mills McCartney will host Larry King Live (CNN 9-10 pm ET) with reports from the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla.
April 7, 2005 -- Hello (UK)
Heather to cover royal wedding for American TV
Journalists from all over the world will descend on Windsor this weekend when the Prince of Wales ties the knot with Camilla Parker Bowles. And it seems there will also be a some famous faces among the reporters covering the event, after Heather Mills McCartney has signed up to host a special edition of the US chat show "Larry King Live."
Heather's last appearance on the program, when she interviewed movie veteran Paul Newman, received a mixed reception from TV critics. But studio insiders say frontman Larry King is a big fan of the charity campaigner and believes she deserves another chance.
Heather will also be gracing
Britain's television screens in the not too distant future, when
she gives a reading at a televised concert to mark the 60th anniversary
of VE Day. The 37-year-old will join forces with Doctor Who star
Christopher Eccleston and Strictly Come Dancing's Natasha Kaplinsky
for the BBC special on May 8.
April 6, 2005 -- The Sun (UK)
Concert to mark war's end
The BBC is to screen a special concert to commemorate the 60th anniversary of VE Day (May 8).
The event, called "A Party To Remember," is being broadcast live from London's Trafalgar Square and will mark the end of World War II in Europe.
Featuring performances from the likes of singers Will Young and Katie Melua, stars including Heather Mills McCartney and Dr. Who Christopher Eccleston will also take part in front of an estimated 15,000 people who snapped up all the tickets in just two hours yesterday.
Newly engaged BBC Breakfast star Natasha Kaplinsky, 32, and outgoing GMTV presenter Eamonn Holmes will host the concert, which will include a mix of contemporary and classic tracks accompanied by a big band that harks back to the wartime era.
It will also
include video footage of the original celebrations on May 8,
1945, which also took place in Trafalgar Square.
April 5, 2005 -- The
Insider, Liverpool Echo
Where are my latex lovelies?
Here's a Macca mystery story- just who bought the Paul McCartney Spitting Image puppets?
Roger Law, who with Peter Fluck (try saying that after a few pints of Guinness) created the satirical show Spitting Image, sold off all the puppets after the last TV series back in 1996 for charity.
The sale was a big hit at Sotheby's auction house raising £370,105 ($703,200), but Roger doesn't know who bought what when flogging off the 1,000 puppets.
"We did two version sets of The Beatles - young and old ones. The elder Beatles were much crueler.
"I heard a rumor that Paul bought the older versions of himself but to this day I simply don't know. I'd love to know."
Roger says that the sale of
the latex dummies saw Cherie Blair and hubby Tony going for £3,000
($5,700). Mrs. Thatcher went for £11,224 ($21,325).
April 5, 2005 -- ADA News
A day in the life Florida dentist, Beatles fan provides Super Bowl dental care to McCartney
On Feb. 6, Dr. Rob Van Etta, a dentist on Florida's Amelia Island, had planned like millions of Americans to watch Super Bowl XXXIX on television. Super fan: Dr. Rob Van Etta recemented a crown for legendary singer/songwriter Paul McCartney before Mr. McCartney's Super Bowl halftime performance Feb. 6 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Although
he says he wouldn't have minded attending the event in nearby
Jacksonville, he didn't have tickets and expected to watch at
home.
But a phone call from the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island hotel changed his Super Bowl Sunday plans.
"They said they had a high-profile VIP who needed a crown recemented," says Dr. Van Etta, "and that I needed to come to Alltel Stadium. I asked, 'Who are we talking about?' and they told me it was Paul McCartney."
Dr. Van Etta says he has taken care of dental emergencies for Ritz-Carlton guests in the past and that several staff members there are also his patients.
Like a scenario from a spy movie, Dr. Van Etta was told to come to the hotel - alone - and they would take him to the stadium. "I thought it might be a con job until they asked for my identification, performed a background check and cleared me through security."
A few minutes after he arrived at the stadium, Dr. Van Etta met his high-profile patient and cemented his crown in time for Mr. McCartney to make his scheduled halftime show rehearsal. He even spent a few minutes chatting with the dentist and signing two compact discs Dr. Van Etta brought along, just in case.
"He told me, 'You don't hurt me and I'll sign those,' " Dr. Van Etta says. "He was a very nice guy. He's really stood the test of time. He looks sharp."
Dr. Van Etta and his wife, who joined him later at the stadium, were able to enjoy Mr. McCartney's performance live and in person, since he received two tickets to the Super Bowl for payment. He also got a ride back to his car at the hotel as part of Mr. McCartney's police escort.
"It was
a great experience for me," he adds. "As long as I
can remember, my favorite song has been 'Let It Be' by the Beatles.
I'm a huge music fan. I probably have more than 2,000 CDs in
my collection, so this was amazing."
April 4, 2005 -- Playbill
Paul McCartney, Paul Newman, Julia Roberts, Robin Williams and
More Set for April 21 Benefit at Avery Fisher Hall
A star-studded benefit for Hole in the Wall Camps, the world's largest association of camps for children with serious illnesses and life-threatening conditions, will be held April 21 Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall.
Produced by Lou Adler and Kevin Duncan, the 7 PM performance will feature appearances by Paul McCartney, Paul Newman, Julia Roberts, Robin Williams, Tony Bennett, Mary J. Blige, the Emerson String Quartet and the acrobatic group AntiGravity. Tony Award winner James Naughton will direct the evening, which is titled "Stars in the Sky" and will include a post-performance dinner and auction.
Paul Newman founded the first Hole in the Wall Camp in 1988 in Ashford, CT. The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps now includes nine camps and will serve over 10,000 children in 2005. For more information visit www.holeinthewallcamps.org.
Tickets for Stars in the Sky
are available by calling (212) 462-2900. Tickets range from $250
(performance only) to $50,000 (tickets for ten, prime seating
for ten at a post-performance dinner plus listings on the invitation
and in the program).
April
4, 2005 -- Album Rumors
Paul's new studio album reportedly
has enough material to make three albums. A song called "Blonde
In A Black Convertible" is rumored to be on the album.
April 4, 2005
Macca Broadway Bound?
A story is circulating that a new play/musical is in the works
about Paul
McCartney.
April 2, 2005 -- Reuters
Billionaire Calder tops music rich list
A former independent record label boss who signed stars Britney Spears and 'N Sync has topped a British music industry rich list with a fortune of £1.3 billion ($2.5 billion).
South African-born Clive Calder, known as the "Howard Hughes of the music industry," was top of the pops in the 2005 Sunday Times music rich list, out-earning Britain's biggest names in rock and pop.
Calder, who acquired British citizenship in the 1970s, launched Zomba records in 1971. He sold the label for £1.2 billion ($2.3 billion) to music giant BMG in 2002.
Holding at number two from last year's list was former Beatle Paul McCartney, who recently padded out his £800 million ($1.5 billion) fortune with a world tour and a lucrative appearance at the Super Bowl half-time show.
Other notable names on a list dominated by stars of the 1960s and 70s include Elton John at seven with £185 million ($350 million), Rolling Stone Mick Jagger at nine with £180 million ($340 million) and Welsh singing legend Tom Jones at 10 with £175 million ($330 million).
Guitar hero Eric Clapton was at 15 with £130 million ($245 million), Beatle drummer Ringo Starr at 17 with £125 million ($236 million) and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd at 26 with £75 million ($142 million).
The Sunday Times said its list was based on identifiable wealth such as land, property, shares and other assets, but excludes bank accounts.
April 1, 2005
No Macca concert for Connecticut
Jim Koplik, the promoter who secured a McCartney Hartford concert (September 27) back in 2002 said on his WPRL radio show that he was unable to book McCartney for a concert this fall. He said that Macca will be staying in New York and Los Angeles during the tour and will 'commute' back and forth between shows to be with Heather and his daughter.
April 1, 2005 -- Connection Newspapers
Peter Max paints portrait of Heather and Beatrice McCartney
Iconic '60s pop artist Peter Max, who has spent the better part of the past four decades creating colorful, patriotic art had a short stint with the Beatles.
"I gave the Yellow Submarine album its style," Max said. "By the time the contracts were drawn up, my staff had grown from one person to 55 people and I just couldn't do it."
Heinz Edelman was hired by the Beatle's management to complete the cover and followed Max's original designs.
The artist's relationship with the remaining Beatles has continued: Max recently painted a portrait of Heather Mills, wife of Paul McCartney, and their newborn daughter Beatrice.
April 1, 2005 -- Contact Music
BENNETT'S WEDDING GIFT TO McCARTNEY
Veteran crooner Tony Bennett ensured Sir Paul McCartney's first dance with Heather Mills was a particularly special moment - he recorded an exclusive song for them.
The star contacted Bennett shortly before exchanging marital vows with his wife Heather Mills in 2002 and asked the singer to cover the Ray Noble tune "The Very Thought Of You" for his wedding reception.
Bennett happily obliged, and remains honored McCartney singled him out for the privilege.
He says, "When Paul McCartney got married in 2002, he asked me to make a private recording of "The Very Thought Of You" for his wedding.
"He used it for his first dance at the ceremony, which was a great honour for me.
Macca Report News continues with May 2005
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