(Entered 2/27/97)
The Beatles did it. They won all three Grammy awards that they were nominated for in the 39th Annual Grammy Awards which aired on CBS Wednesday, February 26. None of those awards was presented during the t.v. broadcast, so fans hoping to maybe see one of the Beatles or Yoko at Madison Square Garden were disappointed. However, almost 30 years after they broke up, the Beatles won: Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocal: "Free as a Bird." Best Music Video, Long Form: "The Beatles Anthology". And Best Music Video, Short Form: "Free As a Bird."
(Entered 2/24/97)
Ryko - the company that released Yoko's ONOBOX is now working on reissuing some of Yoko's early titles. Ryko has announced that on May 20 they will release, Yoko Ono / John Lennon, "Unfinished Music Nr. 1: Two Virgins", John Lennon / Yoko Ono "Unfinished Music Nr. 2: Life with the Lions"; John and Yoko, "The Wedding Album" and Yoko Ono with the Plastic Ono Band. There will be additional titles released in June and July. According to project manager, David Greenberg, "Yoko is listening to material and will provide us with the bonus tracks that she feels appropriate for each album. I don't know what those will be as she is still listening to this material with her engineer before the mastering sessions happen."
(Entered update to this story 2/26/97)
Paul McCartney is making an hour-long t.v. documentary with the director who produced "The Beatles Anthology". The anthology series by Geoff Wonfor told the story of the Beatles from their beginnings to 1970. The new film, which will be a mix of music and interviews, will focus on McCartney. The documentary is scheduled to air in the UK in May on the Independent Television Network. Paul is also working on his first studio album in four years. McCartney's publicist, Geoff Baker said, "He's making a new album and the documentary is basically about where he is now." Guests on the album include Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynne and Steve Miller.
On March 22, an auction house will put on what is being billed as the first international auction devoted entirely to Beatles memorabilia. More than $1.6 million is expected to be bid for items ranging from a bass once owned by McCartney to the Liverpool house where Ringo Starr was born. The Bonhams auction house said the sale would be beamed to an expected 25 million households across Europe by the new British-based Auction Channel cable company. Viewers will be able to bid by telephone, fax or internet.