THE BEATLES DIARY VOLUME 2: AFTER THE BREAK-UP 1970-2001

"By the way, while we're here. You've got me and you've got John in this. OK! What about George and Ringo?"

- Paul

Saturday January 2

In Europe, during VH-1's Top 100 Weekend, The Beatles are placed at number 16 in the "Top 100 Artists" poll, based on nominations from the station's viewers.

Monday January 4

Ringo's 1981 United Artists film Caveman receives a rare TV screening this evening on the German station TM3.

Wednesday January 6

The delightful 1978 comedy I Wanna Hold Your Hand, starring Nancy Alien and Bobby DiCicco, which focuses on a group of teenagers who attempt to try to meet The Beatles when they make their debut on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, is repeated on the US Bravo TV station at 4pm. (A further screening takes place the following day at 4am.)

Thursday January 7

At a trade fair in Atlanta, Georgia, Paul attends the Homeware Designs exhibition of his daughter Heather.

Saturday January 9 (until February 27)

In the UK, an exhibition by Yoko opens at the Minories Art Gallery in Colchester. After which, her show moves on to Helsinki in Finland.

Monday January 11

In the UK, 21 years after appearing on the show for Barry Sheene (and 19 years after turning down an appearance for George Martin), George appears again on This Is Your Life (broadcast on BBC1 this evening between 7:00 and 7:29pm) where he briefly pays homage to the career of the racing driver, and his close friend, Damon Hill. (The show had been pre-taped at the BBC TV Centre in Wood Lane, London last week.)

Tuesday January 12

In the UK, George wins his libel case over claims that he accepted sexual favours in exchange for a donation to charity. The allegation had been made in the book All Dressed Up: The Sixties And The Counter Culture by Jonathan Green and published last summer in the UK by Random House. The High Courts in London hear that George has now accepted an apology and an undisclosed sum in damages. In addition, Random House has agreed to pay his full legal costs. George is not in court to hear his solicitor Norman Chapman tell Mr. Justice Morland: "The allegation is untrue and the defendants now acknowledge this to be the case." Counsel Giles Crown, representing the publishers and the author, tells the judge: "They express their sincere apologies for the damage and embarrassment caused."

Monday January 25

Advertisements concerning the banning of Linda's single 'The Light Comes From Within', appear in several UK newspapers under the headline: "Parents We Need Your Guidance". Beneath, Paul writes: "In what age are we living? Is this the Nineties or the Twenties? Should you decide that your children must not hear this record, we would be grateful for your wisdom and good sense and will put our fingers in our ears whenever we hear it played. If, on the other hand, you feel that no harm will come to your children by being exposed to this song, give the guidance so surely needed and tell them it's OK to do so. PS: By the way, young people, we know you don't listen to them anyway."

'The Light Comes From Within' falls foul of broadcasting watchdogs who object to the line: "You say I'm simple, you say I'm a hick, you're fucking no-one, you stupid Dick." As a result the track is banned by BBC radio and TV shows, Top Of The Pops and Live And Kicking.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles insists that the track isn't being played because of the language but because of the poor lyrics. "I feel sorry for Paul," he tells listeners. "And I was upset when Linda died. But these are stupid lyrics and we can't play it for that reason alone."

On Sky News Paul responds, saying: "I don't think Bob Geldof asking for 'fucking' money for Live Aid offended anyone."

Parlophone issues 'The Light Comes From Within' as a single with a 'Parental Guidance' sticker.

Tuesday January 26

An article on Paul is published (on page 19) in today's edition of the Sun newspaper, under the headline "Linda's Got A Right To Express Herself", a reference to the UK banning of Linda's single 'The Light Comes From Within'.

Wednesday January 27

In London, Paul meets Cherie Blair, the Prime Minister's wife, at 10 Downing Street, where they thrash out plans for a new campaign to fight breast cancer. Their conversation lasts just 30 minutes. Earlier in the day, Paul had rung in to the ITV breakfast station GMTV where he complained about the banning of Linda's single 'The Light Comes From Within' and made a satellite appearance on the ABC TV breakfast show Good Morning America, where again he vents his feelings about the banning of Linda's new single.

In Liverpool, it is announced that the Casbah, the basement coffee shop regarded by many as the birthplace of The Beatles, is set to re-open. Roag Best, the brother of The Beatles' former drummer Pete Best, is now working to prepare the venue for a special anniversary event, hoping that it will lead to the club becoming a permanent feature on the Liverpool tourist trail. (The 40th anniversary of the opening of the Casbah coffee club falls on August 29, 1999.)

Friday January 29

At 3 Saville Row in London, the old headquarters of Apple, a special celebration takes place to mark the 30th anniversary since The Beatles, on the roof of the building, gave their last live public performance. (No one mentions that the 30th anniversary of the concert is actually tomorrow!) The lunchtime event is organised by the BSA (Building Societies Association) to raise funds for their favourite charities, including Imperial Cancer Research and Shelter. The Bootleg Beatles provide the music and among the audience is Glen Matlock, a former member of The Sex Pistols. (Reports on the concert appear on both the ITN and Sky News bulletins.)

Saturday January 30

VH-1 in America broadcasts the Ringo Starr edition of Hard Rock Live.

In Birmingham at St. Andrews, Linda's "veggie" burgers are given away free to supporters at a Birmingham City Football Club home match. Although it is rumoured that Paul will be present at the give away, he does not appear.

The correct 30th anniversary date of The Beatles last public performance on the Apple HQ in Saville Row, London, is officially recognised when the BBC2 weekly archive show TOTP2 screen the complete clip of 'Get Back', extracted from the remastered version of the film Let It Be. (Apple Corps in London supply the clip to the BBC.)

Tuesday February 2

VH-1 in Europe broadcasts for the first time the complete uncut and uncensored MPL promotional film for Linda's 'The Light Comes From Within'.

Thursday February 11

On the eve of Ringo's All-Starr Band tenth anniversary tour, Ringo takes part in another AOL (America On Line) chat with fans around the world.

Friday February 19

In America, George Martin begins a tour called The Making Of Sgt. Pepper, which is billed by promoters as a "multi-media" show. Unfortunately the reviews of the shows are not good and the "multi-media" billing fails to live up to its expectations, with the video screens showing only excerpts from the Making Of Sgt. Pepper TV documentary which many of the fans had seen already. Nevertheless, the sight of The Beatles' producer talking, in person, about how these legendary songs were recorded, is enough to satisfy most fans and the tour is a great success. Patrons are requested to submit questions for Martin on index cards, which had been given to them at the start of the evening. Martin's short itinerary includes Calvin Theater, Northampton, Minnesota (February 19), Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia (February 23), The Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, New Jersey (February 25), Chicago's Park West (March 4) and Denver's Paramount Theater (March 5).

Sunday February 21

Still Stateside, George appears in a blink and you'll miss him 10-second appeal at the conclusion of Mr. Holland's Opus on ABC TV this evening. Holding an acoustic guitar, George's short speech consists of: "I'm George Harrison. Music can make a world of difference in the life of a child, as it did mine. To find out about Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, and to put musical instruments in the hands of children, call toll free 1-877-MrHolland. Help keep music alive in our schools." His friend Michael Kamen had recruited Harrison for the short spot.

March

At the start of the month, and right up until he leaves for America to attend the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame event, Paul is seen at Abbey Road Studios in London where he is rumoured to be working on a new set of rock'n'roll covers with David Gilmour and Mick Green. (A brief report on the sessions appears in the Sunday People newspaper on March 14.) An insider for Paul's label suggests that, should they ever be released, they will most probably appear next Spring. (See entry for Monday March 1.)

In the States, a new range of official Yellow Submarine collectibles is announced, which include cruet sets and cookie jars. In addition, individual models of each Beatle, as depicted in the film, are expected to be released in stages through the year, as well as a model of the Yellow Submarine itself. (The releases are to coincide with the reissue of the Yellow Submarine film, and a documentary on the making of the film, which are expected to appear across the world later in the year.)

At the funeral in Henley of Dusty Springfield, Paul sends a note which reads: "Dearest Dusty, I'm so glad I had the chance a few weeks ago to tell you what a classic you were. We love you. Paul McCartney and the kids."

Monday March 1
(until Friday March 5 and then Tuesday May 4 & Wednesday May 5)

In the famed Studio 2 at Abbey Road, Paul begins a seven day series of instantaneous studio recordings, comprising three McCartney originals and some of his most memorable rock'n'roll songs from his youth. The sessions, which feature David Gilmour and Mick Green (on guitars), Ian Paice (drums), Pete Wingfield (keyboards) and, occasionally, Dave Mattacks (dmms and percussion) and Geraint Watkins (keyboards), will appear on the album Run Devil Run, released on Monday October 4 this year.

Paul, in conversation with Patrick Humphries: "We'd spend 15, 20 minutes top whack, and everyone'd go, 'Yeah, got it.' Then, we'd go to our instruments. I'd go to bass and singing, and we'd just do it." The first session comprises 'Coquette', a Fats Domino B-side, 'I Got Stung', a 1959 number one hit for Elvis Presley and 'Fabulous', which appears later on the 'No Other Baby' single and Run Devil Run singles box set.

Paul on the recordings: "We did it exactly the same way The Beatles used to record. Between 10:30 (am) and 1:30 (pm), we expected to finish two songs. From 1:30 to 2:30 we had lunch. From 2:30 to 5:30, we would finish two more songs ... It's a very comfortable way to work, and I wanted to work that way again. Actually, it's rock'n'roll, so it's play, not work."

Tuesday March 2

Abbey Road Studio 2 - Run Devil Run recordings - 'Movie Magg' and 'Shake A Hand'.

Wednesday March 3

Abbey Road Studio 2 - Run Devil Run recordings - 'Lonesome Town', 'Honey Hush' and the McCartney original, 'Run Devil Run', its title based on a herbal medicine shop in Atlanta, Georgia, that sells Run Devil Run products ...

Thursday March 4

Abbey Road Studio 2 - Run Devil Run recordings - 'Party' and the McCartney original 'What It Is'.

Paul's Liverpool Oratorio is performed this evening at the Theatre Royal De Liege in Belgium.

Friday March 5

Abbey Road Studio 2 - Run Devil Run recordings - 'Blue Jean Bop', 'She Said Yeah', 'No Other Baby' and 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man'. (Recordings resume on Tuesday May 4 - see entry.)

Saturday March 6 & Sunday March 7

Further performances of Paul's Liverpool Oratorio take place this weekend at the Palais Des-Arts De Charleroi in Belgium. The piece is performed by the Royal Opera Company of Belgium.

In Melbourne, Australia, this weekend, George attends the Australian Grand Prix, where the Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper asks him when his next album will be released. "I don't know," he replies. "Maybe next month, maybe not. Maybe sometime, maybe not. I'm saving them up for when I kick the bucket. Some people will really want it then and I will sell more copies!"

Wednesday March 10

Paul appears at a political rally at Westminster Central Hall in London. During the gathering, which is titled Freedom For Tibet, Paul takes to the stage unannounced and reads aloud the lyrics to 'Blackbird'. Afterwards, he swiftly departs from the scene.

Monday March 15

At the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City, Paul is inducted at the 14th annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony. Among those in the star-studded gathering this evening are Elton John, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, Lou Reed, Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, U2 singer Bono, and Julian Lennon. Accepting the award, following an induction speech by Neil Young, Paul remarks: "This is a brilliant night for me but it's sad too. I would have liked my baby to be with me. She wanted this." During his investiture, where he is recognised for his work with The Beatles and as a solo artist, Paul is joined on stage by his daughter Stella, who is wearing a vest adorned by the slogan: "About fucking time!" Paul also remarks: "By the way, while we're here, you've got me, you've got John in this, what about George and Ringo?"

Later, and to the delight of 1,500 guests who had paid $2,000 a head, Paul takes to the stage where, along with the evening's all-star line-up, he performs 'Blue Suede Shoes', 'What'd I Say' and, as the finale, 'Let It Be'. Paul had left the stage while Springsteen, Wilson Pickett, The Staple Singers, Mellissa Etheridge, Lauryn Hill and others performed Curtis Mayfield's 'People Get Ready'. He reappears on stage when he hears the opening chords of 'Let It Be', played by Billy Joel, and sings 'Let It Be' standing at the microphone backed by a showcase of talent including Bono, Eric Clapton, Robbie Robertson and Joel on piano. (Paul did not bring a guitar with him and, apparently, a member of the Hall Of Fame staff admitted that they "could not find him one!") At the conclusion of 'Let It Be', by which time it is now 12:45am, Paul shouts to the audience: "Thank you, it's time to go home. This is a great night, yeah?"

Backstage at the press conference, Paul is asked about his future plans. "I've just recorded some rock'n'roll songs last week," Paul confirms, "so that's coming out at some time." He does not take too kindly to his final question, whether "making the Hall Of Fame as a solo act provides a closure for him." He replies: "What closure? What am I gonna do, die next week? I'm just gonna keep on keeping on! Thank you very much, everybody, see ya." With this, he is gone. (Paul's daughter Stella had been by Paul's side only briefly at the start of the questions.)

Also inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this evening is the late Dusty Springfield, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Curtis Mayfield and The Beatles' producer George Martin, who remarks: "I am very honoured to be placed in a galaxy alongside many of my own heroes." The three-hour television transmission of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame event begins screenings on VH-1 in America on Wednesday March 17 and is repeated several times. (Coverage of the event is also featured on various news bulletins including CNN Showbiz Today, the following day and in the UK, on BBC, ITN and SKY, also on Tuesday March 16.)

Paul is seen leaving the Waldorf Astoria hotel at approximately 2:30am after attending a private party given by Bruce Springsteen.

Friday March 19

In London, at the Royal Albert Hall, all 4,000 tickets (priced between £25 and £75) for the Linda McCartney tribute concert sell out in just one hour. The show, which is titled Here, There And Everywhere - A Concert For Linda, is scheduled to take place at the venue on Saturday April 10 (see entry). Paul is not advertised as one of the performers.

Saturday March 20

The weekly BBC2 archive show TOTP2 broadcasts, for the first time ever in the world, the new computer enhanced promotional film clip for 'Helen Wheels', an item released to coincide with the reissue of the album Band On The Run on Monday.

In Gibraltar, on the southern tip of Spain, special postage stamps are issued by the Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau and The Crown Agents Stamps Bureau to mark the anniversary of John and Yoko's marriage in the country, at just after 9am, 30 years ago today.

Sunday March 21

In the early hours of the morning (between 1:15 and 2:10am), Paul's illustrious career is featured in the ZDF German television documentary series Pop Gallerie.

In the UK today, the News Of The World runs a story about the apparent "discovery" of John Lennon's "diary tape" from 1979. Of course, this has not just been discovered - its existence has been common knowledge amongst Beatles aficionados for years. (See entry for 1979.)

Also today in the UK, BBC Radio Two, during the weekly show Sounds Of The 60s, begins transmitting a regular series entitled The Beatles A-Z, which promises to include a version of every track ever recorded and released by The Beatles. The first two songs featured today are 'A Hard Day's Night' (BBC Radio version) and 'A Day In The life'.

Monday March 22

The 25th anniversary edition of Paul McCartney & Wings' album Band On The Run is released around the world by EMI, complete with previously unreleased bonus tracks, a 24-page booklet, a mini poster and interviews on the making of the album. "Catch Them Again" is EMI's press slogan.

Friday March 26 (until Sunday March 28)

In America, Beatlefest's 25th anniversary convention takes place at the (newly renamed) Meadowlands Crowne Plaza Hilton Hotel in Secaucus, New Jersey, situated four miles outside New York City. Special guests this weekend include Gordon Waller, of Peter & Gordon, the former Wings guitarist Laurence Juber, The Beatles' publicist Tony Barrow, the producer of The Beatles cartoon series and the full-length film Yellow Submarine Al Brodax and, among others, George's sister Lou Harrison. The attendance is around 7,000 over the three days, with fans coming from as far afield as Japan, Europe and many parts of America. On Friday, the opening night of the convention, a surprise guest is The Beatles' New York promoter Sid Bernstein, who cuts a big birthday cake and shares it with the thousands of Beatles fans.

Sunday March 28

In the UK, a pre-taped interview with Yoko is transmitted on BBC Radio Three. dt Still in the UK, the remastered version of the 1968 film Wonderwall, featuring on its soundtrack a newly discovered song by George called 'In The First Place', recorded by The Remo Four, receives a screening in Southampton at the Gantry cinema. The film's director Joe Massot is also present to answer questions about the film. Shortly after, this re-edited and recently restored version of the film is released on Pilar home video in the UK

Monday March 29

In America, tonight's edition of the two-hour A & E programme Live By Request, featuring Ringo and His All-Starr Band, fails to materialise. (The 9pm show was due to take place before a live studio audience from Sony Music Studios in New York City.)

Wednesday March 31

Paul's old home at 20 Forthlin Road, Liverpool, reopens for business. The museum's live-in curator John Halliday says: "I am looking forward to the new season. I enjoyed meeting the visitors to the house and showing them around last year. People have come from all over the world, and I am pleased to be able to share the history of the house with them." (The house will be open to the public weekly from Wednesday to Saturday until October 31 and then from November 1 until December 11 on Saturdays only.)

April

In the UK, the Sunday Times newspaper announces, in its annual poll, that Paul is the UK's top music millionaire with an estimated £500 million fortune. George, meanwhile, scrapes in at number 266 with an estimated fortune of just £90 million.

In London, The Imperial War Museum holds an exhibition called From The Bomb To The Beatles which sets out to chronicle the change in British culture between the years 1945 and 1965. The Beatles are represented in the exhibition, which runs until May 29 2000, by stage costumes worn by John and Paul.

In the UK, listeners to BBC Radio Two vote The Beatles' Yesterday' as The Song Of The Century. Also in this top 100 chart, compiled from choices by listeners, sales figures and songwriters such as Sir Elton John and Tim Rice, is John's 'Imagine', which is placed at number six. In addition, another Beatles recording, 'Hey Jude', reaches number 15.

Friday April 2

In the UK, the Daily Mail newspaper prints a story which reveals that Paul has found himself a new woman, the 52-year-old designer and mother of four, Sue Timney. The report states that Sue sat near Paul at his daughter's recent fashion show in Paris. When shown this article, Paul is incensed and promptly gives an interview to the Sun newspaper, which appears the following day (see entry).

Saturday April 3

"She's not my new woman. She's not even a close friend," screams an article on page nine of today's Sun newspaper. In response to yesterday's article in the Daily Mail, Paul tells the Sun: "This story is a pack of lies! She (Sue Timney) is not even a close friend to me or my family and it is scurrilous and mean-spirited for anyone to make any insinuations." He adds: "It is utterly out of order for a newspaper to make claims like this with no basis at all. I do wish that newspapers would check with me for the facts before they start these stupid rumours. I am now demanding a retraction."

On a more welcoming note today, Paul becomes the second Beatle grandfather when his daughter Mary gives birth to a seven-pound baby boy, who, insiders reveal, will be called Lawrence, James or Arthur. (It turns out to be the latter.) Paul drives from his Sussex farmhouse to be by her side.

Friday April 9

Paul, along with the stars of tomorrow night's Linda McCartney tribute concert, assemble at the Royal Albert Hall in London where they begin rehearsals. As Paul is seen leaving the building, fans are saddened to hear him announce: "There'll be no more autographs ... It's the end of an era," before he climbs into a waiting limousine, to be whisked away to a secret location in London. (Elvis Costello, incidentally, leaves the afternoon get-together and travels to Hammersmith where he appears live on the Channel 4 programme TFI Friday.)

Saturday April 10

Tonight at the Royal Albert Hall in London, in a show hosted by the comic Eddie Izzard and organised by Chrissie Hynde, Paul, along with an all-star cast take part in a special tribute concert for Paul's late wife Linda. The performers include The Pretenders, Elvis Costello, Sinead O'Connor, Tom Jones, George Michael, Marianne Faithfull, Lynden David Hall, Des'ree, Johnny Marr, Neil Finn and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. At the conclusion of the show, entitled Here, There And Everywhere - A Concert For Linda, Paul appears on stage to perform the Ricky Nelson song 'Lonesome Town', a track that he and Linda used to listen to separately back in the Fifties, 'All My Loving' and, as part of an all-star finale, 'Let It Be'. The first highlights broadcast of the show takes place one week later on BBC Radio Two on Saturday April 17, between 7:30 and 9:00pm. The TV premiere of the show will not take place until the following day, Sunday April 18, broadcast on BBC1 between 22:35pm and 12:05am as a 90-minute show, also entitled Here, There And Everywhere - A Concert For Linda. (Neither programme features the finale version of 'Let It Be'.) To celebrate the show, a picture of Paul and Linda (circa 1972) appears on the front page of this week's TV and radio listings magazine, the Radio Times (April 17-23) in a story headlined "For The Love Of Linda", which features an exclusive interview with the comedy writer Carla Lane, a fellow animal rights campaigner and long-time friend of the McCartneys.

Thursday April 15

John is named "The Greatest Singer Of All Time" by the readers of the UK magazine Mojo. Paul appears in the top 100 chart at number seven.

Friday April 16

In the States, today's planned cinema reissue of The Beatles' 1964 film A Hard Day's Night fails to materialise. Miramax Pictures announce that the film will now open simultaneously in New York and Los Angeles on Friday September 17, with the rest of America receiving the film one week later.

Sunday April 18

In the States, George is in attendance at the Long Beach Grand Prix in California.

Monday April 19

In the States, Yoko again sues her one-time personal assistant Fred Seaman, claiming he stole priceless items after John died. The lawsuit has been prompted by Seaman's claim in a February 1999 letter to Capitol Records that a 1980 photo of John and Sean, overlooking the beach in the Bahamas, was used in last year's John Lennon Anthology box set without permission.

Thursday April 22

At the Bonhams rock and pop auction in London today, John's Vox stage organ, famously used during The Beatles' performance of 'I'm Down' at Shea Stadium in 1965, is put up for sale and raises £19,500. The Bonhams auction also sees one of Ringo's Beatles suits fetch £1,300, while his old Chevrolet car sells for £4,200. Among the many other Beatles items on offer, a set of Beatles Subbutteo figures sell for £420.

Monday April 26

"It's Paul McCarty". The UK newspaper the Sun prints a story about Paul's upcoming painting exhibition, which opens in Hamburg, Germany this Saturday.

Friday April 30

At the Kunstforum Lyz art gallery in St. Johann Street, Siegen, in Hamburg, Germany, Paul holds a press conference to launch his first exhibition of paintings, which opens at the gallery tomorrow. (European viewers can see short clips of Paul's conference on this evening's Sky News.) Paul is asked why Germany to launch his paintings. "I could have given hundreds of exhibitions with other people," he explains, "but I felt that Wolfgang was the first person who showed a real interest in my paintings." The exhibition, which is organised by Wolfgang Suttner and comprises 75 out of 500 of Sir Paul's private paintings, will run daily, between 10am and 6pm, until July 25. Wolfgang announces: "His talent completely overshadows the artistic efforts of other stars who try to paint. Paul gave me his OK to the exhibition as Siegen was the birthplace of Peter Paul Rubens." Painted since 1984, Paul's abstract artwork, in oils and acrylic, includes several paintings of Linda, John Lennon, David Bowie and the Queen of England, entitled 'A Salute To The Queen', who is painted green. (The show is expected to reach Tokyo and New York.) To accompany the exhibition is a catalogue containing 80 colour reproductions plus 20 black & white photos by Linda and articles by the artist Brian Clarke and Paul's biographer Barry Miles.

In the evening, Paul attends a private reception in the gallery for his close family, friends and associates, including his children, his brother Mike and The Beatles producer, George Martin. Paul's former Wings partner, Denny Laine, is not in attendance as previously reported. Paul's spokesman, Geoff Baker: "The launch was great. It worked really well. Paul was dead chuffed."

Late April

George is spotted at the Long Beach Grand Prix in America.

May

The planned Sgt. Pepper's concert in London (revealed on November 17 last year) fails to materialise.

Planned for release this month by the Eagle Rock label m America is a 3 CD box set featuring a compilation of live All-Starr Band recordings taken from the last ten years. Also during this time, it is reported that Ringo is recording an album in Los Angeles, intended for a Christmas 1999 release. When asked about this, Ringo replies: "It'll be very Christmassy and lots of bells, ding, ding, ding." In addition, he announces plans for another studio album in the year 2000!

There's good news for George when reports suggest that, following a further test at a Windsor hospital, he has been given a clean bill of health, meaning his cancer has not returned.

Saturday May 1 (Sunday May 2 & Monday May 3)

The Beatles are celebrated throughout the weekend on BBC Radio Two with their music and special programming. On the first night, there are the special programmes The Beatles Legacy (transmitted between 7:00 and 7:59pm) and The Beatles Fantasy Concert (between 8:00 and 8:59pm). The latter features a compilation of live concert performances recorded between 1963 and the Apple rooftop performance from January 30, 1969.

Sunday May 2

At 2pm, Richard Lester is in attendance at the Philadelphia Film Festival for a special screening of The Beatles' movie A Hard Day's Night.

Tuesday May 4 (& Wednesday May 5)

The seven days of Run Devil Run recording sessions conclude at Abbey Road in Studio No. 2 with 'All Shook Up' and then, the following day, with another McCartney original, 'Try Not To Cry'. The period of recordings also produces Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller's 'Thumbin'A Ride' and Otis Blakewell's 'Ready Teddy'.

Thursday May 6

George returns to Windsor Hospital in Berkshire for a checkup. He books in under the name Dylan T. Arias.

Saturday May 8

The Sun newspaper prints across its middle spread a report from New York where Yoko meets, for the first time, John's lost sister, the 53-year-old hospital clerk Ingrid Pedersen. (See entry for Monday August 24, 1998.) After visiting Strawberry Fields, Lennon's memorial garden in Central Park, a tearful Ingrid remarks: "I know I'll never be closer to him than this. I was in tears of sadness and joy. Yoko never left my side and held my hand as we walked. She told me all about him. I feel that, at last, after all these years I am at peace and have reached journey's end." The report concludes by saying that when Ingrid came to say goodbye, she expected that they would never meet again. But Yoko held her hand and said, "No, no. This is not the end, it's the beginning." Yoko promises to get in touch with Ingrid when she is next in London and invited Ingrid back to New York any time. Ingrid ends by saying: "I thought one day we would be together, but fate conspired to keep us apart. In Yoko, I have the next best person."

Sunday May 9

At this year's BAFTA awards, held at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, the two-part BBC2 Arena documentary called The Brian Epstein Story', first aired on the BBC last Christmas, wins the Hugh Wheldon Award for Best Arts Programme.

Monday May 10

The Sun newspaper keeps up with its exclusive Beatles-related stories by announcing that "The Fab Four is set to release a new undiscovered single this year." The report, by Dominic Mohan of the "Bizarre" column, reveals that: "The Beatles are to release their last single ever. Sir Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr have unearthed a song they recorded but lost during sessions at Abbey Road in 1968. The as-yet-untitled track features John Lennon on vocals and will probably go on sale in September or October. The song will be the centrepiece of a Fab Four revival this summer in the run-up to the Millennium." The report continues: "The surviving Beatles are planning a summer spectacular with star acts, rumoured to include Boyzone and Robbie Williams, paying tribute to the group in front of 100,000 fans."

The article goes on to reveal that the three Beatles are currently working on a six-hour radio show, a TV special and an official Beatles biography by Paul, George and Ringo. In addition, it is confirmed that bosses at EMI want to make 1999 The Year Of The Beatles and are planning a huge range of merchandise. The revival is being dubbed The Beatlennium Project. A source close to the group says: "It is going to be a Beatles summer. They've unearthed a song that had been completely forgotten. It will be released in its original form. No new work has been done on it but Paul, George and Ringo have said this will be the last ever Beatles single - there's nothing else left. It's a perfect way to end the Millennium and it's sure to be a number one. The summer concert will see many of today's young bands paying tribute to the Fab Four. It will be the music event of the year. The revival will be based on the Yellow Submarine theme and they are now even talking about sailing a real yellow submarine up the River Mersey. Beatlemania looks like it's going to be back." The report concludes: "Paul, George and Ringo are likely to attend the Liverpool show, but I'm told they probably won't perform."

Paul's spokesman, Geoff Baker, has this to say: "The (unearthed) track is from the Yellow Submarine sessions. It's an upbeat thing, a real rocker. John is singing on it. It's not a 'Free As A Bird' job. It's something that is already there. It's good stuff!" Baker goes on to talk about the reissue of the Yellow Submarine album. "They've re-done the album and this is the first time that a Beatles album has been remixed. It's been re-edited in a re-fabbed way. There'll also be tons of Yellow Submarine merchandise in stores. Physically everything that is yellow. The whole project should be the trip of a lifetime."

The American Ice magazine hints that the supposedly (unearthed) "lost Beatles single" will actually be a new version of the 1968 track 'Hey Bulldog'. In reply, a spokesman for The Beatles says: "It may well be that track, but even the most die-hard Beatles fanatic will not have heard this version!" (This new version is believed to maybe feature the missing verse cut from the original version, but actually recorded and released in 1971 by the all-female rock group Fanny.)

Also today, Paul joins the call to close down Britain's fur farm industry. Top mountaineer Sir Chris Bonnington and fellow environmental campaigner David Bellamy join Paul in an open letter to Westminster supporting the MP Maria Eagles' fur farm prohibition bill. This bill will stop the slaughter of thousands of mink and has been welcomed by the organisations Respect For Animals and the RSPCA.

In Germany today, a VW Beetle once owned by John sells for £11,000 at a German auction.

Saturday May 15

In the UK, the survey of the Top 100 Singles Of All Time, compiled by Guinness and based on the record's chart position and time spent at the top of the charts, is published. The Beatles feature three times in the listing; with 'She Loves You' being placed the highest, at number 19. John's 'Imagine' makes number 21. In the coveted number one spot is Bill Haley and The Comet's 'Rock Around The Clock'.

Monday May 17

It is announced that eight British composers, including Paul, have written a classical musical tribute to Linda. The new tribute is an eight-song cycle for an unaccompanied choir with each composer contributing one song. It opens with Paul's own composition 'Nova' and other songs include 'A Good-Night', by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, 'The Doorway Of The Dawn', by David Matthews and 'Prayer For The Healing Of The Sick', by John Tavener. The production, entitled A Garland For Linda, will be premiered on Sunday July 18 by the Joyful Company of Singers, alongside new choral arrangements for five Beatles songs, namely 'Lady Madonna', 'Fixing A Hole', 'And I Love Her', 'Here, There And Everywhere' and 'Let It Be'. The brainchild of Stephen Connock, chairman of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society, the work is inspired by A Garland For The Queen, a 1953 tribute to the Coronation written by ten British composers.

Tuesday May 18

Paul's 1984 film Give My Regards To Broad Street is shown in America on the FOX TV network at 4:01pm. (A further screening on the station occurs the following day, May 19, at 6:01am.)

Thursday May 20

In London, at the Dorchester Hotel, Paul, on his first official UK engagement since Linda's death, attends the 1999 Pride Of Britain British Achievers awards ceremony, an event organised by Virgin and the Daily Mirror newspaper. Near to tears, an emotionally charged Paul, in attendance to present the Linda McCartney Award For Animal Welfare, announces: "It has been a very emotional occasion. I never expected it to be like this. What a day this has been. It has been such an inspiration. The point about these awards is that you don't usually see this side of people. You normally see the other side. I have been choked up. This shows how many good people there are in the world. Linda would have been well chuffed with the award created in her name. I have been crying all year and now I come here. I just want to thank Mirror readers for creating this category and dedicating it to my lovely Linda. I know she would be proud." The recipient of the first Linda McCartney Award For Animal Welfare, nominated by Paul himself, is Juliet Gellatley, the founder and director of the vegetarian charity Viva. Paul announces: "I chose Juliet because she deserves more publicity for her work. The point is that a few years ago Juliet would not have been at an awards ceremony like this, but vegetarianism is now the way of the future." Among the many other British heroes present at the ceremony today is the cancer sufferer and BBC TV sports presenter Helen Rollason, the boxer Lennox Lewis, Emma Bunton and Victoria Adams from The Spice Girls and the Prime Minister Tony Blair. At the gathering, Paul also meets the former model, Heather Mills. (Clips of the event, which do not feature Paul, are transmitted on Sky News in Europe later this evening.)

Friday May 21

The British comedy star Norman Rossington, co-star of the film A Hard Day's Night in 1964, dies aged 70 in a Manchester hospital. The veteran character actor, believed to be the only actor to have appeared on film with both The Beatles and Elvis Presley, had been fighting cancer for the last six months. (See entry for Wednesday October 18, 2000.)

Monday May 24

George and Ringo and their respective wives, attend the opening of the Annual Chelsea Flower Show in London. George, wearing a short haircut, looks extremely well, dispelling recent rumours of his poor health.

Wednesday May 26

It is revealed that John is to be honoured when the Blue Plaque scheme, marking buildings' links with famous people, moves to Liverpool. Besides the former Beatle, poets, politicians and philanthropists are also among the notables selected for the scheme by the English Heritage in its first foray outside London.

June

At the start of the month, in a press release, Apple announces that, " 'Hey Bulldog' will not be released as a single, but will appear as a video, designed to promote Yellow Submarine and the new songtrack album of re-mixed Beatles songs from the film. Geoff Baker, the Apple spokesman, announces: "In researching the Yellow Submarine project, Apple Corps has discovered previously unknown footage of The Beatles recording at Abbey Road Studios. It's believed to be the last unseen footage of The Beatles recording. The footage captures The Beatles recording 'Hey Bulldog', a lesser known song from the Yellow Submarine sessions in 1968. The footage was discovered after the screening of The Beatles Anthology in 1995. If it had been discovered before, it would have been included in the Anthology. The Beatles' recording of 'Hey Bulldog' will be issued as a video around the time of the launch of the new Yellow Submarine album, home video and DVD in the autumn. EMI Records recently considered issuing 'Hey Bulldog' as a new single, but it has now been decided to release the historic footage as a video instead."

(Note: The footage, excerpts of which had been seen fairly frequently over the years, was taken on February 11, 1968 when the group was required to make a promotional film for 'Lady Madonna', their new single.)

George, in conversation with Timothy White, the editor-in-chief of Billboard magazine: "When we were in the studio recording 'Bulldog', apparently they needed some footage for some other record and a crew came and filmed us. Then they cut up the footage and used some of the shots for something else, but it was Neil Aspmall who found out that when you watched and listened to what the original was, it was 'Bulldog'. So Neil put all the footage back together again and put the 'Bulldog' soundtrack onto it and there it was!"

Also at the start of the month, George Martin takes his Beatles orchestral show to Israel. The country had missed out on Beatlemania in the 1960s as the government in power at the time were convinced that the raucous strains of The Beatles' music would corrupt their young.

Wednesday June 2

At London's KDK Gallery in the Portobello Road, Cynthia Lennon, along with her old friend, Phyllis McKenzie, hold a launch party for their exhibition, a presentation of their favourite artwork pieces, entitled Lennon And McKenzie. Cynthia's work includes 14 ink-on-wash illustrations made for her 1978 autobiography, A Twist Of Lennon. Two pieces that did not finish in the completed publication are put up for sale at the exhibition priced at £999 each. Cynthia is quoted as saying: "I am doing this because I truly want to start afresh. I want to get all this Lennon stuff out of my life. It's a new Millennium and everything." (The show runs until Friday July 30.)

In London, later this evening, George attends a party to celebrate the Christie's charity auction of Eric Clapton's 100 guitar collection. The sale is taking place to raise, hopefully, £600,000 for the Crossroads alcohol and drug addiction centre in Antigua. Besides perusing the impressive range of guitars on offer, George joins Eric in a light-hearted jam to please the on-looking members of the press. "They were just messing around, but they looked very happy," says one partygoer. "It caused a lot of excitement." George also causes some laughter at the event when he tries to smuggle in a home-made cardboard guitar with Eric's priceless instruments. Also in attendance at the party are Olivia Harrison and Patti Boyd. (The auction takes place at Christie's in New York on Thursday June 24.)

Sunday June 6

It's announced that Paul is to spearhead a campaign exposing cruel animal practices used in testing some household cleaners. The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, responsible for signing up Paul, announces that: "6,000 British animals have suffered and died testing goods like washing powder in the past three years." Paul is also dedicating Linda's song 'The White Coated Man' to the cause.

In Blokker, Holland, a special nine-foot sculpture, costing £15,000 is erected in the village to celebrate the 35th anniversary of The Beatles' performance there.

Tuesday June 8

The Beatles' 1966 track 'Tomorrow Never Knows' is named by Musik magazine as "one of the pioneers of modem dance music". The mag also cites the Revolver album track as "one of the first to avoid the standard verse/chorus/verse formats," and adds that the song "features reversed guitars and overdubs, hinting at the sampling technology of today."

Thursday June 10

Paul: "Tony Blair is wrong to support genetically modified food!" Paul makes this comment at he announces a £3 million investment to ensure the vegetarian meal range, created by Linda, is completely GM free. During the London press conference, he announces that: "Sales of Linda McCartney Foods dropped after the BBC revealed in February that they contained a tiny trace - 0.5% - of GM Soya." He added, "The company has now removed Soya from its products and has replaced it with wheat for which there is no GM alternative grown." Paul also announces that the brand will spearhead a campaign against GM food with every pack of the 38 varieties in the range bearing the stamp "Say No To GMO". Paul then returns his attentions back to the Prime Minister Tony Blair. "I can understand what he is doing," Paul admits. "He does not want people to panic. But I think he's wrong. I don't think there is enough evidence about the problems that might arise through GM foods. I don't think people are worrying unnecessarily. The last time they got into something like this was BSE when people did swallow it quite literally. This time we have to take time to find out exactly what the implications of GM foods are." (Footage from the ceremony is transmitted on Sky News this evening.)

As a footnote to this, it is revealed that the Linda McCartney factory at Fakenham in Norfolk, has been temporarily closed and steam-cleansed to ensure it is a GM-free zone. A new range of food has been strictly tested for any contamination and no trace of GM has been found, an exercise that has cost Paul some £3 million.

Friday June 11

The Daily Mail, on its front page, prints the headline: "Why I'll Make All Linda's Foods GM Free - By Sir Paul." Inside, on page 21, in a report focusing on yesterday's news conference in London, Paul announces: "We have got to work out what the dangers of GM foods are before we put them in the public arena. How do we know what we are eating? I've got a grandson and I want him to eat good foods. As far back as 1995, Linda was saying, 'I'd rather have my own food grown by Mother Nature than by the chemical industry', and we are sticking to that benchmark." This morning, Paul appears on the UK TV breakfast show GMTV where he talks about genetically modified foods, plus Linda and his grandson, Arthur. The feature was taped in London the previous day.

In America, George gives an exclusive interview to Billboard editor-in-chief Timothy White, where he reveals details of the forthcoming Yellow Submarine album and film, and divulges details that he is in the final stages of recording a new solo album and is compiling a boxed set of his solo demos, outtakes and previously unreleased recordings. George also reveals that ownership of Harrison's entire 1976-1992 Dark Horse/Warner Bros. catalogue has reverted back to him. This includes the two Traveling Wilburys albums. In addition, George reveals that he is contemplating re-issuing his albums with possible unreleased bonus tracks.

Sunday June 13

Linda's photo exhibition Sixties opens at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut. This event marks the start of a three-year American tour for the pictures.

Monday June 14

The Beatles beat Robbie Williams and The Spice Girls to be named Britain's greatest musical asset in a survey of people not even bora when the fab four split. In the poll of under 24s, carried out by Lloyds/TSB, 52% chose The Beatles with Williams coming in at second spot with only 13% of the votes. The Spice Girls reaching fourth spot with only 11%. While in the poll of all age groups. The Beatles triumph again, collecting 44% of the votes. The Rolling Stones, who had just finished the UK leg of their tour at the weekend, receive just 3% of the votes.

Friday June 18

Paul's 57th birthday is again celebrated by VH-1 in Europe, designating the entire day to programmes featuring the former Beatle.

Sunday June 20

The American news station CNN broadcasts, at 9pm ET, an episode of the series Celebrate The Century which, this week, takes a look back at the years 1961 to 1980. The Beatles naturally feature heavily in the show. (Further airings of this programme take place on the station on Friday June 25 at 8pm ET and on Saturday June 26 at 10pm ET.)

Friday June 25

In America, George Martin conducts the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and an eight-piece rock band for A Tribute to The Beatles concert, held this evening at 7:30pm at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California. At the venue, Martin tells reporters about The Beatles original feelings towards Yellow Submarine. "The Beatles hated both the song and the film based on it," he reveals.

July

News continues to surface about the American CBS TV network's four-hour mini series based on Danny Fields' biography on the life of Linda McCartney, the details of which naturally continue to upset Paul. His spokesman, Geoff Baker, points out: "Paul has expressed his sadness at the news ... Paul is upset at the prospect of any person or company cashing in on Linda's death. Paul accepts this sort ofthing, but he is saddened by it. What man would want to see the memory of his beloved wife cheapened like this?" (The production, eventually to run to just 90 minutes, will be screened in America for the first time on Sunday May 21, 2000 - see entry.)

Monday July 5

George is a surprise guest on Joe Brown's BBC Radio 2 show Let It Rock, where he discusses his favourite rock'n'roll records, performed by such artists as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Coasters, Eddie Cochran and Carl Perkins. George also plays the Richie Barrett version of 'Some Other Guy', a track covered by The Beatles in their Cavern Club days. "Our version's horrible," George remarks. (Harrison's piece, not originally intended for transmission, was recorded on Thursday July 1 at Joe Brown's house and began merely as a casual conversation about rock'n'roll whilst supping on a few beers!)

Joe Brown concludes the show by playing 'I Got Stung', a track recorded by Paul (on Wednesday March 1) for his forthcoming rock'n'roll oldies album (see entry). Joe Brown had obtained the McCartney track because he bumped into him during a preview of the Yellow Submarine film, which he attended with George. During the meeting, Paul proceeds to tell Brown that he is a big fan of his Let It Rock show. Brown informs Paul that the next show will be the last in the series and Paul, eager to participate, sends over to him a special mix of 'I Got Stung'. Unsurprisingly enough, fans tape the song (as well as George's interview) and the track ends up on the Internet. Two American radio stations, WRIF in Detroit and WNCX in Cleveland, download the track and proceed to air the recording, before Capitol Records force them to stop.

Sunday July 11

The Sunday People reports that "The Beatles Get Back", revealing that "The Beatles are to get back together to where they once belonged. They will re-form and sing together for the first time in thirty years on a yellow submarine. The historic scene will be broadcast live by Channel 4's Big Breakfast on August Bank Holiday Monday. All three surviving members of the fab four will team up for a cruise on Liverpool's River Mersey to publicise the updated version of their 1968 film Yellow Submarine. A source close to the group said: 'We want to take the Yellow Submarine theme as far as we can. And there's no better way of doing this than getting the three Beatles to appear on a real submarine. They also said they were going to attend the celebrations in Liverpool on the day. But by singing 'Yellow Submarine', they are going to give fans an extra-special treat.' "

Sunday July 18

The world premiere of A Garland For Linda, a classical music tribute to Linda McCartney, takes place in the intimate chapel of Charterhouse School in Surrey. The piece, Paul's classical music tribute to his late wife, Linda, contains nine songs written for an unaccompanied choir and launches the Garland Appeal; a charity designed to raise money for cancer research and British music. The nine separate musical sections are written by some of the country's top composers and Paul himself. His section, called 'Nova', is a piece for a choir featuring an exchange with God, who intones: "I am here. I am here now. I am with you." Paul: "I think Linda would be very moved with most of it. I think she would be very glad that people have gone to all this bother, and I think she'd wonder what all the fuss was about." Amidst very tight security, Paul arrives at the venue in a private helicopter and lands in the school grounds about three-quarters of a mile away from the chapel. Upon his arrival, he attends a sound check, which starts at approximately 3:30pm in the chapel.

(The A Garland For Linda album is released by EMI Classics on Monday February 7, 2000.)

Tuesday July 20

On his way to LIPA for a graduation ceremony, Paul opens a new playground in Calderstone Park, Liverpool, just yards away from his former home in Forthlin Road. During his stay in the park, children and parents are surprised to see Paul shake hands and play with children on the roundabouts and the swings. Later, he unveils a plaque and plants an oak tree in memory of Linda.

Jean Catharell, of Liverpool Beatlescene recalls the event: "While standing waiting for Paul to arrive, we were all looking towards the Manor House where we expected that he would emerge. Then, all of a sudden, a black car appeared through the trees and made its way to the playground. It pulled up and Paul got out with John Hammel. Everyone moved towards him and someone said, 'We were expecting you to come from over there,' pointing to the Manor House. Paul, with a huge grin on his face, replies, 'Ah ha! I know this park better than you think.' He was wandering around the playground with kids all around him, reminiscent of the Pied Piper really, and suddenly this guy passed him a mobile phone and said, 'Paul, would you say hello to the wife?' Paul immediately took the phone and said, 'Hello wife!' and then chatted for a few minutes. Everyone was laughing their heads off. It was so funny. Paul was in a fantastic mood and up for most things.

"While Paul was walking around, there was this little kid in a Liverpool Football Club outfit. He must have been about 4 years old. He kept following Paul and walking by his side saying, 'You're Paul Cartney,' (not McCartney, just Cartney). Paul was laughing his head off and said, 'Yeah, I am.' This kid was everywhere and, at the end of the tour, Paul swiped this kid's hat off his head and put it behind his back and said to him, 'Where's your hat?' The kid stood there dumbfounded and Paul put it back on his head laughing. He picked him up and had his picture taken with him. It really was lovely stuff. At one point, the only official photographer there asked Paul to sit on the swings. Paul said no at first but was soon convinced it would be a good thing. There was a little boy on the swing and Paul jokingly said to the boy, 'Oy, get off that swing,' and promptly sat on it himself. He looked chuffed as he swung his legs around.

"When Paul performed the tree planting ceremony, it was hilarious. He was shovelling earth into the ground around the tree and there was a photographer opposite him goading him. As Paul took the next shovel of earth, he threw it at the photographer. Everyone burst out laughing and Paul stood there like the cat that had got the cream, it was a fabulous moment. The whole visit was amazing. With just John Hammel accompanying him (as it was supposed to be a private visit), it was so easy to speak to Paul and to take photographs. As I said earlier, he was in a tremendous mood and really did look like he was having the time of his life. He was wonderful with the children and looking at him, surrounded by little kids and babies, if you didn't know he was Paul McCartney, the superstar, he could have been any Dad in the park with his kids. It's very easy to see how him and Linda raised great kids with big hearts. They obviously loved raising kids and it shows. Paul was so very at ease with all the kids and babies and talked to the Mums about their offspring. At one point he sat on the roundabout and was suddenly swamped with kids. You could hardly see him, but he looked very happy. As he was walking around, he was saying to kids who were climbing, 'Hey, be careful there,' and he'd put his arms around their waists to steady them ... It was just wonderful to see Paul like this. He was home, in Liverpool where he belongs!"

August

Scheduled to open around this time in Saitama, Japan, is the world's first John Lennon museum, featuring donations from Yoko Ono. The site will be inside a 35,000 seater sports stadium, located an hour away from Tokyo. (The museum will not actually appear until Monday October 9, 2000, John's 60th birthday.)

A remastered print of The Beatles' film Yellow Submarine is prepared for re-release to cinemas across the world. To coincide with the release, officially licensed Yellow Submarine merchandise begins to appear in stores around the world, including individual models of each of the Beatles as depicted in the film and calendars, comics, T-shirts, plates, greeting cards, limited edition cookie jars, wrist watches, model kits, silk ties, sweatshirts, hats, jewellery, bags, lighters, metal lunch boxes and, amongst other things, a limited edition Schwinn Yellow Submarine bike. (The latter appearing as the main prize in HMV record store competitions in the UK during September.)

Sunday August 1

In Henley-on-Thames, George upsets his neighbours when he throws a 21st birthday party for his son, Dhani. The quiet Beatle decides to mark this historic occasion by staging a 15-minute fireworks display in the grounds of his Friar Park home. But unfortunately, local environmental health officials will soon claim that they had received a large number of complaints about the events, saying: "The show terrified children and animals for miles around." As the fireworks lit up the sky, car alarms went off, debris fell onto gardens and windows rattled. Mrs Peggy Leonard, from nearby Hop Gardens, says: "Suddenly, without warning, we were subjected to a most frightening display right overhead. Debris was falling into our gardens and one dreads to think what would have been the outcome had a spark set light to the tinder dry grass or trees. What on earth has happened to our nice, peaceful town?" The health officials write to George informing him of the complaints.

Sunday August 8

The 30th anniversary of The Beatles' photo shoot for the cover of their Abbey Road album is celebrated today in London. Fans are invited to cross the famed zebra crossing at the exact same time (11:35am) as the fabs did back in 1969. The event, which is marred by heavy rain, is organised by the London Beatles Fan Club.

Tuesday August 24

John's first guitar, a £10 Gallotone Champion, is bought for a staggering £155,500 by an unnamed New York investment fund manager, who bid for the instrument by telephone at the Sotheby's sale in London. The buyer remarks: "I consider John Lennon to be the most important musician of the 20th Century, and I am honoured to own something played by him." This guitar is the one played by John at the summer fete in Woolton, Liverpool, on the day he was introduced to Paul. On the guitar is a brass plaque proclaiming Aunt Mimi's legendary comment to John: "Remember, you'll never earn a living by it! September 15"

Wednesday August 25 (until Tuesday August 31)

The Liverpool based tourist organisation Cavern City Tours hold their annual international Beatles week, featuring a host of Beatle tribute bands from around the world. Due to the event's recognition from The Beatles' company Apple, this 1999 Beatles week is (besides the December 1963 Liverpool and Wimbledon fan get-togethers) the first ever official Beatles convention to be held in the world. On Saturday August 28, Yellow Submarine fever reaches Anfield, the home of Liverpool Football Club, when an eight-foot Blue Meanie appears on the pitch before the start of their match against Arsenal. The character, actually Paul Angelis, the voice of the original chief Meanie from the film, is also present when the city's mayor, Joe Devaney, cuts a special yellow ribbon to mark the start of the festivities. Also launched today is the new US Yellow Submarine postage stamp. In a written statement, Paul remarks: "It's lovely for the Yellow Submarine to become a postage stamp and I'm going to send lots of letters to people with little Yellow Submarines on them." (The stamp's first day of issue, along with the rest of the Celebrate The Century's 60s stamps, is on Friday September 17 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.)

Geoff Baker: "We wanted to bring it back to the place where they were born. Liverpool is the place where it all began."

But, for many, the highlight of the week takes place on Monday August 30, when, at the Yellow Submarine Mathew Street Festival, there is a Yellow Submarine outside stage, featuring Beatles music performed by sound-a-like bands all day long. Artists performing include Banned On The Run, The Overtures, Gary Gibson, Instant Karma, and many more. Naturally the day is dedicated to the world premiere screening this evening of the new picture enhanced and new surround sound version of the 1968 Yellow Submarine film at the Philharmonic Hall, an event organised by Apple in conjunction with MGM and Cavern City Tours. At the conclusion of the film, Lenny Pane from Sweden showcase the new 15-track Yellow Submarine songtrack album.

Friday August 27 (until Sunday August 29)

In America, the regular Beatlefest convention takes place in Orlando, Florida at the Caribe Royale Resort Suites Hotel, a venue situated eleven and a half miles from Disney World. Amongst the special guests this weekend are The Quarry Men.

September

The Beatles appear on a list of 2,000 "Icons of the Millennium", set up by the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. "Paul McCartney may become a lord," Blair announces. "George Harrison and Ringo Starr a Sir, but the government isn't sure about awarding John Lennon posthumously, since he's returned his MBE award."

Hypertension Music release the single 'Little Children', which features The Peter Kirtley Band with Paul McCartney. All proceeds of the single go to Jubilee Action in aid of the Brazilian street children.

Rumours in the Beatles fraternity suggest that, just prior to the Yellow Submarine releases, Apple will launch an official Beatles Internet web page.

Friday September 3 (until Wednesday September 15)

The re-mastered version of Yellow Submarine is screened in San Francisco at the Castro Cinema.

Tuesday September 7

At the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, Paul holds an invitation only Buddy Holly 'Rock'N'Roller' dance party. Accompanied by his daughter Stella, he arrives at 8:45pm, fifteen minutes later than scheduled, and makes a mad dash out of his limousine and past all the cameras and members of the press. With not one possibility of a picture, the journalists present are naturally angry. Celebrities present include the singers Chubby Checker, Neil Sedaka, Lou Christie and the record producer Tony Visconti and his wife, May Pang. Inside the venue, the crowd is treated to live music and rollerdance, with couples wheeled out to display their expertise on roller skates. Next, the singing star Bobby Vee comes out to delight the crowd, who, following more rollerdance antics, were then treated to a live performance from The Crickets. Paul and Stella spend most of the evening sitting in the balcony, and then, following a screening of a film on Buddy Holly, Paul appears on stage, where, completely unrehearsed, those around bring out to him his Sunburst Les Paul guitar. Paul then joins The Crickets for a version of 'Rave On'. But, suddenly, halfway through the number, Paul appears to change his mind about appearing and after his lacklustre performance, he promptly returns to his table in the balcony. Carl Perkins' son, Stan, and Bobby Vee, who performs with The Crickets, conclude the evening's entertainment. Also performing tonight is Nanci Griffith. (The New York radio station WCBS broadcasts the party, which is attended by 2,000 people.)

The host for the evening is Cousin Bruce Morrow. Various US TV programmes such as Entertainment Tonight, CNN and Access Hollywood cover the event. The Rogers & Cowan press release told of an all-star jam to close the evening, with rumours of surprise appearances by Elton John, Eric Clapton and Billy Joel being thrown around. The nearest we get to this is VIP area only appearances by Christopher Reeve, Phil Collins and Eric Clapton, who does not go near the stage. Fans desperate to get inside tonight to see Paul are forced to pay upwards of $500 for a ticket.

During Paul's visit to the States, he records an interview about the Apple band Badfinger for a VH-1 Behind The Music documentary, which is not aired until November 2000.

Wednesday September 8

At 11:57am, the recently painted Yellow Submarine Eurostar train makes its 180 miles-an-hour maiden trip, departing from London Waterloo and arriving in Paris, France, three hours later. It is reported the decoration, over 400 metres of plastic panels covering 18 carriages, and naturally featuring an assortment of Blue Meanies, Apple Bonkers and Flying Gloves, overseen by Apple's art director, Fiona Andreanelli, has cost Paul, George and Ringo, via Apple, over £100,000. A spokesman for Eurostar is quoted as saying: "It is a very interesting and exciting venture, which will see a train transformed into a Yellow Submarine travelling under the channel. We have been in discussion for some time with companies who want to use the marketing opportunities of the train, and this will be the first one." Before its first journey, a Jazz band struck up the 'Yellow Submarine' theme song. The head of Apple, Neil Aspinall, on hand to witness the first voyage, remarks: "I think the train looks fantastic and it's great that The Beatles' music is still listened to by the younger generation."

(The Yellow Submarine Eurostar train will travel, on average, three times a day between London, Paris and Brussels until the end of the year.)

Thursday September 9

At New York's Metropolitan Opera House, Paul appears at the MTV Video Awards ceremony where, along with Madonna, he presents the "Best Video" award to Lauryn Hill. Looking at the card with the winner's name, Paul jokes: "You'll never guess who it is, man. It's some guy called Lawrence Hill ... I love that guy!" When Paul had appeared on stage, Madonna knelt down to worship him and cited him as an example, saying: "Even famous celebrities can bring up beautiful, down-to-earth, kick-ass children." She also remarks that "his talent makes me nervous".

The event is naturally covered by both MTV in America and Europe.

Friday September 10

MTV in Europe broadcasts, for the first time, the 23-minute documentary The Making Of The Beatles' Yellow Submarine. The first repeat takes place on the station on September 14, on the same day that the show, featuring different edits, appears for the first time on VH-1 in America. The 23-minute show contains footage from the film as well as interviews with Paul, George and Ringo and many participants in the making of the movie as well as those involved with the film's restoration. To coincide with the screening, Apple release to VH-1, for a limited time of just one month, a brand new film compilation for the song 'Yellow Submarine', featuring excerpts from the animated film.

While today in New York, on the 10th, Paul arrives at a party held for his daughter, Stella, and is seen with the cap missing from his front tooth. The story goes that he had bitten into a crusty baguette at a Big Apple delicatessen earlier in the day and it had dislodged the tooth. The story and the picture of Paul, minus the tooth, makes the front page of the Mirror on the following day, under the headline: "Can't Bite Me Love".

(Note: Paul originally lost the front tooth back in the spring of 1966 after an accident on his moped.)

Monday September 13

The Yellow Submarine songtrack album is released in the UK as a CD and in limited edition yellow vinyl featuring the exact same tracks. Described not as a soundtrack but as a "songtrack", the album features 15 fully remixed and digitally remastered tracks, namely: 'Yellow Submarine', 'Hey Bulldog', 'Eleanor Rigby', 'Love You To', 'All Together Now', 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds', 'Think For Yourself', 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', 'With A Little Help From My Friends', 'Baby You're A Rich Man', 'Only A Northern Song', 'All You Need Is Love', 'When I'm Sixty Four', 'Nowhere Man' and 'It's All Too Much'. The Apple and MPL spokesman, Geoff Baker, is quoted as saying: "It'll be the Yellow Submarine album that the fans have wanted for thirty years, because this will be all The Beatles music from the film for the first time. It doesn't sound completely different, but the songs will sound like you've not heard them before." (The album is released in the States on Tuesday, September 14.)

(The album enters the UK charts at number eight, selling 19,000 copies in its first week and achieving Gold disc status by the beginning of October. While in the States, the album enters the Billboard chart at number 15, selling almost 68,000 copies in its first week.)

To coincide with the 'Hey Bulldog' and Yellow Submarine releases, Apple distribute the recently recovered film clip of The Beatles recording 'Hey Bulldog' in Abbey Road Studios back in February 1968, clips of which originally appeared in the promotional film for 'Lady Madonna'. (See next entry for first airing.) In addition, a home video and DVD version of the Yellow Submarine film, which includes the 1968 documentary A Mod Odyssey, is issued the same day as the album by MGM Home Entertainment.

Friday September 17

The newly edited "in the studio" promotional film clip for 'Hey Bulldog', billed as "The last video ever made of a Beatles performance", is premiered in America (at approximately 10:45pm) on the ABC TV programme, 20/20. But fans, eagerly awaiting the first airing, are in uproar when the studio presenter, Barbara Walters, proceeds to talk throughout the song's soundtrack. Thankfully, the complete unhindered clip is repeated, this time on VH-1 in the States on Monday September 20. British Beatles fans are informed that no UK transmission for the film has yet been scheduled. (The clip eventually appears in Europe on Monday September 27 and the UK on Wednesday October 13 - see entries.)

Surprisingly, for a very limited time, the clip could be bought (unofficially) direct from ABC TV, via the station's "VHS tapes of broadcasted programmes" sales commercial arm. Apple acts quickly to stop these sales.

Still in the States, Paul holds the first in a short series of four Run Devil Run listening parties. The opening event, in front of an estimated 300 crowd, takes place in Los Angeles at the House of Blues. For those already inside, the title track 'Run Devil Run' is teasingly played at 8pm, but the full programme does not begin until 9pm. By which time, Paul had arrived late (at 8:45pm), arriving in his limousine, which delivered the ex-Beatle to the backdoor. He pauses to wave to the crowd before entering the building.

Paul, wearing baggy blue jeans, a white T-shirt and a forest green jacket, arrives on stage at 9:15pm and is introduced by the president of Capitol Records. Paul then proceeds to talk about The Beatles and how he recorded Run Devil Run in a way similar to how they recorded in the early days. Paul concludes his seven-minute spot by saying: "I hope you enjoy the album and the listening party." The video of the making of Run Devil Run is played for about ten minutes before the album begins its first airing, with Paul remaining in the balcony for the duration. At the end of this, Paul reappears on stage to be given an award by the Capitol Records president for 60 million albums sold since 1970. Paul thanks the people for coming and explains the idea behind the listening party. "Instead of the usual people in suits, executive types, I decided to invite people off the street instead," he says. Paul tells everyone it was then time to go and the Capitol president tells everyone they are welcome to stay behind for a replay of the Run Devil Run album. Paul leaves the building with his son, James, in tow. Special guests in the VIP audience this night include Don and Phil Everly, Rod Stewart, Sheryl Crow and The Beach Boys legend, Brian Wilson. (The second Run Devil Run listening party takes place on Wednesday September 22 - see entry.)

After a six-month delay, a remastered version of The Beatles' 1964 film A Hard Day's Night is simultaneously reissued to very selected cinemas in the UK and to choice theatres in New York and Los Angeles. This new print boasts a digitally remastered stereo soundtrack, engineered by Ron Furmanek.

Saturday September 18

In Los Angeles, California, at the Paramount Studios in Hollywood, Paul endorses a "Party Of The Century" gala event sponsored by PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. After a video tribute to Linda, accompanied by the moving song 'Angel', performed by Sarah McLachlan on piano, Paul returns to the stage in tears and unable to speak. But, he still manages to present the first Linda McCartney Memorial Award, which is dedicated to the fight for animal rights. Its first recipient is the actress Pamela Anderson Lee.

Later, at approximately 12:30am in an adjacent street, accompanied by his regular Run Devil Run band, Paul performs six tracks from the album, namely, 'Honey Hush', 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man', 'No Other Baby', 'Try Not To Cry', 'Lonesome Town' and 'Run Devil Run'. (Note: replacing Paul's regular accordion player, Chris Hall, tonight is Doug Lacy of the Los Angeles band Zydeco Party Band.) Also appearing on the bill this night are The B 52's, and Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders.

The star studded event, which is attended by 2,000 people, is aired by the Broadcastisland.com Internet site, but they are forbidden to air any video or audio from Paul's tracks 'Honey Hush', 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man' and 'Run Devil Run'. The broadcast rights for these songs, for a short space of time, are held by VH-1 who transmit these tracks for the first time in a broadcast (in the States) at 10pm on Saturday October 16. The first complete six-track transmission will not take place until Friday January 28, 2000, when they are broadcast on Musicmax in Canada. To date, the only transmission of the PETA show in Europe (featuring Paul's complete six-song show) takes place on VH-1 on Thursday August 10, 2000 as part of their Paul McCartney Night (see entry as well as the entry for Saturday February 5, 2000).

Paul's appearance at the PETA awards is also featured in the American shows Access Hollywood, advertised cruelly as "See Paul McCartney in tears", and NBC TV's Today show (both aired on Monday September 20). The latter also featuring an exclusive interview with Paul conducted backstage at the venue.

Sunday September 19

The Mail On Sunday cover story is on Paul, who reveals that "Linda McCartney is still my greatest inspiration".

The Beatles' Yellow Submarine songtrack album enters the UK album charts at number eight.

Monday September 20

A pre-taped interview with Paul at the PETA Awards ceremony is aired on Entertainment Tonight in the States.

Tuesday September 21

An original 16mm master print of The Beatles' 1970 film Let It Be, is put up for sale at the Atlanta based Great Gatsby's.

Wednesday September 22

Another Run Devil Run listening party takes place, this time at the Manhattan Center's Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. Celebrities in attendance, in the VIP section, include the singer Judy Collins, the actor Woody Harrelson, the record producer Tony Visconti and his wife, John Lennon's former lover, May Pang, the model Christine Brinkley, rock star Bruce Springsteen and Dia Stein from the Westwood One radio station. An hour into the evening's entertainment, a video on the making of Run Devil Run is played on the venue's screens and then the host for the evening, the VH-1 presenter, John Fugelsang, takes to the stage where he introduces Paul, who had arrived later than his scheduled 9pm. Paul's introduction is most memorable when Fugelsang says: "People are saying rock is dead. In a year that Ricky Martin is said to have invented Latin Pop, this man recorded 'Besame Mucho' in 1962 ... In a year where they call The Backstreet Boys the fab five and a year where they call NSync a band, real bands write their own songs and play their own instruments ... Well, if Madonna can introduce Paul at the VH-1 awards, I can top it ... The only rock'n'roller to have the Queen on his speed dial ... He is the ayatollah of rocknrolla ... This man is said to be the only person to be kicked out of the Wu Tang Clan ... Ladies 'n' gentlemen ... I would like to introduce you to ... Paul fuckin' McCartney," who then comes out on to the stage to talk about his new album.

Further Run Devil Run music, albeit very loud and distorted, then plays on the video screens, before Paul reappears on stage where, in a 15-minute session, he jokes with the crowd, accepts a bunch of flowers and partakes in a short question and answer session with the crowd. One young girl asks him: "Can I hold your hand?" Paul replies: "Nooooo, but I want to hold your hand." While another fan asks Paul: "When will Let It Be be released again on home video?" Paul replies by asking: "Isn't it already?" When he is told no, he replies: "Well, I've got one. Perhaps it will be re-released soon."

After three further Run Devil Run album plays, Paul leaves the building accompanied by Geoff Baker and acknowledges the fans, but does not stop to sign any autographs.

Reports of the event appear on Fox News (by Patrick Riley) and in The New York Post (by Dan Aquilante). The next Run Devil Run listening party takes place in Europe (see entry for Tuesday September 28).

Thursday September 23

The Daily Mail lists the top 100 "Greatest British Films" ever made, with The Beatles' 1964 film A Hard Day's Night being listed at number 88.

Saturday September 25

Paul makes a guest appearance on BBC Radio 2's Tom Robinson Show, where he, naturally, plays tracks from his forthcoming Run Devil Run album.

Monday September 27

The Making Of Yellow Submarine documentary is transmitted on the French/Belgium channel RTBF-La Deux. The first European screening of The Beatles' brand-new 'Hey Bulldog' promotional film precedes the airing.

Tuesday September 28

Paul's third Run Devil Run listening party takes place in Cologne, Germany at the Das E-Werk venue. The biggest German Beatles fan club, Beatles Club Wuppertal, has 50 pairs of tickets to give away for the event but, twenty-four hours before the party, Paul's spokesman, Geoff Baker, informs Beatles Internet webmasters to tell everyone that "everyone who shows up at the gates of the venue would get in", as 500 tickets are, apparently, still available. Paul arrives at 6:30pm in his limousine and exits the car wearing dark glasses. Inside the venue, at 8pm, a representative from EMI Electrola comes on stage and gives his introduction to the crowd in English. "Welcome to Cologne, and welcome to this very special listening party here tonight, where we all have the chance to listen, for the very first time, to the new project by an artist who, as a musician and as a human being, has influenced the worldwide music scene like second to none during this second half of this century. Now, Paul's new album is called Run Devil Run, and we'd like to kick off tonight's event by giving you some inside views and background information about the production and how it all came together. Now, enjoy the music, dance if you will, and wait for the man himself. Let the tape roll first ..." (The Run Devil Run EPK - Electronic Press Kit - plays.)

At the end of which, Paul appears on stage. "Deutschland ... Guten Abend," he speaks in German, adding: "C'mon ... Thank you, all right." Then, in a mixture of German and English languages, Paul proceeds to tell the crowd about the making of Run Devil Run and how its recording was influenced by the early style of recording by The Beatles. Before leaving the stage, he announces that he will be back after the album is played to take questions from the audience. As promised, Paul returns to face the German crowd. "Thank you for showing up tonight," he tells the fans. "We thank you," shouts back one fan. Someone hands Paul a stuffed toy, a Diddle mouse, and Paul proceeds to play with it. He then notices someone holding his 1982 album Tug Of War. "I've got that one ... I've got hundreds at home," he tells the fan.

A fan asks Paul: "Can you imagine playing those great rock'n'roll songs live on stage in the future?" Paul replies: "Yeah, the thing is I don't know the band. Precisely, we made the record over five days and then we just did the show in LA where we did a one-day rehearsal and then one day in the show. So, I've only met this band for seven days, so I daren't ask them to go out on tour yet."

Another fan asks: "What of the songs did you write yourself and what was the inspiration for these songs?" Paul replies: "There's three of them I wrote. I wrote one called 'What It Is' and there's one called 'Run Devil Run', and there's one called Try Not To Cry'. The inspiration for 'What It Is' was Linda. I'd already written that for Linda, so that was the first one I wrote for the album. The second one, I was talking to the producer and he said, 'You know, it'd be a good idea if you wrote a couple of songs,' so I wrote 'Run Devil Run', because I was in a shop in Atlanta, in America, and I saw all these products. The products were called Run Devil Run and it said that if you put this in your bath it would send the devil away. I liked the title Run Devil Run, so I made a song about that. 'Try Not To Cry' was inspired by my love for rock'n'roll." Paul leaves the stage after the question and answer session had petered out. It had lasted just eight minutes. (The fourth and final Run Devil Run listening party takes place on Thursday September 30 - see next entry.)

Thursday September 30

At the Equinox Club in London's Leicester Square, Paul's throws the fourth, and final, Run Devil Run playback launch party, arriving in a chauffeur-driven limousine, driven by John Hammel, at 6:07pm to be greeted by a large crowd of screaming, hysterically waving fans, many of whom are contained behind specially arranged metal fencing.

The first three hundred tickets for the event are available free of charge, and in order to get one, fans are invited to bring along a copy of the Sun newspaper. People began queuing for their tickets at 10am on the morning of the event.

Inside the Equinox club, the Run Devil Run EPK (Electronic Press Kit), featuring exclusive interviews with Paul and footage from the RDR recording sessions, receives two screenings on the large video screens set up inside the venue. Paul, who appears briefly on the stage, introduces the first screening. He returns later to take part in a short question and answer session with members of the audience, during which, one man asks, "Are there any more lost Beatles songs knocking around?" Paul responds by saying, "This isn't anything to do with Run Devil Run," before enigmatically admitting, "Yes, there is." During his time on stage, Paul is handed two original 45 singles, The Vipers' 'No Other Baby' and Little Richard's 'Shake A Hand', both of which are covered by Paul on his new album. The playback of Run Devil Run begins at 7:00pm and the get-together officially ends two hours later, at 9:00pm. (Paul is seen leaving the venue at approximately 9:10pm.) The different coloured Run Devil Run tickets also serve as entries to a special RDR competition. Special guests seen at the party, upstairs in the VIP area, include the comedian Ben Elton and the DJ, Gary Crowley.

Also today, at the Christie's auction in London, John's handwritten lyrics to 'I Am The Walrus' fetches £78,500 while George's rosewood telecaster, brought to the Bonham's auction by Delaney Bramlett, remains unsold after bidding stopped halfway through the estimated price of £200,000.

September (end of month)

The Imagine album documentary Gimme Some Truth, recently changed from its original Wonsuponatime title, is finally completed in America. The director on the 56-minute piece is Andrew Solt. (See entry for Tuesday October 5.)

October

The long mooted Project X, the secretive EMI compilation of Beatles hit singles, is officially scrapped by the label, because EMI had missed the Christmas cutoff date, where labels have to book space in retailers racks in order that their new product is on prominent display for the lucrative festive spending spree. (See entry for August, 2000.)

John's 1971 song 'Imagine' is voted Britain's favourite song lyric in a poll for National Poetry Day. John's T Am The Walrus' and Paul's 'Yesterday' also made the top ten of choices. (See entry for December 13.)

Saturday October 2

BBC Radio 2 in the UK broadcasts a 30th anniversary special on The Beatles' final studio album, Abbey Road.

An exclusive interview conducted with Paul by Dominic Mohan at the Run Devil Run listening party at the Equinox Club on Thursday is published in the Sun.

Monday October 4

In the UK, Paul releases Run Devil Run; a 15-track Parlophone album comprising twelve rock'n'roll tracks and three new McCartney originals. The album is available in CD, cassette and mini disc versions. (For the tracks, see previous entry starting Monday March 1.) Also released at the same time in the UK is a limited edition two CD version in a slipcase, containing the Run Devil Run album alongside a special 40-minute interview CD with Paul conducted by Laura Gross. (See entries for Monday October 18 and Tuesday December 7 for further RDR releases information.)

Paul on the recording of the album: "One of the great buzzes was sitting down with a cassette with a piece of paper and a pencil and getting the first line of the lyric. Then, stopping the cassette, winding it back and getting the next line. It was like, 'My God, I've not done this since I was a teenager.' Paul also reveals that Linda had encouraged him to make the LP. "We were talking about it in the last year," he announces. "She'd say, 'You've got to do that.' Unfortunately, she didn't live to see it, but it gave me an added impetus to carry on ... She was a rocker - a major league rocker."

Tuesday October 5

Run Devil Run, Paul's first new studio album since Flaming Pie in 1997, is released in the States and to coincide with the issue, Capitol Records and The MediaX Corporation, at 12 noon (EST), "fire up" an exclusive online listening bash, which features the first broadcast of an exclusive Eddie Puma McCartney interview and a promotional 5-minute making of Run Devil Run video, which begins airing on Wednesday October 6. Six tracks from the album, 'Run Devil Run', 'Try Not To Cry', 'No Other Baby', 'I Got Stung', 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man' and 'Lonesome Town', are streamed in their entirety at MediaX's and Capitol's site. These songs will be made available for the duration of the promotion, which lasts through until midnight on Monday October 11. In addition, the Eddie Puma produced radio interview will air in daily segments throughout the week with the final instalment slated for Sunday October 10.

To coincide with the release of Run Devil Run, the Catalog Marketing Group of EMI Music Distribution, celebrate the millennium in "Back to the Future" style with CD album replicas and/or limited edition 180 gram vinyl re-issues of platinum titles. The set released includes the Paul & Wings album Band On The Run.

A pre-recorded interview with Paul fails to appear this morning on the NBC TV Today show.

While in Cannes at the Television Festival, the Yoko Ono approved Gimme Some Truth, the documentary on the making of John's 1971 Imagine album, receives its first public screening. After its initial screening, the distributors announce that they have sold the documentary film to thirteen different countries.

Wednesday October 6

In Paris, Paul's daughter Stella presents her fifth fashion show for the House of Chloe. Her luxurious clothing, unveiled during the fashion week in Paris, accentuates the female shape. Her inspiration for the new collection of clothing was The Beatles' 1964 song 'She's A Woman'. "It is She's A Woman, but she's a naughty little thing too." Paul, hotfoot from England, remarks on the skimpy outfits on view: "It's hot, sexy and chic. It will make all the men sweat. Stella means 'star' and she is! I'm very, very proud of her." Stella has revolutionised Chloe with teen appeal, boosting profits at the fashion house by 500% since she took over two-and-a-half years ago.

Saturday October 9

In the States, Paul is the subject of this evening's MSNBC TV archive show Time & Again.

George, Olivia and Dhani are again in the audience at Ravi Shankar's concert at the Barbican Centre in London. George is seen rushing in the side door, trying to avoid the throngs of fans who had hoped to get George to sign something. One fan, from Germany who is seen thrusting a copy of the Abbey Road album towards him, shouts in vein at the quiet Beatle, "But I've come all the way from Germany." George is, naturally, unimpressed, and shouts back, "I don't give a fuck about The Beatles."

Wednesday October 13

The UK's Beatles fans wait to see the new promotional clip for 'Hey Bulldog' when it is screened (at 6:32pm) on the BBC2 archive music show TOTP2. A repeat screening of the complete TOTP2 show, complete with the prized 'Hey Bulldog' clip, takes place again on BBC2 on Saturday October 16.

Thursday October 14

VH-1 in Europe, yet again, designates the day Paul McCartney Day. The highlight for which, is the first European screening of an almost complete Run Devil Run EPK (Electronic Press Kit), which forms a 45-minute special transmitted between 8:00 and 9:00pm. The rest of the 13 hours of screenings (between 1pm and 2am) include repeats of Paul's Greatest Hits, Ten Of The Best and his 1993 Live In The New World concert in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Saturday October 16

At 8pm, Paul is in attendance at the world premiere performance of Working Classical, which takes place in Liverpool at the Royal Philharmonic Hall. Paul: "Working Classical is a pun because I don't like to get too serious but also I'm very proud of my working class roots. A lot of people like to turn their backs especially when they get a little bit elevated in life, but I am always keen to remind other people and myself of where I'm from." On the music featured in Working Classical: "My favourite arrangement is 'Warm And Beautiful' ... that always does my head in. It captures some of my innermost feelings for Linda. I'm not ashamed to be emotional. I used to be when I was younger, but I'm not anymore ... I have heard these pieces obviously ... they were played at Lin's memorial services in London and New York."

During a break from rehearsals on the day, Paul also gives an interview to Juliet Bremner of ITN News, where he again speaks about Linda. "She enjoyed me getting into the orchestral field," he reveals, "because she saw two of the orchestral pieces I did. She came to the premiere of those and loved them. She liked the idea of me doing something different."

Later, a specially invited 'after concert champagne reception' is held in the Rodewald Suite at the venue. Tickets are priced at £25 and donated to "The Forget Me Not" charity.

The television show of the event airs on BBC1 in the UK on Sunday April 23 (between 11:00 and 12:15am) and on PBS across America in March 2000, between the 5th and 20th. (The Working Classical album is released on Monday October 18 in the UK and on Tuesday October 19 in the USA.)

At 10pm, VH-1 in America airs the PETA Awards ceremony, which took place on Saturday September 18 (see entry). This version features just three of Paul's six tracks, namely, 'Honey Hush', 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man' and 'Run Devil Run'.

At 6:10pm on both days, today and Sunday October 17, the digitally re-mastered version of Yellow Submarine is screened, in NFT2, at the National Film Theatre at London's South Bank.

Monday October 18

Parlophone in the UK releases the first singles from Run Devil Run, a two-part set limited to 15,000 copies, and featuring 'No Other Baby', 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man' and, the non album track, 'Fabulous'. The first version of the CD features the tracks in mono and the second version of the CD has, naturally, the same three tracks in stereo.

Tuesday October 19

Paul's new album of classical music, Working Classical, is released on the EMI Classics label. The track listing is as follows: 'Junk', 'A Leaf', 'Haymakers', 'Midwife', 'Spiral', 'Warm And Beautiful', 'My Love', 'Maybe I'm Amazed', 'Calico Skies', 'Golden Earth Girl', 'Somedays', 'Tuesday', 'She's My Baby' and 'The Lovely Linda'. (A double album vinyl edition is released on Monday December 6.)

While in the States, Mercury Records release Ringo's 12-track Christmas album I Wanna Be Santa Claus, recorded at Mark Hudson's "Whatinthewhathe?" studios and featuring a couple of guest appearances by Joe Perry of Aerosmith. The track listing is as follows: 'Come On Christmas, Christmas Come On', 'Winter Wonderland', 'I Wanna Be Santa Claus', 'Little Dmmmer Boy', 'Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer', 'Christmas Eve', 'The Christmas Dance', 'Christmastime Is Here Again' (Ringo's version of The Beatles' 1967 track), 'Blue Christmas', 'Dear Santa', 'White Christmas' and 'Pax Um Biscum (Peace Be With You)'.

Wednesday October 20

The BBC World Service begins broadcasting (at 10:20am UK time) Paul's four, soon to become five, part series entitled Paul McCartney's Routes Of Rock, which features him taking a look at some of his favourite songs and how they influenced his own music. During the 29-minute programmes, Paul reveals how the 1950's idol Buddy Holly made glasses fashionable, and saved John Lennon from years of bumping into things. "He was blind as a bat without his horn-rimmed specs, but was embarrassed to wear them in The Beatles' infancy. So when Buddy came out, he could finally stick his glasses back on and see again."

A BBC spokesman remarks on the programmes, which were recorded at Paul's home studio in Sussex: "It's a real scoop for the World Service. Paul is an international figure and we will be taking him out to an international audience." (A special two-hour compilation of Routes Of Rock is transmitted on BBC Radio Two on Christmas Day.) The first American radio transmissions of the series will not take place until Monday January 17,2000 (see entry).

At Abbey Road Studios in London, in Studio One, a special live broadcast takes place in honour of the 30th anniversary of The Beatles' album Abbey Road. Fourteen American Classic Rock stations do their morning/afternoon programming live from the studio this day, as well as on Thursday October 21 and Friday October 22. A number of special guests stop by to appear on the shows, including Rod Argent (The Zombies), Jack Bruce (Cream), Robbie McIntosh (The Pretenders and Paul McCartney's band), Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders), Ian Paice (Deep Purple and Paul's Run Devil Run band) and Richard Porter of The London Beatles Fan Club. The stations taking part in the event include WVMX-FM in Cincinnati, WAAF-FM in Boston, KJQY-FM in San Diego, KUFX-FM in San Francisco and KMTT-FM in Seattle.

The Express features an interview with Paul entitled: "Life After Linda - Why I Believe That I Could Find Love Again, By Sir Paul McCartney".

Thursday October 21

Beginning today, and lasting over the coming weekend, fifty-one radio stations across America broadcast a 90-minute radio special celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Beatles' classic 1969 album Abbey Road. The special, produced by MJI Broadcasting, features music and interviews about the history, the recording and the effect of the album on the whole world. The show also features interviews with all four Beatles, including brand new interviews with Paul, Ringo and The Beatles producer, George Martin.

Friday October 22

At the Black Island Studios in Acton, West London, Paul films a promotional clip for 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man', but the shooting runs into trouble when armed police from Scotland Yard are called following complaints that men were seen running around with guns. The first police team on the scene are forced to reverse its squad car up the road after four men came up to them with their fake guns, but they were blocked by other traffic. Paul overhears the disturbance and intervenes and explains to police that the men are only actors appearing in his new video. "It's all right," he tells the police, "these guys are with me. The guns aren't real, we're making a video."

A Scotland Yard spokesman says later: "Nobody was charged, but the extras and the management at the studio were given formal words of advice." While Paul has this to say: "You can't just sit back when you see stuff like this going on. These guys were my team and I had to look out for them." (See entry for Wednesday December 8.)

Saturday October 23

Today's edition of the Mirror features an interview with Paul, who remarks: "When I saw Heather and Helen at the Pride of Britain Awards, I knew I needed to help." The piece, carried out during a break from yesterday's filming in London, also reveals that Paul had donated £150,000 to landmine victims.

The London premiere of A Garland For Linda takes place at St. James's in Piccadilly.

Friday October 29

Anthony Barnes, the showbusiness correspondent of PA News, exclusively reveals that: "McCartney Is To Perform Live On TV." The report continues: "Sir Paul McCartney is to play live on TV with a band for the first time in six years as he takes part in a BBC2 show, the UK debut for his new outfit. The former Beatles star will perform three songs from his new rock and roll album, Run Devil Run, on Later With Jools Holland on Saturday November 6. His backing band is the same as the one for the album, featuring Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and Deep Purple's Ian Paice. The band joined him in Abbey Road's Studio 2, where he created most of The Beatles' catalogue, to create an album in just a week. Sir Paul's last appearance with a band was on Top Of The Pops in 1993, although he did do a solo slot on TFI Friday in 1997." (See entry for Friday June 27 that year as well as the entry for Tuesday November 2, this year.)

Sunday October 31

Paul and Heather spend Halloween night together at his home in Sussex.

November

An interview with Paul, carried out by Patrick Humphries to promote Run Devil Run, is printed in this month's Record Collector magazine.

Monday November 1

An interview with Paul, conducted by the DJ Gary Crowley, is recorded at MPL in Soho Square, London, the results of which are broadcast in The Gary Crowley Show on GLR on Friday November 12. Later, Paul visits Gallery & Quot, situated at 6 Cork Street, London, where he watches the Tomoko Takahashi and Luke Gottelier exhibition.

Paul and Ringo send wreaths to the memorial service of Bobby Willis, the late husband of Cilia Black. The private ceremony takes place in Denham, Bucks, where The Beatles producer George Martin tells the packed congregation: "Their marriage was a rock, an example to everyone."

Tuesday November 2

At the BBC Television Centre in Wood Lane, London, Paul and his regular Run Devil Run band tape an appearance for the BBC2 live late-night music show Later With Jools Holland, hosted, as always, by the former Squeeze keyboards wizard Jools Holland. Paul, making his first BBC performance appearance since Top Of The Pops on Wednesday February 17, 1993, opens the programme with 'Honey Hush' and goes on to play, alternating between the other acts on the show, 'No Other Baby', 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man' (joined by Chris Hall on accordion) and, to close the show, 'Party', which features piano accompaniment from Jools Holland. An excerpt from the recent Apple promotional film for 'Hey Bulldog' is also screened during Paul's interview sequence with the host. The first TV transmission of the Later With Jools Holland show takes place on Saturday November 6 (between 11:24pm and 12:28am), with a repeat screening on Friday September 8, 2000 (1:34 and 2:38am). A further complete screening of the show takes place in America on Saturday April 15, 2000 as part of a Paul McCartney Night on BBC America (see entry). Joining Paul on the show tonight are Travis, Shola Ama and The Flaming Lips. The first three tracks from Paul's appearance are repeated in TOTP2, transmitted on BBC2 on Wednesday November 17, 1999 with a repeat screening of the show taking place on the following Saturday, November 20.

Friday November 5

At 6:30pm, the National Film Theatre at London's South Bank premieres, in NFT1, the newly restored version of A Hard Day's Night. Afterwards Steven Soderbergh interviews the film's director, Richard Lester, on the stage. The event, sponsored by Carlton Cinema and the Guardian newspaper, is part of a brief Richard Lester season at the 43rd London Film Festival, which will also include John's 1967 film How I Won The War.

Saturday November 6

The Beatles are voted "Best band for a thousand years" in a "Music Of The Millennium" poll, conducted throughout the year by HMV, Channel 4 and the radio station, Classic FM. They totally dominate the results, taking four often titles in a massive national poll of 600,000 votes, the biggest ever survey of popular music to date. The 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band comes out top in the Best Album category. John's 'Imagine' comes in at number two in the Best Song category, beaten by half a per cent by Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. Queen was second to The Beatles in the Best Band section, but they collected only a fifth of the votes cast for the fab four. The Beatles took 20% of the total votes cast in that section, as many as the rest of the top ten combined! John is also voted the 'Most Influential Musician Of All Time'. Further accolades are heaped upon him when he tops the Best Songwriter list, with Paul coming in second. The results are announced at a special event held at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, highlights of which are screened on Channel 4 on Saturday November 13, between 9:00pm and midnight. A planned appearance by Paul at the event fails to materialise, but a video message from Yoko, recorded in New York, is included in the special.

Sunday November 7

Jody Denberg, of the Austin, Texas based KGSR-FM radio station, webcasts a pre-recorded interview with Paul as part of the Sunday Night News programme. The two-hour show begins at 9pm EST. Jody announces that the interview, in raw form, ran to 25 minutes and features Paul talking about Run Devil Run, Working Classical and the re-mixing of The Beatles' music for the Yellow Submarine songtrack album.

In a front-page story of the News Of The World newspaper, Paul denies that he is having an affair with the British model, Heather Mills, who lost a leg in an accident caused by a policeman's motorcycle. "I have been helping Miss Mills record a charity record," he announces. "Because I have been helping Miss Mills, this does not mean that I am having anything other than a business relationship with her. Even though this story is not true, I hope it will bring attention to her worthwhile efforts for the disabled worldwide."

Tuesday November 9

The high demand for tickets for Paul's upcoming appearance on Parkinson, still over three weeks away, causes the BBC ticket office to announce that they have stopped accepting applications.

Thursday November 11

The Sun reveals: "Model Heather: I'm So Close To Paul. Model Heather Mills spoke for the first time last night about her special friendship with Sir Paul McCartney. She admitted she was close to the ex-Beatle, adding, 'I'd love to spend the Millennium with him.' "

Saturday November 13

At the television studios in Bray, near Windsor in Berkshire, Paul and his band make a guest appearance on Red Alert, the first edition of BBCl's new live National Lottery game show. The show, transmitted between 7:14 and 8:04pm and hosted by the Scottish singing star Lulu, features live performances of 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man' (performed with Lulu), 'No Other Baby' and 'Party' (again performed with Lulu).

Before the show, Lulu is quoted as saying: "I am touched that Paul agreed to appear on the show. He is the greatest. I had his picture on my bedroom wall long before I met him. But I didn't imagine he would come on the show, and I didn't ask him. I'd never do that ... It went through official channels and I was touched when he came back and said, 'Of course I'll do the show. Lulu is a mate.' I haven't seen him for years.' "

Surprisingly, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour is conspicuous by his non-appearance in Paul's band. Insiders suggest that this is down to Gilmour's disapproval of the National Lottery, citing it as being "a tax on the poor"! A member of the Red Alert house band replaces him.

Tuesday November 16

Paul makes an appearance on Channel 4's The Big Breakfast, being interviewed in "The Shed" by Johnny Vaughan, one of the show's hosts. Paul's segments, which last approximately 22 minutes and take place between 7:54 and 8:45am, also include the first British TV screening of an excerpt from the 'No Other Baby' promotional film. (See next entry.)

Thursday November 18

The first complete screening of Paul's video for 'No Other Baby', filmed at Pinewood Studios in Iver, Buckinghamshire, takes place on VH-1 Europe's programme Music First.

Saturday November 20

Paul continues his heavy Run Devil Run tour of personal appearances tonight with a live appearance on Sky One's Apocalypse Tube, a special one-off edition of Channel 4's fondly remembered ground-breaking Eighties music series, The Tube. For the broadcast, which is transmitted between 9:00 and 11:58pm and comes direct from the original Tube television studios in Newcastle, Paul performs 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man', 'No Other Baby', 'Honey Hush' and 'Party'. The latter features Fran Healy from the Indie-pop band, Travis. A planned onstage appearance by Robbie Williams, another guest on the show, fails to materialise. The concert goes so well that Paul decides to perform another version of 'Party' and then 'Lonesome Town', which he is still playing when the end credits roll. Prior to his concert, he is light-heartedly interviewed in the studio bar by the hosts, Donna Air, of VH-1 Europe, and Chris Moyles of Radio One. David Gilmour is again absent from the band. Chester Kamen replaces him on guitar. Incidentally, the extravaganza is directed by Geoff Wonfor and edited/vision mixed by Andy Mathews, both of The Beatles Anthology TV and video series. (Highlights from Paul's appearance feature in a two-part edited version of the show, which are screened on Channel 4 in the UK over the Christmas holiday period. The first part is aired on Saturday January 1, 2000, between 10:00pm and midnight.)

Sunday November 21

Extremely rare colour film of The Beatles, taken when they were in Germany in June 1966, is aired on ZDF TV in Germany (between 11:25 and 11:35pm) during the show 100 Jahre - Der Countdown.

Monday November 22

Paul attends the Gala Premiere of the new James Bond film, The World Is Not Enough, at the Odeon cinema in Leicester Square, London. Paul quips: "I've only come because I wanted to see a free film!"

Paul's appearance at the bash features briefly in the ITV special, Premiere Bond, which is transmitted across the ITV network on Saturday November 27. Heather Mills also attends the event, not with Paul, but with a female friend.

Tuesday November 23

Heather Mills' single 'Voice' is given a press launch at the Imax Cinema in London. Following a screening of the harrowing clip to promote the single, Paul makes a brief appearance (at 11:44am) joining Heather, her sister, Fiona and pal Helen Smith to pose for the throngs of photographers. Paul on the 'Voice' video: "I saw the video (in which he makes a cameo appearance) and it is pretty shocking and I was moved by it."

The single, which features Paul on guitar and backing vocals, recorded at his home studio in Sussex, is released as a CD single in the UK on Monday December 13. Royalties from the release go to the Heather Mills Trust.

Stateside, the show Entertainment Tonight features a one-minute report on Paul and Heather Mills, and asks: "Are they a couple?"

In Montreux, at an International breast cancer conference, Stella McCartney speaks out for the first time about how she has been affected by her mother's death. "It's a really tragic thing when you experience breast cancer," she announces, "and the death of a loved one, when it's seemingly unnecessary, is very painful!"

While in the States, EMI - Capitol Music Specials Market issue a new jukebox single off Run Devil Run, which features the two tracks 'Try Not To Cry' and 'No Other Baby'.

Even though Paul or Geoff Baker will not officially announce Paul's upcoming historic concert at The Cavern Club until Friday December 3 (see entry), the New Musical Express pre-empts everyone by posting a message about the gig on their website today.

Saturday November 27

Paul appears, by way of a pre-taped video, on ITV's Tina Turner Special, wishing her a happy birthday.

Yoko Ono's multimedia exhibition. Have You Seen The Horizon Lately, has its first ever showing, in Israel at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. To open the show, Yoko scribbles the word 'Imagine' on a white bookmark and ties it to a branch of a wishing tree. The tree is part of the exhibit and Yoko states that she hopes the tree will be filled with wishes from other visitors. Yoko: "My wish is for world peace. 'Imagine' is a song of peace." (The exhibition moves to the Arab town of Umme El-Fahm in Northern Israel shortly afterwards.)

December

American sales figures confirm that The Beatles are the most successful recording act of the 20th Century, and therefore the most successful in history! According to the RIAA (the Recording Industry Association of America), the group has sold more than 106 million albums in America alone!

Ringo's personal charity, The Lotus Foundation, makes a generous donation to a Liverpool school, enabling them to buy a minibus.

Thursday December 2

At the BBC Television Centre in Wood Lane, London, after a wait of 25 years, Paul finally records an interview with Michael Parkinson for his top-rated BBC1 chat show, Parkinson. The host is quoted as saying: "I've been waiting twenty five years to do the show with Paul. It really will fulfil a dream for me. I knew Paul from the very early days of The Beatles, before they made it big, when I used to do a TV programme for Granada in Manchester called Scene At 6:30. The Beatles were regulars on that show. It was before they went down to London, made their debut there and changed the world."

During the taping, which began for Paul at 7:44pm, he spoke about a wide range of subjects including The Beatles, his mother, John and the death of Linda. Musically, backed by his regular Run Devil Run band, Paul opens the show with 'Honey Hush' and also performs solo renditions of 'Twenty Flight Rock', an unreleased instrumental called 'When The Wind Is Blowing' (or 'Cohen, The Wind Is Blowing'), originally intended for Paul's unmade Rupert The Bear movie, and 'Yesterday'.

Moving to the piano, Paul sings 'The Long And Winding Road' and three unreleased songs, two of which were written during his recent visit to New York. The other is 'Suicide', a song written circa late 1968, intended for Frank Sinatra and jammed by The Beatles on Sunday January 26, 1969 during the Get Back/Let It Be sessions. (See also entry for Thursday August 15, 1974.) A brief snippet of the song had actually appeared at the end of 'Glasses' on his 1970 album, McCartney. In addition, a clip of 'My Love' from the Working Classical programme is also screened.

Before concluding the 64-minute show with a performance of 'All Shook Up', Paul announces, for the first time, that he will be playing a concert at Liverpool's Cavern Club. Later, Michael Parkinson summed up the programme by saying: "It was every bit the event I expected it to be. It was worth waiting for." (Note: for the record, the show is recorded in studio 6 in front of 200 fans, while 150 were unfortunately turned away. The taping session lasts 1 hour 35 minutes. Paul had arrived in the Parkinson studio at 2.55pm and, following a brief photo opportunity, leaves at 10.30pm.)

The programme is premiered on BBC1 the following evening, Friday December 3, between 9:33 and 10:37pm, with the first repeats occurring on Saturday January 15, 2000 and Saturday April 15, 2000 (see entries). Further clips, albeit brief, from the show appear in the BBC1 two-part series History Of The Talk Show (August 2000), and in A Night Of A 1000 Shows (BBC1, September 2000), where a segment of 'Yesterday' is aired.

Paul had, in fact, been at the BBC for most of Thursday December 2, beginning with an appearance on Simon Mayo's Radio 1 morning show, where he is nominated "God Of The Week". After requesting The Beatles' 1967 track 'A Day In The Life', Paul is asked, "Who would you most like on your cloud in heaven?" He replies, "My kids. Who else would I need?"

Friday December 3

Announcing Paul's forthcoming Cavern Club gig, his publicist, Geoff Baker, issues the following press release: "Paul McCartney To Rock The Cavern. Macca Returns To Root Of Where It All Began."

The release goes on to say: "Paul McCartney is to rock out the end of the century with an historic one-off rock and roll show at Liverpool's famous Cavern Club. Paul (who reveals the news tonight on Parkinson, on BBC1 at 9:30pm) is to return to his roots to perform a night of rock and roll on Tuesday December 14. The concert comes 12,953 days since Paul last performed in the cellar of 10 Mathew Street. The show, Paul's first at the tiny venue since The Beatles last played there on August 3, 1963, will be his 281st show at The Cavern. Paul is to rock The Cavern as a tribute to the rock and roll musical force that has so shaped the last part of the last century of the millennium. Said Paul: 'Rock and roll has shaped my life, and it changed the sound and the thinking of the century. Before The Beatles ever got big, we started out playing rock and roll at The Cavern. I'm going back, for just one night, as a nod to the music that has always, and will ever, thrill me. I can't think of a better way than to rock out the end of the century with a rock and roll party at The Cavern, singing songs of my heroes.' "

The Liverpool tourist organisation Cavern City Tours immediately brace themselves for a deluge of demands for tickets from all around the world. Due to space restrictions, it is expected that only 150-200 tickets will be available for the show. Geoff Baker: "Millions are going to want to be at this gig, and the fact is that millions are going to be disappointed. However, there are plans for the show to be broadcast on television and radio around the world. Due to the expected demand for tickets, and in an attempt to be fair to all, tickets for Paul's concert at The Cavern will be available through a national UK raffle. To apply, callers must fill in forms which will be available from Monday December 6 from HMV record stores in Liverpool, London, Birmingham, Newcastle and Glasgow." (See entry.)

An interview to promote Paul's Cavern Club gig, conducted with Dominic Mohan, is published in today's edition of the Sun. The piece is headlined: "Macca: I Can't Wait To Play The Cavern Again".

Saturday December 4

A Garland For Linda receives its US premiere at the Riverside Church in New York.

During her brief stay in London, Yoko appears, by satellite, on another edition of CNN's Larry King Weekend. The 45-minute programme, seen throughout the world, is screened three times in total, twice on Saturday and once on Sunday December 5.

Sunday December 5

Yoko Ono and her artist career is the subject of this evening's South Bank Show, transmitted across the ITV network between 11:19pm and 00:17am and hosted by Melvyn Bragg.

Monday December 6

As Geoff Baker had stated in his press release on Friday December 3 (see entry), fans have a slim chance of attending Paul's Cavern concert by picking up an entry form today from one of several HMV stores nationwide. As expected, all 1,250 forms go within minutes of being made available. A spokesman for HMV remarks: "People have travelled all over the world to be in with a chance of attending the show. One fan has travelled all the way from Holland. There were stores that were nearer for him, but he decided to go to Liverpool because that's where The Beatles came from." At the front of the queue in Liverpool today is John Ono Lennon, a fan who had changed his name by deed poll, and had moved to Penny Lane from his home in Worcester. His real name is Ben Lomas. (The Cavern Club tickets draw is made on Friday December 10 - see entry.)

Tuesday December 7

A special limited edition box set of Run Devil Run is released comprising the entire album spread over eight 7" singles. But, as there were only 15 tracks featured on RDR, the 16th track to make up the singles is 'Fabulous', a hit in 1957 by Charlie Gracie, and also appearing on the 'No Other Baby' CD single. The Parlophone release is confined to just 7,000 copies. The label also issues, for promotional use only, a 7" single (RDR003) comprising 'Run Devil Run' b/w 'Blue Jean Bop'.

Wednesday December 8

The video for Paul's 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man' is premiered in America on VH-1 this morning between the early slot of 5:00 and 6:00am (ET/PT). The clip, directed by David Leland, features Paul leading a slowly growing mob of line-dancers. (The first UK TV screening will not take place until it is featured on the BBC2 archive show, TOTP2 on Wednesday, December 29.)

Today's Bizarre column of the Sun newspaper features an interview with Yoko by Dominic Mohan. In the piece, she says why "John's 'Imagine' MUST Be No. 1 This Christmas".

Friday December 10

In a programme delayed from Friday November 12, Paul is the featured guest on America's National Public Radio's (NPR) Performance Today. He discusses, with the host Lisa Simeone, his new classical album Working Classical, which has been at number one in Billboard's Classical Album chart for the last two weeks. Paul also introduces recordings made at the Saturday October 16 live performance premiere of Working Classical in Liverpool.

While in Liverpool, 150 (75 pairs) of tickets for Paul's concert at The Cavern Club are drawn at the headquarters of EMI in West London. Fans from as far away as Argentina and Australia had entered their names in the raffle by sending in application forms from various HMV stores around Britain. The first name to be drawn is Kevin Reavey, 55, of the Aigburth area of Liverpool. Kevin, a regular visitor to The Cavern in the Sixties, is utterly delighted. "I stayed in this morning knowing that there was a chance I could have won," he says. "But I was very doubtful. The odds were against it with so few tickets. I have been a fan of The Beatles since the beginning. I used to go to The Cavern but I never saw them there." Another winner is John Ono Lennon, the very first person to be outside the HMV store in Liverpool last Monday. The furthest flung ticket holder picked by EMI's head of promotions, Malcolm Hill, was Tomohiri Kobayashai from Tokyo, Japan. A Beatles fan from Belgium is also lucky in the draw.

In addition, Paul announces that two further Cavern Club tickets will be given away in a telephone competition, which will aid the cancer unit of Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Paul's mother worked as a nurse at the hospital. The 24-hour phone line, where callers are asked to name the title of Paul's new album, will be open until the morning of Monday December 13. The money raised from the £l-a-minute calls going to the unit's fund-raising appeal.

Saturday December 11

Paul and his band fly to Germany where they make an appearance on the live ZDF TV/ORF/SF DRS TV co-production celebrity game show, Wetten Dass ...?, which is transmitted between 8:15 and 10:52pm, European time. Beside lip-synching a version of 'No Other Baby', and signing a painting by Klaus Voorman, he is interviewed by the show's host, Thomas Gottschalk, and shown a copy of the new deluxe book Hamburg Days, which features many unpublished photos by Astrid Kirchherr and drawings by Klaus Voorman, who is seen sitting in the studio audience. Before leaving the stage, Paul signs a racing car ("Paul McCartney woz ere"), which is to be sold. The proceeds of the sale going towards Aktion Sorgenkind, the Handicapped Children fund. (The programme is repeated two days later on ZDF, on Monday December 13.)

Sunday December 12 (until Sunday February 6, 2000)

Linda McCartney's exhibition, Sixties - Portrait Of An Era, runs at the Tampa Museum of Art in Ashley Drive, Florida.

Monday December 13

John's 'Imagine' is re-released as an enhanced CD single by Parlophone in the UK. The other tracks on the CD include 'Happy Christmas (War Is Over)' and 'Give Peace A Chance'. This CD offers the buyer a chance to view the title track, recorded at the 1972 One To One Concert in New York, to be played full screen or small screen, by quick-time video player.

A spokesman for the label announces: "The release is down to the incredible response we've had from the public, following the National Poetry Day poll, asking whether it would be available again." Shortly before its re-release, Yoko Ono issues a press statement about the single from her offices in The Dakota.

'Imagine' enters the Christmas chart at number three on Sunday December 19, but had slipped to number seven on the chart published on Sunday January 2, 2000, the first of the new century.

Tuesday December 14

In front of a crowd of just 300, Paul plays his historic concert at the new Cavern Club in Mathew Street, Liverpool. He comments: "I can't think of a better way to end the century than with a party at The Cavern, singing the songs of my heroes." Fans are naturally desperate to witness the show. "Women have been blatantly accosting me in the (Cavern) club," says an exasperated Billy Heckle, the Cavern Club's co-manager. "They've been trying to bribe me with their bodies. I've been repeatedly offered sex in exchange for a ticket!" Many people are, naturally, disappointed that they can't get in, none more so than The Beatles' former manager, Allan Williams, who blasts: "I can't believe they're not letting me in there tonight. If it wasn't for me, there would be no Beatles!" (In fact, Williams was intoxicated at the time of the concert.)

Paul arrived in Liverpool this afternoon at Speke airport at around 2pm. His flight was delayed 45 minutes before it arrived at Speke. On his arrival, after giving a couple of autographs and a quick chat with the Liverpool Echo, he quickly transferred to his Jaguar car, which was escorted by half a dozen policemen to the rear of The Cavern where he was driven into the completely sealed off parking area, situated under the Cavern Walks complex. Paul entered The Cavern Club via its emergency doors at the back. Afterwards Paul and his band held a two-hour rehearsal.

The press entered the building at 4pm and, at 5pm, Paul held the short press conference, which turned out to be just a small statement and photo call. When Paul arrived on the tiny stage, he kissed the "wall of fame" behind him. The statement he read to the press was as follows: "I just want to say that it's fantastic to be back at The Cavern. What better place to rock out the century? This is where it all began and, for me, the century is going to end with playing rock'n'roll. You'll remember that before The Beatles were The Beatles, they were a fabulous little rock'n'roll band, which is what held us together for so long and made us so good. I think. And I'm back here because I love Liverpool and I'm playing the music I love best in the city I love most. There is no more fantastic place to rock out the century."

Following the conference, Paul sneaked out to a nearby hotel where he was reunited with his local family for a private cup of tea and to record an exclusive interview for a BBC Radio Two special to be broadcast later this evening.

For the 45-minute evening show, which began just after 8pm, Paul's band, as expected, consists of the following: David Gilmour, Mick Green (guitars), Pete Wingfield (keyboards), Ian Paice (drums) and Chris Hall (accordion). They perform the following songs: 'Honey Hush', 'Blue Jean Bop', 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man', 'Fabulous' (with a false start), 'What It Is', 'Lonesome Town', 'Twenty Flight Rock', 'No Other Baby', 'Try Not To Cry', 'Shake A Hand', 'All Shook Up', 'I Saw Her Standing There' and 'Party'. Paul leaves the tiny Cavern stage saying: "See you next time ..."

VIPs in attendance include, amongst others, the Apple boss, Neil Aspinall, the old Cavern Club boss, Ray McFall, the old Cavern Club DJ, Billy Butler and Bob Wooler. Paul's immediate family is also present.

A large outdoor screen in Chavasse Park, near the Albert Dock, in Liverpool, is erected so approximately 12,000 people can also watch the show live in the freezing cold. Paul had rented the park.

After the concert, Paul, his band and friends, go to the nearby Sports Bar, Baron Pierre de Coubertin's, which is owned by Cavern City Tours. While there, Paul signs an authentic copy of his Hofner violin bass guitar, scribbling: "Cool Cavern! Cheers. Paul McCartney Dec 14. '99" on the scratch plate. Paul leaves the Sports Bar through a private corridor, around midnight.

Media transmission notes for the Cavern Club gig: for the Radio 2 broadcast (transmitted between 10:31 and 12:01am on the night of the concert), hosted by Richard Allinson and recorded in a BBC van parked in nearby Harrington Street, 'Shake A Hand' is omitted and for the first television transmission, on BBC1, the following night, Wednesday December 15, between 11:15 and 11:55pm, both 'Blue Jean Bop' and 'Try Not To Cry' are cut. The show is transmitted in Canada on Much More Music on Thursday December 16 and Saturday December 18, 1999, with all 13 songs. The first television repeat of The Cavern gig takes place on Saturday January 15 with further screenings taking place on Friday May 5, 2000, Thursday August 10, 2000 and December 2000, while further radio broadcasts of The Cavern gig occur on Thursday January 20, 2000 (see all entries). The very first television clip of Paul's Cavern gig, 'Honey Hush', actually appears on Sky News when they air a brief segment live, perhaps accidentally, during a report on the concert.

The show is also broadcast live on the Internet worldwide, on MCY.com, which features an exclusive introduction by Paul, who remarks: "This is going to be a thrilling and emotional night for me and it's fantastic that fans around the world can log on to the gig and party with us." But, because of the limitations, it is nearly impossible to get online. Ninety minutes before the start of the show, the system is already jammed to anyone trying to log on. Later, about 30 minutes after the concert has ended, EMI and MSN originally plan to make the programme available for "on demand" viewing for the following fifteen hours. But, due to the extraordinary interest in the webcast, the host MCY.com ends up re-broadcasting the concert until Sunday December 19. (Also see entries for Friday December 24 and June 30, 2000.)

Wednesday December 15

In the States, a pre-taped interview with Paul is aired on NBC TV's Today show.

Friday December 17 (& Saturday December 18)

An exhibition of previously unseen pictures by Tom Murray taken during The Beatles' famous 'Mad Day Out' on Sunday July 28 1968, takes place at Gallery 27 in Cork Street, London W1. (A private, invite only, screening of the pictures take place on Thursday December 16.) The event is arranged by Not Fade Away, one of the top archive photo libraries in London. (The build-up to the release of these pictures is covered by reports in such papers as the Sunday Mirror on November 7.)

Tuesday December 21 (until Sunday December 26)

Beginning tonight, Ringo is to be found hosting a brand-new three-hour American radio special called Jingle Bell Rock. The show, produced by MJI Broadcasting and syndicated to 75 stations across the country, features the best of Christmas rock'n'roll oldies from the Fifties to the present, including songs from Ringo's new album, I Wanna Be Santa Claus. Throughout the show he reminds listeners: "Please call me Santa!" The show is divided into various segments, such as a Motown set, a Phil Spector set and, of course, a Beatles set. During the latter, Ringo plays 'Christmastime Is Here Again', from his album, 'Wonderful Christmastime', by Paul, 'Ding Dong Ding Dong', by George and 'Happy Christmas (War Is Over') by John and Yoko. In addition, as a bonus, Ringo spins The Beatles' 1964 Christmas fan club flexi disc.

Wednesday December 22

George Michael, Robbie Williams and Graham Coxon of Blur are among the stars that have autographed John's 'Imagine' single to help charity. Yoko Ono has asked for the covers to be made and then auctioned for the Homeless Organisation, Shelter. "It's great to be involved in a UK charity that draws attention to such a worthwhile cause," she says. Ten customised 'Imagine' sleeves are auctioned on the WWW.MSN.co.uk website until Tuesday January 4, 2000.

Thursday December 23

George's home in Maui, Hawaii, is broken into by a 27-year-old woman called Cristin Kelleher, who takes a pizza from George's freezer, cooks it and then drinks a bottle of soda. The woman is discovered by George's sister-in-law who informs the caretaker who in turn informs the police. By the time the police arrive, she is caught in the middle of doing her washing. When asked why she had broken in, she tells the police: "I thought I had a psychic connection with George." Later, bail for the woman is reduced from $10,000 to $1,500 after her attorney tells the court that she would have a place to stay on the island if she were released. The judge sets a pre-trial conference for April and, if Kelleher is convicted, she faces up to ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine. (See entry for Wednesday January 12, 2000.)

Friday December 24

The Times newspaper prints a full-page advert by MCY.com, in which they thank Paul McCartney for "the opportunity to produce the largest music webcast in history". According to MCY, there has been over 50 million viewers worldwide who have watched Paul's Cavern Club performance (see entry for Tuesday December 14).

Saturday, December 25

A two-hour edition of Paul's Routes Of Rock is broadcast on BBC Radio 2.

Sunday December 26

On Boxing Day, VH-1 in the UK screen (between 10:00 and 10:28pm), completely unannounced, the new VH-1 To 1 programme devoted to Paul and his Run Devil Run album.

Tuesday December 28

A pre-recorded interview with Paul is featured on the BBC Radio 4 programme Front Row, which is about middle-aged rock stars and how these stars address questions of ageing in their music.

Wednesday December 29

Paul's 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man' video is shown on BBC2's archive show TOTP2 in the UK.

(Published) Thursday December 30

Eerily, the scandalous Daily Sport newspaper asks George, via phone, for his New Year prediction. He amazingly replies: "You will all be dead!" His statement shocks the reporters as they do not know whether he is joking or not.

(The early hours of) Thursday December 30

Rekindling memories of how the UK awoke to the tragic news of John's death just over nineteen years ago, the country awakes this morning to discover that a second Beatle has been seriously hurt in a violent attack. During the previous night George was stabbed by an intruder at his home, Friar Park near Henley-on-Thames. As the morning progresses, it becomes known that at around 3:30am, without the burglar alarm or sophisticated security equipment sounding first, George heard the sound of breaking glass and got up. His wife Olivia alerted the staff on the internal phone while George went downstairs in his dressing gown to investigate the noise. He found an intruder in a downstairs room, tackled him and was stabbed four times in the chest by a 6-inch knife.

A police spokesman: "As soon as he got to the bottom of the stairs, George saw the shadow of a man. He challenged him and there was a scuffle, during which a knife was pulled out."

George recalls: "I couldn't stop him from killing me."

A police spokesman: "George was stabbed in the chest and apparently let out a shout to Olivia for help."

Hearing George scream for help, Olivia ran downstairs, where she saw him locked in a struggle and proceeded to hit the intruder over the head with a table lamp, which apparently stunned him into submission. "The guy was young and strong and I couldn't stop him from stabbing George," she tells a friend. "I hit him with the lamp as hard as I could and it worked. He slumped over and George pushed him off. George was wheezing horribly. I was really worried he wouldn't make it."

A police spokesman: "She saw George fighting with the intruder and grabbed the nearest implement, which was a table lamp. She tried to use it to stop the man attacking George and in the process was cut several times on her head by the knife."

Two unarmed members of the police arrived within minutes, at approximately 3:45am, and arrested the intruder and confiscated his knife. The man, from Huyton, Liverpool, was taken to the nearby Henley police station. Later, because of injuries to his head during the skirmish, he was taken to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital for treatment. After his injuries had been attended to, he was moved to the St. Aldridge police station where he was detained for questioning.

Mark Gritten, executive of the Royal Berkshire Hospital: "Two ambulances arrived within fifteen minutes and four paramedics spent twenty minutes treating George's stab wounds and trying to stem the flow of blood."

Wayne Page, one of George's neighbours, who lives directly opposite the entrance to Friar Park: "I was woken by the noise of a helicopter hovering overhead at about 4am. I didn't know what was going on, but I thought it was very strange at this time of night for it to be hovering there. I can't believe he's been attacked in his own home. I thought it was like Fort Knox in there. There is security and patrol dogs to keep people out and warning signs on the gates. He's not someone who just stays behind his gates. You see him down the post office or in the local (Henley's Row Barge public house). He's just a normal guy and this is horrific."

At approximately 5am, George and Olivia are taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital where they are admitted to a side room on the NHS Sidmouth Ward. Doctors discover that George was half-an-inch from losing his life. Medical director Andrew Pengelly says: "He has been stabbed on the right hand side of the chest, with the blade entering just below his collarbone. The knife narrowly missed a blood vessel connecting the heart and the head. If that had been ruptured, he would have perished within a matter of minutes from internal bleeding. He was extremely lucky. If the knife had gone in more than a centimetre either side, then it could have hit some very dangerous things, such as large blood vessels."

Mark Gritten, the chief executive of the hospital, later tells waiting reporters: "George is stable and there wasn't a life-threatening situation." Security at the hospital is extremely tight. Guards are seen patrolling all the entrances and exits and checking the IDs of everyone entering the building.

Apart from bruising and swelling, George has a drain in his lung to remove blood if necessary, as the lung is partially collapsed. On the right-hand side of his chest is a one-inch stab wound. George also complains to the medical staff that he is suffering breathing problems.

During the afternoon, Olivia and Dhani sit beside George's bed while he recuperates, after having twelve stitches inserted into his wound. Later, when George is reported as being stable, he is transferred to Harefield Hospital in Uxbridge, Middlesex, West London. He is transferred to a private bed at Harefield as a precautionary measure and not because doctors are concerned about his injuries. It is there that he is inundated with get well messages from friends, fans and both Paul and Ringo. With his spirits perking up, George jokingly remarks: "The attacker wasn't a burglar and he certainly wasn't auditioning for The Traveling Wilburys!" George is detained in the hospital for a further 48 hours.

William Fountain, the consultant thoracic surgeon at Harefield Hospital, a leading centre concerned with chest conditions, is quoted as saying that: "The main stab wound was a very, very small distance from a main vein and it was only by chance that his injuries were not life threatening. The second stab wound to his chest was less serious." A reporter asks him: "Was Harrison lucky not to have died?" Fountain replies: "Anyone stabbed in the chest could die," adding, "His condition is comfortable. But, it is unlikely that he will be allowed to leave hospital in time for the Millennium celebrations. I expect him to remain in hospital for at least the next few days for monitoring and is not expected to have more treatment, although he will be left with a small scar on his chest."

On the afternoon of Thursday December 30, at the request of Thames Valley Police, Merseyside Police enter the flat of George's intruder, on the tenth floor of a tower block at Woodfall Heights, Woodfall Heath, Huyton, Liverpool. After a thorough search, they leave the block thirty minutes later with a number of items in bags.

Chief Inspector Evan Read, of Thames Valley Police, the policeman leading the investigation, remarks in a rain-swept press conference held at the gates of Friar Park: "The Harrisons have been subjected to a vicious attack and it didn't appear to be a random assault linked to a simple robbery. There has been some speculation that it was a burglary that went wrong, but, my own view at present, is that it isn't a burglary that went wrong, but he probably came here on purpose."

Paul's spokesman, Geoff Baker says: "Everyone is totally shocked. Paul McCartney was told the news early today and was also shocked and anxious to hear more from the hospital. We were told George was stabbed several times with what we assume was a knife and that Olivia was hit over the head. We don't know if they were asleep when the intruder made his way into their home. God knows how he got through the security around the house. Apparently they both fought back hard against the attack. Thank God that they both appear to be stable in hospital. We are all totally shocked that a second Beatle has been attacked. Nothing like this has happened before to George to make him worried about his safety."

Later, Paul will forward his own message of sympathy, which reads: "Thank God both George and Olivia are all right. I send them all my love."

From California, and again through Geoff Baker, Ringo issues this statement: "Both Barbara and I are deeply shocked that this has occurred. We send George and Olivia all our love and wish George a speedy recovery."

While The Beatles producer, George Martin, has this to say: "I can't imagine that this has got anything to do with the fact that George is a Beatle and the John Lennon thing. I think it's a question of a burglary that went wrong. The house is a very grand place and I know there are always people trying to get in. George leads a very quiet life and is a very down-to-earth person. He loves nothing more than doing his garden at home. It's such a large property and needed a lot of security. Somebody must have got through. If you have a large place and a determined person, there is nothing really to stop them, apart from an armed force, which is the last thing George would want ... I can't imagine anybody picking on George. I think they must have picked on the house, rather than George."

Naturally, the event features prominently on television and radio news programmes around the world. (See entry Tuesday November 14, 2000, for details of court case.)

Friday December 31

George's stabbing yesterday features on the front page of newspapers around the world, thus ensuring that The Beatles dominate the news on the last day of the Millennium.

The Daily Mail writes: "George Saved By His Wife".

The Express: "Wife's Heroism Saves Beatle George".

Daily Star: "Psycho Held Over George Knifing".

Magistrates at the Oxford court order 33-year-old Mike Abram, George's attacker, to be held in a secure psychiatric unit in Liverpool until after he is charged with the attempted murder of George and Olivia. Abram, who appears in court with a black eye and a blood stained face, is given bail until Friday February 11 while he undergoes psychiatric treatment. It is revealed that Abram, nicknamed "Mad Mick" by those who know him, is a heroin addict with a history of mental health problems. He was said to be obsessed with The Beatles, referring to them as "Witches". His mother, Lynda, says she has begged authorities to commit her son to a mental hospital as his condition worsened. But nothing was done.

William Fountain, the consultant thoracic surgeon at Harefield Hospital, says in a press conference held in the hospital: "He is probably in quite a lot of discomfort. He is on painkillers because he has a seriously painful injury. He is breathing unaided and did not suffer a large loss of blood as far as I am aware. He has had anti-tetanus injections and antibiotics, which are normal in these circumstances, as there is always a fear of infection." He concludes: "I am reasonably confident the treatment he has had is all that he will need. Nature will do the rest."

At Paul's home in Sussex, Heather Mills is at Paul's side to welcome in the new century. To celebrate the new Millennium, he organises a fireworks display. A friend of the couple remarks: "Heather has been a rock for Paul since Linda died and it looks like he's finally managing to rebuild his life. They were every bit the happy couple at the party and it's a sign of their deep affection for one another that they wanted to spend the start of the new Millennium together." While another remarks: "As midnight arrived, Sir Paul gave her a new year hug and a kiss as they linked arms to sing 'Auld Lang Syne' with other guests."

While at the Millennium Dome in Greenwich, London, The Beatles' 'All You Need Is Love' is played just before the midnight celebrations begin.