Beatle news briefs: Plaskett looking forward to opening for McCartney

June 29, 10:31 PMBeatles ExaminerSteve Marinucci

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    From left, the Joel Plaskett Emergency -- Dave Marsh (drums),
    Joel Plaskett (guitar, voice) and Chris Pennell (bass) will be
    performing in Halifax with Paul McCartney (Courtesy Joel
    Plaskett Emergency.)

What we posted Monday: 

• No Meat Monday: Did you go veggie because of Paul and Linda McCartney?
• This date in Beatle history - June 29 - the Monkees meet a Beatle -- and share a pizza (watch video)

We expected the No Meat Monday post to draw some comments (and it did), but we were surprised no one commented on the Ringo commercial. Maybe we're the only ones who liked it.  However, the Michael Jackson-Beatles comparisons (here and here) are still generating a lot of debate. Maybe not a surprise.

Joel Plaskett, who's on the bill with Paul McCartney in Halifax, sent us a note in answer to our question about how the gig came about and his feelings on the show.

We're thrilled to be opening for Paul McCartney. It'll be the highest profile gig we've ever done. Paul's management approached us and asked if I would like to open the show with my band, The Emergency. As I understand it, someone there was given a CD and really liked it and then it went on to Paul for approval. I like to think he listened to the whole triple record on headphones and then when it was done he said, "Yeah, this is definitely the opening act we need.." :)

Plaskett says he'll be joined by his occasional keyboard/second guitar player Peter Elkas and the two back up singers who sing on his latest record, Rose Cousins and Ana Egge.

And Wintersleep, who's also on the Halifax bill, posted this to Twitter Monday:

We are very pleased to say that we will be supporting Sir James Paul McCartney in our home and native city on July 11th.

Several internet sites (including Paste Magazine) are claiming that Jeff Lynne is supposedly planning to fix up some unreleased George Harrison songs for release. The rumor seemed to catch on after Olivia Harrison's recent comments about taking a look at some of the tracks George left unfinished after his death. A source who has a connection to Lynne is checking on this, but for now, we're not taking it too seriously considering the source was a British tabloid that likes to pull stuff out of thin air.

Can you mix Michael Jackson and George Harrison? Someone has on YouTube, mashing "Isn't It a Pity" and "I Want You Back." The result, called, "I Want Pity," is fairly cohesive.

The Fest For Beatles Fans has announced it will have two demos of "The Beatles: Rock Band" at the Chicago fest August 14-16, at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. Ronnie Spector is headlining.

Sunday's "Andre Gardner's 'Breakfast With the Beatles'" featured "Nowhere Man" (live Tokyo 1966), "Step Inside Love/Los Paranoius" (unreleased long version from the "Let It Be" sessions), "If I Fell" (BBC 1964) and "One After 909" (Cavern rehearsal from 1962).

Sunday's edition of "Chris Carter's 'Breakfast With The Beatles'" on KLOS-FM featured "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey," "Nowhere Man," "Isolation" and "Help!" Beatle songs for Michael Jackson, maybe?

Interested in seeing Paul McCartney at Citi Field and a walking tour of Beatle sites in New York? Liverpool Tours, run by Horror Happenings Examiner Charles Rosenay, has a package of both for $499 per person (no meals or transportation) that includes a ticket to the Saturday night show. Four spots are open. Information: (203) 795-4737 or email LiverpoolTours@aol.com. 

The UK Mirror says Lee Starkey, Ringo's daughter, is expecting triplets.

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