A Ringo Starr memorabilia has raised a total of $9.2 million at Julien’s Auctions.
The auction lot included more than 1,300 clothes, instruments, pieces of jewellery and other items owned by the Beatle.
The highlight of the sale was a drum kit played by Ringo Starr on many Beatles hits, which fetched $2.1 million.
A Rickenbacker guitar once owned by John Lennon made $910,000.
Ringo Starr’s copy of The White Album, numbered 0000001, sold for $790,000 – which is thought to make it the most expensive record ever sold.
Photo Julien’s Auctions
Julien’s Auctions said it surpassed the previous world record, set when Elvis Presley’s first acetate recording sold for $300,000 earlier this year.
Ringo Starr’s LP was the first mono copy of The White Album to be manufactured in the UK.
It was widely known that the band members kept the first four copies, but until recently it was assumed that John Lennon had owned the first.
Paul McCartney told his official biographer: “John got 0000001 because he shouted loudest. He said, <<Bagsy number one!>>”
A portion of the proceeds from the auction will go to Ringo Starr and wife Barbara Bach’s charity The Lotus Foundation, which says it aims to advance “social welfare” in a wide range of areas including substance abuse, cancer, cerebral palsy, domestic abuse and animal protection.
Ringo Starr memorabilia auction:
$2,110,000 – Ludwig Drum kit, used on hits including Can’t Buy Me Love and I Want to Hold Your Hand
$910,000 – John Lennon’s 1964 Rickenbacker guitar, which he gave to Ringo Starr in 1968
$790,000 – The White Album, numbered 0000001
$179,200 – George Harrison’s 1962 Gretsch Tennessean guitar, given to Ringo Starr by George Harrison’s family after the Concert for George following Harrison’s death
$179,200 – An 18 carat yellow gold Moonphase watch by Patek Philippe
$125,000 – The back panel from John Lennon’s psychedelic caravan, featuring the Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band logo
$115,200 – Ludwig silver sparkle drum kit used in the 1967 Hello, Goodbye video
$106,250 – A gold ring with rectangular sapphire that Ringo Starr says he wore during every show he ever played with the Beatles
$100,000 – A gold and onyx ring, which was also worn for every single Beatles show
Early Beatles drummer Andy White has died in New Jersey aged 85.
Andy White died on November 9 following a stroke, his family announced.
The Scottish studio session musician played the drums on Love Me Do and other early tracks by The Beatles.
Andy White was chosen ahead of Ringo Starr in September 1962 to play drums on the single version of Love Me Do and its B-side, P.S. I Love You.
The musician, who was born in Glasgow in 1930, is also believed to have played on the album version of Please Please Me.
Andy White could therefore legitimately claim to be one of the so-called “Fifth Beatles”, alongside the likes of Pete Best, Stuart Sutcliffe and others.
He also played drums on Lulu’s 1964 cover of Shout and Sir Tom Jones’ 1965 single It’s Not Unusual.
Andy White went on to tour with Marlene Dietrich, Burt Bacharach and Rod Stewart and perform with the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra.
He was paid a one-off fee (£5) for his three hours with the Beatles and received no subsequent royalties.
Ringo Starr, who played drums on earlier versions of Love Me Do, can be heard playing the tambourine on the Andy White recording.
In later life Andy White moved to the US, where he married the voiceover actress Thea Ruth and became a drumming instructor.
John Lennon’s acoustic guitar has been sold at auction in California for $2.4 million.
The Beatle is thought to have recorded and written a number of hit songs, including Love Me Do and I Want to Hold Your Hand, on the Gibson J-160E guitar.
The guitar was one of only two of its type flown from the US to England in 1962 for John Lennon and George Harrison.
John Lennon used the guitar for about a year before swapping it with George Harrison in 1963, after which vanished.
For more than 50 years the guitar’s whereabouts remained unknown until a man in California discovered last year that an instrument in his possession may have historical value.
The Associated Press has named the man as John McCaw from San Diego, who bought the guitar for $275 in the late 1960s.
In 2014, John McCaw found an old magazine article about George Harrison, which featured a photo of the instrument.
The guitar was then looked at by Beatles’ instruments expert Andy Babiuk, who was able to identify it by its unique markings as the one John Lennon used.
Andy Babiuk compared it with photographs and film footage of John Lennon playing it.
Ringo Starr has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 19.
The former Beatles drummer was the last of the Fab Four to be inducted as a solo artist, where he was hailed as “one of the greatest and most creative drummers”.
“Finally, I’m invited and I love it,” Ringo Starr said at the ceremony.
Ringo Starr, 74, was introduced by fellow Beatle Paul McCartney and together they performed their 1967 hit, With A Little Help From My Friends.
While inducting Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney said he could always rely on his former bandmate to perform on every song.
“You don’t have to look with Ringo – he’s there,” he said.
Ringo Starr was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Beatles in 1988.
Although he was the last Beatle to be recognized for his solo efforts, Ringo Starr was the first to establish a career following the band’s split in 1970, releasing two albums and scoring two top five songs within a year.
Ringo Starr has released 18 solo studio albums, including his latest – Postcards From Paradise – released earlier this month.
Among the other honorees at the ceremony were singer Bill Withers, rock band Green Day, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts and Lou Reed – who died in 2013.
Green Day were inducted in their first year of eligibility – which rules state must be 25 years after the release of an artist’s first record.
Bill Withers was inducted by Stevie Wonder.
Joan Jett – who was inducted by Miley Cyrus – opened the show with her rock hit Bad Reputation, and was joined by Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl for a performance of Cherry Bomb.
Patti Smith inducted Lou Reed and thanked him for “brutally and benevolently injecting poetry into your music”.
The 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony will be broadcast on HBO on May 30.
John Lennon’s first wife, Cynthia, has died at her home in Spain at the age of 75.
A message on her son Julian’s website said she died “following a short but brave battle with cancer”.
The statement said: “Her son Julian Lennon was at her bedside throughout. The family are thankful for your prayers.”
Julian Lennon also tweeted a picture of his mother inside a heart with the message “In Loving Memory”.
Cynthia Lennon was born Cynthia Lillian Powell in Blackpool on September 10, 1939.
She grew up in Hoylake with her parents and two elder brothers and started at Liverpool College of Art in 1957.
Cynthia met John Lennon at art school when he tapped her on the back in class and simply said: “Hi, I’m John.”
They married just before Beatlemania transformed John Lennon into one of the most famous men in the world.
At the height of The Beatles’ early success Cynthia Lennon was, at the insistence of the band’s management, kept in the background so their legions of female fans were not aware of her existence.
She stayed at home bringing up Julian while The Beatles toured the world and topped the charts.
John and Cynthia Lennon divorced in 1968 after she discovered her husband’s affair with Japanese artist Yoko Ono.
Paul McCartney said: “She was a lovely lady who I’ve known since our early days together in Liverpool.
“She was a good mother to Julian and will be missed by us all but I will always have great memories of our times together.”
John Lennon’s second wife Yoko Ono said: “She had such a strong zest for life and I felt proud how we two women stood firm in the Beatles family.
“Please join me in sending love and support to Julian at this very sad time. Love, Yoko.”
Former Beatle Ringo Starr also tweeted: “Peace and love to Julian Lennon God bless Cynthia love Ringo and Barbara xx.”
Cynthia Lennon published memoirs of her time with John and when she was publicizing one of the books in 2005, she told Good Morning America she “couldn’t resist being around him”.
“You couldn’t resist watching what he was up to,” she said.
“I mean, he was a total rebel. Everybody was amazed by him.”
“I have read so many books and seen so many films, and it’s like we don’t really exist. We are like walk-on parts in his life. We did spend 10 years together,” she added.
After divorcing John Lennon, Cynthia married three more times.
In 1970, Cynthia Lennon wed Italian hotelier Roberto Bassanini and six years later married engineer John Twist from Lancashire. Both relationships ended with divorce.
Cynthia Lennon later wed former nightclub owner Noel Charles in 2002. He died in 2013.
Paul McCartney will induct his former bandmate Ringo Starr into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next month in Cleveland.
Ringo Starr is the last of The Beatles receive the musical honor.
Paul McCartney will usher in the 74-year-old at the 30th annual ceremony at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum next month.
The Beatles are already in the hall as a group, as are John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison as solo artists.
Other inductees will include Green Day, Lou Reed and Bill Withers.
Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine, Ringo Starr said it meant “recognition” of his work.
He added: “And it means, finally, the four of us are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame even though we were the biggest pop group in the land.”
Eagle Joe Walsh will perform some of Ringo Starr’s music, while Bill Withers’ music will be performed by John Legend.
It is not known if Bill Withers, who quit the music business more than 30 years ago, will sing himself.
Patti Smith will induct Lou Reed, who died in 2013, while Beck will perform the Velvet Underground singer’s music.
Joan Jett, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and the “5” Royales will also be elevated to the elite musical club at the Cleveland ceremony.
Artists become eligible to enter the Hall of Fame 25 years after their first release.
The use of a crossing guard is being considered at London’s iconic Abbey Road crossing as tourists flock to create the scene made famous by the Beatles.
Westminster City Council has raised safety fears over the thousands of people who visit the crossing, in St John’s Wood, north London.
Residents have also complained about the increase in traffic at the height of the summer season.
The Abbey Road crossing was made famous after John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr traversed it for Ian Macmillan’s iconic cover shot for the 1969 Abbey Road record (photo PA)
The council said no proposals had been agreed and the review was ongoing.
Councilors have also raised concerns about buses carrying tourists causing traffic congestion by double-parking or parking on yellow lines.
A Westminster City Council spokeswoman said it is discussing options to manage the busy traffic flow, including the possibility of employing a lollipop lady or man.
She added: “Local Abbey Road ward councilors raised their residents’ concerns about the number of tourists spilling into the road and traffic near the crossing at the height of the summer season, and put forward various suggestions, asking the city council to review pedestrian safety and crowd management.
“However, no proposals have been agreed by the council, nor the review completed.”
The Abbey Road crossing was made famous after John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr traversed it for Ian Macmillan’s iconic cover shot for the 1969 Abbey Road record.
A guitar played by John Lennon and George Harrison of the Beatles has sold for $408,000 at auction.
The custom-made instrument, built in 1966 by the VOX company, was bought by an unidentified US buyer in New York.
The guitar played by John Lennon and George Harrison of the Beatles has sold for $408,000 at auction
George Harrison played I Am The Walrus on the guitar in a scene from Magical Mystery Tour in 1967. John Lennon used it in a video for Hello, Goodbye later that year.
Julien’s Auctions said the guitar had exceeded its estimated value of $200,000-$300,000.
After playing the guitar, John Lennon gave it as a 25th birthday present to Alexis “Magic Alex” Mardas, a member of The Beatles’ inner circle in the 1960s.
A plaque on the back reads: “To Magic Alex/ Alexi thank you/ for been [sic] a friend/ 2-5-1967 John.”
Sir Paul McCartney claims during a new TV interview that Yoko Ono was not responsible for splitting up The Beatles.
“She certainly didn’t break the group up,” tells Paul McCartney, 70, to Sir David Frost in an interview to be broadcast next month.
“I don’t think you can blame her for anything,” he says, claiming John Lennon was “definitely going to leave”.
His remarks challenge a school of thought that holds John Lennon’s widow responsible for the band’s separation.
Paul McCartney’s revelations feature in an hour-long interview with David Frost, 73, that will be aired on the Al Jazeera English TV channel in November.
The programme will also see the former Beatle claim that John Lennon, who died in 1980, would not have written his hit song Imagine without the conceptual artist’s influence.
Paul McCartney claims that Yoko Ono was not responsible for splitting up The Beatles
“When Yoko came along, part of her attraction was her avantgarde side, her view of things,” Paul McCartney tells the veteran broadcaster.
“She showed him another way to be, which was very attractive to him. So it was time for John to leave.”
According to The Observer, the interview will see Paul McCartney muse on losing his mother at the age of 14 and the death of his first wife Linda in 1998.
The musician also discusses being a father and a grandfather, which he describes as “my coolest thing”.
Both Paul McCartney and John Lennon went on to forge successful solo careers after the Fab Four split up in 1970.
Earlier this month saw the 50th anniversary of The Beatles releasing their first single, Love Me Do, in 1962.
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