GEORGE UPDATE VIA RIP RENSE
NY Daily News---Rush and Molloy
The Word on Beatle George Is Upbeat
Things may be looking up for George Harrison in his battle with an inoperable
brain tumor. The ex-Beatle is said to be feeling so much better that he's
planning to leave New York by week's end.
"George is responding well to therapy," a friend of Harrison's tells us. "His
pain has completely abated. He's been able to get off all pain medicine and
enjoy the company of his family and friends."
Harrison, 58, had been receiving fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery at
Staten Island University Hospital under the supervision of Dr. Gil Lederman.
Since last week, he has been receiving the new cancer treatment as an
outpatient while staying nearby with his wife, Olivia, and their 23-year-old
son, Dhani. (Due out this month is "Horse to Water," a song he and Dhani
wrote.)
"His situation is still guarded," says the friend. "But his turnaround has
been dramatic" since he flew into New York less than three weeks ago on a
private jet from Switzerland.
Meanwhile, Ringo Starr's daughter, Lee Starkey, has returned to Boston for
radiation treatment. Lee, 31, underwent surgery for a brain tumor in 1995 at
Brigham and Women's Hospital. She had a second operation there a few weeks
ago.
"She's doing fine," a source close to Starr tells us: "She went back this
week for radiation around the tumor area. But she's totally clean."
For now, Ringo, who flew to Boston for the operation, is monitoring Lee's
condition and George's from his home in Monte Carlo.
***************************************************************************
Stage where Lennon met McCartney up for sale
LONDON (Reuters) - The stage where John Lennon met Paul McCartney all
those years ago is up for sale.
And Beatles fans wanting a slice of the world's most famous pop group
can also buy the Bechstein Grand Piano used on The White Album and to
record ``Hey Jude.''
The church hall stage where pop history was made is expected to fetch
up to $72,000 at a London auction on Nov. 27, auctioneers Fleetwood
Owen said in a statement Thursday.
Lennon was playing with his group the Quarrymen at St. Peter's Church
Hall in Woolton, in northern England, on July 6, 1957, when he was
first introduced to McCartney. Together they became two of the 20th
century's most influential composers.
Auctioneer Ted Owen said: ``The stage is one of the most impeccable
pieces to come up for auction because of the meeting between Lennon
and McCartney. It is a piece of post-war history.''
The sale of the stage sparked protest from some Fab Four fans who
felt it should remain as part of the heritage of Liverpool,
birthplace of the Beatles.
But Canon John Roberts of St. Peter's Church said it was time to move
on. ``You cannot do 21st century work in a Victorian building any
more. The money raised will be spent on the hall.''
Fleetwood Owen expect the Bechstein Grand to fetch up to $501,000
because of its illustrious pop history.
The piano from Trident Studios in London has also been used in Elton
John, David Bowie, Queen and Supertramp albums.
Last year, pop star George Michael paid $2.1 million for John
Lennon's legendary piano on which the former Beatle composed
``Imagine.''
The other Beatle jewel on offer at next month's auction is George
Harrison's first guitar which is expected to fetch up to $71,500.
Harrison described the guitar as ``a real cheapo, a horrible little
guitar. but it was OK at the time.''
Beatlemania shows no signs of flagging 30 years after the group broke
up with their compilation album of Number One hits topping hit
parades around the world.
And at the auction even Allen Klein, branded as the man who broke up
the Beatles, is commemorated.
For about $715 you can secure the only known photograph of Klein
signing his contract with Apple in 1969 surrounded by the band and
Yoko Ono.
***************************************************************************
Bill Wyman Host Series on British R&B
Former Rolling Stones bassist and blues aficionado Bill Wyman, who has his own
blues group, The Rhythm Kings, is hosting an eight part series on British R&B,
"Bright Lights, Big City," on BBC Radio 2, November 7-December 26. Featured
guests include Lonnie Donegan, George Fame, Tom McGuinness, Muff Winwood, Stann
Webb, Jack Bruce, Wilco Johnson ("Dr. Feelgood") and Dick Heckstall Smith.
Part 1, Blues & Roots - The 1950s explores the roots of American blues and how
it infiltrated the British music scene.
Part 2, The Gospel Spreads explores how the British Blues scene moved
out of the
'50s into the '60s as young white musicians inspired by the likes of Korner,
Donegan and Barber started bands of their own. Wyman reveals how the Rolling
Stones were formed by the blues obsessed Brian Jones and how they would go onto
lead the '60s 'blues boom'.
Part 3, Ready, Steady, Go! continues to trace the tremendous influence American
R&B had on the British pop music scene. Wyman plays music from the leading
musicians of the movement The Animals, The Kinks and The Pretty Things, all
regulars on the legendary television show "Ready Steady Go!"
Part 4, In From The Provinces studies how the London blues community
grew into a
national club scene. Wyman takes a detailed look at the peak years of British
blues in the mid '60s and traces the spread across Britain. Featured music: Van
Morrison's R&B band in Northern Ireland, Zoot Money from the south coast, Dave
Berry from Sheffield and a look at Liverpool.
Part 5, The Second Wave explores how the first wave of British R&B
success faded
towards the end of the '60s, but a second generation of bands and musicians
carried on into the '70s, and how British blues went from the pop to the album
charts and the birth of the first music festivals. Featured music: Peter Green
in original Fleetwood Mac, guitar legends Alvin Lee and Jeff Beck and
phenomenal
blues 'one-man-band' Duster Bennett.
Part 6, New Directions investigates how during the '70s British blues changed
and adapted as rock became the music for a new generation and how the original
spirit of the blues remained, but developed becoming more improvised and much
louder. Music from the power-house rock bands like Cream, Led Zeppelin and Free
are featured.
Part 7, Keeping The Faith explores how with the birth of disco, punk and new
Romantics British blues is forced back into the clubs and bars where it first
began.
Part 8, The Road Goes On Forever focuses on the current state of
British blues &
R&B. New music from some of the longest lasting British blues musicians
including John Mayall, Peter Green and his guest, the legendary blues
saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith is featured. Music from the British band just
voted No 1 blues band - The Producers - and British blues harmonica virtuoso
Paul Lamb are showcased.
***************************************************************************
Thanks to Hammond Guthrie for the following
From the Kesey Memorial in Eugene:
Ken's brother Chuck noted that when he told the youngest member of the Kesey
clan that Ken was gone - the youngster replied: "So now whose gonna teach us
to hypnotize the chickens?"
----------------------------
Source: 2001 Punmaster's MusicWire punmaster.com |
