BEATLES MAGAZINE

Tuesday, 7 July 2026

RINGO STARR AND THE SILENT LEGACY OF THE LOTUS FOUNDATION

When we think of Sir Richard Starkey, the whole world sees the man behind the drums who changed the history of music. However, for Ringo Starr, the beat of his life is not limited to stages or recording studios. For years, his creative and personal pulse has been beating strongly in a much more intimate and profound project: The Lotus Foundation.

The Lotus Foundation is not an institution that seeks media spotlight; it is, rather, the operational arm of a philosophy that Ringo has preached for decades. Together with his wife, Barbara Bach, the legendary musician has structured this organization as a vehicle to channel the success of his career toward causes that require urgent and constant attention.

The heart of this foundation does not beat for just one topic, but covers a broad spectrum of human and social needs. Among its pillars of action are health and well-being, including critical support for research and treatment related to cancer, brain tumors, and cerebral palsy. It also focuses on social justice, with programs dedicated to combating domestic abuse, protecting women and children in vulnerable situations, community action initiatives focused on the fight against substance abuse, and supporting those experiencing homelessness. Furthermore, the foundation extends its hand toward environmental causes and animal rescue.

What makes the Lotus Foundation a case worth studying is how Ringo integrates his artistic work with his philanthropic side. It is not just an external entity; he uses his personal assets to fuel its coffers. From the sale of limited-edition art—such as his famous Starr Art pieces—to the proceeds derived from his photography books, such as The Photograph Portfolio or his book Lifted, one hundred percent of the royalties from these projects have been systematically donated to the foundation. Even more recent initiatives, such as the statues of his hand making the iconic "Peace and Love" gesture, serve as a physical reminder that his message is not just a slogan, but an invitation to participate in improving the world.

Ringo Starr has managed to transform his status as a global icon into an opportunity for action. While the world celebrates his contribution to music, the Lotus Foundation works in the background, addressing crises that rarely receive the attention of major cameras. It is, in essence, the tangible manifestation of a simple desire: that the impact of a life dedicated to art does not stop at the last note of a song, but continues to resonate in the well-being of those who need it most.

Happy Birthday Ringo!

Peace & Love


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Monday, 6 July 2026

ON THIS DAY JULY 6 ...

July 6

1957: The Quarrymen perform at the Woolton Parish Church Fete. Ivan Vaughan introduces Paul to John.






1961: First issue of Mersey Beat is published.

1962: The Beatles live: Riverboat Shuffle, MV Royal Iris, River Mersey









1963: 'Please Please Me' LP number 1, 9th week (UK Record Retailer chart).; 1963: The Beatles live: Memorial Hall, Northwich
1964: 1964: World première of A Hard Day’s Night. Royal charity premiere of 'A Hard Day's Night', attended by the Beatles.
After, reception at the Dorchester Hotel, with Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon.
US single release: 'Like Dreamers Do', with the Applejacks.
US single release: 'Ain't She Sweet'/'Nobody's Child'.


1965: It is announced the bill for a show series presented by Brian Epstein, called ''Brian Epstein's Evening of Popular Music'', including: Manfred Mann, the Kinks, Georgie Fame and the Blue Fames, Gerry and the Pacemakers, the Fourmost and Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers.
1966: Britain's Embassy at Manila protests after the incidents occurring yesterday, during the Beatles leave from Philippines.
The Beatles’ first trip to India.

1968: A piece of the 'Yellow Submarine' film is screened in advance on BBC-TV's 'Release'.
1969: John Lennon and Yoko Ono leave the hospital, after their car crash in Scotland. They return to England.

1971: Mastering: Imagine by John Lennon

1973: Wings live: Odeon, Birmingham

Allen Klein’s ABKCO sues John Lennon

1990: Paul McCartney live: RFK Stadium, Washington, DC

1992: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Empire Theatre, Liverpool

2008: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Wildhorse Saloon, Nashville

2010: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: American Music Theatre, Lancaster

2010: Apple Records’ remastered back catalogue to be released

2011: Paul McCartney is inviting graphic designers and illustrators to create artworks inspired by the 1970 album McCartney and 1980's McCartney II.

2012: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Fox Theatre, Atlanta

2018: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Salle Des Etoiles, Monte Carlo

2019: Paul McCartney live: BC Place, Vancouver









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Thursday, 2 July 2026

PAUL McCARTNEY: CELEBRATING IN ITALY



From paulmccartney.com official page:

After scoring another Number One album, Paul had plenty to celebrate - and the timing couldn’t have been better. With a family holiday, his birthday, and Father’s Day all falling in the same stretch, it became what he describes as “one celebration after the next”.

So, for this month’s You Gave Me The Answer, Paul shares the story of a golden month - celebrations with family, sunshine, and life on the water in Italy…

PaulMcCartney.com asks: After the high of the Number One album, how did you celebrate? How was your June?

Paul McCartney: Yeah, no, I was very lucky that the album reaching Number One came just before I was going on holiday with my family. And in that holiday I had a birthday and I had Father’s Day. So it’s just been one celebration after the next.

I mean, we didn’t go sort of mad, but it was great. I was away with the family, so we had a few drinks and a few laughs. And so it was really lovely.

PaulMcCartney.com asks: That sounds like a lovely, busy month. Where did you go on holiday?

Paul: We went to Italy - on a boat in Italy - swimming in the clear blue Mediterranean waters. And dolphins came out round the boat and everything. It was all a bit paradise… just to make everyone listening jealous.

A Number One album, time with family, and a slice of Mediterranean paradise - not a bad way to spend the start of summer.


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Wednesday, 1 July 2026

ON THIS DAY... JULY 1st

July 1

1961

Start of validity of 1-year contract with Bert Kaempfert Produktions.

1962

Performance at the Cavern, with Gene Vincent.

Photo:Mike McCartney

1963

Studio 2. 2.30-5.30pm. 7.00-10.00pm. Recording: 'She Loves You' (takes unknown); 'Get You In The End' (working title of 'I'll Get You').

Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Norman Smith; 2nd Engineer: Geoff Emerick.
Start of sessions for the single 'She Loves You'/'I'll Get You'.

Alley to the left of Abbey Road Studios. During a break in the recording session, photographic session.

1964

'With The Beatles', 32nd week in the Top 30 (UK New Musical Express chart).

John buys a house in Surrey for 20,000 pounds.

Cilla Black, with the Joe Loss Orchestra, sings before Princess Margaret and the Lord Chief Justice at a charity ball held at the Mansion House, London.

Brian is appointed a director of W. A. Wilson & Farquharson (Investments) Limited, an investment and hire purchase company.

Broadcast on Australian channel 9 TV programme 'The Beatles Sing For Shell' of the concert at the Melbourne Festival Hall (recorded 17 June 1964).

The Beatles at Lime Grove BBC Studios.

1965

S. E. Gadd Limited changes name to Clarendon Furnishing (Cheshire) Limited.

US gold certification for 'Beatles VI'.

The Beatles attend a party in their honour in Jerez, Spain.

1966

The Beatles performed two shows at the Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan on this day. The shows were each seen by 10,000 fans. The first show is filmed.

1967

2nd concert of the Monkees at the Wembley Empire Pool, presented by NEMS Enterprises.

1968

Studio 2. 5.00pm-3.00am. Recording: 'Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey' (overdub onto take 8, tape reduction take 8 into takes 9, 10, overdub onto take 10). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush.

Robert Fraser Gallery, 69 Duke Street, Mayfair, London. Opening of John's art exhibition 'You Are Here (To Yoko From John Lennon, With Love').
Before: launch ceremony, releasing 365 helium-filled white balloons.

1969

Studio 2. 3.00-7.30pm. Recording: 'You Never Give Me Your Money' (overdub onto take 30). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Chris Blair. Start of a new era of recordings.

John, Yoko, Julian and Kyoko are involved in a car accident in Golspie, Scotland. They are hospitalised.

1996

10.30pm Eastern Standard Time, USA. Premiere of restored version of 'A Hard Day's Night' on AMC (American Movie Classics).

1970: Recording: Run Of The Mill, Art Of Dying, Hear Me Lord by George Harrison

1971: John Lennon and Yoko Ono attend Hudson River Fluxus Boat Trip in New York City

1974: Wings rehearse in Nashville

1977: Recording: Waterspout by Paul McCartney

1978: Recording: To You by Wings



2000: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Summerfest, Milwaukee 2006: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Mandalay Bay Beach, Las Vegas

2010: Paul McCartney performs at Old Vic theatre fundraiser

2012: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

2014: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre, Toledo

2016: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Humphreys Concerts By The Bay, San Diego 2018: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Palacio Euskalduna, Bilbao

2025: Tom Greene appointed new Apple Corps CEO














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Monday, 29 June 2026

SEAN LENNON: " ‘I WANT YOU’ REALLY IMPACTED ME A LOT AS A KID"

(Image:Rick Beato/Youtube)

In a recent interview with Rick Beato, Sean Lennon discussed his artistic inclinations toward dark and dissonant musical compositions, tracing this affinity back to a seminal work by his father.

“I’ve always had a love of that and I think it’s because of I Want You (She’s So Heavy) – that really impacted me a lot as a kid. I've really wondered where it came from, you know. It's so unprecedented at that time. In a way I think of it like the first really heavy riff. It’s so sophisticated and unlike anything else he wrote otherwise.”

Sean Lennon further analyzed another Abbey Road classic, “Because,”: “I know where that one came from, because the famous story is that my mom was playing Moonlight Sonata, and he and my dad said, 'Wait, stop, can you play those chords backwards or maybe write them down for me?' And she did, and that was sort of the basis of Because... And that is true. I mean, according to my mom."

When Beato questioned the Beatles’ legendary creative output and how they managed such a prolific songwriting pace, Lennon expressed his own wonder: "Yeah, the amount of productivity is shocking, because it's two records a year, for eight years… Obviously it’s shocking and it’s unprecedented and inexplicable.” “But, I’ve thought about it a lot and you know, really, on some records my dad just wrote Walrus for Magical Mystery Tour. That’s one song in six months. Paul and he had each other and then George wrote a song so you know they could go in with three, four songs per record, so it's not like today where they had to write 10 songs and also today some records have 15, 20 songs because of CDs. They were shorter records – they were 30-minute records and they split up the songwriting.”

Regarding his eclectic musical tastes, Sean Lennon noted an appreciation that spans almost every genre. “I always felt like I liked something at least from every genre, because there’s always something amazing. I can’t even think of a genre that I really don’t like, maybe some obscure EDM genres that I’m not into.”

“I really like a lot of music from India, Turkey, from the Middle Ages… psyche bands from Greece from the 1970s. I have a lot of Ethiopian jazz. And I’m a bit prog fan.”

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