Sony Pictures Entertainment has officially revealed the cast for director Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles biopics.

According to the announcement, Harris Dickinson will portray John Lennon, Paul Mescal will play Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan will appear as Ringo Starr and Joseph Quinn will star as George Harrison.

During a surprise appearance at CinemanCon, Mendes formally introduced Dickinson, Mescal, Keoghan, and Quinn. Sony Pictures Entertainment also shared a cast photo of the Fab Four together.

“The Beatles changed my understanding of music,” Mendes said at the annual gathering of theater exhibitors. “I’ve been trying to make a movie about them for years.”

Mendes described the films, collectively called The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, the “first bingable theatrical experience.” He added that filming will last a year.

Each of the biopics, set to be released in theaters in April 2028, will focus on an individual member of The Beatles while weaving together interconnected stories from the band’s history.

Apart from directing the biopics, Mendes will also co-produce them alongside his Neal Street Productions partner Pippa Harris, Neal Street’s Julie Pastor, and Jeff Jones, who serves as the CEO of The Beatles’ company Apple Corps Ltd., and Alexandra Derbyshire.

Source: RTT Music News

John Fogerty has announced a special concert at New York City’s Beacon Theatre to celebrate his 80th birthday.

The Grammy winner, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee will perform his classic hits, backed by a band including his sons Shane and Tyler Fogerty, on May 28.

Tickets are on sale this Friday, and local pre-sale begins on Wednesday. For more info, go to www.ticketmaster.com.

The Beacon show is one of several high-profile appearances, performances, and honors planned in 2025.

On April 24, Fogerty will give a headlining performance at Jazz Fest in New Orleans, and two days later will be honored at the 2025 American Music Honors, hosted by the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music at Monmouth University in New Jersey. The April 26 event is hosted by Brian Williams and will feature presenters Bruce Springsteen, Nils Lofgren, Patti Scialfa, and Stevie Van Zandt.

In June, Fogerty will return to Glastonbury for his first performance at the legendary festival in nearly twenty years. On July 6, he will headline the Hollywood Bowl, with more exciting news to be announced soon. More information is available at johnfogerty.com.

Source: RTT Music News

Ringo Starr recently shared an all-star rendition of “With A Little Help From My Friends” recorded live at his performances at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

The two-night performance in January is currently being streamed on Paramount+.

Sheryl Crow, Rodney Crowell, Mickey Guyton, Emmylou Harris, Sarah Jarosz, Jamey Johnson, Brenda Lee, Larkin Poe, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, The War And Treaty and Jack White are featured on the rendition of The Beatles classic.

The global streaming revenue generated by the song for a year will go to the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity ReBUILDLA to help those impacted by the devastating California wildfires.

“I love L.A. and have lived there for many years, and while we were recording this in Nashville, many of us had family and friends who were dealing with the wildfires in Los Angeles,” Starr said of the new version of “With A Little Help From My Friends.”

He added, “It was so great performing this song with these incredible artists, and we all wanted to do something to help. I think the song says it all really, ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’, and we send it to all those affected by the fires with peace and love.”

Source: RTT Music News

Bachman-Turner Overdrive are making a grand return with the new single, “60 Years Ago,” featuring Neil Young.

The song, written by Randy Bachman and his son Tal Bachman during their pandemic YouTube show “Bachman & Bachman Friday Night Train Wreck,” was released last Friday. It is one of the tracks from their unreleased collaborative album.

The track, paying tribute to Winnipeg, marks the first new music from the Canadian rock band since they released the album, BTO, in 1984.

“60 Years Ago” features original band singer Fred Turner with guitarist Tal Bachman, drummer KoKo Bachman and Neil Young, who plays a guitar solo.

“As a thank-you to Winnipeg, the city that shaped us, I wrote a song called ’60 Years Ago,'” Bachman said in a press release. “This song is our tribute to Winnipeg, the place where we grew up as teenagers in the ’60s, a time when the city’s music scene was exploding. It was the Liverpool of North America, a melting pot of incredible talents”.

He added, “”Everyone I’ve talked to who spent time in Winnipeg and witnessed that musical explosion is excited to hear this song, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as we enjoyed creating it.”

Source: RTT Music News

KISS founder Gene Simmons recently faced backlash for charging an exorbitant $12,495 for a backstage fan experience on his upcoming solo tour, which included being his personal assistant and roadie for a day.

Now, Simmons has defended his decision to charge his fans such a hefty sum.

“When I was a kid and went to see shows, I was always curious, ‘What’s it like when they’re in a hotel? What’s it like when the stage is set up? What’s it like being onstage when they’re performing and seeing the audience from the stage?'” Simmons told the New York Post, adding, “I decided, ‘You know what, nobody’s ever done it. Why not open the idea to be my personal roadie for the day?'”

“You meet at the hotel where you have breakfast together or, you know, whatever floats your boat,” he said. “You ride with me to the gig. You can set up amplifiers and drums to your heart’s content. You’re onstage, right offstage to my right. You can video the crowds, whatever. And I pull you onstage to sing a song with me.”

The fan is also allowed to bring a friend along and will also receive an autographed bass guitar from Simmons himself.

Source: RTT Music News