Thursday, October 1, 2009

Happy 40th Birthday To Abbey Road



Written By Robert Benson

It was forty years ago, on October 1, 1969, that music history was made, it was when the Beatles released the iconic LP called Abbey Road in the US (it released on September 26 in the UK). Most of the recording was done between July 2 and August 1 of that same year, it was a time when the Fab Four were at their worst, as personal issues were now getting in the way of the creative process of songwriting.

Paul McCartney had suggested to producer George Martin that the group get together and make an album “the way we used to do,” and although the group had been seemingly going their separate ways, Martin agreed, but insisted that he would be allowed to do it his way. Somewhat reluctantly, all four agreed, and in later interviews the surviving band members stated that they knew at the time that this would be the Beatles final production and therefore agreed to put aside their differences and “go out on a high note.”

Abbey Road has since become one of the most successful Beatles’ albums of all time, being certified by the RIAA as 12x platinum. In the UK, the album debuted at #1, staying in that position for eleven straight weeks before being knocked down to #2 by the Rolling Stones Let It Bleed album for a week before reclaiming the top spot for another six week run at the top. In the UK, Abbey Road was the best selling album of 1969 and the forth best seller for the decade.

In the US, the album debuted at #178, they quickly moved up to #4 and by the third week on the charts it went to the top spot for eleven consecutive weeks. In total, Abbey Road spent an amazing 129 weeks on the Billboard 200, even re-entering the charts at #69 on November 14, 1987 when it was released for the first time on CD. When the band broke up, Abbey Road had sold more than 7 million copies worldwide and was the first Beatles’ album to top the 10 million mark in sales worldwide (it reached that plateau in 1980).

The Beatles, as a band, were no longer one cohesive unit, there were petty differences and these just seemed to escalate as the end of the Beatles was known to all; yet somehow the band were clearly in their musical prime, writing songs and music that would help define their respective careers. The Beatles had set the bar very high and delivered this legendary music despite the strained conditions. The result is an album filled with inventive melodies, innovation and an apparent culmination of their brilliance and just reinforced their status as the world’s best rock and roll band.


Working with an eight-track tape machine for the first time, Martin and the band recorded the songs at three different recording studios, Trident, Olympic and of course, Abbey Road. It’s also the only Beatles’ album to be recording utilizing the eight track and the first to be mixed entirely on a solid state soundboard. The album was produced by George Martin, engineered by Geoff Emerick with assistance from Alan Parsons; with the tape operator being Tony Banks. Additionally, a moog synthesizer was prominently featured, not only for background effect, but sometimes playing a central role in the song. Let’s explore some of the cuts from this creative and iconic album:

Come Together

The album opens with the prophetic John Lennon composition and the chorus was inspired by a song that Lennon had originally written for Timothy Leary’s campaign for governor of California. "Come Together, Join The Party" was Leary's campaign slogan (a reference to the drug culture he supported) and was the original title of the song, however Leary never had much of a campaign, but the slogan gave Lennon the idea for this song.

In a 1980 interview with Playboy magazine, John Lennon said:

"The thing was created in the studio. It's gobbledygook. 'Come Together' was an expression that Tim Leary had come up with for (perhaps for the governorship of California against Reagan), and he asked me to write a campaign song. I tried and I tried, but I couldn't come up with one. But I came up with this, 'Come Together,' which would've been no good to him - you couldn't have a campaign song like that, right?"

After Timothy Leary decided against using this song for his political campaign Lennon added these nonsense lyrics and brought it to the Abbey Road sessions. Paul McCartney recalled in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs: "I said, 'Let's slow it down with a swampy bass-and-drums vibe.' I came up with a bass line, and it all flowed from there." It was also the last time all 4 Beatles cut a song together.

It has been speculated that the verses, described by Lennon as intentionally obscure, refer cryptically to each of the Beatles (e.g. "he's one holy roller" allegedly refers to the spiritually inclined George Harrison, “he wear no shoeshine,” may be in reference to Paul not wearing shoes on the cover); however, it has also been suggested that the song has only a single "pariah-like protagonist" and Lennon was "painting another sardonic self-portrait.”

The song was later the subject of a lawsuit brought against Lennon by Morris Levy because the opening line in "Come Together"—"Here come old flat-top"—was admittedly lifted from a line in Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me". Interestingly, there have been all sorts of meanings that people have concocted from the lyrics including:

The whispered lyric that sounds like "shoot" is actually Lennon saying "shoot me" followed by a handclap. The bass line drowns out the "me."

When rumors were spreading that Paul McCartney was dead, some fans thought the line "One and one and one is three" meant that only George, John and Ringo were left. The line "Got to be good lookin' cuz he's so hard to see" was supposed to be Paul's spirit.

Something

“Come Together” was also paired with the George Harrison cut “Something”, which peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts. It's also the only song written by George Harrison released as a single by The Beatles. Harrison wrote this during a break while they were working on The White Album; however it was not recorded in time for the album, so Harrison gave the song to Joe Cocker, but Cocker didn't release it until after The Beatles did. “Something" was Lennon's favorite song on the album, and McCartney considered it the best song Harrison had written. Frank Sinatra once commented that "Something" was his favorite Lennon/McCartney song (not knowing it was a Harrison composition) and "the greatest love song ever written.”

Harrison came up with the title after listening to a James Taylor song called "Something In The Way She Moves." Taylor was signed to Apple Records (The Beatles label) at the time. The inspiration for the song has long been debated, was it written for Harrison's wife, Pattie, (Harrison claimed he did not have anyone in mind when he wrote it) or was the original intent meant as a song of devotion to Lord Krishna?

In her 2007 book Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me, Pattie Boyd wrote:

"George wrote a song called Something. He told me in a matter-of-fact way that he had written it for me. I thought it was beautiful and it turned out to be the most successful song he ever wrote, with more than 150 cover versions. George's favorite version was the one by James Brown. Mine was the one by George Harrison, which he played to me in our kitchen. But, in fact, by then our relationship was in trouble. Since a trip to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in India in 1968, George had become obsessive about meditation.”

"Something" and "Come Together" spent one week at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart when the compilers of the chart changed its ranking method and stopped giving separate rankings for the two sides of a single. At least 150 cover versions exist. The only Beatles song that has been covered more is "Yesterday." As a tribute to George Harrison, Paul McCartney played a version of this on his 2002 tour using a ukulele George had given him.

Maxwell's Silver Hammer

Certainly one of the more interesting Beatles’ songs, this was written by Paul McCartney (although it is credited to Lennon/McCartney, Lennon hated the cut). Although some have suggested that the song may be about the Charles Manson murders, this was impossible, because the Tate-La Bianca murders occurred on August 8-9, 1969, after the song was recorded. McCartney would often make up characters for his songs, while Lennon would base his on real people and events.

The cut is a vaudevillian-style song is about a medical student named Maxwell Edison, who uses his silver hammer to murder his girlfriend Joan, then his teacher, and finally the judge during his murder trial. Despite the grim subject matter, the song is bouncy and upbeat. McCartney said in 1994 that it merely epitomizes the downfalls of life:

"Maxwell's Silver Hammer" is my analogy for when something goes wrong out of the blue, as it so often does, as I was beginning to find out at that time in my life. I wanted something symbolic of that, so to me it was some fictitious character called Maxwell with a silver hammer. I don't know why it was silver, it just sounded better than Maxwell's hammer. It was needed for scanning. We still use that expression now when something unexpected happens."



Paul tried hard to have this be a single. But the other Beatles refused, so he backed down. By that time the Beatles were only holding on by a thread as it was, and the last thing he wanted was a squabble over what song was going to be released as a single. According to Lennon, the band spent more money on that song than any other on Abbey Road, and he derided the song at the time as a prime example of McCartney's "granny-style" writing. McCartney's handwritten lyrics for this song were sold at auction for $192,000.

Oh! Darling

The basic track was recorded on 20 April 1969, but there were many overdub sessions, including multiple attempts at the lead vocal by McCartney, who would come into the studio early every day for a week to sing the cut, as he explains:

"When we were recording 'Oh! Darling' I came into the studios early every day for a week to sing it by myself because at first my voice was too clear. I wanted it to sound as though I'd been performing it on stage all week."

George Harrison had described the song as "a typical 1950s–'60s-period song because of its chord structure,” which appears to have drawn heavily on the New Orleans R&B sounds and the ‘swamp rock’ sound — so much so that some in Louisiana originally thought the song had been recorded by a local musician. In a 1980 interview with Playboy magazine, John Lennon said:

"'Oh! Darling' was a great one of Paul's that he didn't sing too well. I always thought I could have done it better—it was more my style than his. He wrote it, so what the hell, he's going to sing it."

Octopus's Garden

One of Ringo Starr’s finest songs, this was his second (and last) composition released on a Beatles album. As the story goes, it came about when Ringo was on a boating trip with his family in Sardina in 1968. The boat's captain offered him an octopus lunch, but he turned it down. It was then that the captain began to tell him everything he knew about octopuses, and how they travel along the sea bed looking for shiny objects and stones with which to build gardens. With this information, Ringo came up with the idea for this song. With the help of George Harrison, Ringo wrote this during the Let It Be sessions. In fact, they are seen working on it in the movie Let It Be - George rewrote the chord sequence (although Harrison gave full songwriting credit to Starr) A somewhat silly song with a memorable verse and chord structure, the cut is loved for its playful energy or hated by Beatles’ fans for its child-like silliness. By the way, Ringo made the underwater sounds by blowing bubbles through a glass of water.

I Want You (She's So Heavy)

This was the last song mixed for the album and it is actually a combination of two different recordings, the first was just after the Get Back/Let It Be sessions in February of 1969 and featured Billy Preston on keyboards. This was combined with a second version that was created during the Abbey Road recording session and when edited together, the songs lasts almost eight minutes long (7:47 to be exact). John Lennon wrote this about Yoko. Lennon was experimenting in heavy rock, so the song has few lyrics and long stretches of repeated chords and reveals a pronounced progressive rock influence, with its unusual length and structure, repeating guitar riff, and "white noise" effects; the "I Want You" section has a straightforward blues structure. With the exception of "Revolution 9," this was The Beatles longest song. The guitars were overdubbed many times to get a layered sound.

The cut also features one of the earliest uses of a Moog synthesizer to create the white-noise or "wind" effect heard near the end of the track. George Harrison played the Moog Synthesizer on this track and it is one of the first uses of the instrument, which was custom-made for Harrison. During the final edit, as the guitar riff and white noise effect continues on and on, Lennon told engineer Emerick to "cut it right there" at the 7:44 mark, creating a sudden, jarring silence which concluded side one of Abbey Road. The final overdub session for "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" would be the last time all four Beatles worked in the studio together.

Here Comes The Sun

One of the most famous songs on Abbey Road is the George Harrison cut "Here Comes The Sun." In fact, 1969 was a very difficult year for Harrison: he had been arrested for marijuana possession, he had to have his tonsils removed and he had temporarily quit the band. The song was written while Harrison was away from all of these troubles.

Harrison stated in The Beatles Anthology:

"Here Comes the Sun" was written at the time when Apple was getting like school, where we had to go and be businessmen: 'Sign this' and 'sign that'. Anyway, it seems as if winter in England goes on forever, by the time spring comes you really deserve it. So one day I decided I was going to sag off Apple and I went over to Eric Clapton's house. The relief of not having to go see all those dopey accountants was wonderful, and I walked around the garden with one of Eric's acoustic guitars and wrote "Here Comes The Sun."



Harrison sang lead vocals, played acoustic guitar and also used his newly acquired Moog synthesizer on the song. Paul McCartney sang backing vocals and played bass guitar. Ringo Starr played drums, with all three Beatles providing handclaps. Harrison, McCartney and Starr recorded the rhythm track in 13 takes on July, 7, 1969. Towards the end of the session Harrison spent an hour re-recording his acoustic guitar part. The following day he taped his lead vocals, and he and McCartney recorded their backing vocals twice to give a fuller sound. The music begins on the left channel and gradually moves to the right as Harrison's vocal begins. John Lennon did not contribute to the song as he was recovering from a recent car crash.

The album cover is so simplistic, yet so legendary, only the Beatles could have made a simple picture like this into an iconic and often imitated album cover.
"At some point, the album was going to be titled Everest after the brand of cigarettes I used to smoke," recalled Geoff Emerick.

However, taking a picture in the Himalayas proved to be too much, so the group just decided to call it Abbey Road and have the photo taken outside the studio on August 8, 1969. The cover photograph was taken by photographer Iain Macmillan who was given only ten minutes around 11:30 that morning to take the photo on a zebra crossing on Abbey Road. McCartney was bare-footed and out of step with the other three, fueling the speculation that he was indeed dead. The zebra crossing today remains a popular destination for Beatles fans from all over the world.

The Beatles released one more album (Let It Be) before calling it quits. However, Abbey Road remains one of their crowning achievements despite the personal differences between the members of the band. It remains and will forever be one of the most sought after and iconic recordings from the four lads from Liverpool filled with suave harmonies and insatiable, seductive pop rock.

Music News & Notes

Bob Dylan And Citigroup? New Album Released Early To Citibank Customers

Reuters is reporting that Bob Dylan will be releasing his new album early to Citibank customers, a concept that would have been unimaginable during the singer's 1960s protest years. Citibank customers who participate in the bank's rewards programs will be able to download Dylan's forthcoming "Christmas In The Heart" -- yes, its a Christmas album -- one week before the album's release date on October 13.

From Citigroup's press release:

"Aligning with industry pioneer, Sony Music Entertainment, reinforces our commitment to providing our members with unique and rewarding experiences," said Nancy Gordon, executive vice president, Citi's ThankYou Network. "This relationship gives our members virtually instant access to one of the most important music collections in history, in addition to promotional offers involving some of the most exciting artists in the recording industry. And it's a great opportunity for members to use very few points to get a reward that has such a broad and passionate appeal among consumers."

At first read, I thought to myself, what a sell out, from this iconic musician, tell me it ain't so!! Thankfully, Dylan will be giving all of his proceeds from the record to charity, so I guess that he knows what he is doing.

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30 Seconds to Mars Soliciting Fans' Faces for Album Cover

In April, 30 Seconds to Mars held the Summit, which allowed fans to come to Los Angeles and sing on the band's new album, 'This Is War.' In their continuing quest to be the most audience-friendly act out there, the group is spreading the love even further by letting fans grace the album cover.

So how can fans get on the 'This Is War' cover? The first 2,000 people who submit their mug to the 'Faces of Mars' campaign on the 30 Seconds website and meet the proper specifications will be on one of 2,000 individual covers for 'This is War' actually going to stores.

"I've started to see some of the faces coming in and they look amazing," frontman Jared Leto tells Spinner. "This is something that's being done for the very first time, so from the graphic art side of things, it's very compelling and unique. To be able to turn the camera away from the band and toward the audience I think follows in the tradition and spirit of 30 Seconds to Mars."

According to Leto, this isn't a publicity stunt but a "thank you" to the band's followers. "I thought that the 'Faces of Mars' campaign would be a way to acknowledge all the people who have supported us throughout the years," he says.

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R.E.M. Members Perform With Former Drummer Bill Berry

Ex-R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry reunited with former bandmates Peter Buck and Mike Mills at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Ga., on Monday night. The gig, which was headlined by Buck's side projects the Baseball Project and the Minus Five, marked Berry's first performance since he played with R.E.M. at the 2007 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Berry joined members of both bands onstage for the show's encore and drummed on covers of the Beatles' 'The Ballad of John and Yoko,' the McCoys' 'Hang on Sloopy' and 'Teenage Head' by the Flamin' Groovies. Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers had earlier joined the Minus Five on a cover of Neil Young's 'Revolution Blues,' while R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, who was in the crowd, didn't perform

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Producer Greg Ladanyi Dies

Grammy-Winning Producer Greg Ladanyi Dies at 57Posted 8 hours ago by John D. LuerssenComment (1)Greg Ladanyi, a Grammy-winning producer who worked with Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Fleetwood Mac, Warren Zevon and Toto, died Tuesday after sustaining severe head trauma in an onstage accident last week in Cyprus. Ladanyi, 57, was on tour in with Anna Vissi, an artist signed to his label, Maple Jam Music Group.

Officials said Ladanyi fractured his skull after falling 13 feet during Vissi's performance at Nicosia's GSP stadium. He also suffered multiple fractures to the ribs and chest when he slipped down a gap between the stands and the ground level at the venue, just before the start of Vissi's concert.

According to reports, Ladanyi's family is honoring his wish to donate his organs. "It was Greg's wish to donate his organs to help other people," a family representative announced. His lungs and his liver will reportedly go to transplant patients in the UK and Israel.

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Sony's Legacy label announces massive reissue of Phil Spector's entire Philles Records catalog


Phil Spector's entire Philles Records recordings will be reissued through Sony's Legacy Recordings label under an agreement between Sony Music Entertainment and EMI Music Publishing announced Wednesday. The first release will be Phil Spector's "A Christmas Gift for You" on Nov. 10.

"A Christmas Gift for You" was one of only 12 full-length albums to be released during the history of the Philles Records label. Originally released in 1963 with its original title, the album was later repackaged and retitled as "Phil Spector's Christmas Album" for the Beatles' Apple Records

Artists whose recordings will be reissued under the agreement include the Ronettes, the Crystals, Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans and Lenny Bruce. The new deal covers the United States with an international roll-out to follow. Reissues planned include digital and physical releases, including CDs and vinyl 12" and 7" with replica artwork, plus releases of titles drawn from the original albums and singles and b-sides from the Philles Records catalog. New compilations, including best of collections and rarities compilations, plus reproductions of original singles and albums are also planned. Many of these original Philles Records releases were exceedingly rare on vinyl. All releases in the new project will be newly remastered.

Philles Records was launched in 1961 by producer/songwriter/recording artist Phil Spector and veteran music business executive Lester Sill and took its name from the first names of its founders. By 1967, 18 Philles Records had charted on America's Top 40, including "Uptown" (#13), "He's A Rebel," (#1), "Da Doo Ron Ron" (#3), and "Then He Kissed Me" (#6) by the Crystals and "Be My Baby" (#2) and "Baby I Love You" (#24) by the Ronettes.

"There may be no pop music more iconic than 'Be My Baby' or 'Da Do Ron Ron'," said Adam Block, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Legacy Recordings, in a statement. "The Philles 'Wall of Sound' is embedded in our musical DNA, the craft of these recordings, the quality of the songwriting and the power of the productions have established a standard that continues to inspire artists and musicians. The style, attitude and voices of great artists like Ronnie Spector and Darlene Love remain a presence in pop culture. We are delighted to be bringing these records to a whole new generation."

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No Rainbow Reunion Likely

Tony Carey has told Classic Rock magazine that will most likely never be a reunion of Rainbow.

“I’d love the chance to get on stage again with Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie Dio and Jimmy Bain. We could have Bonny Rondinelli or Greg Smith on drums, replacing Cozy Powell. But I tell you right now, it will never happen.

“Ronnie needs the aggravation of working again with Ritchie like he needs a new asshole. And Ritchie is so into his renaissance music, with Blackmore’s Night, that I doubt he even thinks about getting Rainbow back together. So, anyone who is holding out the hope of a reunion? Forget it.”

This Date In Music History-October 1

Birthdays:

Singer, actress, Julie Andrews (1935)

Barbara Parritt - The Toys (1940)

Herb Fame - Peaches and Herb (1942)

Jerry Martini - Sly and The Family Stone (1943)

Scott McKenzie - "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair") (1944)

Rob Davis - Mud (1947)

Howard Hewett - Shalamar (1955)

Martin Cooper - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (1959)

Kevin Griffin - Better Than Ezra (1968)

Keith Duffy - Boyzone (1974)


They Are Missed:

The late Richard Harris ("MacArthur Park") was born in 1933.

Al Jackson, drummer with Booker T. and The MGs, was shot and killed by an 'intruder' at his home in 1975.

The legendary Albert Collins was born in 1932 (died November 24, 1993).

Born today in 1945, Donny Hathaway, US soul singer. Committed suicide falling from a 15th floor hotel window on January 13, 1979.

Andy McVann drummer with Liverpool band The Farm was killed in a car crash in 1986 during a police chase.

Born on this day in 1948 , Mariska Veres, singer, Shocking Blue (died on Dec 2, 2006 age 59).

Also born today in 1948, Cub Koda, guitarist, songwriter, Brownsville Station (died on July 5, 2000).

Bruce Palmer, former bassist with West Coast folk rock legends Buffalo Springfield ("For What It's Worth"), died of a heart attack in 2004. He was 58.

Nick Reynolds of the Kingston Trio ("Tom Dooley") died of acute respiratory disease in 2008.


History:

In 1956, after test audiences gave a negative reaction to Elvis Presley dying at the end of the film Love Me Tender, The King was called back to re-shoot the scene. In the new ending, the hero lived.

The Beatles "A Hard Day's Night" movie premiered in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1964 and became the first Western pop culture film to be seen behind the Iron Curtain.

Vee Jay Records, capitalizing on material it owns recorded by its two best-selling groups, released the album "The Beatles Vs. The Four Seasons" in 1964. Despite the awesome combined sales of the two groups, the album, which consists of previously released stuff, stayed on the LP chart for three weeks reaching only as high as #142.

In 1965, Bob Dylan appeared at Carnegie Hall in New York City and introduced his new touring band made up of guitarist Robbie Robertson, organist Garth Hudson, bassist Rick Danko, pianist Richard Manual and drummer Levon Helm. They will become known simply as The Band.

Jimi Hendrix appeared live for the first time in the UK when he jammed with Cream at their gig at London Polytechnic in 1966.

Pink Floyd arrived in New York in 1967 to begin their first U.S. tour.

The Beatles' "Abbey Road" album was released in the US in 1969.



With the success of "I'll Be There" in 1970, the Jackson 5 become the only group in history whose first four records went to #1.

In 1970, Jimi Hendrix was buried at The Greenwood Cemetery at the Dunlop Baptist Church Seattle. Among the mourners; Miles Davis, Eric Burdon, Johnny Winter and members of Derek and the Dominoes.

Riding high on the success of Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd began sessions for their new album in 1973, declaring they intend to use only household objects to make the music. Very avant-garde and very stupid. They later ditched the idea to record "Wish You Were Here."

Meco started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1977 with a disco version of "Star Wars Theme."

In 1979, Elton John played the first of eight straight shows at Madison Square Garden.

Fleedwood Mac's "Tusk," an adventurous double album, was released in 1979. The title track, which featured the University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band, hits #8, while the Nicks-penned "Sara" reaches #7.



Paul Simon's semi-autobiographical film "One Trick Pony" premiered in New York City in 1980. Besides Simon, those appearing the film include Lou Reed, Sam & Dave, the B-52's and the Lovin' Spoonful.

John Cougar went to #1 on both the US album and singles chart in 1982 with the album "American Fool" and the single "Jack And Diane."

Sony unveiled the first compact disc player in 1982. The CD proved to be a boon to the record industry as Rock fans rushed to stores to replace worn-out vinyl records with the more durable CDs.

Today in 1983, the song "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler topped the charts and stayed there for 4 weeks.

The Swedish post Office issued an Abba stamp in 1983.

In 1990, Forbes Magazine listed New Kids On The Block as the fifth richest entertainers in the US with an income of $78 million.

Nearly $1 million was raised at the Farm Aid concert in Louisville, KY in 1995. The musicians that performed were Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Hootie and the Blowfish, and The Dave Matthews Band.

The Nirvana live album "From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah" was released in 1996.

In 2007, Ozzy Osbourne and his wife, Sharon, announce they have a suicide agreement which will come into effect should either of them suffer from a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's, which took the life of Sharon's father. "We believe 100 percent in euthanasia, so (we) have drawn up plans to go to the assisted suicide flat in Switzerland if we ever have an illness that affects our brains," reveals Sharon. Guess drugs don't count.

Also in 2007, the Spice Girls London reunion concert sold out in 38 seconds after fans were notified tickets had gone on sale. More than one million people in the UK registered for the concert, on December 15, 2007 at the O2 arena. Three more London dates were added to the world tour which was kicking off in Vancouver on Dec 2.

Radiohead's official website crashed in 2007 after the band announced that their new album ‘In Rainbows’ would only be available to order via www.radiohead.com. Fans could pre-order the download at any price they choose or pay £40 for a "discbox", which included two CDs, two records, plus artwork and booklets.