On the day Sky bought ITV, which can't be right, farewell to brilliant Granada filmmaker Leslie Woodhead. In 1962 he made the priceless film of the Beatles in the Cavern, the look of which, he told me in 2003, was like 'something smuggled out of Eastern Europe.’ www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

A birthday present for everyone! 🎂

Beatles 35mm Negative Donated At the British Film Collectors’ Convention, on Saturday 30th May, John Franklin of Film is Fabulous was presented with a 35mm BBC negative of The Beatles, recorded on the 19th March 1964, in the original BBC film can.

Current whereabouts-a lovely listening party in the Cavern where the album sounds massive. Never Know - BrIan Protheroe 'Pinball' atmospheres, and when the recorder kicks in, it's classic 'Macca makes us blub'. 'Home to Us' masterfully breaks the spell. If this is a sign-off, it's a fine one.

Full interview on the BBC website www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It doesn’t get much better than sitting next to Paul McCartney while he idly strums a guitar. Too dumbstruck to ask for a picture in the moment - but here’s a post-interview portrait.

I would love a thunderstorm now. Love it 👉🏻

And now they are all gone. RIP Sonny Rollins.

How it started / how it's going (The new one's from just last night at the Colbert wrap party, via Weird Al's Instagram)

With a dash of sci-fi, Colbert ended his CBS late-night show with a powerful musical sendoff featuring Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello and Jon Batiste. n.pr/3PW6Idp

The upcoming Cool Cat Blues: The Life and Times of Georgie Fame book by Ben Sidran looks like an interesting one. it is what it says - the story of the man himself through conversations and correspondence with Fame, as well as diligent research. bit.ly/4tKtPFP

This is lovely. youtu.be/rdE34EgKED0?...

RIP Alan Rothwell - David Barlow in Corrie, drug addict Nicholas Black in Brookside, but best known to a generation from Hickory House and Picture Box. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uTG...

R.I.P. Alan Rothwell. Seen here with John Gregson in Gideon's Way - The Rhyme and the Reason (24th October 1964)

29.2.68. Ornette Coleman appears at the Royal Albert Hall with guest appearance by Yoko Ono. 'A Leap Year Special.' A friend who was at the gig kept the programme. Here it is (minus the 4 ad pages). Lovely photo on the cover. Very few people at the gig, Dave tells me, but a really memorable show.

“A show which is artfully illuminated by nostalgia rather than burdened by it.” At 84, Paul Simon offers a hushed, yet powerful reflection on his career at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Read MOJO’s review and the setlist in full...

It's been such an upbeat week, so to hear of producer Jack Douglas's passing is doubly sad.

How to get started in a new job. Wow. www.nme.com/news/music/t...

My review of Power To The People: John & Yoko Live In NYC (dir. Simon Hilton) is up here: www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ap...

Deluxe Edition of new George Harrison photobook announced. Features a cloth-bound, foil-stamped book housed in a specially designed case, a seven-inch vinyl of a never-before-released song, four photo prints, and signed, numbered cards from Olivia Harrison. www.waterstones.com/book/the-thi...

RIP Beverley Martyn. johnmartyn.com/news/beverle...

Some more shots from Colwyn Bay this afternoon, at the Terry Jones statue unveiling. First pic: Palin, Gilliam, Cleveland and Izzard. The fact nobody more than 6ft from the stage could hear anything they were saying, a la the sermon on the mount in Brian, was not lost on the audience.

Bring sandwiches. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Behind the scenes of A HARD DAY'S NIGHT! See The Beatles in their feature film debut - one of the greatest rock 'n' roll comedy adventures ever. After multiple sold out shows at the PCC, we're screening it again on Tue 28th April at 5:45pm. 🎟️: buff.ly/aPO2pLo

Farewell to Dave Mason, a founding member of Traffic who wrote the immortal “Feelin’ Alright.” My obituary for Rolling Stone.

Joe Bonamassa reporting the sudden passing of Dave Mason.

Iggy Pop turns 79 today. That's 329 in I-wanna-be-your-dog years.

“While he may indeed have travelled a long long road, here he sounds 85 years young – ⭐⭐⭐⭐” Following last year’s excellent Look Up, Ringo Starr’s collaboration with T Bone Burnett keeps on rolling. With a little help from Sheryl Crow, Billy Strings and St. Vincent. Read MOJO’s review in full 👇

Alan Osmond, songwriter and producer extraordinaire. 💔

Secret Squirrel 1966.

A few thoughts on my pal @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social’s debut book, a brisk but detailed study of the Beatles film A Hard Day’s Night (1964): 0tralala.blogspot.com/2026/04/a-ha...

Aw, I loved him in A Hard Day’s Night.

Seeing Bob Dylan in concert now for me is like going to Stonehenge: it’s not what it was, nobody can quite figure out what it’s for, but we’d miss it awfully if it wasn’t there.

Someday, with luck and hard work, she will have a name too.

The cranes in the mighty River Mersey.

Coming Soon! Channel Premiere Saturday 2nd May, 9:05pm PLAY FOR TODAY: LEEDS UNITED (1974) Stars #LynnePerrie #ElizabethSpriggs #LoriWills #StanSennett drama #TPTVsubtitles

Happy Record Store Day to those who observe. Here's Prince shopping at Electric Fetus in Minneapolis on RSD 2016 (find out what he bought in the alt text)

HOME TO US: "Beatle fans will go nuts for this nostalgic track that features Ringo Starr on drums and Starr and McCartney trading vocals line by line as they sing about growing up." Billboard's deep dive into Paul's new album and listening party, which took place at Andrew Watt's studio in LA.

Gulp. www.televisual.com/news/asif-ka...

ITV has announced 70 Up, the documentary following contributors every seven years, is to come to an end. The director Michael Apted died in 2021. The Up film series has aired since 1964. Final episodes this year.

Morgan Neville's "Lorne" is basically another of those Peacock "SNL50" docs from last year, only a lot of the things it does, the "SNL50" docs did previously and better. It's absolutely entertaining and absolutely surface-deep. My review:

i feel bad for our country but this is tremendous content

I don't think my day can recover from "I thought it was me as a doctor." Let's call it a wrap.