Friday, June 29, 2007

Paul McCartney rocks Hollywood record store

By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Paul McCartney's informal world tour of small venues brought him to Hollywood on Wednesday when he played a free concert at a record store for an audience that included fellow Beatle Ringo Starr.

"No shoplifting please," McCartney jokingly told the 900-strong crowd, who had come from as far afield as Canada, Japan and Australia for the historic 85-minute event.

Any illegal activity would have been difficult. Fans were herded into rows behind the display racks, hemmed in by yellow tape as fire marshals and security guards patrolled the aisles making sure no one left their designated areas. Visibility for those at the back and sides was severely limited.

Hundreds of fans started lining up at Amoeba Records on Monday when the concert was announced. The lucky ones were given blue wristbands on a first-come, first-served basis.

Earlier this month, McCartney played clubs in London and New York, all part of an unorthodox promotional blitz for his well-received new album, "Memory Almost Full."

The set list was largely the same each time, heavy on late-era Beatle tunes such as "Get Back," "Hey Jude," "The Long and Winding Road" and "I've Got A Feeling."

He dropped in a few cuts from his new album, including the single "Dance Tonight" and the nostalgic "That Was Me."

Wearing a red sweater that he later took off to reveal a white "Von Dutch"-branded t-shirt, McCartney was in a playful mood, at one time asking the audience to repeat various silly sounds, and then to nod their heads in unison.

He got serious once when he played "Here Today," his 1982 tribute to fallen Beatle John Lennon.
Others at the venue included Olivia Harrison, the widow of George Harrison, English rocker Jeff Lynne, and actress Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

PM to play itunes Fest

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY PLAYS LIVE AT THE ICA AS PART OF iTUNES FESTIVAL: LONDON, 5 July 2007The ICA is delighted to announce that Sir Paul McCartney is to make a very special guest appearance at the first ever iTunes Festival: London held at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA).
He will perform exclusively on 5 July and joins over 60 of the world's leading acts playing at the historically prestigious 350 capacity venue every night in July. ***PM.COM HAS 50 PAIRS OF TICKETS TO GIVE AWAY to fans for this very special show. CLICK HERE to enter our draw!***ICA Artistic Director, Ekow Eshun comments: "This is more than a music festival, this is a unique series of performances from some of Britain's most exciting and talented musicians that's set to make July at the ICA hotter than ever. The sheer pace and standard of the line-up is exhilarating.
We have an amazing history of musical firsts and landmark gigs at the ICA so to present this roster of more than 60 acts over 31 nights in our 60th anniversary year seems absolutely fitting. It's also a chance for us to say thank you to our members - and welcome new ones - as a set number of free tickets will be reserved exclusively for them each evening.
Being able to announce this very special guest, Sir Paul ensures that this month stakes a unique place in musical history."---Kasabian will close the Festival with a headline slot on July 31.
Other new acts added to the already spectacular line-up include The Go! Team and Aqualung.More than 60 acts will play at the ICA throughout July. Pop sensation Mika will open the festival on July 1 paving the way for other scorching acts including Mutya, Amy Winehouse and Wir Sind Helden.
Other headline acts are: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club; Editors; Travis; Groove Armada; Ash; Imogen Heap; Athlete; The Rakes; Stereophonics; The Coral and many many more. Crowded House will also be playing one of their first London gigs after more than a decade apart.
The latest programme can be viewed NOW at: www.ica.org.uk/itunesEntry is free of charge for festival competition-winners-only via select media partners and the official iTunes Festival website http://www.itunesfestival.comTickets can also be won via a lottery open to ICA Members only.
Closing date Mon 25 June, 2007ICA Membership is quick and easy to join and costs £35 Contact:ICA Box Office020 7930 3647 http://www.ica.org.uk/membershipTickets are not guaranteed for every lottery entrant but everyone entering will automatically receive a voucher for five free songs from iTunesAll performances will be recorded for sale exclusively on the iTunes store - www.itunes.com/uk

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Ever Present Past VIDEO (Version 2)

Someone gave me the idea that Paul MAY have seen this video. Also as part of the reviews, ppl didn't like that I had pictures of Heather in it. So out of respect for Paul and Heather and anyone else, this is a NEW version with a couple added parts replacing the others. Enjoy. www.maccaspan.com

Saturday, June 23, 2007

'Beatles' Reunite On Larry King Live

For the first time since the 'Beatles' split Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon, and Olivia Harrison will be interviewed together on Larry King Live next Tuesday.

Cirque du Soleil founder and CEO Guy Laliberte, whose Love show at The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas is celebrating its one-year anniversary, will also join them on the sets. Laliberte show is known for featuring digitally remixed recordings of the Beatles' music.


Since the interview will bring McCartney and Ono together, television columnists believe that it will be a must-watch telecast.

"McCartney and Ono together? That's a must-see, isn't it?" Contactmusic quoted Orlando Sentinel TV columnist Hal Boedeker as commenting about the interview.

Paul McCartney Writes Song For Heather Mills

Paul McCartney has revealed that one of the song’s on his latest album, ‘Memory Almost Full,’ is about his estranged wife Heather Mills.

The former Beatle has confessed that, ‘See Your Sunshine,’ was written when the couple were experiencing happier times.

"That is pretty much an out-and-out love song for Heather. A lot of the album was done before, during and after our separation. I didn't go back and take out any songs to do with her.”

He added: "That one was written during a good time with Heather. I’m not a great grudge-holder. It's just unfortunate it didn't work out,” reports dotmusic.

McCartney’s solo album became the most successful of his career when it was released earlier this month in the US and worldwide via Starbucks’, Hear Music record label.

As we reported yesterday, McCartney is already planning to release a follow-up album on the Coffee chain's new label.

McCartney Eyes Second Deal With Starbucks

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY is reportedly planning to sign a second record deal with coffee chain Starbucks, because he is thrilled with the sales of his latest album Memory Almost Full. McCartney caused controversy among his liberal fans when he signed a one-album deal with Starbucks' Hear Music label after 43 years with music giant EMI. Music industry insiders claim McCartney refused to sign more than a one-album deal with Hear Music because he was concerned the venture might not work, but after the disc went to number three in the U.S. album charts earlier this month (Jun07), the former Beatle is delighted.

An insider tells British newspaper Daily Express, "Paul always had the business brain in The Beatles. Now that the new album is selling well, Paul has finally been convinced to sign a long-term deal with Starbucks and is expected to put pen to papers in the coming weeks. This means Starbucks will be responsible for Paul's albums for many years to come."

Sunday, June 17, 2007

iTunes ad featuring ex-Beatle gets US TV play, but online version oddly absent

by Jonny Evans


Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney stars in the latest iTunes ad to appear on US network television.

'Macca' appears in the ad to sing Dance Tonight, the title track from his latest album. Memory Almost Full.

The advertisement features pastel backgrounds with a non-silhouetted McCartney singing and dancing along a traditional English street.

Apple posted the ad briefly online, though the ad itself is no longer functional as of this morning.

Visitors to the webpage will see the song and artist named, but appear unable to access the video.

The move to feature the Sir Paul in an iTunes ad is bound to set tongues wagging in hope of an imminent online debut for Beatles catalogue music.

Olivia Harrison, the widow of the late George Harrison, recently warned Beatles fans that the online release of Beatles catalogue may not now take place until next year.

McCartney's iTunes link is an odd one. The singer recently slated the rise of the MP3 player. Speaking to Contact Music, he berated such devices for cutting listeners off from nature.

"The thing is, you get sealed off from the world, and that's fine when you're making a record. But, when you're actually just walking around, you're gonna miss birdsong, and that's so special," he said.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Paul McCartney's 'Memory Almost Full' Debuts at No 3 on Billboard Top 200


SOURCE: LOS ANGELES, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Starbucks Entertainment)


Widely hailed by critics as one of the best albums in Paul McCartney's solo career, 'Memory Almost Full' sold 160, 541 copies across all retail outlets in the U.S. in its debut week, landing the record at No 3 on Billboard Top 200 chart. The inaugural release from Hear Music brought McCartney his highest chart debut in ten years as a solo artist (1997's 'Flaming Pie' debuted at No 2 on the Billboard Top 200 chart). This week's sales saw a significant increase over McCartney's 2005 release, 'Chaos and Creation in the Backyard,' which peaked at No 6 on the Billboard chart with first week sales totaling more than 90,000 copies. In addition, 'Memory Almost Full' is the first McCartney album to be made available digitally, selling 15,598 digital albums in its first week.
'We are delighted ¡Memory Almost Full' is receiving such a warm and enthusiastic reception from fans,' said Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment who also oversees Hear Music. 'The success of Paul's new album illustrates our unique ability to connect artists with audiences across a broad retail spectrum.'
The renowned musician is experiencing a career renaissance with 'Memory Almost Full' earning critical praise and strong support from radio with the first U.S. single, 'Ever Present Past.' The single continues to gain momentum across multiple radio formats including the No 1 new and active single at AC, No 3 at Classic Rock, and No 10 on the AAA Tracks Chart. The video single, 'Dance Tonight' has been added in medium rotation at VH1 and part two of McCartney's exclusive interview with ABC's Good Morning America airs Thursday, June 14.
On June 5, Starbucks launched the album by hosting a Global Listening Event in which more than 10,000 locations in 29 countries played the record all day long. The unprecedented event introduced an estimated six million customers to the new album and resulted in Starbucks most successful single day of album sales of any title in the Company's history. More than 23,000 copies of 'Memory Almost Full' were sold at Starbucks on the album's first day of release.
On June 18, Hear Music will release a one-a-kind video tribute filmed at the Global Listening Event in honor of McCartney's 65th Birthday and distributed via a host of viral video portals.
The video features well-wishes from celebrities, music lovers and McCartney fans from London, New York, Berlin, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Miami.
'Memory Almost Full,' reunites McCartney with longtime producer and friend David Kahne and provides a very personal retrospective drawing upon childhood memories from Liverpool, summers long gone, and the times spent writing music with John Lennon.

Paul McCartney Says Oasis Has No Chance In Achieving Beatles Fame

SOURCE: Jordan Casey - AHN News Writer

Los Angeles, CA (BANG) - Sir Paul McCartney laughed off Oasis' claims they would be "bigger than The Beatles". The Fab Four legend pities musicians who try to compete with The Beatles' success.

Paul told Newsweek magazine: "When they started out, Oasis boasted that they were going to be bigger than The Beatles. And I felt sorry for them. It's a prediction that just doesn't come true. It's a fatal prediction. I sort of sit back and go, 'Good luck, son.'"

The 64-year-old recently released "Memory Almost Full," his first album with Starbucks' Hear Music label.

The Beatles, who also comprised John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, became one of the most famous bands of all time after shooting to fame in the '60s.

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, the group, who hail from Liverpool, are the biggest selling musical act ever in the U.S. Oasis brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher constantly name The Beatles as one of their big musical influences.

Noel said: "If you're not in it to be bigger than The Beatles, it's just a hobby."

Friday, June 08, 2007

Maccaspan Presents Memory Almost Full


A twenty six minute promo video made up of videos and photos from the first announcement of Memory Almost Full to now. Maccaspan toolbar users will have FIRST ACCESS to this video today! Keep checking that bar!


Thursday, June 07, 2007

Wristbands Available for Secret Lodon Show TODAY!

Wristbands for Paul show tonight are now available!To celebrate the release of his new album 'Memory Almost Full', Paul McCartney is playing a secret show on Thursday night (June 7th) at the Electric Ballroom in Camden, London.A limited number of free wristbands will be available from 12.30pm on the show day (TODAY!) at the venue box office on a first come, first served basis.

Source: memoryalmostfull.com

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Star Bucks for Starbucks




"Hello, Amazon customers, Paul McCartney here," begins the legendary rock singer.
He then starts strumming a mandolin and singing the first few bars of his next single. The video clip feels awkward at first. Is that a hotel room? Did he botch a chord? When did Sir Paul start channeling Christopher Walken? Is the ex-Beatle really here, promoting his new record on Amazon.com with a personalized pitch?
It then feels all too real by the time he advises viewers to "click the button. Buy the record. Buy. Buy millions of them."

Memory Almost Full hit by Sales Snag

Hundreds of copies Sir Paul McCartney's latest album will not be eligible for the UK charts, the BBC has learned.
The music legend has just released his 21st solo album, Memory Almost Full, on a label run by coffee chain Starbucks.

But Starbucks' 533 UK stores are not registered with the Official Chart Company - which means CDs bought there will not count towards the top 40.

The company said it had no immediate plans to contribute sales data to the chart compilers.

Memory Almost Full is still likely to make the Top 40 this weekend, however, as it is also being sold through traditional high-street retailers and download services like iTunes.


It is currently number seven in Amazon's top-sellers list - but it is being outsold by The Beatles' Sergeant Pepper album.

Friday, June 01, 2007

STARBUCKS VIDEO TRIBUTE


Starbucks Video Tribute to Paul McCartneyIn addition to the Global Listening Event taking place at more than 10,000 Starbucks locations around the world, Starbucks invites McCartney fans to make music history by participating in a unique video tribute honoring McCartney's 65th birthday.On June 5, film crews will disperse to 11 key Starbucks locations in cities around the globe, including London, New York, Berlin, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Seattle, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Miami.

Fans can deliver a birthday message directly to McCartney at a designated store location in these markets. These messages may be included in the video tribute which will premiere on June 18, Paul McCartney's birthday, via a host of online outlets.

Participants in the video are encouraged to bring memorabilia, make homemade signs, and dance along to the sounds of "Memory Almost Full" as it plays overhead.

Video Crews will be on hand to film at the following Starbucks locations:


AtlantaStarbucks 7th & Peachtree867 Peachtree StreetAtlanta, GATuesday, June 5, 20073:00 PM - 5:00 PM


BerlinStarbucks Coffee House Hackesche Hoefe Rosenthalerstrasse 40-4110178 BerlinNoon - 2:00 PM


Hong KongStarbucks CoffeeShop No 1082 on Level 1 of The IFC Mall8 Finance Street, Central, Hong KongNoon - 2:00 PM


LondonStarbucks Coffee 425 Oxford StreetLondonNoon - 2:00 PM


Los AngelesStarbucks Ventura & Alcott13535 Ventura BlvdSherman Oaks, CATuesday, June 5, 2007Noon - 2:00 PM


MiamiStarbucks Hear Music™ Coffeehouse605 Lincoln RoadMiami Beach, FLTuesday, June 5, 200711:00 AM - 1:00 PM


New York (two locations)Starbucks 67th & Columbus156 - 158 Columbus AvenueNew York, NYNoon - 2:00 PM


Starbucks Long Beach 101 West Park AveLong Beach, NYTuesday, June 5, 2007Noon - 2:00 PM


PhiladelphiaStarbucks 16th & Arch 1600 Arch StreetPhiladelphia, PATuesday, June 5, 200711:00 AM - 1:00 PM


SeattleStarbucks Hear Music™ CoffeehouseBellevue Square545 Bellevue WayBellevue, WATuesday, June 5, 20075:00 PM - 7:00 PM


TokyoStarbucks Tokyo Midtown Plaza 1F 9-7-3 Akasaka Minato-ku Noon - 2:00 PM


Recording Guidelines:The following applies to any individual or group wishing to record a birthday greeting to Sir Paul McCartney ("Birthday Greeting")

By coming to the Starbucks location, you agree to be videotaped and recorded for possible broadcast and distribution in any medium throughout the world and in perpetuity and you release Starbucks, its affiliates, licensees, subsidiaries and agents from any liability, remuneration or other compensation with regard to the Birthday Greeting.If you wish to record a Birthday Greeting, you must appear at the specific Starbucks locations during the designated time and sign a release form provided by Starbucks. Do not sign the release form if you are unable to read and fully understand the contents of the release. If you are under the age of 18, then your parent or guardian must sign the release form on your behalf. Starbucks does not make any guarantee or representation that any recording of you or by you will be in the final edit of the Birthday Video. Starbucks shall have sole discretion as to the content and exploitation of Birthday Video. All recording and filming shall be deemed a work-for-hire and is the sole and exclusive property of Starbucks throughout the universe and perpetuity.

No birthday greeting may contain (1) music; (2) the copyrighted or proprietary materials of any other party; (3) any offensive or derogatory language.Starbucks may alter, edit, modify and exploit the Birthday Greeting in any manner.