The extended family of the Fab Four doesn't get together very often--especially in public--but such an event occurred Friday night at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas.
The opening night of the new Cirque du Soleil show "Love" was the occasion that brought Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney to the theatre that previously hosted the Siegried & Roy show. The new "Love" show features the acrobatic troupe performing to Beatles music.
Ringo and Paul being together is not big news, with the exception of one 1970 shouting match that led McCartney to kick the affable Richard Starkey out of his home, the two have always gotten along, and have played on each other's solo albums.
It's the other guests that makes this an intriguing story. And yes, they got together for a post-show bash.
John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono was in attendance. Despite denials on both sides, Paul and Yoko don't like each other. Cynthia Lennon, John's first wife was also there, along with Julian, the only child from their marriage. After her 1968 divorce from John, Cynthia was cut off from Beatle-dom, and Julian was essentially cut off from John. (Yoko got the blame for that--although even while he was married to "Cyn," John was by all accounts an absentee father to Julian.)
Who else? John Eastman, brother of Paul's late wife Linda Eastman--and the man who tried in 1969 to have the Eastman family manage the Beatles--was at Paul's side that night. (The three other Beatles preferred Allen Klein.) Acclaimed music producer Peter Asher, brother of Paul's onetime fiance Jane Asher--was there.
George Harrison's widow, Olivia, and Ringo's wife Barbara Bach were on hand, too, as well as former Apple mates Neil Aspinall and Jonathan Clyde. Legendary sitar musician Ravi Shankar, a mentor to George, made it into the "Love" fest.
Here are the rest of the famous guests, courtesy of Fox News.com
After all, one of his heroes, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, had been in the audience along with actress Helen Mirren and husband, director Taylor Hackford, plus Edgar Winter, Sheila E. and Colin Hay (all touring with Ringo in his band), Electric Light Orchestra guru Jeff Lynne, songwriter Stephen Bishop, producer Russ Titelman, Barbara Orbison (widow of Roy), Little Steven van Zandt with wife, Maureen, actor Jason Patric, director Gus van Sant and, improbably, billionaire Ron Burkle.
Oh, the Hendersons were also there, late of Pablo Fanques Fair....(Just kidding on that last one.)
But no Pete Best. Ringo's predecessor as Bealtes' drummer, Best was fired by his bandmates in the summer of 1962--but the dirty work was carried out by manager Brian Epstein. Pete, who still lives in Liverpool, has not layed eyes on a live Beatle--or former Beatle--since shortly before that fateful meeting with Epstein.
C'mon Paul, the "Love" party would've been the perfect occasion to "Get Back" with Pete.
Technorati tags: Beatles Rock Music Entertainment Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil Pete Best Paul McCartney
No comments:
Post a Comment