The Beatles – London

Week 6 of this retirement malarkey, and this week’s ‘culture’ trip, was more of a ‘pilgrimage’ to the Beatles, and their history/involvement in London – visiting the following landmarks:-

1. Denmark Street (aka Britain’s “Tin Pan Alley”) so called because from the 1930’s it has been the pivotal street in connection with musicians and songwriters. It still houses the famous ‘Regent Sound Studio’ where artists such as the Stones, Kinks and the Beatles conducted their very early recordings – and is the street where Elton John & Bernie Taupin’s composed ‘Your Song’.

2. The “100 Club” in Oxford Street – which originated in 1942 as a jazz club – and has been the location for many historic ‘gigs’ since then. In 2002 Paul McCartney delivered a secret lunch time gig there, to help them raise funds to keep it open.

3. Soho Square – in which McCartney’s “MPL” (McCartney Publishing Ltd) is located – which deals with all his post Beatles business affairs.

4. No.3 Saville Row – the headquarters of the Beatles “Apple Corporation” – and the sight of the now legendary last appearance of the ‘Fab 4’ in Jan 1969, when they did a 45min set on the ‘roof’ of the building.

5. No. 34 Montague Square – the once home of John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

6. No.24 Chapel Street – the home of the Beatles manager Brian Epstien – and where he was found dead in 1967, allegedly from a drugs overdose.

7. Abbey Road Studios – where the majority of the Beatles albums were recorded – and where the now iconic cover for the Abbey Road album, with them walking across the zebra crossing, was taken.