ABBEY ROAD’ ARTIST WAS TOLD HE’D DESTROYED THE BEATLES

John Kosh, the Beatles’ in-house art director with their Apple Records company, recalled a phone call in which he was told he was going to “destroy” the band with his Abbey Road sleeve design.

The angry message came from Sir Joseph Lockwood, boss of E.M.I., who’d just discovered that the LP was going to press without the band name or title on the front cover.

Abbey Road replaced Let It Be on the Beatles’ release schedule just two days before it was set to be manufactured. “We had a deadline,” Kosh told Rolling Stone in a new interview. “We had to go to press and the album was late, and you just had to deal with it.” He made the decision that the cover photo, featuring the band members on the zebra crossing of Abbey Road in London, could speak for itself. “We thought, if you didn’t know the Beatles by now, where have you been?” he explained, adding that the band had all approved the idea.

However, Lockwood didn’t share their confidence – he called Kosh at home late at night. “I heard a string of invectives that was stunning. He was saying I would destroy the Beatles because I didn’t put their name on the cover, and no one would buy the album. I was shivering after that call.”

Next morning, he told George Harrison about the exchange, but Harrison told him not to worry and the album was released as Kosh had designed it. One of the side-effects was that the image of Paul McCartney without shoes helped fuel the rumor that he’d died and been replaced by a lookalike. Kosh said he was in the Apple offices when an executive called McCartney in France to check that he was still alive – only to receive the response: “Fuck off.”

Ultimateclassicrock.com

Bat Out of Hell Musical Opens at New York City Center - WINNER! OF BEST MUSICAL -

LONDON EVENING STANDARD THEATRE AWARDS

Following sell out seasons in London and Toronto, Jim Steinman’s smash-hit musical Bat Out of Hell heats up New York City Center this summer for six unmissable weeks only!

Join Strat, the forever young leader of rebellious gang ‘The Lost’ as he falls in love with Raven, the beautiful daughter of Obsidian’s tyrannical ruler, in a thrilling rock and roll love story for the ages.

This award-winning musical thunders through Meat Loaf’s legendary anthems including I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That), Paradise By The Dashboard Light, Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, Dead Ringer For Love and Bat Out of Hell.

A multi-award-winning creative team from music, opera, film and theatre come together to bring New York City a theatrical spectacle unlike any other. Don’t miss out!

New York City Center hosts the American premiere of Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell—The Musical, officially opened August 8. In the new rock musical, based on the cult 1977 Meat Loaf album of the same name, Steinman's music is used to tell a story of rebellious youth and passion.

Under the direction of Jay Scheib, the limited Off-Broadway engagement stars Andrew Polec (reprising his role from London and Toronto) as Strat, London star Christina Bennington reprising the role of Raven, Tony winner Lena Hall as Sloane, Bradley Dean as Falco, Avionce Hoyles as Tink, Danielle Steers as Zahara, and Tyrick Wiltez Jones as Jagwire.

In Bat Out of Hell, Strat, the immortal leader of The Lost, has fallen in love with Raven, the beautiful daughter of the tyrannical ruler Falco.

The ensemble includes Will Branner, Lincoln Clauss, Kayla Cyphers, Jessica Jaunich, Paulina Jurzec, Adam Kemmerer, Nick Martinez, Harper Miles, Erin Mosher, Aramie Payton, Andres Quintero, Tiernan Tunnicliffe, and Kaleb Wells.

Bat Out of Hell is produced by Cohl, Tony Smith, Bob Broderick, Lorne Gertner, David Sonenberg. The musical features a book, music, and lyrics by Steinman, direction by Scheib, choreography by Emma Portner and Xena Gusthart, with musical supervision and additional arrangements by Michael Reed, set design by Jon Bausor, costume design by Bausor and Meentje Nielson, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, video design by Finn Ross, sound design by Gareth Owen, orchestrations by Steve Sidwell, and musical direction by Ryan Cantwell.

For tickets and more information visit https://batoutofhellmusical.com/new-york/about/

Stevie Ray Vaughan Bio, ‘Texas Flood,’ Arrives

By Alan Paul and Andy Aledort

A new biography, Texas Flood: The Inside Story of Stevie Ray Vaughan, has been published by St. Martin’s Press and released on Aug. 13. The book is described by the publisher as “The first definitive biography of guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan, from those who were with him throughout every stage of his life and career and who knew him best: his brother Jimmie, his Double Trouble bandmates Tommy Shannon, Chris Layton and Reese Wynans, and many other close friends, fellow musicians, crew members and managers.

“Soul Brother Stevie Ray Vaughan was a force of nature! His fearless, furious and elegant approach to the guitar was breathtaking. Texas Flood helps you understand both the player and the person. We are grateful for the gifts he left for us all. We thank God for the Vaughan family; Jimmie and Stevie are both astonishing.” —Carlos Santana

There is an epilogue by Jimmie Vaughan, foreword by drummer Chris Layton, and afterword by bassist Tommy Shannon.” It’s available now online and at bookstores. - https://www.srvofficial.com