Stu's Beatlefest
This weekend is Beatlefest weekend in Chicago (or more particularly, Rosemont), and as usual, Stu Shea's probably in the middle of it. Take a look at his preview of the event in today's Chicago Tribune. And while you're busy clicking links, drop in at Stu's blog, Baseball, Music, and Real Life. He hasn't said one way or another, but at this point, I wouldn't expect any new posts there until early next week. He'll be too busy festing (of course, he could choose to live blog the fest, but we'll just have to wait and see).
I should also note that, presumably for some sort of copyright reason, the event is now known as "The Fest for Beatles Fans." Please change all your listings accordingly.
posted by Doug @ 12:34 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Hey, thanks for the shout-out. Every year something gets taken away from Beatlefest; they don't show any of their films any more, save for "Hard Day's Night," and most of the sessions in the grand ballroom are an endless parade of "here's a guy who wrote a book. Listen to him talk then buy his book." But it's still a fun place to gather for a weekend to share cameradierie, songs, and, for many people, copious amounts of alcohol.
I'm glad to offer what little attention I've got at my disposal. Why do you think Beatlefest loses something every year? Are we just getting farther and farther removed from the original experience? Does age just make it more of an intellectual exercise worthy of study rather than an emotional experience to be rekindled?
Nah. It's just about money. Apple Records has put the squeeze on the guy who runs the 'fest, and it's not really affordable for him to show the movies.
Apple Records, to be indelicate about it, sucks. They've done a horrible job of managing the Beatles catalog, concentrating on bullshit re-releases while the original albums go unremastered, on shitty quality CDs, without any liner notes, bonus tracks, or the like. The greatest catalog in the history of popular music and they treat it like garbage.
I'm not exactly sure what Apple's trying to do these days. They apparently don't realize that the farther we get from the Beatles in their prime, the less they matter. As more and more people don't have a first-hand memory of them, they'll just be set aside as a novelty product of the '60s whose influence waned shortly after that decade closed. Their legacy has to be nurtured, and Apple's the one who's a position to do that. If they don't, who will?
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