Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes Of The Storm
One of the most telling images in this revealing exhibition is taken aboard a transatlantic jet as the Beatles head off on their first American tour.
A passenger looks back snarkily through a gap in the partition separating Economy and First Class, from where Paul McCartney is taking one of the dozens of pictures that make up this exhibition.
It’s 1964, and the realisation is dawning upon McCartney that life will never be the same again. In adjusting to life as a superstar, it feels as though he’s wielding his camera as a shield, using the lens to distance himself from the impact of unprecedented attention from the world’s media.
He’s a decent snapper too, with an eye for the absurd; witness the photogenic George Harrison balancing two top hats on his head.
There are plenty more revealing backstage photos of McCartney’s bandmates and their entourage as they hit the big time in the UK, before arriving to a clamorous reception in New York. The photos then turn from black and white to colour as they head south the Florida, a change suggestive of the Fab Four’s swift conversion to a luxury lifestyle.
The pictures, lovingly restored, are augmented by contemporary newspaper cuttings and footage of The Beatles debut press conference in the States, which turns into a good natured battle between establishment hacks and four piss-taking Scousers. By way of a bonus McCartney has selected a montage of some his favourite photos and composed a score to accompany it, which is more exotica than Fab Four.
The exhibition will obviously draw an audience of die-hard Beatles fans, but it’s also a “must see” for anyone interested in the dawn of the modern world of media and celebrity.
Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes Of The Storm
WHAM! (Netflix!)
It’s an often overlooked fact that DJ John Peel, the hero of alternative rock, once championed Wham! So much so that I went out and bought their debut single ‘Young Guns (Go For It)’ after hearing it on his show.
No shame in that; it’s a good record, but like Peel I quickly fell out of love with a band who came to encapsulate a kind of naff, teen focussed escapism that we ‘indie’ types enjoyed sneering it.
Judged from this end of history, they made some damn fine pop singles with tongue in cheek videos that made a lot of people happy. You’d have to be pretty churlish to naysay that, even if the sight of so many colourful shorts may have you reaching for the sunglasses.
As Chris Smith’s considered documentary reveals, the duo’s success was driven primarily by George Michael’s desire to demonstrate his self-worth by becoming a respected songwriter and producer.
Before that, though, they were reliant on Andrew Ridgeley’s role as a catalyst, without which Michael would never have emerged from his cocoon.
The singer was in denial about his sexuality, and fearful of his dictatorial Dad who wanted him to get a ‘proper job’.
Ridgely is painted here as the good guy, helping to shape the band’s image, enabling his mate to flourish, before gracefully stepping aside once the fledgling was capable of flying the nest.
From an artistic point of view, what happened next with Michael was altogether more interesting than his Wham career, as he threw off the shackles of conventional stardom. As a solo artist, he is properly worth of respect, but Chris Smith’s sensitive and humorous tale of what happened along the way is a very watchable tribute.
Good Vibrations
How can I have not seen this film before? Now being promoted on the BBC i player, ‘Good Vibrations’ is a joyous celebration of the life of Terri Hooley, a Belfast reggae fan who founded the record shop which gives the film its name at the height of ‘The Troubles’ before going on to discover The Undertones.
In Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glen Leyburn’s immensely creative low budget feature, Hooley’s battles against the city’s paramilitaries are acknowledged; likewise his failings as a partner and indeed as a record company boss. But you come away with the sense that overall he was a musical visionary who brought people together across the sectarian divide with a sense of mission they wouldn’t have made sense anywhere else in the UK.
It's brilliantly acted, too, with Richard Dormer in the lead role and Jodie Whittaker as his long suffering Mrs. For anyone looking to understand the true power of punk, forget films like ‘Sid And Nancy’ or ‘The Great Rock n Roll Swindle’ – this is the real deal.
The Taxcast
It’s not all about music. This week I discovered the Taxcast podcast, produced and presented by Naomi Fowler – and I can’t recommend it enough.
The latest episode ‘Spoiled Pets and Private Jets’ examines claims that having your own plane is no worse for the planet than owning three dogs– and skewers that patently dubious proposition for that nonsense that it is. Behind that story, though, are attempts to cover up the identity of the super-rich who fly around the globe with little consideration for the impact of climate crisis upon the rest of us.
Producer/presenter Naomi Fowler takes us through the arguments with a sharp wit, drawing upon a wide array of archive material and external contributors beyond her paymasters the Tax Justice Network to make a persuasive case for change.
The Taxcast is available on most major podcast platforms.