Beatles reunite for John’s lost song
BEATLES Sir Ringo Starr and Sir Paul McCartney have reunited – to record a lost song written by John Lennon.
Drummer Ringo, 79, enlisted the help of old pal Paul, 77, for the song, Grow Old With Me, written by Lennon less than a year before his death in 1980.
And Ringo insists the track has its soul in the Fab Four, saying: “In a way, it’s the four of us.”
Lennon penned Grow Old With Me during the sessions for Double Fantasy, his final album.
Ringo was introduced to the song by record producer Jack Douglas, who produced the Grammy-winning album which is also credited to Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono. He invited Paul to play bass on the track, which he admitted reduced him to tears when he first heard it.
Sir Ringo said: “Jack asked if I ever heard The Bermuda Tapes, John’s demos from that time. And I had never heard all this.
“The idea that John was talking about me in that time before he died... well, I’m an emotional person.
“And I just loved this song. I sang it the best that I could. I do well up when I think of John this deeply. And I’ve done my best. We’ve done our best.”
He added: “The other good thing is that I really wanted Paul to play on it, and he said yes. Paul PENNY Lancaster has revealed she often contemplates what life will be like after the death of husband Sir Rod Stewart.
The model said she hopes to be “just fine” in her 70s when her children have left home and she is all alone.
Penny, 48, opened up about facing a future without the 74-year-old singer on ITV’s Loose Women.
She said: “Rod’s in his 70s – early 70s – and we have a huge family base at home.
“My life is based on the family, Rod, the children, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I do on occasions think, when I’m Rod’s age, I won’t have my husband and the children will be grown up and gone, and I kind of feel like I need to prepare.”
The panel were discussing research suggesting Britons are turning their back on marriage. But the over-70s are bucking the trend.
On growing old alone, Penny said she would take inspiration from family members.
“My mum and Rod’s sister are actually great examples in their 70s and beyond,” she said.
“They have a huge range of friends that they have weekends away with, they have great hobbies.
“They keep themselves busy all the time – in fact I came over and he played bass and sings a little bit on this with me. So, John’s on it in a way. I’m on it and Paul’s on it.
“It’s not a publicity stunt.This is just what I wanted.
“And the strings that Jack arranged for this track, if you really listen, they do one line from Here Comes The Sun [written by George Harrison].
“So, in a way, it’s us.”
The track features on Ringo’s 20th solo album, What’s My Name, out on October 25.
He recorded the album in his home studio, known as Roccabella West, enlisting a number of regular contributors and members of his touring All-Starr Band. the four
Hobbies
of can never track them down. So I think if I just follow their guidelines, I’ll be just fine.”
Penny and Rod married in Italy in 2007 and have two children, Aden, eight, and Alastair, 13.
Recently, she told of meeting up with Sir Rod’s exes Alana Stewart, Kelly Emberg and Rachel Hunter to celebrate the 40th birthday of the rocker and first wife Alana’s daughter, Kimberly.
Penny said: “I had to show that I was genuine. Show kindness, and it works.”