Mark Lewisohn

RIP to the magnificent Brian Wilson. I love this picture of him with Paul McCartney singing ‘God Only Knows’ at a benefit gig in 2002. Such admiration for each other, so much joy at once.

Brian Wilson (1942-2025).

There was simply nobody like him. What gifts he gave us.

Sail on, sailor.

A wonderful archive fragment circa 1964. Ringo's mum was asked for an autograph. She didn't want to sign Elsie Starkey or Elsie Graves or Elsie Graves-Starkey and she probably wanted to reassure the applicant she was Ringo's mum, so she signed Mrs E. Starr, a name she never had.

Alf/Freddie Lennon had said the Blackpool incident happened at the house of his pal Billy Hall. I found Billy in 2009, in Auckland, NZ, age 85, the only living witness to a much mis-told event in young John Lennon's life. And I got to the truth just in time – Billy died on his 90th birthday in 2013.

I think my only public event this year will be at the convention in the annual International Beatleweek Liverpool – Sunday August 24 in the Adelphi Hotel. I'm always happy to sign anything people bring.

That's lovely, Nicole. I'm glad you found the book inspiring.

Thank you, Eric. Would you please DM me?

I'm delighted ‘Tune In’ still thrills, and pleased to remind that the all-I-wrote edition (two books boxed) is nearly twice the length of the abridged single-book. I'm sorry Volume 2 is taking SO long to complete but it’s a huge monster of a project. One day it’ll be done – but I can't yet say when.

I had a nice time watching ‘Ringo and Friends at the Ryman’. First and always the man is a musician, and at 84 he's in good voice, drums great and moves well, plus the band cooks and his guest musicians are fabulous. And in 2025 we really do have to understand: what's so funny about "peace & love"?

One of the many astonishing revelations in @marklewisohn.bsky.social’s masterpiece.

My congrats to the prolific writer and ex-BBC Radio Merseyside presenter Spencer Leigh on turning 80 years young today, for which he's written a thoroughly entertaining life memoir, 80@80, available via Amazon etc. We've enjoyed sharing music nuggets for 40 years and it don't seem a day too long.

Actually, no audio recording was made of the extended edition of Tune In – only the edition I abridged for mass-market publication. The one you heard may have seemed long but it's what I call the pamphlet …

I've not heard it before but I have heard the so-called Carnival of Light. This is not that.

It was shocking that Neil left the world so unexpectedly. How badly we miss his calm, rational wisdom in today’s mad bad world, but we do still have his music – his erudite, witty optimism. His widow Yvonne’s bio is a fair start but a fully-researched multimedia resumée is richly merited.

I think I only did three podcasts this year, trying to restrict them a bit, though I always enjoy doing them. See this list for any you might have missed. www.marklewisohn.net/audio/

Back in ’64 George Harrison found a pic in which he scowled a V-sign with both hands – and had it printed life-size for his door and also as his year’s Christmas card. Plus it was a movie still and part of a Beatles album in France – and no one noticed the V-signs. Merry Xmas, George – and everyone!

Thanks for following me on Bluesky. Here at long last is my 'next post'. Season's greetings to you, and fingers crossed we survive the bumpy ride of '25. Be assured I'm still working all possible hours on volume 2 of my Beatles history trilogy – it IS still happening, but it's slow work.

Hello Bluesky, where I believe the air is cleaner and more peaceful. Special thanks if you've followed me across from Twitter-X. I hope to post some tasty things here from time to time.