As 2012 comes to a close, we’re revisiting the year’s biggest stories through the lens of some of our station’s biggest artists.
Status: Yep, still broken up.
New Albums Released: Two – one from each surviving Beatle – plus a big ole Beatles vinyl box set and a McCartney reissue.
Paul Goes Traditional Pop… Then Reunites Nirvana: Paul McCartney started the year showing his age, and by the end of it, was the hippest 70-year-old going. Perhaps it was his 2011 marriage to Nancy Shevell had him feeling romantic, but he went a different direction for his January 2012 album, Kisses on the Bottom, a collection of love song standards. It ended up garnering him GRAMMY love earlier this month (Best Traditional Pop Record), as did his excellent reissue of 1971′s RAM, which scored two nominations (Best Historical Album and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package).
Of course, McCartney has plenty of praise from the Recording Academy, hijacking 2012′s February ceremony for quite the jam session. He closed the show alongside Dave Grohl (more on that later), Bruce Springsteen (also, more on that) and Joe Walsh for a medley of tracks from Abbey Road. McCartney would reunite with both Grohl and Springsteen for on-stage jamming throughout the year. First, Springsteen this July in London, where the two would play “Twist and Shout” — and the police would cut the power due to the duo’s curfew-breaking shenanigans. London was a bit happier to see Macca at the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony, where he closed out the show with Beatles classics.
Fast forward to earlier this month, Macca and Grohl — as well as the surviving members of Nirvana — would perform a new song, “Cut Me Some Slack,” live in front of practically the whole world (ie, the 12-12-12 Concert for Hurricane Sandy relief). The collective internet kind of lost its mind over this hard-rocking collab, which came about for Grohl’s upcoming Sound City documentary. They then repeated the magic for SNL. How’s that for 70?
Ringo & The Rest: As for Mr. Starkey, he also released a new album - Ringo 2012 - at the beginning of the year. During a break from his latest All-Starr Band tour this summer, we caught up with him to discuss his charitable side. And though the Beatles are obviously no more (R.I.P. John and George), 2012 saw the reissue of their entire catalogue on vinyl, as well as the first proper release of their 1967 experimental film, Magical Mystery Tour.
Related Features: 5 Things We’d Like To See On The Beatles Cruise
Paul McCartney Turns 70: A Birthday Card To Macca
Elvis Costello, Steven Van Zandt Discuss The Beatles’ ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ Film
5 Memorable Fictional Characters In Song Lyrics
