Stevie
Great reading on your hoax....but this item is not a hoax. This is
for all of us as Beatlefans.
There are 2 Beatlefan stories below. We as Beatlefans have also been
writing letters in a 2006 international campaign to get Oprah Winfrey
in the USA to do one show featuring Beatlefans, young & old, their
lives as beatlefans, their memories, as well as their memorabilia.
What was it like growing up loving the Beatles, what people did for
you because they knew you loved the Beatles, what did your parents
think, your brother/sister think. What did your schoolmates think?
How old were you when you became aware of your feelings for the
Beatles? What did you do before & after Paul's concerts if you went?
Beatlefans from all countries.are sending their Beatlefan stories
and/or sending letter of support. Any questions Rick Linville
RedRoseSpdwy@... ...
http://groups.msn.com/Beatles-ABeatlefanShow/messages.msnw
To send your Beatlefan history and/or letter of support for the show
go to http://www2.oprah.com/index.jhtml
Then click below it Be On The Show in the middle. If you wish to send
full-length story (above sites only permit 2000 charactars length)
use US mail to Harpo Productions, Inc., 110 N. Carpenter Street,
Chicago, IL 60617.
Sample letter below (before editing)
Dear Oprah
I write this letter as the excited 8 year old boy
watching Ed Sullivan in 1964, as a father of two little girls getting
to know Paul McCartney & a person who has sung Paul's songs for 40
yrs (in spite of being off key) I have been attempting to find others
who have the same lifelong passion & lifelong stories about Paul
McCartney similar to mine. . The significance of this passion
instilled in my then 8 yr old heart in 1964- it is very unlikely
person or band will likewise take the world by storm.
My history as a fan for 41 years follows. I am Rick
Linville, a 49 year old fan from Columbus Ohio. I have been a Paul
McCartney/Beatles fan since 1963 , when I first started hearing about
the Beatles in the news. My first contact with them was on the Ed
Sullivan Show. I sat one Sunday night in 1964 with my mom,dad,
sisters Kay & Jane & deep down knew my life had just totally changed.
I gave up toys at that point & all desires became Beatle albums. I
would organize Beatle shows with 3 friends at 8 & 9 years old. I
always impersonated Paul McCartney because he was my favorite. We
made wooden guitars, used overturned wastebaskets for drums & pie
tins for cymbals. We would setup on top of my parents big chest
freezer in the basement. Neighborhood girls would pay us 10 cents
each to watch our show. We would play a Beatles record on a small 16
inch by 16 inch "phonograph (AKA record) player & lip sync. At the
end of the show we would run out of the house with the girls
screaming behind us in play. I have always loved singing Beatle songs
(even though family, friends ,even total strangers would ask me to
stop singing) When I was in the third grade 1964 I wore my moms black
crushed velvet boots to school because they looked like the boots on
Meet the Beatles. My parents, sisters & girlfriends , for the next 40
years or so, knew what I would want for birthdays or Christmas.
Initially, the Beatles were so cool looking & had a cool different
sound. Their songs were meaninful & romantic. I have always loved
singing Beatle songs(even though family, friends ,even total
strangers would ask me to stop singing)
As with many Beatlefans, the third most outstanding date
in our lives, behind the discovery & the breakup of the Beatles, was
the violent death of John Lennon. I had loved & respected his music.
My older sister called me from California that evening at 11PM to
break the news to me. I cried that night, as well as weeped with
hundreds of fans at the Ohio Statehouse lawn in downtown Columbus,
Ohio.
I have seen Paul McCartney 7 times in concert, Ringo 3
times, George almost once (1971 canceled) & John never. I saw Paul
once around 1976 with his group Wings. Then I saw him 3 times in
1989. Before the 1989 tour I found out if you joined his official fan
club you can get preferred seating. So I joined & sent a money order
to England. After 3 weeks I got concerned so I sent another money
order. A lady from England called me at work & said the fan club had
received my first money order. She said the only question-do you want
the 2nd money order returned or an extra pair of tickets for a
different show? I thought I must be dreaming. I said send the extra
tickets. I had 2 Cincinnati tickets 18th row. The two extra tickets
were for Detroit 8th row dead center. I was thrilled. A buddy & I
went to Detroit to see him. He was alone on stage singing "Put It
There". The song about his father putting out his hand to shake hands
when Paul was an upset little boy. Everyone was seated while Paul was
on stage singing. When he went into the main chorus, I stood up & put
out my hand. He winked, smiled & nodded at me. I fell back in my seat
dumbfounded. It was the one personal moment I always wanted with
Paul. After that show I also saw him in Cleveland & Cincinnati on
that tour. He came back on tour about 1993 & I saw him in Cincinnati
with my soon-to-be wife. In about 2001 he came back on his Driving
Rain tour. Another friend & I saw him in Cleveland & in 2002, on the
2nd leg "Back in the US" tour, saw him in Columbus Ohio. The
interesting thing about the Back In The US tour-my dying mother knew
the greatest gift she could give her then 45 year old son was a main
floor seat for the show. Another bonus-my twin sister Kay, who was ho-
hum about the Beatles since we were kids, wanted to go see him.
So Kay, myself & two other friends went to the Columbus
show. Before the concert, we went to the venue early to see some
Beatles impersonators band. While we were waiting for the doors to
open, we decided to go over by the limousine entrance. I thought what
a waste of time, but I agreed. While we stood there for 15 minutes
with 20 other people, an English guy said Mr McCartney will be
arriving in 5 minutes. Please do not rush the limo or he will not
slow down for a wave & photos. Pauls entourage (4 limos & police
escort motorcycles) arrived & I handed the camera to my sister,
thinking I might be the one to get too excited to get the picture.
Paul pulls up, pops his head out the window & begins waving. My 45
year old sister begins screaming & jumpimg up & down. She messed up
the most important photo & got a photo of the front door of the limo.
That broke my heart. So we went on in to the concert.
I finally stepped up to a microphone & sang Live & Let Die
(without musical backing) on 3/18/05. It was "The Step Up To The Mike
Columbus" American idol type contest for local singers. I saw it
advertised on a news show at PM. So I drove down to see how many
people were lined up downtown at the Promowest Pavilion. Pretty long
line but I decided why not. My sisters Kay & Jane probably got the
biggest kick out of me, of all people, being in a singing contest.
But it was fun. I told everyone as we waited that people often ask me
to stop singing. I also joked my wife makes me lip sync in church.
I was talking to a couple sitting behind me in the 13th
row from the stage before the US Tour Columbus concert this past
October. I told them I will be unable to buy any tour merchandise.The
damage to my car in a burglary was not covered by insurance. It
happened while waiting in a hotel lobby for Paul McCartney to
possibly pass through (he never did appear) The couple said they
talked it over, have 2 concert programs in the car & want me to have
one of the programs. I gave them my address while I pinched myself to
see if I was dreaming. Sure enough, 2 days ago I received the program
PLUS a sealed clear box of greeting cards with McCartney artwork on
each card. Priceless...even though I had to use my t-shirts & cups
money for car repair, I still walked away with a souvenier. Does
anyone know where these cards came from?
In conclusion,Oprah, My wish is for you to dedicate a
show to Beatlefan stories. Again, I write this letter as the 8 year
old boy watching Ed Sullivan with an adrenalin rush & now a 49 year
old man with that same
adrenalin, hoping to see Paul McCartney again in October this year .
I am RICK LINVILLE-Columbus, Ohio/USA
Magic McCartney Weekend
It began Friday night Rusty Anderson, one of Paul's
guitarists, made an appearance at Borders Book Store. He appeared at
8pm but I got there early at 7pm. There were five of us in the front
row, and five seats in four rows behind us. We five in the front row
chit chatted about Paul McCartney for about 30 minutes & then
introduced ourselves to each other. I introduced myself to the guy I
was talking to right next to me. He told me his name was Jim
Benneti. We instantly formed that common bond as McCartney/Beatle
fans. Rusty sat before us five people in the front row only 3 feet
away(no stage) There was about 40 people just after he got there. He
was unescorted, just walked right into the store. He told us in the
crowd to wait a few minutes & he walked back up toward the front of
the store. No one followed him so I asked Jim to save my seat. He
went into the restroom as I walked toward the front of the store. I
browsed books about 5 ft away until he came out. I walked with him
toward the back. I said " I have an invitation for you for tomorrow
from me, my wife & my two little girls". He took it and put it in his
pocket, saying thanks. I also said, "Paul should have had the band
play on his new album Chaos & Creation-the Driving Rain album was
great with you playing on it. You should ask Paul to give you a song
on his next album." He said,"thanks-please tell Paul that." Then we
sat down , he did 4 songs, I took photos, he signed his CD I
bought "Undressing Underwater". Then Jim took the camera & shot a
photo of Rusty & I shaking hands.
Saturday, of course, Rusty never called for tea.
But I found out where Paul was staying & attempted to wait in the
lobby to see if he would come down. After about an hour, I went back
to the parking garage where I parked. My car had been broken into,
smashed window. I was disappointed about my car($$$$$) But my concert
outing was about to begin so I taped up plastic on the car & drove
over to the Value City Arena with a friend. We waited with 50 other
people at the limo entrance & the McCartney magic began. Everyone was
busy talking of all their experiences. Again, we instantly formed
that common bond as McCartney/Beatle fans. Along came Pauls police-
escorted limos, and the line of people burst to life. There were
cameras raised, people shouting, screaming & crying as Paul stuck his
head out & waved. Then it was over, everyone hugging each other & all
giddy from seeing him. We hugged the 3 people we were standing with,
exchanged info with us so we can send each other photos of our limo
shots, as well as other photos outside the arena. Then others gave us
there e-mails so we can send them the photos. The McCartney magic was
now in full swing.
After we had calmed down from the limo
experience, we walked over to a circus tent at the Holiday Inn a
block away. The tent was setup for a McCartney pre-concert party. We
found many people there, all buzzing about their Beatles/McCartney
experiences. The party was sponsored by a local oldies station. They
were raffling gift certificates, DVD's & t-shirts, then at 7PM they
would pick the registered winner for the big prize-2 airline tickets,
concert tickets & overnight stay for Los Angeles. We bought a plate
of food & walked over to the tall chairless tables they set up for
customers. There was a married couple with 2 boys they brought for
the show at the table also. We all talked for a while about Beatles
then introduced ourselves. Again, that common bond as
McCartney/Beatle fans. The radio station also had Paul McCartney song
contests, asking people what is the next line after they read a
lyric. I got up on stage & answered correctly & won DVD Paul
McCartney in Red Square.
My friend had a raffle ticket drawn & she won $50 desserts
certificates. The other gentleman from Cleveland at our table won $30
sub sandwich certificates. He gave them to me because the store is
not in Cleveland. Three out of the four of us at the table won
prizes. They looked at our limo shots on the digital camera & we
exchanged info for the limo shots. More McCartney magic....
We hurried back over to the arena so we could put
our prizes or camera in the car & then on to the show. We entered the
building & found we had to part company, my seat being 13th row from
the stage, my friend 2 sections up from main floor. Upon finding my
seat, I sat & talked to all the people around my seat. Again, that
common bond as McCartney/Beatle fans.The couple to my left had a
digital camera & they are sending me a disc of all the photo shots
they get during the concert. A couple behind me discussed the
spiritual shirt I was wearing. I told them I was'nt buying t-shirts
or anything so I can pay for my car window. Out of the blue, they
said give us your address-we have purchased 2 McCartney programs & we
want you to have one. More McCartney magic...the show began & we all
danced to the songs in our own personal styles. He was at his
grandest & three hours flew by. We all departed, taking deep sighs
after all we had just witnessed.Will there ever be another like him?
Rick Linville RedRoseSpdwy