There’s some noteworthy anniversaries happening this week, and they touch on two of my favorite subjects, music and space exploration.

February 4th: NASA beams The Beatles “Across the Universe” towards Polaris, the North Star. It’s the first time a song has been transmitted into deep space by NASA’s Deep Space Network. This marks the 50th anniversary of NASA, as well as The Beatles, who both started in 1958.

See the video on anon.nasa-global.edgesuite.net.
45 Years Ago: The Deep Space Network is founded.
50 Years Ago: Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite is launched into orbit.
Read the full story on nasa.gov

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After taking another look at this blog, especially over the past year, I’ve decided I can do more. To that end, ThisCrazyCosmos will explore an exciting partnership of astronomy and music, that will greatly enhance the experience of the observer. This is not a new relationship, but a common thread that continually runs through this blog.

We have all felt the power and passion great music brings to our senses. There’s something very special happening, speaking in a universal language understood across the world and probably Across the Universe.

Imagine looking up at the stars across the night sky, peering through a powerful telescope at the image of Saturn, or the Horsehead Nebula deep within the constellation Orion. Now blend in DVD quality audio and the sound of appropriate music takes you on a cosmic journey through the universe.

Pink Floyd, David Gilmour, Electric Light Orchestra, Beatles, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, Jeff Beck, and the Moody Blues come to mind.

I once saw a live band play in an observatory and the sound was awesome. The domes that house the giant telescopes are perfect acoustic environments for the absolute best viewing experience of any amateur astronomer that likes music.

Apple announced a new generation of iPods today. Now you can have a touch screen and wireless music downloads at Starbucks stores. iPhone price cuts were also announced.

Sources:
http://money.cnn.com

http://blogs.zdnet.com

http://news.com.com

Sean Lennon recently performed concerts in Montreal and Toronto as part of The Montreal jazz festival. He had some interesting comments about the state of the music business today, and his place in it. Lennon is promoting his new album Friendly Fire. His last album Into The Sun was released in 1998.

Sean Lennon has said that there is little room for innovation in the genre that his father helped make famous as a member of The Beatles.

“I mean rock ’n roll is already kind of played out,” he said at a news conference at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. “I’m only worried about creating beautiful songs,” he said. “I’m not trying to reinvent songwriting.”

Source: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Entertainment/844765.html

Spinal Tap for Live Earth

Read More about the Live Earth Concerts at:
www.musicians-blognet.com

http://liveearth.msn.com/

Video: Buddy Guy & Carlos Santana @ Montreux Jazz Festival 2004
The 41st Montreux Jazz Festival begins today, at the foot of the Alps on the banks of Lake Geneva, known as “The Swiss Riviera.” Some of my favorite artists are playing this year…Booker T. & the MG’s, Jeff Beck, Living Colour, Norah Jones, Roger Hodgson (from Supertramp,) Sly & the Family Stone and Van Morrison.

Online: 41st Montreux Jazz Festival

A Beatles Memorabilia Auction is happening July 3rd in Las Vegas, featuring Stuart Sutcliffe Original Art, which was endorsed by John Lennon, at that time as Johnny & the Moondogs. This is the first time Stuart’s art, lyrics and paintings are available for sale anywhere, plus Beatles Memorabilia and Autographs will be displayed and on sale.

The assorted works of art will be offered for sale July 3rd at the ItsOnlyRockNRoll.com online and in-person auction at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, and also on eBay. These include: Abstract Sculpture, Abstract Figures on Paper, Seagull Painting, Abstract Oil Paintings, Charcoal and Ink Artworks, Handwritten Song Lyrics and Set Lists, Handwritten Poems, Liverpool Art School Artworks, Pen and Ink Drawings, Self Portrait Sketch, Watercolor Painting, and others.

Actually, Stuart Sutcliffe was the Beatles first bass player, in the late fifties as the Silver Beatles. So this event will really spotlight the early years of the group, while they were gaining popularity in Hamburg, Germany. Stuart was really a gifted artist, who dedicated his life to his art and left the Beatles in 1961 to pursue full time studies at the art institute. Paul switched to bass, then Pete Best was replaced by Ringo a year later.

Besides the Stuart Sutcliffe Collection, the auction will include over 350 lots of Beatles Autographs, Concert Posters, Records, Toys and Memorabilia, priced anywhere between $100.00 to $100,000.

Read The Full Story @
www.itsonlyrocknroll.com
www.thefestforbeatlesfans.com

Source & Related Links:
www.news-antique.com/?id=782620
www.news-antique.com/?id=782583&keys=Beatles-Poster-Auction

Freeway Jam ~ To Beck & Back

Released July 5th, this tribute CD to Jeff Beck by various artists, is a guitarists who’s who list…

Steve Morse, Greg Howe, Eric Johnson, Warren Haynes, Mike Stern, John Scofield, Adam Rogers, Jeff Richman, & Chris Duarte all contribute blazing guitar performances, along with Stu Hamm on bass and Simon Phillips and Vinnie Colaiuta on drums.

Rich Murray has a great review on www.modernguitars.com.

CD Released July 5th
Online: www.jeffbeck.com/

Larry King Live hosted Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with Olivia Harrison, Yoko Ono Lennon, and Guy Laliberte, the founder of Cirque du Soleil, and celebrated the first year anniversary of the show LOVE, the brainchild of George Harrison and Guy Laliberte, a high tech blend of modern circus theatre set to an exciting mashup of Beatles music remixed by Sir George Martin and his son Giles.

CNN filmed the tribute show from the Beatles Revolution Lounge at the Mirage in Las Vegas last night, Tuesday June 26th. Good interview and great dialog between Paul and Ringo, and an interesting story from Olivia talking about how George and Guy came to be friends and fans of each other’s work, and combined their talents to create the LOVE show, the first of it’s kind to celebrate the art and music of the Beatles.

The soundtrack for the show features the Beatles music remixed by Sir George Martin and his son Giles, from the original Abbey Road studio master tapes. Paul and Ringo both said the sound was so clear that they could hear things they did in the studio that had been buried in their records for years. LOVE The soundtrack album has both the stereo CD and the 5.1 surround sound DVD, which does indeed sound awesome.

40 years after releasing Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the Beatles are still on the charts and in the hearts of millions of fans around the world.

Paul McCartney just released his new album Memory Almost Full, and a video for the first track “Dance Tonight.” He’s also been playing some small venue gigs and just celebrated his 65th birthday.

Ringo Starr will be releasing his EMI catalog online for digital downloads this August, plus a new greatest solo hits album, “Photograph.” This is the first time any of the Beatles music or solo albums have been available as digital downloads. EMI is releasing more Beatles catalog later this year.

A double disc of John Lennon’s solo songs was just released with current artists trying to reinterpret his music on the benefit album “Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign To Save Darfur.” The proceeds go to support Amnesty International.

And Olivia Harrison, widow of former Beatle George Harrison, who succumbed to cancer on November 29, 2001, is executive producer of the reissue of the new Traveling Wilburys collection, Volumes One & Three. The Traveling Wilburys group was George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne.

Video: http://www.thebeatles.com/hub/love/site/?sec=love

Check out FansOnTheRun for all the latest news about Paul McCartney and all of the Beatles.

Transcript of the show from Larry King Live on CNN:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/26/lkl.01.html

Source:
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/larry.king.live/

This post mirrors Larry King Live with Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr, at CybersMusic.com.

Paul McCartney’s new album “Memory Almost Full” is officially available now on the new Starbucks Hear Music record label.

YouTube Video Channel features “Dance Tonight,” this first track opens the album with Paul playing a new mandolin.

“Memory Almost Full” Album Segways: WinMedia ~ RealAudio
1st Single: “Ever Present Past” Audio: WinMedia ~ RealAudio

Hear Music @ Starbucks www.hearmusic.com featuring the entire new album from Paul McCartney!

FansOnTheRun.com Nellie has the scoop on all the latest Macca blogs & news…

About.com: Classic Rock Dave’s got all the reviews covered…

Paul McCartney.com