Little Willow

I read a today marks 16 years since Ringo's first wife, Maureen, passed away after her battle with leukemia. Maureen was the ultimate fan who lived a fans dream. She was a Beatles fan from way back in Liverpool and used to watch the Beatles perform at the Cavern. She soon found herself with a crush on the drummer and asked him for his autograph! A few weeks later, Ringo and Maureen went out on a date and they married in 1965! What an amazing thing to happen for someone who started out as a fan.

I know things weren't always easy for Maureen. But she always seemed to have so much love for Ringo and her children. Maureen and Ringo divorced in 1975, but they stayed good friends to the end.

I am sure that I have taken most of these photos from the Women of the Beatles blog (one of my favorites!)

Signed Pepper album

I sure hope that someone has kept this signed Sgt. Pepper's album!

Twinkle Twinkle Ringo Starr

So you all know that my Mom is Ringo Starr's biggest fan. She has been in love with him since February 1964 and thinks he is the cutest, funniest and best guy there is. Her dream in life is to sit down with a cup of tea and chat with Ringo. Anyhow....my mom cracks me up with her stories about when she was a teenager in the 60's. Like many fans, she collected Beatles trading cards, wore a Beatles wig, and had countless 45 's of their singles. But she also told me that she used to say this little chant when jumping rope or whatever.....so silly

Twinkle Twinkle Ringo Starr
How I love you how you are.
Underneath that mop of hair
Is my Ringo under there?

LOL! So does anyone else have little goofy things they would say or write from back in the day?

One last autograph....

John squeezes in that one last autograph before boarding the plane in L.A. during the 1966 tour.

Fan mail

I just located this photo of the Beatles backstage at Southport (UK) which was taken somewhere between Aug 26-31 1963. John does not look too thrilled about the fan mail. The two girls in the photo are supposedly reporters.

So this is Christmas and what have you done?

I want to take this time to wish each and every one of you who are regular readers of the "Meet the Beatles .... for real!" blog a very Happy Christmas. I honestly am so blessed to have so many wonderful people who contribute and participate in this blog. And even those of you who are just lurkers (yes I know you are out there), I appreciate you taking the time to check out the blog when you have a chance. I hope all of you have found some happiness from the Beatles photos I have posted over the past year. I will always be amazed by the stories people have shared with me about how this blog has helped them get back into contact with a long, lost Beatle friend. When I started sharing my collection of fan taken Beatles photos, I never thought it would have such a nice impact on the Beatles online community.

To Miss Tammy: Thank you for your wonderful blog and for posting photos for me to take and post here. Your humor as well as your love for the Beatles is always puts a smile on my face.

To Lizzie: Thank you so much for commenting and sharing your personal stories of the boys with us. You have been such an wonderful addition to this project. I can't thank you enough.

To Gina: I really want to thank you for posting so many photos on ebay without watermarks and not minding that I post them here. Your collection of photos are a treasure, and I am glad you are happy to share them.

To the anonymous Apple Scruff: Thanks for posting comments that help us all set the records straight. So many rumors and stories have been told incorrectly over the years, that is really nice to have your help.

To Ken Wood: You have been such a great Beatles pal over the years. Keep up the great work on the photo dating! :)

To Bruno: Thank you for the pictures!

To Pablo: I am so glad you won and received the Paul book. It couldn't have gone to a nicer guy.

To Mark, talanca, a car and a room, Gary, winston..... thanks for all of the comments. I read them all!

And now a little thought before I sign off. John and Yoko had their famous "War is over (if you want it)" campaign. To me that means so much more than a war that is fought by soldiers, but the war that each of us has in ourselves. Make 2011 the year that you find peace in yourself and forgive someone that has wronged you. Reach out to the family member that you haven't spoken to for years because of an argument. For me personally that means that it is time for me to let go of the pain that happened in my life 3 years ago today. How can we ever expect to have peace on earth if we can't find it within ourselves? Just something to think about as we go into a new year. Happy Holidays to us all. Love always, Sara S. aka Starshyne

brown coat

It seems like someone is giving Paul and gift. This really is a lovely photo, don't you think?

Paul times 4

another visit to Cleveland

Here is a really neat Cleveland 1966 photo! I would think this happened at the beginning of the Day Tripper Riot or even during a different song. I just love the expression of the fan's face. She got so close to the Beatles.....

Meeting half of the band

When I was younger so much younger than today....

Meeting Paul at a church in New York

I love it when I stumble upon a fan photo when I wasn't even searching for one. Here is a fan named Brent Cradon Lawrence who was fortunate enough to meet Paul at the Riverside Baptist Church in Harlem in November 2007.

Paul Scruff

It would be my guess that this was taken in New York in the early 1970's. Any New York followers care to comment?

Paul and Linda

Paul wears his "stars" shirt yet again....

Wow! Tammy actually owns part of this coat!

Another frame of the popular John in the jean jacket photos (thanks to Gina!). If you haven't read the comments, then you wouldn't know that Miss Tammy actually owns part of that collar! I am impressed!

Vietnam Protest 1973

It isn't too well known, but in June 1973, John and Yoko went to Washington D.C. and participated in a protest against the Vietnam War (which was still going on). They also watched some of the Watergate hearings while they were there. As far as I know, this was the last time John and Yoko were seen together in public before their separation. Here is a photo I recently found of John and Yoko in D.C. with a woman named Kay Camp.

interviewing John and Yoko

This New York City DJ was only 19 when this photo was taken and he was extremely nervous! (As I could only imagine!).

Reaction to Day Tripper

The 1966 Cleveland Beatles concert is one of my favorite. I love the fact that there was a "riot" and teenagers rushed the stage. I especially love that it happened during the song, "Day Tripper" because there is something about the beginning licks to that song that just gets my adrenaline pumping. I am obviously not the only one because it was that song that started kids to rush the stage twice during the 1966 North American Tour. If you are interested in reading about this topic, I recommend the book, The Beatles in Cleveland by Dave Schwensen.

Ciggie

How can the Beatles take a gross, disgusting habit such as smoking and make it look so cool?

Cynthia and Julian

Some more fan taken photos of Cyn taken after her and John's divorce.

Grown-up James

Sweet Baby James

Must be the early 1980's....look at the blue eye shadow. LOL!

Everybody's happy....

I have no idea who this guy with the mustache is, but he sure is happy to be photographed with Paul McCartney! I bet this guy is still talking about the day he met Paul!

1969 Abbey Road

I have always had this photo really small and sort of fuzzy. I am glad that Gina posted it on ebay this week so that I now have a better version of it.

Julian in 1997

Ringo's early fans

Windy day

Here is another photo for you "John wearing a denim jacket with wind blown hair" collection. I love how beautiful the colors on this particular photo are.

George Harrison in Brazil

Just a head above the rest

This fan just barely got Paul into the photo. But hey there he is outside his Cavendish Avenue home!

More John in 1980

John appears to be signing one of his albums. I love all of the 1980 John photos that have been popping up lately.

The day before Paul married Linda

I was lucky enough to get the book The Beatles 365 Days for free this week from Paperback Swap.com. If you aren't a member there, I do recommend becoming one because it is an awesome way to trade books and to get Beatles ones for FREE! Now I was already familiar with this book because I had checked it out of the library countless times. Here are photos that were taken on March 11, 1969 just one evening prior to Paul and Linda wedding. In the book is this quote from Carol Bedford: "I could tell just from their faces that they girls would never accept Linda. nor would they ever accept Paul getting married. He was theirs and they were his girls. as long as he was single, there was hope you might be the one... They each felt they were a special part of his life and this was about to end."

More of the velvet jacket....

The lovely Miss Tammy just posted these photos recently and I am SURE all of you are frequent visitors of the wonderful Beatles Photo blog and have seen these there. However, they are worth repeating over here at this measly little attempt of a blog to be as cool as Miss Tammy because several girls who were there in 1968 to see Paul in that beautiful red velvet jacket do read this blog and maybe if we are lucky one of them might share with us what happened on those steps!