The Beatles, the iconic British band, is set to release their final song, 'Now And Then'. The song, which began as a demo by John Lennon before his death, now includes contributions from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the late George Harrison. The song's release is accompanied by a 12-minute documentary that explains the song's creation and debunks some myths.
The documentary reveals that Lennon's 'quiet years' were filled with music. Peter Jackson's technology was used to separate Lennon's voice and piano, and McCartney initiated the song's new life by laying down a bassline. The song also features a string section recorded at Los Angeles' famed Capitol Records and arranged by Giles Martin. The remaining Beatles believe Lennon would have loved the posthumous release and the use of state-of-the-art technology.
The song includes guitar recorded by George Harrison in 1995, and vocals by John Lennon from the song's original late-70s demo. The demo was given to Paul McCartney by Yoko Ono in 1994, but was shelved due to technical issues. The release is seen as a significant event, but some believe it won't capture the energy and unity of other Beatles songs. The song's release could potentially change the way the band's legacy is viewed.
A music video for 'Now and Then', directed by Peter Jackson, is set to premiere on November 3, 2023, 24 hours after the song's release. The video will feature rare and unseen footage of The Beatles, including some provided by Pete Best, the band's original drummer.