The Rock Band video game franchise is here to stay, and Harmonix unveiled their first artist-specific version, Beatles: Rock Band, at the E3 conference yesterday in LA. Some special guests were on hand to make the intro.

It was a Beatles reunion, with Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney sharing the stage at this morning's Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. The two living members of the legendary band dropped in on the Microsoft press conference to show off a new video game: the Beatles: Rock Band, developed by Harmonix and published by MTV Networks. [snip] Yoko Ono, widow of John Lennon, and Olivia Harrison, widow of lead guitarist George Harrison, also took their bows at the press conference.

This non-gamer who gets repeatedly sucked into a Rock Band frenzy at parties is hoping some of his friends who might read this go out and buy this game when it comes out September 9th.

Great producer and unfortunately deranged madman Phil Spector was convicted of second-degree murder today for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson in 2003. After a 2007 trial that resulted in a 10-2 deadlocked jury, Spector and his defense team weren't able to convince any jurors that Spector, who has a history of violence toward women both with and without guns, merely witnessed the Clarkson's suicide at his Alhambra mansion. He faces a possible 25 years in prison.

Spector is known for his "wall-of-sound" recording technique of multiple layers of vocals and orchestration which set the precedent for the high-density recordings that cover 95% of the pop and rock charts. This George Harrison track from All Things Must Pass is an exemplary favorite.