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.

Plastic Ono Band
	Artist: John Lennon

Tonight we raise our glasses to John Lennon. This weekend marks the 32nd anniversary of his death.

Let It Be
	Artist: The Beatles

Happy Birthday John Lennon.

Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon
	Artist: John Lennon

We miss you John.

Happy Summer Solstice! Hope y'all enjoyed this the longest day of the year. Here's a song that has nothing to do with that, but is a killer nonetheless. Recorded live in 1972, Donny Hathaway slays this version of the John Lennon classic. What's your favorite live track?

Rest In Peace.

Imagine
	Artist: John Lennon

Happy Birthday John Lennon!

I ran across this mashup of John Lennon's Imagine and Van Halen's Jump the other day and thought it was clever and pretty dang cool. If nothing else, a mashup like this could make you see the familiar in a whole different light. What do you guys think? Blasphemy? Great? Blah?

The Beatles (The White Album)
	Artist: Beatles

This week has been a long one and this song keeps running through my head. John Lennon: "One of my favorite tracks. I just like the sound of it, and I sing it well". Agreed. Dig the Mono version.

And our sister site Newstalgia has for its weekend concert (and in honor of the residents of New Orleans) Dr. John at Mardi Gras, 1975.

What are you listening to this Saturday night?

Rock critic Robert Christgau deemed it "the most beautiful song in the English language". Allmusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine listed it as "possibly the most beautiful song of the rock and roll era." I consider it the second greatest pop song ever written, behind John Lennon's 'In My Life'. Dig it.

PS. Our sister site Newstalgia has for its Backstage Weekend, Mike Raven's Rhythm & Blues Show With Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames And The Rolling Stones - 1964