shyGirl
Feb 02, 2002, 01:28 PM
http://www.femail.co.uk/pages/standard/article.html?in_article_id=97725&in_page_id=119
Julian Lennon could be heading for an angry clash with Sir Paul McCartney after recording a Beatles song for a TV commercial.
A 30-second snippet of When I'm 64 is being used in an advertisement for U. S. insurance giant Allstate.
The move by John Lennon's son will infuriate McCartney and could also reopen his rift with Michael Jackson, who owns the publishing rights to around 250 Beatles songs and gave permission for the tune to be used commercially.
McCartney and Ringo Starr have long made it clear they do not want any of their music used in adverts.
They once issued a joint statement saying: 'We are not in the business of singing jingles. We do not peddle sneakers, pantyhose or anything else.'
Last night, Julian Lennon's agent confirmed the ad track had been recorded but appeared unconcerned at the prospect of a rift between the two men.
He said: 'As far as we are concerned they would not have to talk about it because there is no need to.'
It is the first time Julian has recorded a Beatles song and Allstate is boasting it is 'one of only a handful of companies ever to gain the rights to use a Beatles song for commercial purposes'.
McCartney lost control of rights to the songs in 1985 when Jackson paid £50million for the back catalogue, beating a joint bid by the ex-Beatle and Lennon's widow Yoko Ono.
The sale led to a feud and McCartney - who recorded two singles with Jackson in the 1980s -is reportedly still furious with his former friend. A number of advertisements featuring Beatles tunes have followed.
In 1987, Revolution was used to advertise Nike trainers after the company paid about £166,000 for one advert.
Jackson also allowed Good Day Sunshine to advertise Oriel cookies, and All You Need Is Love was used by National Panasonic.
Such was his irritation that McCartney later announced he would meet with the American singer and personally appeal to him to stop.
He said: 'What Michael is doing cheapens songs which mean a lot not only to me but to a generation of Beatles fans.
'I thought Revolution was a serious song with a serious meaning - not a jingle to sell sneakers.'
But matters worsened when Jackson refused to sell back the rights or increase his royalties, despite stories that Yoko had re-negotiated the share due to her late husband.
Last year it was reported that Jackson was planning to sell the rights to cover legal bills and help with the upkeep of his Neverland ranch in California. However, he later denied the claims, saying: 'I want to clarify a silly rumour: The Beatles catalogue is not for sale, has not been for sale and will never be for sale.'
Meanwhile, the ads have continued, and the fact that the latest one has been recorded by Lennon's son is likely to be even harder for McCartney to accept.
Although credited as a collaboration, When I'm 64 was McCartney's own composition.
He originally wrote it for a musical when he was 16 and it was resurrected for the Sgt Pepper album when, as Lennon said, it was still only 'half a song'.
McCartney added new lyrics and recorded it largely solo, with help from George Martin on the arrangement of clarinets.
However, the song caused friction with both Lennon and George Harrison. In 1980, Lennon said: 'I would never even dream of writing a tune like tha'.'
McCartney, who is currently abroad with fiancee Heather Mills, was unavailable for comment yesterday.
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Song of the moment-Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End
Julian Lennon could be heading for an angry clash with Sir Paul McCartney after recording a Beatles song for a TV commercial.
A 30-second snippet of When I'm 64 is being used in an advertisement for U. S. insurance giant Allstate.
The move by John Lennon's son will infuriate McCartney and could also reopen his rift with Michael Jackson, who owns the publishing rights to around 250 Beatles songs and gave permission for the tune to be used commercially.
McCartney and Ringo Starr have long made it clear they do not want any of their music used in adverts.
They once issued a joint statement saying: 'We are not in the business of singing jingles. We do not peddle sneakers, pantyhose or anything else.'
Last night, Julian Lennon's agent confirmed the ad track had been recorded but appeared unconcerned at the prospect of a rift between the two men.
He said: 'As far as we are concerned they would not have to talk about it because there is no need to.'
It is the first time Julian has recorded a Beatles song and Allstate is boasting it is 'one of only a handful of companies ever to gain the rights to use a Beatles song for commercial purposes'.
McCartney lost control of rights to the songs in 1985 when Jackson paid £50million for the back catalogue, beating a joint bid by the ex-Beatle and Lennon's widow Yoko Ono.
The sale led to a feud and McCartney - who recorded two singles with Jackson in the 1980s -is reportedly still furious with his former friend. A number of advertisements featuring Beatles tunes have followed.
In 1987, Revolution was used to advertise Nike trainers after the company paid about £166,000 for one advert.
Jackson also allowed Good Day Sunshine to advertise Oriel cookies, and All You Need Is Love was used by National Panasonic.
Such was his irritation that McCartney later announced he would meet with the American singer and personally appeal to him to stop.
He said: 'What Michael is doing cheapens songs which mean a lot not only to me but to a generation of Beatles fans.
'I thought Revolution was a serious song with a serious meaning - not a jingle to sell sneakers.'
But matters worsened when Jackson refused to sell back the rights or increase his royalties, despite stories that Yoko had re-negotiated the share due to her late husband.
Last year it was reported that Jackson was planning to sell the rights to cover legal bills and help with the upkeep of his Neverland ranch in California. However, he later denied the claims, saying: 'I want to clarify a silly rumour: The Beatles catalogue is not for sale, has not been for sale and will never be for sale.'
Meanwhile, the ads have continued, and the fact that the latest one has been recorded by Lennon's son is likely to be even harder for McCartney to accept.
Although credited as a collaboration, When I'm 64 was McCartney's own composition.
He originally wrote it for a musical when he was 16 and it was resurrected for the Sgt Pepper album when, as Lennon said, it was still only 'half a song'.
McCartney added new lyrics and recorded it largely solo, with help from George Martin on the arrangement of clarinets.
However, the song caused friction with both Lennon and George Harrison. In 1980, Lennon said: 'I would never even dream of writing a tune like tha'.'
McCartney, who is currently abroad with fiancee Heather Mills, was unavailable for comment yesterday.
------------------
Song of the moment-Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End