2000
Feb. 1: VH1 airs a movie speculating on a one-night reunion meeting by John and Paul. Called "Two Of Us," it starred Aidan Quinn as Paul and Jared Harris as Lennon. It was directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, who also directed "Let It Be."
March 7: In a surprise appearance, Paul gives the induction speech for new Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame inductee James Taylor at the ceremony at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. "I love him. He's a really beautiful guy," McCartney says. "We had a lot of really good times back then, I think." It is later revealed that the rehearsal for the traditional jam session included the song "Long Tall Sally," but with no confirmation of who was to sing it. Paul did not stay for the jam and the song was not performed during the jam that took place. The New York Daily News reported that after the Hall of Fame ceremony, Paul, still in his tux, twist and shouted the night away in a New York bar called Hogs & Heifers. The paper, which also included a photo in its print edition, said he was accompanied by his daughter, Heather, though other sources said later it was actually Heather Mills, a model he'd met in November for whom he'd contributed backup vocals on a charity single. He was enticed into dancing by a barkeep, who, after his initial refusal, taunted him by first climbing up on the bar, pushing back her cowboy hat, putting a thumb on her silver belt buckle and then, using a megaphone, having the jukebox silenced. Then she said, 'Mr. McCartney, we have a tradition here that only women can dance on the bar. But we're willing to break that tradition — for one knight.'' And he did, to Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," reportedly also joining in with the record at one point. The barmaid said, "He knows how to shake. He had his arm around me. He was just a regular guy. He was so cool."
March 16: Paul finally confirmed what he had previously denied and the press has suspected since news of his association with Heather Mills first broke in November: He and Heather Mills are "an item." "Yes we're very good friends. She's a very impressive woman. We are an item." But, he asked the media to let the couple have their privacy, saying, "What we don't need at this stage is photographers lurking in bushes. If this is to develop, then give us a chance ... I'm not a politician and we're not spies. I don't want to be surrounded by photographers because that could wreck something." Paul met Mills after she gave a speech at a charity awards ceremony.
April 11: A remixed version of John Lennon's "Imagine" is released in the U.S. on CD. Also released: a video, "Gimme Some Truth: The Making of the "Imagine" Album" on video and DVD. The DVD contains 5.1 mixes and extra footage.
May: Early reports say a new Beatles album, made up of Beatles No. 1 hits, is due by the end of the year.
May 2: At a press conference, Ringo announces plans for his sixth All-Starr Band tour featuring band members Eric Carmen, Dave Edmunds, Jack Bruce, Simon Kirke and Mark Rivera.
Oct. 5: "The Beatles Anthology Book," a self-written book of recollections taken from the unedited interviews done for the the video "Anthology," is released worldwide, retailing for a list price of $60. It promptly hits No. 1 on the best-seller lists.
Oct. 9: Reissues of "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" and "Double Fantasy" are released. The original albums are remastered and augmented with bonus tracks.
Nov. 13: The Beatles' "1" album is released. The album, which contains 27 No. 1 Beatles songs on one CD, skyrockets to the top of the charts and astounds retailers around the world as it sets marketing records.
Nov. 13: On the same day the Beatles "1" is released, the Beatles official website, http://www.thebeatles.com, opens. For the site, themed for the "1" album, the surviving Beatles and Yoko Ono, plus an international team of website designers, linked each track on the album with various multimedia. The graphically intensive site sets a new standard as not being for the weak of broadband.
Nov. 15: George's assailant was found innocent Wednesday by reason of insanity. Mr Justice Astill ordered that the assailant should remain at the Scott Clinic in Rainhill, Merseyside indefinitely until a mental health review tribunal decides he can be released. George was not in court, but his son, Dhani, accompanied by his mother, Olivia, read a statement that said, in part, "The prospect of him being released back into society is abhorrent to us. We hope that the authorities will act with the utmost responsibility in avoiding it in future and allow us to be consulted before reaching any conclusion. We will ask the Home Secretary to notify us of any attempt to release him. We firmly believe that the victims of crimes of violence should have the right to be heard at all appropriate times ... We will now continue re-building our lives and hope that the growing violence in our society can be counteracted by the goodness that resides in most people and in the world." The Harrisons had made a formal request they be notified if an application was submitted for the assailant's release, but this was turned down. Astill said that was a question for the mental health review board. It was revealed, reported the Guardian, that the attacker wrote a letter of apology to the Harrisons. "I wish to say how sorry I am for the alarm, distress and injury that I have caused when I was ill. I thought my delusions were real and that everything that I was experiencing was some kind of witchcraft." The Guardian also said he's now considered "stable," but will need drug treatment for the rest of his life.
Nov. 22: Paul is named the richest man in rock 'n roll in a poll by Business Age magazine. His wealth is estimated at £500 million. Sir Elton John is second at £156m. George Harrison comes in 10th at £86.9m.
December: In interviews with Billboard with editor Timothy White and to Reuters, George Harrison reveals a new album is in the works and could be released at the end of 2001. He said, "It definitely won't be called 'Portrait Of A Leg End,'" the title he used in his June, 1999, interview with White. And, he said, "It's definitely going to be 'Volume One' -- it's not going to be the end." He also told Reuters that the new album, which includes contributions from his son Dhani and drummer Jim Keltner, will be basically George playing his own instruments. ``My music doesn't seem to belong to any particular period ... I just make it the same way as we made it back in the Sixties, which is analog tapes, microphones and guitars, bass, drums, pianos.'' He also revealed plans to reissue his catalog with bonus tracks and outtakes, starting with "All Things Must Pass." "I thought I'd cash in on the craze and put out all my old tracks!" He also said he eventually plans to reissue his Warner Bros. catalog and his Traveling Wilburys material.
Dec. 1: The reissued "A Hard Day's Night" finally opens in New York and Los Angeles, then a week later around the country. The opening came after a long delay, caused in part by the death of Walter Shenson's wife, then later Shenson himself.
Dec. 3: NBC airs a TV movie, "John Lennon: In My Life," starring Phillip McQuillan as John.