Project Description
Mimics and Influences
I like finding influences that the Beatles Monthly has had on other publications and unrelated products, often unacknowledged. So, just for fun, in no particular order in this section I’ll include any such items I spot. Seen any others?
BEATLES MONTHLY CD-ROM
To start, CD-ROM compilations of the complete run of Beatles Monthly appear from time to time. I suppose it is to be expected that they reproduce the cover style of the Monthly, like this one. As it says, “The best magazine set ever published on the Beatles”. I can’t speak for the quality of the product, except to say that I am pretty certain that it falls way short of the original paper books.
BEATLES FAN CLUBS
The Official U.K. Fan Club developed their own style and artwork for use on Club stationery. However, some international Clubs used artwork borrowed from the Beatles Book, notably America and here, from South Africa a membership card, using the “Beatle News” image from 1969.
THE BOOTLEG BEATLES
World-renowned Beatles tribute band The Bootleg Beatles produce an annual magazine / souvenir program and these two particular issues pay close homage by faithfully mimicking the front cover style.
BEATLES RECORD SLEEVES
The back covers of two Swedish record sleeves are shown here, both from 1964. They use Bob Gibson’s “Four Faces” image from the Monthly “Beatle News” banner. I wonder if there are others?
A BOOTLEG
Beatles bootleg series “Beatles at The Beeb” is another unauthorised product which takes it style from the Beatles Book for the cover of Volume 12 of the series. Of course, in repeating this image, I do not condone the distribution of such unauthorised material which I believe, if you look around the usual outlets, can be found both on vinyl and on CD.
THE BEATLES BUMPER SONGBOOK
This book has gone through several editions, but all retain the familiar front page banner. Versions exist with music for either 60 or 100 songs, embellished with drawings by the wonderful Bob Gibson, borrowed from the Monthly.
RANDALL JEWELLERY
In the 1960s Randall produced a number of pendants and brooches, licensed by NEMS. Some of their card backs featured the four faces image by Bob Gibson from the Monthly.
Nicki (or “Nicky”) Byrne was Douglas Anthony Nicholas Byrne, who set up Seltaeb in 1963 to look after merchandising for the Beatles, making himself a fortune in the process. I wonder, did Beat Publications give their consent for the use of the image? (U.K. c 1964). (Thanks: Pat Graham)
PLAYING CARDS
A modern pack of Beatles playing cards featuring the familiar “The Beatles” lettering from the Monthly Book on the box. The cards feature a variety of photos, and each suit has a Beatle King. (Worldwide Co, UK, 2004).
BEATLES RINGS
A weird one. These are sets of Beatles plastic rings, very unofficial, with crudely produced backing cards, with the rings apparently just forced through. Featuring Bob Gibson’s “Beatles News” images and one with the facsimile signatures frequently used by the Fan Club [internet images]
BEATLES TOOTHBRUSH
Neat design, another item pinching Bob’s “four heads” caricatures. From Mexico, guaranteed 100% unofficial, despite the “NEMS 1965” claim. Probably not even from 1960s, but a great fun item nevertheless. Arrrrrrriba!!
(With my thanks to Phil Harbour)
SALES CATALOGUE (GOOD HUMOUR RECORDS)
A cheeky re-drawing of the “Beatles News” banner on this dealer’s sales catalogues from 1996. Caricatures are not bad when you know who they’re meant to be! Artist unknown. Had some really nice stuff for sale, but they no longer trade, so please don’t bother them now.
CONCERT TICKET – MANILA
Another item that adapts the image from the “Beatles News” page in the early monthlies, a ticket from the Rizal Stadium in Manila, 1966 [internet image]
FRENCH CONCERT PROGRAMME
A cunning (mis-)use of the “Beatles News” banner from the Monthly, from a French concert programme for the 1964 shows at the Paris Olympia. This time copying the style, but replacing Bob’s heads (and in a different order) and adding a “Les Beatles” banner below.
THE RUTLES MONTHLY
“Nothing is real…”. The Rutles were a popular beat group who became “legends in their own lunchtime”. With some remarkable similarities in design to the Beatles Monthly, the Rutles’ own monthly magazine told you everything you didn’t need (or want) to know about the “pre-fab four”. In the U.K. fans would form orderly queues outside newsagents at the beginning of each month for the chance to buy, stamp on and then burn the books before they could be read by anyone. Here’s one that survived the purge. I haven’t read it, it’s probably crap anyway (With my thanks to Ronnie Dannelley)
DE POEZEN KRANT
Each issue of this Dutch cat magazine is in a different style and this one mimics the monthly, on every page! Indispensable. If you like cats. And speak Dutch.
”Pussy News”
The TEATLES BOOK
Hang about! What’s this? Yet another homage to the Beatles book? A collection of writings, poems, reminiscences, etc plus plenty of photos of the Beatles and friends drinking tea! Curated by Huw Spink and at the time of writing, we are up to issue 15 (currently under the title “Les Teatles Magazine”). Inspired. And actually real.
