Peter Jackson Says More New Music by The Beatles is “Conceivable”
Peter Jackson’s recent work with The Beatles, particularly on the new track ‘Now And Then’, has sparked excitement among fans and music enthusiasts. The filmmaker, renowned for his directorial role in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ series, provided some intriguing insights into his collaboration with surviving Beatles members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
Peter Jackson’s involvement in bringing new Beatles music to life has taken fans by storm. ‘Now And Then’ is a unique addition to the Beatles’ catalogue, created from an old John Lennon demo tape. Jackson used cutting-edge AI technology similar to that featured in his documentary ‘Get Back’ to enhance and separate voices in archival recordings, ensuring the track met the high standards of the legendary band.
In an interview, Jackson hinted at the possibility of more unreleased Beatles gems waiting to be discovered in the vast archives he delved into while working on ‘Get Back.’ The eight-hour docuseries provided a treasure trove of material, with 60 hours of footage and 150 hours of audio to sift through. Jackson’s creative approach and the capabilities of AI technology opened up exciting new possibilities for Beatles fans.
“We can take a performance from Get Back, separate John and George, and then have Paul and Ringo add a chorus or harmonies,” Jackson explained. “You might end up with a decent song,” he added, acknowledging that this is more of a “fanboy” dream for now.
Image Courtesy: Rolling Stone
‘Now And Then’ started as a simple demo by John Lennon, featuring just his piano and vocals. After Lennon’s untimely death, his wife Yoko Ono handed over the recording to McCartney, George Harrison, and Starr in 1994, alongside demos for ‘Free As A Bird’ and ‘Real Love.’ Those two demos became part of The Beatles’ ‘Anthology’ project in the mid-’90s, but ‘Now And Then’ remained elusive due to technological limitations.
The release of ‘Now And Then’ was a long-awaited moment for Beatles fans. McCartney and Starr hinted at its imminent arrival by sharing images of a cassette tape on social media and projecting the news in Liverpool, the Fab Four’s hometown. Since its release, the song has garnered immense popularity, and it’s even on track to become the band’s 18th ‘Number One’ single.
Image Courtesy: Pitchfork
The collaborative spirit that Jackson brought to this project is evident, as he emphasized the importance of sharing a Beatles song with the world. “With the world in the state it is,” Jackson said, “we need the Beatles to appear again as if a flying saucer has touched down, and they’ve got off and are providing us with their one last song to cheer us up.”
The future of Beatles releases remains uncertain, but Jackson’s comments make it clear that the idea of more music from the band is “conceivable.” Whether it’s through further AI enhancements, collaborations, or the discovery of hidden gems in the archives, the possibility of new Beatles tracks is something fans will eagerly anticipate.
Image Courtesy: WIRED
In the meantime, fans can enjoy the newly released ‘Now And Then’ and look forward to expanded editions of ‘1962-1966 (The Red Album)’ and ‘1967-1970 (The Blue Album)’ mixed in stereo and Dolby.
So, while we can’t say for certain what the future holds, one thing is clear: the Beatles’ music will continue to resonate and bring joy to fans around the world, just as it always has.
-Britney Jones
