41 h. ago 'Amazing' John Byrne painting of The Beatles achieves remarkable auction sale result

The painting by the late John Byrne shows each member of The Beatles beside a “spirit animal”

Economics

42 h. ago Rare John Byrne painting of The Beatles sells for more than £27,000

It was bought from the artist by his local parish priest.

Economics

3 d. ago Mark Wright given 'amazing tip' by Sir Elton John on being a dad after legend's emotional death admission

Presenter Mark welcomed daughter Palma into the world with Michelle Keegan earlier in March

Events

4 d. ago Maybe I’m Amazed by John Harris review – with a little help from John, Paul, George and Ringo

The Guardian journalist’s tender account of how music became a bridge between him and his autistic son, James, is full of wit and wisdomHalfway through Maybe I’m Amazed, there’s a photograph of John Harris’s son, James, with one of his heroes. James is a young-looking 10 in knee-length shorts decorated with stars. Ian Hunter of 1970s rock band Mott the Hoople stands beside him, a hand gently around his shoulder. “Sixty-nine years separate them,” Harris writes. “Here is proof of how songs and their creators find fans in the most unlikely of places.”Maybe I’m Amazed is the story of a growing child’s love of music, but it’s more than that: it’s also about how songs provided a whole world for James, and his family, after his autism diagnosis. It marks a departure for Harris, whose previous journalism, aside from his political work for the Guardian, has involved editing magazines and writing columns, reviews and other books about music. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Maybe I’m Amazed by John Harris review – a father and his autistic son bond through music

An honest and intensely moving book about the struggle of parenthood and the power of connectionOne of my favourite books growing up was my dad’s copy of The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics. I spent hours flicking through images of an eyeless, trombone-mouthed golden man swallowing naked bodies, and a full-page, black-and-white comic strip by legendary psychedelic artist Rick Griffin. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t yet listened to most of the songs – the surreal visual riffs felt like dispatches from an undiscovered country. Later, the Beatles became my favourite band. I chain-listened to the albums, read endless books, watched the movies and recited Beatles’ lore to anyone within earshot. “Oh dear,” said my mum one morning, as I reeled off an account of how a 40-piece orchestra improvised the rising crescendo in A Day in the Life, “you’ve become a Beatles bore.”Maybe I’m Amazed opens with John Harris’s 15-year-old son, James, ecstatically absorbed in a...

Politics

6 d. ago Lanarkshire's WH Smith stores to disappear from high street as firm sells 480 locations

No mention has been made of store closures or redundancies as a result of the sale and WH Smith has insisted that the high street business remains profitable.

Events

9 d. ago ‘Ronnie O’Sullivan amazed me with what he said about John Higgins in private'

John Higgins thrashed Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-3 in the 2021 Players Championship final, with the Rocket admitting at the time he just wanted to "go home" after the defeat

Politics

9 d. ago Rare painting of The Beatles by Paisley artist John Byrne set to go to auction

The artwork was bought by a Renfrew priest in the 1970s and is one of 10 pieces that will go under the hammer at auction next month.

Economics

3 w. ago Morocco off the beaten path: the best wild swimming spots, from waterfalls to turquoise lakes

Morocco is rich in amazing wild swimming spots, say Lola Culsán, John Weller and Danny Weller, the authors of a new book called Wild Morocco. They share their favourites

Politics