‘The Beatles weren’t afraid of technology – Now And Then is what a divided world needs right now’

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Following The Beatles releasing a brand new track today, 25 years on from John Lennon writing the opening bars, Beatles expert Dale Roberts tells us what the new offering from the Scouse band means to fans and the people of Liverpool

‘The Beatles weren’t afraid of technology – Now And Then proves they can still rule a modern era’

It’s 45 years in the making but The Beatles have released what has been billed as their “final song” this afternoon.

The track Now And Then features all four members of the Scouse band and is the last song to be credited to Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Ringo Starr and the late John Lennon and George Harrison. The first bars of the single were written by Lennon in 1978 and the song was finally completed last year.

Dale Roberts, a qualified Beatles Tour Guide in Liverpool, who has worked for organisations such as The Cavern Club, Magical Mystery Tour and The Beatles Story, has shared his thoughts on the new track exclusively with the Mirror and what it means for the people of Liverpool.

The Beatles expert played the band’s new track for those on board The Magical Mystery tour this afternoon (

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@DaleLiverpool)

“I think it’s incredible that over 66 years since four normal, working class lads from Liverpool formed a band, that we are all still so excited by them releasing a new song,” Dale begins when discussing the new track. “I’m blown away with how they have isolated John Lennon’s vocals and cleaned it so perfectly from a tape recorder. It’s great that the lads are back together, for one last time.”

Dale, owner of Liverpool Eco Tours which focuses on progressive and sustainable tourism in Liverpool, was on board The Magical Mystery Tour as part of the Liverpool’s celebration of the track being released earlier today – with The Beatles expert set to play Now And Then for his passengers as soon as it became available to download and stream at 2pm.

“The Beatles releasing a new single is not something I expected when I entered into The Beatles tourism industry in 2015, but what a time to be alive!,” Dale tells us as he leads a busy day of celebrations in Liverpool.

“Right now the world is hurting, be that through fears about the economy, climate change or the dreadful situation we hear about daily in the Middle East. Never before have the immortal words sang by John Lennon in the song Imagine been needed,” he continues to muse.

“All You Need is Love feels ahead of it’s time, but it shows the age old problems of man and how we never learn to Give Peace A Chance. One thing that has had everyone talking this year is the rate that Artificial Intelligence has entered our day to day lives. There is worry about its impact on jobs, the world in general and how far this technology will go in hurting/damaging creativity.

Dale says the new track from The Beatles feels like ‘we have them back’ (

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@DaleLiverpool) ‘The Beatles still continue to blow us away in a completely new modern era’ (

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Popperfoto via Getty Images)

“This brings us to Now And Then a song as authentically Beatles as anything they released in the 1960s, but created with a little help from our robotic friends. The fact we have a new Beatles song is because of artificial intelligence, and this can seem scary for many, while also exciting.

“The Beatles in 1967 proved the world with Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band that they were not afraid to use technology and make the most of it, but we can’t say the same for many fans, who have struggled to embrace this new release, much like fans didn’t like the change over 50 years ago.”

Dale goes on to tell us how he is “happy about” the release but is also apprehensive of the technology used to created the track in general. “When Peter Jackson got his hands on the footage from the Let It Be sessions there was excitement amongst fans that we would get to see footage of the lads cleaned up and it didn’t disappoint,” he recalls.

“It was like we were in the room with them when we watched Get Back. Now And Then feels the same, we have them back,” Dale declares. “Vocals from John Lennon cleaned up and given to us alongside the man who is the greatest living songwriter, musician and composer to ever live, Paul McCartney.

“George Harrison would say how he didn’t like this demo at all, but he did work on it and we are only left to wonder what he would be thinking about it now. Ringo, the oldest member of the band, still keeping the beat at 83 years of age, but playing on a track that John Lennon wrote at around the age of 38.

“While the song will divide opinion, be that it’s quality or the technology used – this is the last song from a group of four lads from Liverpool that was formed 66 years ago and still continue to blow us away in a completely new modern era.”

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