Paul McCartney Had Intended Re-Uniting Beatles

06-12-2005 00:00

PAUL McCARTNEY HAD PLANNED TO REUNITE BEATLES

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY planned to reunite THE BEATLES a year before JOHN LENNON was murdered, according to a newly released record contract.

In a 1979 deal with CBS Records, McCartney claimed he could again make music with Lennon, GEORGE HARRISON and RINGO STARR under the banner of The Beatles.

Details of the $10.8 million (£6 million) contract have been released to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Lennon's death on 8 December 1980 later this week.

An industry insider comments, "This is the earliest evidence of any Beatle making formal overtures towards a reunion."

Lennon was shot by assassin MARK DAVID CHAPMAN outside his New York City apartment.

Abba are at the centre of a re-union row as reclusive former ABBA star ANNI-FRID LYNGSTAD has blasted her bandmates for snubbing offers to reform.

The singer, known as FRIDA, reveals she has often considered a reunion of the Swedish supergroup but her ex-husband BENNY ANDERSSON and BJORN ULVAEUS have always turned down tours and one-off concert specials.

Speaking candidly on new DVD FRIDA, THE DVD, she explains, "I've felt that it would be fun to do something with ABBA in recent years, but, basically, they're not interested."

And she insists that the band's inactivity has led to unfair speculation about her relationship with bandmate AGNETHA FALTSKOG.

Lyngstad explains, "Our relationship is warm and sisterly."