Beatles fans stood in line at some London bookshops to get the first copies of The Beatles Anthology, just released in Britain.
Sir Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr came together to compile the 367-page book. John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono also contributed.
"Many of the customers were coming in and grabbing two or more copies at a time. We also noticed there were quite a few overseas customers who might have thought it was easier to buy the book here than at home," said Kim Hardie, of Waterstone's bookshops.
But in the band's home town of Liverpool, Paul Ashcroft, 26, was the only person standing in line at a W.H. Smith store when it opened at midnight to sell the book. "The people of Liverpool have let us down. It's part of our heritage," said a store spokesman. The shop sold four more copies before closing again.
Publishers said around 1.5 million copies had been ordered before publication.
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Guitars, photos, clothing and other memorabilia fill a museum honouring John Lennon that will open in Tokyo today on what would have been the ex-Beatle's 60th birthday.
Lennon was shot dead in New York in 1980 at age 40. His killer Mark David Chapman lost his first bid for parole last week.
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Richard Gere has sold his Malibu spread for close to his $US10 million asking price.
It includes a three-bedroom house on a bluff, two guest houses, a cottage, 30m of private Pacific beach, tennis court and the requisite swimming pool. The actor lives mostly in the Big Apple now with actress Carey Lowell and their baby boy.
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Sylvester Stallone has launched his new film Get Carter 2000 at a US premiere. Get Carter 2000 features Stallone, 54, in the lead role as a New York mobster who returns to Los Angeles to avenge his brother's death. The film also stars British actress Miranda Richardson as Stallone's love interest. Mickey Rourke appears as a slick LA gangster. British actor Michael Caine, 67, enjoys a bit-part role as a sleazy barman.
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German supermodel Claudia Schiffer has skirted questions about marriage plans but revealed she was becoming increasingly partial to the odd drink as part of a new, more relaxed lifestyle.
"After 13 tiring years on the catwalk, I like to treat myself to the odd glass of good red wine in the evening," said Schiffer.
Recently turned 30, Schiffer has said she wants to take time to enjoy life more - a remark interpreted by some German media as hinting that she plans to settle down and tie the knot with her British art dealer boyfriend Tim Jeffries.
But, asked whether wedding bells were imminent, Schiffer was tightlipped: "I'm not naming any date."
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