The Beatles will release what has been billed as their final song next week on November 2.
Titled "Now and Then," the track was put together from a 1970s demo recorded by John Lennon, that surviving Beatles, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Ringo Starr, completed in 2022.
The "new" song will be released as a double A-side 7" vinyl single along with the Fab Four's debut single, "Love Me Do." It will also be included on a newly-remastered version of the Beatles' Red and Blue albums, which will be released on November 10. More information can be found here.
In a statement, both McCartney and Starr commented on the new track and how grateful they were to be able to have something new for fans more than 60 years after forming.
"There it was, John's voice, crystal clear," McCartney says. "It's quite emotional. And we all play on it, it's a genuine Beatles recording. In 2023 to still be working on Beatles music, and about to release a new song the public haven't heard, I think it's an exciting thing."
"It was the closest we'll ever come to having him back in the room so it was very emotional for all of us," adds Starr. "It was like John was there, you know. It's far out."
"Now and Then" will forever be known as the Beatles song that exists because of artificial intelligent technology. McCartney teased that they were relying on AI in order to finish the track earlier this year.
A music video for the song will be released on November 3, with more details including global premiere plans to be announced shortly.
(1/6) “NOW AND THEN. THE LAST BEATLES SONG. OUT 02.11.23. #NowAndThen
— The Beatles (@thebeatles) October 26, 2023
New expanded and mixed editions of the "Red and Blue" albums to be released 10.11.23.
Pre-order now: https://t.co/jQtFaz4Tq8 pic.twitter.com/aLS2C046Pu