The Beatles continue to etch their legacy into music history, achieving a groundbreaking milestone with their recent win for the Best Rock Performance Award on February 2nd for the song “Now and Then.” This moment marks a significant first for the Grammy Awards, as it recognizes the first-ever AI-assisted song to take home such an honor.

Originally released in November 2023, “Now and Then” finally became eligible for the Grammy voting window, showcasing the band’s timeless appeal and innovative spirit. The track itself is based on a vintage demo recorded by John Lennon in the 1970s, later enhanced with contributions from fellow bandmates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Utilizing advanced AI technology, which was not available during their previous Anthology project in the ’90s, the team worked meticulously to refine Lennon’s vocals for this remarkable release.

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In June 2023, McCartney first shared insights about “Now and Then,” referring to it as “the final Beatles record” during an appearance on Radio 4’s Today program. He elaborated on how AI played a pivotal role in “extricating” Lennon’s distinctive voice from the archival demo, enabling the band to complete the song as they envisioned it.

Later that month, McCartney sought to clarify any misconceptions regarding the use of AI in the creative process. He stated, “We’ve seen some confusion and speculation about it. To be clear, nothing has been artificially or synthetically created. It’s all real and we all play on it. We cleaned up some existing recordings ? a process which has gone on for years. We hope you love it as much as we do.”

Sean Ono Lennon?s Heartfelt Speech at the Grammy Ceremony

On this momentous occasion, Sean Ono Lennon, son of the legendary John Lennon, graciously accepted the Best Rock Performance Award on behalf of the band. This was not his first time at the Grammy Awards, as he had previously accepted another accolade for a Beatles-focused project, winning Best Boxed or Limited Edition Package for Mind Games.

As he addressed the audience, Lennon expressed his surprise at being there, stating, ?Since no one is coming up to take this award, I figured I?d come and sit in. I really didn?t expect to be accepting this award on behalf of my father?s group, The Beatles.? This sentiment highlighted the enduring impact and relevance of the Beatles’ music in contemporary culture.

He continued, “It?s really incredible, if you think about it. The Beatles have done so much incredible work and they?re still in the culture and people still listen to the music. As far as I?m concerned, it?s the greatest band of all time.? His heartfelt remarks underscored the band’s lasting legacy and the importance of their musical contributions.

Sean also mentioned, ?I think I was supposed to be here with Giles Martin, who mixed this with Paul McCartney, and he did an incredible job. I don?t know. I just want to say play The Beatles music to your kids. I feel like the world can?t afford to forget about people like The Beatles. We need this music in the world. We need peace and love and we need the magic of the ?60s to stay alive.? His words resonated with the audience, emphasizing the necessity of the Beatles? music in today?s society.

In addition to the Beatles’ historic win, the Best Rock Performance category featured strong contenders including The Black Keys with “Beautiful People (Stay High),” Green Day with “The American Dream Is Killing Me,” IDLES with “Gift Horse,” Pearl Jam with “Dark Matter,” and St. Vincent with “Broken Man.” Each nomination underscored the diversity and talent within the rock genre today.