Going virtual

Meanwhile the Fab Four have been recreated in virtual forms in 'The Beatles: Rock Band', a game that lets players join the band as they springboard from gigs in their native Liverpool, northwest England, to global stardom.

Players strum away at plastic replicas of guitars played by Lennon, Harrison and McCartney, keep the beat on a version of Starr's drum kit, or try out Beatles harmonies.

Forty-five songs are included with the videogame, and more of the bands' tunes will be sold as digital downloads from the internet.

The 'Abbey Road' album will be released in October, followed by 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' in November and 'Rubber Soul' in December.

The videogame will be available for play on the three major consoles: Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, and Nintendo's Wii.

A 30-second clip has been produced to promote the game, using archive footage, actors and computer trickery to bring the famous 'Abbey Road' cover to life.

"The project is a fun idea which broadens the appeal of The Beatles and their music," McCartney said.

The concept for the videogame was honed with input from McCartney and Starr as well as from Beatles widows Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison.

"How wonderful that The Beatles' legacy will find its natural progression into the 21st century through the computerised world we live in," Starr said.

"The game is good, the graphics are very good — and we were great."