First John, then George, now Billy. Okay, okay, Billy Preston wasn't exactly an official Beatle, but his presence at the sessions for the Let It Be album loosened up band tensions and probably added a few months to the Fab Four's lifespan. Sometimes called the "black Beatle" or the "fifth Beatle," Preston was one of two outsiders--the other being fellow keyboardist Nicky Hopkins, who died twelve years ago--to play with both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Another piece of trivia: he was Saturday Night Live's first musical guest. In addition to such Beatles tracks as "Revolution," "Get Back," and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)," Preston played on some the best Stones' songs, "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" and "Memory Motel," and arguably the best Bob Dylan album, Blood on the Tracks. His last session work appears on Stadium Arcadium, the new Red Hot Chilli Peppers' album. Preston, as his work with the Stones and Beatles proved, could rock. He proved through his own work that he could get funky ("Nothing from Nothing"), go gospel ("That's the Way God Planned It"), and get sappy (he co-wrote "You Are So Beautiful"). Billy Preston, a giant smile escaping from a giant afro, rest in peace.

Hey Dan. You are wrong. Brian Jones played for the stones (obviously ) and played sax on "You Know My Name....Look up the Number". He died in 1969 of swimming pool poisoning.

Ryan: Note my use of the word "outsider." Your "correction" stands corrected.

Brian Jones played with the Beatles and the Stones.

Billy Preston played superlatively gorgeous piano on "Angie," the only Stones song I absolutely love.

Ryan: I realize that, and realized that when I carefully selected the word "outsider" to separate Billy Preston and Nicky Hopkins from people who were actual members, i.e., non-outsiders, of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. As a member of one of the two said groups, Brian Jones is not an "outsider"--something you confirmed in your first post by noting Jones's membership in the Stones. As members of neither the Rolling Stones nor the Beatles, Hopkins and Preston are "outsiders." Although many outsiders have played instruments on Beatles or Stones songs, only two--Preston and Hopkins--have played on Beatles and Stones songs.

Joshua Tree just came out.
Ryan: Bono lifted! Bono lifted!
what?

He also played on Tom Petty's "Two Gunslingers" and Big Audio Dynamite's "Can't Wait". Both songs are best played loud, preferably at 2AM and sung along to when your completely blotto.