The Beatles

Several locks of John Lennon's hair are on the auction block, and even though it's already going for five figures ... it's a steal as Lennon memorabilia goes.

Heritage Auction out of Dallas is hawking a 4-inch chunk of John's hair -- a hairdresser cut it off before his role in a 1967 movie called, "How I Won The War" -- and the current bid is at $12k.

Past Lennon items have gone for way more than that: his '65 Rolls Royce Phantom V sold for $2.23 MILLION, and Lennon's handwritten lyrics to "All You Need is Love" fetched $1.25 million.

So chances are the price on Lennon's locks will go through the roof too. Get your bids in now!

The bubbly '60s pop tune "Hippy Hippy Shake" is still making money -- 50 years after The Beatles grooved to it -- now there's a fight brewing over who gets to keep the cash.

At least 5 different people or businesses are claiming they're entitled to royalties from the song -- including the original writer ... according to court docs obtained by TMZ.

Universal Music -- which pays out the royalties -- filed the docs because it's not sure who rightfully deserves the dough ... and wants a judge to figure it out.

It's a nice chunk of change, too ... the song has been recorded by several different artists (including The Swinging Blue Jeans in this 1963 vid) and still gets airplay. In the last 6 months of 2013 the diddy earned $5,368 ... and Universal expects it to rake in at least another $20K in the future.

There are dozens of things that don't make sense in Lady Gaga's "G.U.Y." music video ... but TMZ has solved ... The Mystery of the Empty Coffin.

In the video, which has over 13 million views on YouTube already, there's a part where Gaga resurrects Michael Jackson, Gandhi and Jesus from the dead ... and they emerge from smoke-filled coffins. But if you watched closely, you would have noticed 4 coffins ... but only 3 resurrections.

TMZ has learned the fourth dead celeb was supposed to be John Lennon. We spoke with Alexander Karavay, who was cast for the part after submitting the photo below. He shot his scenes, but was cut from the final version.

Karavay says he's bummed he got the ax -- he'd told his family and friends he was in the video -- but he understands Gaga is an artist and perhaps it was her vision to cut him out.

We're all at the mercy of Gaga.

He also snapped a shot of he and Miley getting "high as f**" this weekend before a recording sesh.

The girl with kaleidescope red eyes.

Michael Jackson was broke as a joke when he died ... so the IRS tax attack is showing a glaring ignorance ... so claim the people who run the MJ Estate.

Sources connected with the Estate tell TMZ ... they never suggested the Beatles catalog was worth ZERO -- to the contrary they agree it's worth around $1.5 BILLION.

That said ... sources say there's a reason they put a big fat zero in the Beatles column when they filed tax returns just after Michael died. They say there was a $700 million loan taken against the purchase of the catalog, bringing the net value to $800 million. Michael and Sony were 50/50 partners ... which means Michael's share was around $400 million.

Now the debt. Michael leveraged his interest to the hilt -- he borrowed $320 million against the catalog. And He owed another $200 million in personal debt ... And that's why they put ZERO.

One bone of contention -- although the Estate values the catalog at $1.5 billion, the IRS says it's DOUBLE that amount.

Estate sources say the IRS is also off base on the issue of MJ's likeness and image, which they valued at only $2,105 at the time he died. The IRS says it's worth more like $434 million.

Our sources say you have to look back at June, 2009. They say Michael made zilch on his likeness and image for the 15 YEARS before his death -- no commercials, not even T-shirts ... no one wanted to be associated with him -- at least commercially.

And finally ... as for the Jackson 5 music collection -- the Estate says it was worth $11.2 mil when Michael died ... the IRS says $45.5 mil.

So the sources say after settling up with Motown, MJ's interest was a lot less than people think. The Estate would gladly sell Michael's rights even today for $45.5 mil ... they say they'd sell it for $30 mil!

The Michael Jackson Estate is insane for trying to value MJ's Beatles collection at ZERO for tax purposes ... so says one of the most prominent Beatles experts in the world ... who also happens to be a tax attorney.

The Estate is in a dogfight with the IRS ... which claims MJs people stiffed the government on more than a half a BILLION dollars in taxes by undervaluing assets ... including MJs interest in songs by MJ and the Beatles. The Estate says the asset is worth NOTHING. The IRS says the Estate should have declared a value of $469 million.

Beatles guru and attorney Bruce Spizer tells TMZ, "No one could value that collection at zero with a straight face." Spizer, who has written 8 books about the group that changed the world 50 years ago tonight on "The Ed Sullivan Show," says the IRS may have "slightly inflated" the value of the catalog, but believes it's definitely worth minimum $300 million and could be as much as $400 million.

Spizer says, "For the Estate to list the value at zero, they lose all credibility."

Reps for the MJ Estate tell TMZ, they dispute the entire IRS analysis of MJs assets. The reps say they used nationally-recognized experts to determine value while the IRS wallows in speculation.

Rod Stewart is forever bitter about one of his contemporaries -- maybe the only one that outshined him ... The Beatles ... because he says he "COULDN'T GIVE A F**K" about a Beatles-ish reunion.

It's a little hard to hear the photog because another pap is talking over him. But he asks Rod what he thinks of the Beatles getting back together.

Obviously, the photog is a little behind on not-so-current events ... but Paul and Ringo might perform together on 'Letterman' next month to mark the 50th anniversary of the Beatles Ed Sullivan debut.

Unclear why Rod has beef. He's outlived half the group.

... the Beatles. Duh.

BUT ... Billy Bob Thornton says if he HAD to name the greatest band of all time -- but couldn't pick the Fab 4 -- he knows exactly which group he would pick.

Hint: BBT's (second) favorite band was huuuge in the '70s ... but never scored a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 list. They did have a #2 ... with the word "Man" in the title.

Second Hint: The group was founded (and named after) two brothers.

Former Beatles bandmates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr dined together for the second time in just a matter of days ... and this time they brought along guitar legend Joe Walsh.

The three music legends hit up Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills last night, just days after Ringo and Paul dined at Cecconi's.

Despite being the last two Beatles alive, Ringo and Paul haven't always had a great relationship, with Ringo once saying, "We’re the only two remaining Beatles, although he likes to think he’s the only one."

Weed master Tommy Chong has smoked out his fair share of celebs, so when we asked him who is the ONE famous person he's dying to get high with ... it's no surprise he named the one Beatle he hasn't smoked with.

Chong was out walking his dog Saturday in L.A. and took the time to discuss a slew of topics with our photog: getting high with his cat ... the potency of edibles (they are very, very potent). You get the idea.

But before you watch the clip, try and guess which one in our poll.

Why did the sexy Olympic rifle shooter cross the road? TO REENACT THE MOST FAMOUS BEATLES PHOTO OF ALL TIME.

The gorgeous rifle-shooting 21-year-old deadeye Amanda Furrer struck a pose on the world-renowned Abbey Road yesterday in honor of the famed Beatles photograph -- which was snapped exactly 43 years ago ... on August 8th, 1969.

Furrer – who placed 15th for U.S.A. in the women’s 50m rifle competition – took the pic during a little sightseeing excursion from the athletes' village ... IN HEELS.

According to People.com -- the 68-year-old former Beatle popped the question to 51-year old Shevell -- a businesswoman from Jersey.

The couple has been dating since they met in the Hamptons in 2007. This will be the third marriage for McCartney and the second for Shevell.

Here's the 24-year-old in London back in 1964 (left) -- and 46 years later, the 70-year-old version at a concert in NYC on Wednesday (right).

Let it be.

TMZ has learned that Kelly -- and all winners from seasons past, except Fantasia -- will be back performing on the "American Idol" stage for tonight's finale.

Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks are headed to the Kodak Theater, but Fantasia Barrino won't be, since she is headlining Oprah Winfrey's production of "The Color Purple" on Broadway.

Sources tell TMZ Gladys Knight will perform "Midnight Train to Georgia" with the top six female finalists, while Smokey Robinson will join the top six male finalists for a rendition of "Ooh Baby Baby." Most recently booted finalist Melinda Doolittle will sing with brother and sister gospel duo BeBe and CeCe Winans, while the hairiffic Sanjaya duets with Aerosmith's Joe Perry to the Kinks' "You Really Got Me." It's sure to be an unbeweavable night!

Beat-boxing finalist Blake Lewis will show off his mad skillz against rapper Doug E. Fresh, and then duet with fellow finalist and probable winner, Jordin Sparks, to the Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There." Since producers were able to finally get clearance to use Beatles music, a medley of Fab Four hits will be performed as well.

Luckily, we're told no one is expected to be exhumed a la Elvis on tonight's finale!

UPDATE: A well-placed source tells TMZ that anti-establishment rockers Green Day sold out and will be on the "American Idiot" "Idol" finale too!