BRITAIN:It was 40 years ago yesterday that The Beatles released their seminal album, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and it is still causing a stir - at least in the world of academia.
The album, released in the UK on June 1st, 1967, is regarded by critics and fans alike as the most influential album of all time.
On June 19th, experts from the US and the UK will gather at the University of Leeds to analyse the album. The event will examine the social and cultural impact of the album, and examine why it still holds a fascination for new audiences four decades on.
The iconic album cover and the record's "live" qualities will be discussed, while the keynote speech, by Sheila Whiteley of Salford University, will question whether its "tangerine trees and marmalade skies" set the cultural agenda for the summer of love, or was mere optimistic escapism.
Event organiser Simon Warner said: "Put simply, it's the most important album by the most important group." - (PA)