Great Britain's heritage protection agency, The National Trust, says it may buy and preserve the Abbey Road studios, the Beatles' recording home. The proposal follows an outpouring of concern over its possible demolition.

And now two more potential buyers have emerged: Andrew Lloyd Webber and his longtime lyricist, Tim Rice. In apparently unrelated statements to the British news media, each expressed an interest in purchasing the Abbey Road studios.

Word that cash-strapped record company EMI is putting the studio building up for sale has been greeted by a wave of concern about over its possible demolition. EMI has not confirmed the report.

"It's not often that the public spontaneously suggests that we should acquire a famous building," Trust spokesman John Hewitt said. "However, Abbey Road recording studios appear to be very dear to the nation's heart."

The Beatles and producer George Martin in the Abbey Road studios, late 1960s.

McCartney, who owns a house near the studios, said he would be delighted if the building could be saved. He said some people long associated with the studio are considering an effort to preserve it.

McCartney did not, however, offer to put up the cash himself — the studios are thought to be worth between $16 million and $50 million.

The National Trust already owns the boyhood homes of McCartney and his songwriting partner, John Lennon, which have become major tourist attractions in Liverpool.

Abbey Road has become an important part of Beatles lore, in part because of the 1969 album named after the recording studio. The crosswalk in front of the building was immortalized on the album cover, and many fans visit the site each year.

Since The Beatles' heyday, Abbey Road has been one of the world's most famous rock music studios, used by artists like Pink Floyd, McCartney, George Harrison, Jeff Beck, Radiohead and others.

But EMI has been unable to find a buyer for the studio, in part because recording technology now permits many artists to record their own sessions at home using personal computers.

Eight years after his death. George Harrison finally has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Hundreds of fans and friends, including bandmate Paul McCartney, turned out for yesterday's ceremony. Also at the unveiling were Harrison's widow Olivia, his son Dhani, Eric Idle, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and actor Tom Hanks.

Here's a video clip:

Olivia Harrison praised her husband at the event.

"We all have deep feelings for George because he was such a deep-feeling person," she told the crowd. "Once you'd met him you couldn’t help but be drawn into his world. And he wanted to be in your world too."

Harrison's Beatles bandmate McCartney called the ceremony "wonderful", while Hanks also paid tribute to Harrison.

"Every record was an event, every cut was an opera, the entire story told ours," he said. "All things must pass, sure, but George is going to live forever."

Harrison died of lung cancer in 2001 at age 58.

The unveiling of the star came on the same day as an announcement that a new collection of some of Harrison's best-loved songs is to be released in June.

'Let It Roll: Songs By George Harrison' will feature music from Harrison's solo recording career, including 'My Sweet Lord', 'Isn't It A Pity', 'Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)' and 'Got My Mind Set On You'.

Three Harrison-penned Beatle tracks, 'Something', 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' and 'Here Comes The Sun', recorded live at his 1971 Concert For Bangladesh, will also appear on the album, which will be released on June 16.

Here's the video:

An all-star concert to benefit meditation brought Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr together for their first on-stage performance in seven years.

Link to the story in Rolling Stone.