NME News

Wu-Tang Clan get clearance to use first-ever Beatles sample

Wu Tang Clan

Wu Tang Clan

Rap supergroup push back album release to 'make history'

Wu Tang Clan have announced that they've been given permission to use a sample of a song by The Beatles for the first time ever.

The rap supergroup originally said that they were covering The Beatles' 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' with George Harrison's son Dhani Harrison, as previously reported.

Now the band have revealed that they've been given permission to use a sample of the song in their cover version.

In a message posted today (October 2) on their website, the band wrote, "Special thanks to Danny [sic] Harrison & Erykah Badu for helping bring this song to life!! Also thanks to The Harrison Estate & The Beatles for helping make this possible!!"

The band also said that they're pushing back the release date of their new album, '8 Diagrams', from November 13 to December 4 "due to the magnitude of the sample and the History being made."

Meanwhile, the band have announced several dates and cities of an autumn tour. The exact venues are expected to be announced shortly.

The tour dates are:

Miami, FL TBA (October 20)
Atlanta, GA TBA (21)
North Carolina TBA (22)
Vermont TBA (23)
Connecticut TBA (24)
Baltimore, MD TBA (25)
Boston, MA TBA (26)
New York, NY TBA (27)
New Jersey TBA (28)
Cincinnati, OH TBA (30)
Madison, WI TBA (31)
Detroit, MI TBA (November 1)
Chicago, IL TBA (3)
Milwaukee, WI TBA (4)
Memphis, TN TBA (5)
Oklahoma City, OK TBA (7)
Dallas, TX TBA (8)
Austin, TX TBA (10)
Denver, CO TBA (11)
Phoenix, AZ TBA (14)
Utah TBA (15)
Las Vegas, NV TBA (16)
Los Angeles, CA TBA (17)
San Francisco, CA TBA (18)
Portland, OR TBA (20)
Hawaii TBA (23)


--By our Los Angeles staff.
Find out more about NME.

Add your comment

NME Alerts

Get NME news delivered direct to your desktop. Find out more

This Week's Issue
  • NME Magazine - The ultimate guide to the week in music
  • The ultimate guide to the week in music
  • NME Magazine - Subscribe now and save up to £45!
Please sign in

Forgot your password?

Register with MyNME

Every Tuesday and Friday

  • Up-to-the-minute news stories
  • The best new music and free downloads
  • Video interviews, photo galleries, competitions and more
  • Album and track reviews for the week ahead
  • Essential gigs in your area