Health Scare.

There's encouraging news on Tony Sheridan -- the singer whom The Beatles backed on several early-60s recordings. He's re-gained consciousness after a serious health scare.

A friend of the singer passed along a statement from the family to Examiner.com, saying, “Now we can all have a Happy New Year 2013. Tony Sheridan is awake. Official.”

Sheridan's most recent U.S. appearance was at October's San Diego Beatlefair