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is the news section
of The Beatles News and Information Service. It includes all the
latest Beatles news edited by Richard Porter with the help our correspondants
throughout the world. Our WWW version has the benefit of being updated
regularly.
ABC's "The Beatles Revolution" Looks At The Most Influential Band In Pop History, Friday, Nov. 17
Provocative, contemporary insights from the most influential voices in music, entertainment, film, literature and politics highlight "The Beatles Revolution," an all-new, two-hour special airing FRIDAY, NOV. 17 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.
From the network that brought viewers the groundbreaking "The Beatles Anthology," "The Beatles Revolution" -- part musical celebration, part documentary -- examines how much of the world we know in 2000 was inspired by the ideas the Beatles popularized during the six years they commanded the world's attention. The special is also a portrait of the movers and shakers of today, our current heroes, who talk about the remarkable influence the band had, both on them as individuals and on the world around them.
Along with these fresh insights, "The Beatles Revolution" captures the sights and sounds of a band and an era, with classic Beatles songs that still sound new today, and with never-before-seen film footage gathered from around the world, culled from the exclusive Apple archives and from private collections.
Interviews (in alphabetical order) include Buzz Aldrin, Tim Allen, Ben and Jerry, Jeff Bezos, Bono, Ed Burns, Phil Collins, Cameron Crowe, Clive Davis, Marianne Faithful, Milos Forman, Al Green, Matt Groening, Tom Hayden, Tommy Hilfiger, Kate Hudson, Eric Idle, Michael Kamen, Ken Kesey, Lenny Kravitz, John Lasseter, Mike Love, George Martin, Ricky Martin, Mike Myers, 'N Sync, Meshell Ndgeocello, Yury Pelyushonok, Keith Richards, Salman Rushdie, Anoushka Shankar, Sting, Pete Townshend, Christy Turlington, Twiggy, Tony Tyler, Wendy Wasserstein and Jann Wenner.
The special opens in pre-Beatles America, a world of crew cuts, Bermuda shorts and "Leave It to Beaver." But in 1963, while England was being transformed by a phenomenon called Beatlemania, the United States was shaken by the assassination of a beloved president.
In a world where timing is everything, the darkness lifted just three months later when the Beatles' youthful energy and optimism were broadcast to the nation on "The Ed Sullivan Show." It was the musical equivalent of "The Big Bang" and the cultural universe it set into motion is still expanding today. The Beatles were initially seen as the latest in a long line of teen idols, harmless fun for kids. But the Beatles refused to stay in the box designed for them, and by the day in 1965 when John Lennon declared the band "bigger than Jesus," the culture wars were on.
The Beatles were at the center of a new crossover between pop music and the worlds of film, art, fashion and politics. If London was the center of the world, the Beatles were the epicenter. The band traveled to India to study Transcendental Meditation . . . and took the interest of a generation with them. They helped popularize ideas about yoga, meditation and health food. But the Beatles contained all the contradictions of their audience. John Lennon's psychedelic Rolls Royce was the proto-yuppie status symbol. And the band's incredible worldwide popularity laid the groundwork for today's celebrity mania -- and its dark side . . . reflected in Charles Manson's eerie interest in the "White Album" and, ultimately, John Lennon's murder by a deranged fan.
Rudy Bednar ("Hopkins 24/7," "Vanished"), Bill Flanagan (VH1's "Legends," VH1's "Storytellers") and David Saltz ("The Beatles Anthology," "ABC In Concert") are co-executive producers, and Richard Gerdau ("The Century: America's Time") and Oren Jacoby ("The Irish In America") are producers of this special, co-produced by ABC Entertainment and VH1.
Pictures drawn by John Lennon for his son Sean will decorate a range of children's clothes and other items to be sold in Britain next year.
The range, which may be stocked by Mothercare, includes romper suits, bibs and pyjamas as well as baby chairs and toys, will be emblazoned with elephants, monkeys and smiley faces drawn by John. They also feature a logo incorporating Lennon's signature and a self-portrait with long hair and his trademark round spectacles.
William Carter, an American company manufacturing children's clothing, first launched the pastel-shaded babywear in the United States last year after signing a £10 million deal with Bag One Arts, the guardians of Lennon's estate. The items are now on sale at 2,000 stores across America. Bridget Beaudoin, a William Carter official, said Lennon drew the pictures to help teach drawing and reading to Sean.
The drawings were created as he played with his son and undertook the first stages of Sean's education. They include a blue monkey sitting in the branch of a tree and talking on a telephone, winking fish, a pink elephant in a double bed, and an owl driving an antique car. Ms Beaudoin said that John would draw the pictures and then ask his son to suggest titles for them, which Johnwould write on the bottom. They included names such as A Bird Dreaming for a see-through bird, A Duck Ducking under a picture of a duck with its head under water, and A Turtle winning by a Hare for a picture of the race between the tortoise and the hare. Ms Beaudoin said: "They are beautiful pictures which show the feelings John had for his son." She thought that the clothing would appeal to many parents, especially those who grew up in the Sixties and Seventies. The range is called Real Love, after a lost John song which was later included on The Beatles Anthology collection.
The publicity for it will be illustrated with numerous photographs of John playing with Sean. The clothes are designed for youngsters up to the age of six, although a second range for older children may be launched later. Final details for the launch on the British market are currently being worked out. Negotiations are under way with retailers including Mothercare, Toys R Us and Marks and Spencer.
The unedited recording was in an attic for 26 years before the owner, who
does not want to be identified, handed it to the BBC's Three Counties
(Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire) station.
The tape, promotional jingles and conversation between John Lennon and Ringo
Starr, sheds light on the relationship between the former members of the
band, which broke up in 1970, as they fought over royalties. The tape stems
from a session in 1974 when the two were recording advertisements for Starr's
solo Goodnight Vienna album and Lennon's album Walls and Bridges.
The ribbing, including Lennon putting on a fake American accent, descends
into barbed jokes about the break-up of the Beatles' company Apple Records,
the main victim of their comments being Paul McCartney. At one point,
referring to his success with Wings, Lennon asks Starr: "
'Are you sure Paul
knows who we are?' and says he would swap 'one Ringo for two Pauls'. They
also joke that Apple is being 'sliced up'. Starr says: 'You get the core.'
The tape makes explicit the affection that Lennon and Starr felt for each
other, with each making references to their "friend", and dissolving into
laughter. Lennon, then living in the US, asks about life back
in Britain, and for the latest gossip on Apple.
A new website has been set up that features one of The Beatles most unusual concerts.
The concert, held at the Aldershot Palais, was attended by only 18 people. For the whole story of this gig click here
Paul McCartney surprised his daughter Stella on stage, presenting her with
the Designer of the Year award for at the VH1/ Vogue fashion awards. Paul got
a standing ovation from the audience and a heartfelt hug from his daughter.
Paul was wearing a shirt that read 'About flipping time' - mimicking Stella's shirt at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame awards.
Speculation that Paul McCartney is to marry Heather Mills grew when Paul made a surprise appearance on British TV Show 'Stars in their Lives' which featured Heather.
Not only did Paul admit they were in love he gave Heather a big kiss too
Paul to Exhibit Paintings in Liverpool
Paul McCartney revealed in his 'Artcast' that he is going to exhibit his paintings at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool
The show will be the first in the Walker Art Gallery's new special
exhibition galleries and will mark the completion of a major multi-million
improvement programme.
'I've been offered an exhibition of my paintings at the Walker Art Gallery
in Liverpool where John and I used to spend many a pleasant afternoon. So I
am really excited about it. It's from October 2001 till January 2002,' said Paul.
The exhibition will be drawn from the prolific body of work created by
Paul over the last 12 years and is a result of negotiations between Sir
Richard Foster, Director of National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside and
Robbie Montgomery, the artist's agent.
Paul McCartney's 'Artcast' today will be live from Abbey Road Studios. To access the artcast go to http://chat.yahoo.com.
We are very sorry to hear of the death of Walter Shensen, who produced The Beatles first two movies, 'A Hard Day's Night' and 'Help'.
Walter appeared at many Beatles conventions over the years and was planning a re-release of 'A Hard Day's Night', of which he owned the rights. We are very saddened by the death of this great friend and supporter to The Beatles.
George Michael promised that as soon as he records a song on
the piano John Lennon used to compose `Imagine,' he'll return the
instrument to Liverpool's Beatles museum.
`It's not the type of thing that should be in storage somewhere or being
protected, it should be seen by people,' Michael told London's Capital
Radio.
`I think I'll hold on to it for a couple of months and see if I can get it
on to my new record and then it's going back to the museum in Liverpool
where I think it rightly belongs,' he said.
The piano on which John Lennon wrote Imagine has been bought at auction for £1.45m ($2.1m) by George Michael. George has said he will keep the piano in the UK, raising hopes it could be returned to the Beatles' Story museum in Liverpool, where it has been the star attraction for the last several months. A spokeswoman for Michael said: 'He's just so excited to have got it at the moment that we don't know what will happen to it.
'He feels it's a piece of history and he wants it to stay in the UK. He was at the end of the phone line during the auction and had a friend there for him."
Shelagh Johnston, the museum's curator, told BBC News Online she was now hoping for a call from the star. 'We have not heard anything and we are waiting by the phone,' she said. The Sun newspaper reported that Michael outbid fellow stars Robbie Williams and Liam and Noel Gallagher for the famous musical instrument. Ms Johnston added: 'The bidder's representative came up and shook our hands after the auction and was all smiles. It was a real confidence boost.'
The unnamed bidder will be keeping the piano in the UK, according to the man
who took his telephone bid.
The piano, built in Hamburg in 1970, is a Steinway Model Z upright and was
purchased by John from Steinway in December of that year and delivered to
the Ascot Sound Studios at his home in Tittenhurst Park, Berkshire.
Also at The Beatles Sale were items including four unpublished photographs
of Lennon which fetched £140, a tin of Beatles merchandising talcum powder
which fetched £200 and a postcard sent by Ringo Starr to his grandmother
from a Butlin's holiday camp in 1962 which fetched £950.
A beige corduroy jacket owned and worn by Lennon, which was expected to
fetch between £2,500 and £3,500 went for £2,000.
A Beatles collector at the auction said: 'That's pretty cheap for the
jacket, basically to have made more money it would need to have been seen on
videos or photographs. It needs a history, history is everything.'
An oversize photograph of Paul McCartney was the only item which failed to
sell when it did not reach its reserve price of £200.
A Hammond C3 organ used by Lennon in his studio fetched the expected price
of £40,000.
A Ferrari owned by Lennon, which was restored by Dodi Fayed, was put up for
auction by Mr Fayed's father Harrods owner Mohammed al Fayedand sold for £110,000
The auction was broadcast live in the Hard Rock Cafe, New York and
over the Internet by rock and pop and entertainment memorabilia auctioneers
Fleetwood Owen.
John Lennon's Steinway 'Imagine' Piano Plus Approximately £500,000 in Beatles MemorabiliaJohn Lennon's "Imagine" Steinway piano, valued at £1 million, is the top item up for bid by FleetwoodOwen, Mick Fleetwood's new auction house, at the company's first live and marquee auction at Hard Rock Cafe London on Tuesday, October 17, 2000.
FleetwoodOwen, created by Mick Fleetwood, founding member and drummer of Fleetwood Mac and Ted Owen, former head collectibles specialist with Bonham's Auctioneers, is a new auction house dedicated to rock, film and entertainment memorabilia. The October 17th auction will be hosted at Hard Rock Cafe London at 7:00 p.m. GMT and simulcast at Hard Rock Cafe New York at 2:00 p.m. EDT.
Collectors will be able to participate in the auction live at Hard Rock Cafe London and through the live simulcast at Hard Rock Cafe New York. Items will also be up for bid through http://www.fleetwoodowen.com. The auction will feature other prized Beatles memorabilia including John Lennon's 1965 Ferrari 330GT 2+2 two-door coupe, and Lennon's Hammond C3 organ, as well as a variety of memorabilia autographed by the Fab Four, rare acetates, merchandise, and unpublished photographs. Items on auction will not be from the Hard Rock collection. "FleetwoodOwen shares Hard Rock Cafe's appreciation and celebration of music artists, their achievements and how they have impacted the lives of fans around the world," said Barrie Lapins, memorabilia acquisitions manager for Hard Rock Cafe International. "Hard Rock Cafe is synonymous with rock memorabilia and the music-centric environment of our cafes offers the perfect venue for renowned auction houses specializing in music memorabilia auctions." The FleetwoodOwen auction will feature fully authenticated memorabilia and collectables for both the expert collector and casual fan at virtually every level of affordability. Items of particular interest to true Beatles' fans familiar with the band's legendary lore include rare early original sketches by Stuart Sutcliffe, an unpublished 1964 color film featuring The Beatles at the press conference for "A Hard Day's Night" at Speke Airport in Liverpool, unpublished black and white photos of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1969 Montreal Bed-In, a pair of John Lennon's wire-rimmed glasses, peeled and unpeeled Butcher covers of The Beatles' "Yesterday and Today" album and a 1962 Beatles publicity postcard sent by John Lennon to a friend from Hamburg signed by John, Paul, George and Pete.
Shelagh Johnston, curator and manager of the Beatles Story, where John's piano
has been on display since February, says she worries the buyer of the
instrument at auction on Tuesday will take it from Liverpool.
`We've already lost unique treasures such as the original Cavern Club and
the overhead railway, now we want to keep as much of our history here as
possible before it's too late,' she told Reuters.
`The Beatles Story would love to be able to bid for the piano, but we are a
privately run museum and it is completely out of our league.'
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address to richardandesther@easynet.co.uk
We would also like to hear from anyone who would like to get involved in our new project. We would especially like to hear from anyone willing to contribute articles, reviews, fan fiction or photos for the magazine and from anyone who could give help/advice with web design etc.
Already this website is read by far more people in a week than read each paper issue of Off the Beatle Track. With your help we would like to create on online Beatles forum for all fans. We hope you will join us.
ABC in America are to screen a new documentary called 'How The Beatles Changed the World' on Friday November 17th at 9pm est. The show will includer footage shot at a Beatlefest in the US and at the Liverpool Beatles Convention.
The show will air just three days after the release of 'Beatles One'
Paul McCartney is to take to the Internet to talk
about art and his paintings.
`For many years I painted in private and I didn't really talk about it to
anyone outside of my family,' he said when announcing details of
his online art chat.
`Now I'm interested in showing my paintings to anyone who is curious about
them, partly to learn what people think,' he added.
The worldwide Internert interview will be held on October 19. Questions can be posted before then on
http://chat.yahoo.com.
He has created a special `Artcast' for the Internet which gives viewers a
first-hand look at the paintings he chose for his first British art exhibition
at the Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol.
45 minutes later, at around 12 noon EDT (9am PDT), Paul will begin
answering *your* questions, both ones pre-posted by fans, as well as
some arriving live. You can post your questions by visiting Yahoo's
McCartney website at:
Besides info on the artcast, there's also info on Paul's book, as well
as information on how to purchase limited edition signed prints of
Paul's paintings.
The first colour pictures of the planet Jupiter have been dedicated to John Lennon in the week of his 60th birthday.
The photographs were taken by cameras on the Cassini spacecraft which was
launched jointly between Nasa, the European Space Agency and the Italian
Space Agency.
Cassini imaging science team leader and Beatles fan Carolyn Porco, from the
University of Arizona, said: 'This is our first colour image from Cassini and
my gift to John Lennon - one of planet Earth's brightest stars, and a person
who gave us all boundless joy, pleasure and inspiration. I am pleased that I
can celebrate his birthday in this way.'
The pictures show that weather conditions on the giant planet are very
similar to those discovered and photographed by the Voyager 1 and 2
spacecraft more than 21 years ago.
Many events around the world were held to celebrate John Lennon's 60th birthday.
'Japan was a very important place for John because John's son was half Japanese, but also we felt that we were somehow bridging the difference between East and West,' she said.
The round 'Imagine' mosaic at the center of the memorial garden glowed with flickering candles and was surrounded by offerings of flowers, poems, collages, plastic alligators and a red Liverpool Football Club jersey.
More than 100 fans sang such Lennon and Beatles favorites as 'Imagine' and 'Strawberry Fields Forever,' accompanied by a half-dozen guitarists, a drummer and even a trombonist.
The devotees spanned the globe and generations.
The group, which included people of all ages, joined in singing `Happy
Birthday' twice for Lennon and his son Sean, whose 25th birthday was also
Monday.
The group also sang several of Lennon's songs, including `Imagine' and
`Give Peace a Chance.' Some munched on birthday cake, while others
strummed guitars or held up signs that said things like `Imagine No
Handguns.'
`It's time for world leaders and everybody to understand what John Lennon
was trying to say,' said Jerry Rubin, spokesman for the peace group
Alliance For Survival, which has sponsored the event for 20 years.
The organization gathers twice a year to commemorate the birth and death of
Lennon.
Amazon.com have opened a new Beatles Store to co-incide with the release of the Anthology book.
Amazon.com's Beatles store features:
-- Reviews of the new Beatles Anthology book and the anticipated
November 14 release of the 27-track companion CD, Beatles 1:
The Beatles Project (No. 1 Hits) -- both available for
pre-order today
-- More than 1,000 Beatles products, including their complete
collection of CDs, books, DVDs and videos
-- Interviews with Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono and producer George
Martin
-- Rare Beatles photos and auctions of Beatles memorabilia
-- An interactive discussion board where experts and customers
share their most memorable Beatles moments
Yoko Ono, at the opening of a museum about
her late husband, John Lennon, in Japan on Thursday, admired the tribute to
the Beatles songwriter but was reticent when asked about a decision denying
parole to his killer.
Ono had written a letter to the authorities appealing for the killer's
continued imprisonment, saying that if he were released, she and John's two
sons, Sean and Julian, would `not feel safe for the rest of our lives.'
Asked if she felt relieved at the decision Ono said only: `Their decision
is something I respect. I cannot say anything more than that, as I think you
can imagine.'
But she was more forthcoming about the museum, the first in the world
dedicated solely to Lennon and founded with her blessing.
`John was a multi-faceted person, and I wanted to show this by showing the
things he lived with and used,' she told a news conference. `As I walked
through the museum, I thought it was very expressive.'
The museum's presence in Japan would have been important to her late
husband, Ono said. Lennon several times visited Tokyo, as well as the
central resort town of Karuizawa.
`John had so much love for this country,'' she said. ``His son Sean is
half-Japanese and we somehow felt we were bridging the gap between east and
west.'
Written on a wall as visitors enter are lines from a poem by Lennon: `East
is east and west is west/The twain shall meet/East is west and west is
east/Let it be complete.'
The museum, along with a store selling Beatles memorabilia, is set to open
to the public on what would have been Lennon's 60th birthday on October 9.
Entry costs 1,500 yen ($13.74).
Asked if she objected to such a commercialised use of Lennon's name, Ono
said: `I think the Beatles were the most commercialised band in history,
and I don't think John would deny that. But that wasn't bad -- it allowed
him to send his message to the world.'
Beatles music plays as visitors view some 130 items that once belonged to
Lennon. Most were donated by Ono, including family photos, an old driver's
license and a passport, handwritten lyrics for songs and his trademark
wire-rimmed spectacles.
In one case rests his first guitar, scratched and battered, purchased via
mail order in 1956. He was using this guitar when he and Paul McCartney had
their first fateful meeting in 1957 that led to the formation of the
Beatles.
The city of Liverpool is to celebrate the 60th birthday of John Lennon with a moving ceremony – at one of his favourite childhood places.
Julia Baird, Lennon’s half-sister, will be joined by civic dignitaries and other guests including pupil’s from Dovedale Infants School, John’s old primary school in Allerton – as the city pays tribute to one of it’s greatest sons.
The ceremony, which is open to the public will begin at 10am on Monday, October 9. It will be held in the Peace Gardens in St John’s Gardens, behind St George’s Hall.
As a young boy John and his sisters would be taken by his mother to picnic in the gardens and to later visit the nearby Walker Art Gallery, which inspired his interest in the arts and culture.
After an introduction by Council Leader Mike Storey, Julia, who is seven years younger than her brother, will talk about those memories of John. She will then recite lyrics from one of his songs.
Julia will then be invited to plant a tree in the Peace Gardens, as Lennon’s most famous song – Imagine, is played in the background.
The music continues when pupils from Dovedale – who recently benefited from a £30,000 donation from Yoko Ono for school refurbishments - will sing Happy Birthday to John as 60 white balloons are released.
Irish actor Phil McQuillan, who is playing Lennon for the American NBC film ‘’In My Life’’, which is currently on location in Liverpool, will then help draw the ceremony to a close.
Phil will lead the Dovedale school children and Liverpool Brass band The Saturday Morning Music Club, through a rousing rendition of the 1967 Beatles classic; ‘’All You Need Is Love.’’
The ceremony is expected to finish by 10.30am, when children from Dovedale will tuck into a specially baked birthday cake.
Julia Baird said: ‘’Planting a tree in John’s memory is the warmest way to celebrate his birthday. You can have fireworks and parties, which are all very dramatic, but planting a solid English Oak tree is permanent and a new life. It is a fitting tribute to John.
‘’I’m very taken with this whole ceremony. My Mother used to take me, John and Jackie to St John’s Garden when we were kids. She’d take us there for butties when we were in town and tell us all about the history of St George’s Hall. We’d then go and spend hours walking around the Walker Art Gallery and watching Punch and Judy in Williamson Square. I know John and my mother would approve of how Liverpool has chosen to celebrate this day.’’
Council Leader Mike Storey added: ‘’I’m sure many people still find it hard to accept that John Lennon is not with us today. I remember the crowds that thronged in front of St George’s Hall the day he was killed. The emotions were very powerful and a sign of how so many of us looked to him for inspiration and hope.
‘’I think a ceremony likes this gives people a chance to remember him in a positive way and dwell on all the things he did that made so many people’s lives that little bit richer.’’
John Lennon's killer was denied parole in his first attempt to gain release from prison. The killer was interviewed for 50 minutes at the maximum-security Attica state prison by three parole board members, said Tom Grant, a spokesman for the state Division of Parole. About four hours later, Chapman was given the board's one-page determination beginning with the words 'parole is denied.' The board called the killing of Lennon 'calculated and unprovoked.'
In addition to being one of the most famous musicians in the world, Lennon was also a 'husband and a father of two young children,' the board said. 'Your most vicious and violent act was apparently fueled by your need to be acknowledged,' the parole board said. 'During your parole hearing, this panel noted your continued interest in maintaining your notoriety.' In a recent interview, the killer said he believed that Lennon would have approved of his release. But the board concluded that releasing Chapman at this time would 'deprecate the seriousness of the crime and serve to undermine respect for the law.' The board's decision means the killer will be held for two more years until he is eligible for another parole hearing in October 2002.
Parole is denied. You murdered the victim, John Lennon, when you fired a .38
special caliber Charter Arm revolver, filled with hollow-point bullets. You
discharged all five chambers and hit Mr. Lennon as many as four times. Mr.
Lennon was returning to his residence and was in the company of his wife
when you committed this murder. This act was calculated and unprovoked. You
had planned this crime for a protracted period of time and it is apparent
that you were obsessed in causing fatal harm to John Lennon. In addition to
being an international celebrity, Mr. Lennon was a husband and a father of
two young children.
During your incarceration, you have maintained an exemplary disciplinary
record which this panel has noted and considered. This panel also recognizes
that, because of your continued special housing status, you have been unable
to avail yourself of anti-violence and/or anti-aggression programming.
Your most vicious and violent act was apparently fueled by your need to be
acknowledged. During your parole hearing, this panel noted your continued
interest in maintaining your notoriety.
When all factors are reviewed, your discretionary release is determined to
be inappropriate. Additionally, this panel strongly believes that your
release to parole supervision at this time would deprecate the seriousness
of the crime and serve to undermine respect for the law.
The full text of Yoko Ono's plea to the New York state Parole Board in a
recording is as follows:
Ladies and gentlemen of the parole board, this is my reply to the petition
of parole made by ****, from hereon called `the subject'.
It is not easy for me to write this letter to you since it is still painful
for me to think of what happened that night and verbalise my thoughts
logically.
'Forgive me if I fall short of your expectation of giving you a satisfactory
opinion. But these are my sincere thoughts.
'My husband John Lennon was a very special man. A man of humble origin, he
brought light and hope to the whole world with his words and music.
He tried to be a good power for the world and he was. He gave
encouragement, inspiration and dreams to people regardless of their race,
creed and gender.
For me, he was the other half of the sky. We were in love with each other
like the most vehement of lovers to the last moment.
For our son Sean, he was the world. For Julian, it was losing his father
twice.
For the people of the world, it was as though the light went out for a
moment and darkness prevailed. With his one act of violence in those few
seconds, the `subject' managed to change my whole life, devastate his sons,
and bring deep sorrow and fear to the world. It was, indeed, the power of
destruction at work.
At first, I had refused to acknowledge John's death. I announced that,
`There is no funeral for John'. In my mind, I was saying `because he is not
dead!' `Tell me he is not dead, tell me he is not dead'.
I was screaming inside myself. But then, I started to hear that young girls
were jumping off buildings to kill themselves. I realised then that it was
not a time for me to simply wallow in my own pain.
I organised a world vigil with the prayer that, together, we would somehow
get through.
For the past 20 years, I've carried the torch John and I once carried
together to try to let the darkness go.
I asked the fans to remember John's birthday, not the day of his passing.
When people asked how I felt about the killer of my husband, I have always
told them that I didn't think about that day any more. I wanted to look to
the future and not to remember that horrible moment.
But in actual fact, the memory of that night has never left me for the last
20 years.
It was so cruel. So unjust. My husband did not deserve this. He was in no
way ready to die. He was feeling good with the prospect of doing a concert
tour after making the album which became his last.
He would have gladly changed his position with the `subject' and lived the
life of protection that the `subject' enjoys now.
Even in confinement, my husband John would have cherished hearing voices of
people he loved, enjoyed creating songs, and simply appreciated watching the
sky and its changes through the seasons. John cannot do any of that now.
His family and the world rested because justice was finally done by the
court.
The `subject' was imprisoned. If he were to be released now, many will feel
betrayed. Anger and fear would rise again.
It would also give a `go' signal to the others who would like to follow in
the footsteps of the `subject' to receive world attention.
I am afraid it will bring back the nightmare, the chaos and confusion once
again. Myself and John's two sons would not feel safe for the rest of our
lives. People who are in positions of high visibility and outspokenness such
as John would also feel unsafe.
Finally, it will not be safe for the `subject' himself. He will cease to
have the security that the state provides him with now.
I understand that he has been isolated from other prisoners because of the
threat of possible harm to him.
Well, there are more people in the outside world who are strongly
distressed about what he has done. They would feel that it is unfair that
the `subject' is rewarded with a normal life while John lost his.
Violence begets violence. If it is at all possible, I would like us to not
create a situation which may bring further madness and tragedy to the world.
I thank you in advance for your wise and just decision.
I am, sincerely yours, Yoko Ono Lennon.
U.S. radio syndicate MJI Broadcasting will premier the previously unreleased
John Lennon song 'Help Me to Help Myself' as part of a three-hour Lennon
special airing Oct. 6-9. The song will also appear on the upcoming reissue of
Double Fantasy, due Oct. 10, but unique to the radio program will be new
interviews with surviving Beatles Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George
Harrison as well as Yoko Ono, George Martin, Brian Wilson, Lennon's drinking
buddy Alice Cooper and Steven Tyler. Hosted by Dennis Elsas, the program will
also feature vintage interviews with Lennon himself along with Elton John,
Mick Jagger and Ozzy Osbourne and a whopping twenty-seven Beatles and Lennon
songs. All of this, of course, in celebration of what would have been
Lennon's sixtieth birthday on Oct. 9 . .
Cavern City Tours in Liverpool are planning a weekend of events to celebrate John's 60th birthday from 7th-9th October
On Saturday 7th October there will be live music featuring Beatle Cover Bands throughout the afternoon at the World Famous Cavern Club, 10 Mathew Street. Admission is free 2pm - 9pm and the club is open until 2am.
On Saturday Evening The party continues with a Beatle Night at St. Peter's Church Hall where John and Paul first met in July 1957. The evening is hosted by Ringer, one of the world's greatest Beatle Bands from Scotland.
On Sunday 8th October. There will again be live music at the Cavern Club, Mathew Street, at 2pm. Admission Free.
The highlight of the evening is yet another great Beatles party at the CAVERN PUB featuring local bands. Admission is Free, times 7pm - 11pm.
On Monday 9th October. Cavern City Tours have put together a seven hour tour of Lennon's Liverpool. Price £15, starts 10am from Brownlow Hill and returns at 5pm. The tour will include visits to Strawberry Field, the Art School and many other places associated with John. The morning will also include an official tree planting ceremony in St. John's Gardens, Liverpool City Centre.
EVENING The best Lennon Tribute Bands in the world will present a special concert at the Royal Court Theatre. Admission: £10 standing, £12 seated. Time 7.30 - 11.30pm. The bands will include Instant Karma and Gary Gibson with an appearance by the original QUARRYMEN. All proceeds from the concert will benefit Radio City's official Charity 'Give a Child a Chance'. The party continues late into the night at the Cavern Club. Admission is free on production of a Royal Court Ticket. £2 without. For further information and ticket purchases: telephone +44 (0) 151 236 9091
On Saturday September 30th Channel Four are showing a new documentary called 'The Real John Lennon' as part of their John Lennon night of programmes.
The show is directed by Richard Denton and is described as charting John's life 'from scally youth on the streets of Liverpool to out of it druggie Germany, and finally, New York recluse.' As yet I don't know who has been interviewed for the show but from this description I don't expect Yoko was involved.
After the documentary is 'Shine On' - where famous rock stars do their own version of John's songs. Those taking part include Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher and the Stereophonics. The night closes with a showing of the 1988 'Imagine, John Lennon documentary.
A concert commemorating the 20th anniversary of John Lennon can only go ahead if the organisers don't mention his name.
Lawyers acting for Yoko Ono have refuesed producer Robert Gabriel permsission to use either the names 'John Lennon' or 'Lennon' in publicity as they are registered trademarks. Yoko's lawyers have also forced the organisers to close down a website that publicised the concert, previously called 'Lennon 2000'.
The Concert, to be held on December 10th, will now be called 'L2K ..All You Need Is....' The concert wil donate 8 per cent of profits to charity.
It took more than 300 auditions and an offer of a reward, but the producers
of an NBC film about John Lennon have finally found the actor to play
Lennon.
Unknown Irish actor Phillip McQuillen will portray the late Beatle in the
2-hour 'In His Life: The John Lennon Story', reports The New York Daily News.
'We actually had to postpone filming for a week because we hadn't found
him,' writer-producer Michael O'Hara told The News. 'It was just an
incredible process. Lennon was not an easy person to cast.'
What made finding the right person to play Lennon so difficult was that
besides needing to look like Lennon and be able to sing, the actor also had
to have an attitude, O'Hara said.
O'Hara went to unusual lengths to find his Lennon. After auditioning
hundreds of people, O'Hara had hawkers at a Beatles convention offer a $500
reward to anyone who turned them on to the person who got the role.
As it turned out, McQuillen was suggested by someone who remembered a
showcase in which the actor had played Lennon.
O'Hara also has cast Blair Brownto
play Lennon's Aunt Mimi, the woman who essentially raised him. Brown is the
only American in the cast, the producer added.
'In His Life' will look at Lennon as an emerging artist and at the
influences that shaped his life and music. Production begins this week, with
the film possibly airing as soon as November.
Yoko Ono is to be guest presenter for a Top Of The Pops special devoted to
her late husband John Lennon to mark the 60th anniversary of his birth, it
was announced today.
She will introduce some of his classic tracks and give an insight into his
life with anecdotes and reminiscences about his songwriting on BBC2's TOTP2.
The show, which will feature tracks like Give Peace A Chance, Power To The
People and Instant Karma, will be screened on September 27, a few days before what would have been John's 60th birthday.
Yoko Ono touches on his death when she introduces the song Starting Over, which was in the charts shortly before his death and climbed
to number one as the nation mourned.
She says: 'What a song. We loved it, we thought it was very positive. It was a start for both of us and we felt very positive about it. Life is
so strange because while he was singing Starting Over and we were rejoicing
in this beautiful song there was some spirit sneaking behind us to take John
away.'
It will be interesting what clip is shown to go with Starting Over - theree have been runours of a video made to go with the song just before John died but it has never been seen.
Mojo magazine have revealed the much talked-about Beatles Greatest Hits CD is to be called Beatles One - as it contains every number one record The Beatles had in Britain and America. However that criteria has caused much argument as Strawberry Fields Forever is not included. In the UK it was a double A side with Penny Lane and only reached number two in the charts. In the US Penny Lane was an air-play number one but Strawberry Fields wasn't.
Another strange inclusion for UK fans is Eight Day's A Week - this wasn't even released as a single in the UK.
The full track listing is: Love Me Do, From Me to You, She Loves You, I Want To Hold Your Hand, Can't Buy Me Love, A Hard Day's Night, I Feel Fine, Eight Day's a Week, Ticket To Ride, Help, Yesterday, Day Tripper, We Can Work it Out, Paperback Writer, Yellow Submarine, Eleanor Rigby, Penny Lane, All You Need is Love, Hallo Goodbye, Lady Madonna, Hey Jude, Get Back, Ballad of John and Yoko, Something, Come Together, Let it Be, Long and Winding Road
What do you think of the track listing. Do you think the CD should be released at all. We would like your views. Please click here to let us know. We will print your comments on a special page on this website.
In the Tuesday 12th September issue of The Times Paul McCartney wrote this touching tribute to John:
John was always short-sighted, and consequently wore thick horn-rimmed specs.
When there were girls about these became a bit of an embarrassment to him so
he would whip them off, but then be completely unable to see anything around
him.
This problem was cured by the emergence of the late great Buddy Holly.
Buddy's popularity meant that John could wear his specs with pride - most of
the time, that is. I do remember one occasion when he'd been to my house in
Forthlin Road. It was around Christmas and we'd been working on a song; he
left around midnight, taking a short walk back to his home.
The next day he said to me: 'Those people on the corner of Booker Avenue must
be mad. They were out on their porch last night after 12, sitting around the
table playing cards.' Puzzled by this, I went past the house later in the day
to discover that the midnight card players were, in fact, a Nativity scene
with the holy couple bending over the baby Jesus.
Finally, on the same note, one of the most poignant exchanges between John
and me (which will probably mean nothing to anyone except me) came after a
minor argument we had had on some point or other and, realising he had hurt
me with one of his comments, John lowered his granny glasses and peeking out
from behind them said gently: 'It's only me.'
The Fall 2000 issue of Daytrippin'--the most FAB magazine for Beatles
fans--has just been released.
It features articles on:
--A Hard Day's Night: Analyzing the Movie that Changed Rock
Music Forever
--Ringo Starr and His Sixth All-Starr Band close out concert
tour
--Interview with McCartney sideman, Robbie McIntosh
--The Beatles Myth: A Necessary Evil or a Thread in Time
-- New York Premiere of 'A Garland for Linda'
--Debut of new column 'Letter from London Town' by Beatles'
London tour
guide - and your webmaster, Richard Porter.
For More Info on how to get Daytrippin click here
This received from Matt Hurwitz
Hi, all--
I've just been told by Apple that a special launch for 'The Beatles
Anthology' book will take place at a
brand new Beatles Store at Bloomingdale's in New York City.
At midnight on October 4, Bloomingdale's store at 59th & Lexington Avenue
will offer the first editions of
the book, at the opening of their Beatles Store. The store will offer
high-end clothing and other
merchandise featuring The Beatles' images, such as hand-painted jackets,
shirts, towels, and other
items. For the moment, this is the only Bloomingdale's store which will
carry the items, though it is
expected that the store will open other such outlets in their stores around
the country. The items will
also be available on the store's website, http://www.bloomingdales.com after
October 4.
Matt Hurwitz
Paul McCartney has been nominated for the 'People's Award 200' by the BBC.
Here is a full list of the nominees for the Award and their citations:
Colin Parry: The 53-year-old has campaigned tirelessly for peace after his
12-year-old son was one of two boys killed by an IRA bomb in Warrington. A
fundraising campaign organised by Colin and wife Wendy has help create a £3
million peace centre for young people opened in Warrington.
Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub: The 64-year-old born in Egypt has saved
thousands of lives and his achievements in heart surgery, particularly as a
pioneer in heart transplantation, have spanned a lifetime.
Steven Wall: The 39-year-old runs a cranial-facial unit at Oxford Radcliff
Infirmary, one of only four in the country and has been nominated for his
work with children who have severe head and facial disfigurements.
Sir Paul McCartney: The 58-year-old former Beatle is arguably the world's
most famous rock'n'roll star.
Sir Richard Branson: The entrepreneur made his name with his Virgin record
label and now runs Virgin group.
Two remarkable albums by John
Lennon, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Double Fantasy,
will be reissued on October 9, 2000, on what would have been his 60th
birthday.
Now remixed and digitally remastered under the supervision of Yoko Ono, Plastic Ono Band is augmented by two bonus tracks -'Power To The People' a single
originally released after the album, and 'Do The Oz,' originally the b side
of the 'God Save Oz' single which was covered by Bill Elliott and The
Elastic Oz Band.'Do The O' refers to 'Oz' magazine, the leading
underground paper of the `60's; both tracks reflect the beginning of the
expression of John and Yoko's political interests. 'Power To The People' was
originally released in the UK on March 12, 1971.
Packaging for the album will feature the original cover art and photographs
for the album, plus rare pictures from the era, plus John's hand-written
lyrics.
Now digitally remastered, Double Fantasy features 3 bonus tracks - the
previously unreleased John Lennon song 'Help Me To Help Myself,' Yoko's' Walking On Thin Ice' and 'Central Park Stroll,' a short dialogue of John
and Yoko walking in Central Park. These tracks continue the duality of the
original album, which is comprised of consecutive John Lennon and Yoko Ono
tracks. 'Central Park Stroll' unites the two at the end of the album.
The Web site http://www.toshiba-emi.co.jp/beatles/ will be the first of
its kind in Japan and one of only few authorized Web sites around the world
on The Beatles.
According to the officials, the site will feature profiles of John Lennon,
Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, a trivia corner and a
ranking of the Beatles' 20 best songs via online polls.
The officials said the site is aimed at increasing awareness of the band and
making their fame continue into the next century.
John Lennon's killer is to go before a parole board in December - and Yoko is likely to testify too.
Yoko will be asked to complete a 'victim impact statement' for the New York Parole Board, which will be used with professional assessments to decide whether he is fit to be let out of Attica State Prison.
Yoko herself is not commenting publicly about how she feels, but spokesman Elliott Mintz said 'I'm sure she'll have something to say on the matter'.
You too can have your say. If you think John's killer should stay in prison write to
George Pataki
Revolver has kept it's place at number one in a poll of the top 1000 albums of all time, published by Virgin.
The Beatles polled more than twice as many votes in total as any other pop
act.
Here are theTop 10 albums
1 Revolver - The Beatles
At least nine Beatle-related titles are expected this autumn, from the
authorized The Beatles Anthology to a biography of their late
manager, Brian Epstein. Other books include an illustrated
volume of Paul McCartney's paintings, a reissue of Lennon's
collection of verse, In His Own Write,' and a look at the Beatles'
time in India with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
A minor surprise is the reissue of Lennon Remembers, Lennon's
famously bitter, marathon interview with Rolling Stone publisher
Jann Wenner, given just as the group was breaking up. Lennon
had agreed to the interview on the condition that Wenner not put
it out in book form. When he did so anyway, Lennon was
enraged and spoke bitterly about Wenner right until the end of
his life.
But the new publication arrives with the approval of Yoko Ono,
who contributed a forward. Material originally edited out has
been restored and some lyrics never recorded will be included.
'Lennon Remembers is classic Lennon,'' Ono writes. "It's not a
sit-back-and-put-your-feet-up read. ... It's a jolt on your nerves
like bad, bad espresso. People with weak stomachs should
close the window before reading. You might just feel like jumping
out.'
The Hollywood Bowl, the outdoor concert hall that has
featured musical legends from the Beatles to Barbra Streisand, may lose the
trademark orchestral shell that's made it a city landmark.
After years of trying to repair the 71-year-old shell, which has notoriously
poor acoustics, officials with the Los Angeles Philharmonic are proposing to
spend $18 million for a bigger, more modern structure that would have a
similar, but not exact design of the current shell.
The plan, which will be debated before the Los Angeles County Board of
Supervisors next month, is pitting music lovers against preservationists who
view the imposing structure as a cultural icon.
'To us, the shell of the Hollywood Bowl is the visual symbol of the bowl
itself and one of the most identifiable icons of Los Angeles,'' said Ken
Bernstein, director of preservation issues for the Los Angeles Conservancy.
``How serious are the acoustical needs? And are they serious enough to
warrant the demolition of this important symbol
Music aficionados say they are, and that the Hollywood Bowl should provide a
higher-quality musical experience to its visitors.
The bowl, which has a seating capacity of almost 18,000, offers popular
summer programs of outdoor concerts and fireworks displays, complete with
picnicking under the stars. But the current orchestra shell is so small that
sometimes one-third of the musicians are forced to sit outside it where they
can't hear each other.
SoundWorks International,Inc. announced that their new spoken word CD release on
The Beatles - 'Beatles Tapes V: The 1965 Help Tour' - will be featured on
the nationally syndicated radio show, 'BeatleBrunch'.
BeatleBrunch is syndicated by Westwood One and is heard on over 200 radio
stations across the USA. Host Joe Johnson will not only feature the CD but
also interview its producer, Jim Berkenstadt. The CD carries the Jerden
Records imprint, a wholly owned subsidiary of SoundWorks International,
Inc.
This is the fifth spoken word album featuring The Beatles Jerden Records
has released and the fourth produced by Berkenstadt.
SoundWorks is a multi-media entertainment content company, manufacturing
and marketing music and spoken word CDs, AudioBooks and Videos. SoundWorks
markets its products through a matrix of wholesale and book distributors
around the world as well as through Amazon.com and its own
website, www.soundworks.net
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