Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney by Howard Sounes

Fab is not a sensationalist account of McCartney’s life by any means (even though it does go into astounding depth on the whole somewhat tawdry Heather Mills affair). Still, Sounes’ subject is not always presented in the most positive light. Often McCartney comes across as demanding, demeaning, egocentric, and controlling. His romantic affairs during his long relationship with Jane Asher were numerous. Judging by Sounes’ account, McCartney is the type who likes to have his cake and eat it too. [read more]

BUY NOW: Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney by Howard Sounes

John Lennon to appear on new £5 coin

"It's entirely fitting that John Lennon has been chosen by the public in what would have been his 70th year," Dave Knight, director of commemorative coins at Royal Mint said. "The massive proportion of the vote he received shows clearly just how much his untimely death still resonates with the nation." [read more]

The rivals - are Lennon and McCartney still at odds?

YOU REALLY have to wonder about Paul McCartney’s timing in re-releasing Band on the Run and cropping up all over the place to promote it. October was supposed to be John Lennon month, what with all the reissues, commemorations and benefit concerts. Even a dispassionate look at this week’s affairs can only suggest that one of the most competitive musical relationships still has a bit of life to it. Could McCartney still be resentful of Lennon’s deification and John’s media-anointed position as the “arty Beatle”? Last Tuesday night McCartney cropped up on Later With Jools Holland to perform two songs from the rebooted Band on the Run , and the day before he was also in front of the cameras – this time picking up a Classic Album award at the Q Magazine Awards show for the same album. [read more]

Harrison's Ouija Board Prank On Beatles

MCCartney tells British rock magazine NME, "We once did a Ouija board thing when we were kids, it was just me, George... and John, I think... So we weren't really into all that, but somebody just said, 'Let's do it.' "So we're touching the glass, you know, saying 'OK, nobody push it, OK?' So then, suddenly... whoa, it's moving! Now, my mum had died a couple of years before and it says, 'Congratulations... son...' And we're going, 'NO!' 'Congratulations... son... number one... In NME!' And so we were all, 'Oh, f**k off! There's no way she would know what NME was'. And there's George, you know (laughing). He'd been pushing it all the time! Bad boy!"

Ringo Starr's former home boarded up to stop Beatles fanatics stealing bricks

Beatles fans desperate to get their hands on a piece of pop history have been stealing bricks from Ringo Starr's former home. The Victorian terrace, which was the birthplace of the Beatles drummer, is one of hundreds of properties due to be bulldozed to make way for modern homes. But now the council has been forced to act over concerns loose bricks and masonry could fall on passers-by. [read more]

Revealed: The last pictures of John Lennon before he was killed have emerged

The photos were among thousands collected by a British music historian who is now selling the negatives with the copyright at auction. The pictures show Lennon relaxed and happy wearing a round-neck blue jumper and distinctive glasses with blue tinted lenses. Yoko has her black hair pulled back and is wearing a fur-style coat. The pair are pictured sitting at a table with a microphone attached. On the table stands a can of Pepsi and two packets of cigarettes that look French, one of which Lennon is smoking. [read more]

Paul McCartney's Daughter Says Her Dad's Music Was "Annoying"

Mary McCartney, the daughter of Beatles great Paul McCartney and his late wife Linda, has opened up about her childhood. In a recent interview with the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph, she says her father's music was often a nuisance growing up. "I realize and appreciate [his talent] now. When I was a kid growing up I didn't realize it. It was like: 'Dad will you stop playing guitar? We're trying to watch EastEnders; that's just annoying,' whereas now, it's like: 'OK, you're pretty good at that, I'll deal with it,'" she says. [read more]

John & Yoko, & NYC

John Lennon could have lived anywhere. He chose New York, and clung to his adopted city with a ferocious love. Yoko Ono, too: “There’s such an incredible romanticism about being refugees,” she said. “We just felt like we returned to our motherland, which is New York, you know.” Ms. Ono says these kinds things in a new documentary, “LENNONYC,” to be shown next month on PBS. It examines Lennon’s decade after the Beatles, much of it spent in Manhattan. The story carries him through a marital separation, an ugly bender in Los Angeles, and a joyous return to Yoko, sobriety and making records. Woven throughout is Lennon’s love for New York at its low point, the early ’70s, when it lay in financial ruin, its greatness obscured by graffiti and garbage. [read more]

The Making Of Paul McCartney

Well, no, there was other stuff that was more like that. ‘Let Me Roll It’ wasn’t to John, it was just in the style that we did with The Beatles that John was particularly known for. It was really actually the use of the echo. It was one of those: ‘You’re not going to use echo just cos John used it?’ I don’t think so. To tell you the truth, that was more [about] rolling a joint. That was the double meaning there: “let me roll it to you”. That was more at the back of mind than anything else. ‘Dear Friend’ [from 1971’s ‘Wild Life’], that was very much ‘let’s be friends’ to John. Read The Entire Clash Music Exclusive Interview

Ono to unveil Lennon blue plaque at former home

John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono is due to unveil a plaque commemorating his life and contribution to music. The former Beatle, who was gunned down in New York City in 1980, would have been 70 earlier this month. The English Heritage blue plaque is at 34 Montagu Square in Marylebone, London, which was the first home the couple shared. They lived at the basement and ground floor flat in the latter half of 1968, during which time Lennon was creatively very active, working on The Beatles' White Album as well as early collaborations with Ono. It was there that the nude photograph of the couple was taken for the Two Virgins album cover. Lennon lived at a number of addresses in London and the surrounding area between 1963 and 1971, but 34 Montagu Square is his longest residential connection with a surviving building in the capital.

The flat forms part of a grade II listed terraced house, built about 1810-11. The apartment has multiple Beatles associations - it was bought in 1965 by Ringo Starr, who lived there in October of that year, and later briefly tenanted by Paul McCartney and Jimi Hendrix in turn before Lennon and Ono moved in. Ono said: "I am very honoured to unveil this blue plaque and thank English Heritage for honouring John in this way. "This particular flat has many memories for me and is a very interesting part of our history." Copyright © 2010 The Press Association.

Dylan Jones: 'You may remember Harry Nilsson as the man who led John Lennon astray during a lost LA weekend'

For many, Harry Nilsson will always be known as the singer/songwriter whose two biggest hits were written by other people ("Without You" was penned by Badfinger's Pete Ham and Tom Evans, while Fred Neil wrote "Everybody's Talkin'"). Others may remember him as the man who led John Lennon astray during his protracted lost weekend in LA in the early Seventies – when Lennon hit the city like a truck crashing into a distillery. [read more]

Apple - The short, strange blossoming of The Beatles' dream

But it wasn't all a naive failure. Apple, as a small, short-lived record company, wasn't without its successes. For decades all Apple records have been highly valued as collectibles, and from October 25 The Beatles' early work as producers and unheralded backing musicians for other artists will finally be made available for digital download. There will be some surprises. Who knew that both Paul McCartney and George Harrison played on the original recording of James Taylor's "Carolina in my Mind", or that Harry Nilsson was originally under the impression that McCartney had written his eventual Grammy Award-winning hit "Without You", and not Beatles protégés Badfinger? Or that Apple released a Modern Jazz Quartet album, and that it was at Ringo Starr's insistence that John Tavener's The Whale was recorded for the label? [read more]

Book Review: Starting Over: The Making of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Double Fantasy by Ken Sharp

Lennon's positive outlook and excitement at returning to music is at the center of Ken Sharp's book Starting Over: The Making of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Double Fantasy. Sharp closely examines the recording of the album through the eyes of people who were there — producer Jack Douglas, the studio musicians, recording engineers, Ono, and Lennon (drawing from interviews the couple gave promoting the album, such as that previously mentioned). What results is a fascinating, fly-on-the-wall experience where readers can effectively listen to friends and family reminisce about this special, if brief, period in Lennon's life. [read more]

The Dakota in NY: Why Yoko Ono remained a resident after John Lennon’s murder

John Lennon and Yoko Ono moved into the Dakota apartments at 1 West 72nd street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in April 1973. Considered one of the city's finest apartment buildings, the Dakota, built in 1884, has been home to many celebrities over the years including Leonard Bernstein, Judy Garland and Lauren Bacall. The movie “Rosemary’s Baby” was also filmed here. But in December 1980, the Dakota was the scene of John Lennon's tragic murder. On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was gunned down in front of the building he had called his home for the last 7 years. [read more]

Ono: Affirm unity on Global Oneness Day

Similarly, "billions of us" are "determined to shift the axis of the world to health, peace and joy by loving and caring for all lives on Earth," she said in a video supporting Global Oneness Day, to be celebrated in more than 25 countries Sunday, organizers said. "It's time for action," Ono said. "On Global Oneness Day, let's recognize that we are one." The day, which seeks United Nations recognition, is to be commemorated with practical acts demonstrating unity, diversity, harmony and compassion, comparable to what happens on Earth Day, organizers said. [read more]

Lennon’s Impact Still Felt Among Fans

John Lennon was a man of many talents, with a vision of peace.He left the world unfairly and much too soon, but the legacy he left can never be changed. The former Beatle would have been 70 years old this year. Instead he is forever 40, after being tragically murdered outside of his home 30 years ago. Instead of celebrating if he were alive, we remember and pay tribute to a life that inspired so many towards peace. Lennon was a man who was selfless, while others were selfish. He asked us to give peace a chance. People today still find their own personal ways to celebrate his life. [read more]

John Lennon's Final Interview To Be Broadcast

Krantz Media Group will syndicate a two-hour radio special and vignettes centering on John Lennon's last-radio interview, recorded at the Dakota in New York City, only hours before Lennon's death on December 8, 1980. The special will air on major market radio outlets including WCBS-FM/NY, K-EARTH-FM/Los Angeles, KLUV-FM/Dallas, and 103.7 "The Band"/San Francisco. The original team that conducted the interview (Dave Sholin, Laurie Kaye, Ron Hummel and Bert Keane) come together 30 years later to re-create this historic event. Along with highlights from the interview, they relay their own unique memories of that day, including events leading to the interview, meeting Lennon and Yoko Ono, and a curb-side encounter with Mark David Chapman, the deranged killer who gunned down Lennon that night.

"From the moment John entered the room one could sense his energy and enthusiasm," said Sholin, "He was so excited about 'Double Fantasy' and was looking forward to the future. He'd just turned 40 and felt like he was just getting going with so much more ahead, indeed "Starting Over."

"This historic mulit-platform radio event celebrates the life and music of John Lennon, focusing on a truly joyous interview that was conducted as he was beginning a brand-new phase of his career," said Gary Krantz, President/CEO of Krantz Media Group. "KMG is extremely excited to bring this rare and historic interview to radio outlets worldwide."

"This is a 'no brainer' radio event for WCBS-FM/NY," said Brian Thomas, CBS Radio VP/Programming, "John loved New York City, and we are proud to be the flagship radio station for this unique special."

The special will be mixed with music from the Lennon's solo work, Double Fantasy album, as well as songs from The Beatles PR

Paul McCartney Talks Beatles Split

McCartney has spoken to ClashMusic about the demise of The Beatles. After giving joy to countless millions, The Beatles split in 1970 leaving their fans devastated. The band imploded amidst financial wrangling, with Paul McCartney finally suing his friends and former band mates. The court case lasted several years and created bad blood between Paul McCartney and the remaining Beatles. Speaking to ClashMusic, the singer reflected on an undoubtedly traumatic episode in his life. [read more]

The Final Days Of The Beatles

The cover star of the latest issue of Clash Magazine, we recently spoke to Paul McCartney about the making of Wings' 'Band On The Run' (read the interview HERE). We also asked McCartney about the messy demise of The Beatles, Allen Klein and suing his ex-bandmates to protect their legacy. You can read his side of the story below. [read more]

Ono: 'I was used as a scapegoat' in blame over Beatles breakup

John Lennon’s widow says racism and sexism played a role in how she was blamed for the breakup of the Beatles decades ago. “I was used as a scapegoat, a very easy scapegoat. You know, a Japanese woman and whatever,” Yoko Ono tells CNN’s Anderson Cooper in an interview set to air Tuesday on CNN’s AC360°. “You think some of it was sexism, racism?” Cooper queried. “Sexism, racism,” Ono replied. “But also just remember that the United States and Britain were fighting with Japan in World War II. It was just after that in a way so I can understand how they felt.” [read more/video]

Paul McCartney On John Lennon

Working nose to nose, the partnership betweenPaul McCartney and John Lennon became the most successful in the history of pop music. However after The Beatles split in 1970, the pair became involved in tit for tat comments. Giving a series of controversial interviews, John Lennon slated McCartney's solo efforts. The songwriter responded in kind, with the pair releasing tracks which were widely interpreted as being informed by the decline in their relationship. [read more]

John Lennon, baker

A recent segment on NPR’s Weekend Edition called “All We Are Saying: Three Weeks With John Lennon,” introduces tape recordings that writer David Sheff made while interviewing Lennon in New York over a three-week period in 1980. The Playboy interview hit the newsstands just two days before Lennon’s death. It’s fascinating to hear a relaxed Lennon talking candidly. (The interview has just been released as an ebook, unfortunately not as an audiobook.) But get this: At the time, Lennon was a stay-at-home dad and got into bread baking with his 5-year-old son Sean. John Lennon, baker? [read more]

Post-Beatles Bread Baking With John Lennon

As pointed out by the LA Times, a recent broadcast on NPR aired tape recordings from an interview between David Sheff and John Lennon that took place over a three-week period in 1980, here in New York City. The tapes have allegedly never been broadcast before, though the transcripts were published. The interview came out in Playboy, in an issue that hit newsstands on October 6th of that year. [read more/listen]

Rock & Roll Birthday: Chuck Berry

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Charles Edward Anderson Berry grew up in a large family, a good student with early interests in poetry and blues music. After winning a high school talent show and taking guitar lessons from the neighborhood barber, Berry began performing in the East St. Louis clubs, making a name for himself by playing blues, r&b, and white country music. He formed The Chuck Berry Trio and took up residency at the Cosmopolitan Club in 1954, becoming one of the top acts in town. [read more]

Richards: Mick Jagger was “unbearable”

Richards: Mick Jagger was “unbearable." Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards says in his new autobiography that Mick Jagger became unbearable over the years and reveals he also calls the imperious lead singer “Your Majesty” and “Brenda.” The memoir is peppered with references to other celebrities — from Johnny Depp to John Lennon — but it is the prickly dynamic between Richards and Jagger that dominates the 527-page book, which is to be serialized in The Times newspaper. Richards, 66, who met Jagger at the age of four, says he has not stepped foot in Jagger’s dressing room in 20 years. Read more at MOG

Details about the upcoming Band On The Run reisssue

After these 2010 John Lennon remasters, can there still be more to buy? Of course, there is! I'm sure most of you already know that out for release this November 2, is a reissue of the Paul McCartney & Wings #1 album Band On The Run. Here are some details about this repackaging of the album that many still believe to be Paul's best since the breakup of The Beatles. Up to now: On Dec. 5, 1973, the Band On The Run album was first introduced to the world. [read more]

Vintage Beatles under ‘Silver hammer’

George Harrison seems to be the most missed Beatles with all his memorabilia attracting at least one bid. Ringo Starr features only once with a signed pictures which has so far attracted no bid. Other interesting items under the hammer involving the evergreen Beatles mania are a Paul McCartney signed Hofner electric guitar, a signed check piece of John Lennon, a 1967 insurance receipt of George Harrison and a John Lennon autographed1975 Rolling Stone Magazine. [read more]

Paul McCartney designs tattoo for Emma Stone

Emma Stone has revealed that Sir Paul McCartney designed her a commemorative tattoo to celebrate a family milestone. The 21-year-old actress, whose appearance in the upcoming Spider Man reboot was confirmed last week, explained on the Late Show With David Letterman that she approached the Beatles legend with the request after her mother's recovery from a gruelling cancer battle. "Two years ago... she got diagnosed with breast cancer," Stone said. "And she's out of the woods now, which is amazing. We've never gotten tattoos before, and probably never will again. My mom's favorite song is 'Blackbird', and it's my favorite song as well. I wrote a letter to Paul McCartney asking him if he would draw two little bird feet, because he wrote the song. And yesterday, he sent them to me." She added: "Custom tattoos by Paul McCartney. Isn't that wild? He's a good guy." © Digital Spy

Double Fantasy Stripped Down

Double Fantasy was supposed to be a new beginning for John Lennon -- after five years away from the music industry to raise his son Sean, Lennon signed a new recording deal and was riding a wave of creativity. But three weeks after the release of the double album in 1980, Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman and the world was robbed of a musical genius. To celebrate what would have been Lennon's 70th birthday on Oct. 9, EMI has remastered and re-released his entire post-Beatles solo catalogue as part of the Gimme Some Truth campaign, overseen by Lennon's wife, Yoko Ono, who revisited Double Fantasy with original producer Jack Douglas for this "Stripped Down" version with background vocals and various instruments removed from the mix. [read more]

Two views of English rockers in Philadelphia film fest

The challenge for Epstein's documentary is to make fresh an overly familiar story. There's the ex-Beatle's fight against deportation, his split with Yoko Ono, and his dark and drunken period hanging with Harry Nilsson (in L.A., not New York), followed by his rebirth as a bread-baking family man, before meeting a tragic end that remains heartbreaking no matter how many times you relive it. In its early stages, LennonNYC does a nice job of evoking the freedom Lennon and Ono felt in Greenwich Village as immigrants living their own celebrity-political-activist-artist version of the American Dream. "There's an incredible romanticism about being a refugee," Ono says. [read more]

Paul McCartney does odd dance to cyclist

Sir Paul McCartney did a strange dance and put on a squeaky voice when he mocked an out of control cyclist. The cyclist nearly knocked over the former Beatles star and others as he rode down a London street. But the 68-year-old reportedly yelled after him: 'Oh I'm so scary, I'm so scary.' According to British newspaper The Sun, Mark Thorburn, 37, witnessed the event. He told the publication: 'The cyclist was telling everyone to f*** off out of his way. 'Paul danced like an elf and put on a squeaky voice to take the mickey, it was the most surreal thing I've seen.' source monsters and critics

Taking liberties with John Lennon

Double Fantasy Stripped Down, the crown jewel in the Yoko Ono–approved reissues of Lennon’s solo catalogue in honour of what would have been the slain Beatle’s 70th birthday, is a weird little curio. Here, the studio wizards who made mash-ups of Beatles tunes for the Cirque de Soleil show, LOVE, and who remixed last year’s Beatles boxed sets, have turned their attention to Lennon’s solo catalogue. And like 2003’s Let It Be (Naked), which digitally knocked down Let It Be producer Phil Spector’s walls of sound, Stripped Down takes away the original Double Fantasy’s layers of gloss and ornamentation, often leaving just acoustic instruments behind for a purist-friendly approach. [read more]

‘Yellow Submarine’ Reboot To Begin Filming In April

Plans for the making of Robert Zemeckis’ Yellow Submarine reboot looked to be in full bloom as 2009 gave way to 2010. A cast was selected that consisted of Cary Elwes, Dean Lennox Kelly, Peter Serafinowicz, and Adam Campbell, all set to star as George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, respectively. However, in order to cut costs, Disney shut down Zemeckis’ mo-cap workshop, leaving things looking a bit grim. [read more]

A Beatle's literary side

Well before he met Yoko Ono, John Lennon had a habit of going his own way. As early as 1964 - at the height of Beatlemania - he published "In His Own Write," a collection of off-kilter poems and stories with line drawings; he followed it the next year with "A Spaniard in the Works." Both books are satirical, full of whimsy, but also marked by that distinctive Lennon edge. "Sir Alice Doubtless-Whom," he writes in "We must not forget ... the General Erection" (a biting piece inspired by Harold Wilson's election as prime minister), "was - quote - 'bitherly dithapointed' but managed to keep smirking on his 500,000 acre estate in Scotland with a bit of fishing and that." [read more]

Peter Asher on working with The Beatles at Apple Records

By any measure, Peter Asher has led one heck of a pop life. By 19, as half of the duo Peter And Gordon, he'd already had a No. 1 hit on both side of the Atlantic with the song A World Without Love. (Of course, it didn't hurt that the infectious number was penned by Paul McCartney - the famous Beatle was dating Asher's actress sister, Jane.) After a few years of singing stardom, Asher grew enamored with record production. He assumed greater control over Peter And Gordon recordings, produced a couple of albums that drew favorable notices, and so, when The Beatles set up Apple Records in early 1968, Asher was picked to head the A&R (Artist & Repertoire) department. [read more]

Fantasy still magical

According to rock 'n' roll lore, there were numerous critics eager to trash John Lennon's return to the spotlight back in 1980. Yet many of those less-than-flattering reviews for Double Fantasy, which Lennon recorded with wife Yoko Ono, were hastily removed from publications at the last minute. Released three weeks before his murder, Double Fantasy ended up being Lennon's final statement. Nobody wanted to rag on John Lennon's goodbye. read more

The Making Of Paul McCartney

By the time the world learned of The Beatles’ demise, Paul McCartney was holed up in his farm on the Scottish island of Kintyre, preparing for the onslaught of legal and personal consequences [see side panel for Paul’s side of the tumultuous story]. His debut solo record was released the week after ‘Let It Be’, the group’s final album - it had been ready for some time, but he was outnumbered and powerless to get it out before The Beatles’ swan song. It was the final straw in a futile conflict and he publicly declared the end of the band to a shocked world. From hereon in, Paul was on his own. [read more]

Julian Lennon 'tight' with McCartney

Julian Lennon is "pretty tight" with Sir Paul McCartney. The Beatles legend is in regular contact with photographer Julian - the son of Paul's late co-star John Lennon - after growing close to the musician during his younger years. Julian told Hello! magazine: "There's a collage pictured in the book that Dad made for Paul and Paul made me a copy of. It was very sweet. And you know, he wrote 'Hey Jude' about me, so the connection with Paul is pretty tight. I saw him when he played at London's Hyde Park this summer and I thought he was fab." [read more]

In defense of Yoko Ono

Her most famous piece from this era was the “cut piece” in 1964, where she invited the audience to cut pieces of her clothing off until she was naked. This was Yoko’s first wake up call to the world, a commentary on disguising oneself with materialism and discarding it in favor of the real. Another of Yoko’s exhibits that drove some people crazy and left others (John Lennon) inspired and wanting more was her “This Is Not Here” exhibit. The exhibit featured a furnished living room but all the furniture, television, clock, etc. was cut in half. This was Yoko’s way of telling people art is a two part process, or something like that. If you think hard enough about it you realize it is genius, or at least that is what Yoko hopes you realize. [read more]

The great 'what if:' Did John and Paul want to reunite in Syracuse?

In early 1974, Lennon considered a reunion with Paul McCartney, his legendary songwriting partner — an alliance that might have resulted in a full reunion of The Beatles. Lennon talked about bringing the band together in Syracuse, Pang confirmed. “We wanted it to be close to New York City, but not in the heart of it, where it would be a bit too crazy,” Pang wrote. “John did enjoy his time there (in Syracuse) in 1971, so he just thought that if this were to happen, Syracuse might just be the spot.” [read more]

Beatles vs. Stones

The Beatles or the Rolling Stones? The debate over which is the greater band has fueled arguments since both were recording Chuck Berry songs. This fall, Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis, the hosts of Chicago Public Radio’s Sound Opinions, have upped the ante with a new book, The Beatles vs. the Rolling Stones: Sound Opinions on the Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Rivalry (Voyageur Press; $35), that compares the two groups side by side, examining drummers, managers, and more. DeRogatis won’t admit his loyalties, but Kot definitively puts himself in the Stones’ camp. “I loved the Beatles, but the Stones had that edge to everything they did,” says the Chicago Tribune critic. “There was a certain time when [singer Mick] Jagger was fairly consistently voicing contempt for what mainstream society was turning into, what was valuable, what it held dear, what kind of people it was turning out. I grew up in a blue-collar suburb of Syracuse where there was a cookie-cutter thing, thinking, There’s got to be more than this. Their attitude was very appealing.” We asked a few other prominent Chicagoans to weigh in—we hope you’ll weigh in, too, in the comments below. [read more]

Yoko Ono: 'Lennon would want world peace'

Yoko Ono commemorated October 9, which would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday, by urging fans to work towards world peace. The musician posted a video statement on YouTube in which she stated that her late husband overcame a rough upbringing to become a peace activist. "[John] had a very painful childhood, but he managed to turn his pain around to give the world many beautiful songs and important messages which changed our heads and the way of our lives," she said. [read more]

Paul McCartney famed Mull of Kintyre estate put on sale

A country estate made famous by Sir Paul McCartney's song Mull of Kintyre has been put up for sale. The 7,360-acre Carskiey Estate forms the Mull of Kintyre, which former resident McCartney sang about with Wings in the 1977 hit song. Now the estate, which includes the Edwardian Carskiey House and nine miles of coastline, has gone on the market. Estate agents Strutt & Parker are selling the property for offers over £2.95m. McCartney once said of the lyrics: "I certainly loved Scotland enough, so I came up with a song about where we were living; an area called Mull of Kintyre. [read more]

Bob Dylan's Defense of John Lennon

Explaining what made Lennon important, Dylan wrote that Lennon added "a great voice and drive to this country's so called ART INSTITUTION." Lennon's music, Dylan said, "help[ed] others to see pure light." Lennon's problem: he and Yoko had been living in New York for a year, which happened to be the year Nixon was running for re-election. The Vietnam war had reached a peak, and Lennon and Ono were singing "Give Peace a Chance" at antiwar rallies—and, they suggested, the best way to give peace a chance was to vote against Nixon. The Nixon White House responded by ordering Lennon deported. Decades later, Dylan's letter surfaced as part of the INS response to my Freedom of Information request for their files on the Lennon deportation hearings. [read more]

Beatles' magic, music unmatched decades later

Paul was the Beatle I most wanted to be when my brothers and I got out the broomsticks and mom's furry winter hats to play act the Fab Four during those early "Ed Sullivan Show" appearances. Give me a break, I was 7. By the time I was 8 1/2 - around the time of "Rubber Soul" - I knew John was a genius, even if I didn't understand a word of "Norwegian Wood." And so it goes all these years later, as radio stations and old Baby Boomers across the globe commemorate what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday. Lennon had already reached mythical status long before he was murdered at the age of 40, but his death cemented his and the Beatles' place as cultural icons of unmatchable proportion. [read more]

The Beatles' last picture show

One July day in 1968 a man from a company called Apple rang me. This was not long after I got back from the Battle of Hue, a key engagement of the Tet offensive in Vietnam. I’d shot my biggest story of the war there, which had just been published, and I was soon to head off abroad on assignment again, this time to Biafra in Africa. This man from Apple said, ‘If we give you £200, would you spend a day with the Beatles?’ I had two immediate reactions. The first was, are you kidding? I’d give them £200. The second was, why me? There were so many good studio photographers around, like David Bailey and Terence Donovan. I’m not a great celebrity photographer. I do news. [read more]

Happy Birthday John Lennon Say Fans Around The Globe

One of the biggest celebrations took place in New York, where they will be premiering the “LENNONYC” film that documents the last days of his life when he was living in New York City. They gathered at New York’s Strawberry Fields which are located in Central Park where his music will be played throughout the day. Fans started arriving on Friday, spilling onto the sidewalk of the Western side of Central Park where Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono lived in the Dakota building for nearly nine years before he was shot by a deranged gunman as he came home on December 8th, 1980. [read more]

John Sinclair Recalls the Song John Lennon Wrote to Free Him

Among those sharing memories of John Lennon on what would have been his 70th birthday, no one was more directly affected by a Lennon song than poet John Sinclair. After Lennon and Yoko Ono flew to Michigan to perform Lennon's song John Sinclair for the Free John Rally, Sinclair was released from his sentence of 10 years for giving an undercover police officer two joints. [read more]

India tribute marks Lennon at 70

Indian fans of the Beatles have a special reason to rejoice: John Lennon appears to have made amends from beyond the grave for Sexy Sadie, his classic, biting satire about Indian gurus. On what would have been the much-loved Beatle’s 70th birthday on Saturday — he was assassinated in 1980 — the record label EMI has released India India, a previously unpublished song, as part of a massive 11-CD collection. “India, India, take me to your heart/Reveal your ancient mysteries to me,” implores Lennon in the sugary-sweet and emotional song, recorded in his home studio in 1969. [read more]

Lennon family at memorial unveiling

A sculpture in honour of John Lennon has been unveiled in Liverpool, on what would have been his 70th birthday. The event was attended by the star's first wife Cynthia and his son Julian Lennon, who said it was not a day to be morbid, but one to celebrate his music and his message of peace. The BBC's Lorna Gordon reports. [video]

Love me do: Yoko reveals it was Paul who saved her marriage to John

It became a legendary event in John Lennon's increasingly eccentric life - famously known as 'the lost weekend'. And now, on the day John Lennon fans around the world are celebrating what would have been his 70th birthday, his widow, Yoko Ono, has revealed what happened during those days when John disappeared with their pretty personal assistant. And despite a well known war of words with Beatle Paul McCartney, Yoko credits Macca with actually saving their marriage. John and Yoko had separated in the summer of 1973 after a period of marital strife, and subsequently Lennon began a relationship with his personal assistant May Pang - a collusion Pang says was entirely orchestrated by Yoko. [read more]

Lennon ‘cared and saw the foolishness in the world’

WITH his three bandmates he took the world by storm performing upbeat pop classics like I Want to Hold Your Hand and She Loves You. But by the time of his death in 1980 he had matured into an uncompromising voice for peace and social justice. And on the day John Lennon should have been celebrating his 70th birthday the Welsh actor who befriended him for a decade said had he lived age would not have mellowed the voice silenced forever on December 8, 1980. [read more]

John Lennon: Working Class Mythmaker

Yet eventually, the myths collapse into a continuum standing in for the human who helped manufacture them with every innovation. And it is that intertextual continuum that deserves our attention, not just on Lennon's birthday but on every day, especially those where The Beatles are compared to culture vultures like Duran Duran, Oasis, Justin and Jersey whoever and whatever. Because Lennon's continuum is comprised of spiraling texts of conflicted humanity and creativity, it demands that we work hard to remember what real even means anymore, which gets harder and harder as every hyperreal day passes. [read more]

Sir Paul McCartney visits factory

Staff at the Linda McCartney Factory in Fakenham were given a surprise treat yesterday when Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney turned up. Workers were only told of the star’s visit yesterday morning, hours before his arrival, with factory bosses eager to keep the visit under wraps. The factory’s operations director David Matwij said: “Sir Paul last came here in October 2007. We told staff the day before and word quickly got out. The factory was surrounded by cars when he arrived that time. [read more]

Video Clip Depicting Birth of the Beatles Salutes Lennon on his 70th Birthday

The 70th anniversary of John Lennon's birth (October 9th) is being celebrated with multiple events worldwide - including concerts, exhibitions, CD reissues, film festivals, tribute recordings and "Nowhere Boy" - the new Weinstein Company movie opening Friday October 8th, that relates the story of his childhood and that has been endorsed by those closest to Lennon including Yoko Ono and Lennon's closest boyhood pals. Now comes a brand-new music video based on a re-creation of the first recording made by Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison in 1958 - and on footage from the "Nowhere Boy" movie - to tell the story of Lennon's formation of the band that became the Beatles.

The song is "In Spite Of All The Danger" - a song written by Paul McCartney & George Harrison in 1958 and recorded by them with John Lennon on lead vocals. The recording was the first time the future Beatles ever entered a recording studio. They recorded the song at a private Liverpool recording studio in the summer of 1958.

The recording used for the song features the performance recorded for the movie soundtrack by star Aaron Johnson ("Kick-Ass") who portrays the young Lennon in the film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpSw2MYOnLc

The music video - directed by Beatles scholar Martin Lewis (who in 2002 produced the DVD Edition of "A Hard Day's Night") draws on footage from the "Nowhere Boy" movie (directed by Sam Taylor-Wood) to tell the story of the musical evolution of John Lennon from passive young Elvis fan to nascent guitarist to founder of the Quarrymen and future Beatles. All the key scenes in the development of the group are depicted. The first meeting of John and Paul McCartney (the Big Bang that led to the Beatles), Paul's impromptu audition for John, George's audition for John on the top of a bus, the first gigs that Paul and George played with John and many more. Like the movie, the story of the music video ends in August 1960 - the point at which Lennon changes his band's name from the Quarrymen to the Beatles and the group leaves Liverpool to play in Hamburg - the boot-camp that toughens up the band and hones their skills in preparation for their conquering of the world.

Says Lewis: "The story of the birth of the Beatles is one of the most improbable, yet totally true tales in history. One young boy from a provincial city who is wrestling with the consequences of a complex family life develops the drive and determination to escape his background. Music becomes his rock 'n' roll ticket-to-ride out of the nowhere of post-war Liverpool. The film 'Nowhere Boy' tells that story in an authentic and poignant way. It has been an immense pleasure and honor to fashion this music video telling a capsule version of the inspiring odyssey of John Lennon's early years from such great original material."



For more information on the film, please visit http://nowhereboy.com/

Sean Lennon on Singing John's Songs, Making Music and Yoko Ono's Legacy

The public's first impression of Sean Lennon was as the precocious young progeny of music's most infamous pairing. Two critically acclaimed solo albums and nearly 35 years later, he's given up fighting the inexorably long shadow cast on him by his father, John Lennon -- who would have turned 70 this Saturday, a birthday he shares with his son. Choosing instead to focus his abundant creative energy towards projects that embrace the women in his life, the younger Lennon has devoted the last year to both rectifying his mother's legacy as a visual and musical artist with a series of all-star Plastic Ono Band tribute shows in New York (with the original line-up), Los Angeles (with the likes of Perry Ferrell and Lady Gaga) and Iceland. [read more]

Lennon's Life: A Video Timeline

The music and life of John Lennon is nothing short of legendary and his legacy continues to influence musicians and fans, even some 30 years after his untimely passing. To honor Lennon on what would have been his 70th birthday, we scoured the web to find 30 videos that tell the tale -- from his earliest beginnings in the Quarrymen to the heights of Beatlemania to the "Imagine" era and beyond. Click through the slideshow below and relive the highlights of Lennon's life, as they happened. [go to video timeline]

Is The FBI Still After John Lennon?

In 1972, John Lennon was such a force to be reckoned with that the Nixon administration feared he would cost them their re-election. Some even say Nixon, or a Smoking Man, black ops, style figure ordered his assassination (and that lone gunman, Chapman, was mind controlled). While all of that may be a bit too (Oliver) Stoned, it is true that Lennon was under FBI surveillance, that they amassed volumes of files on him, and that Tricky Dick tried to have him deported. [read more]

Al Pacino to Play Beatles Record Producer Phil Spector in David Mamet Film

Tony, Oscar and Emmy winner Al Pacino, soon to return to Broadway in The Merchant of Venice, will play Phil Spector, the record producer who worked with The Beatles and ended up in prison, in an upcoming film for HBO, according to The New York Times. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet will write and direct the film, which will be executive-produced by Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson. [read more]

Commemorating John Lennon With Plenty of Projects

John Lennon would have turned 70 on Saturday, and the anniversary has occasioned a flood of events and releases to commemorate the songwriter and his work. In a way, Lennon’s stature — the reason for the celebrations — makes some of them seem beside the point. Since he was murdered outside the Dakota, 30 years ago in December, Lennon has remained a powerful presence in the culture, both for his songwriting and performances as a Beatle and for his post-Beatles life as a peace crusader, born-again feminist and alternately strident and affecting solo artist. Do we really need to be reminded about John Lennon? [read more]

Ringo Starr wishes fellow Beatle John Lennon happy birthday

Fellow Beatle Ringo Starr has joined the list of well wishers on what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday. The Liverpool drummer, who celebrated his 70th in July, is shown delivering a special birthday tribute to Fab Four pal John on YouTube. Ringo, whose childhood home in Madryn Street, Liverpool, is set to be bulldozed before Christmas said that he missed his former friend. In his personal birthday message, Starr said: "Happy Birthday John. Peace and Love, I loved you and I miss you. "Can you believe 70!" [see ringo's video]

Google Celebrates The 70th Anniversary of John Lennon

John Lennon was one of the most succesful artist in the histor of music and tomorow John Lennon should celebrates its 70th anniversary.I am sure that the songs of John Lennon remained in the hearts of his fans.John Lennon, a founding member of The Beatles, who had met 70 years ago, she became his absurd and premature death in a true pop culture icon and one of the greatest geniuses of rock.John Lennon is a legend. [read more]

John Lennon: Time Capsules To Be Sealed Today!

In honour of John Lennon’s 70th Birthday on Saturday October 9, 2010, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and BoxofVision LLC will today seal three authorized time capsules to carry his legacy to future generations. The time capsules will be preserved and stored until they are opened in a ceremonial presentation on October 9, 2040. The time capsules will be stored at three significant locations to the Lennon legacy, these include - The Rock Hall in Cleveland, Ohio, The John Moores University in Liverpool, England and Reykjavik, Iceland, home of the Imagine Peace Tower.

With over a hundred fan contributions, Lennon’s entire catalogue of post-Beatles recordings, 6 sealed notes from Yoko Ono, and other artefacts, the three time capsules will each include a “John Lennon: Box Of Vision.” The stunning table top Box is comprised of newly restored prints of Lennon LP artwork, a complete in-depth discography, a newly commissioned essay on John’s career, beautiful reproductions of classic Lennon album ads and more.
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Instant Karma: John Lennon’s Top 10 Guitar Moments

John Lennon was one of the greatest songwriters of the rock and roll era, with or without Paul McCartney and with or without The Beatles. His legacy of Fab Four albums and solo recordings is staggeringly lyrical, emotionally complex and as often raw as it is achingly beautiful. It’s hard to believe the same guy who tugged six-minute symphonies of feedback from his Epiphone Casino with the Plastic Ono Band also was the architect of the acoustic Gibson J-160E-based “Norwegian Wood” and the textural, piano-driven “Imagine.” [read more]

Remembering John Lennon: Fans Share Reflections, Favorite Songs with WNYC

Pop music legend and New Yorker John Lennon would have celebrated his 70th birthday this Saturday. To commemorate his birth, WNYC has gathered these thoughts and reflections from Lennon fans, including from some of WNYC's most favorite personalities. Michael Epstein, director of the new PBS documentary, LENNONYC, says his favorite Lennon song is "I'm Losing You.": "For me, this song is everything I love about John Lennon. First, it's rocking...just great rock 'n' roll. But it is also an intimate, deeply personally song. At the time John wrote it, he felt neglected by Yoko—she was working all the time...nice role reversal. It's an expression of loss and insecurity. That John was always willing to let it all hang out, to be so raw...[it] is one of the reasons I love his music so much." [read more]

Album: John Lennon, Every Step's a Yes (EMI)

EMI, as part of their reissue programme of John Lennon's notoriously patchy solo oeuvre, have created this 4CD slipcase compilation that divides Lennon's material by the categories Roots (rock'n'roll influences), Woman (love songs), Working Class Hero (political songs) and Borrowed Time (something about "his eventual understanding of the fragility of all our lives"). [read more]

World Still Watching Lennon’s Wheels Go Round And Round

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans,” John Lennon once famously said. Sadly for the music icon’s family and legions of fans, his prolific, celebrated life was tragically cut short by the plans of a madman on the New York City streets he had so dearly loved. But as the world gets set to commemorate what would have been Lennon’s 70th birthday October 9, we will enjoy an onslaught of Lennonmania. A new CD box set, “John Lennon: the Signature Box” drops this week, featuring re-masters of all eight of the cherished solo albums, plus a disc of non-album singles, a greatest hits compilation and a collector’s disc filled with slip-shod demos and rarities. And budget conscious fans needn’t fret, as with last year’s Beatles re-masters, the albums will also be available as separate re-issues. There’s also a bio-pic, “Nowhere Boy,” out in limited release this week( and available online), chronicling Lennon’s boyhood and the formation of the embryonic Beatles, The Quarrymen. [read more]

Beatles manager Brian Epstein to be honoured with theatre in his name

Tragic Beatles manager Brain Epstein is to be honoured with a theatre named after him in Liverpool. The city's former Neptune Theatre is to be renamed The Epstein Theatre as a memorial to the entrepreneur catapulted The Fab Four to worldwide fame. A Liverpool music and record shop owner Epstein became a Merseybeat guru and managed the mop top band until his drugs overdose death on 27th August 1967. [read more]

Exploring the myth: Did John Lennon have gay affair?

This pattern of trying to make amends and be loved — after lashing out — was very clear to those around him. May Pang talks repeatedly about John’s drunken fits in Los Angeles, and how sweet and tender he became after realizing just how far he had gone toward the precipice of indecency or even violence. It was a character trait that revealed itself consistently, as if a Jekyll & Hyde existed inside him. Those who only see the negative side of things say that Lennon was an ornery bastard. But, as many insiders attest, very often his lashing out was justified and the remorse intensely sincere. Whether John Lennon was reacting to outside forces or just his own gut, you always got the truth out of him. And sometimes the truth can be an intimidating, powerful force. [read more]

'God,' John Lennon

That song was the powerful 'God,' off the legendary 'Plastic Ono Band.' Against a simple melodic backdrop, Lennon starts off by grabbing the listeners by the lapels and getting right in their faces as he sings, "God is a concept by which we measure our pain." Then to reiterate his point, in case anybody who wanted to only see the cute moptop Lennon of the 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' early Beatles days wasn't listening, Lennon sings, "I'll say it again," then repeats his thesis statement. Read More At Spinner

Who was John Lennon?

Born in Liverpool, England, on Oct. 9, 1940, Lennon formed his first band, The Quarrymen, in 1957, which went on to become The Beatles the next year with the addition of McCartney and George Harrison. The Beatles, which disbanded in 1970, are estimated to have sold more than a billion records worldwide. "Imagine", probably Lennon's most popular solo album, was released in 1971. Its title track, a Utopian song by the same name, has been adopted by peace activists around the world as an unofficial anthem. "Imagine" is also the official song of the human rights organisation Amnesty International. [read more]

Just like starting over

"Everybody loves you when you're six foot in the ground," John Lennon sang on Walls and Bridges, the 1974 album that Yoko Ono, in a new set of liner notes, now calls "one of the masterpieces of classic rock." Such is the nature of revisionism. As Lennon's stature in the rock pantheon remains undiminished three decades after his death and on the eve of what would have been his 70th birthday Saturday, the weaknesses in some of his post-Beatles catalogue are now good-naturedly overlooked. Walls and Bridges, a friendly but inconsequential album, is a perfect example. Ono probably speaks for many. [read more]

John Lennon Film To Air on PBS and Central Park

A new film, LENNONNYC, will be shown Saturday in New York's Central Park to celebrate what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday. According to Spinner.com, the movie will then be shown on November 22 on PBS, as part of the American Masters series.
The movie, which depicts Lennon's time in New York City, was produced and directed by Michael Epstein. [read more]

Yoko Ono's Life Dedicated to John Lennon's Legacy

After John Lennon's murder in 1980, Yoko Ono could have made a couple of destructive choices. She could have followed the path of two grief-stricken fans and committed suicide, or she could have wallowed in Lennon's absence and filled "the space with work, becoming [a] workaholic," Ono, 77, told USA Today. Instead she decided to brighten the memory of her late husband, who would have turned 70 this Saturday, by starting philanthropic and peace initiatives. After the deaths of the two fans, Ono pledged "an annual Lennon bequest." She set up museums in Japan, memorials in Central Park, and most important to Lennon's image, "multiple charities aiding the world's poor and oppressed." Ono will be in Iceland on Saturday for a concert and to light the Imagine Peace Tower, a monument built in 2007 to honor Lennon. And though Ono has never remarried, she says that she's never lonely. "I still feel his spirit," Ono said,"...[and] all day, my office is buzzing [around] me." ...source...

John Lennon and the Immortal Number 9

On October 9th, Yoko Ono, in honor of what would have been John Lennon’s 70th birthday, will light his Peace Tower in Iceland, and perform a memorial concert. The number 9 always had profound significance for John, especially after first meeting Yoko at a London art gallery on November 9, 1966. His second wife was a serious student of the occult and of Cheiro, the father of modern numerology. Like John, she identified herself as a Number 9 person, 9 being the sum of the numbers of her own birthday on the 18th (of February, 1933). Cheiro stated that 9 represented creative, universal consciousness. He characterized Number 9 personalities as fiercely independent, energetic, strong-willed, and domineering, often subject to great struggles in youth, but great success later on. [read more]

Yoko Ono Donates Glasses To Celebrity Charity Auction

The diminutive star has chosen a pair of her own iconic Porsche Carrera sunglasses and signed them for the charity’s unique Clothes Throw event, which starts with a special online auction this Sunday 3rd October for seven days. An auction item of this stature rarely comes along and organisers are delighted that Yoko Ono, who is Honorary Patron of the charity, has donated these signed sunglasses, like the ones she wore on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in the 1980s. [read more]

FBI Torpedoes John Lennon Auction Item

John Lennon's application for U.S. residency has been yanked from auction after the FBI put its foot down ... this according to the auction house. A rep for the Gotta Have It! Rock & Pop Culture Auction tells TMZ ... "The item has been under investigation by the FBI because it is considered government property." We're told the auction house has now pulled the document. Too bad ... word is the starting bid was for $100,000. So far ... no comment from the FBI but a government official tells TMZ, "There is currently an investigation regarding the John Lennon documents in the auction and it's being headed by the FBI." TMZ.com

Ravi Shankar George Harrison Box Set Coming

On October 19th, Dark Horse Records / Rhino Entertainment will release a limited edition deluxe box set entitled RAVI SHANKAR GEORGE HARRISON COLLABORATIONS which honors the sitar master’s 90th birthday. Collaborations is a 3 CD and 1 DVD uniquely numbered limited edition box set (the CDs come in replica vinyl jackets). All compositions were composed by Ravi Shankar and produced by George Harrison over a period of 20 years. The DVD is a rare concert performance of the Ravi Shankar’s Music Festival From India recorded at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1974. The albums include the acclaimed Chants Of India (1997), The Ravi Shankar Music Festival From India (studio version 1976) and Shankar Family & Friends (1974). The 56-page book includes a foreword by Philip Glass, a history of George and Ravi “in their own words” and rare photographs from both family archives. [read more]

Imagine Buying John Lennon's Application For US Residency; Document Surfaces After 34 Years

Dated May 8, 1976, the card contains Lennon's actual fingerprints on all ten of his fingers and his signature in the upper left corner, written in blue ballpoint pen. The card is inside of a protective plastic bag covering that was taped shut and stamped up to four times: June 2, when the document was recorded, June 6 and August 25, 1976, and on the front, July 8, 1976. [read more]

Julian Lennon's First Photo Exhibit Brings Lennon Families Togther

On the eve of what would be John Lennon's 70th birthday, two different Lennon families have come together, at last. The event is the first exhibition of Julian Lennon's photographs. John Lennon had two families, so to speak. His first wife Cynthia and son Julian Lennon, and his second wife Yoko Ono, and Sean Lennon, and they've been estranged most of this time. They've come together, right now, in New York City. [read more]

Video of John Lennon's Very First Track Coming Soon

John Lennon is to be remembered in a special video which will be released on his 70th birthday later this week. Beatles historian Martin Lewis has teamed up with the movie executives behind Lennon biopic "Nowhere Boy" to recreate the first recording made by Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison in 1958, "In Spite of All the Danger". [read more]

HOTEL PAYS TRIBUTE TO JOHN LENNON

Liverpool’s Hard Days Night Hotel will be commemorating the John Lennon Tribute season with the release of 70 white balloons to mark the legendary singer’s birthday this weekend. The Beatles-inspired hotel is inviting fans to pay tribute to Lennon by bearing messages on tags, which will be tied to the balloons and released midday on Friday ahead of Lennon’s official 70th birthday this Saturday. Special guests including the Beatles former booking manager, Joe Flannery will be in attendance at the event, along with a host of personal friends to the singer.

The balloon release has been planned to pay tribute to Lennon’s release of 365 helium filled balloons during his first full art exhibition, You are Here which opened on the 1st July 1968. Hard Days Night Hotel Manager Mike Dewey said: “The hotel wanted to commemorate John Lennon’s 70th birthday by offering fans the opportunity to pay tribute to the legendary singer by bearing their own personal message on the balloons ahead of his birthday on Saturday.”

He added: “Hard Days Night will also be paying tribute to Lennon all day Saturday to mark Lennon’s official 70th birthday by playing Lennon music all day inside the hotel. Beatles tribute band, The Mersey Beatles will also be returning to the hotel this Friday for a live concert special to commemorate some of Lennon’s most famous hits.” The balloons will be released in the hotel’s ‘Peace Garden’, which was constructed in memory of Lennon. Members of the public and hotel residents will have the opportunity to write messages on the balloon tags all day from 9am to 8pm on Thursday 7th October until 10:30am on Friday 8th October. The tags will be available at the hotel’s reception.

For further information on Lennon Tribute season events at the Hard Days Night Hotel visit www.harddaysnighthotel.com or call the hotel reception on: 0151 236 1964.

Ono: 'Today's world would anger Lennon'

Yoko Ono has said that her late husband John Lennon would be "totally angry" with the state of today's society. In an interview with The AP, Ono remarked that if Lennon was still alive today he would be working as a peace activist. "He would have been totally angry," she said. "He would have felt like he wanted to run somewhere and just bang something or strangle someone, you know?" [read more]

Yoko Ono says John Lennon would be a peace activist if alive today

Yoko Ono was talking to the media recently about life today and what might be if he were still alive today. The widow of John Lennon has been managing affairs of his music and business since his untimely death and recently has been stepping out to talk about his life, love and efforts in peace. In a recent interview, Ono says she believes that if the legend was alive today he would be a peace activist. [read more]

John Lennon's "political" messages still resonates...

The U.S. vs. John LennonThe 2006 documentary film “The U.S. vs. John Lennon,” is being shown this week in Eugene and other Lennon friendly college communities. British media is talking an especially hard look at why the U.S. government -- under then President Richard Nixon -- tried to arrest and silence Lennon for his anti-war activities that today are viewed as positive statements for world peace. Since his death, the U.S. government has apologized for spying on him, the United Nations as honored him, the Vatican has forgiven him for his comments about Jesus and his hometown of Liverpool has elevated him to what can only be called as sainthood in England. [read more]

Lennon lives on

But we might overlook one title that would have applied to Lennon today, had he not been gunned down in December 1980 on Manhattan's Upper West Side — senior citizen. And just consider, Paul McCartney is 68 and Ringo Starr is 70. George Harrison died in 2001 at age 58. John Lennon would have turned 70 this coming Saturday. And interest in Lennon continues to run high. [read more]

John Lennon’s boy sets record straight after 20 years

Not only was his father, John Lennon, absent for much of Julian’s life, he left him few treasures of his time in the world’s most famous bands.‘I didn’t inherit any mementoes or keepsakes, which was incredibly sad for me and my family,’ he said. ‘Nearly everything I now own, I had to buy at auction.’ Scooter: A Honda Monkey bike father and son would ride on around John’s Surrey home. He has found, though, that fellow bidders at Beatles auctions occasionally discover his identity and withdraw from bidding on certain items. He has since been gifted possessions from ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and Lennon’s former PA, May Pang. The collection has been photographed and put together in a new glossy, coffee-table book, published on what would have been John’s 70th birthday, this Saturday. Julian, now 47, said: ‘I realised recently I’ve been collecting Beatles memorabilia for nearly 20 years – amazing. [read more]

Yoko Ono ponders a senior-citizen John Lennon and his legacy as his 70th birthday approaches

If John Lennon had lived to be 70, Yoko Ono thinks he would have been more relaxed about the milestone than he was about his 40th birthday. Ono recalls the ex-Beatle fretting about reaching that number: "I can't believe I'm going to be 40!" she said he told her. "I said, 'John, John — 40's not so bad, you know?'" Sadly, it would be his last year. Lennon was shot to death on Dec. 8, 1980, almost three months after turning 40. But in the three decades since, Ono has worked to keep his legacy vibrant, and continues to do so with the approach of his 70th birthday on Saturday. [read more]

John Lennon's solo years: A major reissue campaign marks what would have been the Beatle's 70th birthday

Lennon kicked off his post-Beatles career with back-to-back classics. Renouncing the band’s all-you-need-is-love optimism, he channeled his inner turmoil after the breakup into confrontational rock and introverted folk for 1970′s Plastic Ono Band. “I don’t believe in ­Beatles,” he stated flatly on “God.” Rough record­ings from this era dominate the new box set’s demo disc; his hoarse delivery of that line on an early take of “God” drives home just how ragged he was feeling. [read more]