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German Newspaper Sings John Lennon's Praises (Entered December 14, 2000) Thanks to Jon Wiener From The Nation Reuters News Service reported that a German newspaper paid a special and unique tribute to John Lennon on December 8. That day, the newspaper based all of its headlines on lyrics from John and Beatle songs. The left-wing daily Tageszeitung's front-page headline ran: "It was 20 years ago today," a line from the Beatles' 1967 "Sergeant Pepper" album, over a story recalling John's killing outside John and Yoko's New York apartment on December 8, 1980. Inside, an article about two men arrested for a recent fire-bomb attack on a Duesseldorf synagogue was headlined "No Hell Below Us," stealing a line from John's solo hit "Imagine." A feature on attempts by European Union leaders to revamp decision-making structures at a summit in the French city of Nice earned the wry headline "You Better Get Yourself Together." Germany, where the Beatles rose to fame in the early 1960s during a stint at a sleazy Hamburg nightclub, retains a strong affection for the group. Also in Germany: Public television channel ZDF had scheduled a fantasy film "Paul is Dead," which speculates on what future career path John might have chosen had he lived and fellow Beatle and songwriting partner Paul McCartney died instead. That was to air on December 8.
Fans Demand Apology For Killer's Interview (Entered December 14, 2000) If there were awards being handed out for insensitivity..ABC would have won the grand prize on December 8. The network chose to rerun an interview with John's killer as fans around the world were attending vigils and lighting candles in memory of the life that had been snuffed out by this man's senseless act. The parole board, in denying "the subject" parole, seemed troubled by the fact that he still showed an interest in gaining notoriety. Strangely enough, ABC granted him another dose of that sought-after adrenaline rush by airing the killer's interview on the 20th anniversary of the death of the husband- father-brother-cousin-nephew-friend he had murdered. In response to what also seems to be a senseless act on the part of ABC, fans are banding together to protest the airing of the interview. IK! received a request from "Diane" (no last name given) who wrote the following for us to pass along to you:
I am encouraging fans to demand an apology from 20/20 for their unbelievable
programming choice on the anniversary of John Lennon's death and would like
to enlist the help of other Beatles Webmasters. Any space you could devote
to spreading the word and providing the email link below would be
appreciated. Additional space for links to program sponsors would be great,
but my main focus is on flooding 20/20 itself with demands for an apology.
Here are my thoughts on the program -- feel free to use them or any part of
them if you are willing to join me in this effort:
ABC's 20/20 ignored requests not to rerun the 1992 Barbara Walters interview
with John Lennon's murderer on the 20th anniversary of John's death.
Rerunning it at the time of his killer's parole hearing would have been
understandable, but repeating it on the 20th anniversary of John Lennon's
death was not. It was not new and therefore not newsworthy. It was tabloid
mentality, not journalism. It was especially frustrating to see the murderer
discussing how he had killed John Lennon because he wanted to "be somebody"
and know that it is precisely this type of media coverage that fulfils that
desire. 20/20 certainly didn't have any obligation to run a memorial to John
Lennon, but choosing to feature his murderer (and thereby reward him) while
giving only passing comments about John's life was completely innapropriate
and insensitive.
Please join me in demanding an on-air apology from 20/20. Take a moment to
email ABC-20/20 using their convenient email form at
http://www.abcnews.go.com/onair/email.html
Express your own feelings about this insensitive, irresponsible and
non-newsworthy segment or simply send this message:
I demand an on-air apology for the tasteless rebroadcast of the interview
with John Lennon's murderer on the 20th anniversary of John's death. I
further demand that the killer's name not be used in that apology to help
limit the publicity value to the man who committed murder just to "be
somebody".
If you have a Beatles website and want to encourage your viewers to complain
to 20/20 promote, feel free to copy any of this info to your website.
Also, here is the list of sponsors of 20/20. Email links were not available
for all of them.
Radio Shack
http://www.radioshack.com/Contacts/ContactUs.asp
Canon
Mike Virgintino 516/328-4825
mvirgintino@cusa.canon.com
Burlington Coat Factory
email:
media.relations@coat.com
Ziploc (SCJohnson Co.)
email form on website:
http://www.scjbrands.com/docs/menu/scj_content.asp?contactus/contactus.asp
Braun
http://www.braun.de/e/cc/cc.htm?/e/cc/dialog/dialog_con.htm
Disney
e-mail form http://disney.go.com/mail/contact.html Under "choose an area"
select "other"
KMart
email form http://web01.echomail.com/~rapiddw/kmartcorp/index.html
Classico
Thanks,
The Los Angeles December 8 Vigil (Entered December 15, 2000) Written by IK! West Coast Correspondent, Harry Bluebond (Photos to follow)
The December 8, 2000 vigil in Los Angeles, California was probably the most highly
attended Lennon Vigil since I attended the first one with Jerry Rubin's Alliance For
Survival on December 8, 1981. There were approximately 500 in attendance. Part of the
stronger turnout was because of the: I arrived just before 7 p.m. and there was a large gathering in front of Capitol Records. This is just about 50 yards or so south of John's Star location on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They were broadcasting "1" over a fine sound system. People were singing along to all those great hits (I missed "Strawberry Fields Forever" once again not being included). At around 7:50 we tried to hook up by cell phone to Central Park Strawberry Field Park and did briefly. The gal who heads up the Beatles San Diego Come Together fan club was there. Thereafter Capitol played a half dozen of John's great solo recordings including "Instant Karma!" - "Power to the People" - "Give Peace a Chance" - "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" - "Beautiful Boy" - and "Imagine." For the next 15 minutes or so a few of us spoke about our reflections and what John has meant to us. This lead to Jerry Rubin's speech. Jerry is usually not at a loss for words, but this time as he was reflecting, he was starting to break down and having trouble getting the words out regarding the horrific, insane tragedy. Right on virtual cue, if you'll allow, an instant karmic moment, a heckler rode by and screamed "John hated capitalism and he hated the C.I.A." It was screamed with some reverence and Jerry went from an almost sob to a laugh. It broke the tension. At 8:23 we lit the "peace flame candle" and then "Imagine" played again. It was at that point that we walked the candle from in front of the Capitol building to John's Star. People gathered and sang and "schmoozed" for hours thereafter. I left at about 10 p.m. and the camera crews were still coming. It was a great cross-section of folks in attendance. Fans from age 10 all the way up to us AARP near-seniors.
Yoko Tour in 2001? (Entered December 12, 2000) Thanks in part to Paul Boyd and Larry McGahey
(Photo: Yoko Performs at Summerstage, NYC, July 1996) It may be a bit early to say for certain...but it has been reported by unnamed sources that Yoko is lining up her first tour in five years. No word yet on whether this would be a major tour, like the Starpeace adventure in the 80's, or a limited number of select cities. Yoko told a chat audience at msn.com a couple of weeks ago that she is planning to start recording an album in February 2001. She has been keeping her vocal chords in shape with the occasional concert appearance, most recently at the Japan Society in New York City for the opening of the major YES Yoko Ono exhibit there. Last June, she performed with Sonic Youth guitarist Thurston Moore and DJ Spooky at the Bell Atlantic Jazz Festival in New York. DJ Spooky has said he will release a special CD of his work with Yoko, but that has yet to see the light of day. Yoko has also performed in recent years with son Sean Lennon in Toronto, Japan and in New York. Her most recent CD, "Rising" was released in 1995 with the title track, "Rising," igniting the audience at Summerstage in Central Park in '96. IK! will be keep you updated as this story progresses...
Mayor of New York..a Nowhere Man? (Entered December 9, 2000) Thanks to Paul Boyd and Larry McGahey The Associated Press reported that Mayor Rudolph Giuliani refused to suspend Central Park's 1 a.m. curfew to accommodate hundreds of John Lennon fans who were expected to attend a memorial vigil December 8. Giuliani said Thursday, rejecting a plea from the lord mayor of Livepool, that the 1 AM closing time was "plenty of time to have this celebration or memorial." Giuliani: "It's dangerous for a lot of people when you keep the park open, and it requires a tremendous amount of additional security." Past vigils have typically lasted into the morning hours, with fans singing John's songs and remembering his message of peace. But the Giuliani administration began enforcing the curfew. Last year, police were already in Strawberry Fields - the section of the park renamed for the Beatles song - to remove fans at 1 a.m. This year, Giuliani was unbending even after the fans invited him to spend the night with them. Tom Leighton of the Memorial Committee said: "We want to invite the mayor to come sing with us. We hope he wakes up from his 1950s coma and realizes December 8 is a significant date." Reuters reported that Civil Liberties Union Head Norman Siegel made a personal plea to the Mayor: "Mr. Mayor, all we are saying is give freedom a chance. 'We Can Work It Out,''' he said, borrowing freely from Beatles' song titles. ``And if you don't show up, what we suggest is 'Let It Be.''' Speaking at a news conference, Spiegel said, "The administration doesn't understand that John Lennon is not only a historical figure, but he has become an icon and part of the cultural history of New York. Tom Leighton, explained to city officials that the vigil is held late in the evening on December 8 because that was when John Lennon was killed. "The special events of December 8 make the late night hours especially important,'' he said. ``Does the mayor also think that on Christmas Eve, midnight mass should be held a little earlier because it's not convenient?'' Another lobbyist attempting to convince the Republican powers-that-be to keep the park open, Candido Bonilla said, "We ask the mayor to reassess his policy toward this vigil, to pay tribute to this great artist who advocated peace, love and social awareness." Yoko has never attended any of the vigils, but lights a single candle in the window of her Dakota apartment to let the fans know she is with them in spirit.
Black Nowhere Near the Plaque... (Entered December 9, 2000) Thanks to Paul Boyd From the BBC John's British relatives and hometown fans marked the 20th anniversary of his death with the unveiling of a plaque outside his childhood home in Liverpool. John's cousin Stanley Parkes and his half-sister, Julia Baird, joined dozens of relatives who still live in Liverpool outside the small semi-detached house in Woolton where Lennon taught himself to play guitar. Mr Parkes said: "It is a very emotional day today for all of us, especially coming back to Woolton and Allerton where we all grew up." The English relatives had protested when it had been originally planned that Cilla Black - a former '60's star who was friendly with the Beatles - would do the unveiling of the plaque. The family insisted that one of their own do the honors and Ms. Black bowed out. Around the world, thousands of fans attended events on Friday to mark the anniversary of John's murder. A candle lighting ceremony in Los Angeles at John's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame took place at 8:23 PM ET. IK!'s West Coast Correspondent, Harry Bluebond was there and will file a report soon. Another major gathering took place in Strawberry Fields, the beautiful tribute garden in New York's Central Park which was instituted several years ago by Yoko Ono's generous contribution for plants, trees and general refurbishing of that area of the park. Each year on John's birthday and the annivesary of his murder, fans gather around the Imagine mosaic and share memories and music. In Liverpool: The blue English Heritage plaque - the first to commemorate an English pop musician - overlooks the porch of the house where John lived in Woolton with Aunt Mimi from the age of five until 1963. A statue in the shape of a knotted gun has already been unveiled close to the site of the Cavern Club, where the Beatles played their early concerts. That memorial was unveiled by Dr. Michael Nobel, head of the Nobel family society and chairman of the Non-Violence Foundation. The foundation has placed 20 identical statues worldwide, including one outside the United Nations building in New York. In Japan, more than 1,000 people remembered John at the world's first museum dedicated to him, which opened in October just outside Tokyo. John's former co-writer and fellow ex-Beatle Paul McCartney said he would remember his old friend by doing what they liked best - making music. Paul agreed with Yoko when he said John would be "tickled" to know the group had a number one album two decades after his death. The album, "1" has sold an estimated 12 millioin copies since it was released a month ago. Paul: "I'll be thinking of all the great times that we had together, and I'll be remembering him with all the love in my heart." Julian was not as charitable in his remembrance and on his own web site, blasted his father once again for his past neglect and also threw stones Yoko's way - indicating he felt John had sunk into some sort of "black hole" when he became John Ono Lennon. An assertion that his father would undoubtedly fervently dispute, if only he could.
They say you want a revolution... (Entered December 9, 2000) Thanks to Paul Boyd and Harry Bluebond From a Reuters news report from Havana, Cuba: President Fidel Castro led a day of homage to John Lennon on December 8, calling John a "revolutionary" hero. It was a cultural about-face by Cuba's Communist authorities, who once frowned on the type of music John made as a decadent Western influence. To the musical backdrop of "All You Need Is Love," Mr. Castro, aided by the star singer Silvio RodrÃguez, unveiled a bronze statue of Mr. Lennon sitting on a park bench. "What makes him great in my eyes is his thinking, his ideas," Mr. Castro said after the ceremony, timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of John's murder in New York. "I too am a dreamer who has seen his dreams turn into reality," added the 74-year-old former guerrilla who took power in the 1959 Cuban Revolution. In the 1960's and 70's, Beatles songs were considered "ideological diversionism" by Cuban authorities, and some residents say the music was barely heard on the island, except at clandestine parties with smuggled tapes. Now John is being cast as a born rebel and a constant victim of United States harassment. Some people were left scratching their heads at the celebration today. One man said, "..now they're going to honor Lennon? You see this bump on my head? I got this when I was a kid for listening to the Beatles and playing their music." He showed what he said was a lump left when his ideologically strict father smashed his guitar over his head. Mr. Castro said the tribute to Mr. Lennon had made him feel young, adding, "Youth is all about thinking, enthusiasm and the capacity to dream."
Fresh Air with Terry Gross Replays JOL-Related Interviews (Entered December 7, 2000) The NPR radio show - "Fresh Air with Terry Gross" - will replay interviews with Yoko, Cynthia Lennon and Jon Wiener. The audio will also be available on their web site at WHYY Wiener, Jack Douglas and Bill King are also interviewed by Allan Kozinn at The New York Times website. Scroll down to ARTS for Kozinn's Lennon remembrance.
John Lennon Puzzle at AOL Canada (Entered December 7, 2000) Thanks to Kelly Ann Buchanan, Crossword Constructor Here's a challenge! Visit http://www.viewz.com/crossword/johnlennon.pl and try to complete the John Lennon crossword puzzle that is now being featured. IK! started it this afternoon (at work, oops! sorry boss)..but didn't have time to finish it up. Questions range from What kind of paints does Yoko use to What is John's Aunt Mimi's real name? Sharpen up your clicking fingers and exercise your mind.
More than 50,000 Visit John's Japan Museum (Entered December 7, 2000) Thanks to Paul Boyd TOKYO (Reuters) - More than 50,000 people have visited a museum near Tokyo dedicated to John Lennon in the two months since it opened, a museum official said Thursday, December 7. ``As of the end of November, there had been around 53,000 visitors,'' the official said. ``This is absolutely astonishing, way beyond our expectations.'' The museum, built in a corner of a huge arena in Yono, 15 miles north of Tokyo, was approved by Yoko, who was present for its opening on October 9 -- which would have been John's 60th birthday. Beatles music plays as visitors view some 130 items that once belonged to John. Most were donated by Yoko, including family photos, an old driver's license and passport, handwritten lyrics for songs and his trademark wire-rimmed spectacles. On the final white wall by the exit, in raised white characters, is written the date ``December 8, 1980'' -- the day John was killed outside his New York apartment. The museum has designated December 8-10 as memorial days and will host a number of special events, including providing a corner in which fans can offer flowers in John's memory. ``From mid-December we will also display the original score for 'Happy Christmas','' the museum official said. Some people complained when it was first announced where the museum would be located - Yono is a so-called unfashionable town in the midst of the urban sprawl that surrounds Japan's largest metropolis. Fans, though, have few complaints. ``Everyone appears to go home quite happy,'' the museum official said.
Cilla Black Pulls Out of JOL Plaque Presentation (Entered December 7, 2000) Thanks to InfoBeat.com John's British relatives weren't too thrilled that Cilla Black - who was associated with John and B's in the 1960's - was slated to be the presenter of a plaque in honor of John. The English Heritage organization had asked Black to present the plaque in a ceremony planned for tomorrow (December 8) at John's childhood home on Menlove Avenue. However, because John's British relatives didn't know Ms. Black personally, they asked to have John's cousin, Stanley Parks, be the presenter instead. Ms. Black apparently bowed out gracefully.
Dennis Elsas JOL Interview to Be Aired December 8 (Entered December 7, 2000) Thanks to Laura Fedele John's 1974 interview with radio host Dennis Elsas will be aired on 90.7 FM, public radio from Fordham University in New York City. Dennis' 1974 interview with John Lennon has achieved legendary status among Beatle fans and rock historians. What began as a promotion for the new "Walls and Bridges" album quickly became an intimate discussion of newly revealed Beatle facts, a frank look into the immigration problems John was facing and a wonderful showcase for Lennon's wit and warmth. It was one of the first contemporary radio shows to be included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Television and Radio, and was excerpted for use in the Beatles Anthology book, video and television show. Fordham University is airing highlights during Dennis' afternoon show tomorrow, from 4-6pm. Click here for more information: http://www.wfuv.org/wfuv/dennis_lennon.html Check Fordham's home page: http://www.wfuv.org/
Yoko Speaks Out on Horrors of Violence (Entered December 7, 2000) Thanks to Nicole Wilde http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,47028,00.html
In an article at The Times (see address above), Yoko asked the world to reflect on the horrors of gun violence in a special message to mark the 20th anniversary of the week of her husband's death. In her message, given to PA News, she spoke about how John's death is being marked around the world, but points out it is "a time we should also remember how he died." She painted the picture of how John, "the king of the world" - was taken from her and his belongings brought back in a "brown paper bag." Yoko recently paid for billboards to be put up in New York, Los Angeles and Cleveland, Ohio, drawing attention to gun-related violence. They feature a pair of smashed, blood-stained glasses, accompanied by the words, "Over 676,000 people have been killed by guns in the USA since John Lennon was shot and killed on December 8, 1980." Yoko said: "The last millennium was so violent, particularly the past century. When I flipped through the pages of a book of photographs,'The 20th Century,' I almost wanted to stop seeing what was coming next. So much cruelty was revealed, page after page. It was a reminder to me that I am not the only one who suffered a sudden and painful loss in my immediate family." Yoko continued: "The year 2000 marks the 20th anniversary of John's murder, and I've learnt that almost every country in the world has planned some sort of memorial to remind people of his life and work. I believe this is a time we should also remember how he died. The number of people who have died by gunshot since John's death is ten times larger than the total number of American soldiers lost in the Vietnam War. It's like we are living in a war zone. I want us all to realise that, so hopefully the healing process can begin. John would have wanted to say this to you."
YOKO LIVE CHAT - AT ABC.COM
ABC John Lennon Special/Yoko Chat
Yoko chatted live with fans on the ABCNews web site Wednesday December 6
from 2 until a little after 3 PM ET.
Up to nearly 600 people were sitting in and questions ranged from "how did
you and John meet?" to questions about John's murderer.
IK! has been informed by ABC that the chat transcript and audio will be on
their site over the next few days.
ABC's John Lennon webumentary
is being updated with new pictures and more information. Keep checking in
on that as well. A few of Yoko's chat highlights:
Moderator:
Yoko Ono at 2:10pm ET
Lew:
Yoko Ono at 2:15pm ET
Moderator
Yoko Onoat 2:28pm ET
Moderator
Yoko Ono at 2:49pm ET
Yoko Ono at 2:53pm ET Visit the ABC Web Site to read the entire Chat and to check on the John Lennon Webumentary currently being updated with more information.
LA Radio: The Night John Lennon Died - The 20th Anniversary (Entered December 6, 2000) IK! has been informed that a more than four-hour radio special will begin airing December 8 and continue through the end of the year, re-living that horrible night in December of 1980 as radio announcers around the country dealt with the news of John Lennon's death. This annual presentation features recordings of an actual trip up and down the LA radio dial on December 8, '80. Hear David Perry (KMET 94.7FM), Carole Hemingway (KABC 790AM), Shana (KLOS 95.5FM), Reporter Dan Murphy from New York, KTLA-TV News At 10, Jim Ladd (KMET 94.7FM), Ira Fistell (KABC 790AM), An ABC Radio Network Special Report, Hilly Rose interviews Murray the K (KMPC 710AM), Terry Gladstone & Rita Wilde (KEZY 95.9FM), Gary Franklin with various reports (KFWB 980AM), the hospital press conference and various unidentified stations and shows. Also included: 1965 John Lennon interviews conducted by DJ Dave Hull and newsman Jim Steck (KRLA 1110AM) edited and scored by producer Lou Adler, with a unique background percussion provided by legendary studio drummer Hal Blaine. Added for the Year 2000 20th Anniversary: A 45 minute segment from 93 KHJ-AM, September 20, 1974, Superstars of Rock 'N Roll Week featuring John Lennon doing the "on-air" morning drivetime duties. Howard Cosell's announcement of the Lennon murder during ABC's Monday Night Football broadcast. A glimpse of New York radio on the morning after with Dan Ingram on WABC. This 42 minute segment includes two segments with WABC's legendary program director, Rick Sklar, who had been friends with John. Hear it NOW using a Winamp player, courtesy of Shoutcast at http://members.aol.com/mikeknac/Lennon Free player available for download at the site.
John Lennon: The Last Years on VH1 (Entered December 5, 2000)
Thanks to Harry Bluebond
THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM VH1 - VH1's Emmy-Nominated Series 'Behind The Music' Looks at 'John Lennon: The Last Years' in New Episode Premiering Sunday, December 3 at 9:00 P.M. (ET/PT) Episode Features New Interviews With Yoko Ono, Julian Lennon, David Geffen and Others NEW YORK, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- In 1980, John Lennon rediscovered his passion for rock 'n' roll, a feeling he'd been missing during a self-imposed five-year break from the music business. His ``Double Fantasy'' album was screaming up the charts, he was planning his first world tour since the Beatles broke up, and he was poised to begin a new phase of his life. Then, the bullets from a deranged fan's gun silenced him forever. Now, after 20 years, those who knew John Lennon best speak out when VH1's highest rated original series continues its acclaimed music biography tradition when ``Behind the Music: John Lennon: The Last Years,'' a poignant chronicle of the rock legend's final half-decade, premieres on Sunday, December 3 at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT). The debut of ``Behind the Music: John Lennon: The Last Years'' is preceded by an airing of the two-hour special ``The Beatles Revolution,'' beginning at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT). The ``Behind the Music'' episode will also air again on December 8, the 20th anniversary of Lennon's death. ``Behind the Music: John Lennon: The Last Years'' features exclusive new interview footage with Yoko Ono, as well as his son Julian Lennon and close friends like music mogul David Geffen, Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner, photographer Bob Gruen and actor Peter Boyle. Additional interviews include the police officers who responded to the scene on the night Lennon was murdered, and the Emergency Room doctor who tried in vain to save his life. ``Behind the Music: John Lennon: The Last Years'' tracks the former Beatle's life from 1975, when his wife Yoko Ono gave birth to Sean, and Lennon took the opportunity to quit rock's rat race and instead raise his son. For five years afterward, Lennon was able to enjoy a life he had never had before, one in which he was a regular husband and father, as well as just a neighborhood guy who could walk the streets like other New Yorkers. In the summer of 1980, however, Lennon began to take sailing lessons, and during a storm-tossed trip to Bermuda, he was asked to take the helm. A raging squall knocked him off his feet time and again, but Lennon persisted at the wheel, singing old Liverpool sea chanteys and shouting at the gods. Landing in Bermuda, Lennon the survivor found himself centered, focused and inspired. Finding his voice again, he soon had enough material for a new album, and took to the studio with Yoko. Recording in secret sessions, Lennon gradually regained his confidence, and the brilliant ``Double Fantasy'' came together with John and Yoko alternating tracks on the album. Songs like ``Beautiful Boy,'' ``Woman'' and ``Just Like Starting Over'' reflected Lennon's evolution during the years away from music and also his new priorities as family man. With the new album finished, life for Lennon was, indeed, just like starting over: he and Yoko gave their first press interviews in years, he was excited about rock again, he announced plans to tour extensively for the first time since 1966. But on December 8, as he and Yoko strolled into the entrance of his apartment building in New York City, a deranged fan put an end to Lennon's plans. The dream was over. ``Behind the Music: John Lennon: The Last Years'' is a production of VH1. Jeff Gaspin and George Moll are executive producers.
John Lennon: Greatest Hits at The Nation (Entered December 5, 2000)
Thanks to Jon Wiener
Wiener takes the reader on a journey through John's meaningful music - and demonstrates how the meanings have been used for a variety of purposes - not necessarily as John Lennon originally intended. One case in point we especially liked is described by Wiener: "At the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia this past August, as Dick Cheney stepped up to the podium to accept the party's nomination as vice presidential candidate, the band struck up a spirited version of Lennon's song 'Come Together.' This is the one on the Abbey Road album that begins 'Here come ol' flattop' (Cheney of course is mostly bald), and continues, 'One thing I can tell you is you got to be free'--a sixties sentiment that meant something quite different from tax cuts for the rich." Wiener points out that the song was written for Timothy Leary's planned 1970 campaign for California governor against Republican darling, Ronald Reagan. There are more examples of John's songs being used and misused through the years in this article. Interestingly, "Instant Karma's gonna get you!" has not been quoted by any politicians or headline writers. That's good because we'd like to keep that one for ourselves. Definitely recommended reading! Remember..scroll down to Lennon's Greatest Hits on the front page of The Nation.com
John Lennon: In His Life TV Movie (Entered December 3, 2000)
Thanks to Harry Bluebond
© LA Sunday Times It was a long and winding journey to bring "In His Life: The John Lennon Story" to the small screen. The drama, which chronicles the life of the late Beatles' singer from the age of 16 to 24, premieres Sunday on NBC, just five days before the 20th anniversary of Lennon's death. Shot entirely in Lennon's hometown of Liverpool, England, at many of the locations that helped shape his life--including his original home--"In His Life" stars newcomer Phillip McQuillan in the title role and Blair Brown as Mimi Smith, the strict aunt who raised Lennon after his own mother, Julia, left to raise another family. The project began last year when executive producer-writer Michael O'Hara read about Sotheby's auction of Lennon's first guitar. "At the end of the story, there was a little anecdote about how he came to get his first guitar," says O'Hara, a longtime Beatles fan. "It talked about his mother and his relationship with his aunt." Shortly thereafter, he picked up a biography on Lennon to read on a plane flight. "That night [after the trip], I sketched out a movie," he says. "I had a vision of what the movie should be and what period [it should be in]." The project was quickly snapped up by ABC. "When I sold it to ABC, I made all the points that Beatlemania was coming back [in 2000]," recalls O'Hara, referring to the recently published "Beatles Anthology," the new CD of their No. 1 hits and the anniversary of Lennon's murder. But the project stalled because ABC doesn't have a movie night during the fall football season. O'Hara's agent got permission from the network to shop it elsewhere. "Within 24 hours, NBC said 'yes,' " says O'Hara. "But by that time I was two months behind schedule." Instead of having three months for preproduction, he and director David Carson had only about five weeks. "The biggest nightmare was trying to get John," O'Hara recalls. After going through traditional casting methods in England, the production held an open call in London. "More media people showed up than potential Johns," he says. "There were guys who looked more like John Belushi than John Lennon. If you don't have a credible John Lennon, you won't have a movie." Next stop was Liverpool, where several candidates materialized, but all older than what the script called for. "There was one guy in particular who was so authentic, he freaked everybody out. But he was 40," says O'Hara. "He said, 'I can play 17.' I said, 'Do you by any chance have a son?' So after that I was really frantic." O'Hara thought about going to Australia and Scotland, but decided instead on a quick trip to Dublin because, during a previous visit, he noticed "it was an incredible young city with a lot of musicians." The casting call drew its share of oddballs. "We had one guy who took a bus from Northern Ireland. He was 36 and 4-foot-11. I turned to the director and said, 'What mirror was this guy looking in when he got up this morning?' The director said, 'Whatever mirror he was looking in, we should buy it.' " Also showing up at the audition was McQuillan, 23, a musician-actor who was working for a music company. Though they were unimpressed with his reading, he asked if he could sing a song. "He was very charismatic when he started singing," says O'Hara. McQuillan and five other finalists were put on tape for NBC executives, who were all taken with the charming Irishman. "It kind of took two days to peel me off the ceiling when I found out," says McQuillan, who plays the guitar in the film and performs several songs. "I was involved in a theater group and building up a repertory of small showcase performances that probably gave me enough confidence to tackle the audition." Filming in Liverpool, McQuillan says, really helped him get into Lennon's skin. He was especially inspired being in Lennon's childhood home. "When I first walked in the house, I sat up in his room for 20 minutes to have a good think about everything in general in John's life," he says. "I thought about all the fantasies he had when he was younger--the dreams he had as a young man and what he went on to do." "In His Life: The John Lennon Story" airs Sunday at 9 p.m. on NBC. The network has rated it TV-14 (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 14).
Canadian TV Presents John and Yoko Special (Entered December 2, 2000)
Thanks to Paul Boyd
CBC TV's "Passionate Eye Sunday Showcase" will present "John & Yoko's Year of Peace" Sunday, December 3, 2000 at 10PM ET. The program will be repeated at 1AM ET. The following text is from their web site:
December 8 is the 20th anniversary of the death of John Lennon, an event
that still seems to represent the passing of something larger than just one gifted singer and songwriter.
That peace campaign came to Canada in May 1969 with a much publicized "love-in", and in many ways,
it never left. Most of the projects and plans that Lennon and Ono developed after that involved,
first and foremost, a group of Canadians. The plans they imagined here became increasingly grandiose
until finally, they hatched the biggest dream of all, a vision of a vast multitude gathered for peace -
a music festival that would top Woodstock.
It could have been the crowning event of the 1960s, but it never happened.
Why it didn't take place is one of the stories told in John and Yoko's Year of Peace.
The documentary features present-day interviews with Yoko Ono, filmmaker Patrick Watson,
Health Minister Allan Rock, rock critic Richie Yorke, concert promoter John Brower and singer
Ronnie Hawkins sharing their personal recollections of tha
t time. Some of the archival footage featured in the documentary includes the famous "bed-in"
in Toronto and Montreal, a Montreal radio station broadcasting live from their room and a
teenage reporter being allowed access to the former Beatle.
John and Yoko's Year of Peace, a CBC production, is directed by Paul McGrath and narrated by Laurie Brown.
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