(Entered 8/31/97)

The San Francisco Bay Guardian has a long and interesting interview with Yoko currently available in their archive. Go there from here.

(Entered 8/16/97)

The Ron Destro play, "Hiroshima", for which Yoko wrote the original music (see RISING CD), will be produced by Theatre for the New City in New York on October 2-26. You can order tickets at $10.00 each by calling the box office at 212-254-1109.

(Entered 8/13/97)

Ringo has released a limited-edition, 12-song CD available exclusively through Blockbuster music and video stores. Priced at $5.99, "Ringo Starr And His Third All-Starr Band" was taped live in Japan and features guest players Randy Bachman (Bachman-Turner Overdrive), Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad), and John Entwistle (the Who), among others, performing such hits as "Yellow Submarine," "You're 16," and "I Wanna Be Your Man." The "Ringo Starr" CD is the third in a series of exclusive sets released by Blockbuster.

IK Thanks: rjoly@cam.org
http://www.cam.org/~rjoly/yoko/onoweb.html

(Entered 8/10/97)

Sean Lennon will play The Knitting Factory in New York City this Tuesday August 12 in a show with Dave Douglas Sanctuary.. The Knitting Factory's website says "Sean Lennon begins each show with a short set of new songs." Showtimes are 8PM and 10:30PM and tickets are $8 and $10. Check out the the Knitting Factory's website for directions, details and to e-mail them for more information.

(Entered 8/8/97)

George Harrison's lump was apparently just a lump, says USA Today. London's Daily Mail and News of the World tabloids called the lump, which was removed in an operation about ten days ago, "benign." But Geoff Baker, Harrison's spokesman, says it can't be called benign because it was never biopsied. "That was a complete invention of the British press," he says. "And after they invented the tests, they invented the results." Baker says the fifty-four-year-old former Beatle was only hospitalized for twenty-four hours and the lump successfully removed. "He's fine. There's been no cancer scare."

http://www.wallofsound.com/news/stories/1867index.html

(Entered 8/4/97)

AP (LONDON) - George Harrison has undergone tests for cancer and is confident he is clear of the disease, his record company said Saturday. Doctors carried out the tests on the lead guitarist after removing a lump from his neck, said Apple spokesman Geoff Baker. "George is absolutely fine. There is no reason why he shouldn't be. He had a quick operation for a small lump on the outside of his neck," Baker said. "He doesn't think he has cancer and is totally cool about it. As far as he is concerned it is no big deal."

George was admitted to a private hospital in Windsor, west of London, 10 days ago after he found a lump on his neck. During a 10-minute operation, lymph tissue was removed and sent to a laboratory for further tests. Lumps or swollen glands in the neck can be a sign of throat cancer. It is treatable if caught early enough. George lives in a 120-room mansion in Henley, southern England, Oxfordshire.

(Entered 8/2/97)

Variety Magazine has reported that Columbia Pictures is in final talks with Yoko on a deal to develop a feature film about John and Yoko's romance and life together. The deal would tie up rights to songs such as "Imagine", as well as the life rights to the couple. (Editor's Note: "Life rights" sounds a bit ominous. Will Columbia send internet lawyers rushing around the web telling people they have no right to discuss John and Yoko's lives? Let's hope not) Sources told Variety the deal is expected to be done by Labor Day. The movie will reportedly start at John and Yoko's art gallery meeting and follow their lives together right up to John's murder at the Dakota.

(Entered 7/31/97)

Several rock-and-roll legends are coming together to play a benefit concert in London for the tiny Caribbean island of Montserrat, which, over the last decade, has been devastated by volcanic activity. Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Sting, and Mark Knopfler have all agreed to perform the free concert, which is being organized by former Beatles producer George Martin. Martin, who owns a home and a recording studio on the island, is hoping to raise at least 500,000 pounds ($800,000) for the cause. In a statement, Martin said that the artists will perform solo and in duets before coming together onstage for a finale. The proceeds will go "to relieve the distress of the homeless, the sick and aged, and the young of Montserrat," the statement said. Volcanic eruptions (the most recent occurred on June 25) have killed more than twenty island residents and left hundreds homeless. The island's population has dropped from around 11,000 two years ago to 5,800 today. The concert will take place at London's Royal Albert Hall on September 15.

www.cam.org/%7Erjoly/yoko/onoweb.html

(Entered 7/23/97)

LONDON (Reuter) - Former Beatle Paul McCartney has made his most ambitious foray yet into the world of classical music, composing a 75-minute symphony to be given its world premiere at London's Royal Albert Hall in October. McCartney's office said Tuesday that the symphonic poem "Standing Stone" would be performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and chorus on Oct. 14.

McCartney's first experiment with classical music resulted in the 1991 "Liverpool Oratorio," which was composed under the eye of British conductor Carl Davis but panned by most critics. "Standing Stone" is his first solo effort in composing a classical piece. "The Liverpool Oratorio evolved from my normal music and stretched it a bit. This time, with 'Standing Stone,' I wanted to go a bit further," McCartney said in a statement.

The October concert will also mark the 40th anniversary of the first time McCartney played on stage in public alongside John Lennon with The Quarrymen -- the forerunner of The Beatles.

McCartney, given a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth this year for his services to pop music, was only 15 when he went on stage at a Conservative Party club in Liverpool on Oct. 18, 1957.

Reuters/Variety

Thanks to:
rjoly@cam.org
http://www.cam.org/%7Erjoly/yoko/onoweb.html

(Entered 7/21/97)

Todd Meagher reports to IK that Julian is at present finalizing his latest album in Dublin at Windmill Lane Studios. He has recorded over 30 songs. Mr. Meagher said that on the tracks he's heard, Julian's voice is stronger than ever. The songs "sound honest and he sings them that way." Julian told Mr. Meagher that he views this record as his statement. Mr. Meagher told IK that after this record, many people may start hearing from Julian and will like what they hear.

(Entered 7/14/97)

Sean Lennon, in addition to working on a solo album, is reportedly in the studios with Mike Matt, members of Sonic Youth and Mudhoney's Mark Arm. Arm and Sean are singing lead on half of the album. For details go to All Star Mag

(Entered 7/8/97)

John Lennon's original band, The Quarrymen, reunited in Liverpool, England on July 5 to commemorate the historic meeting between 14-year-old Paul McCartney and 16-year-old John that eventually led to the formation of the group now known as the Beatles.

On Saturday, the remaining group: Pete Shotton on washboard, Rod Davis on banjo, Eric Griffiths on guitar and Len Garry on tea chest bass...toured the city on the back of a truck driven by their original driver, Doug Chadwick. Hundreds cheered the band as it made its way through the city.

The Quarrymen played a music style known as skiffle - a mix of folk and rockabilly. They were performing at a church picnic on July 6, 1957, when Paul was introduced to John by Ivan Vaughan, a mutual friend. On Saturday, the surviving members of the band set up in the church yard to play "Come Go With Me" - with 500 Beatles fans in attendance.

There were messages of encouragement and congratulations from Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Tony Blair, Paul and Yoko. McCartney's message said, "There's no way that when we met we had any idea of what we would be starting." Yoko's message included a reference to the Quarrymen's trek through Liverpool before their show this past Saturday:: "John and Paul were traveling minstrels, who spread the word of love throughout the world."

http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9707/05/britain.beatles.ap/

(Entered 7/8/97)

On June 26, a unanimous jury in the federal court in Manhattan threw out all claims against the Estate of John Lennon and Bag One Arts, Inc., a company owned by Yoko. The claims were brought by Leggoons,Inc. arising out of an exclusive apparel deal.

Leggoons, a sportswear and children's apparel company, claimed that the Lennon Estate and Bag One Arts violated their exclusive license with Leggoons for a line of sportswear incorporating the artwork of John Lennon, his trademark signature and one photograph of John. Leggoons charged that other apparel licenses for the use of photographs of John Lennon on t-shirts violated the exclusivity provision in the Leggoons license. They claim their entire apparel business was ruined and eventually collapsed. The company was seeking damages of $3 million and approximately $452,750 for its out of pocket losses, as well as punitive damages.

After a 4-day trial, the jury returned a unanimous verdict for the Estate of John Lennon and Bag One Arts, dismissing all of Leggoons' claims. Prior to trial, Bag One Arts had been awarded summary judgment for $97,500 on its breach of contract claims against Leggoons.

Yoko, as Executor of the Estate said on July 3, 1997: "We are obviously very pleased by the jury's decision. Stopping these types of unfounded lawsuits is crucial in order to protect the legacy left by John. We will not tolerate them or settle for the sake of expediency."

One of the Estate's lawyers, Paul LiCalsi stated: "This action was an outrageous attempt to blame the John Lennon Estate for Leggoons' own failures."

(PR Newswire, Yahoo)