(Entered 4/22/97)
USA Today reports that Julian - who's been living in Monaco the past two years - is still working on that theme restaurant in San Francisco. "The Revolution" will honor the world's peacemakers and will have works of art on sale at the restaurant and on the internet, with proceeds going to benefit causes related to the various social heroes. Julian: "Eventually, I'd like to see less well-known people featured. Locals who have done something good for their town."
USA Today says that after a five-year hiatus, Julian is back in the recording studio. Julian: "I'd gotten really frustrated with the music business. When there are other people involved, you always end up doing things that aren't really you." Julian says he has enough material for three albums and hopes to have a single released by the end of this year. He calls his latest music "organic, with songs done with very few takes."
The upcoming work has no title yet..Julian: "Just the yin and yang symbol and my name. You either like it or you don't." The reporter said that Julian, who attended last week's World Music Awards in Monaco, currently has short hair and was sporting an earring.
Asked about the new groups making the scene, Julian praised Oasis. Julian: "Sure they're borrowing from Beatles stuff, but don't we all? The thing is, they write songs that you just can't get out of your head, you know? And that's what makes a good song."
(Entered 4/16/97)
Paul McCartney's 25-year-old daughter, Stella, has just taken on a gigantic task. She is taking over from Karl Lagerfeld at the French fashion house, Chloe. Stella is a graduate of London's famous Saint Martin's School. She will present her first fashion show for Chloe next October during the 1998 Spring / Summer collections. Paul's spokesman, Paris Morgan, told Reuters News Agency, "She will bring a freshness and sexiness to Chloe and will revive an interest in Chloe's early reputation." Stella has enrolled in a French class and will likely fly back and forth between her London home and her work in Paris. Paul and Linda issued a statement saying they were "very proud" of their daughter.
(Entered 4/13/97)
"The Beatles on E!": Renowned Beatles expert Martin Lewis hosts this one-hour special look at the Fab Four. Interviews with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and others allow viewers to relive Beatlemania. Airs at 7PM (Eastern time). Lasts one hour. (IK! Thanks Richard Joly on Ono-Net for this last-minute info!)
(As far as we can tell, this didn't air on date and time stated above. No explanation yet)
(Entered 4/12/97)
There's a John Lennon Songwriting Contest afoot - in honor of the Spirit
Foundation (John and Yoko's charitable organization). Grand Prize winners
in each category (which includes Rock, Country, Pop, etc) will receive
$15,000 for "Song of the Year" courtesy of Maxell, $60,000 in EMI Music
Publishing contracts, $60,000 in Yamaha Project Studio equipment and
over $200,000 in cash awards and other prizes. There'll be a total of
120 winners. Applications are being published in various entertainment
magazines, or see www.jlsc.com
(IK! Thanks Jen Crawford for the ad)
(Entered 4/5/97)
Yoko and Sean / Ima appeared at Tramps in New York City this past week. IK will have a full in-person report from Matt Carroll coming up in the next few days, but in the meantime, here are a few details from the sold-out show.
Yoko's set started with the haunting, "I Don't Know Why" sung acapella. It went on with "I'm Dying", "Will I?", "Turned the Corner", "Fleeting", "Rising", "Walking On Thin Ice" (minus the harrowing guitar solo from the original recording), and "Mulberry" which will be a bonus track on the Ryko CD release of Yoko's "Life with the Lions".
Yoko, with short hair, was dressed all in black and seemed to be suffering from a light case of the flu. She started the show by saying "It's past my bedtime." Sean also had short hair, a bellybutton ring, and appeared to be thinner than before. Sean played bass most of the time, but also took a turn on the guitar, drums and saw (which he's been playing on "Will I?"). The other Ima band members were Timo Ellis on drums and Marc Ribot on lead guitar.
(Info supplied by Ono-Netters and Matt Carroll who were at the show)
(Entered 3/20/97)
Yoko will participate in the commemoration of the centennial anniversary of the Everson Museum of Art. The scheduled events include a May 29 black tie dinner and a June 1 day-long celebration at the museum. David Ross, director of New York's Whitney Museum of American Art will be the keynote speaker at the dinner. The museum is located at 410 Harrison Street, Syracuse, New York.
(Entered 4/7/97)
Paul McCartney introduces a new guitarist on his upcoming album, "Flaming Pie." James McCartney, 19, accompanies his recently knighted father on acoustic guitar on the song "Somedays". The song was previewed at Beatlefest in New Jersey last week and those who heard it reportedly say it is a sentimental ode about domestic life. The Los Angeles Times says James is an accomplished guitarist, but that his appearance on the album is more of a favor to his father than a start of a career.
(Entered 3/13/97)
Paul McCartney received his knightship (is that a word?) Wednesday from Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. The honor was for helping to revolutionize pop music. McCartney can now be called Sir Paul - but he says he won't use the title. "My mum and dad would have been extremely proud - and perhaps they are. Coming from a small Liverpool terraced house to this house is quite a journey." Paul, 54, dedicated the honor to George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon, as well as to the people of LIverpool. He arrived for the ceremony without his four children and wife, Linda, who has been treated for breast cancer. Asked how Linda is doing, Paul responded, "She's quite well. She's recovering well, but it's a long haul. You can never be complacent." Paul's mother died of breast cancer when he was a teenager.
Outside the palace, it was just like the old days as central London was treated to the screaming fans reminiscent of Beatlemania in the 1960s. Hundreds of tourists and die-hard fans, wearing Beatles t-shirts and badges, gathered outside the palace gates for a glimpse of McCartney.
(Entered 3/10/97)
If you missed Yoko and Sean in concert this past summer, now may be your chance to make up for it. News coming out of New York is that Yoko and IMA will play Tramps - an intimate club setting - April 3. Doors open at 7PM, show at 8PM. Also on the bill are Marc Ribot, Arto Lindsay and Y Los Cubanos Postisos plus "surprise guests". Tramps is located at 51 West 21st Street in New York City. Tickets are $15.00. For more information, call the club at 212-544-1666.
(Thanks to Jeff Smulyan)
MORE: The Tramps concert is to benefit drummer Dougie Bowne, who, according to Addicted to Noise, has been drumming for various artists for twenty years. He's played for Iggy Pop, John Cale, the Lounge Lizards and has been on recordings with Laurie Anderson, Marianne Faithfull, Jack Bruce and Arto Lindsay. He has also worked with Cibo Matto and jazz artists such as Grammy winning Cassandra Wilson.
Bowne is suffering from a neurological condition (toxic leukoencephalapathy) and has been hospitalized since November. He has had to re-learn how to talk, walk and coordinate his muscles. The benefit concert at Tramps will help pay for some of his medical expenses.
(Thanks to Ono-Net and Addicted to Noise)
MORE: IK will have an in-person account of the Tramps concert by Matt Carroll. Be watching for it!
NEW 3/10/97: Billboard Magazine (March 8, 1997) reports that "Mad About You" - the American t.v. sitcom on which Yoko made a personal appearance - is releasing a soundtrack album on April 15. Paul Reiser, the star and co-creator of "Mad About You" has been totally involved in the making of the album. He said that since the t.v. couple is having a baby this year on the show, they wanted to pick songs that were appropriate. John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy" was picked. Reiser: "Yoko Ono was on the show, and she's become a fan and a friend, so she gave us permission to use the track."
(Thanks to Jen Crawford)