(Entered July 31, 1999)

Yoko was named as one of the Top 100 Women of Rock by "movers and shakers" for the VH1 cable network. The countdown began this past week. A video of Yoko performing "Midsummer New York" was shown, interspersed with a more up-to-date interview with Yoko. She was listed as Rock Woman #84.

(Entered July 31, 1999)

It has been announced that Julian will appear on Jay Leno's "The Tonight Show" on NBC Wednesday, August 11.

(Entered July 31, 1999)

The coat mentioned in the story below has been sold. The auction house of Bristol Auction Rooms was expecting a John Lennon coat to sell in the vicinity of $150,000, but it sold for a mere $5,000. A spokesman for the auction house believes the coat brought in such low bids because it was styled before the "flower power era" and was quite plain. He also said that John had never worn the coat to any particular event or concert. The jackets was put up on the block by a seamstress who had fixed the pockets for John, but he never returned to pick it up.

(Entered July 25, 1999)

It's not your standard piece of Beatles memorabilia, such as dolls, mugs and posters. On Tuesday, July 27, Bristol's Auction Rooms will hold the sale of a velvet trimmed cashmere overcoat owned by John Lennon. The coat bears John's autograph inked onto the lining, with a tiny doodle of his trademark round specs and the words “ "John Winston Lennon and His Coat." The coat belongs to the family of a seamstress friend of Brian Epstein's, who came by it when John gave the coat to the unnamed woman when the pockets wore out. Apparently, she never got around to mending it.

Auctioneer Nick Ewing expects the coat to fetch at least £100,000 at the sale. Other Beatles items in the sale include a 1963 issue of The Beatles Book Monthly, signed by each member, lots of Beatles albums and a tin of ‘Margot of Mayfair’ Beatles talcum powder.

(Entered July 14, 1999)

Britain's "HELLO" magazine ran an interview with Julian this week in which he was quoted as saying about John Lennon, "Knowing his insecurities, I think he might not have liked me doing well." Julian's mother, Cynthia, added her thoughts on the subject: "It's very sad he isn't here. On the other hand, if he had still been here, it may be - and this is a terrible thing to say - that John would have ended up overshadowing Julian."

(Entered July 3, 1999)

Now you can cast a vote for John Lennon to be the Person of the Century in a Time Magazine poll. John is currently #10 in that poll, with the following people ahead of him.

#1- Yitzhak Rabin, 16.37 Percent
#2- Elvis Presley, 15.21 Percent
#3- Adolph Hitler, 12.59 Percent
#4- Billy Graham, 12.38 Percent
#5- Albert Einstein, 11.36 Percent
#6- Pope John Paul II, 9.19 Percent
#7- Martin Luther King, 7.00 Percent
#8- Mohandas Ghandi, 3.55 Percent
#9- Ronald Reagan, 1.9 Percent

John's #10 position has a 1.56 percentage point, so there's quite a way to go to catch up with the top 3 or 4.

John is ahead of Mother Theresa who currently has 0.89 percent of the vote and is listed at #12, and his former middle namesake, Winston Churchill who is at #13 with 00.77 percent of the vote. He also is ahead of Pope Paul VI, Nelson Mandela, Princess Diana and Saddam Hussein.

To cast your vote, click HERE!

(Entered July 1, 1999)

John Lennon has been voted Number One in "The 100 Greatest Stars of the 20th Century" poll according to "Q Magazine" in the UK. John beat out Paul McCartney, who came in second place. Ringo Starr placed 26th, while George Harrison came in at #36. Surprisingly, Ravi Shankar made the Top 100 list, placing 100th.

(Entered June 28, 1999)

Yoko will appear on NBC's "Today" show July 7. The program airs from 7AM to 9AM ET. The celebrity spot usually is near the end of the show, but don't count on it. The topic of discussion is the delightful book, "Real Love: The Drawings for Sean" which features colorful pages of Lennonesque animals in various poses and often clever captions.

The drawings were made by John Lennon with son Sean. The same drawings are now available on a line of John Lennon children's apparel by the famous children's clothier, Carter's. A few items are available already in the Fall/Winter JCPenney catalog, but there is a much broader selection on the market. Look for a Carter's Outlet store.

(Entered June 24, 1999)

Harry Nilsson and John Lennon's "lost weekend" album, "Pussycats" is being re-issued for its 25th Anniversary. The album now includes four unreleased songs, new photos and "meticulously restored sound." The album is on sale now, but IK! was unable to find it online at Amazon or CDNow. We'll let you know when we find it online.

(What follows is an IK! news report from February '99)

ICE reports in their March '99 edition that Buddha Records will surface in the spring with expanded, newly remastered reissues of out-of-print works. One that is being planned is Nilsson's John Lennon-produced Pussycats. The 1974 collaboration will be reissued in mid-June. The new set will include four previously unreleased outtakes as bonus tracks. They are: an alternate take of the Drifters' Save the Last Dance for Me ; Down By the Sea ; Turn Out the Light; The Flying Saucer Song. Buddha's A & R supervisor/producer, Mike Ragogna told ICE that Save the Last Dance For Me "is a very personal read; the album version is very aggressive. This one is just him and a Fender Rhodes with a beautiful vocal." As for The Flying Saucer Song, Ragogna describes that as "a multitracked Nilsson having a conversation with himself at a bar."

(Entered June 24, 1999)

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) - A collection of drawings by John Lennon that trace his life from the later days of the Beatles to the birth of his son Sean has gone on display. The permanent display of limited edition prints, unveiled Tuesday, is housed at Liverpool's Matthew Street Gallery, yards away from the site of the Cavern Club, where the Beatles once played. The prints date to 1968 and show the years Lennon spent with Yoko Ono, starting with their meeting, their famous bed-in for world peace at the Amsterdam Hilton and the birth of Sean. "Drawn by one of the most important cultural figures of our time, these graphics celebrate human love and communication - two themes at the heart of John Lennon's contribution to the art of the twentieth century," said gallery spokeswoman Christine Colvin.

(Entered June 9, 1999)

Addicted to Noise has reported that Yoko is joining Sean and Cibo Matto at New York's Bowery Ballroom Thursday, June 10, 1999. She will open the evening's entertainment with Sonic Youth guitarist Thurston Moore and turntablist DJ Spooky.

Sean opens tonight's show along with the hip hop group, The Arsonists.

(Entered May 21, 1999)

Cibo Matto, with Sean Lennon playing bass, other instruments and singing too, will appear at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City June 8 through the 11th. Sean is reportedly doing his own show on June 9th at the same venue. The Bowery Ballroom is located at 6 Delancey Street, between Chrystie and Bowery. More information on these shows is available at Ticket Web or for New Yorkers, phone the Ballroom at 212-533-2111 for ticket info.

(Entered June 10, 1999)

SEAN LENNON, CIBO MATTO ADDED TO JUBILEE 2000

Sean Lennon and Cibo Matto have been added to the growing lineup of performers for Perry Farrell's Jubilee 2000 benefit, to be held Monday (June 14) at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, Calif.

Get the FULL STORY: CD Now

(Entered May 19, 1999)

ICE, The CD News Authority has revealed in their June '99 issue just what the "newly discovered" Beatle song is that will be released in late summer '99. Even though Beatles spokesman Geoff Baker called it a previously unheard tune, it's actually "Hey Bulldog" - remixed. Along with the single, a newly remixed soundtrack to "Yellow Submarine" will be released as part of EMI / Capitol's summer "Beatlennium Project." Along with the CDs will come merchandise from the "Yellow Submarine" movie.

(Entered May 19, 1999)

IK! was informed by an expectant - and very happy Mom - that Carter's, the baby clothes manufacturer will be coming out with a line of newborn to age 6 clothing, bedding and accessories featuring the drawings from the new book "Real Love-The Drawings for Sean." The IK! editor is happy about this, since we have a one-year-old in our family circle who would look pretty cool in John Lennon clothing. We'll no doubt buy out the store when the line is available!!

Go to Carter's web site for more info.

Speaking of that book..which we are featuring on our front page , it's a must-have for anyone with children. Of course, John Lennon fans will want it for their collections, but it's a charming read for little ones too. John's sense of humor makes the book especially charming. For example, the play on words in the drawing titles, such as, a "frog pondering" in a picture of frog sitting by a pond, will make you smile throughout.

(Entered May 12, 1999)

From Barbara Pazmino - Coordinator International David Cassidy Fan Club (and Beatle devotee):

Alice Cooper, Wyclef Jean, Daniel Baldwin, Duncan Sheik, Sam Moore and Keanu Reeves' Dogstar band are among early volunteers slated to record Message to the World, a benefit song for Kosovo refugees co-written by entertainer David Cassidy.

But this is no elite all-star charity project. The public is invited to lend voices to the chorus by visiting the mobile studio in the JOHN LENNON SONGWRITING CONTEST bus, a separate educational program joining the Message effort. They hope to compile 20,000 vocals before the bus hits Vegas May 20.

David will be appearing in person at the John Lennon Songwriting Contest bus in New York's Central Park at 12:30 pm on Friday May 14th ....come along and lend your voice by singing with David on this record to help the war victims.

The exact location is Cherry Hill -- which overlooks Strawberry Fields. The closest park entrance is the West Side 72nd Street entrance.

Contact: BPazmino@worldnet.att.net

(Entered May 10, 1999)

LONDON (Reuters) - The Beatles plan to release a long-lost song which the three surviving group members have unearthed from a 1968 recording session. ``It's a real rocker,'' said Beatles spokesman Geoff Baker of the song which features John Lennon on vocals.

The song was recorded at the Abbey Road Studios during sessions for the ``Yellow Submarine'' psychedelic cartoon fantasy. Unlike the 1995 single ``Free as a Bird'' it will not be remixed and will be released in its original form as a single at the end summer. The song looks certain to be a number one hit around the world -- with the three remaining Beatles vowing this would be the last ever single by the B's.

``It's all from the 'Yellow Submarine' sessions. John is singing on it. It is not a 'Free As A Bird' job. It is something that is already there. It's good stuff,'' Baker told Reuters. He would not reveal its title.

Asked about the emotional stress of working without John on "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love" - Yoko granted permission for George, Ringo and Paul to use John's vocals to create "new" Beatle songs a few years ago - Ring said, ``We got over it by feeling that he'd gone for lunch, he'd gone for a cup of tea.'' Harrison said: ``Maybe I am peculiar but to me he isn't dead. OK, your physical body falls off but the soul lives on. We are going to meet again.''

The new single will be the centerpiece of a summer ''Beatlennium Project'' with the Beatles re-releasing the ''Yellow Submarine'' cartoon and a remixed version of songs from the album to see out the century. ``They have redone the album. This is the first time a Beatles album has been remixed,'' Baker said. ``It is being re-edited in a re-fabbed way.''

Liverpool, birthplace of the Beatles, is planning a tribute concert this summer with up to 120,000 tickets going on sale. Boyzone and Robbie Williams may lead the stars of today in performing the group's classic songs. ``Yellow Submarine'' merchandise will also be flooding the stores. ``Basically everything that is yellow,'' Baker explained. ``The whole project should be the trip of our life.''

Merchandise? Oh-oh.

(Entered May 10, 1999)

Sean Lennon's Grand Royal web site has a listing for a new Sean LP/CD coming up in August of this year. IK! was wondering about that date, since Sean has recently told MTV he plans to spend 1999 touring with Cibo Matto and won't release a new record until next year. So we contacted GR yesterday. A spokesman from the label said there is simply no way to know when the tentatively titled "Phone Home" collection will be released. The album is not finished and until it is, there'll be no news about a release date. It sounded as if the entire project is totally in Sean's hands, so we'll just have to wait and see.

In the meantime, someone had reported that the LP was actually going to be an EP (extended play) and the title would read, "EP: Phone Home." The GR spokesman confirmed, though, that the album would likely be an LP. Hmm. A shame to waste such a clever title!

(Entered May 10, 1999)

Yoko shook The Knitting Factory in NYC with Thurston Moore on Mother's Day (Sunday, May 9). The show was webcast on RealPlayer, which is not the greatest way to watch a show....we had trouble getting connected to the KF's server and missed most of Yoko's set. But the applause at the end indicated how powerful the show had been. A person who watched the show at the foot of the stage told Ono-Net there was tremendous energy flowing from Yoko to the audience. At the beginning of her set, Yoko related her experiences as a child during WWII when she and her siblings were left stranded in the countryside looking for food. She naturally has a special empathy for people struggling to survive in a war zone.

(Entered May 6, 1999)

The Knitting Factory has announced on their website that Sean Lennon has been added as a Special Guest Performer at the Sunday night (May 9, 1999) concert for Albanian refugees. Yoko and Thurston Moore are the main attraction for the evening. Tickets are $20. Show starts at 8PM.

(Entered May 3, 1999)

Emergency Benefit for Refugees of Kosova

In response to the ongoing crisis in Kosova, the Knitting Factory in NYC is holding an emergency Mother's Day benefit concert for the Albanian refugees in the Balkans. All proceeds for this event will go to the Kosova Relief Fund. More artists TBA, with artists already pledged to play: Yoko Ono in a duet with Thurston Moore, Glenn Branca , Rudolph Grey, William Parker, Alan Silva, Roy Campbell Trio with Patricia Nicholson Parker, Damon and Naomi.

For updates or call (212) 219-3006.

A second benefit concert has tentatively been scheduled for late June. For more information about the Kosova Relief Fund call (212) 753-2200 email thefund@usa.net

(Entered May 6, 1999)

We were just introduced to a web site we found intriguing - Here, There and Everywhere conducts tours of Liverpool and will be coming up with a John Lennon Day soon. Check out their site for details.