The World of Beatle Fandom
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Written by BILL HARRY Produced by Colourgold Ltd, 80 Bell St, NWl. 01-402 8586, Distributed by Comag, West Drayton, Printed by: Chromoworks Ltd,Wigman Rd., Aspley, Nottingham. 1940-1980 orn October 9th, 1940 in At the art school John was popular with the Liverpool, died December 8th, girls and opted for one in particular: Cynthia 1980 in New York. The cruel Powell. Later, when she became pregnant, they hand of fate shut the door on the married secretly. He also met Stuart Sutcliffe, a talent of the best-loved musician talented artist who was to make a lasting of the Western world when the impession on him. Stu joined the band, now called Btragic killing of John Lennon occurred outside the The Silver Beatles. They made a short tour of Dakota Building in New York that fateful day Scotland and, with the addition of drummer Pete almost two years ago. Of all the Beatles, he was Best, set off for Hamburg. His exploits abroad the one on whom people had bestowed the title with the group became more important than the of 'genius'. college and he never returned. He was more than just a singer, a guitarist, one Together with Paul, he was the 'idol' of the fans, half of the Lennon/ McCartney songwriting team: although Paul became the main target of the girls' he was a working class hero, a rebel, a writer - affections when Julian was born and the marriage and his sometimes eccentric activities provided a details were revealed in the press. John was then touch of colour to many people's lives - although able to bring Cynthia and Julian to London and we mustn't forget the years of abuse he received bought variO\JS houses, ending up in the when he teamed up with Yoko, the ugly hustling stockbroker's belt in Weybridge. in America when the Establishment sought to He became a best-selling author on the deport him from the country, even the drug busts publication of his books 'In His Own Write' and in Britain became a faded memory as only the 'A Spaniard In The Works' and made his solo positive aspects of his life were brought to the film debut as Private Gripweed in the anti-war forefront following his death. film 'How I Won The War.' John's father Fred deserted the family when he he press and public began to At the time he was particularly upset by the was a baby and his mother Julia wanted to move show hostility when he started his attitude of the other Beatles towards Yoko and in with a man who already had children of his romance with the avant-garde was annoyed and furious at the way she was own, John went to live with his Aunt Mimi' and Japanese artist Yoko Ono whom treated by the staff at Apple. Uncle George, who gave him all the love and he met at a London exhibition. He penned 'The Ballad Of John & Yoko', affection that any growing boy would need. He He divorced Cynthia and the which he recorded with Paul and it was issued as left Dovedale Primary School to enter Quarry Tballad of John and Yoko" began to hit the a Beatles single. Later, he formed The Plastic Ono Bank Grammar School where, together with his headlines with a vengeance as they involved Band and flew off to Toronto to appear at a close friend Peter Shotton, he behaved in a quite themselves in numerous ventures. festival there. irnacademic manner and showed the rebellious The attacks became savage when the 'Two His marriage to Yoko in Gibralta was followed streak that we grew to love. Virgins' album was released, with the pair of by Bed-Ins in Amsterdam and Montreal in which An understanding headmaster helped him to them pictured in full-frontal nudity on the cover. they entertained the press with their messages for gain entrance to Liverpool College of Art. By that EMI refused to have anything to do with it and it peace. They began an acorns-for-peace campaign, time his career in music had already started. At was issued in a brown paper bag by Track inviting all the world leaders to plant an acorn. Quarry Bank he'd formed his own skiffle group Records. The couple were involved in a drug bust Whilst the youth of the Western world, called the Quarrymen and one of the later while they were staying at Ringo's house in particularly in America, associated with the members of the band was Paul McCartney. They Montague Square and the police also raided an messages of peace, the older generation didn't -as then teamed up with George Harrison for their exhibition John held to display his 'erotic was apparent from the furore when John sent his Casbah residency. lithographs.' MBE back to the Queen. fter The Beatles split, John and BOOKS: Yoko had been scouring the In His Own Write, A Spaniard In The Works - world for her daughter Kyoto John Lennon. The Penguin John Lennon, The who was with her first husband. Lennon Play: In His Own Write - John Lennon, They eventually realised that the Victor Spinetti, Adrienne Kennedy. Lennon little girl wanted to remain with Remembers - Jann Wenner. The John Lennon Aher father and by that time they had moved to Story - George Tremlett. The Lennon Factor - New York, which really appealed to John. He Paul Young. John Lennon: One Day At A Time - found it a vital city. Anthony Faux:ett. Lennon: What Happened? - He recorded with a New York band Elephant's Tim Buckley. Lennon: Up Close & Personal - Memory and produced a few albums with New Cynthia Lennon. John Lennon: Death Of A Dream York providing a big inspiration for him. At one -George Carpozi Jnr. John Lennon. 1940-1980- point, he and Yoko split up for a period of Ray Connolly. Strawberry Fields Forever: John eighteen months and he went on a spree to Los Lennon Remembered - Vic Garbarini. John Angeles, once again creating headlines: most Lennon In His Own Words - Miles. John Lennon notab.ly when he was thrown out of The & The Beatles Forever - Ed Naha. The Lennon Troubadour Club for insulting The Smothers Tapes. 1950-1980 - Ernest Schworck. The John Brothers. He returned to New York and an Lennon Story - John Swenson. John Lennon & appearance at Madison Square Garden with Elton Yoko Ono: The Playboy Interviews - David Sheff John led to him being reunited with Yoko. A Tribute To John Lennon - Various writers. The After several miscarriages, Yoko finally gave Ballad Of John & Yoko - Rolling Stone editors. John the son he had been longing for , Sean. He The Literary Lennon. had not watched his first son Julian grow up , but FILMS: was determined to actively discover the joys of How I Won The War. fatherhood and for a period of almost five years became a housemother, devoting himself to ALBUMS: Sean's upbringing. Yoko got on with the job of The Wedding Album. Life With The Lions, Plastic running the business, creating a multi-million Ono Band/ Live Peace In Toronto, John dollar empire with property, farms, cattle and Lennon/ Plastic Ono Bank, Imagine, Some Time personal possessions such as a house in Florida, a In New York City, Mind Games, Walls And yacht called The Isis and several apartments in Bridges, Rock 'N' Roll, Shaved Fish, Double the famous Dakota Building. Fantasy. In 1980, John decided it was time to return to SINGLES: the Rock world and entered the Hit Factory in Give Peace A Chance, Instant Karma, Power To New York to begin several recordings. He was, as The People, Happy Christmas 0Nar ls Over), he explained in the title of his song: 'Starting Whatever Gets You Thru The Night, No. 9. Over' and it was at this time in his life, which was Dream, Stand By Me, Imagine, (Just Like) so filled with happiness and expectation, that the Starting Over, Woman. assassin's bullet struck. ecent revelations in an a field day. It was an ideal romance. Paul was American book on the world's able to let Jane's brother Peter have some highest paid men place Paul Lennon/McCartney material to record with his McCartney at the top of the list partner Gordon Waller and, as Peter & Gordon, with a reported income in 1980 they entered the charts with 'World Without alone of £25 million. His Love.' Over the years, Paul was to give songs to Rannual earnings since then have no doubt been various friends and he also produced singles for on the increase and it's quite likely that in a single several artists, including his brother Mike and The year he will have earned more money than The Fourmost. He also penned a song for Peter & Beatles did in their entire career. Gordon using the pseudonym Bernard Webb. Paul was born on June 18th, 1942 in Walton His first major solo venture outside The Beatles Hospital, Liverpool to Jim and Mary McCartney. framework came when he accepted a commission His only brother Mike arrived eighteen months to compose the music for the film 'The Family later and the family moved from Wallasey into a Way.' bungalow in Knowsley and had a few further aul bought a house in the changes of residence until they settled in Forthlin fashionable St. John's Wood area Road. The close-knit family provided the two of London and seemed to be boys with a happy childhood, although tragedy pursuing an idyllic existence. struck when Mary died of cancer in 1956.