The assassination of John Lennon

[Steve_uk]

Imagine it, I read on a billboard this morning, and my mind turned to the tragic events in New York 42 years ago this evening. I didn't agree with some of John's statements and he was a flawed individual like most of us, but he was for many a beacon of hope effusing talent to the masses, unlike the nonentity who killed him, the man who rejected Jesus Christ and in his mentally-disturbed mind replaced Him with Holden Caulfield. https://youtu.be/BNyV64lvoDQ

[lookout]

I vividly remember this time. Friends/ work colleagues and myself were at an hotel celebrating the works Christmas do.
We were all sitting at our tables getting ready to eat and a voice came through from someone in the kitchen announcing that John Lennon had been shot. Then we all waited for further news from a radio and learnt that he'd died. That was the end of our dinner and celebrations as we were all in shock. None of us could believe it and nor did we realise that this event would put such a dampener on our night, but it did as it came right out of the blue.

I'd seen the Beatles at the Cavern before they were famous when they were then called the Quarrymen. I think it was a different drummer before Ringo came along. I had an idea then that they'd do well.

[Steve_uk]

I vividly remember this time. Friends/ work colleagues and myself were at an hotel celebrating the works Christmas do.
We were all sitting at our tables getting ready to eat and a voice came through from someone in the kitchen announcing that John Lennon had been shot. Then we all waited for further news from a radio and learnt that he'd died. That was the end of our dinner and celebrations as we were all in shock. None of us could believe it and nor did we realise that this event would put such a dampener on our night, but it did as it came right out of the blue.

I'd seen the Beatles at the Cavern before they were famous when they were then called the Quarrymen. I think it was a different drummer before Ringo came along. I had an idea then that they'd do well.

Yes it was Pete Best in those days Lookout. Oh to have seen them at the Cavern Club; what a marvellous experience it must have been for people finally emerging from post-war austerity. I'm sure we all recall where we were when we heard the news. John had autographed his new album Double Fantasy for his assassin and asked him if that's all he wanted. He didn't need to have done any of that. All the psychiatrists agreed Chapman was delusional but couldn't agree on a final diagnosis. Now it seems he enjoys the notoriety, a grandiose personality who seemed to me to be play-acting, whilst the murder was a cathartic experience.  I don't see any redemption for him, whether his temporal mental illness can be cured or not.

[Steve_uk]

I wonder if Yoko is struggling to pay the bills. https://youtu.be/6k1CbrFyvaE

[Adam]

Have read 'The last days of John Lennon'. By Fred Seaman, who was his PA for 18 months.

Very interesting and believable.

[Steve_uk]

Have read 'The last days of John Lennon'. By Fred Seaman, who was his PA for 18 months.

Very interesting and believable.

It's always hard when you've reached the pinnacle of success to come back down to earth. I was never in the stratosphere. I didn't condone the drug-taking or the March 1966 "bigger than Jesus" remark. I admired him for his talent and was shocked by his violent death, but he wasn't a role model for me. https://www.heydullblog.com/uncategorized/the-artist-as-a-dissipated-man-fred-seamans-the-last-days-of-john-lennon/

[Adam]

It's always hard when you've reached the pinnacle of success to come back down to earth. I was never in the stratosphere. I didn't condone the drug-taking or the March 1966 "bigger than Jesus" remark. I admired him for his talent and was shocked by his violent death, but he wasn't a role model for me. https://www.heydullblog.com/uncategorized/the-artist-as-a-dissipated-man-fred-seamans-the-last-days-of-john-lennon/

The 'house husband' narrative which is peddled is partly true.

He was at home with Sean as well as going on several holidays. He had several staff around to help him.

He lost 20lbs due to a macro biotic diet. Smoked a bit of pot but didn't go looking for it. His one addiction seemed to be nicotine.

Yoko was having an affair and was planning to divorce him. But changed her mind when finding out John was writing songs in Bermuda. She fancied herself as a rock star.

[Adam]

John had a giant TV brought into his bedroom. He would enjoy watching his favourite TV shows such as Dallas.

Seaman quickly became hooked by John's charismatic personality.

John rarely spoke to him about The Beatles. It reminded him what drugs he was on. He said Paul wanted Pete Best sacked as Best rivalled Paul in the 'pretty boy' department.

[Adam]

Paul rang John offerring him some great weed. John said 'no thanks'.

Paul told him the hotel room him & Linda were going to be staying in. Which was John & Yoko's favourite room.

This really upset John & Yoko.

A few days later Paul was busted at the airport. Seaman said John wouldn't grass.  Rumours are Yoko made the phone call.

[Steve_uk]

The 'house husband' narrative which is peddled is partly true.

He was at home with Sean as well as going on several holidays. He had several staff around to help him.

He lost 20lbs due to a macro biotic diet. Smoked a bit of pot but didn't go looking for it. His one addiction seemed to be nicotine.

Yoko was having an affair and was planning to divorce him. But changed her mind when finding out John was writing songs in Bermuda. She fancied herself as a rock star.

I don't suppose that was the affair with Hillary Clinton? I thought that was just a fling.

[Adam]

Julian would often phone. Usually asking for money. The calls were tense.

John & Fred went to a nightclub in Bermuda. Yoko in New York. John tried dancing with some girls who were not interested. 'They must think there is something wrong with me', he said.

John liked Paul's 'Coming Up' song & ordered Fred to buy Paul's McCartney 2 album. John said it was better than McCartney. Which isn't saying much. Anyway it helped motivate John to write songs again.

[Adam]

Fred helped John record a demo of 'Living on borrowed time' in Bermuda.

Back in NY there was no time to waste as they were paying for the recording studio daily.

Paul sent a 'good luck' telegram. Yoko hid it as worried John may invite him to the studio.

George Harrison also rang and left a message after finding out John was re surfacing. John knew about it but did not respond. He was upset at George's 'I, me, mine' book.

[Adam]

The album received poor reviews. There was a Newsweek article which they liked. John ordered Fred to buy 200 copies.

They carried on recording. Yoko taking vocals on 'Walking on thin Ice'. Fred said it was Yoko's best song & she knew it.

Yoko wanted it released as a single before Christmas.  Her staff said it wasn't possible. Yoko said they were being negative.

[Adam]

John being more active resulted in more fans being outside the Dakota.

One day there was a big crowd. A fan was playing 'The Ballard of John and Yoko' on a ghetto blaster.

Yoko felt security should be increased but had not done anything to start the process.

[Steve_uk]

The album received poor reviews. There was a Newsweek article which they liked. John ordered Fred to buy 200 copies.

They carried on recording. Yoko taking vocals on 'Walking on thin Ice'. Fred said it was Yoko's best song & she knew it.

Yoko wanted it released as a single before Christmas.  Her staff said it wasn't possible. Yoko said they were being negative.

There's a snippet of that here: https://youtu.be/HQ68xik2pMo

Conspiracy theory: https://youtu.be/qftcL5z66V8