John Lennon, Where Are You?
Inside: Laurence Shames' "John Lennon, Where Are You?" I am in the process of throwing out the contents of several filing cabinets, almost a decade's worth of paper. It's quite a daunting task. This morning I unearthed something cowering among the dust and silverfish that I thought might be of interest: "John Lennon, Where Are You?" by Laurence Shames. Published [...]
Off to the Fest for Beatles Fans! And a nugget…
OK, OK, we're uniting...sheesh So the redoubtable Nancy and I are planning to meet up at Beatlefest Chicago tomorrow. Nancy's daughter is also coming. I am not at all sure she realizes what she's in for, so pray for her. You should go, if you can. The Chicago Fest is a great one (never been to NYC, plan on changing [...]
BEATLES-STREEP-SHEA SHOCKER: IT’S NOT HER!!!!
DEVIN McKINNEY · Few things have been more spew-worthy on TV this last couple of weeks than the ads for Ricki and the Flash, with Meryl Streep as—ehh, who gives a shit. Read the Internet for the plot blurb. But the spectacle of this preeningest, phoniest of actors trying to look rocky and raunchy, let alone trying to sing that way, so offends [...]
Paul Better Than John? Hell Has Frozen Over!
"REMINDER -- All edit ppl MUST attend 2pm mtg on songwriters list fuckup" Longtime reader Paul Guay alerted me to the following tidbit: In Rolling Stone's latest listifiction, The 100 Greatest Songwriters -- ogle it here -- Paul McCartney is listed at #2, one spot ahead of John Lennon. As Paul wrote, "Hell has indeed frozen over." As a once-and-future [...]
Keith Richards on Sgt. Pepper
EMi studios in 1966; the Beatles, working on "Revolver," get a visit from Mick and Keith. NANCY CARR * That headline about Keith Richards calling Sgt. Pepper's "rubbish" in an Esquire interview -- I've finally seen it enough times to post about it. I'm mostly inclined to give Richards' opinion of the album the big shrug. Some people are going to [...]
Cilla Black Sings Alfie
Attached to an email from the indefatigable "Fifth Beatle" (a graphic novelization of the life of Brian Epstein -- now being published in Japan!), was this wonderful clip from 1965. In it the dearly departed sings "Alfie" the theme song from the Michael Caine classic. ...which you should see, if you haven't. (Kate and I will be watching "The Ipcress File" on [...]
Mitch O’Connell McCartney poster
Artist Mitch O'Connell created this unofficial McCartney poster for the current "Out There" tour -- in my opinion, it's more interesting than the official one. Thanks go yet again to commenter Hologram Sam for bringing this to Hey Dullblog's attention. Sam, we have to get you writing posts for us! On his site O'Connell notes that "I combined about 50 references in [...]
Cilla Black, 1943-2015
Entertainer Cilla Black, whose career was championed by Brian Epstein and who was a close associate of the Beatles in the 1960s, died yesterday at her home in Spain. Thanks to veteran Hey Dullblog commenter Hologram Sam for passing on the information to us first. Black and McCartney in the studio, 1968 Black (whose birth name was Priscilla White) came [...]
John Lennon and Branwell Bronte
St. James' earlier book on the supposed connection between Branwell Bronte and John Lennon NANCY CARR * A recently self-published book by Jewelle St. James, John Lennon and the Bronte Connection, claims that John Lennon was the reincarnation of Branwell Bronte, the brother of the more famous Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. Also that the author is, perhaps, the reincarnation of [...]