Such Stuff

The numbers must be in the tens of thousands, maybe higher. Although not every squealing Beatlemaniac in the Sixties developed a genuine love of Indian classical music apart from George Harrison's contributions on the Beatles' albums, many did. His three instances of adding sitar (Norwegian Wood, Love You To, and Within You, Without You) only granted a tiny bit of exposure to a music that was so alien to our ears, we either loved it or hated it. Our parents certainly didn't get it.

Wearing Bibs Like a Boss

Rocking the bibs

No one ever did (and no one ever will) rock a pair of denim bibs the way George Harrison did. Beatle fan that I was, I'd never even paid him much notice until he struck out on his Dark Horse Tour wearing these much-embellished overalls. I liked them so much, in fact, I went out and got a pair for myself and dutifully embroidered a red OM on the front pocket...

Just a Few Close Friends

Last night, after the cake was eaten, after the coffee and wine were gone, and after everyone had either gone home or gone to bed, Micah and I sat in the dark living room and watched my Concert For George DVD...

Ringo Starr - Keepin' the Back Beat Strong

It seems impossible that Ringo Starr should be celebrating his 73rd birthday today, but that has less to do with age than it has to do with how much time has passed since we first encountered him in February of 1964 when the Beatles were set loose on the American public via the Ed Sullivan Show...

The Beatles... in My Life

I've never considered myself a typical Beatles fan. Not in the strict sense of the word. Yes, I had all of their albums and yes, I had their pictures on my walls (I was 12 when they came to America in 1964 and was prime material for the Beatlemania that ensued), but, as I've said many times, I never wanted to marry a Beatle, I wanted to be a Beatle. In fact, when I went to the Beatles' concert at Dodger Stadium in August of 1966, I was pissed because I couldn't hear the music. I mean, the sound systems were bad enough in those days, but all the screaming certainly didn't help, especially in so large a venue...

John

"We all shine on like the moon, the stars, and the sun." - John Lennon

Tower of Power, Lennon Style

Wow, look what a friend just posted in Facebook! Do you remember a couple of weeks ago, I made a post about some Lps I bought at Tower Records in Hollywood? Well, here's a video of a Tower telly advert made by John Lennon.

What a find!

I Just Love This

Thirty-One Years

With your bravado and your pain, your merits and your faults, your voice and your silence, your ideals and your shortcomings, I miss you. I shall not canonize you, I shall only remember.

Carrying a Starr

I just really love this photo. Not sure exactly why.

Happy Birthday Mr. H.

Dreams Do Come True

Well, kind of. Way back when girls were screaming at the Beatles, keeping me from really hearing the music, I used to say, "I don't want to marry a Beatle, I want to be a Beatle." Now, thanks to FaceInHole.com, that dream has come true. It is now John, Paul, George, and Bergo.

And yes, I do play drums, thank you veddy mooch. I come from three generations of drummers.

This Year, for Julian

Every year on this day I post something about what John Lennon meant and continues to mean to me. This year will be different. I'm one of Julian Lennon's "friends" on Facebook, where he made the following request...

November 29, 2001

It just doesn't seem possible that 9 years have passed since George Harrison slipped away so quietly and gracefully. I miss him, but because we share similar spiritual beliefs, I have confidence that he is not all that far away.

Gorillas, Fake Books, and the Big Mac

Since your response to last week's post about the time I spent in London was so positive, and you asked to hear more, here I am with another installment.

In the spring of 1981, my manager got me into the studio to record a four-song demo that she'd planned to shop around to various recording and production companies, not the least of which was MPL, Paul McCartney's company in London. I'm not sure why she contacted them. Maybe she had an inside track or something and had heard that he was looking into producing an unknown. I don't know. She received a phone call one afternoon though, telling us to come to London and then call them for an appointment. I left all that to her; I was busy writing and recording, and it was her job to sort out all of that stuff...

Haddy Bootdate Johnny, Ole Pal Buddy

I have mixed emotions about posting a Happy Birthday entry every year for John Lennon. This year is a little harder because I'm having some mixed emotions about John himself. Don't get me wrong. I've always admired the man, his strengths and weaknesses alike, but as I get older (and 19 years older than he was when he was assassinated), I'm able to see into him a bit more clearly. I have no allusions...

The Cigar Guy on Abbey Road

Here's my contribution to the Cigar Guy meme. If you have a beef with this you can take it up with RW Spryszak.

Click picture to embiggify. To see other pictures click here.

Friar Park, by Ravi Shankar

 I've really gotten into creating videos for my YouTube channel. Enjoy.

Review: Here Comes The Sun by Joshua Greene

One of the books I got for my birthday was Here Comes The Sun: The Spiritual and Musical Journey of George Harrison, by Joshua Greene. It had been on my Amazon Wish List for several months and Nettl, knowing my love and admiration for George, got it for me.

I've read a lot of books on the Beatles through the years and for the most part, I really don't like them because most Beatle biographers have an agenda of some kind: to enter Beatle history through a slim, chance, or questionable meeting, or else to either slam or praise their subject unduly; the member(s) of the group are either demons or divine avatars. I have no taste for either. Never have, never will...

John Lennon's Loo

The porcelain lavatory was used by the Beatle for three years when he lived at Tittenhurst Park in Berkshire between 1969 and 1972. It was expected to sell for just £1,000, but an overseas investor paid £9,500 for it at the 33rd annual Beatles Convention in Liverpool. The lot was part of a sale of Beatles memorabilia, including autographs, rare recordings of the group, and a harmonica owned by Lennon's son Julian.

Man, I'd like a john like that even if it didn't belong to John.