The Beatles‘ The White Album is their most eclectic record. In spite of its mix of styles, one rock star said he influenced 75% of the album — and he has a quote from George Harrison to back that up. Notably, the star recalled helping John Lennon write an emotional ballad for the album.
The Beatles’ ‘White Album’ was inspired by the guitar playing style of another rock star
Donovan is a singer known for folk tunes like “Catch the Wind,” “There Is a Mountain,” and “Colours,” as well as psychedelic tracks like “Sunshine Superman,” “Hurdy Gurdy Man,” and “Mellow Yellow.” He was there during The Beatles’ storied trip to India to learn about meditation from the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. During a 2013 interview with Performing Songwriter, he discussed how he influenced The Beatles at that time.
“John looked at me playing guitar one day and said, [imitating Lennon] ‘How do you do that?...
The Beatles’ ‘White Album’ was inspired by the guitar playing style of another rock star
Donovan is a singer known for folk tunes like “Catch the Wind,” “There Is a Mountain,” and “Colours,” as well as psychedelic tracks like “Sunshine Superman,” “Hurdy Gurdy Man,” and “Mellow Yellow.” He was there during The Beatles’ storied trip to India to learn about meditation from the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. During a 2013 interview with Performing Songwriter, he discussed how he influenced The Beatles at that time.
“John looked at me playing guitar one day and said, [imitating Lennon] ‘How do you do that?...
- 4/7/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Some Beatles fans might be surprised to know that John Lennon’s mother, Julia Lennon, did not raise him. Instead, he was raised by his aunt, Mimi Smith. John had some major issues with his parents and he worked them into his music.
John Lennon never adulated his mother
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. During the interview, the “Imagine” singer had quite a lot to say about parents. “Some people cannot see that their parents are still torturing them, even when they are in their forties and fifties — they still have that stranglehold over them and their thoughts and their minds,” he said.
“I never had that fear of and adulation for parents,” he added. “Well, that’s the gift of being a so-called orphan — which I never was at all. My mother was alive...
John Lennon never adulated his mother
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. During the interview, the “Imagine” singer had quite a lot to say about parents. “Some people cannot see that their parents are still torturing them, even when they are in their forties and fifties — they still have that stranglehold over them and their thoughts and their minds,” he said.
“I never had that fear of and adulation for parents,” he added. “Well, that’s the gift of being a so-called orphan — which I never was at all. My mother was alive...
- 3/17/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Inspiration for The Beatles‘ songs came from every avenue imaginable. John Lennon’s son, Sean Ono Lennon, said his mother, Yoko Ono, and his grandmother, Julia Lennon, inspired one of The Beatles’ songs. Sean discussed how the song highlighted an aspect of John’s writing style. Another 1960s rock star said he might have penned a line from the tune in question.
John Lennon’s son said a Beatles song references Yoko Ono’s name
During a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, Sean discussed his father’s songwriting style. “I do think that my dad sincerely wrote songs about many things at once,” he said. “I think that’s incontrovertible. Like the song ‘Julia’ is about my grandmother. But then he says ‘Ocean Child,’ which is what my mother’s Japanese characters are individually — Yoko is written as ‘ocean child.’ So that was definitely about my mom there. But it was about my grandmother.
John Lennon’s son said a Beatles song references Yoko Ono’s name
During a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, Sean discussed his father’s songwriting style. “I do think that my dad sincerely wrote songs about many things at once,” he said. “I think that’s incontrovertible. Like the song ‘Julia’ is about my grandmother. But then he says ‘Ocean Child,’ which is what my mother’s Japanese characters are individually — Yoko is written as ‘ocean child.’ So that was definitely about my mom there. But it was about my grandmother.
- 10/11/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Five years after John Lennon’s death, his family members could hardly believe a television program about his life. While some of his family members had problems with him in his life, they all agreed that the program John Lennon: A Journey in the Life did not capture him well. Here are the problems they had with the film.
John Lennon’s family was not happy about a program about his life
In 1985, the documentary John Lennon: A Journey in the Life aired. Per TV Guide, the film relied on interviews and documentary footage as well as dramatizations.
“In December 1985, in its Everyman series, BBC Television transmitted John Lennon: A Journey in the Life,” Ray Coleman wrote in his book Lennon: The Definitive Biography. “The role of John was taken by Bernard Hill, to whom Lennon had sent a good luck telegram when Hill had starred in an excellent London stage production called John,...
John Lennon’s family was not happy about a program about his life
In 1985, the documentary John Lennon: A Journey in the Life aired. Per TV Guide, the film relied on interviews and documentary footage as well as dramatizations.
“In December 1985, in its Everyman series, BBC Television transmitted John Lennon: A Journey in the Life,” Ray Coleman wrote in his book Lennon: The Definitive Biography. “The role of John was taken by Bernard Hill, to whom Lennon had sent a good luck telegram when Hill had starred in an excellent London stage production called John,...
- 10/10/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
Oasis’ Noel Gallagher said he wasn’t a fan of some of John Lennon’s songs. He felt one of the “Imagine” singer’s songs wasn’t relatable. The tune in question by was covered two major pop stars: Barbra Streisand and Christina Aguilera.
Oasis’ Noel Gallagher said nobody could relate to one of John Lennon‘s songs. Gallagher gave fans insight into his feelings on music in general. Despite this, John’s song still charted in the United States.
Oasis’ Noel Gallagher felt a John Lennon song about parental issues was too personal
Gallagher’s band, Oasis, takes a lot of inspiration from The Beatles. In a 2009 interview in the book The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters, a journalist noted Gallagher’s songs were rarely personal. “All the songs that I like, they’re not written by songwriters pulling the scabs off themselves,” he said.
Oasis’ Noel Gallagher said he wasn’t a fan of some of John Lennon’s songs. He felt one of the “Imagine” singer’s songs wasn’t relatable. The tune in question by was covered two major pop stars: Barbra Streisand and Christina Aguilera.
Oasis’ Noel Gallagher said nobody could relate to one of John Lennon‘s songs. Gallagher gave fans insight into his feelings on music in general. Despite this, John’s song still charted in the United States.
Oasis’ Noel Gallagher felt a John Lennon song about parental issues was too personal
Gallagher’s band, Oasis, takes a lot of inspiration from The Beatles. In a 2009 interview in the book The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters, a journalist noted Gallagher’s songs were rarely personal. “All the songs that I like, they’re not written by songwriters pulling the scabs off themselves,” he said.
- 8/29/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
Barbra Streisand released a John Lennon cover on her album Barbra Joan Streisand. The album also features tunes written by Carole King and Burt Bacharach. John said the song in question could apply to people in situations different from his own.
Barbra Streisand once covered one of John Lennon‘s songs and released it as a single. Subsequently, it became a hit in the United States. The tune in question is one of John’s most personal and revealing.
Barbra Streisand covered a John Lennon song on an album with songs by important artists
Streisand covered John’s ballad “Mother” for her album Barbra Joan Streisand. The album features recordings of tunes by well-known songwriters like John, Carole King, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, and Burt Bacharach. Streisand’s cover of “Mother” climbed to No. 79 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for five weeks. On the other hand,...
Barbra Streisand released a John Lennon cover on her album Barbra Joan Streisand. The album also features tunes written by Carole King and Burt Bacharach. John said the song in question could apply to people in situations different from his own.
Barbra Streisand once covered one of John Lennon‘s songs and released it as a single. Subsequently, it became a hit in the United States. The tune in question is one of John’s most personal and revealing.
Barbra Streisand covered a John Lennon song on an album with songs by important artists
Streisand covered John’s ballad “Mother” for her album Barbra Joan Streisand. The album features recordings of tunes by well-known songwriters like John, Carole King, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, and Burt Bacharach. Streisand’s cover of “Mother” climbed to No. 79 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for five weeks. On the other hand,...
- 8/10/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
There was no mention of artificial intelligence Thursday at Tribeca Festival’s Paul McCartney talk with Conan O’Brien.
Instead of going into further detail about his recent plans to use AI technology to extricate the vocals of his former bandmate, John Lennon, from an old demo to create a final Beatles record, McCartney took a trip down memory lane with O’Brien.
During the hourlong entry in the Tribeca fest’s “Storytellers” series, O’Brien displayed various photos from McCartney’s new book, 1964: Eyes of the Storm, which the singer-songwriter described in detail.
“It’s so lovely for me to see these memories and just remind me of where we were, what we did in those days,” McCartney said.
The book features 275 largely unseen photographs shot by McCartney, taken between the end of 1963 through early 1964, when The Beatles became an international sensation. McCartney thought he had lost the photos until recently,...
Instead of going into further detail about his recent plans to use AI technology to extricate the vocals of his former bandmate, John Lennon, from an old demo to create a final Beatles record, McCartney took a trip down memory lane with O’Brien.
During the hourlong entry in the Tribeca fest’s “Storytellers” series, O’Brien displayed various photos from McCartney’s new book, 1964: Eyes of the Storm, which the singer-songwriter described in detail.
“It’s so lovely for me to see these memories and just remind me of where we were, what we did in those days,” McCartney said.
The book features 275 largely unseen photographs shot by McCartney, taken between the end of 1963 through early 1964, when The Beatles became an international sensation. McCartney thought he had lost the photos until recently,...
- 6/16/2023
- by Addie Morfoot
- Deadline Film + TV
Though John Lennon’s mother wasn’t around for much of his childhood, they’d become close in his teen years. He was in a band called the Quarrymen (along with Paul McCartney) at the time of his mother’s death. Just months prior, he had told McCartney: “How can you sit there and act normal with your mother dead? If anything like that happened to me, I’d go off me head.” Then Julia Lennon was hit by a car driven by an off-duty police officer. After that, Lennon did all but lose his head.
John Lennon | Michael Putland/Getty Images How John Lennon’s mother died
In 1958, Lennon was still living mostly with his Aunt Mimi, but staying at his mother’s house sometimes as well. One evening when John was out with a friend, Julia came over to her sister’s for dinner. She left to catch the bus around twilight.
John Lennon | Michael Putland/Getty Images How John Lennon’s mother died
In 1958, Lennon was still living mostly with his Aunt Mimi, but staying at his mother’s house sometimes as well. One evening when John was out with a friend, Julia came over to her sister’s for dinner. She left to catch the bus around twilight.
- 5/26/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When looking back on his life, John Lennon doubted his moral conviction in his youth. In his adult life, he took a moral stance on political issues and considered himself an activist. He didn’t think this was an inherent quality, though. He described a specific incident with his mother that made him feel particularly cowardly.
John Lennon | Rowland Scherman/Getty Images John Lennon described himself as a moral coward because of an incident with his mother
While Lennon lived with his mother and father in his earliest years, he moved in with his aunt after his parents separated. His mother lived close by and remained a part of his life, but he didn’t see her very often when he was young.
One day, his mother came by the house where Lennon lived with his aunt after having an accident. He didn’t know how to react when he saw her.
John Lennon | Rowland Scherman/Getty Images John Lennon described himself as a moral coward because of an incident with his mother
While Lennon lived with his mother and father in his earliest years, he moved in with his aunt after his parents separated. His mother lived close by and remained a part of his life, but he didn’t see her very often when he was young.
One day, his mother came by the house where Lennon lived with his aunt after having an accident. He didn’t know how to react when he saw her.
- 4/30/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon’s parents met at a park one afternoon. Lennon’s mother (Julia) made fun of his father (Freddie)’s hat and the rest was history. But when Julia got pregnant and eventually gave birth to John, Freddie was off at sea, only to return when John was five. And when Freddie returned, he had plans to leave again, this time with John.
Nine-year-old John Lennon and mother Julia Lennon | Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images John Lennon’s father showed up after being gone for five years
When Fred finally arrived home, he explained his five-year absence. He claimed he’d gotten drunk at a stopover in New York and didn’t make it back before the ship left dock, according to The Love You Make by Peter Brown and Steven Gaines. He was arrested and then remanded to a ship heading to North Africa. On that ship, he was...
Nine-year-old John Lennon and mother Julia Lennon | Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images John Lennon’s father showed up after being gone for five years
When Fred finally arrived home, he explained his five-year absence. He claimed he’d gotten drunk at a stopover in New York and didn’t make it back before the ship left dock, according to The Love You Make by Peter Brown and Steven Gaines. He was arrested and then remanded to a ship heading to North Africa. On that ship, he was...
- 4/29/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When Paul McCartney’s dad, James McCartney, learned his son was in a band with John Lennon, he felt a bit uneasy. The two boys became friends after a performance at a church fête. They realized they shared a love of music and decided to begin performing together. While McCartney’s father would never say anything in front of Lennon, he didn’t like the influence he had on his son. He encouraged McCartney and George Harrison to stop spending time with him.
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Pete Best, and John Lennon | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Paul McCartney’s dad thought his son should ditch John Lennon
After McCartney joined Lennon’s band, The Quarry Men, he brought in Harrison, one of his school friends. The three grew close and began spending much of their time together. Lennon was a bit older and already in college, and he began...
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Pete Best, and John Lennon | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Paul McCartney’s dad thought his son should ditch John Lennon
After McCartney joined Lennon’s band, The Quarry Men, he brought in Harrison, one of his school friends. The three grew close and began spending much of their time together. Lennon was a bit older and already in college, and he began...
- 4/28/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When John Lennon was a child, he went to live with his aunt and uncle after his parents separated. While his mother remained in his life, particularly as he grew older, he went nearly two decades without seeing his father. When he still lived with his parents, though, Lennon said he did not feel they wanted a child. He described why he saw this as both a blessing and a curse.
John Lennon | Harry Benson/Express/Getty Images John Lennon said he didn’t feel wanted as a child
When Lennon was a child, his parents separated, and he stopped seeing his father. He saw his mother now and again, though with enough infrequency that he didn’t realize how close she lived to him. He said that this led to him feeling unwanted.
“The worst pain is that of not being wanted, of realizing your parents do not need...
John Lennon | Harry Benson/Express/Getty Images John Lennon said he didn’t feel wanted as a child
When Lennon was a child, his parents separated, and he stopped seeing his father. He saw his mother now and again, though with enough infrequency that he didn’t realize how close she lived to him. He said that this led to him feeling unwanted.
“The worst pain is that of not being wanted, of realizing your parents do not need...
- 4/27/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon lived a majority of his childhood not really knowing his mother. She’d come by every now and then. But she was always in such a state that young John felt nervous to be around her. However, in his later teenage years, she established more of a presence in her son’s life. And, as it turned out, John was a chip off the ol’ block.
Nine-year-old John Lennon and mother Julia Lennon | Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images John Lennon’s complicated upbringing
When John’s mother, Julia, gave birth to him, his father, Fred, was out at sea. And he didn’t return for five more years. When Fred did eventually come home, he tried to run away with John to New Zealand. But Julia stopped him just in time. After lots of arguing about who should keep John, the parents decided to let little John choose. He...
Nine-year-old John Lennon and mother Julia Lennon | Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images John Lennon’s complicated upbringing
When John’s mother, Julia, gave birth to him, his father, Fred, was out at sea. And he didn’t return for five more years. When Fred did eventually come home, he tried to run away with John to New Zealand. But Julia stopped him just in time. After lots of arguing about who should keep John, the parents decided to let little John choose. He...
- 4/25/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney and John Lennon had a lot in common. They were both big fans of early rock ‘n’ roll music who played multiple instruments. And they were deemed songwriting idiots who became prolific songwriters that powered The Beatles. Yet there was one major difference between their mothers’ deaths that Macca perfectly described in one quote.
(l-r) Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns Paul McCartney described a difference between his and John Lennon’s mothers’ deaths
Paul’s mother shared a heartbreaking sentiment from her deathbed before she died from breast cancer complications in 1956. He was 14. John’s mother died tragically after being hit by a car roughly two years later. Her son turned 18 a few months later.
The future Beatles were already bandmates at the time of John’s mother’s death. He didn’t hesitate to ask Paul a heart-wrenching question about how to deal with the loss.
(l-r) Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns Paul McCartney described a difference between his and John Lennon’s mothers’ deaths
Paul’s mother shared a heartbreaking sentiment from her deathbed before she died from breast cancer complications in 1956. He was 14. John’s mother died tragically after being hit by a car roughly two years later. Her son turned 18 a few months later.
The future Beatles were already bandmates at the time of John’s mother’s death. He didn’t hesitate to ask Paul a heart-wrenching question about how to deal with the loss.
- 3/16/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
John Lennon discussed what he felt after the Lennon-McCartney partnership ended.Paul McCartney also discussed what he felt when the partnership ended.The two singers had wildly different things to say. John Lennon and Paul McCartney | Val Wilmer / Contributor
John Lennon “never felt a loss” after he stopped working with Paul McCartney. Despite this, he didn’t want people to think he didn’t need Paul. Subsequently, Paul discussed what he missed about writing songs with John.
John Lennon said Paul McCartney knew how to play more instruments than he did when they 1st met
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. In it, John discussed what instruments Paul could play when he first met him. “When I met him he could play guitar, trumpet, and piano,” he recalled.
“Doesn’t mean to say he has a greater talent,...
John Lennon discussed what he felt after the Lennon-McCartney partnership ended.Paul McCartney also discussed what he felt when the partnership ended.The two singers had wildly different things to say. John Lennon and Paul McCartney | Val Wilmer / Contributor
John Lennon “never felt a loss” after he stopped working with Paul McCartney. Despite this, he didn’t want people to think he didn’t need Paul. Subsequently, Paul discussed what he missed about writing songs with John.
John Lennon said Paul McCartney knew how to play more instruments than he did when they 1st met
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. In it, John discussed what instruments Paul could play when he first met him. “When I met him he could play guitar, trumpet, and piano,” he recalled.
“Doesn’t mean to say he has a greater talent,...
- 2/15/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Nowhere Boy, the 2009 biopic that starred Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the young John Lennon, is being developed for the stage.
Producers Brian Lee and Dayna Bloom of Af Creative Media and Robyn Goodman and Josh Fielder of Aged in Wood announced the project on Monday.
The musical play is inspired by the film about Lennon's adolescence in Liverpool and his complex relationships with his aunt, Mimi Smith, who raised him, and his mother, Julia Lennon, who was forced to give him up as a child. The story traces his initial steps into the music world and the creation in 1956 ...
Producers Brian Lee and Dayna Bloom of Af Creative Media and Robyn Goodman and Josh Fielder of Aged in Wood announced the project on Monday.
The musical play is inspired by the film about Lennon's adolescence in Liverpool and his complex relationships with his aunt, Mimi Smith, who raised him, and his mother, Julia Lennon, who was forced to give him up as a child. The story traces his initial steps into the music world and the creation in 1956 ...
- 4/22/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Nowhere Boy, the 2009 biopic that starred Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the young John Lennon, is being developed for the stage.
Producers Brian Lee and Dayna Bloom of Af Creative Media and Robyn Goodman and Josh Fielder of Aged in Wood announced the project on Monday.
The musical play is inspired by the film about Lennon's adolescence in Liverpool and his complex relationships with his aunt, Mimi Smith, who raised him, and his mother, Julia Lennon, who was forced to give him up as a child. The story traces his initial steps into the music world and the creation in 1956 ...
Producers Brian Lee and Dayna Bloom of Af Creative Media and Robyn Goodman and Josh Fielder of Aged in Wood announced the project on Monday.
The musical play is inspired by the film about Lennon's adolescence in Liverpool and his complex relationships with his aunt, Mimi Smith, who raised him, and his mother, Julia Lennon, who was forced to give him up as a child. The story traces his initial steps into the music world and the creation in 1956 ...
- 4/22/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Exclusive: Nowhere Boy, the 2009 John Lennon biopic about the teenage years of the future Beatle, is being developed as a stage musical, Deadline has learned. Producers Brian and Dayna Lee of Af Creative Media, and Robyn Goodman and Josh Fiedler of Aged in Wood, have acquired stage rights to the Ecosse Films biopic that starred Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Lennon, Kristen Scott Thomas as Lennon’s aunt Mimi Smith and Anne-Marie Duff as Lennon’s mother Julia.
As with the film, the musical – currently in the very early development stage – will focus on the Quarrymen-era Lennon and the two women who played pivotal roles in his life: Julia Lennon, who abandoned her son but had re-entered his life shortly before she was struck and killed by a car, and Julia’s older sister Mimi Smith, who raised Lennon and remained close to him until the icon’s assassination in 1980.
The Lees...
As with the film, the musical – currently in the very early development stage – will focus on the Quarrymen-era Lennon and the two women who played pivotal roles in his life: Julia Lennon, who abandoned her son but had re-entered his life shortly before she was struck and killed by a car, and Julia’s older sister Mimi Smith, who raised Lennon and remained close to him until the icon’s assassination in 1980.
The Lees...
- 4/22/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
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