It’s been 100 years since ink first flowed through Montblanc’s Meisterstück, the fountain pen wielded by the likes of Nelson Mandela, Yoko Ono, Presidents Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy, and others.
To mark the luxe instrument‘s centennial, the German luxury house took over Los Angeles’ Paramour Estate (once the home of silent movie star Antonio Moreno) for a starry soirée to launch a new global campaign conceived by Wes Anderson — complete with a red carpet inspired by the short film’s alpine setting.
Though the Oscar-winning filmmaker was absent (he was busy filming in Berlin), campaign co-stars Jason Schwartzman and Rupert Friend were on hand for a seated dinner alongside guests Adrien Brody, Maude Apatow, Emma Roberts (who requested a custom sketch from on-site artist Kevin Zych), Simu Liu (who was seen sneaking a peek inside the hilltop manse’s speakeasy), Kiernan Shipka, Waris Ahluwalia, Dylan Sprouse,...
To mark the luxe instrument‘s centennial, the German luxury house took over Los Angeles’ Paramour Estate (once the home of silent movie star Antonio Moreno) for a starry soirée to launch a new global campaign conceived by Wes Anderson — complete with a red carpet inspired by the short film’s alpine setting.
Though the Oscar-winning filmmaker was absent (he was busy filming in Berlin), campaign co-stars Jason Schwartzman and Rupert Friend were on hand for a seated dinner alongside guests Adrien Brody, Maude Apatow, Emma Roberts (who requested a custom sketch from on-site artist Kevin Zych), Simu Liu (who was seen sneaking a peek inside the hilltop manse’s speakeasy), Kiernan Shipka, Waris Ahluwalia, Dylan Sprouse,...
- 5/2/2024
- by Danielle Directo-Meston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
You’ve probably meditated to John Lennon’s music before, but now you can officially do it on the app Lumenate.
Lennon’s estate partnered with the company to deliver nine meditation mixes of “Mind Games,” the title track to his 1973 record. The song’s mixes are slowed down and extended — with four focusing on the brain waves Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Theta — that work with the app’s frequencies to drive listeners deeper into consciousness.
In addition, the nine mixes are paired with the phone’s flashlight to create a trippy psychedelic experience.
Lennon’s estate partnered with the company to deliver nine meditation mixes of “Mind Games,” the title track to his 1973 record. The song’s mixes are slowed down and extended — with four focusing on the brain waves Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Theta — that work with the app’s frequencies to drive listeners deeper into consciousness.
In addition, the nine mixes are paired with the phone’s flashlight to create a trippy psychedelic experience.
- 5/1/2024
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
"Combination of people on the stage is, without question, historic." Greenwich Entertainment has revealed the official US trailer for a music history documentary film titled Revival69: The Concert That Rocked the World, about the iconic 1969 Toronto Rock 'n Roll Revival music festival. Yet another music doc telling the story of "how it happened!" by looking back at how it almost didn't happen. John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Little Richard, The Doors, Chuck Berry, Alice Cooper, and other legendary musicians performed at the 1969 Toronto Rock and Roll Revival music festival. This behind-the-scenes look at "the second most important event in rock and roll history" culminates in John Lennon's very first public performance with The Plastic Ono Band, integral in triggering his decision to leave the Beatles. Forged with rare, recently discovered behind-the-scenes Super 8 verité footage, and including never-before seen 16mm film of the concert shot by D.A. Pennebaker and his crew, Revival...
- 4/30/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
When it comes to iconic moments in rock history, one can include the Beatles’ rooftop concert, Jimi Hendrix’s literally incendiary set at the Monterey International Pop Festival, the 1973 Kool Herc party that helped launch hip-hop — and, of course, Alice Cooper and the chicken.
In September 1969, Cooper, not yet a household rock-weirdo name, was on the lineup of the Toronto Rock N Roll Revival, a festival that brought together two generations of rock stars. Pioneers like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Bo Diddley were on the bill, sharing the day-long...
In September 1969, Cooper, not yet a household rock-weirdo name, was on the lineup of the Toronto Rock N Roll Revival, a festival that brought together two generations of rock stars. Pioneers like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Bo Diddley were on the bill, sharing the day-long...
- 4/30/2024
- by David Browne
- Rollingstone.com
After decades of creating subversive art and music, Yoko Ono will receive a lifetime achievement award. MacDowell, an organization that offers artists residencies, will honor the artist with its Edward MacDowell Medal at an event in Peterborough, New Hampshire, this summer.
Ono, 91, is not expected to attend the ceremony, though. Her longtime manager, David Newgarden, will accept the award on her behalf during the presentation on July 21. The event will include an opening of MacDowell’s studios.
“It’s an incredible honor that my mother, Yoko Ono, will be awarded the MacDowell Medal,...
Ono, 91, is not expected to attend the ceremony, though. Her longtime manager, David Newgarden, will accept the award on her behalf during the presentation on July 21. The event will include an opening of MacDowell’s studios.
“It’s an incredible honor that my mother, Yoko Ono, will be awarded the MacDowell Medal,...
- 4/22/2024
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
John Lennon and the rest of The Beatles were the subject of fan obsession for years. Even today, The Beatles have fans who love to discuss and defend the band. Lennon was always appreciative of his fans, as they buoyed his success. Still, he couldn’t defend some of their behavior. He shared the type of fan he did not like to see at the band’s shows.
John Lennon found a fan irritating at a concert
The Beatles played their shows behind barriers and police protection in order to keep them safe from anyone who might storm the stage. Still, some people managed to get close to the band. Lennon recalled one show in which a fan stole his hat, which he found incredibly frustrating.
“It [the San Francisco show] was wild. Some little lad got my hat,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “Somebody like him doesn’t really care about the show anyway,...
John Lennon found a fan irritating at a concert
The Beatles played their shows behind barriers and police protection in order to keep them safe from anyone who might storm the stage. Still, some people managed to get close to the band. Lennon recalled one show in which a fan stole his hat, which he found incredibly frustrating.
“It [the San Francisco show] was wild. Some little lad got my hat,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “Somebody like him doesn’t really care about the show anyway,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Let It Be is back? Nobody thought this day would ever come. The Beatles’ 1970 lost-lost documentary Let It Be has always been dismissed as the band’s tombstone. It’s a movie that people regard as a disaster but hardly anyone has actually seen, just like Magical Mystery Tour. Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Let It Be came out in May 1970, right when the Fabs were splitting up, and went down in history as their “break-up film.” All four refused to show up for the premiere. Apple has kept it officially unavailable for decades.
- 4/18/2024
- by Rob Sheffield
- Rollingstone.com
The Beatles wrote many songs about themselves but they rarely wrote about other rock stars. One of the songs from The Beatles’ The White Album is reportedly a lighthearted spoof of one of the rockers the band knew personally. Despite this, Paul McCartney said the song had a very different meaning.
A song from The Beatles’ ‘White Album’ may be about a star who worships Mother Nature
Donovan is a folk-rock singer who explored hippie mysticism through songs like “Atlantis,” “Season of the Witch,” and “There Is a Mountain.” He famously accompanied The Beatles on their trip to Rishikesh, India, to study meditation under the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. According to a Variety article, The Beatles were gently poking fun at Donovan with “Mother Nature’s Son,” one of the folk tunes from The White Album.
Modern cultures mainly use Mother Nature as a symbol for the earth. However, the ancient...
A song from The Beatles’ ‘White Album’ may be about a star who worships Mother Nature
Donovan is a folk-rock singer who explored hippie mysticism through songs like “Atlantis,” “Season of the Witch,” and “There Is a Mountain.” He famously accompanied The Beatles on their trip to Rishikesh, India, to study meditation under the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. According to a Variety article, The Beatles were gently poking fun at Donovan with “Mother Nature’s Son,” one of the folk tunes from The White Album.
Modern cultures mainly use Mother Nature as a symbol for the earth. However, the ancient...
- 4/4/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
During an interview about great songs, Bob Dylan discussed the effects that two Beatles songs had on him. He said one makes him feel like he’s levitating. The other gives him a clear picture in his mind’s eye. Interestingly, John Lennon wasn’t interested in co-writing one of those songs.
Bob Dylan said this Beatles song could be played many ways and still amaze him
In 2022, Dylan released his fascinating book, The Philosophy of Modern Song. In an interview on his website, he discussed his idea of musical greatness. “I think a great song has the sentiments of the people in mind,” he said. “When you hear it, you get a gut reaction and an emotional one at the same time.
“A great song follows the logic of the heart and stays in your head long after you’ve heard it, like ‘Taxman,’ it can be played with...
Bob Dylan said this Beatles song could be played many ways and still amaze him
In 2022, Dylan released his fascinating book, The Philosophy of Modern Song. In an interview on his website, he discussed his idea of musical greatness. “I think a great song has the sentiments of the people in mind,” he said. “When you hear it, you get a gut reaction and an emotional one at the same time.
“A great song follows the logic of the heart and stays in your head long after you’ve heard it, like ‘Taxman,’ it can be played with...
- 4/4/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon was both the dreamer who wrote “Imagine” and someone with a dark side. One of his fellow 1960s rock stars discussed John’s “positively vitriolic” behavior at length. He still defended the former Beatle.
A rock star said John Lennon had a ‘dark side’ but Liverpool did too
Donovan is a rock star who evolved from Scotland’s Bob Dylan into a psychedelic mystic in a very short period of time. Donovan crossed paths with The Beatles several times during the 1960s. The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits says he helped write The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine,” which makes sense because many of Donovan’s songs feel like oddball nursery rhymes. In a way, Paul McCartney returned the favor by contributing vocals to Donovan’s own yellow-themed hit “Mellow Yellow.”
For some time, John has had a dual public image as both a troubled man and a saintly peace activist.
A rock star said John Lennon had a ‘dark side’ but Liverpool did too
Donovan is a rock star who evolved from Scotland’s Bob Dylan into a psychedelic mystic in a very short period of time. Donovan crossed paths with The Beatles several times during the 1960s. The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits says he helped write The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine,” which makes sense because many of Donovan’s songs feel like oddball nursery rhymes. In a way, Paul McCartney returned the favor by contributing vocals to Donovan’s own yellow-themed hit “Mellow Yellow.”
For some time, John has had a dual public image as both a troubled man and a saintly peace activist.
- 4/3/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Sinclair — the celebrated counterculture icon, poet, and political activist who advocated for cannabis and rock & roll and managed the MC5 — died on Tuesday at the age of 82. Matt Lee, a representative for Sinclair, confirmed to The Detroit News that he died of congestive heart failure.
The Flint, Michigan native became known for his fight to legalize marijuana and as co-founder of the White Panther Party, the anti-racist socialist group that served as a counterpart to the Black Panthers.
“He was on the forefront of the marijuana movement,” Lee told the newspaper.
The Flint, Michigan native became known for his fight to legalize marijuana and as co-founder of the White Panther Party, the anti-racist socialist group that served as a counterpart to the Black Panthers.
“He was on the forefront of the marijuana movement,” Lee told the newspaper.
- 4/2/2024
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
The Beatles were the most popular and important act of the British Invasion, but no classic rock fan should ignore the achievements of Donovan. Notably, John Lennon was a big fan of one of Donovan’s songs, and he played it over and over. The “Hurdy Gurdy Man” singer revealed what he thought of John as a person. John felt that he and Donovan were on a similar wavelength.
John Lennon loved 1 of Donovan’s folk songs
Donovan is known for two types of songs: psychedelic ditties like “Mellow Yellow,” “Atlantis,” and “Sunshine Superman,” and folk tunes such as “Colours,” “Catch the Wind,” and “Universal Soldier.” A 2018 article from Goldmine says John was taken with Donovan’s folk song “Turquoise.” He had a vinyl copy of the song and played it repeatedly on a personal jukebox he brought with him on tour.
The “Season of the Witch” singer revealed what...
John Lennon loved 1 of Donovan’s folk songs
Donovan is known for two types of songs: psychedelic ditties like “Mellow Yellow,” “Atlantis,” and “Sunshine Superman,” and folk tunes such as “Colours,” “Catch the Wind,” and “Universal Soldier.” A 2018 article from Goldmine says John was taken with Donovan’s folk song “Turquoise.” He had a vinyl copy of the song and played it repeatedly on a personal jukebox he brought with him on tour.
The “Season of the Witch” singer revealed what...
- 4/2/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles‘ “Something” is one of George Harrison’s masterpieces. He probably couldn’t have made it alone. Another 1960s rock star taught George a musical trick that helped him write “Something.” John Lennon would later say that “Something” differed from all of George’s previous compositions.
The Beatles’ ‘Something’ was inspired by someone who was there with them in India
Donovan is a folk/psychedelic rock singer who became famous for 1960s tunes such as “Atlantis,” “Hurdy Gurdy Man,” “Sunshine Superman,” “Mellow Yellow,” and “Season of the Witch.” He famously went on The Beatles’ trip to India to study meditation. Donovan’s personal website says that he taught George a descending chord pattern that the Beatle would later use on the ballad “Something.”
Gold reports that, during a 2024 interview with Record Collector Magazine, Donovan discussed his influence on the “My Sweet Lord” singer. “I became George’s mentor for songwriting,...
The Beatles’ ‘Something’ was inspired by someone who was there with them in India
Donovan is a folk/psychedelic rock singer who became famous for 1960s tunes such as “Atlantis,” “Hurdy Gurdy Man,” “Sunshine Superman,” “Mellow Yellow,” and “Season of the Witch.” He famously went on The Beatles’ trip to India to study meditation. Donovan’s personal website says that he taught George a descending chord pattern that the Beatle would later use on the ballad “Something.”
Gold reports that, during a 2024 interview with Record Collector Magazine, Donovan discussed his influence on the “My Sweet Lord” singer. “I became George’s mentor for songwriting,...
- 4/2/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Donovan was there during The Beatles‘ trip to India. He and the Fab Four were having the sort of heady conversation people should have at a spiritual retreat. Donovan and the Fab Four had some very similar opinions.
Donovan and The Beatles discussed ‘the inner world’ in India
During a 2013 interview with Performing Songwriter, the “Sunshine Superman” singer explained how he became interested in meditation. “Reading Jack Kerouac and hearing the word ‘Zen’ and going on to Buddhism, then rediscovering the Eastern philosophies and the word’ meditation,’ I realized that there was an actual technique for finding the inner world that we’d lost in the West.”
The “Hurdy Gurdy Man” star felt that the world needed more spirituality. “The great teachers — Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud, Joseph Campbell — spoke of being able to enter the inner world, where all things come from and all things return,” he said. “Not a religion.
Donovan and The Beatles discussed ‘the inner world’ in India
During a 2013 interview with Performing Songwriter, the “Sunshine Superman” singer explained how he became interested in meditation. “Reading Jack Kerouac and hearing the word ‘Zen’ and going on to Buddhism, then rediscovering the Eastern philosophies and the word’ meditation,’ I realized that there was an actual technique for finding the inner world that we’d lost in the West.”
The “Hurdy Gurdy Man” star felt that the world needed more spirituality. “The great teachers — Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud, Joseph Campbell — spoke of being able to enter the inner world, where all things come from and all things return,” he said. “Not a religion.
- 3/31/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
President Jimmy Carter was asked to pick his favorite Beatles song, and he chose a song from John Lennon’s solo career. The former president discussed how much the tune in question affected audiences around the globe. John once said some listeners didn’t understand the tune’s message.
President Jimmy Carter likes a John Lennon song that’s against nationalism
During a 2007 interview with The News–Times, Carter was asked to name his favorite Beatles song. The song in question was not actually a Beatles tune, but it fits in with the band’s hippie image. “My favorite is ‘Imagine,'” he said. “When I go to a strange country, Cuba and other places, in some of those nations, ‘Imagine’ has become a national anthem. If you go to Havana, for instance, you’ll see a statue of John Lennon.” Carter was referring to Lennon Park in Cuba.
Carter...
President Jimmy Carter likes a John Lennon song that’s against nationalism
During a 2007 interview with The News–Times, Carter was asked to name his favorite Beatles song. The song in question was not actually a Beatles tune, but it fits in with the band’s hippie image. “My favorite is ‘Imagine,'” he said. “When I go to a strange country, Cuba and other places, in some of those nations, ‘Imagine’ has become a national anthem. If you go to Havana, for instance, you’ll see a statue of John Lennon.” Carter was referring to Lennon Park in Cuba.
Carter...
- 3/30/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
If anyone in Hollywood knows The Beatles‘ songs, it’s Evan Rachel Wood. She was in one of the biggest Beatles movies. She named her favorite Beatles song and named some others that might have influenced Radiohead.
Evan Rachel Wood’s favorite Beatles song that was in her movie ‘Across the Universe’
Wood’s first major movie role was as Lucy (get it?) in the Fab Four jukebox musical Across the Universe. One of the most famous musical numbers in the movie is a hallucinogenic staging of “Happiness Is a Warm Gun.” During a 2007 interview with The News-Times, Wood was asked to pick her favorite Beatles songs.
“It’s hard, because it depends on where you are in your life and what day it is, because they really covered everything,” she replied. “So right now, hmm, recently, I would sing ‘Happiness Is a Warm Gun.’ I got into that because of Across the Universe.
Evan Rachel Wood’s favorite Beatles song that was in her movie ‘Across the Universe’
Wood’s first major movie role was as Lucy (get it?) in the Fab Four jukebox musical Across the Universe. One of the most famous musical numbers in the movie is a hallucinogenic staging of “Happiness Is a Warm Gun.” During a 2007 interview with The News-Times, Wood was asked to pick her favorite Beatles songs.
“It’s hard, because it depends on where you are in your life and what day it is, because they really covered everything,” she replied. “So right now, hmm, recently, I would sing ‘Happiness Is a Warm Gun.’ I got into that because of Across the Universe.
- 3/30/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Considering the complexity of The Beatles‘ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, it makes sense that Paul McCartney has some difficulty singing one of its songs. He said he was instrumental in writing the song. John Lennon might have told a different story.
1 ‘Sgt. Pepper’ song is a vocal challenge for Paul McCartney
During a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, the “Silly Love Songs” star discussed performing a Sgt. Pepper song live. “I also like doing ‘For the Benefit of Mr. Kite!’ [sic] that’s nice to do,” he said. “With ‘Mr. Kite,’ the thing about it is, it’s quite challenging cause the bass part goes somewhere that the vocal doesn’t go. So it’s like you’ve got to split your body in half and send one half to do the vocal and send the other half to do the bass part. That’s good to do; it’s quite hard to do.
1 ‘Sgt. Pepper’ song is a vocal challenge for Paul McCartney
During a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, the “Silly Love Songs” star discussed performing a Sgt. Pepper song live. “I also like doing ‘For the Benefit of Mr. Kite!’ [sic] that’s nice to do,” he said. “With ‘Mr. Kite,’ the thing about it is, it’s quite challenging cause the bass part goes somewhere that the vocal doesn’t go. So it’s like you’ve got to split your body in half and send one half to do the vocal and send the other half to do the bass part. That’s good to do; it’s quite hard to do.
- 3/29/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Mick Jagger’s girlfriend once wrote a juicy memoir with many interesting anecdotes about classic rock stars from the Swinging ’60s. For example, she revealed what it was like hearing The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever” for the first time. She didn’t think it lived up to another song The Beatles released at the same time.
Mick Jagger’s girlfriend preferred The Beatles’ ‘Penny Lane’ to ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’
Marianne Faithfull was Jagger’s girlfriend. She had two hits in the United States: the Jagger/Keith Richards ballad “As Tears Go By” (which The Rolling Stones later recorded themselves) and a cover of The Beatles’ “Yesterday.” She’s far more prominent in her native United Kingdom.
In her 2007 book Memories, Dreams & Reflections, the “As Tears Go By” singer recalled meeting Paul for the first time. “He was just as the photographs,” she said. “Only he’d grown a mustache. His hair was shorter too.
Mick Jagger’s girlfriend preferred The Beatles’ ‘Penny Lane’ to ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’
Marianne Faithfull was Jagger’s girlfriend. She had two hits in the United States: the Jagger/Keith Richards ballad “As Tears Go By” (which The Rolling Stones later recorded themselves) and a cover of The Beatles’ “Yesterday.” She’s far more prominent in her native United Kingdom.
In her 2007 book Memories, Dreams & Reflections, the “As Tears Go By” singer recalled meeting Paul for the first time. “He was just as the photographs,” she said. “Only he’d grown a mustache. His hair was shorter too.
- 3/27/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Drake Bell was as much of an icon to 2000s kids as John Lennon was to the children of the 1960s. During an interview, the Drake & Josh star explained why he had a tattoo inspired by one of John’s most famous quotations. The quotation appeared in one of the former Beatle’s most enduring songs.
Drake Bell has tattoos inspired by John Lennon and The Beach Boys
During a 2011 interview with PopSugar, Bell discussed his tattoos. “‘War Is Over,’ it’s from John Lennon, it spoke to me,” he said. “I’m a huge fan of Lennon. The feather on my arm means a lot of things, depends on what the day is and which mood I’m in. I have Lennon’s glasses on my back. They have a broken lens, which is something that spoke to me.” Yoko Ono famously included John’s bloodied glasses on the...
Drake Bell has tattoos inspired by John Lennon and The Beach Boys
During a 2011 interview with PopSugar, Bell discussed his tattoos. “‘War Is Over,’ it’s from John Lennon, it spoke to me,” he said. “I’m a huge fan of Lennon. The feather on my arm means a lot of things, depends on what the day is and which mood I’m in. I have Lennon’s glasses on my back. They have a broken lens, which is something that spoke to me.” Yoko Ono famously included John’s bloodied glasses on the...
- 3/26/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
While The Beatles and The Rolling Stones both led the charge during the British Invasion, they had wildly different public images. Mick Jagger’s girlfriend explained why The Beatles were seen as good boys and The Rolling Stones were seen as bad boys. Notably, John Lennon revealed that he was a huge fan of one Rolling Stones song.
Marianne Faithfull said The Rolling Stones were sexier than The Beatles
Marianne Faithfull was Jagger’s girlfriend in the 1960s. She’s most famous for a pair of ballads: “As Tears Go By,” which was co-written by Jagger and Keith Richards, and a cover of The Beatles’ “Yesterday.” If anyone has the right to pontificate on the differences between The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, it’s her.
In her 2007 book Memories, Dreams & Reflections, the “As Tears Go by” singer discussed the two defining British bands of the 1960s. “The Beatles completely evolved from the pop business,...
Marianne Faithfull said The Rolling Stones were sexier than The Beatles
Marianne Faithfull was Jagger’s girlfriend in the 1960s. She’s most famous for a pair of ballads: “As Tears Go By,” which was co-written by Jagger and Keith Richards, and a cover of The Beatles’ “Yesterday.” If anyone has the right to pontificate on the differences between The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, it’s her.
In her 2007 book Memories, Dreams & Reflections, the “As Tears Go by” singer discussed the two defining British bands of the 1960s. “The Beatles completely evolved from the pop business,...
- 3/26/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles and The Rolling Stones will be compared to each other until the planet Earth is destroyed and any extraterrestrial life will have no chance of knowing that rock ‘n’ roll ever existed. One of Mick Jagger’s girlfriends revealed what the frontman thought of The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine.” John Lennon also had plenty to say about The Rolling Stones.
Mick Jagger felt The Beatles’ ‘Yellow Submarine’ was ‘silly’
Marianne Faithfull was Jagger’s girlfriend and muse in the 1960s. She’s most known for her solo ballad “As Tears Go By,” which Jagger co-wrote with Keith Richards. In her 2008 book Memories, Dreams & Reflections, Faithfull recalled the way that Jagger reacted to some of The Beatles’ songs.
“Mick might, very occasionally, put The Beatles down for their provincialism, which, if you’re from London and they’re from Liverpool, is a very natural reaction,” he said. “But he’d never put their music down.
Mick Jagger felt The Beatles’ ‘Yellow Submarine’ was ‘silly’
Marianne Faithfull was Jagger’s girlfriend and muse in the 1960s. She’s most known for her solo ballad “As Tears Go By,” which Jagger co-wrote with Keith Richards. In her 2008 book Memories, Dreams & Reflections, Faithfull recalled the way that Jagger reacted to some of The Beatles’ songs.
“Mick might, very occasionally, put The Beatles down for their provincialism, which, if you’re from London and they’re from Liverpool, is a very natural reaction,” he said. “But he’d never put their music down.
- 3/25/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Marianne Faithfull is a singer who served as a muse for The Rolling Stones‘ Mick Jagger. She said The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is darker than it seems upon first listen. Notably, John Lennon was not the biggest fan of the record.
Marianne Faithfull said The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’ is ‘very weird’
Faithfull is a singer most known for her hit “As Tears Go By” and her cover of The Beatles’ “Yesterday.” In her 2008 book Memories, Dreams & Recollections, the singer wrote about her feelings about the Fab Four. “Their sweetness is very superficial,” he said. “You hear the undercurrent in Paul’s bass playing, you hear it in John’s harmonies, you hear it in the call-and-response stuff. Maybe not the first couple of records, but when you get to Revolver and Rubber Soul, things begin to darken.
“And there’s something very weird about Sgt.
Marianne Faithfull said The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’ is ‘very weird’
Faithfull is a singer most known for her hit “As Tears Go By” and her cover of The Beatles’ “Yesterday.” In her 2008 book Memories, Dreams & Recollections, the singer wrote about her feelings about the Fab Four. “Their sweetness is very superficial,” he said. “You hear the undercurrent in Paul’s bass playing, you hear it in John’s harmonies, you hear it in the call-and-response stuff. Maybe not the first couple of records, but when you get to Revolver and Rubber Soul, things begin to darken.
“And there’s something very weird about Sgt.
- 3/25/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Miley Cyrus isn’t a rock singer, but she’s drawn a lot of influence from classic rock stars over the years. For example, one of her hits has some lyrical similarities to The Beatles’ “Help!” While many of The Beatles’ early songs were total fiction, John Lennon revealed that “Help!” was about his own life. The “Imagine” singer said that “Help!” was widely misinterpreted.
Miley Cyrus and The Beatles both showed a unique understanding of time
Love her or hate her, Cyrus’ career has had a lot of different textures. She’s released party songs (“We Can’t Stop”), soft-rock songs (“Mailbu”), disco tracks (“Flowers”), and an entire album of psychedelic experiments called Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz. One of her more famous ballads is her hit “Younger Now” from her country-inspired record of the same title.
“Younger Now” includes the line “I feel so much younger now.” That...
Miley Cyrus and The Beatles both showed a unique understanding of time
Love her or hate her, Cyrus’ career has had a lot of different textures. She’s released party songs (“We Can’t Stop”), soft-rock songs (“Mailbu”), disco tracks (“Flowers”), and an entire album of psychedelic experiments called Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz. One of her more famous ballads is her hit “Younger Now” from her country-inspired record of the same title.
“Younger Now” includes the line “I feel so much younger now.” That...
- 3/24/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
As we delve more into Taiwan cinema in the tribute we are running in Amp, it becomes evident that one of the nucleus of the local industry is the youth film, with movies about students or individuals that have recently finished school appearing in abundance. Yu Jhi-han, in his feature debut, presents another such film, mostly dealing with youth crime and the issues young individuals from broken families face.
The Young Hoodlum is screening at Asian Pop Up Cinema
The story revolves around four young men, who, headed by Ya-lin, who has actual ties with organized crime, try to survive by indulging in petty crime and occasionally, Atm card scams. Always on the brink of getting caught, they thrive on the adrenaline, while their relationship mirrors that of a family, a necessity for them since all come from broken homes. However, when Pin Ran, a girl from a rich family becomes part of the gang,...
The Young Hoodlum is screening at Asian Pop Up Cinema
The story revolves around four young men, who, headed by Ya-lin, who has actual ties with organized crime, try to survive by indulging in petty crime and occasionally, Atm card scams. Always on the brink of getting caught, they thrive on the adrenaline, while their relationship mirrors that of a family, a necessity for them since all come from broken homes. However, when Pin Ran, a girl from a rich family becomes part of the gang,...
- 3/23/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Yoko Ono is not known for making pop music. Despite this, she had a lot to say about top 40 songs. The avant-gardist revealed why nobody should be concerned with intellectualism when it comes to music. Her comments were odd, considering that she was the wife, muse, and longtime collaborator of the one and only John Lennon.
Yoko Ono said pop music is a great form of communication
Yoko has had a huge impact on mainstream music. The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. In it, John said Yoko inspired Beatles songs like “Don’t Let Me Down,” “Get Back,” and “Happiness Is a Warm Gun.” In addition, she worked on several of her husband’s most famous solo tracks, such as “Imagine,” “Power to the People,” “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” “(Just Like) Starting Over,” and “Working Class Hero.
Yoko Ono said pop music is a great form of communication
Yoko has had a huge impact on mainstream music. The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. In it, John said Yoko inspired Beatles songs like “Don’t Let Me Down,” “Get Back,” and “Happiness Is a Warm Gun.” In addition, she worked on several of her husband’s most famous solo tracks, such as “Imagine,” “Power to the People,” “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” “(Just Like) Starting Over,” and “Working Class Hero.
- 3/23/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon‘s “Give Peace a Chance” isn’t the sort of song that’s ripe for a dance remix. That didn’t stop DJ Dan from releasing a dance version of the track. Yoko Ono said DJ Dan’s “Give Peace a Chance” would have made John burst out laughing.
John Lennon’s ‘Give Peace a Chance’ inspired a remix that barely used the lyrics
During a 2016 interview with Medium, Yoko was asked how the “Imagine” singer would have reacted to DJ Dan’s remix of “Give Peace a Chance.” “Oh, he would have had a good, good laugh,” she replied. “John had an incredible sense of humor, and we did these things not with incredible seriousness. Tongue in cheek, you know.” DJ Dan’s “Give Peace a Chance” is a bunch of bleeps and bloops interspersed with a few lyrics from the original song.
In the same interview,...
John Lennon’s ‘Give Peace a Chance’ inspired a remix that barely used the lyrics
During a 2016 interview with Medium, Yoko was asked how the “Imagine” singer would have reacted to DJ Dan’s remix of “Give Peace a Chance.” “Oh, he would have had a good, good laugh,” she replied. “John had an incredible sense of humor, and we did these things not with incredible seriousness. Tongue in cheek, you know.” DJ Dan’s “Give Peace a Chance” is a bunch of bleeps and bloops interspersed with a few lyrics from the original song.
In the same interview,...
- 3/23/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles‘ “I Am the Walrus” might seem like a psychedelic novelty today, but John Lennon adored it. He said it would appeal to fans of the Electric Light Orchestra. Interestingly, Elo has some deep connections to the Fab Four — particularly George Harrison during his solo era.
John Lennon explained why The Beatles’ ‘I Am the Walrus’ was a personal favorite
The book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations With John Lennon features the text of a radio interview from 1974. “And now we’re gonna play a track from Magical Mystery Tour, which is one of my favorite albums because it was so weird, and it’s ‘I Am the Walrus,'” he said. While Magical Mystery Tour is a classic, it’s generally not as acclaimed as other Beatles records such as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Revolver, or The White Album. It’s interesting that John valued Magical Mystery Tour so highly.
John Lennon explained why The Beatles’ ‘I Am the Walrus’ was a personal favorite
The book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations With John Lennon features the text of a radio interview from 1974. “And now we’re gonna play a track from Magical Mystery Tour, which is one of my favorite albums because it was so weird, and it’s ‘I Am the Walrus,'” he said. While Magical Mystery Tour is a classic, it’s generally not as acclaimed as other Beatles records such as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Revolver, or The White Album. It’s interesting that John valued Magical Mystery Tour so highly.
- 3/20/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon‘s songs drew inspiration from numerous different sources, including Ludwig van Beethoven, Elvis Presley, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, and … television. He once tried to work a line from a public service announcement into a hit song. Instead, he used the line as an album title.
A John Lennon song was originally inspired by a public service an upsetting announcement
The book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations With John Lennon features an interview from 1974. In it, he revealed his tune “#9 Dream” was going to be called “Walls and Bridges. “I mean, some of them have had twenty titles,” he said. “I change them all the time up to the last minute.”
The “Imagine” singer revealed what he was trying to communicate with the title “Walls and Bridges.” “Four walls, bridges you go over,” he said. “I think I heard it on a public service announcement. On TV — one...
A John Lennon song was originally inspired by a public service an upsetting announcement
The book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations With John Lennon features an interview from 1974. In it, he revealed his tune “#9 Dream” was going to be called “Walls and Bridges. “I mean, some of them have had twenty titles,” he said. “I change them all the time up to the last minute.”
The “Imagine” singer revealed what he was trying to communicate with the title “Walls and Bridges.” “Four walls, bridges you go over,” he said. “I think I heard it on a public service announcement. On TV — one...
- 3/20/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Monkees didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but two of them agreed on the identity of their favorite Beatle. The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork both referred to the same Beatle as their favorite. They both explained why one member of the band connected to them the most. Notably, the Beatle in question has a reputation for being charismatic.
1 of The Monkees was drinking buddies with 2 Beatles
The Monkees and The Beatles are often compared to one another and they followed similar career trajectories. Both groups started out making bubblegum pop before going psychedelic and breaking up in the early 1970s. Beyond that, the bands crossed paths interpersonally.
During a 2017 interview with Cleveland Scene, Dolenz discussed interacting with three of The Beatles. “I would say by far the person I spent the most time with probably would have been Ringo,” Dolenz shares. “He moved out to LA and spent...
1 of The Monkees was drinking buddies with 2 Beatles
The Monkees and The Beatles are often compared to one another and they followed similar career trajectories. Both groups started out making bubblegum pop before going psychedelic and breaking up in the early 1970s. Beyond that, the bands crossed paths interpersonally.
During a 2017 interview with Cleveland Scene, Dolenz discussed interacting with three of The Beatles. “I would say by far the person I spent the most time with probably would have been Ringo,” Dolenz shares. “He moved out to LA and spent...
- 3/19/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
One of The Monkees watched The Beatles create a famous part of “A Day in the Life.” Around the same time, The Monkees released their own song that was similarly avant-garde. Both of the songs are five-star classics.
The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz saw The Beatles’ record ‘A Day in the Life’ at a party
During a 2017 interview with Cleveland Scene, Dolenz explained that The Monkees’ sitcom was “about this band that was trying to be The Beatles. Trying to be famous. But on the television show, we never were [famous]. It was the struggle for success that was part of the theme of the show and I think that endeared it to a lot of kids — kids who were in their garages and basements trying to be famous.”
The connection between the Fab Four and the Prefab Four extended beyond that. Dolenz was present for the recordings of certain tracks of Sgt.
The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz saw The Beatles’ record ‘A Day in the Life’ at a party
During a 2017 interview with Cleveland Scene, Dolenz explained that The Monkees’ sitcom was “about this band that was trying to be The Beatles. Trying to be famous. But on the television show, we never were [famous]. It was the struggle for success that was part of the theme of the show and I think that endeared it to a lot of kids — kids who were in their garages and basements trying to be famous.”
The connection between the Fab Four and the Prefab Four extended beyond that. Dolenz was present for the recordings of certain tracks of Sgt.
- 3/19/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon was a musical genius, but he said plenty of ridiculous things, such as that he wrote the first feminist song. No, he didn’t. More than that, it’s highly dubious that the song in question even counts as a feminist song because of its offensive lyrics.
John Lennon wrote the most offensive feminist song ever
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. In it, John explained the title of his most controversial solo song: “Woman Is the N***** of the World.” “That’s something Yoko said in 1968 in an interview,” he said. “It was just such a powerful statement, a few years later I turned it into a song. So it’s her title and my song.
“Actually, I think ‘Woman Is the N*****of the World’ is the first women’s liberation song that came out,...
John Lennon wrote the most offensive feminist song ever
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. In it, John explained the title of his most controversial solo song: “Woman Is the N***** of the World.” “That’s something Yoko said in 1968 in an interview,” he said. “It was just such a powerful statement, a few years later I turned it into a song. So it’s her title and my song.
“Actually, I think ‘Woman Is the N*****of the World’ is the first women’s liberation song that came out,...
- 3/17/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
One of John Lennon‘s songs sounds relaxing but it was actually an angry response the to popular perception of the “(Just Like) Starting Over” singer. He felt that outsiders didn’t understand who he really was. The song in question was a big hit in the United States but audiences in the United Kingdom were less enthused.
John Lennon wrote a song about how he’s not lazy
John’s “Watching the Wheels” includes the line “People think I’m lazy.” In a 1980 interview in the book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, John discussed the line. “I’m not lazy,” he said.
“I’ve done more in my life than most people would do in 10,” he added. “Absolutely! If I never did another damn thing! Even if I wasn’t just laying on my back or looking after Sean or doing anything,...
John Lennon wrote a song about how he’s not lazy
John’s “Watching the Wheels” includes the line “People think I’m lazy.” In a 1980 interview in the book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, John discussed the line. “I’m not lazy,” he said.
“I’ve done more in my life than most people would do in 10,” he added. “Absolutely! If I never did another damn thing! Even if I wasn’t just laying on my back or looking after Sean or doing anything,...
- 3/17/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
After John Lennon completed his album Two Virgins, he took the cover photo to Ringo Starr to view. This was a moment The Beatles drummer said he would never forget. He was shocked by the nudity in the image and slightly annoyed that he’d likely have to answer questions about it. Still, his first instinct was to point to an extremely minor detail in order to draw attention away from Lennon’s nudity.
Ringo Starr recalled how he felt when John Lennon showed him the ‘Two Virgins’ cover
In 1968, Lennon and Yoko Ono released Two Virgins. They worked on the album at the very start of their relationship and wanted to express that they were freshly in love. They also wanted to use the album to bare themselves to the public. To achieve this, they took a very literal route, posing completely naked on the album cover.
‘Two Virgins...
Ringo Starr recalled how he felt when John Lennon showed him the ‘Two Virgins’ cover
In 1968, Lennon and Yoko Ono released Two Virgins. They worked on the album at the very start of their relationship and wanted to express that they were freshly in love. They also wanted to use the album to bare themselves to the public. To achieve this, they took a very literal route, posing completely naked on the album cover.
‘Two Virgins...
- 3/17/2024
- by Emma McKee
- 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
This article appears in the SXSW 2024 issue of Den of Geek magazine. Check out all of our SXSW coverage here.
There are meet cutes, and there are meet cutes. And then there is the ballad of Solène Marchand and Hayes Campbell: the fortysomething single mother chaperoning her daughter at this year’s Coachella and the boy band superstar who’s headlining the show. Such are the twists and quirks of the heart, as well as The Idea of You, a beloved romance novel by Robinne Lee turned one of the buzziest new romantic dramas at this year’s fest.
Arriving with no less than Anne Hathaway as Solène–an actor who is no stranger to romance films–and Red, White & Royal Blue’s Nicholas Galitzine as the pop star, The Idea of You might just be South By royalty, with director Michael Showalter previously bringing The Big Sick to Austin...
There are meet cutes, and there are meet cutes. And then there is the ballad of Solène Marchand and Hayes Campbell: the fortysomething single mother chaperoning her daughter at this year’s Coachella and the boy band superstar who’s headlining the show. Such are the twists and quirks of the heart, as well as The Idea of You, a beloved romance novel by Robinne Lee turned one of the buzziest new romantic dramas at this year’s fest.
Arriving with no less than Anne Hathaway as Solène–an actor who is no stranger to romance films–and Red, White & Royal Blue’s Nicholas Galitzine as the pop star, The Idea of You might just be South By royalty, with director Michael Showalter previously bringing The Big Sick to Austin...
- 3/16/2024
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
John Lennon notoriously spoke out against much of Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles music. He even criticized the work McCartney did while in the band. McCartney took a similar stance against one of Lennon’s albums. Though he wrote liner notes for Two Virgins, McCartney didn’t think the album was all that good. Still, he took credit for parts of it.
Paul McCartney wasn’t a fan of one John Lennon album
In 1968, Lennon and Yoko Ono released Two Virgins, the first of three experimental albums they put out as a couple. The album drew major controversy for its cover; Lennon and Ono posed fully naked for it. The other Beatles fielded questions from reporters about it, to their frustration.
McCartney claimed that the cover raised his eyebrows, but he didn’t find it overly shocking. His bigger problem was that he didn’t much like the contents of the album.
Paul McCartney wasn’t a fan of one John Lennon album
In 1968, Lennon and Yoko Ono released Two Virgins, the first of three experimental albums they put out as a couple. The album drew major controversy for its cover; Lennon and Ono posed fully naked for it. The other Beatles fielded questions from reporters about it, to their frustration.
McCartney claimed that the cover raised his eyebrows, but he didn’t find it overly shocking. His bigger problem was that he didn’t much like the contents of the album.
- 3/15/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles‘ “Strawberry Fields Forever” seems like a fantastical song, but it was actually a very personal statement from John Lennon. He said the tune reflected his incredible insight into the world — but it wasn’t an ego trip. Notably, the track became a hit again when it was covered by a synth-pop group.
The Beatles’ ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ reflected his insecurity
The book All Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono includes a 1980 interview. In it, the “Imagine” singer explained a lyric from “Strawberry Fields Forever.” “So the line says, ‘No one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low.’ What I’m saying, in my insecure way, is ‘Nobody seems to understand where I’m coming from. I seem to see things in a different way from most people.’
“I mean, I would see teachers and fully...
The Beatles’ ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ reflected his insecurity
The book All Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono includes a 1980 interview. In it, the “Imagine” singer explained a lyric from “Strawberry Fields Forever.” “So the line says, ‘No one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low.’ What I’m saying, in my insecure way, is ‘Nobody seems to understand where I’m coming from. I seem to see things in a different way from most people.’
“I mean, I would see teachers and fully...
- 3/15/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney is known for bringing a bit of inspired silliness to his songwriting — after all, one of his most famous his is called “Silly Love Songs!” Paul said he added a joke to The Beatles’ “When I’m Sixty-Four” to make it “funnier.” He said “When I’m Sixty-Four” was inspired by old-school songs he and John Lennon appreciated so much. On the other hand, John said he never could have written “When I’m Sixty-Four.”
Paul McCartney added a line about starving to The Beatles’ ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’ as a joke
During a 2012 interview with The Independent, Paul discussed the concept behind “When I’m Sixty-Four.” “It was about myself, looking to the future,” he recalled. “Retirement age of 65 felt too obvious, so I made it a year earlier.”
One of the tune’s most famous lines could have been very different. “‘Will you still need me, will you still feed me...
Paul McCartney added a line about starving to The Beatles’ ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’ as a joke
During a 2012 interview with The Independent, Paul discussed the concept behind “When I’m Sixty-Four.” “It was about myself, looking to the future,” he recalled. “Retirement age of 65 felt too obvious, so I made it a year earlier.”
One of the tune’s most famous lines could have been very different. “‘Will you still need me, will you still feed me...
- 3/15/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When John Lennon released the album Two Virgins in 1968, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were politely shocked. While they tried not to get caught up in the public outcry over the album cover — which featured full frontal nudity from Lennon and Yoko Ono — they didn’t approve of it. Lennon said it surprised him that McCartney and Harrison were so prudish.
John Lennon said Paul McCartney and George Harrison were surprisingly prudish
Lennon and Ono chose to pose naked on the cover of Two Virgins because they wanted to reveal all of themselves to the public. It was a bold choice that brought the couple a great deal of blowback.
“It was insane!” Lennon said in The Beatles Anthology. “People got so upset about it — the fact that two people were naked. I didn’t think there’d be such a fuss. I guess the world thinks we’re an ugly couple.
John Lennon said Paul McCartney and George Harrison were surprisingly prudish
Lennon and Ono chose to pose naked on the cover of Two Virgins because they wanted to reveal all of themselves to the public. It was a bold choice that brought the couple a great deal of blowback.
“It was insane!” Lennon said in The Beatles Anthology. “People got so upset about it — the fact that two people were naked. I didn’t think there’d be such a fuss. I guess the world thinks we’re an ugly couple.
- 3/14/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
While John Lennon was still in The Beatles, he put out an album with a cover that shocked people around the world. His bandmates even had to field calls from reporters about it. On the cover of Two Virgins, one of three experimental albums Lennon released with Yoko Ono, the couple posed naked. When his aunt saw the image, she complained that Lennon looked ugly. This, he said, was his intention.
John Lennon surprised people with one album cover
In 1968, Lennon and Ono released Two Virgins. The cover featured full frontal nudity, prompting many record stores to put the album in a paper bag in order to sell it. Lennon shared the intention behind the photograph.
“We were both a bit embarrassed when we peeled off for the picture, so I took it myself with a delayed-action shutter,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “The picture was to prove that...
John Lennon surprised people with one album cover
In 1968, Lennon and Ono released Two Virgins. The cover featured full frontal nudity, prompting many record stores to put the album in a paper bag in order to sell it. Lennon shared the intention behind the photograph.
“We were both a bit embarrassed when we peeled off for the picture, so I took it myself with a delayed-action shutter,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “The picture was to prove that...
- 3/13/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles‘ “Love Me Do” is one of those bubblegum pop songs like The Monkees’ “Daydream Believer” or The Archies’ “Sugar, Sugar” that is perfect in its simplicity. Paul McCartney said he and John Lennon had no idea what they were doing when they wrote the song. John said the tune was markedly different from later Beatles tunes like “Penny Lane.”
Paul McCartney need help from ‘grown-ups’ during The Beatles’ ‘Love Me Do’ era
During a 2012 interview with The Independent, Paul recalled what it was like writing songs with John during the “Love Me Do” era. “Writing songs we’d never done, except that when John and I first met, one of our conversations was: ‘What do you do?’ ‘Oh, you’ve written a couple of songs.’ ‘Oh, I’ve written a couple too,'” he recalled. “So we showed our songs to each other and agreed they weren’t...
Paul McCartney need help from ‘grown-ups’ during The Beatles’ ‘Love Me Do’ era
During a 2012 interview with The Independent, Paul recalled what it was like writing songs with John during the “Love Me Do” era. “Writing songs we’d never done, except that when John and I first met, one of our conversations was: ‘What do you do?’ ‘Oh, you’ve written a couple of songs.’ ‘Oh, I’ve written a couple too,'” he recalled. “So we showed our songs to each other and agreed they weren’t...
- 3/13/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Yoko Ono co-wrote John Lennon‘s “Imagine,” one of the most popular anti-religious songs ever written. Despite this, she still spoke of The Beatles in supernatural terms, saying they were like mystics who could conjure ghosts. She also explained why the Fab Four had such chemistry during their peak years. Her comments are interesting, considering that each of The Beatles had different things to say about their spiritual lives.
Yoko Ono said The Beatles had ‘a kind of chemical’
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. In it, John was asked about numerous things, but he was asked about The Beatles more than any other topic, including his solo music, his family, and his political activism. After a certain point, he said that talking about the Fab Four was boring him “to death.”
Yoko chimed in. “I...
Yoko Ono said The Beatles had ‘a kind of chemical’
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. In it, John was asked about numerous things, but he was asked about The Beatles more than any other topic, including his solo music, his family, and his political activism. After a certain point, he said that talking about the Fab Four was boring him “to death.”
Yoko chimed in. “I...
- 3/12/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It was a good night for the UK at the 96th Oscars. Brits won in seven separate categories at the Dolby Theatre, with Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Glazer’s wins the highest profile.
Nolan scooped Best Director and Best Picture, the latter alongside his wife, Emma Thomas, for the night’s standout winner, Oppenheimer. Universal’s film about J. Robert Oppenheimer and his Manhattan Project took home seven statuettes, having been widely tipped for glory after a stellar awards season and handed Nolan his first Best Director win.
After thanking his wife and production partner, Emma Thomas, and others such as brother and Westworld creator Jonathan Nolan, Nolan added a sprinkle of hope to the sauce in a message to the Academy.
“Movies are just a little bit over 100 years old — I mean imagine being there 100 years into painting or theatre. We don’t know where this incredible journey is going from here,...
Nolan scooped Best Director and Best Picture, the latter alongside his wife, Emma Thomas, for the night’s standout winner, Oppenheimer. Universal’s film about J. Robert Oppenheimer and his Manhattan Project took home seven statuettes, having been widely tipped for glory after a stellar awards season and handed Nolan his first Best Director win.
After thanking his wife and production partner, Emma Thomas, and others such as brother and Westworld creator Jonathan Nolan, Nolan added a sprinkle of hope to the sauce in a message to the Academy.
“Movies are just a little bit over 100 years old — I mean imagine being there 100 years into painting or theatre. We don’t know where this incredible journey is going from here,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
In an oddball metaphor, John Lennon compared The Beatles to flags on top of a boat. However, he said that the Fab Four weren’t the ones getting the boat to move. In other words, he felt the band were products of their society as much as they were trendsetters. Paul McCartney made some similar remarks about his own musical legacy.
John Lennon said ‘Maybe The Beatles were in the crow’s nest shouting ‘Land Ho!”
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. In it, the “Imagine” singer was asked what “moved The Beatles.” “Whatever wind was blowing at the time moved The Beatles, too,” he replied. “I’m not saying we weren’t flags on the top of the ship. But the whole boat was moving.
“Maybe The Beatles were in the crow’s nest shouting ‘Land Ho!
John Lennon said ‘Maybe The Beatles were in the crow’s nest shouting ‘Land Ho!”
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. In it, the “Imagine” singer was asked what “moved The Beatles.” “Whatever wind was blowing at the time moved The Beatles, too,” he replied. “I’m not saying we weren’t flags on the top of the ship. But the whole boat was moving.
“Maybe The Beatles were in the crow’s nest shouting ‘Land Ho!
- 3/11/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Oppenheimer capped a big night at the 96th Academy Awards with a Best Picture win.
The film closed the show by collecting its seventh and final win of the night just after Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy captured Oscars for Best Director and Best Actor, respectively.
Related: ‘Oppenheimer’ Director Christopher Nolan Takes Home Directing Prize And Thanks Academy For Cementing His Legacy
Nolan declined to give another speech on stage, instead deferring to his producing team, Emma Thomas and Charles Roven. This marked the producing trio’s first Best Picture triumph.
Related: The Oscars: Best Looks From The Red Carpet
“I think any of us who make movies know that you kind of dream of this moment,” Thomas admitted as she clutched her golden statuette. “I could deny it but I have been dreaming about this moment for so long. But it seems so unlikely that it would ever actually happen.
The film closed the show by collecting its seventh and final win of the night just after Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy captured Oscars for Best Director and Best Actor, respectively.
Related: ‘Oppenheimer’ Director Christopher Nolan Takes Home Directing Prize And Thanks Academy For Cementing His Legacy
Nolan declined to give another speech on stage, instead deferring to his producing team, Emma Thomas and Charles Roven. This marked the producing trio’s first Best Picture triumph.
Related: The Oscars: Best Looks From The Red Carpet
“I think any of us who make movies know that you kind of dream of this moment,” Thomas admitted as she clutched her golden statuette. “I could deny it but I have been dreaming about this moment for so long. But it seems so unlikely that it would ever actually happen.
- 3/11/2024
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
Jonathan Glazer’s landmark Holocaust film The Zone of Interest, as widely expected, has just scooped the International Feature Oscar. The British film is the 20th that the UK has submitted to the category, and the first to win the race.
Inspired loosely by Martin Amis’ 2014 novel of the same name and set outside the walls of Auschwitz during the Holocaust, the German-language Zone of Interest stars Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller (also a Best Actress nominee tonight for Anatomy of a Fall) as Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig, as they strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden separated from the Nazi concentration and extermination camp by a only a short wall. What is happening on the other side is rarely hinted at.
Glazer said upon accepting the International prize, “All our choices were made to reflect and confront us in the present,...
Inspired loosely by Martin Amis’ 2014 novel of the same name and set outside the walls of Auschwitz during the Holocaust, the German-language Zone of Interest stars Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller (also a Best Actress nominee tonight for Anatomy of a Fall) as Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig, as they strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden separated from the Nazi concentration and extermination camp by a only a short wall. What is happening on the other side is rarely hinted at.
Glazer said upon accepting the International prize, “All our choices were made to reflect and confront us in the present,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Waves of joy were interrupted by a brief struggle with the English language as the euphoric group behind Japan’s Godzilla Minus One accepted the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
As soon as the film’s name was announced as the winner, a large flock of representatives from it jumped in the air from several rows in the back of the Dolby Theatre orchestra, many of them waving miniature monsters in the air in celebration.
Related: Cillian Murphy Dedicates ‘Oppenheimer’ Best Actor Oscar To “Peacemakers Everywhere”
Reading carefully from a piece of paper, Takashi Yamazaki spoke for the group after they took a while to organize themselves onstage. He recalled the “shock” of seeing the first Star Wars film more than 40 years ago and how it started him on his professional path. “The possibility of standing on this stage seemed out of reach,” he said. “But here we stand!”
As...
As soon as the film’s name was announced as the winner, a large flock of representatives from it jumped in the air from several rows in the back of the Dolby Theatre orchestra, many of them waving miniature monsters in the air in celebration.
Related: Cillian Murphy Dedicates ‘Oppenheimer’ Best Actor Oscar To “Peacemakers Everywhere”
Reading carefully from a piece of paper, Takashi Yamazaki spoke for the group after they took a while to organize themselves onstage. He recalled the “shock” of seeing the first Star Wars film more than 40 years ago and how it started him on his professional path. “The possibility of standing on this stage seemed out of reach,” he said. “But here we stand!”
As...
- 3/11/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
It was a summer 2024 clash of the titans when Barbie and Oppenheimer were scheduled to open on the same day. There were reported overtures from the two producing teams but no one blinked, each film staking its claim on the July 21 release date.
What followed was nothing short of extraordinary, with Barbie and Oppenheimer ranking as the No. 1 and No. 3 highest grossing movies of 2023, amassing $1.4B and $958M worldwide, respectively. The blockbusters also carried their friendly rivalry over to awards season, landing 13 (Oppenheimer) and 8 (Barbie) Oscar nominations, including a slot in the Best Picture category for each.
Academy Award-nominated stars from each movie, Oppenheiner‘s Emily Blunt and Barbie‘s Ryan Gosling, took the friendly rivalry to the Oscar stage. The “Kitty and Ken” banter, in which Blunt and Gosling looked to clear the air and squash the beef between the two hit movies, got a little too intense.
Related:...
What followed was nothing short of extraordinary, with Barbie and Oppenheimer ranking as the No. 1 and No. 3 highest grossing movies of 2023, amassing $1.4B and $958M worldwide, respectively. The blockbusters also carried their friendly rivalry over to awards season, landing 13 (Oppenheimer) and 8 (Barbie) Oscar nominations, including a slot in the Best Picture category for each.
Academy Award-nominated stars from each movie, Oppenheiner‘s Emily Blunt and Barbie‘s Ryan Gosling, took the friendly rivalry to the Oscar stage. The “Kitty and Ken” banter, in which Blunt and Gosling looked to clear the air and squash the beef between the two hit movies, got a little too intense.
Related:...
- 3/11/2024
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Sean Lennon is showing love to his mom Yoko Ono from the stage at the 2024 Academy Awards.
The son of Yoko and the late John Lennon hopped onstage at the Dolby Theatre with War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko filmmakers Dave Mullins and Brad Booker to accept the Oscar for Best Animated Short on Sunday night (March 10).
While delivering a brief acceptance speech, Sean, who executive produced the project, showed love to his mom on what is Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom.
Keep reading to find out more…
Sean only had a brief moment, but he celebrated his mom’s recent 91st birthday before asking the crowd to joining him in wishing her a happy day.
Congratulations to the team on their big win!
Keep an eye peeled for all of our Oscars coverage! You can also find out the highest rated Best Picture...
The son of Yoko and the late John Lennon hopped onstage at the Dolby Theatre with War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko filmmakers Dave Mullins and Brad Booker to accept the Oscar for Best Animated Short on Sunday night (March 10).
While delivering a brief acceptance speech, Sean, who executive produced the project, showed love to his mom on what is Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom.
Keep reading to find out more…
Sean only had a brief moment, but he celebrated his mom’s recent 91st birthday before asking the crowd to joining him in wishing her a happy day.
Congratulations to the team on their big win!
Keep an eye peeled for all of our Oscars coverage! You can also find out the highest rated Best Picture...
- 3/11/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film tonight, marking the first Oscar win for filmmakers Dave Mullins and Brad Booker.
Set to the anti-war Christmas classic song by John Lennon and Yoko Ono “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”, the animated short follows two soldiers at the frontline of World War I as they play a chess game through carrier pigeon, unaware they are on opposing sides of the battle.
Related: ‘American Fiction’: Cord Jefferson Pleas With Hollywood To Give New Creatives A Shot While Accepting Award At 2024 Oscars
The filmmaking pair was joined on stage by executive producer Sean Ono Lennon, son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who led the crowd in wishing his absent mom a happy (UK) Mother’s Day.
Related: Deadline’s Reviews Of All The Oscar Best Picture Nominees
“John Lennon and Yoko...
Set to the anti-war Christmas classic song by John Lennon and Yoko Ono “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”, the animated short follows two soldiers at the frontline of World War I as they play a chess game through carrier pigeon, unaware they are on opposing sides of the battle.
Related: ‘American Fiction’: Cord Jefferson Pleas With Hollywood To Give New Creatives A Shot While Accepting Award At 2024 Oscars
The filmmaking pair was joined on stage by executive producer Sean Ono Lennon, son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who led the crowd in wishing his absent mom a happy (UK) Mother’s Day.
Related: Deadline’s Reviews Of All The Oscar Best Picture Nominees
“John Lennon and Yoko...
- 3/11/2024
- by Ryan Fleming
- Deadline Film + TV
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