"Losing Lennon" on CNN

[Voyager]

The program "Losing Lennon" is on CNN right now. It's a very detailed documentary about John Lennon's life. It's been on for about 10 minutes and seems very interesting!

[RedWingFan]

Waiting impatiently for St. John's reply. Get in here dude!!!

[Pelata]

I watched some of this last night...was kinda late and I had a long day...but I REALLY hope they re-air it!! What I saw was great!

[Memorex]

I watched some of this last night...was kinda late and I had a long day...but I REALLY hope they re-air it!! What I saw was great!

Chapman's a pure monster.

[brywool]

There was a similar thing on FoxNews. I NEVER watch FoxNews. I happened to tune into the last probably 20 minutes of it.

It was all on Lennon's killer (who shall always (and should always) remain nameless in any of my posts) though it really wasn't titled as that. Hardly any content about John and a ton of stuff on his killer. It almost seemed as they were a bit sympathetic to him because of all of his mental problems. That's probably just how I took it. Anyway, I switched it off and it reinforced my hatred of FoxNews.

I tell ya, I'm getting to the point where I just don't watch the news anymore. I'm pretty sick of all the political BS and the terrorism and all the sensationalized crap. I mean... how much more can we hear about TSA searches at the airport??? F'ing ridiculous.

There was a GREAT program on John that aired on PBS a few weeks ago. It was called something like "John Lennon NYC". It was REALLY good and had a lot of info that I (me?? really???) hadn't heard before or had only heard as rumors. Super good show. It detailed his political connections in the 70s and how the Nixon administration wanted him out of the country and the lengths they went to (phone tapping, surveillance, etc), among other things.

Here's a link to the full show. It's SUPER good if you're a fan of John:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters ... film/1722/

[Saint John]

Whatever the fuck the name of the guy is that allegedly killed John Lennon (Chapman?) should be immediately discredited with his murder. While completely in violation of the law, he really did nothing more than rid the world of Terry Schiavo with mobility. That guy (Lennon) was in a perpetual drug-induced trance, hardly bathed, was an MIA parent and had nothing left to offer to this world other than stoned musings and weakly disguised pleas for peace, with the sole purpose of deflecting from the fact that he was an artistically bankrupt drug addict being led around by his skank wife.

I can only hope that this Chapman creep is viciously attacked and killed soon so we can put this entire chapter, and the annual updates on this asshole, to rest for good. In spite of being a monster and being solely responsible for ridding the world of Lennon as a walking, brainless corpse, he also immortalized the guy far more than Lennon would have ever done. I'm quite sure that the world would have wised up and separated the artist from the person, and realized that the guy was nothing more than a dick with feet.

[S2M]

Whatever the fuck the name of the guy is that allegedly killed John Lennon (Chapman?) should be immediately discredited with his murder. While completely in violation of the law, he really did nothing more than rid the world of Terry Schiavo with mobility. That guy (Lennon) was in a perpetual drug-induced trance, hardly bathed, was an MIA parent and had nothing left to offer to this world other than stoned musings and weakly disguised pleas for peace, with the sole purpose of deflecting from the fact that he was an artistically bankrupt drug addict being led around by his skank wife.

I can only hope that this Chapman creep is viciously attacked and killed soon so we can put this entire chapter, and the annual updates on this asshole, to rest for good. In spite of being a monster and being solely responsible for ridding the world of Lennon as a walking, brainless corpse, he also immortalized the guy far more than Lennon would have ever done. I'm quite sure that the world would have wised up and separated the artists from the person, and realized that the guy was nothing more than a dick with feet.

I concur....Lennon was overrated. Paul was the brains, and talent behind that band.

[brandonx76]

Whatever the fuck the name of the guy is that allegedly killed John Lennon (Chapman?) should be immediately discredited with his murder. While completely in violation of the law, he really did nothing more than rid the world of Terry Schiavo with mobility. That guy (Lennon) was in a perpetual drug-induced trance, hardly bathed, was an MIA parent and had nothing left to offer to this world other than stoned musings and weakly disguised pleas for peace, with the sole purpose of deflecting from the fact that he was an artistically bankrupt drug addict being led around by his skank wife.

I can only hope that this Chapman creep is viciously attacked and killed soon so we can put this entire chapter, and the annual updates on this asshole, to rest for good. In spite of being a monster and being solely responsible for ridding the world of Lennon as a walking, brainless corpse, he also immortalized the guy far more than Lennon would have ever done. I'm quite sure that the world would have wised up and separated the artist from the person, and realized that the guy was nothing more than a dick with feet.

Man what a needless way to shit on someone of incredible talent. I'm not that much of a Beatle's head, but come on, we lost someone real special for no real reason, other than some batshit fuckbag. I was just thinking about it the other day out of the blue too, I don't know why.

He sounds somewhat cognizant here and interesting on his last interview, recorded two hours before his death:

http://podfuse-dl.andomedia.com/800185/ ... viewv2.mp3

[brywool]

Whatever the fuck the name of the guy is that allegedly killed John Lennon (Chapman?) should be immediately discredited with his murder. While completely in violation of the law, he really did nothing more than rid the world of Terry Schiavo with mobility. That guy (Lennon) was in a perpetual drug-induced trance, hardly bathed, was an MIA parent and had nothing left to offer to this world other than stoned musings and weakly disguised pleas for peace, with the sole purpose of deflecting from the fact that he was an artistically bankrupt drug addict being led around by his skank wife.

I can only hope that this Chapman creep is viciously attacked and killed soon so we can put this entire chapter, and the annual updates on this asshole, to rest for good. In spite of being a monster and being solely responsible for ridding the world of Lennon as a walking, brainless corpse, he also immortalized the guy far more than Lennon would have ever done. I'm quite sure that the world would have wised up and separated the artist from the person, and realized that the guy was nothing more than a dick with feet.

Man what a needless way to shit on someone of incredible talent. I'm not that much of a Beatle's head, but come on, we lost someone real special for no real reason, other than some batshit fuckbag. I was just thinking about it the other day out of the blue too, I don't know why.

He sounds somewhat cognizant here and interesting on his last interview, recorded two hours before his death:

http://podfuse-dl.andomedia.com/800185/ ... viewv2.mp3

Bravo.

Dan, I love ya man and you and I usually agree on stuff, but to say that Lennon was a "walking brainless corpse" is just crap. Yeah, he got into drugs and it messed him up. Not before he and McCartney turned the music world on it's head with their writing. If it wasn't for John, Paul, George, and Ringo, we'd still be listening to crap like Frankie Avalon and Doris Day. Black music would've been kept in the background as it was until The Beatles. The Beatles and Stones did a helluva lot to push down that barrier.

By the way, before John got into drugs, HE came up with some brilliant songs and sang some truly excellent vocals. He did similar after drugs (though not as good to me as his pre 67 stuff). I don't think Paul was the 'brains' of the outfit until Lennon faded into the background (because of his addictions and because he was tired of being a Beatle). From late 65 on, it WAS indeed Paul's show.

Lennon was on acid from ( 66-68 ) heroin for a very brief period (68-69). By 70, he was mostly drug free, except for pot, though he got into drink heavily for about a year and a half. Many people get into things they shouldn't. Gees, read Keith Richard's book "Life". Seems to be that getting a fix pretty much dominated his entire adult life. By 75, John was clean, was raising his second child pretty much on his own from 75-80. I DO feel really sorry for Julian Lennon though and I understand his bitterness. I do agree with you Dan that he could've done better by Julian, but towards the end of his life, he and Julian (I believe) were a lot more in touch and John was (I think) trying to rectify a lot of that. Yoko, on the other hand, truly sh*t on Julian with regards to inheritance. John tried to make sure that Sean had a full time dad and that's worth something.

I just don't get your total hatred for the guy at all. He certainly did more for music than pretty much anyone represented on the MelodicRock roster of hair bands.

[Ehwmatt]

Paul >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lennon
George >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lennon
Ringo >>>>>>>>> Lennon

[Rockindeano]

Whatever the fuck the name of the guy is that allegedly killed John Lennon (Chapman?) should be immediately discredited with his murder. While completely in violation of the law, he really did nothing more than rid the world of Terry Schiavo with mobility. That guy (Lennon) was in a perpetual drug-induced trance, hardly bathed, was an MIA parent and had nothing left to offer to this world other than stoned musings and weakly disguised pleas for peace, with the sole purpose of deflecting from the fact that he was an artistically bankrupt drug addict being led around by his skank wife.

I can only hope that this Chapman creep is viciously attacked and killed soon so we can put this entire chapter, and the annual updates on this asshole, to rest for good. In spite of being a monster and being solely responsible for ridding the world of Lennon as a walking, brainless corpse, he also immortalized the guy far more than Lennon would have ever done. I'm quite sure that the world would have wised up and separated the artist from the person, and realized that the guy was nothing more than a dick with feet.

I like you Dan, but this is a horrible, disgusting and a reprehensible post. Lennon was one of a kind. He wrote beautiful tunes, had a great mind and was a true lyricist/songwriter. He and McCartney is the greatest songwriting team ever.

Seriously, I like the sarcasm in most of your posts, but this is embarrassing to read.

[Ehwmatt]

Whatever the fuck the name of the guy is that allegedly killed John Lennon (Chapman?) should be immediately discredited with his murder. While completely in violation of the law, he really did nothing more than rid the world of Terry Schiavo with mobility. That guy (Lennon) was in a perpetual drug-induced trance, hardly bathed, was an MIA parent and had nothing left to offer to this world other than stoned musings and weakly disguised pleas for peace, with the sole purpose of deflecting from the fact that he was an artistically bankrupt drug addict being led around by his skank wife.

I can only hope that this Chapman creep is viciously attacked and killed soon so we can put this entire chapter, and the annual updates on this asshole, to rest for good. In spite of being a monster and being solely responsible for ridding the world of Lennon as a walking, brainless corpse, he also immortalized the guy far more than Lennon would have ever done. I'm quite sure that the world would have wised up and separated the artist from the person, and realized that the guy was nothing more than a dick with feet.

I like you Dan, but this is a horrible, disgusting and a reprehensible post. Lennon was one of a kind. He wrote neautiful tunes, had a great mind and was a true lyricist/songwriter. He and McCartney is the greatest songwriting team ever.

Seriously, I like the sarcasm in most of your posts, but this is embarrassing to read.

I personally thought it was genius. Seriously.

[Rockindeano]

Paul >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lennon
George >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lennon
Ringo >>>>>>>>> Lennon

I would never expect you(someone with an ecclectic taste in music, and a good taste for the most part), to shit on Lennon.

To say George and Ringo were more talented than Lennon is ridiculous. Hell, Michael Baird is a better drummer than Ringo. And didn't McCartney say without John, we were going nowhere?

The biggest band to ever record and play, and you guys are shitting on them. Can it be that you are conservatives and hated the way Lennon thought and spoke? I know that's why Dan hates Springsteen and U2...because they are liberal. You falling into the same stance Matty?

[Saint John]

I like you Dan, but this is a horrible, disgusting and a reprehensible post.

Yet it's all true. Nowhere in my post did I denigrate what he had done in the past. I was speaking specifically at the time of his death. The guy was a drug addict, possibly a murderer, and a pretty overall piece of garbage. Here is an interesting read from "The Lives Of John Lennon":

Lennon was indeed a heavy drug user, as has now been acknowledged by most people who knew the musician well, including Yoko Ono and his first wife, Cynthia Lennon. The same is true of Goldman's claims about Lennon's tendency towards violence, a tendency Lennon himself owned up to in a Playboy interview. Concerning Lennon's supposed bisexuality, Ono herself is found to have said in a 1981 interview that she considered Lennon a "closet fag," and she further revealed that he liked her because she looked "like a bloke in drag". Of the affair Goldman alleges between Lennon and Epstein, Lennon said in his 1980 Playboy interview that "it was almost a love affair, but not quite. It was never consummated."

Among Goldman's most serious charges are that Lennon was not only instrumental in the murder of a sailor whom he met in Hamburg, but also in the death of bandmate Stuart Sutcliffe. Goldman states that Sutcliffe's death was the long-term result of severe kicks to the head administered by Lennon in a fit of drunken rage. He also alleges that Lennon caused the death of an unborn baby he'd conceived with Yoko Ono during 1968, when he kicked the pregnant Ono in the belly during an argument.

Goldman also claimed that when Lennon started making music again in 1980 following a long hibernation, he was not immune to Manhattan's cocaine / disco era. According to Goldman, on the day Lennon was murdered he was scheduled to undergo plastic surgery several days later to repair his nasal septum (due to snorting cocaine, which he supposedly did at the Hit Factory recording studio where he recorded his Double Fantasy album). Goldman did not cite a single name of anyone who might have witnessed this at the studio. Goldman alleged further that on December 8, 1980 (the day of Lennon's murder) not only did the singer's cocaine snorting warrant plastic surgery, but he was in such bad physical condition from drug abuse and lack of exercise that during his autopsy the medical examiner recorded observations to that effect, overlooking the four bullet wounds momentarily.

[Ehwmatt]

Paul >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lennon
George >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lennon
Ringo >>>>>>>>> Lennon

I would never expect you(someone with an ecclectic taste in music, and a good taste for the most part), to shit on Lennon.

To say George and Ringo were more talented than Lennon is ridiculous. Hell, Michael Baird is a better drummer than Ringo. And didn't McCartney say without John, we were going nowhere?

The biggest band to ever record and play, and you guys are shitting on them. Can it be that you are conservatives and hated the way Lennon thought and spoke? I know that's why Dan hates Springsteen and U2...because they are liberal. You falling into the same stance Matty?

First of all, I love The Beatles.

I could do without Bono's, Springsteen's, or Lennon's political musings, but that certainly doesn't stop me from enjoying their musical output. Indeed, Lennon had many GREAT moments in The Beatles. His solo career, however, was utter shit and was marred by many of the things that Dan is pointing out. I don't care if he loved Ronald Reagan or Che Guevara. Doesn't change the fact that his solo career sucks. Ted Nugent's conservatism doesn't make me enjoy his music any more - I really only like a few of his songs.

[brywool]

I like you Dan, but this is a horrible, disgusting and a reprehensible post.

Yet it's all true. Nowhere in my post did I denigrate what he had done in the past. I was speaking specifically at the time of his death. The guy was a drug addict, possibly a murderer, and a pretty overall piece of garbage. Here is an interesting read from "The Lives Of John Lennon":

Lennon was indeed a heavy drug user, as has now been acknowledged by most people who knew the musician well, including Yoko Ono and his first wife, Cynthia Lennon. The same is true of Goldman's claims about Lennon's tendency towards violence, a tendency Lennon himself owned up to in a Playboy interview. Concerning Lennon's supposed bisexuality, Ono herself is found to have said in a 1981 interview that she considered Lennon a "closet fag," and she further revealed that he liked her because she looked "like a bloke in drag". Of the affair Goldman alleges between Lennon and Epstein, Lennon said in his 1980 Playboy interview that "it was almost a love affair, but not quite. It was never consummated."

Among Goldman's most serious charges are that Lennon was not only instrumental in the murder of a sailor whom he met in Hamburg, but also in the death of bandmate Stuart Sutcliffe. Goldman states that Sutcliffe's death was the long-term result of severe kicks to the head administered by Lennon in a fit of drunken rage. He also alleges that Lennon caused the death of an unborn baby he'd conceived with Yoko Ono during 1968, when he kicked the pregnant Ono in the belly during an argument.

Goldman also claimed that when Lennon started making music again in 1980 following a long hibernation, he was not immune to Manhattan's cocaine / disco era. According to Goldman, on the day Lennon was murdered he was scheduled to undergo plastic surgery several days later to repair his nasal septum (due to snorting cocaine, which he supposedly did at the Hit Factory recording studio where he recorded his Double Fantasy album). Goldman did not cite a single name of anyone who might have witnessed this at the studio. Goldman alleged further that on December 8, 1980 (the day of Lennon's murder) not only did the singer's cocaine snorting warrant plastic surgery, but he was in such bad physical condition from drug abuse and lack of exercise that during his autopsy the medical examiner recorded observations to that effect, overlooking the four bullet wounds momentarily.

GOLDMAN?? YOUR CITING GOLDMAN?? Dude, seriously, why not just grab a Weekly World News and read about Bat Boy!? The guy's book was based on sh*t sources and tabloid crap. It was refuted when it came out and Beatle fans know it as a huge slice of Bullsh*t. Seriously, don't believe everything you read. Read Ray Connolly's book for the real story on John. GOLDMAN and self-proclaimed "Beatle historian" Geoffry Guiliano (sp) are notorious for their tabloid trash books, not to mention inaccuracies. You should read Goldman's book on Elvis. Holy crap.
Goldman is no source for anything. Many of those examples you cite above are rumors, none of them based in fact, but heresay and from disgruntled employees fired by Yoko. John at the end of his life was extremely thin. He was very concerned about his weight because journalists had called him fat at one point (mid 60s) and was a total macro-biotic food head. He ate and grew health food. Coke- yeah, he did dabble in that. WHAT MUSICIAN HASN'T?

Fact is, yeah, Lennon was a deeply flawed guy. But so many people are. That does not negate his brilliance (especially in the early part of the Beatles career). Instead of reading Goldman, read interviews from the time from Sean Lennon and how John was there for him every day. Read the interview where Paul called him up and John's baking bread and being a househusband for his son. Read May Pang's book. May was the gal he was with when he and Yoko busted up.
May was actually there as opposed to some guy taking input from people with an axe to grind.

[brywool]

Agreed on his solo career Matt. I wasn't a fan of most of it, though his first album "Plastic Ono Band" is a great piece of work as was the song Imagine. HIS cuts on Double Fantasy were also great. Much of his other solo stuff, I wasn't into, though.

[Saint John]

GOLDMAN?? YOUR CITING GOLDMAN??

Bry, I simply cited that as "an interesting read." I probably should have made the distinction a bit more clear. As for the rest of your post, I can go along with it. Listen, I couldn't stand Lennon, so don't ever expect anything unbiased from me.

[Don]

I have never liked Lennon. Actually, I have never really enjoyed the Beatles that much as a whole. I do feel that what Harrison and McCartney brough to the table after the group broke up was much better and even palatable. Lennon's efforts post Fab Four are even less steller than Perry or DeYoung's as far as I'm concerned.

[Saint John]

I have never liked Lennon. Actually, I have never really enjoyed the Beatles that much as a whole. I do feel that what Harrison and McCartney brough to the table after the group broke up was much better and even palatable. Lennon's efforts post Fab Four are even less steller than Perry or DeYoung's as far as I'm concerned.

Ehwmatt, his friend and I did an acoustic version of Band On The Run (at my request) at 4am drunk out of our minds that featured some of the most atrocious vocals ever heard ... mine.

[Rockindeano]

I like you Dan, but this is a horrible, disgusting and a reprehensible post.

Yet it's all true. Nowhere in my post did I denigrate what he had done in the past. I was speaking specifically at the time of his death. The guy was a drug addict, possibly a murderer, and a pretty overall piece of garbage.

LOL, you should look more closely at your Journey idols if you're so concerned with drug intake and pieces of garbage. I can tell you that three of the members are drug addicts, or have at least doppled in drugs in a big way. Valory snorted himself to bankruptcy, Deen's drug history is well documented and I have seen Schon do shit that made my head spin. Oh, but they have contributed not nearly an splinter of what John Lennon has to music.

[Behshad]

Whatever the fuck the name of the guy is that allegedly killed John Lennon (Chapman?) should be immediately discredited with his murder. While completely in violation of the law, he really did nothing more than rid the world of Terry Schiavo with mobility. That guy (Lennon) was in a perpetual drug-induced trance, hardly bathed, was an MIA parent and had nothing left to offer to this world other than stoned musings and weakly disguised pleas for peace, with the sole purpose of deflecting from the fact that he was an artistically bankrupt drug addict being led around by his skank wife.

I can only hope that this Chapman creep is viciously attacked and killed soon so we can put this entire chapter, and the annual updates on this asshole, to rest for good. In spite of being a monster and being solely responsible for ridding the world of Lennon as a walking, brainless corpse, he also immortalized the guy far more than Lennon would have ever done. I'm quite sure that the world would have wised up and separated the artist from the person, and realized that the guy was nothing more than a dick with feet.

[Don]

In my own humble opinion, I think the best writer/artist of the '70s that hails from The UK is Jeff Lynne.

[Behshad]

In my own humble opinion, I think the best writer/artist of the '70s that hails from The UK is Jeff Lynne.

Humble?? I dont recall you being humble with any of your opinions!

[Saint John]

I like you Dan, but this is a horrible, disgusting and a reprehensible post.

Yet it's all true. Nowhere in my post did I denigrate what he had done in the past. I was speaking specifically at the time of his death. The guy was a drug addict, possibly a murderer, and a pretty overall piece of garbage.

LOL, you should look more closely at your Journey idols if you're so concerned with drug intake and pieces of garbage. I can tell you that three of the members are drug addicts, or have at least doppled in drugs in a big way. Valory snorted himself to bankruptcy, Deen's drug history is well documented and I have seen Schon do shit that made my head spin. Oh, but they have contributed not nearly an splinter of what John Lennon has to music.

Say what you want about the guy, but all of Neal's kids have been well taken care of and all seem to really love him. He isn't a commie like Lennon was, doesn't think he's more popular than Jesus and wants nothing more than to write, record and rock and roll live. Seems like a pretty good dude to me. And I thought it was pretty fucking cool that Neal put Miles in his band. Especially considering that Miles can (at times) smoke him on guitar!

[brywool]

In my own humble opinion, I think the best writer/artist of the '70s that hails from The UK is Jeff Lynne.

Jeff Lynne, who I love, would be NOTHING without the Beatles. HE even says that.

[S2M]

In my own humble opinion, I think the best writer/artist of the '70s that hails from The UK is Jeff Lynne.

Good choice....however I'd have to go:

Livgren/Peart


Edit: I just noticed you said UK....damn. I need glasses.

[brywool]

I like you Dan, but this is a horrible, disgusting and a reprehensible post.

Yet it's all true. Nowhere in my post did I denigrate what he had done in the past. I was speaking specifically at the time of his death. The guy was a drug addict, possibly a murderer, and a pretty overall piece of garbage.

LOL, you should look more closely at your Journey idols if you're so concerned with drug intake and pieces of garbage. I can tell you that three of the members are drug addicts, or have at least doppled in drugs in a big way. Valory snorted himself to bankruptcy, Deen's drug history is well documented and I have seen Schon do shit that made my head spin. Oh, but they have contributed not nearly an splinter of what John Lennon has to music.

Say what you want about the guy, but all of Neal's kids have been well taken care of and all seem to really love him. He isn't a commie like Lennon was, doesn't think he's more popular than Jesus and wants nothing more than to write, record and rock and roll live. Seems like a pretty good dude to me. And I thought it was pretty fucking cool that Neal put Miles in his band. Especially considering that Miles can (at times) smoke him on guitar!

Ah, now I get it. Done with the conversation at this point.

[Red13JoePa]

alleges that Lennon caused the death of an unborn baby he'd conceived with Yoko Ono during 1968, when he kicked the pregnant Ono in the belly during an argument.

Absolute F*&n' scumbag if true.

[Jana]

Nightline played some of those audio tapes last night. Really fascinating.