John Lennon's 70th Birthday

John Lennon's Birthday was celebrated around the world:



Here is a video of the unveiling of a statue celebrating John Lennon's life and commitment to peace in his hometown of Liverpool. His son Julian and ex-wife Cynthia were present at the ceremony.




Rolling Stone also highlighted events and releases celebrating Lennon's birth including the reissue of all of Lennon's newly remastered solo albums. There is also a film called Nowhere Boy about to be released which focuses on Lennon's early years in Liverpool. Reportedly, Paul and Yoko both approved of the film and liked the portrayal of Lennon's early life. Would you see it?


Here is a trailer:



[Image via amazonaws.com]

  

Happy Birthday John Lennon!

In 1961, John spent his 21st birthday in Paris with Paul.

Check out this photo of John and Paul from their trip to Paris.

This year marks John's 70th birthday, and it is being celebrated all around the world.

I will post some of the celebrations later on.

[Image Beatlesource.com]

Off to Paris!

On September 30, 1961, Paul and John set off to hitchhike to Paris. John had been given 100 pounds as an early birthday present and decided to go to Paris, inviting Paul to go with him. He told his Aunt Mimi he was going to sell his paintings. Paul bought him a hamburger to celebrate the occasion, but John could not find much reason to celebrate: 


"I wasn't too keen on reaching twenty-one. I remember one relative saying to me, 'From now on, it's all downhill,' and I really got a shock. She told me how my skin would be getting older and that kind of jazz." 


-John Lennon, Anthology, 1963. 


[Image via mybeatlescollection.com]

Mark Chapman Denied Parole

Check out this story from AP about the recent decision to deny Mark Chapman parole. He will be eligible for parole again in 2012.

Do you think Chapman will ever be released? I hope not...

[Image via ben-rocks.com]

Yoko Lashes Out At John Lennon News Conference

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

Jason Kempin/Getty Images

John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono launched into a rant during a press conference after a reporter asked why she's still living in the apartment block where the Beatles legend was murdered.
The singer/artist held a junket in Los Angeles on Thursday to promote a new TV documentary about her late husband.
But she pounced on one journalist who questioned why she still lives in The Dakota building in New York 30 years after Lennon was shot at the entrance to the apartment block by Mark Chapman.
She shouted, "I think people say, 'Why are you still living on Dakota?' You know, I think it is a slightly racist remark, and maybe sexist, too. Because I'm sure that many people are living in their own home, that he or she shared with their spouses, even after the spouse has passed away. Especially because they passed away. Because there's a lot of memories, and also you built the place with the spouse. I'm not going to leave that and go to some strange house."
And despite the press conference moving on, Ono refused to let the red-faced reporter off the hook.
She added, "Wait a second. I want to answer more fully about what he said, because that's sexist and racist. The thing is... when somebody like me, who is probably not part of your culture, how you think, 'Why is she still living there? We wouldn't live there. Well, maybe because she has a different tradition and she doesn't care about the fact that he died there.' You know, something like that. A little bit more barbaric or something.
"The other thing is, for you to be able to say something like that, 'How dare she's living there?' (sic) is sexism, because I know that all guys wouldn't care... They would just live in the house, and no one's going to comment. No one's going to comment that you would go to maybe a whorehouse or something like that right after your wife died. 'I'm so sorry. He must be so sad.'"

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/dailydish/detail?entry_id=70249#ixzz0wq3JkUza

Yoko Wants Mark David Chapman to Stay In Jail

Countless news outlets are reporting that Yoko Ono has asked once again that John Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman, be denied parole. December 8th marks the thirty year anniversary of Lennon's murder, and Chapman is serving a sentence of twenty years to life. Since Chapman became eligible for parole, Yoko has been submitting a letter to the parole board every two years asking that he not be released. In the letter, she says, "I am afraid it will bring back the nightmare, the chaos and confusion once again. Myself and John's two sons would not feel safe for the rest of our lives." Chapman becomes eligible for parole during the week of August 8th. I don't think he'll ever get out, if for no other reason than the hysteria it would cause. 

Read more: New York Daily News

[Image via huliq.com]