The LuLac Edition #2289, December 8th, 2012
LENNON @ 32 YEARS
Today marks the 32nd anniversary of John Lennon’s death. I was sick in bed with the stomach flu running a temperature of about 103. I was watching Monday Night Football on an 8 inch black and white TV that I used when I was in Washington, D.C. Like the rest of America I was stunned when the news came that John Lennon was killed. More than three decades later, the sting of this crime is still there. For the arts and music, it was 32 years wasted of what potential he would have brought to our musical lives. For pop culture and politics, wouldn’t you have loved to hear Lennon’s take on Reagan, Thatcher, Clinton, the Bushes, and Obama. And for his family, incomprehensible loss. Dave McAndrews and I go way back to my days in the early 70s at WVIA FM. Dave was one of the people who voluntarily put the station on the air. He had an and still does have an incredible voice. On FaceBook today he gave this account which I will share with you now." I can Seriously say that December 8th, 1980 Was one of the worst nights I've ever experienced ... I was the 7 to Midnight DJ on WBQW-AM (13-Q) in Scranton, PA. ... About 10 Minutes Before 11:00 PM All Hell Broke Loose! ... The NBC Radio ... Alarm Went Off Meaning that There was a Bulletin coming ... The Bells On The Associated Press machine outside the studio door were Ringing Like Crazy ... I hit the record button on The Reel To Reel player in front of Me And was shocked at what I Heard!!! John Lennon Had Been Shot Outside Of His New York City Apartment ... I Came out of the record that was playing and somehow said .. Here's A Bulletin From NBC News ... While the Bulletin ran I grabbed The 45 Of The Ballad of John & Yoko and cued it up and played it out of the news. My Program Director The Late Bob Michaels was listening, called Me and said play all Beatles Right Now ... Then The Alarms Went Nuts Again .. With News of John's Death. I Couldn't Believe it! ... He had just released his first album in Years ... He was happy .. In A Really Good Place ... In Love with His Wife, Life And 5 Year Old Son ... There was Talk of A World Tour Starting In Early 1981 ... John Was Happy & Healthy And making Great Music ... And Suddenly It was Gone. From Day One I was A Beatlemaniac ... The Beatles Were My Biggest Influence ... And It Hit Me That There Was No Way They could EVER get back together Now! ... WOW. I didn't cry at My Grandmother's funeral a few months earlier ... But I had to pull over on the side of the road on the way home that night because I was crying too hard to see."
LENNON'S LAST INTERVIEW
The above photo came from Edd Raineri's Beatleed Fab Four FaceBook page. Raineri who hosts a radio show every Friday night on WRKC FM, 88.5 at 7PM knows something about final interviews. He interviewed the Monkees Davey Jones before he passed away.
posted by David Yonki @ 8:25 PM
13 comments
13 Comments:
Hey Professor...Lennon rules..even in death!
" For pop culture and politics, wouldn’t you have loved to hear Lennon’s take on Reagan, Thatcher, Clinton, the Bushes, and Obama. "
Who cares? John Lennon was a talented musician, but he was an even more talented marketeer. From his time with the Beatles he knew how to garner attention, and he was aware that attention would increase his wealth He knew how to sell, and he exploited the capitalist system and countless brain dead drug addled automatons and earned millions of dollars, good for him, but his life was no more worth celebrating or mourning than any other person.
The Prof is only sad because at one point, he was the most liberal person in America, marching for equal rights, campaigning for the ERA, and had various posters of RFK on his wall; He was at Woodstock and once, participated in a Hindu wedding as a sword bearer, and also gave a marijana influenced speech that served as the inspiration for the play that we know today as The Vagina Monologues. One day in December, he bought a Lennon album for the one he loved at Christmas, and she (or he, who knows, let's be fair), dumped him. He then blamed it on John Lennon and anything left of Richard Nixon, and became the wholesome conservative muckraker he is today.
He believes that if he is conservative enough, it'll make him happy... but the sad reality is that it will never make up for his inner sorrow - he could deny rights to as many minorities as he can, tell poor people to pay money they can't afford so his rich friends in Boca Raton (ironically, a Florida town that literally means "Mouth of the Rat" in Spanish), and tell workers that they should feel privileged to make $3.50 an hour without benefits..... but alas, his heart will always be filled with despair.
Lifetime is actually making a movie on his lifestory.
Hey 5:28
Glad to see I'm not the only one who feels like that. Thanks for speaking up.
BTW: There was a "factory" in Orlando that used Lennon & Co. as a template for their manufactured "boy bands" but no one would ever admit it. Think Brian Epstein's influence.
Good Morning Students,
Surprisingly, many of you do not appear to be your normal raggedy selves. I actually see some clear eyes. Perhaps your parents refused you the normal “drinking money” or you were caught rummaging through mommy’s purse. Regardless, we are all present. I myself enjoyed a short but enjoyable interlude in Vermont for two days. If you ever get the chance, Vermont is a beautiful place to visit this time of year. It’s a shame that for most of you the idea of a weekend getaway is a trip to Atlantic City to play the slot machines but to each his own.
The business of this classroom goes forward…….
Students,
I cannot let the anniversary of the passing of John Lemmon go by without comment. I recall that day quite clearly. I was teaching at a University in California at the time. Following a long day, I reached home at around 7 p.m. Perhaps an hour later while listening to the local classical station (I believe it was Bernstein conducting Mahler’s Song of the Earth) the announcer interrupted between movements to reveal the shooting. I was flabbergasted beyond belief. The idea that the procession of such a wonderful piece of music would be stalled because of some ingrate’s murder was abhorrent to every instinct in my body.
Mind you, I felt sorry for his wife Aka Ona and their sons Sean and Julio, but the fact that this Cretan who is responsible for destroying so many young minds was being celebrated as if he were Saint Thomas Aquinas was and is repulsive. I do not decry his talents as a musician (if you call the Beatles music), but his attitude. One of the most irritating things---far worse than any liberal giveaway program—was the slacker college students protesting the honorable cause a.k.a. war in Vietnam. These twerps would spit on returning soldiers or throw paint on them calling them such vulgar words as “baby killer”. Funny thing, most of these students had brains the size of peas but because the government helped to finance a college education they were immune from the military draft. Mr. Lemmon was a leader of this subversive movement, which is why J. Edgar Hoover investigated him.
Again, you can say what you want about his music as I truly do not care but going against one’s own country in a time of war (and before you stooges point out Lemmon was British at the time----Britain also fought in Vietnam) is the lowest of low.
I recall seeing a Beatles film (as a part of RESEARCH) and recall an old veteran looking at these long haired loons in disgust. “I fought the war for your sort>” the vet stated emphatically. “I bet you’re sorry you won”, Lemmon replied.
Sometimes, John. Sometimes.
Something to think about this morning…..
Class Dismissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anon 5:28: Do you seriously believe that The Beatles were a manufactured boy band???
You need to read up on your music history.
Wen did I say the beatles were manufactured??
but thing about it, what inane bubble gum pop they were; I want to hold your hand, she loves you...
The world is no better or worse off without John Lennon. He was more of a money maker as Steve Jobs, and less about peace and helping the poor. Peace sold albums.
Point 1, whatever I say will not change your mind.
Point 2, 'bubblegum' is an overused term but to best understand that period of the Beatles' work sit in a room for a few hours and listen to the top 40 from the She loves You, Hand, period and you will see how progressive the group were comparison to the other music out there at the time.
Point 3, even if I conceded your point the group were not only confined to the Loves you , Hand period. Each new album progressed from the one before it.
Point 4, Even Dylan said they were geniuses, but you probably think hes bubblegum too.
Point 5, returning to point 1, Nothing i can say will change your mind so i guess i wasted my time.
Have a nice day.
Bless You!
ANON; PROBABLY YOU HEARD ONE BEATLE ALBUM IN YOUR LIFE. REVOLUTION, HEY JUDE, HELTER SKELTER, ETC. (THOSE WERE BEATLE SONGS) ARE ANYTHING BUT BUBBLEGUM---UNLESS CHUCK MANSON WAS INTO BUBBLEGUM AS WELL AS MASS MURDER. I CANT STAND PRF. CLEAVER, BUT HE'S RIGHT IN THIS INSTANCE, DO YOUR RESEARCH!
Anon 5:28: Do you seriously believe that The Beatles were a manufactured boy band???
You need to read up on your music history.
Read it?
I lived it!
Sorry Pope George Ringo:
Pre-Fab Four says it all.
BTW: do you know the definition of "template" or just overlook the word.
Please grow up. I realize young man that you lived music history, but seriously, would it not be wise to give up the 40 dollar guitar,get a real job; move out of your mother's basement,and put away your Journey albums????? YOu aren't going to be a star. Face it.
Dismissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ 7:24
Ah yes again slam the man when you have no comeback. The apparent "WalMart" template here at Lu Lac when you have no comeback.
Think about how the "conflict" between McCartney and Lennon evolved when Epstein died. Do YOU even remember that or was Rolling Stone forbidden fruit? Ever read Billboard? Ever reread any issues?
What do you think Eastman vs. Klein centered on? Ever wonder why the Stones were 180 degrees from the Beatles yet still seemed so familiar in kind?
I could go on but I refuse to be late for work having a battle of wits with an unarmed individual.
WTF YOu talkin' bout???? The STones were a band that ripped off old black bluesmen and lamely, I may add.
Then they tried to get away with from that by puttin out that stupid bubblegum piece of shit album Between the Buttons and the disgusting Satanic Majesties,,,which the vinyl edition was very good for a frisbee game.
Retort.....
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