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Returning SATB guest favorite Ray Connolly (journalist, Beatles insider, screenwriter) penned what remains the finest Lennon bio in print, Being John Lennon: A Restless Life. On this, Ray’s 82nd birthday, we celebrate John’s life and Ray’s as well as we discuss a wide array of topics with someone who knew John well: a journalist friend and confidant. In this far-reaching conversation, we touch on topics including the Get Back film – drug use – Michael X and James Hanratty – the abominable behavior of Phil Spector’s entourage – skiffle – Mimi and Yoko – the “Working Class Hero” project – the Lennon-McCartney creative partnership – Ray’s interactions with the Lennons during the last hours of John’s life – and more.
Ray’s works can be found on his website here.
Ray’s miraculous COVID story here.
Great interview Robert, this is interesting insight into John and Yoko. The Phil Spector stuff is crazy!
Ray is painfully blunt in his point of view and i can see why john liked him.
His comments on Paul’s career is over the top as he is quite likely the most successful singer songwriter in history. The guy is 80+ and i dont think it’s realistic to expect him to still crank out hits every 6 months. let’s be thankful he is still is creative.
Great interview Robert, this is interesting insight into John and Yoko. The Phil Spector stuff is crazy!
Ray is painfully blunt in his point of view and i can see why john liked him.
His comments on Paul’s career is over the top as he is quite likely the most successful singer songwriter in history. The guy is 80 and i dont think it’s realistic to expect him to still crank out hits every 6 months. let’s be thankful he is still is creative.
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[…] and Ray Connelly on the best Beatles podcast: Something About the Beatles. The most current Episode 249: Ray Connolly’s Lennon, features a riveting conversation celebrating John’s life and discussing a wide array of topics […]
“….will she still believe it when he’s dead…” Lennon mentioned death many times in his public music. When you’re popular,as the historical Jesus was/is you become a target of murder by, in John’s words ,”The dull & ignorant.” Abraham Lincoln had multiple dreams that he would be assassinated many times & shared this vision with his wife. He was actually shot on ‘good Friday
(’ the cross execution day) & he died that Easter Sunday.
So, the good die young because miserable people hates themselves & wants others to hate theirselves also, OR ELSE !
A younger man once told me that it was the “Beatles” music that helped him get through the emotional/romantic/sexual challenge of “high school”. Well, it turns out that the musical chemistry of the Beatles synergy is still helping me & surprisingly more & more modern cannabis users have an as companions, interior artist friends like John, Paul, George & Ringo to identify their experiment with “LOVE” with.
Lennon & Jesus used ‘love’ to overcame this fear of life & death & bravely keep us company from now on & on.
Find my music on “Spotify” Chippy McQuill. Album: Porpoise Love
Enough.
cool, Will check out your music … enjoyed your thoughts. Something was going on for sure. “Shoot me” “warm gun” etc. … the whole Beatle phenomenon seems impossible as it is — dream-like. If someone told me they were the Second Coming in the form of 4 musicians, I wouldn’t scoff. Also, if you compare WW2 and the Beatles there seems to be a close parallel inversion in terms of the influence, intensity, the short duration of it all, global evil/destruction vs love/creation and even a Hamburg-Liverpool overlap. There’s that old spirit of history theory with history having these tidal reactions and counter-reactions– WW2-Beatles seems kinda like that. Maybe all of this is cracked. But it sure makes you wonder.
“….will she still believe it when he’s dead…” Lennon mentioned death many times in his public music. When you’re popular,as the historical Jesus was/is you become a target of murder by, in John’s words ,”The dull & ignorant.” Abraham Lincoln had multiple dreams that he would be assassinated many times & shared this vision with his wife. He was actually shot on ‘good Friday
(’ the cross execution day) & he died that Easter Sunday.
So, the good die young because miserable people hates themselves & wants others to hate theirselves also, OR ELSE !
A younger man once told me that it was the “Beatles” music that helped him get through the emotional/romantic/sexual challenge of “high school”. Well, it turns out that the musical chemistry of the Beatles synergy is still helping me & surprisingly more & more modern cannabis users have an as companions, interior artist friends like John, Paul, George & Ringo to identify their experiment with “LOVE” with.
Lennon & Jesus used ‘love’ to overcame this fear of life & death & bravely keep us company from now on & on.
Find my music on “Spotify” Chippy McQuill. Album: Porpoise Love
Enough.
cool, Will check out your music … enjoyed your thoughts. Something was going on for sure. “Shoot me” “warm gun” etc. … the whole Beatle phenomenon seems impossible as it is — dream-like. If someone told me they were the Second Coming in the form of 4 musicians, I wouldn’t scoff. Also, if you compare WW2 and the Beatles there seems to be a close parallel inversion in terms of the influence, intensity, the short duration of it all, global evil/destruction vs love/creation and even a Hamburg-Liverpool overlap. There’s that old spirit of history theory with history having these tidal reactions and counter-reactions– WW2-Beatles seems kinda like that. Maybe all of this is cracked. But it sure makes you wonder.
Thank you Ray — it’s always a gift getting to hear your thoughts and stories!!
Thank you Ray — it’s always a gift getting to hear your thoughts and stories!!