Press Conference for John and Yoko

I typically try to research my photos a little before I post them. I think I have photos from this press conferene in my files and could give you some information about it, but I am pressed for time right now and I just thought this photo was too gorgeous to not post before I left for the weekend.

I have been receiving some great photos in the contest for the Paul McCartney biography. I am excited to share them with you all really soon. You still have time to send me a fan photo this weekend.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Another photo of a lucky fan....

Meeting all 4 Beatles at once and she doesn't even seem to look very excited about it.

George's brother's wedding

I feel like I am a bad Beatles fan for admitting this, but I do not know the names of George's brothers. Was one Peter?? I know his sister is named Louise because I met her at a Beatlefest years ago. So I am not sure who the groom in this photo is, much less the bride. But it still is a neat photo of George at one of his brother's weddings. Didn't the Quarrymen play at one of his brother's wedding?? Obviously this photo wasn't from that wedding, so this must be his other brother?

George in glorious color!

I think I may have posted these two before in black and white. It is always so nice to see a fan photo in color. I think it brings a totally different perspective to the photo.

Still time to enter contest!

Just a reminder that the contest to win a FREE copy of the book Fab: An intimate Life of Paul McCartney by Howard Sounes. The winner will be receiving the U.S. version of the book (the U.K. has a different cover). So far here is who I have as entered into the contest. If you have entered and do NOT see your name, please email me.

Pablo F.

Grace

Michelle

Gary Pig Gold

Lucas

Maggie

It isn't too late to enter! The contest is running until 10pm Central time on October 31. To enter you need to send me a Beatles fan photo. If you send me one that has never been seen on this blog or is an updated version of one that has been posted, you get your name into the drawing two times. If you send me one of your favorite photos that has been posted, you get your name in once. All of the photos sent will get posted in November.

Fan photos include any photos of John, Paul, George or Ringo during any time of their career, any of the Beatles current or former wives, any of the Beatles children. Any of the people who are considered in the Beatles "inner circle". This would include: Brian Epstein, Mal Evans, Neil Aspinall, Derek Taylor, George Martin. I would also accept a vintage photo from the 1960's of a Beatle fan or group of fans.

So what are you waiting for? Send those photos to Starshyne9@yahoo.com

Wings

I have to confess that I totally LOVE this photo! I love the fact that Paul is holding his guitar and that he is wearing a sweater vest. I LOVE Linda's hat. And I even think the fact that Denny Laine is in the photo is pretty cool (especially now that I have met him and got his autograph). So yeah...awesome Wings photo!!

Paul at a pub

Currently on ebay there is this Paul McCartney autograph along with the story behind how the fan got it. I personally don't think I would buy a Beatles autograph on ebay....too many scams have been reported.

The Family McCartney

I think this is a super adorable family photo!

John '74

A lot of John posted in a row here. I am sure that many of you don't mind (right Lizzie!). Here is a gorgeous photo of John.

Family photograph

This looks like either a photo a fan took of John, Yoko and Sean in Japan in 1979 at a resturant or a photo the family had a waiter take for them. John looks really thin in this photo. I personally liked how he looked when he was eating Whoppers and not all of the rice. However....it was his choice and since I am a fat girl, I am not someone to judge on weight issues anyhow....

I am wild about Harry!

Just a reminder that the Harry Nilsson documentary Who is Harry Nilsson (and why is everybody Talkin' about him) will be released on DVD this Tuesday, Oct 26. I have my copy pre-ordered and I am anxious to get it! I hope some of you out there in Beatle blogland also plan on getting it. If you aren't sure, let me assure you that it is awesome! I saw it in August at the Beatles convention and really loved it. Lots of Beatles tid-bits in there as well.

Here we have a photo that I have never seen before from the March of Dimes charity event that Harry and John did in April of 1974. I just love these two guys together. The pair caused a lot of trouble, but they really seemed to be great friends!

What is John doing here???

Anyone know or just want to guess what is going on in this photo?? Regardless, this is one of my favorite John looks and so I am enjoying the photograph. :)

About time for Ringo!

I feel like it has been awhile since a "new" Ringo photo has popped up. I am happy to have located this one to share with everyone. Check out those crazy pants! And what does "Barnard" mean??

Lennon

What a difference a year makes...

Here are two gorgeous photos of George taken a year apart by Pat Kizer. George's appearance sure did change over a years time!

George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Leo Sayer.

George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Leo Sayer., originally uploaded by himbletonian.

Great fan photo of George at a race!

The first ever "Meet the Beatles for Real" contest!!!

Hello blog readers! I have a very special treat for you. I was recently contacted by the publishers of a new book about Paul McCartney called: "Fab an Intimate Life of Paul McCartney" written by Howard Sounes. who after checking out this blog, wanted to send me a copy of the book for me to read. I was pretty excited about this, as you can imagine. I am really just a chubby girl in Illinois who loves the Beatles and has fun with this little blog. So to get a book about Paul McCartney's life for free was awesome! Well I got the book in the post today and I am going to start reading it tonight. But the good news for you all is: they sent me 2 books! So I am going to have a little contest and the winner is going to win this 634 page hardback book that retails for $29.95.

Here is what you need to do if you want to have a chance at winning this book.

1. Send me a fan photo to my email: Starshyne9@yahoo.com I am running low on fan photos to post at the moment. If you send me one that is not already on this blog OR an upgraded version of one that is then you will have your name put into the drawing twice. However, I don't' want to leave anyone out. If you do not have any fan photos that haven't already been posted here that is fine. Pick out your personal favorite and email it to me. Those will be into the drawing one time.

2. All entries must be emailed to me, Sara, at Starshyne9@yahoo.com by 10:00pm Central Time on October 31, 2010. I will announce the winner of the contest on Monday November 1, 2010 in the evening my time.

3. If you are the winner, you will need to email me your address so I can post the book to you. If the winner fails to email me this information within 5 days of the contest ending, then I will pick someone else.

I hope this can be a fun way to post some new photos or even some old favorites. Good luck! If you have any questions please ask them in the comments, because others might be thinking of the same question.

Luv you all!
Sara S.

1965 Beatles fans

1965 Beatles fans, originally uploaded by Photos from the Vault.

Another photo of Beatle fans from the 1960's. The story behind it makes me chuckle!

August 25, 1965
Laura McNamara, and Cheryl Odom members of The San Luis Obispo Beatle Screamies, had precious tickets to the Hollywood Bowl concerts. Marilyn Wilcox and Joan Tregarthen won box seats in a radio contest and the opportunity to interview the band. Tensions in the Screamies over who got tickets and who didn’t lead the fan group to disband…five years before The Beatles made the same decision.

The 5th Beatle met fans too....

Just for the record, I totally would have stood in a long line to get Brian Epstein's autograph! As far as I am concerned, Brian was the true 5th Beatle!

Emma Stone's tattoo designer.....

Here is an interesting story of a famous Beatles fan meeting Paul McCartney. I like the actress Emma Stone. I especially enjoyed her in Super Bad and Zomieland. Cool to know that she is a Beatle fan and way to go for her mom!!! This is especially great to post during the month of October!

Actress Emma Stone has Sir Paul McCartney to thank for making her first and last tattoo a one-of-a-kind experience. The Beatles legend drew the artwork she's having inked to celebrate her mother's recent triumph over breast cancer.

The 21 year old met McCartney while filming "Zombieland" with actor Woody Harrelson in 2009 and struck up an unlikely friendship with the rock icon after spending a day at his house. She says, "I got to spend a pretty fair amount of time with Woody... He's just the greatest guy in the world. Probably the best thing I've ever done with Woody... was hanging with Paul McCartney. They're really, really good friends."

"So we go to his (McCartney's) house and he makes us veggie burgers. Can you imagine? It was unbelievable. It (burger) was so good. We just sat around and I was in a funk, I couldn't believe I was there with Paul McCartney."

And Stone decided to take advantage of her new friendship when it came to marking her mum Krista's new clean bill of health. She says, "My mum and I are going to get tattoos. We've never gotten tattoos before and probably never will again, but her favorite song is 'Blackbird' by Paul McCartney, (it's) my favorite song as well, and she just went through a pretty crazy two years."

"Two years (ago) she got diagnosed with breast cancer and she's out of the woods now, which is amazing, and so... I wrote a letter to Paul McCartney, asking him if he would draw two little bird feet because he wrote the song, and he sent them to me. He drew two little blackbird feet and so I'm getting the tattoo right there (inside of wrist). He's a good guy!"

Amsterdam Hilton.....Ringo

I have no information about this photo right now. I know that I don't recall reading about Ringo ever being at the Amsterdam Hilton, but then when we think of that hotel, John is the Beatle that comes to mind. I am pretty sure that the lady on Ringo's right is Nancy Andrews but I have no idea who the other woman is. A fan maybe???

1961

Been in a bit of a "Savage Young Beatles" mood....

Paul poses with fans

Oh Beatles we love you!

Just thought this was a really cute photo of two fans in the 1960's having fun in a photo booth.

John heading home photo

Why are you wasting your time here when you should be at the Beatles photo blog?? Miss Tammy has posted some AMAZING photos that have made me wet my pants in excitement. Here is one of those photos. It was taken I would guess a fan on an airplane from South Africa to New York in May 1980.

Now there has been a lot of discussion about John actually going to Capetown, South Africa in May of 1980. Honestly, there isn't a LOT of information about this trip (it was a short get-away). I quickly scanned my books tonight and I found the most information in the book Nowhere Man by Robert Rosen I will type here part of what it says. I don't' want to type up the whole chapter because it is a little....well...gross!!

The last week of April 1980, Yoko told John that a karmically cleansing directional voyage to the south and east was imperative - he was to leave immediately for Cape Town, South Africa. This was, perhaps, a peculiar choice of destination. The South African Broadcasting Company had banned Beatles music for five years in the wake of John's 1966 comment that the group was more popular than Jesus. And even after lifting the ban, they kept Lennon's solo work blacklisted. Nonetheless, he jumped at the opportunity to get away. Even though he thought the karmic cleansing was a load of bloody crap, he felt the isolation would be beneficial. And having been to C-town before, he knew that it was a good place to get jacked off.

The journey inspired John. He took notes on everything: the scenery, the cab ride to Cape Town form the airport, and his cab driver and self-appointed tour guide, Mohammad. After checking into the Mount Nelson Hotel under an assumed name, John went shopping for a raincoat, shampoo and macrobiotic fruit.

Back at the hotel bar, he couldn't' figure out how much money to put in the cigarette machine. A businessman who recognized him from the plane offered him a cigarette, which he happily accepted.

That day, every time John set foot outside his hotel room, somebody recognized him. Strangers offered him drugs and whores, but he declined. A pretty, blond hotel waitress tried to pick him up, but he turned her down. The last thing he wanted was a story in the gossip rags about being seen in public with a waitress. Alone in his room, he clipped classified ads for massage parlors form a local sex tabloid.....

John sat in his hotel room that night reading the local newspaper. An article reported that he'd been spotted buying a raincoat. HE felt strange -- like a flying saucer. He suspected reporters had somehow gotten into his hotel room when he was out.

Later in the week, he telephoned May Pang. She was depressed and unemployed. They chatted for an hour; he promised to send her a postcard Next he telephoned Yoko. She played a tape of a song she'd just written. John thought that the lyrics were great, but he was concerned that the muse had given Yoko exactly one melody, which she was doomed to repeat for the rest of her life. HE asked God to inspire his wife.

The following afternoon, John sat in his hotel room eating his macrobiotic fruit. He decided to return to the massage parlor....

The next day John returned to Cold Spring Harbor, only the tarot card reader Charlie Swan aware of exactly what he'd been doing in Africa.

The other tidbit about his South African trip comes from a source I find to be more reliable, and that is Philip Norman's book <>John Lennon The Life.

For much of this turbulent time for Yoko, as things turned out, John was not in the same home, the same town, or, finally, even the same country. As spring turned Central Park's trees into pink and white froth, the all-powerful numerologist, Takashi Yoshikawa- presciently but, alas, far, far too prematurely -- detected clouds of evil beginning to form above his head and worked out the direction in which he needed to travel to escape them. At the end of May, he flew off alone on the prescribed course, ending up in Cape Town, South Africa.

Early Kenwood Cyn and John

Beautiful photograph

I am not even going to try to pretend this is a fan photo. I had just never seen it before and thought it was a gorgeous photo of Astrid and Stu.

Listen to this Button

I recently read that in the United States, John's Walls and Bridges button said "Listen to this Button" but in the U.K. it said "Listen to this Badge." I think this is a nice Ringo photo.

Going to see Help!

I am not crazy about posting photos of just Beatle fans, but I thought this one was neat a fun. Here are some fans ready to see the Beatles movie Help! They have no idea what a treat they were in for! Help! is such a funny movie, and I bet these fans screamed and had the best time watching it. I love how decorated the theatre was for the movie. And I wonder what happened to the posters and things that were hanging up.....most likely long gone.

One happy fan

I think so much of this photo looks posed and stages, but the smile on that fan's face is the most real thing! What a luck lady!!!

More Julian Lennon

So I bought myself Julian Lennon's book of memoriblia for myself for my birthday. It has a lot of the items I saw in person at the White Feather exhibit in Liverpool. It is still a really neat book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the history of John Lennon and the Beatles.

Clearing out the desktop

It is that time again. Time for me to go through the photos I have saved for this blog on my computer and just go ahead and post them so I can file them away.

Linda's pink mini

I am sure you all saw these photos not too long ago on the wonderful Beatles Photo Blog. Well..I decided it was time for me to post them over here. I really like Linda' pink car. I wish my car was pink and not red!

Ringo on the movie set

I *think* this photo is of Ringo on the Princess Daisy movie that he and Barbra made in the early 1980's.

John and Yoko with the Hong family

A very sweet story about John and Yoko has came to light. It really is a beautiful story. It was written by Scott James.

In the 1970s, Barbara and Emily Hong of San Mateo dared only whisper about the man who visited the young sisters’ modest rented duplex on Second Avenue. “We referred to him as J. L. so people wouldn’t know who we were talking about,” said Barbara Hong, now 48.

J. L. was John Lennon.

At a time when Lennon’s life was a frenzy of rock music celebrity, he and his wife, Yoko Ono, took a detour from the limelight to San Mateo, forming an unlikely bond with the Hongs, a Chinese immigrant family, that lasted for years.

The Lennons also saved the family from destitution.

The story of this relationship has come to light on the eve of what would have been Lennon’s 70th birthday on Saturday, had he not been struck down by an assassin’s bullet in 1980. It is a previously unreported chapter in the biography of a public figure whose life has been dissected for decades.

The two families became acquainted around 1970, according to the Hong sisters, who were 8 and 9 years old at the time. The exact date is hazy, their memories viewed through the lens of childhood.

The families’ encounters are documented in a treasure trove of memorabilia and photographs. In the images, you can witness the evolution of Ms. Ono’s hairstyles from lengthy hippie strands to a short matronly bob. Lennon drew scribbles for the girls, images that elsewhere hang in galleries.

Yuan Bain Hong, the family’s Shanghai-born patriarch, was a practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture for spiritual and physical cleansing and healing, a novel concept in the United States in the ’70s. Emily Hong believes that an editor at Rolling Stone magazine, which was based in San Francisco, became familiar with her father’s work and spread the word in the music community. Keith Moon, the drummer for The Who, came for treatments, and eventually so did Lennon and Ms. Ono.

Ms. Hong, now 49, said the family was poor and “had no TV and radio growing up,” so the sisters did not immediately recognize the couple. She is certain her parents — her mother, Betty, spoke little English — had never heard of Lennon.

“Without knowing who he was, he was treated as a normal person,” she said.

The Lennons stayed in the two-bedroom home for several days, possibly two weeks. “They never really went out,” Barbara Hong said. “My mom cooked meals for them.”

One day the couple ventured into the backyard for fresh air and stretched out on the bulkhead doors to the basement while a neighbor’s stereo blasted one of Lennon’s hits. “Oh, boy, if they knew he was the person singing it, they would have mobbed him,” Emily Hong said in retrospect.

Lennon liked to joke with the girls and play his harmonica, and one day he shared a new tune. “He played it on our piano,” Barbara Hong said. “He said, ‘This is a song I’m going to release soon.’ ”

It was “Imagine.”

There would be other visits — and what must have been surreal moments for a family of limited means and worldliness. They traveled as a group to Fisherman’s Wharf for a ferry tour of San Francisco Bay. Lennon remained gracious when he was swarmed by fans.

In 1972 Barbara Hong and her father were treated to a trip to New York to see Lennon perform at Madison Square Garden. Another time, Emily Hong accompanied her father to Beverly Hills, where a 24-foot limo escorted them around town and Ms. Hong devoured her “very first” banana split.

Then, in 1975, Mr. Hong, a preternaturally happy man who was a lifelong alcoholic and chain smoker and who rarely consumed solid food, died of kidney failure and malnutrition. The family was left with almost nothing.

The Lennons repeatedly offered financial help, which Emily Hong said the family first refused, but eventually accepted. The “support made a big difference in our lives,” Ms. Hong said. The checks, sometimes for thousands of dollars, were sent for years — until the girls reached adulthood.

“When Mr. Hong passed away, he left behind two young daughters to care for themselves,” Ms. Ono said in a written statement. “John and I decided to help them out — to make sure they survived, had a home and food to eat — and given opportunities like every child deserves.”

After Lennon’s murder, the families drifted apart, but the sisters have made the most of the breaks they received. Barbara Hong works in health care for a biotech company; Emily Hong is the founder of Furry Friends Rescue, a foster care service for pets.

Both sisters grew up to care for others. Imagine.