Swedish Radio Interview with George (1975)

GH: M-A-Y, with a line over the A, M-A-Y-A, and Maya, when you translate it literally, 'that which is not.' Maya, you know, it's like, I'll just go back, I'll try and do it quickly, to go back into the thing of meditation, the thing that I learned, it's like to say this state of consciousness we're in is only the effect of some very subtle cause; so it's like to say, this is what the Maharishi used to demonstrate, he'd have a flower, and he'd say 'you see there's a stem, and then the leaves and the petals and all the pieces of the flower. The stem's made of sap, the leaf's made out of sap, and the petals are made out of sap.  It's all sap. See, the cause is sap, but the effect is petals, left and stems, see.' So this is very, um, in some ways, quite deep, sort of philosophical thing. 

Usually, what I would do is make it, write a song and the melody, and usually get the idea of the words. Sometimes, I even write them all at the same time. The words I usually have to think more about than the music, and sometimes I can write a whole song musically, with, say, one verse and chorus, and then I'll leave it and then come back and finish off the other verses. 

INT: Yeah, I think your verses are getting more and more complicated. I mean in a good way, but...

GH: Yeah...

INT: more and more thought out. Y'know?

GH:  I don't know. 

INT: And that lots of, the circle around, you know?

GH:  I like the things to mean a lot of different things at the same time. 

INT: Yeah, that's what I was trying to say...right.

GH: Yeah, I like that but...

INT: Double meaning.

GH: Yeah

INT: What about 'Bye Bye Love'? Why did you do that one?

GH: I'll tell you what happened with that. One night, I was just at home playing the guitar with Tommy Scott. Tommy Scott's a sax player. He was playing the bass, and we were just sitting around the fire playing songs, and we started playing, and for some reason, I changed. I just started singing ' Bye Bye Love' but changed the melody into more like a sort of blues. You know how it goes (George sings Everly Bros. version): 'Bye-bye love, bye-bye happiness...' I changed it (George sings his version), 'Bye-bye love, bye-bye happiness...' It's more like it's making it mine and more like it's sort of a blues thing. We just played that for a while, and for some reason, it just stuck in my mind.  Then I decided that would be funny to record it. And as I recorded it, I did it all alone.  It was great for me, as you know, I've got a recording studio in the house, so I didn't have any engineers or anything.  I just did it., I have a rhythm machine to keep the time, and then I just played it on the guitar, then I later added the drum and all the bass and the synthesizer.  It was a good exercise for me in recording without any help. And then, I got more involved with it and started writing more about what was happening with my wife.  And that was it. 

INT: Does she mind?

GH: No, she loved it! (laughter) I sent Eric and Pattie a copy of it and they loved it!

INT: The papers all tried to make a big thing out of it.

GH: Well, you know....

INT: A revenge thing.

GH: No. Look, if you've split up with your wife, they automatically want you to hate each other so they can write about it. 

INT: To make a better story.

GH: So that song spoiled it for them because they're always trying to catch you doing something.  I learned from the past that if you have something to hide.  I make everything so there's nothing to hide anymore.  I've never had a private life for ten years, so I mean, I just got used to it. The thing the press doesn't understand, that they can't understand, is that I could be happy she is with Eric. 

INT: No...

GH: 'Cause he is one of my best friends. Well, why not? That's fantastic! I was just with her yesterday and the day before. We're great friends, and I love Eric.  The last time I was in Sweden was with Delaney and Bonnie.

INT: I saw that concert.

GH: Yeah? With Eric....

INT: They were in Stockholm, in concert...

GH: Yeah, we played Stockholm and Gothenburg

INT: It was great. 

GH: Yeah, I enjoyed that. I enjoy being in a band.  The only problem for me is if I am the leader of the band, it's hard because there is so much pressure put on you if you are in the front. 

INT: Do you ever miss the old times of being in a band? Of being with the Beatles?

GH: I don't know.  I think all of the Beatles miss playing in a band but not necessarily playing in the Beatles because that was a long time ago now, and the times have really changed.  Four people in the band, it was hard. We'd be playing concerts to 20 thousand to 70 thousand people, and in those days they didn't know how to mic everything.  Now, you can play with little amplifiers and put it through the sound system and get good sound, but in those days, we just had little amplifiers and had 20 thousand people shouting at us.  You couldn't hear a thing, and it was frustrating. And now the audiences are better.  They listen more, but the Beatles are very limited because our music, even the last Beatles tour, was a bit difficult trying to play things. I remember trying to do things like 'Paperback Writer,' which we'd got into 8 track recording, and it's hard to play four, just two guitars, bass, and drums to play things like 'A Day in the Life,' And 'Strawberry Fields Forever,'  we couldn't do it, because it's a studio recording. So you get a better chance of doing it if you have a few more people in the band. So that's why I just love this band I was with. It was fantastic with the horn players. It's nice to feel a good band behind you. 

INT: What sort of music do you listen to yourself? If you have time?

GH: Well, I like the Indian classical music.  That's my main thing.  But then I like some blues singers.  I prefer the old blues from the '30s and not the modern and the today people. I just love Smokey Robinson. Do you know Smokey Robinson? There's a lot fo stuff like that I like. There's Tamla/Motown and I like Dylan and the Band. There's all kinds. There's so much really that I think I prefer Smokey Robinson and Bob Dylan and Indian classical music. 

Dinner with John

 

Crowding around for a photo

 

Expecting

 

The Family Tour

 

John was happy to meet fans

 

Dollars for a good cause

 

A ciggie and a smile

 

Reception

 

B.O.M.F.

 

Remembering Olivia Newton John

 

I am sure everyone joins me in the sadness of hearing that the talented and beautiful Olivia Newton-John.   I really admire the courage and outspokenness she had in regards to having cancer three times.   She really will remain a role model for everyone who is going through a terminal illness.  It is so sad that she is no longer here, but her movies and music will not be forgotten. 

I couldn't help but think of the 1975 Grammy Awards when she won Record of the Year for the song "Honestly I love you."   John Lennon and Paul Simon were the presenters for this award and hilariously the award was accepted by none other than Art Garfunkel because Olivia was not there in person.    It is a shame that she was not there, as I am sure that John Lennon would have liked to have met her.   Apparently, John was a fan and especially enjoyed her song, "Magic"(although that song wasn't released until 1980).

She covered a few Beatles songs and even some George Harrison songs over the years, but I could not find any photographs of her with one of the Beatles (although I would have thought she met Paul at one point in her life).   

The sounds of Philadelphia

 I sure hope there wasn't anyone else on the other side of that girl that thought she was in a photograph with John Lennon.   

A Carefree, Relaxing Weekend in Fun City

Photo by George Tebbins

 A Carefree, Relaxing Weekend in Fun City

By Sharon Uzarewicz

With a Little Help From My Friends

January 1976

Sunday, December 28, 1975

If it was possible for things to get worse, on Sunday they did.  Nancy wanted to do some sightseeing so while the rest of us were getting dressed she went to get her camera out of the car trunk and somehow managed to lock her only set of keys in it as well.  The locksmiths we called watched $60 to come and open it but luckily, we managed to break into the car and pull out the back seat and retrieve them ourselves, with only an hour delay.

As we proceeded to the Dakota and of course there was no sight of John.  We sent up a card similar to the first mentioning we’d be back later that evening.  We arrived at JFK hours before Paul’s flight and as 7:00 approached the tension became unbearable.  We were so certain we’d see him that we almost refused to believe that 7 had come and gone without his arrival.  We checked with the ticket agent.  Paul had been booked for that flight and he hadn’t canceled.  He was simply, as the agent put it, “a no-show.”

 

Eventually, we drove back to Manhattan and (you guessed it) the Dakota.  As we drove past the doorman waved at us but we thought it was only in recognition and we didn’t stop as we were going a few blocks down for something to eat.  When we returned, Nancy got out to talk to him and it turned out that he was waving at us to follow the limo a few cars ahead of us which contained John and Yoko!  Nancy and the doorman had quite a long chat and when she showed him the photos, I’d brought he was quite impressed and said, “John hasn’t got anything like these upstairs. I’m sure he’ll really like them.  You ought to stick it out and wait for him to return.”  He also told her that they had a Japanese babysitter who looked after the baby when they went out and that John was quite nice but he didn’t like Yoko.  According to Jose, she was jealous of the fans and had called the police on a number of occasions to stop them from hanging around.  (The day before a different doorman had told us that John was horrible to the fans.  Apparently, some had come from Ohio and Philadelphia and he’d just shoved them aside, saying “Leave me alone” – at least that’s what the doorman said.)

Knowing how much it meant to me to see John, Nancy and George agreed we should wait at least a few hours (it was around 10pm) but then we’d have to leave and start the drive home because both Nancy and myself were supposed to be at work on Monday morning.  The whole trip had been such a bitter disappointment.  Eventually, George fell asleep in the back seat and Nancy curled up by the steering wheel.  I thought it best to let them sleep as they had such a long drive in front of them and I kept a lookout on every car and cab that passed by.

 

Monday, December 29, 1975

It was 3AM when the silver Lincoln Continental pulled up and without seeing its occupants, I knew it was them.  I shook George and Nancy and tried to gather my photos and Instamatic and jump out of the car.  I had a little trouble getting out of the car but when I did and I turned around, John was standing there looking very, very paranoid as if he was unsure whether I was carrying a camera or a revolver.  What I later learned was that when I woke Nancy her first reaction was to start the car, gun the motor, and flash on her headlights.  I guess I was just bursting out of the car at the exact same time John, not knowing our intentions, literally jumped a foot.  As I turned around, all I caught was his paranoid expression.  Forgetting the gate was locked and remembering what the other doorman had said about his brushing past fans, I hurried over to him and said, “John, we’re from Chicago and I have some photos I’d like to give you.”  His face relaxed and he replied, “Oh, sure.”  Then I heard George behind me asking whether or not we could take some photos and he said all right.  I pulled out the photos I wanted to give him and he took it and said, “Yoko, look at this.”  He genuinely seemed to like it and asked me where it was taken.  I said “Chicago” and he looked down and me and said, “But when was that?  What was I doing there?”  Being completely freaked out by that point, I told him he’d been in town to visit Dick Gregory and he replied that was strange because he’d just been talking to Dick that very day.  In the photo I gave him he was wearing a scooped neck black-t-shirt and denim jacket and when he looked at this he said, “What was I wearing?  A low-cut black bra?” and “Was I fat then.”  Yoko commented that it must have been warm because they were both wearing t-shirts.

I believe it was Nancy who asked if they’d gotten our cards and he said yes and they were sorry they couldn’t come down, “but we’re very busy – with the baby shittin’.”  He added that they get cards and letters all the time even from Rome “but we can’t come down and look for the Romans.”  It was as if he was actually apologizing for not coming down and that he really wanted us to understand why.  George asked if he’d pose for a photo and he seemed very willing.  After I took two shots, I wanted to get in a photo myself but I was too shy to ask him even though I’m sure he would have said yes.  Instead, I sort of walked in back of him while he was signing something and leaned my head around his side just so it would get in some of the photos George was taking.  I didn’t think John knew I was there and I was waiting for George’s flash to go off when suddenly John ducked his head down next to mine making a funny face.  Overcome, I touched his back and mumbled a thank you, moving away.

 

When hew as finished signing things I realized Yoko hadn’t signed mine and I asked if she would.  He took it from me and told her to.  George was holding out a felt pen but John said, “No, someone give me the ball point I was using before – it works better.”  I fumbled in my pocket and gave it to him.  Someone mentioned that we’d been in the car for three days and he said, “That’s a helluva way to live.”  It wasn’t a put-down, it was more like, you must be crazy to go through all that for me, but I’m pleased you have.

Then I remembered I had more photos with me and I handed them to him telling him he could have them if he liked.  He genuinely seemed to like them and he went through them more than once showing them to Yoko.  He looked down at me and repeated, “But I want to know what I was doing when I look at these.”  It was incredible of him to say something like that.  Whether he intended to toss them out or not, it was still fantastic of him to give the impression that they meant something to him and that he’d be looking at them again.  

Yoko was rather quiet but once out of the blue she looked at me and very sweetly said, “I like that top you are wearing.”  I was so stunned that she even noticed.  All I could think of to say was “Thank you.  I got it just for the trip.”  When we finally left she wished us all a happy new year.  John asked us if we had everything (at least 3 times we’d asked him for “one for photo” and he didn’t seem bothered at all) and then they walked to the gate and rang for the doorman.  George and I took some distance snaps of them by the gate but after he’d been so wonderful to us we didn’t go any closer.

No matter how many times I repeat it, I just can’t convey how absolutely marvelous he was toward us.  He really seemed to care about us.  He understood what we’d been through and he was pleased to give us a little of his time.  He must have been tired but he didn’t rush us in the least.  He was fantastic.  He also looked fantastic.  The most recent photos I had seen of him made him look old and tired.  When we saw him in the flesh he looked like he was in his early 20s – healthy and happy.   His hair was drawn back into a ponytail and he was wearing a blue beret and a long navy blue pea coat and beige slacks.  I didn’t get a good look at anything but Yoko’s face.  Her hair was very long and she was pale but looked beautiful to me.  She was incredibly sweet to us and not at all the way the doorman had described her.  She talked to us but mainly stayed in the background and didn’t seem to mind how hysterical we were becoming over her husband.  It really proved to me how little of what you hear 2^nd and 3^rd hand can be believed.

WE left NYC as soon as the Lennons went in but it was several hours before any of us came back down to earth.  Just a brief mention about our return trip – the roads were clear until we hit Indiana where we came into freezing rain which transformed the roads into a slide.  Never, and I repeat, NEVER, were three people more thankful to arrive home on that Monday evening than were Nancy, George, and myself.  Was it worth it?  You’d better believe it was worth it – it’s “just a helluva way to live.”

 

 

 

Full House & Letting Go

 

Paul McCartney and Wings – Full House & Letting Go

Hammersmith Odeon, 18^th September 1975 – 8pm

By Margaret Drayton

With a Little Help From My Friends

October 1975

 

The house lights go down.  The opening strains of “Venus and Mars” come across the expectant audience – slightly off there, Linda, but it doesn’t matter, the curtain’s rising and we’ll be seeing Macca any second.  Suddenly there he is!  He looks really incredible dressed in black trousers kimono style jacket and red t-shirt.  I sit with eyes glued on his face – and from five rows from the back that’s no mean feat!  From “Venus and Mars” the band breaks into “Rock Show” followed by “Jet”- the audience is really rocking with them.   Someone calls out “What about John Lennon?” and one of the band (I couldn’t make out which one, unfortunately) replies “What about him?”  Paul introduces Denny as singing the next number and then realizes that it’s “Let Me Roll It” and Denny’s not singing lead until the next one, “Spirits of Ancient Egypt.”  Those two songs over in the right order and sung by the right people.  Paul switches to piano and plays the introduction to “Little Woman Love.”  Denny does something wrong and Paul stops playing and says, “No, no, I’m not having that” rather crossly.   My heart is in my mouth as I think they’re going to have a row – the tension mounts.  Paul plays the intro again and the bad patch passes as they swing into “Little Woman Love / C Moon” medley with no further hitches.  I’ve no idea what Denny did wrong but it must have been something drastic for Paul to react the way he did.  Then it’s that lovely song “Maybe I’m Amazed” which he sings beautifully followed by “Lady Madonna” – the applause gets really loud for this one.  Unfortunately, Linda spoils it by singing flat but who cares – it’s so great to see Paul performing a Beatle song.  As if to confirm that he’s proud of his past he then does “The Long and Winding Road” – swoon!  Jimmy is introduced as singing the next number “Medicine Jar” which he does really well proving what a good voice he’s got and how well he can play that guitar.  With Paul out of the spotlight, I noticed for the first time that Joe is a really good drummer.

 

Next, there’s a lot of moving around the stage as they line up the chairs for the acoustic session -
Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me)”, “Richard Cory” sung by Denny almost as well as the version by Simon and Garfunkel.  “Bluebird” where Paul asks if we know what a rhythm box is and says “Bine of you do!”  The fourth song is “I’ve Just Seen a Face” which Paul describes as being “skiffley.”   As if that song wasn’t enough, Paul is left alone on stage to sing “Blackbird” and “Yesterday.”  It’s too much.  You barely notice what a fantastic guitarist he is, he looks so lovely just sitting there singing.

The band comes back and Paul dedicates “You Gave Me the Answer” to Jack Buchanan as he sits and the piano ready to sing.  Linda yells “What about Fred?” referring to the previous concert where it was dedicated to Fred Astaire.  (Paul changed it because the audience in the concert before that hadn’t heard of Jack Buchanan).  This time he obviously expects us to know of Jack as he asks us if we’ve all heard of him and on receiving the reply “yes” breaks into the song.  Denny introduces “Magneto and Titanium Man” as friends of his and they sing the song against a back-projection showing the three characters which is very effective.  Denny then does that old standby, “Go Now” and the band performs “Live and Let Die” with flashing lights.  “Call Me Back Again” and “My Love” followed.  Somewhere in this sequence Paul gets mixed up with which instrument he’s meant to be playing.  There are so many instrument changes it’s a wonder they remember them at all – this time he straps on his guitar, takes it off, and heads for the piano.  Denny yells “I knew he’d do that.”  Another time Linda got up from the piano as Paul headed for it and they bumped into each other.  HE just moved her out of the way without appearing to say anything to her – in fact, he ignored her for most of the concert, the only other time they were together being when they provided the backing vocals for “Go Now.”  “Listen To What The Man Said” starts and we go down to the front to get a closer look.  Linda, who had been relatively unobtrusive until now (in fact she’s been so bored with the whole thing that she’s been forgetting to come in with the backing vocals several times), starts showing off.  She dances around and points at the audience (well, she only plays one-handed keyboards!) and generally looks ugh.  I turn my attention to Paul and stand transfixed as he announces the new song “Letting Go.”  He follows this with “Band on the Run” which is accompanied by a film showing the cover of the LP being photographed.  Then comes “Junior’s Farm” – my eyes never leave his face.  He looks so gorgeous that I’m now really taking in the music or the audience going wild around me.  I’m just standing there staring at him.  Suddenly my friend Kathy nudges me in the ribs and points at Denny and Linda who are over to the left of the stage right in front of us.  He pulls away from kissing her and runs his hands all up and down her back – ahem!  I’m shocked at how blatant they were – right in front of the audience where everyone can see and probably did, and there’s Paul singing his heart out on her right unaware of what’s going on.

The band leaves the stage and after minutes of applause and cheering, etc returns and do “Hi Hi Hi.”  Again they leave but the audience isn’t having it so back they come to do “Soilie” – how about releasing that one as a single, Paul?   The audience screams for more but that’s the end.  I’ve never known two hours to go so quickly.

I wish the same could be said for the next two hours.  We stood outside the stage door waiting and waiting and finally after two and a half hours he comes.  His sports car was parked right by the door and Kathy and I were standing on the nearside by the boot.  Paul came around to see Linda into the car when another car came past nearly knocking Kathy down.  Paul saw what was happening and raised his left arm shouting “Hold on a minute!”  The car safely passed, he saw Linda into the car and started to head for the boot to walk around to go to the driver’s seat.  Kathy grabbed him and kissed him on the neck and when she let go, I grabbed him and hugged him.  He didn’t seem to mind this treatment (fortunately!) and continued around the car.  I asked him for his autograph and he said, “Yes, love, come round to the other side.”  As I went to follow him, Kathy said, “Great show Paul!” and he turned and said “Thanks, love.”  A security guard tried to stop me from going round the other side of the car but I told him that Paul had said that I could and backed my words by shoving him out of the way!  By now I was right behind Paul and he had his back to me.  I got hold of his left shoulder and gently turn him round, holding out my autograph book.  I tried to put my pen into his right hand and when he finally held the pen in his left hand, he couldn’t get it to write.  There followed a ridiculous conversation about my pen Paul: “; this pen doesn’t work.  Does this pen work?”  Me: “you haven’t got it out,” repeated several times and I was talking about the pen nib!  He was a bit drunk; after the party but when he cottoned on to what I was saying he pressed the pen and I got his autograph at last!  He got into the car after I thanked him and he must have said something to Linda because she turned and smiled out the back window which of course I was peering in.  We ran down to the gates and waved as he drove off at high speed and then it was all over.  We were so high we left completely forgetting that Ringo was still at the party and if we’d waited, we might have met him too.  Still, I’d waited 12 years to meet Paul and I’d finally touched him, and all I could think of was that he couldn’t have been nicer. 

Wings in Australia

 Wings in Australia

By Christine Fisher

Beatles Unlimited

January/February 1976

 

Wings in Australia.  I wish I had had more tickets, but I only had two for the two Melbourne concerts.   The other cities are hundreds of miles away and I wasn’t able to visit them.

 

Wings arrived at our airport Tullamarine.  I saw the cars and waited until the group arrived.  When they were there, I took pictures madly but none of Paul!  Five shielas were jumping up and down in Paul’s open window wanting autographs, so I only saw him for a split second.  Linda was laughing at my homemade T-shirt though and I knew she would remember me again if only the T-shirt.   Some of my friends were standing on the other side of the car and took pics of Paul.  Only 10 or 12 fans were there, but Paul said, “We have to go now” before I could do anything (smile, wave, press a shutter, etc.).  The car started to roll and I had to let go.

I was up early the next day to park myself in the queue outside the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.  Around the back, 3 T.V. trucks were setting up.  One guy was very friendly and let me see their equipment.  IT was very impressive, to say the least!  He told me Wings would arrive for the soundcheck at 1 o’clock.  I was used to waiting a whole day due to the day before at Tullamarine, so the wait was only a hardship due to the burning Australian sun beating mercilessly down on the gathered fans.  First ten fans but as the hours passed it reached 50-100 fans.

The brass-section arrived at one o’clock with Joe (English).  He walked right past me and I was the only person to recognize him it seemed!  I took a bad photo just for posterity.  Later he strolled back up the driveway and talked to my Armstrong Studios friend, on the other grass-island from me.  He walked back down.  We could hear one of the security guys' walkie-talkie and Paul would be one hour late and arrive at two.

At ten past two Jimmy arrived with a lady a d a 6-7-year-old girl.  I got one picture of Jimmy looking right at me and yet another one that’s decent.   Paul arrived at 3.10pm (2 hours and 10 minutes late).  Buy this time there were too many fans around the back of the bowl.  Paul was sitting on my side and Linda came out after him.  I shot out from behind the rope to give Paul a present (which had always been my dream).  Some girls were screaming and I had to repeat myself to be heard.  “A present,” I said simply.  Paul was surprised, “Thanks!” and walked toward a lady and talked to her.  “Linda, Linda, a present,” I called.  She looked ever so delighted and I am sure it must have been her first Aussie present by her expression.  I know British fans give them flowers so to be different I gave her some expensive nail polish.   I was knocked out by her delighted expression!  I could tell she remembered me in my grubby little Wings T-shirt and London badge (sent to me by an American).  It was as if her face said “So this is what that kid was buzzing around for at the airport.”  She said no words but had an expression that said it all.  They both talked to this lady and I took a good pic of them both looking back at me.  A girl in a light blue t-shirt is also in the photograph and with her mouth open in mid-question.  I was later to learn that the lady was from the television news and that it was filmed.  The film showed just how little time I had and the girl in the blue t-shirt was the one who shook Paul’s left hand.  She had to ask twice because he turned around to wave to everyone.  One of my photographs had the door’s window in the way which reflected one of the “heavies” instead of photographing the gorgeous Paul who looked so much better one foot away from me than on TV. I was so disappointed about that shot!

In the concert, the bowl had only a limited number of seats and I was so unfortunate as to have a ticket for the lawn section.  But I picked my way through people and ended on the very front of the lawn and in the centre to look at the stage.

The heavies ordered all fans with lawn tickets to get out of their queues and go to the centre-queue -- one hour before the gates opened.  What lunacy!  14,000 fans all running to the one queue!  Just so that seat ticket owners (a very small number, maybe 1,000 but no more than that) could enter in style.  It was just a struggle to breathe, so there was no reason to worry about originally having 20 people ahead of you changed to 2,000!  One girl not owning a ticket fell out of a tree and was put in an ambulance.  The bowl was crowded when I eventually got in, but I managed to squeeze myself to the choice lawn spot.  It wouldn’t have been possible if the concert hadn’t been filmed because a camera platform was my saviour.

We weren’t allowed to stand up or dance and I was so upset by that.  I sneaked down the right-hand aisle and tried to shout up to Linda to tell the blue meanies (the security) to back off.  She couldn’t hear me as far as I could make out but she could see me.  I was almost crying as she smiled down at me especially as I was sheering woefully from between iron bars as if I was the Band on the Run.  Blue Meanies told me to go back to my section or they’d kick me out, so I crawled back to my camera spot.  My roll of film had run out and I didn’t take the camera to the front what a sin.  I left near the end of Band On the Run because I wanted to see them leave.  I could hear the two encores and I saw all but Paul from the drive-way as they walked between party and stage.  Paul was doing a TV interview.  But the Blue Meanies were being very offensive.  Each time they came up the drive, we would whisper “here come the Blue Meanies” and we would jump behind the rope and try not to get into a fight.

Because I’m only 14 and my father had been waiting 3 hours to take me home, I had to leave at midnight.  

 

The next day, Friday, I was exhausted but still arrived at the bowl early in the morning – especially as I had to be quick before public transport went into their strike.  I wasn’t going to be stuck 10 miles out of town!

When I got to the bowl one guy was ahead of me in the second queue (three entrances) and I went and got two rolls of film developed at a special place while I waited 3 hours for the work to be completed.  Without transportation I had to wait in the shop for the whole time.  I walked back to the bowl and had no idea of the time.  I found the guy in front of me had disappeared so I was FIRST in the queue!!!  I went around the back and met a girl from interstate who was attending her 6^th Aussie concert.  She said she saw me the day before.  I wish we had met before because she was very clued up and really had her wits about her.  She was wearing Paul’s guitar strings given by a roadies – Aussie bodyguard actually.

The cars drove right down to the bottom of the drive.  Paul got out of the other side this time and had his own movie camera.  I know both Paul and Linda waved to my friend who was a long way behind me (I had sneaked more than that halfway down the drive with a heavie in front of me).  Paul was cute with a camera, but I am not sure he filmed me because I was out of place and not on the two sides of the walls (The drive went into a hollow).  There were only about 20 fans this time which was good.  I shouted to Linda, “Good shot of you Linda!”  

It was fun to spend the sunny afternoon listening to Wings doodle musically but we couldn’t see a thing because the bowl was fenced and covered with blankets – including blankets on the gates!  Occasionally the wind would blow a blanket and we could see Paul playing some very catchy rhythms on the drums but later let Joe bang on them.

Joe was great on those drums in concert, and Jimmy played one or two good guitar bits. I took some photos from near the front in an aisle but ran out of film again.  I couldn’t get their attention either.  We were able to dance a whole lot better the 2^nd night and we all filled the aisles.  I squeezed myself up to the front.

 

There was the stage then 10’ drop, a fence and then the seats.  Linda threw an apple during “Go Now” and the guy next to me caught it.  He had to put it down his pants to stop everyone from killing him.   I missed everything the group threw, but I got a red and yellow balloon, a red and yellow candle, a Wings packet of matches, a roadie thrown a cap of Paul’s from top of his piano, a flower and someone’s Polaroid throw-away part.   I wanted one of the three sweaty towels
but missed.  Joe threw three pairs of drum-sticks too. 

Cards with pictures were thrown, but I missed.  I couldn’t afford any of the Paul scarves on sale.

I had bruises all over and could hardly walk afterwards but it was worth it.  I loved being in the front, legs stuck in the railing and all!

 

DJ Hari

 

Tie for auction

 Over the years we have learned that while raising money in Philadelphia for the Helping Hands Charity, John Lennon auctioned off his sock and his hat.   Now, thanks to a current eBay listing, we learn that he also auctioned off his tie.  If you look closely, you can see in the photograph that John is holding the tie.  I personally could not find a photo from that day of John wearing this particular tie.  

Here is what,  Ted Vollmer,  the person that originally bought the tie directly from John says about that experience:

John Lennon spent a weekend in Philadelphia in May 1975 to assist local news anchor, Larry Kane with the Helping Hands Charity marathon.  He made appearances at WFIL studios to greet fans. 

I attended one of these events. Mr. Lennon, to garner money for charity, removed his own necktie from around his neck.  He held it up asking who would want to buy it. In spite of trying to act cool and calm, I was star-struck and rushed to the barricade offering my last $20 for the tie.  Mr. Lennon accepted the money for the charity and signed the tie. 

I have had this tie in a plastic bag for the past 46 years. I am now ready to release it. I will no longer have the tie, but I will always have a good story.  

The tie can now be yours for just under $10,000 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/294805012602?hash=item44a3bf807a:g:LpEAAOSweFxiA~6n

Wings in the desert

 

Animals over Australia

 

Stella learns how to mingle