Filming on a boat

 

Lucky Luxy and Lovely Linda (Interview)

 Lucky Luxy & Lovely Linda

This is an interview of Tony Prince with Linda McCartney recorded in March 1976 in the Elmtree Studios where Wings were rehearsing for their tour.

 

TP:  Welcome to Radio Luxemburg Linda for the first time in your own right, minus Paul, with your own show!

Linda:  ‘plause ‘plause!

TP:  Now I’d like to talk first, for the benefit of the listeners, about your new LP, which we hope to feature along with this interview tonight.  Can you tell us something about it?

Linda:  It’s a great album.  It’s called “Speed of Sound.”  And it’s very much a group album, this one, and I think everybody will like it, so play a lot of it.

TP:  A few questions I want to ask you about touring.  The problems of a mum and a wife on a tour, a world tour of the length that you’re going into.  Now, what are the basic problems you have to cope with?

Linda:  The real problems for me are seeing enough of the children because I don’t want other people to influence them.  I want them to have as normal a life as possible.  So it’s really:  you get home and you’re a bit tired and getting up early to be with the kids and keeping them under our ‘wings’ as they say.

TP:  But they’re going with you on the tour?

Linda:  Yeah, we start in Copenhagen and then we go to America, I think in April.  So they’ll come all the way with us.

TP:  It’s an incredible long tour, isn’t it?

Linda:  Yeah, it’s over two months.

TP:  How many bags do you have?  How many suitcases do you have to take on such an event?

Linda:  Well, lots.  I look, I think, too much to Australia; so we’re trying to keep it pretty basic this time and not get overcomplicated with so much you cannot even think straight, you know?  We’ve gotta take a lot for five people.  That’s for sure.

TP:  What about the children’s education?  How’s that coming along?  Are you quite pleased with the way things are going?

Linda:  I’m quite pleased.  I’m not THAT involved with education.  I don’t believe THAT strongly in it.  I mean, Heather will have to have a tutor with her this time.  But I think pretty much, if you get experience in life and if you understand people more, than what you learn in school.  I wasn’t very good at school, in school (see that?), and my parents wanted me to be good in school and with our kids kit’s sort of they don’t have the pressure of parents being worried about that so much.

TP:  So you do say that travelling around the world is as good as school anyway, because they meet so many different people?

Linda:  Well, that’s what we’ve discussed with the schooler.  Heather is very worldly, just having gone with us everywhere we’ve gone.

TP:  They’re beautiful children, extremely beautiful.

Linda:  I’m not prejudiced, but I agree with you.

TP:  Well I remember my wife, when we came to see you at Wembley stadium, the Beach Boys concert, and you had the children with you then, didn’t you.  My wife afterwards said “I couldn’t keep my eyes off those children.  They were so gorgeous.”

Linda:  Yes, they’re really nice and that’s it.  They’re very normal ordinary kids.  They’re not at all affected, posh or anything.

TP:  Do you always keep your cameras around, always keep it loaded, ready to shoot wherever something comes up?

Linda:  Yeah.  I’ve got it down to one camera now.

TP:  Oh really?  Your favorite?

Linda:  Yeah.  Just one that I can hang around a bit and still take good pictures, you know.

TP:  A lot of people think that your Dad’s Kodak and all that, but it’s not…

Linda:  He’s not, no, that was a press rumor.  I’ve got nothing to do with Eastman-Kodak, except I use their film.

TP:  You couldn’t have free film if he would have been your Dad.

Linda:  Oh, definitely and a few cameras as well.

TP:  And your Dad in fact is a….

Linda:  A lawyer in America.

TP:  In New York?

Linda:  Yeah.  New York City.

TP:  That must be quite a job.

Linda:  For him, not for me.  He’s quite a good lawyer. He’s very much for the artists, which is nice.  Nice change.

TP:  When Paul was leaving The Beatles, he was talking of your father being involved.  What, from the management point of view or would that have been….

Linda:  No, not management at all.  Actually it wasn’t really too much to do with the Beatles.  I know Paul wanted him to handle his business affairs, not manage The Beatles or anything, but sort of straighten them out and help them out.  But when the others didn’t want my Dad to do that, Paul still wanted him to do just him.

TP:  And does he today still, in fact gets involved.

Linda:  Yeah, well, he’s involved to the point where he takes care of us, you know.  Make sure we’re pretty straight

TP:  About the diaries.  First of all a couple of years ago you had a nice diary out, which was sent as Christmas presents to people in the industry.  And then this year the diary came out in colour.  And in fact it went on the market for people.  I saw an ad in the Daily Mirror for it and people could buy it.  And now your own book’s coming out.  How did the diary go?  Are you quite pleased with it?

Linda:  Yeah.  It was a real last minute thing, ‘cause like when I did the Nashville Diary, which was photographs I’d taken in Nashville of the group, I gave it away as a present and I started getting letters saying why can’t we buy it.  So this year I did one of Polaroid pictures I had taken and about a week before Christmas we said ‘let’s sell it.”  You know, a bit of mail order.  Did very well actually, I must say, for a last minute thing.  I’d like to see it’d be more available.  We’ll see.  Each year it gets better.

TP:  And the book’s coming out…..

Linda:  In September or October.

TP:  What will it be called?

Linda:  It’ll be called ‘Linda’s pictures.’

TP?:  Your photographic career, I could call it that couldn’t I?  It goes back before you met Paul doesn’t it?  That was in fact your first job, wasn’t it?

Linda:  Yeah, it was.  It was way before I met Paul.  I was working for a magazine in New York, which I really didn’t like very much, didn’t have a very good job there and I’d taken up photography in Arizona where I lived for a few years.  And through the magazine I got to photograph the Rolling Stones.  For some reason they said I would be the only photographer in this boat they’d rented.  Being a girl, I’d say.  So when I got off this boat, they’d rented a yacht for a press party, a lot of journalists and me, the photographer.  So actually, all the journalists needed pictures, so they asked me if they could use mine.  And I decided then and there to be a photographer.

 

TP:  That was the start of your career.  And you’d not done a job before?

Linda:  No, just on the magazine.  I hadn’t done a photography job at all. 

TP:  What about the first time you met Paul.  Do you remember that distinctly?

Linda:  I do indeed.  We were at the Bag O’Nail.  I went with Chas Chandler and a few of the Animals, just a group of people.   We went down to see Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames. Fantastic they were.  Speedy they were.  Just great.  Paul was at a table almost next to us.  You know it’s the old story.  A little flash from him, a little flash from me.  Love at first sight.  It was something at first sight.  I don’t’ know if it was love.

TP:  Did you go out with each other right away?  Did he come and sit with you?

Linda:  Well yeah that night we went over to a few more clubs and stuff.  There’s a lot of time in-between.  We saw each other again in New York and well but at least a few year went by before we got really serious, or a year or so.

TP:  You’ve actually got a track on the LP I hear.

Linda:  This is what we find, yeah.

TP:  What about this track.  You did not write it did you?

Linda:  No, Paul wrote it.   He wrote it in Adelaide, Australia, after one of our shows.  And it’s called ‘Cook of the House.’

TP:  Why is it called ‘Cook of the House?’

Linda:  Eh, it’s about food and cooking and the pleasure one gets and how I enjoy cooking.

TP:  In the early days, I guess you came under a lot of criticism, as did everybody in that early, awful, formal break-up period of The Beatles and all that.  How did you handle that mentally yourself? I mean, did Paul say, oh forget it, they’re only, you know, oh, let it go.  What was your attitude to all the critics?

Linda:  Well, I had to worry more about learning to play piano and keyboards, so most of my time went really to that.  I wasn’t too worried about what critics said, because in a way they were right.  They caught me at a learning stage and I can see it was such a contrast to what people expected.  I can only see why they put me down.

TP:  I only hope that now they will come to the party and you know,  you have really come on incredible as a musician.  Did you feel you have, I was just watching you, you know….

Linda:  Well, I got so much pleasure out of it.  I think that at first when you don’t know anything you cannot really get pleasure out of it, but now that I really do know chords and I have a feel for music, I really love it.  I can only see me growing.

TP:  You must be the ultimate in what we say, if you’re getting on with your husband, getting involved in his affairs.  I mean you actually came into t he picture and Paul said, all right you’re gonna be a member of my band and you had to do it. 

Linda:  That’s true.  I think, also that can be a disadvantage.  If you’re around your husband for work and pleasure.  Sometimes, you’ve been working all day and if you hadn’t been working with your husband he’d come home and you’d be all fresh and he’d be all tired and you could build up his moral.  But sometimes we come home, we’re both exhausted.  But it’s better than not.

TP:  Right.  I mean seven years of marriage; what about barmies?  I guess you must have barmies like everybody else?

Linda:  Oh yeah.  We’re very, very normal.  I mean we try not to, but you cannot help it.  But, the older I get, the less I wanna get involved with bickering with people, but sometimes you just cannot help it.

TP:  Right, it clears the air anyway.     What about the last tour, when you went to Scandinavia, in the bus and everything?  How did you enjoy that?  Did it not work out?

Linda:  Well, I was a bit nervous then, definitely, ‘cause that was really the beginning of learning to play piano.  I don’t think I was that good, don’t think the band was that good.  The best bit was the bus, getting the sun on top of the bus.  But it has changed so much, now that we have Joe as a drummer and Jimmy in the group and everything.  It’s just great now.  It really is good.

TP:  Well, not just you have become a better musician.  I think even Jimmy or Denny have taken vibes.

Linda:  Definitely.  Jimmy has come on a treat, you know.

TP:  I get the impression Paul vibes on Joe the drummer as well.

Linda:  Yeah.  He’s a great drummer.

TP:  He’s been looking for that drummer for years.

Linda:  We’ve had a lot of drummer troubles.  When we had our last drummer Jimmy wasn’t that struck and Denny said “well, let’s try, let’s keep trying.” But then when we met Joe, well that was it.

TP:  How do you see the future, Linda?  Do you just see it continuing as it is now, being a family woman, doing the photography and tour after tour, album after album?

Linda:  Oh no, I don’t think it’ll stay that regimented; tour, album, tour.  No.  I’d like to see us get into a few films, a bit of television.  Just so many things we can do.  But definitely grow.  I don’t want to get just a boring life.  I think we should……well……I mean, if anybody wrote a great script for us, we’d take it on your know, the whole band.

TP:  You mean acting parts and all that?

Linda:  Yeah

TP:  Just to increase life’s interest, hey?

Linda:  Yeah and also because we like a great movie and we like good telly.  And there’s not that much good on now at the moment anyway.  But it’s still very hard, ‘cause at the moment Paul still has to write everything for us and it would be nice to get other artistic hands in there, you know.  Great script-writers definitely would help.

TP:  In this day and age all superstars leaving Great Britain because of tax-reasons; going to live in the States.  Why haven’t you and Paul?

Linda:  Well, we were just talk about this on the way out.  ‘Cause I mean, I think the government of England is very silly because it’s making pop stars leave and therefore losing all industry.  The studios will be idle here.  Soon be idle here.  Because, you know, everybody is recording in Germany or America.  WE haven’t left because I don’t believe money should rule your life.  I like England and Scotland.  I like to live here, but I think it’s outrageous, you know.  We were saying one day we should talk to Harold Wilson and tell him how he is driving away a great income for Great Britain, you know?

TP:  I think that he is aware.  There are rumours that they’re trying to make a deal for pop stars.  Well,  I hope it comes off.

Linda:  Well, also people in music stimulate a lot of work and do have a lot of money flow through and if all of them go to America, England is really gonna lose that.  At the moment most of them have left already.

TP:  What is it about Britain you like in comparison to what you don’t like in America?

Linda:  I don’t know.  I’ve not always wanted to live here, but for a long time I have like it.  I think it’s the sort of country-side.  I like the people.  They’re very sort of ordinary people, rather than laid-back people.  I’m normally a laid-back person myself.

TP:  What about when you got a night off, yourself and Paul.  I don’t suppose it happens very often, does it?

Linda:  Yeah, we get quite a few nights off.  I mean, we take ‘em.  Well, if you wanna know the truth, we do what most people do.  Watch telly, have a good meal, put your feet up, relax.

TP:  What about up in Scotland?  Do you go down the village pub or anything like that?

Linda:  Not really.  We’re pretty far from the pub.  We’re back in the hills.  No, we listen to music, watch telly, paint a bit, draw a bit.  Just talk.  Go out for a walk.  It’s beautiful over there.

TP:  Do you have discussions of The Beatles?

Linda:  Oh yeah.  In fact we talked to John last night.  You know, there’s always rumours about whether they will get together.  The funny this is, the press has it, it’s on, it’s on definitely lad.  Well to tell you the truth, nobody has talked to anybody about it.  We talked to John; Paul talked to John.  IT wasn’t even mentioned.  Just saying:  how are you doing, just great, yeah really, and the baby, you know, all that.

TP:  It’s quite amicable, then?

Linda:  Oh yeah, it’s really amicable.  But as for a concert in the future…..

TP:  you know what a gossipy business this is.  The rumours fly…about the Beatles.  Now the current rumor is that John and Paul are mates but George and Ringo aren’t seeing eye to eye.

Linda:  I thought that was about a year ago, that rumor.

TP:  Was it?  Oh, now, I just got it.

Linda:  Well, I don’t know.  The way I feel is everyone is sort of friendly.  I think the press makes too much of it, to tell you the truth.  Because the truth is, it’s pretty much the way it was.  It’s all friendly and nice.

TP:  What about Yoko?  How did you get on with her?

Linda:  Oh, I get on with her great!  Much to people’s surprise.  I think she was really a nice, good person.  She’s amazing when you see her now with her baby.  She’s not at all pushy or anything.  She is just very much like a woman, you know?  And they’re very happy.  John has settled down a lot and well, so ordinary that it’s funny that it should still go on.

TP:  And when they left for a year?  When Yoko came to New York and John stayed in L.A.  I thought it was all over didn’t you?

Linda:  Well, we’d seen a lot of both of them in that period and you could tell it wasn’t all over.  You could tell John loved her and she loved him and they just had a few problems.  But Paul and John had a few good talks and it and it just worked out.  They got back together again.

TP:  Anyway, Linda, I think Paul needs you for this continuing rehearsal.  I wanna just once more congratulations with your seven years of marriage with Paul and the music industry and I’m really delighted, as are all the fans of Paul and the Wings, you know, that you’ve come on so well musically.  Good luck with the book.

Linda:  Thank you and I hope you’ll play a lot of the new album.

TP:  We will indeed.  Thank you, Linda.

Linda:  O.K. Tony and keep going Luxy.

Wings Over Holland (Part 4)

 The 4th and final part of the story of when Wings came to Holland in March of 1976 from the point of the writers for the Beatles Unlimited Magazine (March/April 1976 issue).   This last part tells what happened after the concert and the next morning.  

I Can’t Tell You How I Feel

Paul was going to do an interview for the press and television after the concert.  After we had recovered from the concert, we drove to Alphen to get some more sets of Beatles Unlimited.  We planned to give these sets to Paul when we could.  At ease, we drove back to Amsterdam to the Hotel and we arrived there at about a quarter past midnight. 

We parked the car and started waiting again.  At one o’clock Koos came back and to our surprise, he said that Paul and company had already gone to sleep!  It seemed the interview was done right after the show and that the group had hurried to the hotel to get to the showers.  A big disappointment we went to bed.

Every Morning Brings a New Day

The next morning, we were back early at the hotel again.  We talked to Koos for a while and to Jan, the head of the security services.

As nothing happened at 10 o’clock and it didn’t look like something would happen, we went away to do some shopping for a ballpoint and flowers to give to Paul and company when they would leave the hotel.

When we came back to the hotel at 10.30, it appeared that the departure had been delayed again.  They would take a plane later and if they would miss that one too, the whole arrival in Paris would go wrong.

At last, a few minutes before 12 o’clock they seemed all in the hall of the hotel, and also the limousines were ready.

And there they came out:  First Denny and wife.  I gave him a bundle of flowers and he thanked me and shook my hand.   Then Paul came.  “Oh, this is wonderful!” he said as I gave him the flowers.  “Thanks for the very good concert,” I said.   “Thank YOU, sir,”   I said the same thing to Linda as I gave her the flowers.  “I’m glad you liked it,” she said.

“Joe, thanks for the very good concert yesterday.”  

“You liked it, ey?”

Jimmy said he would give his flowers to Linda, but when I told him she’s already had flowers he gave them to Myra Amiel, one of the fans outside the hotel and a subscriber to Beatles Unlimited.

 

Ride On My Fast City Line

Quickly we jumped into the car (again) and followed the limousine through Amsterdam to the airport.  Near the motorway, I passed the car Paul was in and drove ahead of the limousine to Schiphol Airport.  I stopped in front of the first door of the departure hall, but unfortunately, the limousine stopped in front of the second door.  Jan ran outside to the second door to shoot some pictures, while I went into the first door and ran across the hall.

It took some time before they entered the hall, so I was ready when at last they entered.  I took a pic of Paul coming through the door and as he passed me, I said, “Paul, I have another present for you.”   I gave him two sets of Beatles Unlimited and said, “Next issue will be called Wings Unlimited.”  “Are you publishing this?” he asked.  “Yes.”

Then I heard a female voice beside me: “You should do a Wings special now!”  It was Linda.  At that very moment, I was standing between Paul and Linda.  Apparently, she hadn’t heard what I said to Paul, and I told her we would do a Wings special now.”  “Here’s Jimmy, you should take a picture of him for the special,” Linda said.  But I tried to make one of Linda, but I had some trouble focusing on her.  I said something and Linda noticed that.

“Is it too close?” she asked and she stepped backward and gave me the possibility to focus.  At the same time the Wings party was walking slowly to the customs.  We were making pictures all the time and took a shot of Paul walking with Mary, holding the sets of Beatles Unlimited in his hands. (see cover of this issue)

Before they walked through the customs, they waved at us, and then they walked around the corner and disappeared.  Exactly 43 hours after they entered Holland they left again.   They left some very happy people behind who are proud to have experienced this. 

Wings over Hollard (part 3) - Concert Review

Here is part 3 of the Wings in Holland story from Beatles Unlimited from March 1976.   In this section, the BU Crew are at the concert and telling what happened.   Apparently, they are not fans of Linda's singing.  

 Sitting In the Stand Of The Sports Arena

The show was due at 20.00 hours, so at half-past seven we walked into the Ahoy Sports Palace, and with the house lights on we could take a close look at the impressive equipment Wings had on stage.  

The cruel, sadistic, mean, vicious security men of Acket-Mojo (the agency that promoted this gig) were already flocking together in front of the stage ad telling any photographer with a flash to watch out as flashing was not allowed during the show.

We were glad to notice Paul’s bodyguard Koos right in front of Paul’s place on the stage.  He apparently seemed to be in charge of this gang of bouncers, but he knew us and had a nice chat with us once again.  

As our seats had not such a favourable position as promised (some 20 metres away from the stage) we decided to sit in the aisle right in front of the stage and stay there for the rest of the show.   At ten past eight the moment was finally there:  the house lights went down and the electronic score-board of Ahoy read “Paul McCartney and Wings.” 

There they were:  Paul in black trousers and silk yellow and black jacket, Linda in what seemed to be an undergarment that had been put together in the wrong way, Denny in a white suit, and Jimmy and Joe in unpretentious clothes.

Tuning of guitars, plunk-plunk, and some deep bass notes – boom boom – then the intro of “Venus and Mars” with Linda on synthesizer.  When Paul started singing the first line the audience cheered and clapped loudly.  As on record, this song went straight into “Rockshow.”  Paul seemed to be a little bit hoarse but that didn’t matter.  The band was really cooking.  Paul’s bass was very prominent and those deep sounds went right through your body.   “Rockshow” went into “Jet” without pause.   Loud cheers again.  Paul crooning as if he were 22 instead of 33.  “Yeah yeah yeah” he screamed into the mic.  The harmonies were not always as tight as on record (Linda?), but it sounded great, it sounded real!

“Thank you, how are you doing?  Alright?” Paul said after this long first number.  Then the intro of “Let me Roll it.”  Paul’s voice had a lot of echo, but his voice didn’t sound half as much like John Lennon’s compared to the record-version.  After the first chorus, something seemed to go wrong, for Paul looked angrily at Jimmy and Denny, and the latter walked to the mike grinning and said “That was different.” 

The brass section sounded very good in this song.  Denny introduced the next song: “Rotterdam, nice to see you again.  This is a song from Venus and Mars and it’s called ‘Spirits of Ancient Egypt.’”

 

Followed by the first alteration of the programme as compared to the British and Australian tour:  Medicine Jar,” in the other tours played in the third part of the show.  Jimmy introduced it as an “a song I wrote” and they rocked away with some great guitar-solos by Jimmy.

Paul went to the piano and went into “Maybe I’m Amazed” with Jimmy beautifully soloing around Paul’s original solo. Paul sounded a bit “husky” again, but sang very soulfully.  Denny whispered some indistinguishable words into the mic and introduced “Call me Back Again.”  Paul switched from bass to piano again and said, “Listen, if anyone wants to clap their hands or stomp, or…here’s a good tune to do it to.”

And the audience went completely berserk as they heard the song “Lady Madonna”.  Beatlemania revived around me and in me.  The Beatleiest Beatle singing “Lady Madonna.”  After the song the people shouted and stamped until the band did a small encore of the last bit.

Jimmy, who had played bass on “Lady Madonna” stayed on bass for the next song, again a Beatle song:  “The Long and Winding Road.”  Again, thunderous reactions from the audience.  Although Wings are a very good band.  It is clear that the majority of the audience had come to hear the old Beatles songs, sung by the mast himself.  “Like to hand you over to my wife over here, Linda,”  Paul said after this beautiful song.  Loud cheers.  “Thank you very much,” Linda said.  “This next song I guess you all know.  It’s from the James Bond movie.  It’s called ‘Live and Let Die.’”   This song was truly one of the highlights of the show.  Not only was it a perfect rendition, but the show element was also very prominent:  smoke bombs exploded perfectly time and in that fast instrumental interlude the stage lights went out and a stroboscope lighted the group.  Denny (on bass this time) made all sorts of movements, which gave an odd effect. Sometimes it looked like an old silent movie.  Great!

The audience got the chance to recover from this spectacle for a few moments, for full stage lights went on and the band exchanged electric instruments for acoustic guitars.  Denny sang lead on the first lines of “Picasso’s Last words.”  Again the harmonies were not always perfect, but Paul’s showmanship and the musicianship of the rest of the band gave the overall impression of the most professional band I’ve ever seen.

“Drink to me” went straight into “Richard Corey” which still seems an odd choice for Wings, but Denny’s vocal was great and everyone enjoyed it, so why bother?

“Speed of Sound” someone called.  “You’re a bit too early,” Denny said.  “Hasn’t been released yet!”  “Ja ja schon” Linda said, probably trying to speak Dutch, but ended up in German.

“Have you heard a rhythm box?”  Paul asked.  “This is a rhythm box” and through the huge speaker, you heard a soft Latin-American rhythm.  Jimmy joined in on the guitar It was the introduction to “Bluebird.”  This version, although again not perfect in the vocals, sounded much better than on the record!  Howie played a wonderful solo and got a thunderous ovation for it.  “That’s Howie Casey on saxophone!” Paul said.   And introducing the next song: “Listen, do you wanna stomp your feet?  D’ya wanna do that?”  you just clap your hands, stomp your feet, you just rock away.”  Skiffle rhythm and cheers from Linda and Denny: it’s ‘I’ve Just Seen a Face,’ the oldest Beatle-song in the show together with “Yesterday”.  Denny played the solo on twelve-string guitar, standing up from his chair, Jimmy played bass on this one, while Joe came back to add a bit of drums.

The band left Paul alone on the stage who exchanged his twelve-string acoustic for a six-string acoustic, played a few riffs, and went into “Blackbird.”  After the first verse, someone broke the silence with a loud scream, followed by other loonies who started clapping along And Paul the eternal crowd-pleaser even joined in by stamping his feet, which altogether ruined this beautiful song.  Enormous crowd reaction again, Paul strumming his guitar a bit, saying “Thank you!”

 

Then the long-awaited highlight of the evening: “Tell you what, see if you remember this one.”  The first chords of “Yesterday” followed by the first line caused an indescribable roaring ovation of the 8000 in the hall.  Paul was appropriately accompanied by a string ensemble (a keyboard sounded like lots of violins) and the horn section   A beautiful song, and as far as I’m concerned, the show might have ended here.

 

But the show must go on and the band returned.  Pau went to the piano playing the intro of “You gave me the answer,” getting what sounded like a rather luke-warm applause after the reactions to “Yesterday” and “I’ve Just Seen a Face.”  The horn section played the parts just like on the LP, which made this rendition almost perfect, but for me, the spirit seemed to have disappeared.

“Are you having a good time anyway?”  Paul asked the audience.  Of course, we did.  Then Denny introduced the next song “Magneto and Titanium Man” a good clap-along song.

Paul stayed behind the piano for the next song, which was received with loud applause:  “A song for the lovers in the audience.  I hope there’s lots of you out there, alright?” and then he sang “And when I go away….” It was “My Love.”  Jimmy again HAD to play the solo Henry McCullough HAD to play on the original record, but he improvised some nice licks around this solo.  And although Paul’s introduction to the solo “O.K. Jim” sounded sympathetic, it would not do Jimmy much harm if he had the freedom to play his own solos, he is very capable of that, I’m sure. 

The next three songs were actually the most interesting for those who knew the British and Australian concerts, for here were three new songs from “Wings at The Speed of Sound,” put together in one block.  The songs they replaced were “Junior’s Farm”  “Go Now” and the “C’moon/Little Woman Love” medley.

“We like to do a couple of tunes now, from our new LP.  And its’ call, the LP is called “Wings at the Speed of Sound” and uh this here tune is called “Let ‘em in.”  Paul said.  And there was the ding-dong bell, just like on the new LP.  The song was played well and especially the horns sounded very good, with Tony on trombone and Stevie on flute. For the show-effect Denny played drum-band tympani, which was inaudible at the back of the hall.  I heard from people who sat at the back, not strange since Denny was not standing near a mic.  But close to the stage you could hear him drum a military-like rhythm.

Paul came from behind the piano and took up the bass again.  “This one’s from the new album.  Wanna shake your bum?”  Paul murmured, “Get up and let’s see you.”  Linda shouted, “This one’s call ‘Silly Love Songs’” Paul said and off they went with a very prominent bass-sound.  After the song Paul and Linda urged the audience to stand up and dance.  Denny introduced the next song as “Beware my love” and at last there was some real action in front of the stage.  The bodyguards had to allow the people a bit closer to the stage and dance to the rocking “Beware my love.”

It was strange to see the two groups you could divide the audience in:  people of over 20 or even 30, obviously the “original” Beatle-fans, but also many teenagers, the new Wings fans.   But it didn’t matter, everybody was shaking now, old or young.  Jimmy was almost pressing his wah-wah pedal through the floor.  Joe almost broke his ticks and Denny played a great rock n roll piano.

The Paul introduced the horn section: “First of all, starting first on the left over there we have Mr. Thaddeus Richard (Dixieland Sounds).  And then coming this way from the banks of the Mersey in Liverpool we got Howie Casey (Rawhide western tune).  And then swinging to our right a bit, we have from Texas, the one and only Slow Steve Howard (Thirties music and a low ‘Thank You.’).  And then last but not least we have Mr. Tony Dorsey! (church-bells).  OK we’re gonna play a little tune which is entitled “Letting Go.”  Jimmy played a great guitar again on this one, unfortunately, Linda was not capable of a controlled vocal (again…).  The next song “Listen to What the Man Said” was played a bit too fast but Thaddeus’ soprano-sax and Linda’s synthesizer sounded great.

“Listen, we got one more song, so thank you, you’re a nice audience, Rrrrrrrrotterdam” Paul said while Jimmy was fooling around in the back playing “Blackbird.”  The last song was “Band on the Run.”   Alas Linda sang out of tune again, but things got better as the song got faster.  There was a nice film projected on the screen behind the band, first showing the cover-photo of “Band on the Run,” which later had the people on the picture moving.  IT was just a short film of the photo-session for the LP.

“See you, thank you, bye bye” Paul shouted after finishing “Band on the Run,” but everyone knew that after a few minutes of clapping and “more more more” the band would return.  And yes, there they were “Do you wanna rock a bit” and Jimmy played the slide-guitar intro of “Hi Hi Hi.”

Again, the band left for the dressing room but returned some minutes later for another encore.  “Alright you got on more,” the Maestro said.  That song was the expected “Soiley,” a very heavy rocker and a great closer for the concert.

Although the house lights didn’t go on, the audience didn’t massively ask for more, but the preservers knew Paul would return with flowers if they kept shouting after a few minutes the clapping, stamping and shouting got louder again and finally the group returned:  “We haven’t got any more songs, but we got some flowers.  We’ll see you next time!”  And they threw flowers and pictures into the excited audience.

The end of a very memorable concert, great music, great show.  But I must say one thing:  although Linda turned out to be a very charming woman, who acts very natural to the fans, I still don’t’ understand why she is in this band.  Especially her singing is below par.  Sorry, but it’s true. 

Wings Over Holland (part 2)

 This is the 2nd part of the story from  Beatles Unlimited (March/April 1976) about a group of fans that spent the time Wings was in the Netherlands following them around and talking to them.  

I’ll Be Waiting For You Baby

The next morning we were there (Jan had been to the Neil Young concert, but had not seen Paul, who probably stayed backstage).  First, we went to buy some more film (in total our team shot over 800 photographs in two days!)

Back at the hotel, we talked to the day-porter who could give us no more information than that Paul was intending to leave at two o’clock.  Some time later we talked to Koos, who said Paul had been to see Neil Young, while he himself had gone to see Rory Gallagher.  He said Paul would be leaving at 2:30. 

As I went to the tobacconists to buy some chewing gum, Joe came out with Steve Howard who walked to walk to Amsterdam’s major shopping street the Kalverstraat as Steve wanted to buy a leather bag.  We still don’t’ understand why they didn’t talk a taxi or one of the hired limousines.

BU: “Hi Joe.  Do you think we could have a short interview with you?”

Joe:  “Well we’re going to be leaving at three-thirty and we’re not going to be back until about midnight tonight.”

BU:  You’re going to have a soundcheck in Rotterdam?

Joe: Yeah.

BU: Well, we’re going to Rotterdam, we’re going to follow you.  Do you think you could squeeze it in?

Joe:  Well, if it’s possible…if there’s time, yeah, who are you with?

BU:  Beatles Unlimited.

Joe:  Well, if there’s time, yeah.  I’ll do it, we’ll just have to wait and see.

 

Of course, I didn’t get a chance to talk to Joe again, which is a pity for I had some interesting questions in store, like “Are you a hired musician of Paul, paid a regular salary, or are you a member of the band with all financial risks involved?”

Joe and Steve went in the direction of the city, returning some minutes later wet from the rain and “not feeling like walking.”  Steve took a limousine and went to town and Joe went inside.

In the same period, Bob Ellie returned with a pile of pictures, but he answered my “Got any pictures?” with a hysterical “Nooooo!”

Thaddeus went out by taxi to have his instrument fixed at Dijkman’s musical store at the Rozengracht in Amsterdam.  We also talked to Henri Audier of Bovema again who said Paul had to be in Rotterdam at two thirty which we were sure they wouldn’t make, judging from Joe’s words.

In the afternoon, the minutes seemed to creep.  At about two – Paul, Linda, and the children were in the bar having a drink.  They went upstairs some time later and Joe, Jimmy, Denny, and other members of the band came down and waited in the lobby.   Koos came outside at about half-past three and ordered the limousines to be stand-by.

 

If I Ever Get Out of Here

It seemed according to Koos, that Joe and Jimmy were fed up with waiting for Paul and they decided to leave for Rotterdam. Thaddeus, tony Dorsey, Steve and Howie Casey came out, followed by Jimmy and Joe.

I went up to Jimmy to tape some more statements.

BU:  “Any new songs in the show?”

Jimmy:  Yeah, off the new album.

BU:  New songs by you too?

Jimmy:  Yeah..

BU:  Wino Junko?

Jimmy:  That’s right….

BU:  So no more Medicine Jar?

Jimmy:  Sorry???

Jimmy was called away by someone and left me with the problem of Wino Junko, which was not in the show.  The next car was for Brian and his companions, while Steve Ellis was called back to take another car (“Every minute counts!” he murmured). 

And then there they were:  Paul and Linda.

Paul came out with his hand folded as if in prayer, saying “Achtung, Achtung” (which is German for attention).  As a girl wanted him to sign a Venus and Mars cover I walked up to Linda, so said:

Linda:  Hi again.

Henk:  Hi, how were the Danish and German gigs?

Linda:  Beautiful, really nice…

Henk:  Any new songs?

Linda:  Three new songs…

Henk:   From the new LP?

Linda:  Yeah ….

Henk:  I heard it on Luxembourg

Linda:  Do you like it?

Henk:  Yeah, it’s great…

Linda:  Great …

And then Paul (who was fooling around with a little boy who shouted “It’s the Beatles!”) and Linda were ordered into one of the limousines.   Paul and Linda were in the back, with Denny and his wife in front of them.   We ran to Erik’s Daf ready to start the race to Rotterdam.

 

And When I Go Away

We managed to keep up with the limousine quite nicely in Amsterdam (incidentally passing the Amsterdam Hilton where John and Yoko spent their Bed-in in 1969), but as soon as we were on the motorway, we lost them in the busy traffic.

We managed to get quite close to them again once, but then their driver drove past a red traffic light at a very busy roundabout about halfway to Rotterdam   When the light went green again, Erik did his utmost to overtake them in the suburbs of Rotterdam and Linda waved at us.

We went in the direction of the Ahoy Sports Palace, but they suddenly overtook us, and the driver took a very strange sideway.

We managed to keep in touch, though Erik almost fainted behind the wheel as a result of the great pressure of driving 80km in a town and 125 on the very busy motorway.

When we got near the hall we were joined by two more cars with fans and when we got to the artist entrance about 20 fans were waiting there.  The driver used an old Beatles trick to get the fans away from the entrance:  he drove past the group of fans and then seemed to be heading for another direction.

The group of fans followed the car (as we and the other two cars did, Erik driving backwards very fast) and then in the parking ground the limousine turned around and went back to the entrance.

The three cars (including ours) following the Mercedes almost collided but Erik stopped.  We quickly got out and ran to the entrance.

I managed to say some words to Paul and Linda about the drive from Amsterdam, but it was too busy to tape interesting quotes.  After they went in, we went to have our dinner before the concert. 

Wings over Holland (Part 1)

 Wings over Holland

Beatles Unlimited

March/April 1976

Written by Henk Hager

 

 

Standing in the Hall

Excitement at “Beatles Unlimited” headquarters on Wednesday, March 24:  Paul McCartney and Wings were expected from Germany at Schiphol airport near Amsterdam at 17.10 hours.

By car, we (Erik and Henk) went to the airport supplied with photocameras, food, blankets, information sheets, and a pile of Beatles Unlimited issues.  At 16.30 hours we arrived at Schiphol and immediately checked when and where Paul and Co would arrive.  The monitors showed that Lufthansa flight 090 from Hamburg would indeed arrive at 17.10 hours.

The luggage would be transported on lane 1.  We went to the doors near lane 1 and found out they were locked.  So it would be possible that Paul would come through customs, walk to the right to get the luggage, and walk back to the middle and come through the middle doors.

We noticed a small group of men standing in the hall, whom we suspected to be people from the record company, but who later turned out to be bodyguards for the group.  There were also six or seven drivers dressed in black standing in the arrival hall who seemed to match the black eight-seat Mercedes limousines.

With some attentive listening and some sneaky questions, we found out that they were the drivers of the Wings company, ready to take the group to the Amtel Hotel at Amsterdam.   They had not agreed yet as far as the fastest way to the hotel.

What struck us was that there were no other fans to welcome Paul.  The Dutch Beatles Fan Club Group had directed its members to the Amstel Hotel as they thought they would get the closest look at the group there.

AT 17.06 hours the monitors stated that flight 090 from Hamburg had landed.  It would not take about 15 minutes for Paul and Co to get from the plane, through the customs, to the arrival hall.

At 17.20 we saw a large group of people coming through the customs, steeped in the light of the group we could see Paul, Linda at his side.  Paul was wearing jeans, a fur coat, and violet sunglasses and as expected he walked to luggage lane 1 and then walked back to the middle doors.  A group excited air-hostess grouped in front of the doors with flowers.  Reporters walked to the doors with cameras ready.

 

That I would be Around to See It All Come True

While Erik went to the right side of the doors, I waited a couple of steps from the doors on the left side.  The door opened and the group of people (Paul, Linda, children, Jimmy, Joe other members of the Wings-party, reporters, and people from the record company) came out. 

“Smile Joe!” I said and Joe waved toward the camera.   “Hey, we got a fan here!”  I heard someone say behind me.  It was the diminutive Jimmy McCulloch, who had walked in front of Joe, but being so small had walked underneath my camera.  “Hi Jimmy!” I said.   I took some pictures of Paul and Linda, who suddenly stopped walking and went back through the doors, into the customs hall.

It appeared they had to do a special entry from the film cameras of Veronica, who are doing a special on Paul in May. 

While they were doing this Jimmy and Joe were standing lost and forgotten on the side, waiting for the Big Boss to get to the cars.  I turned around and took another shot of them.

Paul and Linda slowly walked outside and I was walking right behind them as we walked through the sliding doors.  Outside I quickly ran around the party and took a pic of Paul as he got into the car.   I tried to get some other shots but didn’t get much of a chance.  I had to run to Erik’s car to keep in touch with the large Mercedes Paul and Linda were in.

 

Band On The Run

Erik drove the car from the parking meters in front of the car the group was in.  We suddenly realized Denny Laine was not in that car and neither of us had seen him.   We drove from the airport to the motorway to Amsterdam.  I opened the sunshine roof of the car and took some shots of the Mercedes driving about 200 metres behind us.  When we got to the Motorway our fear that the limousine would appear too fast for Erik’s little Daf seemed to come true, for hardly had we taken the way to Amsterdam when the Mercedes started overtaking us, despite a 100 kilometers speed limit in Holland.  Erik quickly opened the window at his side and took a picture of the car as it passed by.   To our surprise, this piccy turned out quite nice, for you can see Paul is smiling at us.

The Mercedes was surrounded by some other cars.  The Radio Veronica film-team, a car from the Cine-centre, a car with bodyguards, a car with people from the record company, and a second Mercedes with a middle-aged gentleman, probably some high record company executive.

To our relief the cars didn’t drive as fast as they did in the first few kilometers, so we managed to keep in touch with the rest.  Erik’s car even managed to get to 125 km, which enabled us to overtake Paul’s car but quickly slowed down again in order to let the black-eight-seater take the lead again.  For, the group was going to the Amstel Hotel, and we didn’t know which way they were going to take through Amsterdam, and we didn’t want to take the risk of getting stuck in the middle of the peak hour.

So, when we left the motorway near the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam, we were quite close to THE car.  The drive through Amsterdam was quite exciting.    The driver of Paul’s car didn’t mind the 50 km speed limit, and neither did he take many notions of the red traffic lights.   We lost the car twice, but so did some of the other cars following the group, and they seemed to know which way the Mercedes was taking to the hotel.  Erik had the greatest trouble keeping up with the speed of the others, but he kept in touch and managed to avoid a collision twice.

Near a road block, the car stopped for traffic lights and Erik said, “Attention, we’re almost there!”   And indeed, just past the road block the car took a quick turn to the right where a group of fans was waiting in front of the hotel.  Erik stopped the car and I ran out to the hotel.

 

I am Your Singer

“Hello, how are you,” shouted Paul, waving to the fans.  I couldn’t get to his side of the car, so I waited on the other side where Jimmy got out.  “Jimmy, one more picture please,” I said and he waved to the camera again.  Hardly anybody noticed him for everyone was staring at Paul and Linda.  Paul didn’t give any autographs but quickly went into the hotel, leaving the group of about 50 disappointed fans.  

After a few minutes, I saw a man with a familiar face pushing a yellow car, just 20 meters from the hotel.   It was Denny Laine, who had come in a second car with his wife and the rest of the band.  In the consternation of Paul’s arrival, the people of the Cine-centre had left their car in the middle of the street leading to the entrance of the hotel.  Therefore, Denny’s car had to stop on the corner, and they all had to walk the last few metres to the hotel.  Denny was just fooling around a bit, pushing the car, and when the fans noticed him, he was besieged by fans asking for autographs.

Denny took his time giving autographs unlike Paul and the others.  Throughout Wings visit, it would appear that Denny is enjoying his membership with Wings very much while remaining as normal as you can expect.  Not the airs of a pop-star, but an ordinary nice singer in a rock n roll band.

 

I Feel Like Letting Go

We left the hotel at about 18.45 to get something to eat and when we got back at 19.30 the people that had been waiting there since Paul’s arrival told us that Jimmy and Joe had left in the meantime in one of the limousines. 

Paul’s bodyguard Koos had told us that Paul was planning to go out for the night, probably to a concert.  The nightporter of the hotel told us that Paul would be leaving at about eight.  And at 19.50 hours, Paul, Linda, and Heather came out.  The small group of fans waited eagerly at the bottom of the stairs.  I walked to the side to take a shot of the three of them coming down the stairs, pushed, and….my flashlight didn’t work!!!   “Shit!” I said.  “Ooooooh, shit, shame on you,” Paul and Linda said.   They gave some autographs and left accompanied by Koos.  Destination:  probably the Rory Gallagher concert at the Jaap Eden Hall in Amsterdam.   That is what at least what we thought at the time.   It turned out they went to see Neil Young at the Ahoy Sports Palace in Rotterdam, where they were to play the next night.

We went away again to have some coffee at Har van Fulpen’s place discussing some Beatles matters.  On the way back we bought some bottles of Bols Old Genever (Dutch Gin) to give to the group (Erik paid).

When we got back to the hotel the nightporter told us Denny Laine had ordered a taxi.  A few minutes later Denny and his wife came out.  I asked him for an autograph, hoping Erik would take a good photo of the two of us.  Alas, only Denny is in the picture, together with my hand.  They left by taxi, waving at us.

Who’s that Coming Round That Corner

In the meantime, we were the only people waiting at the hotel.  It started raining so we went to sit in the car for a while.   At about eleven o’clock, two girls arrived at the hotel.  They were carrying rucksacks and handbags and looked very worn out.  They turned out to be Sheila from England and Madeleine from the States.  They were following Wings on the entire European tour.  They had seen the two concerts in Copenhagen on Saturday and Sunday and the Berlin gig on Tuesday.  On Friday they would be leaving for Paris to see the last concert on Saturday.  They knew most people of the Wings company and were able to tell some things about the other concerts.

We waited for some time keeping ourselves warm with some rum (Erik had cola). 

At last at a quarter past one Denny arrived by taxi looking quite happy.  I gave him a bottle of Bols saying “We’ve got a present for you Denny.”   “Ah, genuine Bols, thank you very much,” he said.  Then he signed the Wings ad on the back of Beatles Unlimited issue 1:  Thankx Hankx for the Gin, Denny Laine.

Hardly had he finished his autograph when one of the black limousines drove around the corner.  I left Denny standing there with my mag, leaving Erik to take the mag over.  I rushed to the Daf to get another bottle of Bols.  By mistake, I took a bottle with a damaged label, which we had planned to give to Jimmy or Joe (silly, but it’s true). 

This damaged label would help me to recognize the bottle later on a picture of Paul on the cover of the Rolling Stone….no sorry, Muziekkrant Oor.   Paul and Linda (with Heather) had gotten out of the car and walked to the entrance.   I walked up to them and gave Paul the bottle saying, “Hi Paul, we’ve bought you a present.”  “Hmmmm Bols, thank you!”  “You’ll share with Linda, won’t you?”  “Hmmmm….” He said signing the ad on the mag Erik had given to me in the meantime.  He handed it over to Linda and started talking to the two girls, “Hi foreign aliens, what are you doing here?”

Linda meanwhile signing the mag said, “Hey that’s from Junior’s Farm, isn’t it?”  “Yes,” I said.  “It’s from the ad from the Melody Maker.”  They went inside with Paul saying “Goodnight.”

They talked in the lobby for a few minutes and then went upstairs to their rooms.   It must have been room 14, 15, or 16 (that’s what the staff said), anyway, it was the corner room on the street side, first floor.  The reason they came home so late from the concert which must have ended somewhere around eleven, was that they went to dinner at the Dreyselhoek Restaurant at Opmeer, somewhere between Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

 

Wino Junko Can’t Say No

At about two Brian Brolly (manager) arrived with Henry Audier (Dutch EMI) and they told us Paul was already back (which we knew of course).   For the 3^rd time that night, we started a discussion with a waiter at the hotel, who couldn’t understand why we waited at the hotel.  WE waited when at last Jimmy and Joe arrived at a quarter to three, together with some members of the band and some girls who apparently were not in their company when they left.

Joe walked right up to the door, but I managed to give Jimmy a bottle.  “Well, that’s going to come in very handy!” he said looking through his violet sunglasses (at a quarter to three in the morning in the rain).  He signed the mag with the message “Best wishes Hank, Jimmy McCulloch” signing it right through Linda’s autograph, but let’s not blame him, he seemed to be in a certain state.  

While Shelia and Madeleine talked to Thaddeus Richard we went to the car to our “night accommodations” at Ja van de Bunt’s house.  Joe’s bottle of Bols is still standing in our office.  “If you want it, here is, come and get it.”

 

Flying with Wings

 

John apparently not in Beantown

 September 17, 1976 -  Boston, MA 

Something in late 1976 at the Dakota 

Why my confusion on this photo:   I found this photo in a 1976 issue of Beatles Unlimited.  Included with two John photos (one posted here) was a story about fans meeting John in 1976 in Boston.  I started typing up the story and then thought, "this sounds really, really familiar.  I wonder if I already have it on the site."  Sure enough -- I did.   The story originally appeared in With a Little Help From My Friends without any photos included.    So I just jumped to the assumption that this photo was from Boston.  Why else would it be in the middle of a story about John in Boston, right?  Well -- I should have looked closer for sure because you all are right --- John is outside of the Dakota.   Ooops!  

Here is the story from Boston if you are interested. 

http://www.meetthebeatlesforreal.com/2014/05/i-am-boston-walrus.html

August 1976

Paul, Linda and Heather walking from the printer back to the car.  Photo by Jan Slagt

 

Paul and Mary inside the printing room.  Photo by Jan Slagt

August 1976

By Erik M. Bakker and Henk Hager

(Beatles) Unlimited

September/October 1976

Monday, August 16 (1976) Erik got a phone call from Annemieke van Fulpen, wife of the chairman of the Dutch Beatles Fan Club.  She told him that she just had heard the news that Paul and Linda were coming to Holland to visit a printer at Deventer, where the book Linda's Pictures was printed.   The first thing Erik did was contact bodyguard/driver Jan Slagt who was reluctant in confirming the news, but finally admitted it was true, but stressed that all people concerned with the visit had strict orders not to disclose anything about this visit.  Strange, as a day later the visit was announced in a Deventer newspaper. 

But to keep good friends with Jan (and Paul and Linda) it was decided we would not "tail" them on this visit.  Jan promised to shoot some pix if possible and try to remember details for later. 

The next thing Erik did was rush to Henk's place to put a parcel together with some magazines, stickers, Bole gin and a letter.  Erik delivered it at the Slagt residence, where he arranged to return on September 2 to hear Jan's story:

Paul, Linda and the Kids arrived on August 19 at Schiphol Airport, a day later than expected.  They arrived straight from their Scottish farm where they had rested after their USA tour.  Paul told Jan he had not expected to see him again so soon after the Wings visit in March.  Paul decided to go straight to Deventer.  Linda was very anxious to see the first test prints of her book.

At Deventer they first looked around the printing rooms where the presses had just started rolling, printing the first page of the book.  They were presented with some expensive books on famous Dutch painters like Rembrandt and Van Gogh, in which Linda showed great interest. 

After that, they went on their way back to Amsterdam.  Linda told excitedly about their farm and their eight horses.  Then Paul asked if the radio could be turned on.  It was Thursday between 7 and 8 p.m. and Jan Slagt turned on Hilversum 3, the Dutch pop station.  And which program was on?  The Beatles Story!  In this show, the Manilla incident of 1966 was discussed.  Heather was listening and asked Paul if it was all true.  Paul said it was true, but that none of the Beatles got hurt.  Everybody was listening attentively to the program.  When it was over Paul said it had been very interesting. 

In Amsterdam, they drove to the house that allegedly belongs to Ringo, though Ringo claims it is not his.  As far as we know it belongs to a close friend of Ringo.  Anyway, Paul had heard the story from Jan in March and had asked Ringo if the family could stay there on this visit. Ringo, of course, agreed and had even taken the keys to Scottland and given information about the house.

After they got to the house they did some shopping.  The shop servants were looking at each other with looks of "are they or are they not?"  They bought some fruit and vegetables and went back to the house.  Later that night they did a short tour of the city

The next morning they also did a short tour of Amsterdam.  After that, they went back to Schiphol.  On the way, while Jan had to wait for traffic lights Paul and Linda saw old Dutch tiles on some houses.  They were delighted about them and decided next time they would like to buy some for their farm.  At 1:30 p.m. they left for London again. 

A House Hippie on Tour

 

Richard Dilello is someone that I have always found to be an interesting person in the Beatles history.   Besides his book (which I have always had a difficult time reading) and his mid-1970s Beatles convention appearances, Richard has basically disappeared from The Beatles world.   This interview was conducted in 1976.  

A House Hippie On Tour

And Interview by Evert Vermeer/Erik M. Bakker

(Beatles) Unlimited

September / October 1976

 

During the Seattle FWCBF Convention, we made acquaintance with Richard Dilello, writer of the book The Longest Cocktail Party, on the cover of which he is referred to as “Former house hippie” of Apple.

BU:  The burning question arises, what is a house hippie?

RD:  My function with Apple was in the press – and publication office.  I was originally hired to take care of the press-cuttings on the Beatles and the other Apple recording artists.  Then my function extended to other things, to keep the tea-cups filled, to keep the drink cabinet filled and to roll marijuana cigarettes and more of those tasks.

BU:  How did you come to Apple?  Did you know anyone in the Beatles business before?

RD:  Yes, I did.  I knew The Beatles publicity officer, Derek Taylor.  And I went to him in the summer of 1968, saying “Derek, I need a job and I would like to stay in England very much and can you help me? So Derek said “I will try” and he did.  He went ahead and he got me working.  He gave me a salary job.

BU:  Did you like The Beatles music at that time?

RD:  Yes, I love The Beatles very much and I was a very big fan of theirs and I still am.

BU:  Yesterday you mentioned Jimmie Nichol in your lecture.  What do you know about him?

RD:  What I mentioned about him was that the Beatles always asked him how he was and how things were going and his reply was “It’s getting better, yes, I’ve got to admit, it’s getting better, yes, it’s getting better all the time.”  And that line became a very famous song.  I don’t know what became of Jimmie, though.

BU:  Whenever The Beatles were in their offices, what did they do?

RD:  They would have conferences, John and Yoko mostly did a lot of talking with the press.  They would review their financial status and take care of their social life and see about paying bills and that kid of things.

BU:  Did all The Beatles have their own officers?

RD:  Yes, each Beatle had his own office for a while.

BU:  What was your opinion about Allen Klein?

RD:  I did not like Allen Klein very much.  I didn’t think he would make a good business manager for them. I thought he was a dishonest person and it would seem to be that a lot of people agreed with that.  I remember George Harrison saying to me once that he thought Klein was the greatest and was really going to open things up for the Beatles and the terrible things people said about him was just not true. 

BU:  some of the wives of The Beatles used to pop around.

RD:  Very infrequently, at least Maureen Starr and Patti Harrison stayed out of the limelight.  We know about Yoko and Linda, they loved to be photographed and loved to be seen and they were not at all shy and retiring.

BU:  What about Badfinger?

RD:  They have broken up.  Joey Molland has a group called Natural Gas and Tom Evans also has his own group.  As you know, Pete Ham died.  He was in a depressed state of mind, not really because of the last unsuccessful tour of the States, as you say here.  IT was more due to the fact that they had made so much money and were ripped off by their managers.

BU:  How was your reaction on Mal Evans’ death?

RD:  I was only momentarily shocked.  It just seemed a very bizarre and sad kind of thing to happen, and totally unnecessary.  I could not understand how a 40-year-old man could become so depressed over circumstances which I would consider to be inconsequential and too unimportant to allow your life to be ruined I mean, it was nice to work for The Beatles but to have your whole life affected by that afterward, have your whole vision so limited of what the world is.  There is more to like than The Beatles and that whole scene.  I remember somebody asking Mal Evans about Pete Ham’s death at a Beatles Convention last year in New York and Mal said “I can’t understand why anybody should want to kill himself.”  I wanted to ask him how he could say something to unfeeling, as it was Mal who took Badfinger to Apple and had so much influence on them.  Two months later Mal was dead, more or less by a sort of suicide as well.

BU:  Did you know any of The Beatles reactions?

RD:  No one attended the memorial services and I didn’t see anybody’s reaction in any paper.  They probably just said, “That’s too bad.” 

 

 

This interview was made on Sunday, July 18, 1976.  Seeing that we “borrowed” some of his photographs for the Apple Story in our last issue, Richard had not given us permission to use them as yet.  We will hear from his attorney as soon as he has found one.

After Richard “left” Apple, he wrote his book which took him 4 months from December 26, 1970, to April 1971.  At the moment he lives in L.A. and he is a photographer, especially for record sleeves. 

BU would like to thank Richard very much for the opportunity to write and publish this interview.

 

 

 

Dancing McCartneys

 

Getting ready for the show

 

Meditation in India

Photo taken by Olivia Harrison