Meet the Beatles for Real

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

John news from Winter 1978

I have always had these photos labeled as "December 1977" but now I wonder if they are January 1978

John News

By Jude

The Harrison Alliance

March 1978

Jerri and myself spent Yoko's birthday, February 18, bearing our good wishes in person, and were obliged by our dear Mr. Lennon himself, who voluntarily stood to chat with us on his doorstep in the midst of a small snowstorm. It seems Mr. L by far enjoys our company most when we are at our best appearances, with our heads wrapped in scarves and pursuing the "wet look" in spite of it all.

John was in great humor despite the weather, whimsical really, and looked terrific in a lovely fur jacket, white with black and tan splotches, complete with an Eskimo hood, which he wore up the whole time just to slay us. He graciously acknowledged our birthday wishes for Yoko and suggested, too, that she would be even more pleased if we delivered them directly, as she'd be along. Yoko and Sean's nanny were still a good ways down the street, likely having stopped to check out a store window, while Dad and Sean had gone on ahead.

Sean is once again a real angel, a joy watching him toddle about, and very responsive, giving us a big "hiiiiiiiii" when we said hello to him and proceeded to hold out for us to see a little paper Valentine heart he was holding. We were knocked out at how freely John let us indulge ourselves with the baby, as he usually is, for the most part, more protective and cautious with him. Anyway, it was a lot of fun seeing him and chatting with him. Not to mention, watch his chest swell as he mused over his little one. Yoko and the nanny followed after some time and seemed pleased to be able to thank us for our sentiments of the day. Again, we hoped you had a happy Yoko, and thanks especially to John for giving us so much time in such nasty weather.

Julian was in town for very nearly all of January visiting his folks. While here, he took in the "Magic Show" at the Cort Theater with Yoko, and also with Dad this time, he took in a Central Park gig by a band called "Riffraff." We hear he and Dad put the mountains of snow in the park to good use, and also that he loves his little brother's company to no end. Julian also looks more like John than ever, right down to the wire rim specs he now sports. Presently, he attends Ruthlin School in North Wales, and along with some of his mates, has formed a band which plays only Beatles numbers.

The Harrison Alliance has recently learned that John recently purchased 140 acres of property in upstate New York, and the amusing part, an undisclosed number of cows, with plans of establishing himself as a dairy farmer! This is apparently more than a rumor, as neighbors in the area have already been quoted as saying it seems a lovely idea and an effort of getting back to nature. Perhaps John himself recently elaborated by saying the family plans to use the farm as a summer place, so we are not safely assuming that top priority of this project is not his simply tackling all these innocent cows single-handedly. Somehow we suspected he really wasn't meaning to be up every morning at four a.m. to do all that milking himself. Then again, these lads of ours have always been apt to surprise us. So your guess is as good as ours.

Guess that's all for this time, except for some trivia. Take it from us, if you listen very carefully as they stroll back to the bus on Magical Mystery Tour, it may be very possible that John is singing. "There's no business like snow business", you figure it out, Lord we've tried.

Afternoon Stroll

July 15, 2011

Macca's Searching for Gateshead Guys (1996)

Only photograph I can find of Paul when he was 11 years old.

This story bring so many questions: First of all -- did the Five Guys ever come forward? Did Derek talk to any of them before he passed away in 1997? Has Paul ever mentioned these story since this original telling? And what project was Derek working on?

Macca's Searching for Gateshead Guys

No writer listed

Gateshead Post

July 18, 1996

Five influential Gateshead guys believed to have had an unconscious effect in molding the success of the Beatles need to be traced for a new project. Derek Taylor, the Beatles' press officer since 1963, is currently trying to track down Five Guys from Gateshead who Paul McCartney recalls seeing in a talent contest at Butlin's holiday camp in Pwllheli, North Wales, when he was 11 years old.

Paul remembers it was the way the Five Guys were dressed that impressed him so much, not their act. He said. "They all had on these little tartan flat caps with a grey crew neck sweater, tartan shorts, pumps, and white towels under their arms. They walked in a line across the pool and then had a good old swim. I noticed everyone's heads go, 'Who's that?' And in that second, a little penny dropped for me, and I realized the power of just looking something. They won the talent contest at Butlins that week, and you knew they'd win," he added.

Derek believes the visual impact the Five Guys had on Paul may have influenced the way that later the Beatles saw the strength in dressing the same way on stage.

Derek said he'd never heard Paul mention it before, and it only came up when they were all sat chatting about the good old days while putting together the Anthology. Derek said, "We need to trace them as soon as possible to fit them in our next project, which will be coming out later in the year." So if you are one of the Five Guys from Gateshead or know where to find them, get in touch with the Post.