Lennon Making Money "On Me Old Stuff" (1976)

 

Photo by Allen Tannenbaum

Lennon Making Money "On Me Old Stuff"

By Lisa Robinson

Waterloo Region Record

October 26, 1976

    "I haven't even got a record out." John Lennon laughed ruefully as he and Yoko Ono were besieged by TV cameramen, photographers, and well-wishers at the party given by Andy Warhol for the reopening of the New York nightclub, the Copacabana. 

    The Copa, once a fabulous nightclub in the 40s and 50s, has just debuted as what else--- a disco. John and Yoko stopped by on their way home from seeing the Broadway show For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuff.

    "I thought there was going to be a floor show here," said John, like the old Copa. "I think we goofed," he added as we watched several couples take to the dance floor, and several others surround the Lennons who for a while seemed to be the floor show themselves. 

    Ever professional, John and Yoko smiled as they posed for photos, and were introduced to the Copa's owner, who said, "I have all the Beatles albums, and they're great." Then added, "I hope you'll come back again." John, wearing a denim jacket, plaid shirt, and striped scarf, told me that he has written "hundreds of songs" at home, and worked them out on the guitar and piano. "They're all great," he laughed. 

    Doesn't he miss recording? "No, of course not. If I did, I'd just go and spend my own money. But I really don't miss all that.  I don't want to sweat all that bit on the road. I want to clear up the legal hassles. Next year, I'll be ready."

     Yoko, wearing a black flower dress, said she too has written songs and plans to record again in the new year. John admitted that he was making a lot of money "on me old stuff." He added that their son Sean, who was one year old last week, is walking. And yes, Ringo did send Cherry Vanilla, to their house to recite a poem for John's birthday. 

    "Ringo said he was sending something over, and with him that could mean anything. Then this girl walks in with skin-tight satin trousers."

     As the tension around the couple increased in intensity, John laughed. "Where's Paul? Where's Ringo?" And Yoko said that perhaps it was time to leave. "Maybe we should wait until all these lights are turned off," suggests John, noticing the TV cameras still on them. "No, let's go now," said the more practical Yoko. "Otherwise, they'll just keep them on." The Lennons then quickly exited via a handy back door.

     Missing John and Yoko by about an hour, at that party were Mick and Bianca Jagger, who arrived late with John Phillips and Bianca's sister, and look-alike Indiana.

     When I told him that Lennon had left, Mick muttered, "I don't know what I'm doing here either." Andrew Warhal's guest list quite possibly has remained the same for the last 10 years, and brings to mind the line from the film Casablanca: "Round up the usual suspects."

     Jamming the Copa Lounge were such scene makers as Marion Jarvitz Haston, Baby Jane Holzer, Egon von Verstenberg, Francisco Scavono, and more. As the paparazzi went wild over Mick, "Get rid of Jagger and get rid of the mobs." Someone shouted, and Mick, after lurking around by himself and looking trapped, left with John Phillips, only to return moments later wearing sunglasses, presumably to fetch his wife

John the artist

 

Buddy Holly '77

 

George on St. James Street Apple

 July 13, 1973

Beatle George in Row with Camera Man (1966)

 

Beatle George in Row with Cameramen

No Writer Listed

Daily Record

October 26, 1966

    Beatle George Harrison clashed with photographers at London Airport yesterday. The pressmen were waiting for Ravi Shanka, [sic] the Indian musician who has been giving Harrison lessons on the sitar, a four-foot-long string instrument. The  Beatles have included the sitar on some other songs

     The seven photographers did not recognize the Beatle at first. Harrison, wearing an unfamiliar mustache, approached them outside the customs exit. "Before you start flashing away," he began. It seems he was camera shy. "I suppose your stupid little editors have sent you out to take these pictures," he said. 

    After meeting with his teacher briefly, he went inside the no-entry customs hall to escape the photographers. Then, followed by them, he went out to his sports car. He pulled down the sun visor, then sped noisily away. 

    Mr. Shanka, a much more reserved figure, said, "George only started playing the sitar three months ago. He is getting on very well." He added, "The sitar is difficult to play."

     Asked what he thought of the Beatles' music, he said he had very little idea of what it was like. Mr. Shanka is in this country to play for the BBC.

Something was happing in Shrewsbury

 

John performing in Spain

 October 23, 1966 

Manager Klein Says Beatles Disbanded Because of Paul (1971)

 While Allen Klein was making the film Blindman with Ringo in Spain, he did a very interesting interview with Playboy magazine. 

Manager Klein Says Beatles Disbanded Because of Paul

No Writer Listed

The News Tribune

October 24, 1971

    Allen Klein, embattled business manager of the Beatles, has revealed that he lays all the blame for the group's breakup squarely on the fourth Beatle, Paul McCartney, and his in-law managers, Lee and John Eastman.

     In spite of the present bitterness, Klein has not abandoned hope that the group could still reconcile. Klein's views, couched in the hard-hitting language that has contributed to his reputation for toughness, appeared in the November issue of Playboy.

    "Paul McCartney may have a choir boy image in the press and with the fans," Klein told Playboy interviewer Craig Vetter. "But I'm here to tell you it's not real. If anybody broke up the Beatles, it was him."

     Characterizing McCartney as a selfish person who insists on having his own way in everything, Klein said he was not surprised when the star, on the advice of his father-in-law Lee Eastman and brother-in-law John Eastman, filed suit in England to break up the Beatles' partnership, but that the other Beatles were.

     "John and George were very surprised," he claimed.  "Because they were all supposed to meet in England to discuss and possibly reconcile their differences. And then Paul didn't call any of them. He just went ahead and did it. Lennon and Harrison were not angry," Klein added, "just very sad and disillusioned.

     "I think things are going to get worse for McCartney before they get better," Klein said. "People are going to start finding out that he's not 'poor little Paul.' You know, before George did his benefit for Pakistani refugees at Madison Square Garden last summer, he called Paul and asked him if he wanted to come and play. Paul said, 'Sure, I'll come if you'll dissolve the partnership.'"

     Klein charged the Eastmans with provoking and worsening the bad feelings between McCartney and his partners, because of Lee Eastman's resentment over the fact that Klein, and not he, achieved management of three of the Beatles after the death of their former business manager Brian Epstein.

     "His ego was hurt," Klein told Playboy, "And he was striking back the only way he knew how-- emotionally. Peaceful negotiations," he added, "have been impossible. We had meetings with both the Eastmans, but you can't talk to them; they just start calling names."

     Klein, whom Playboy characterized as "Rock and Roll's only super manager," is a veteran of nearly as many lawsuits as the total number of records, gold records won by artists he managed. More than 100. He is not afraid of litigation. ("Remember, nobody sues a failure; they only sue a success.")  But he considers the partnership dissolution suit a legal nuisance as much to McCartney as to the other Beatles.

     "He's in exactly the same nowhere position as the other three. He declared it gets him the same frustration and annoyance that gets them. In my judgment, the entire action was brought for the sole purpose of trying to embarrass me, is an attempt to force me out and to gain what the Eastmans wanted- control of Apple and the Beatles."

     Klein said he would like to see all of the Beatles getting together to solve their problems amicably, instead of resorting to a lawsuit, which he estimates won't come to trial for another two years if it ever does. 

    "I still think it would be better if the four of them would just talk to each other about it. I've wanted that from the beginning. If they were all to sit down around a table, and the truth were known to all of them, I think they could solve it in a minute."

     Asking whether he thinks the Beatles will ever play together again, Klein replied, "I really don't know. It's up to them completely. There's nothing stopping them."

     If they did, he would expect his relationship with them to continue. "Paul's the only one who's got trouble." He asserted, "Look at the rest of them. They're producing more and better than ever before. They're all happy, and they're now with their families. It's not how much money I make for them. They're the Beatles. They'll make money no matter what. That's not important. I just wish people could look at the three of them right now and understand why I'm proud. I've been through a lot for these guys, but it's been worth it."

Double Exposure

 October 24, 1991 - New York city 

Back home in L.A.

 October 22, 1976