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Almost show time
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Thumbs aloft
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Macca on tape
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How to save money when you are in London
Here is a story from an obvious Paul lover from Austria who met Paul outside of MPL and Air studios in 1982. Let me say that if I was waiting for Paul to leave a studio, and Ringo came out, I sure would have talked to Ringo and I would not have been worried about missing on seeing Paul. Anyhow...the time of the early 1980's when Paul was going in and out of Air studios is one of my favorite Paul eras.
This story was from the October 1982 (issue #40) of With a Little Help From my Friends.
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This story was from the October 1982 (issue #40) of With a Little Help From my Friends.
How to Save money when you are in London
By Karin Gattermayr
This is the story of my first meeting with Mr. Paul McCartney. It happened in the last days of August 1982. We (Linda, a friend of mine, Mike from the Paul McC club in Germany, Thomas—another friend, Rainer, Jorge, Eva-Maria and Mrs. Brunner, from Beatles Information Center in Germany and I) went to Liverpool for the Beatles convention at the Adelphi Hotel. We had a table there to sell things of our club during the two days of the convention and a two-day magical history tour with the one and only Bob Wooler. On our way home to Germany, Linda and I left the party to stay for a few days in London. Not without any reason – Linda had gotten the message from Doylene (of the McC Observer) that Paul was supposed to be at Air Studios from 1st September on, and I got the same message for Pat. Here is the story that happened to us in London on Tuesday, 31 August, Wednesday, 1st September, Thursday, 2nd September, and Friday 3rd September. About the title – I saved a lot of money because I spent most of my time standing around at Oxford Street #214!
The first time I saw Paul was on Tuesday, August 31 when we decided not to go to Henley-on-Thames. Linda and I had decided on the day before to go to Henley on Tuesday, to be at Air on Wednesday, to go to Rye on Thursday, and to hang around MPL on Friday, as we had been planning. I was going to my aunt’s house in Orrington, near London, and Linda went shopping in London. My aunt wasn’t home, so I got onto the train again and went back to London Town. I thought I would go shopping but I wanted to visit MPL first, so I left the underground at Tottenham Court Road and slowly walked down Oxford Street to Soho Square. When I arrived, there were a lot (7-8) of young boys and girls, wearing Paul buttons. I slowly walked down the street and then I heard a voice, “Karin, have you got my message? HE is here! I got his autograph!” (Linda had left a message for me at the hotel). I was so shocked that I had to sit down near her on a little stone wall in the park. Linda tried to write down the order of the photos in her album because she wanted to give it to Paul. In the meantime she showed his autograph to me. It looked great, but I just couldn’t believe it at that time Paul was there. I tried to cover my fears (would he just rush by in a hurry or stop and speak to us; what would it be like to talk to the man you’ve waited for fall your life; would I be able to say one simple word?) by being very student (If he doesn’t come out soon, I’ll leave because I’ll catch a cold”). Suddenly there was a movement in the office and we crossed the street, not wanting to miss anything. In the meantime a big limo had parked in front of MPL. A few minutes later, three men entered the reception and talked there. One of the secretaries was with them. It took me some time to realize that one of them was George Martin and the other was the one I’ve waited for a few years of my life—Paul McCartney!
When Paul realized we were standing in front of MPL, he waved at us and really gave us the eye. I think I turned into a statue. I really don’t know if I waved back or what I was doing during those seconds. Then Paul walked upstairs to the first floor and George M. came out. He really was more than just nice. He signed records, postcards, and the stuff we brought with us. He told us that he and Paul would be at Air again as of the 1st of September for mixing the new Macca LP which should be out at Christmastime! Then he went to his car, posed for photos inside the car, and then was gone.
We carried on waiting for Paul. He looked so different from what I expected him to look like. You know all those photos in the past few months, but he looked even better than in those. He was so young! I couldn’t believe my eyes! I never would’ve recognized him if I would have seen him somewhere else. All I can remember is that he was wearing a brown leather jacket and that his hair was very short. When he left MPL, he seemed to be waiting for us. He laughed and started to sign autographs. I don’t know why but I was standing very near to him, and whenever he signed something, I could feel him move. When he signed one for the boys, the boy said, “Another one, please,” and Paul said, “What’s wrong, isn’t that one good enough?” That was the moment that it really hit me -- Paul was right beside me, talking, laughing, breathing – just there!
When it was my turn to give him my messy-looking “Take it Away” single to sign that I’d been carrying around for some time, I was very surprised to hear my voice, saying, “Excuse me, but did you ever get the photo album I sent for your birthday?” He looked at me for a moment, touched my hand (he touched my hand! I’ll never wash it again! I can remember his soft warm touch….), and said, ‘I think so dear, but I can’t remember properly when, because there’s so much mail coming in!” I nearly dropped the autographed record when he spoke to me and touched me. This was the happiest moment I my whole life! My brain wasn’t working properly from that time on and therefore my memory of the net few minutes is very dim. Only when Linda got him with her lot of presents, I remember him saying, “You shouldn’t waste your money, spend it on yourself,” and the photo album he wanted to use for his stamps –stupid man!
The next thing I remember was when he jumped into his car with a few byes and see-you’s. Then I seemed to wake up from my dream again. He was gone, but the memory was kept in my heart. I spent the evening with my aunt and her family, listening to “Tug of War” again and again, and in the night, I stood up again and again to look if his autograph on the record was still there.
On Wednesday we (Linda, Carol, a U.S. girl and some English girls) met at Air at 12:00. Paul kept us waiting the whole afternoon – that means he didn’t appear, and neither did George Martin. We went home a bit disappointed, but we had seen him the day before, and that was enough…for a while.
I joined my friends at Air on Thursday at about 4:00. Carol and some other girls had seen him going in, and he was “not in a very good mood” they told me, but we kept on waiting. During the afternoon a lot of people went in and out, and suddenly, I thought that the man coming out was familiar to me. He stopped outside the door, looking right and left, when I said to Carol, “that’s Ringo!” Then he passed by, leaving us staring at him with open mouths. Ringo was joined by Barbara and two men. Two of the girls followed him to the other side of the street and talked to him, but I was afraid I’d miss Paul if I’d left and followed Ringo. But I can say that I was really shocked. I’ve been to England 15 times without seeing anyone, then suddenly I’d seen Paul, Ringo, Barbara Bach and George Martin!
Paul came out much later. Carol and I saw him first again. This time I was standing in front of him and just stared, with my photo album to be autographed. When he signed it, he looked at me and grinned. I was wearing my “Ebony and Ivory” outfit – he must’ve realized that I was waiting for him again! He signed my book with my pen (I haven’t used it since then!) When he first noticed the photo in the book, the same as on the back of the “Secret Friend” single, he said, “Yeah, that’s me!” And silly fool that I was, my answer was “yes!” After chatting more, he said that he had to go now, but we begged him for another photo. So he posed for it, but as he’s a very quick moving person, he jumped around after the photo and nearly jumped into a man holding an ice cream cone! It looked so funny, the man trying to save his ice cream and Paul trying not to crash into it. Paul said “sorry” and he was off again. But I had seen him another time –a great feeling.
Friday was our last day in London. I was with my aunt in the morning, doing a cone for James to be filled with sweets (an Austrian tradition, to give kids a “sweet start” in school). I reached Air (and Linda and Carol) at 12:15. We expected Paul to come at 1:00. At 1:15 the car (number MPL 900) appeared and Paul got out. Linda wanted to give him a bootleg she’d bought in Liverpool to sign. He nearly did it, then realizing what kind of record it was, he turned to her and said, “What’s THAT?” She said, “A bootleg of yours. Would you sign it please?” “No, not this one!” She later asked him if he wanted to have the record, but he said no. We were told that he was collecting his own bootlegs. He talked to us some more, posed for photos again, til the moment a lot of young girls recognized him and blocked his way. He didn’t seem to appreciate the crowd around him, so he headed for the studio. George martin had gone in 20 minutes before him, with his bike. Even if he wasn’t in a good mood and he’d hurried into the building, I love him a lot. The way he looks, his willingness most other times to pose for photos, his way of walking, and just the way he smiles and looks at you ca take your breath away. Anyway, he left us waiting there til half past 7 when we found out that he used the exit at the back of the building to leave. Most of the people waiting for him were angry but I couldn’t be. He’d been so nice before, why should we bother him if he didn’t want us to? I was happy enough to have seen him 3 times in those 4 days and I appreciate it more than anything else in my life.
So, whenever you’re in London and you’re trying to save some money, then stay in front of Oxford Street #214, and if you’re as lucky as I was, you’ll catch him and maybe have the same great experiences as I had.
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Help from my friends
As I am sure you all know by now, this photo was posted on Miss Tammy's Beatles photo blog. Kevin from WGYTTN sent me this information about the photo:
"This photo of John Lennon and Yoko Ono was taken outside the Sherman Grinberg Film and Tape Library in NY the Friday before John was Murdered. Pic was taken by the building maintenance guy in the hallway outside of Sherman Grinberg Film and Tape Library at 630 9th Ave,NYC Dec 4th 1980" James Smith
The question still remains: who is the girl posing with John and Yoko and who is the man trying to photobomb this photo?
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The red jacket
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| photo scanned from "The Recording of Sgt. Pepper's" book from Tracks |
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What happened here?
Why does it look like Ringo has passed out on the floor or something?
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Another red jacket
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Meeting Paul---What a high
Here is another story from the glory days of meeting Paul McCartney outside of Air Studios in the 1980's. This one was written by Linda Lampo. It was taken from the October 1982 issue of "With a little help from my friends."
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Here is the same story that she wrote for Beatlefan.
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| Photos by Tommy Lampo |
Here is the same story that she wrote for Beatlefan.
What a high
By Linda Lampo
On September 23rd, I went over to Air Studio. I told my husband I wanted to ask the guard if Paul was expected today. After mentioning to him that this was my first trip over here, he told me that Paul was upstairs already and he’d been there all week, coming and going. He told me to come back around 6 in the evening.
So back I came about 5:00. I met some very nice English girls, one named Cathy, and a few American girls were there. One of the girls told me Paul had signed a couple autographs around 10 in the morning and was very happy. She also saw him and Linda the day before at Abbey Road studios. As we were waiting, people coming out of the building kept saying, “Are you waiting for Mr. McCartney?”
Cathy told me Linda was excepted back anytime from dinner, so we waiting in the front of the building. I’d heard Paul sometimes comes around the back.
About 5:30, in the rain, someone yells, “Here comes Linda!” She was nice, believe it or not, signed a couple of things and went in. I couldn’t get near her, but took a photo from the side. She had on a red outfit.
After 6:30 p.m. someone says to me, “Here he comes!” I looked inside toward the elevators and Paul was walking toward me arm in arm with Linda, fixing his tie, looking right at me. The other girls were on the other side of the door, really giving me a chance to see him. One thing I noticed was Paul being so thin and having such big eyes. He was wearing a green suit and the same tie he wore to Mike’s wedding. I went up to him and asked if he could sign my picture and if my husband could take his photo, but as I said that, my husband already had taken it. Paul said, “He’s already taking the picture!” and laughed! Then as he was about to sign, John Hammel said they were in a hurry, and to “come back tomorrow, we’ll be here!” Paul looked at me and also said something like “I’ll be here tomorrow.” As they went to their car around the corner, I took a photo of Paul and Linda in the crowd. Everyone had gifts for them but it made no difference as John hurriedly rushed them off.
The next day, the 24th, started off nice weather-wise and then the rain came. But it didn’t seem to matter as I saw Paul again. This time he came alone, around 2:00, and on Linda’s birthday too. He had on his famous Army jacket, and when I saw him coming around the corner, I quickly ran up to him. He signed a few photos for others, and then I gave him one to sign. As he signed, I gave him a gift I’d made, a guitar out of ceramic clay. I said to him that I’d made it and he said, “Oh, I like that.” Just then my husband took a photo of him, and he said to me, “Is he with you?” And I said, “That’s my husband, the photographer.” Paul said, “Oh, your hubby!” The Paul shook my husband’s hand, which was a nice gesture, and said to me, “You’re got the autograph, he took the snap, and I got the guitar!” We all laughed at that.
We said thanks and he went along to sign one more photo for another fan, and we took a photo of that. He told us he had to get to work. We waited for some time for him to come back out, but eventually learned he’d gone around the back.
The last time we saw him was on the 28th, when we got to the corner about 1 or 1:30. I waited on the other side of the street in order to see Paul’s silver Volvo coming (MPL 100 is his license number). All of a sudden, I saw girls moving around, and spotted Paul’s car. I ran across the street telling the girls, “Here he comes!” There were only 3 girls waiting this time, what a break.
One girl had her baby with her. Paul stopped and said to her, “Is that your baby?” He started saying “goo-goo, ga-ga” and we all started laughing. One of the other girls wanted something signed, but he said, “Maybe later” and started walking away. Suddenly he turned around, his eyebrows raised, and he said hello to me! He’s so charming, and I’ll never forget when I met him. We were lucky because the 3 days we saw him were the only days he came to the studio, we discovered later. He had on his famous Army jacket the last day again, and also he came alone. I noticed his hair being so gray now, but he’s still very handsome. Another thing was, it stopped raining each time we saw him. Very strange!
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Do the Beatles do the dishes?
On June 3, 1973, John and Yoko were at the International Feminist Planning Convention at Lesley College. They were present because Yoko had been asked to perform. I am not sure if John had also been asked to perform with Yoko or not, but I would guess that the students hoped to see a performance by both of the Lennons.
Danny Schechter interviewed the couple that day, and it is the first time I heard John talk about cooking. This was a three years before the househusband years and John baking bread were in full swing. I thought it was funny that Danny ask John if the "Beatles did dishes." Three years after the break-up, John no longer considered himself as a Beatle and gave some sort of a flip answer to the question and Danny just moved on to the next thing and pretended like he didn't say the "B word." Haha!
Here is the interview. It was new to me.
http://www.theamericanrevolution.fm/3/post/2012/10/wbcns-danny-schechter-interviews-john-lennon-and-yoko-ono-june-3-1973-a-rare-give-peace-a-chance-and-the-national-lampoons-lennon.html
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Double denim Lennon
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50 Years of Hard Day's Night
Believe it or not, 50 years ago today the Fab 4 started to make the movie, "a Hard Day's Night." It is a movie that I am sure all of us have seen countless times. It still makes me laugh, even 50 years later.
If you have any special memories of A Hard Day's Night that you would like to share with the blog, please email me at Starshyne9@yahoo.com
Things to think about
--Did you see the movie at a local theater in 1964?
--How many people were there?
--who went to the movie with you?
--- did the theater have a special event to go along with the movie?
--What was the reaction of the people in the theatre during the movie? (screaming, crying, recording it, fainting, singing along?)
--what was YOUR reaction?
--How often did you see AHDN in 1964?
If you area 2nd-3rd generation fan
--when did you first see AHDN?
--could you understand the accent?
--what did you think of the movie the first time you saw it?
I will be writing an article about fan's memories of A Hard Day's Night for the blog similar to how I did for the Ed Sullivan Show. I will be including some of my memories about the movie. I look forward to reading all of you answers.
Peace and Love
Sara S.
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one hand in my pocket
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| found at fab4info |
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Ringo Starr in New Zealand
I knew that Ringo had made several commercials for Japan over the years, but I had no idea that one that he made in 1986 was actually recorded in New Zealand!
This story was written by Wayne Falconer and appeared in the January 1986 issue of "With a little help from my friends."
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This story was written by Wayne Falconer and appeared in the January 1986 issue of "With a little help from my friends."
Ringo Starr Back in New Zealand
By Wayne Falconer
Part one—First Sighting
Out here in New Zealand, our weather is the opposite to what I imagine it’s like for the majority of people reading this. That is, our Christmas takes place during summer, so that’s when we tend to take our annual holidays (which make it a long hot festive season).
This year I’d just returned from 3 weeks away, to the prospect of another thrilling year at work. I’d spent the morning in culture-shock, trying to adjust to being cooped up inside again, when, just before lunch, I received a phone call from my friend Mike. He was calling to ask if I’d seen the clipping in that morning’s paper, saying that Ringo was flying in to Auckland today to shoot an advertisement for a Japanese soft drink firm.
As you can imagine, the news totally stunned me, as Beatles don’t make a point of dropping by here very often (once about every 20 years on average!). My mind was working overtime trying to figure out a way to get to Auckland as I’d spent all my available cash and payday was 2 weeks away. I spent that lunchtime in a dream as I wandered about when by pure luck I bumped into Mike in a record shop. He’d obviously been thinking too as he came up with a kind and extremely generous answer. He could not go due to work commitments so he would lend me the money to cover the journey and expenses. I couldn’t believe how kind he could be as this meant there was now a good chance of seeing Ringo. To cut a long story short, the only available transport was on the overnight bus so that evening I turned up at the bus depot and I was away. My head was still reeling at the suddenness of it all – that very morning I had turned up at work bleary-eye and now I was off to try and meet Ringo in the same evening. As Ringo once said, “Time and tide wait for no man, but at least you can move your deck chair up the shore!”
After an uncomfortable sleepless night, the bus finally pulled into Auckland. I staggered off to the hotel that the paper said Ringo would be staying at and sat down on a bus stop seat across the road from the hotel. It was 6:30 in the morning and people were starting to file to work.
I stared across the road. The hotel had a large courtyard with two doormen on duty, who, I thought to myself, would be there to try and keep people like me away. As it happens, I ended up making good friends with them and they were two of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. In fact one of them, James, happened to be a drummer himself, and although in his early 20’s,was a big admirer of our old pal Ringo!
So by lunchtime I had approached James and Mark (the doormen) and had established a friendly relationship with them. They told me Ringo had gone out that morning at 6:00 to do some filming but had come back and was spending the whole day inside at the hotel pool. Apparently the day before, he walked into the reception area and asked, “Have you got a room for me?” Obviously they did, and James got to carry his bags up to the room with them. When they got up there Ringo tried the bell which wasn’t working properly, so he called to James to ask if that was how it should have sounded. “No,” said James, “It should go bzzzz…bzzzz, Mr. Starkey.” Ringo was in good humor and looked good according to James, so my excitement at the prospect of seeing him was high. It was invaluable knowing from the doormen if Ringo was in or out, so now that I knew he would be in all day, I tried to arrange a place to stay with the local Beatle “collectors,” a couple of whose phone numbers I had. Luckily a chap called Ross very kindly had a spare room in his flat so he met up with me after work and we went to his place. Ross was keen to meet Ringo too so after sharing all my information we decided to be at the hotel at 5:30 the next morning.
We turned up in the cold light of day and stood at street level in case the car should come out of the basement car park. I had a word with James and Mark and they said Ringo hadn’t left as yet, so at least we were in time. The minutes slowly passed, and each time there was a movement at the doors, our hearts would leap, only to be let down a second or two later. Ross said he would only stay until about 8 as he had to go to work. I suggested that the work would still be there tomorrow and Ringo isn’t here in New Zealand every day, but he still felt he had to go.
About 20 minutes later, a professional photographer turned up on the footpath as well. I said hellos and asked if he was waiting to get a picture of Ringo. He said he was, then about five minutes later a black limo pulled into the courtyard. We asked if it was for Ringo but the driver said he couldn’t say, “Is it worth waiting around to see?” the photographer asked. “It could be,” the driver smiled.
Great—I thought, but at that, the photographer left!?!?! Then there was a movement of people behind the big glass hotel doors and there, without a doubt, I saw Ringo! In that instant I felt and knew all the waiting was worthwhile. “It’s him!” I said to myself, and started walking up from the footpath.
Ringo came out with Barbara, and their secretary, and walked the short distance across the courtyard to their waiting car. He looked excellent and wore a white pattern shirt, black trousers and those ever-present sunglasses. He looked a little sleepy, and continually fluffed up the back of his hair as he walked. He still has that casual walk, with his back slanting backwards, and slow measured steps. I took a couple of distant photos as I walked up, but he had reached the car before I got up to him, so I didn’t push the point by calling out or knocking on the door. His beard was fully dark black again (obviously tinted and better for it I say, although I still prefer his recent clean-shaven look). It was so great to see him, and even as he drove away to the filming. I was hoping that I would see him again. James told me that he was expected back around five that evening, so I went for a walk and saw “The Goonies”. I rang Ross and told him about my good fortune, and made sure he came down after work. I spent the rest of the day in a joyful and contented state at having just seen Ringo after nearly 22 years of waiting.
Part Two – Second meeting
I arrived back at the hotel at 3 that afternoon, just to be sure. The guys at the door told me that I could wait outside the actual hotel foyer if I could keep it relatively “cool’ and not attract the attention of their superiors. Boy was I pleased. All that standing around outside is more tiring than I could have imagined, and I tip my hat to those who have lasted for days. I sat down in the gust chairs and settled in for the duration. By chance, a couple I knew from Wellington had booked in the hotel for a short holiday, so when an “official” eventually came and asked me what I was doing there, I could say I knew someone in the hotel and was waiting for them. This actually saved the situation for me, and I was allowed to say, although with occasional wary glances from the officials. Being inside was essential. I had decided, as Ringo moved so quickly from the car to the hotel that any chance to stop him outside would be lost.
A couple of hours passed, till Ross eventually showed up after work with a young Beatles “collector” (this is what they now want to call themselves – I still think of myself as a “fan.” I am more interested in the Beatles as people and their careers than in things for the 60’s or spinoffs; still I’ve collected a lot of stuff as well. What’s in a name?) Having 3 of us there was making things a bit more difficult, especially as the younger guy was attracting a bit of attention through being a bit loud. By 6:30 we were starting to think that perhaps Ringo had gone straight on to dinner, and we decided that if he wasn’t here by 7, we would have to call it a day and leave. Then, at around 6:45, a black limo pulled up right outside the doors, and with my heart in my mouth, there again was Ringo getting out. The other two had albums to be autographed, whilst I decided to concentrate on getting photos of the occasion. He came through the doors and I took a picture. He was wearing the same gear as in the morning, with the addition of a magnificent Japanese rising sun hat (this must have been given to him by the firm during the day).
The other two presently their albums which he signed nicely, without comment. As no one was saying anything, I asked him, “How did the filming go today Ringo, all right?” He replied in a really heavy drawl, “It went just great.” I managed to get a couple more photos and then he sauntered off to the lifts. He had a handkerchief in his hand was snuffling into it as he walked away. I was ecstatic at getting to talk to him and seeing him up close again! His walk was so familiar, yet I was seeing it for the first time in real life. He is just so laid back.
Overnight his cold worsened, and James at the door said a doctor had been called. Apparently Ringo had a high fever and was ordered to stay in bed for at least a day and a half. I was due to go home the next day, so I was really lucky at seeing him twice the day before. I went downtown to get my photos developed, and as I looked at them, I looked up and there right before me was Barbara! What a shock to see her! I asked if I could take a photo. She was extremely nice, and didn’t’ mind a quick one. I waited for the flash to charge, I said that I heard Ringo wasn’t too well today. She said, “No, he isn’t.” Then she gave a little wave said “Hi” for the picture, so I thanked her and let her go on her way. She’s really a nice person, and seems very friendly.
I had to leave the next day with Ringo still in bed sick but here are some more bits of information I was able to get about his visit. He arrived here at Auckland on Monday, January 13, 1986 and left Tuesday the 21st. his breakfast habits are still reassuringly down to earth – from James I found out that for the first 2 days he had bacon and eggs, tea and toast one morning, and scrambled eggs, 6 croissants and tea the other. You couldn’t get much more homey, really. One day at 4:00 he ordered 3 gins, sandwiches, smoked salmon, vegetable salad, lamb, mineral water and soup. Apparently he did most of the filming for the ad on a yacht. The sun was scorching during his stay, so perhaps the rapid change in temperature from England to NZ accounted for his illness, especially being exposed to the heat for most the day on a boat. James also had an excellent bit of luck, as set out in this extract from a letter he sent me, “Did you know I actually to meet Ringo on the day he left? The chauffeurs were waiting to leave at 9:25a.m., yet Ringo didn’t ever get out of bed until 9:45a.m.! I met him while he was eating breakfast, but it was ridiculous to ask to get a photo, he’d just about crawled out of bed. Anyway, I gave them a carnation and showed him a photo of my drums. He said, “Ahh.. the old Loooodwigs!” When he came down, a freelance photographer was taking photos. I managed to get in one. An even better coup was this. The other porters, for a surprise, got my drum autographed. It said, ‘To James B. drumming is my madness, yours, Ringo Starr.” I was totally shocked! I heard through the grapevine that he’s planning a new solo album, and he’s still friendly with Paul and George. The morning after he had signed my drum, as they got in the car, his secretary pointed out that I was the drummer. Ringo looked out the window, pointed at me, and waved thumbs up! God, I don’t know when I came back down to earth!”
In finishing, I’d just add that Ringo may be a granddad now, but he looks like he hasn’t aged in ten years. He looked like he does in his photos, and despite a bit more grey in his “grey streak”, he still has a full dark head of hair and looks terrific! So look out for that soft drink advertisement on TV, particularly in Japan!
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Relaxing for just a moment
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| Much thanks to Kevin at WGYTTN |
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Maharishi on parade
Sometimes I just come across some strange items. Here is something interesting...it appears that the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was in a parade in July 1968 someone in America. Maybe it was a 4th of July parade? But there he is, just four months after half of the Beatles left him. I would have gone out and seen Maharishi just to see the guy that the Beatles were with in India.
He just seems so out of place in a parade. And he is holding a sign with his name on it. I wonder what those people on the side are thinking?
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His only American tour as a soloist
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John's goofy grin
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The World's oldest Beatles fan--remembering Tony Sak
Thanks to Exclamation Mike! for sending me the video that gave me the idea to research this story.
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| John Lennon's uncle Charlie with Tony Sak and the Beatles guitar |
Some of you might remember Tony Saks. Maybe you were one of his students that took guitar lessons from him in the 1960’s or 1970’s in Virginia Beach, Virginia at “Tony Sak’s Guitarland.” Or maybe you met this zany character at a Beatles convention in the 1970’s or early 1980’s. You might have paid Tony a few bucks and got a Polaroid taken holding his “Beatles guitar.” Many people remember Tony Saks as being a friendly, eccentric man who loved the Beatles and would talk about them to anyone who was willing to listen.
On February 9, 1964, back at the Plaza Hotel after the Beatles first performance on the Ed Sullivan Show, a California Rickenbacker guitar dealer named F.C. Hall brought out some guitars to show the Beatles (in hopes of them purchasing them). His friend, Tony Saks went along with him to help demonstrate the new line of guitars. At the time, Tony was in his 50’s, but he automatically liked the four guys from Liverpool and became a Beatles fan. One of the guitars the Beatles had tried was a 1964 Fireglo Rickenbacker model 365. The decided against getting the guitar, but a wise Tony Sak asked Mr. Hall if he could purchase it since the Beatles did not want it.
Tony had a plan for this guitar that had been played by the Beatles (Tony said that all four Beatles played this guitar, but really I do not see why Ringo would have played it). Tony was going to get all four of the Beatles to autograph the guitar.
Tony is a persuasive man and he got in touch with Derek Taylor and made a deal to get the autograph on September 13, 1964 at the Holiday Inn in Baltimore, Maryland. Tony had a great idea as to how he was going to seal the Beatles famous signatures onto the guitar. He came armed with gold tape that is typically used for adding a name on a Bible cover. Derek Taylor tells what happened next in his impossible to own book, Fifty Years Adrift
'He brought with him his wife, a guitar, some gold leaf and a request/instruction for me to get the guitar signed by all four Beatles. They were to write with a hard pen through the strips of gold leaf, so that he would have a guitar signed in gold. Desperate to do right by Tony Saks, a man of incredible energy and persuasiveness, I somehow managed to wake each of them... and after handing each of them an Orange Juice, handed them a pen and gently urged them to sign, through the strip of gold leaf, their famous golden names. I had many difficult duties, some of them more bizarre than others; this however was one of the easiest because it was so outrageous. In the depths of early awakening, they dutifully gripped the ballpoint pen and Tony Saks got his 'gold guitar'.
Guitar students from as early as 1965 vividly recall seeing the signed guitar each week during their lessons. Tony soon started to consider himself to be the “World’s Oldest Beatles fan.” He would take his signed Beatles guitar, Beatles Remco dolls and photos of his wife with the Beatles with him to record shows and Beatle conventions and talk to fellow fans. He would let fans hold the guitar and pose for a photo (for a small fee of course) and he gave out postcards of the guitar. Tony was proud to be a Beatles fan and he was proud of that guitar.
In 1984, when Sotherby’s of New York had their first huge Beatles auction, and auctioned of many of John Lennon’s belongings, including his psychedelic Rolls Royce, Tony was there to see the action and be with the fans. As seen in a video from the 1982 Beatlefest in Los Angeles, Tony had a passion for the Beatles and would get emotional when talking about John.
Tony Sak passed away in 1987, leaving the famed Beatles guitar in his will to his daughter. She hung onto the guitar for 10 years and then through Bonham’s auction house in 1997, auctioned it off for an unknown amount. No one is quite sure where the guitar is today, but many speculate that it was bought by a collector in Japan and is either in a museum in Japan or in a private collection.
There has been some speculation that the autograph on the guitar is not genuinely signed by the Beatles, but was signed by Neil Aspinall. Tony was not present when the autographs were signed, as he gave the guitar over to Derek Taylor, who went to the Beatle rooms and had them sign it. It is possible that none of the Beatles themselves signed that guitar and it is Neil’s work on the guitar instead. I am sure it is much more difficult to authenticate a golden signed guitar than it is a piece of paper, and since the exact whereabouts of the guitar are currently unknown, we will not know the truth. I am certain that Tony believed that the guitar was signed by the four Beatles and that he had the one and only guitar signed by the four Beatles. (There was a guitar signed by three of the Beatles, and one signed by the Beatles and other British groups, but as far as history knows Tony’s guitar was the only one in existence that had the signatures of just the four Beatles).
For the sake of Tony’s memory I really hope Neil didn’t sign it and it is a true signed guitar by John, Paul, George and Ringo.
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Brian helps with the fan mail
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