I began the day by investigating this week in music history. I found that the second week of October has traditionally proven to be somewhat eventful, but for no one more than the family of the late John Lennon.
The second week of October for John Lennon seems to be a time of great milestones.
Sadly, the whole "being dead" thing makes it hard to blow out your birthday candles, and with the exception of Weekend at Bernie's, usually makes for a crappy party.
Regardless, here are some interesting events from the Lennon-Ono family scrapbook:
1) John Lennon was born on October 9th, 1940 (his "birthday")
2) The first Beatles single, "Love Me Do/P.S. I Love You" was released in England, this week in 1962.
3) The Beatles begin recording "Eight Days A Week" in less than eight days this week in 1964. The song becomes just another in a long-line of early successes, securing their place among the elite rockstars of their day.
4) John Lennon first met Yoko Ono at a London art gallery exhibition this week in 1966.
Luckily, she pointed out that even though he thought he was happy, he truly wasn't. As a matter of fact, until John met Yoko, he was oblivious to the fact that the band members had been plotting all along to usurp and ride the coattails of his creative properties. Like a bad case of mold, the doubt and distrust would eventually erode the fabric of camaraderie that held together the world's favourite band! Damn you Yoko! Damn you!!! (Alright, she was probably not the ONLY reason they broke up.)
5) Prodigal son, Sean Lennon is born to John and Yoko on John's birthday (October 9th) in 1975. Happy birthday, John. Hey, was your first son Julian invited to the party? No, that's right. Yoko brought to your attention his secret desire to ride your coattails (You just can't trust those 11 year-old sons).
6) Yoko Ono dedicated the "John Lennon Peace Tower" in Reykjavik Harbor, Iceland in 2007. At the ceremony, they show a lovely video montage played to John's signature tune, Imagine. They are later sued by Yoko for playing the song without permission.
(That statement is completely false, but entirely possible.)
In Yoko's defense, her motives over time, have been proven completely altruistic. After John's death, she refused to accept any of his inheritance, choosing instead to live solely off of the proceeds from her own music. (Insert hysterical laughter here, complete with squealing and snorting. Congratulations. You have just produced a Yoko Ono song.)
Well, that was fun, but here are a few other things that happened on this week in music history:
Steve Miller (The Joker) was born on October 5th in 1943.
Little known fact: Steve Miller was once a bandmate of another famous singer/songwriter by the name of Boz Scaggs. (Hey, I didn't say it was interesting. Just that it was "little known")
Jerry Lee Lewis records Great Balls Of Fire this week in 1957. Shortly thereafter, he gave way to righteous indignation when the media questioned him about his surprise elopement to his 13 year old cousin. His response was "Hey, I plays this here piana real good! Don't that give me the right to @*#*$% my 13 year old cousin without her parent's consent?" (That statement is completely false, but entirely possible.)
Neil Sedaka records Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen in 1961 prompting a young Barry Manilow to say, "That's what I want to be when I grow up".
Musician and part-time wifebeater, Jackson Browne is also born on John Lennon's birthday in 1948. So was the late John Entwistle of the Who in 1944. Yoko did not let John attend their birthday parties.
Robert "Kool" Bell, the man who put the "Kool" in Kool & the Gang was born on October 8th in 1950. (Celebrate good times come on)
ABBA members Benny and Anni-Frid got married this week in 1978. It would last three years, which is approximately how much of my life has been spent futilely trying to avoid listening to the song Dancing Queen.
Mick Jagger responds to what some say are racist lyrics in the Rolling Stones' Some Girls album this week in 1978. He apologizes and blames it on his collaboration with some Jew.
Al Martino ("Spanish Eyes") was born on October 7th in 1927. (This one's for my mother)Classmates Jesus and Alexander the Great said of Martino, "That cat sure can sing!"
Mama Cass Elliot of the Mamas & the Papas was strip-searched and jailed in London over an unpaid hotel bill this week in 1967. The officer who performed the search was never found.
Mama Cass Elliot collapses on the opening night of her solo Caesar's Palace engagement in Las Vegas in 1968. One of the roadies was never found.
Chuck Berry is given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this week in 1987.
What a week.
The second week of October for John Lennon seems to be a time of great milestones.
Sadly, the whole "being dead" thing makes it hard to blow out your birthday candles, and with the exception of Weekend at Bernie's, usually makes for a crappy party.
Regardless, here are some interesting events from the Lennon-Ono family scrapbook:
1) John Lennon was born on October 9th, 1940 (his "birthday")
2) The first Beatles single, "Love Me Do/P.S. I Love You" was released in England, this week in 1962.
3) The Beatles begin recording "Eight Days A Week" in less than eight days this week in 1964. The song becomes just another in a long-line of early successes, securing their place among the elite rockstars of their day.
4) John Lennon first met Yoko Ono at a London art gallery exhibition this week in 1966.
Luckily, she pointed out that even though he thought he was happy, he truly wasn't. As a matter of fact, until John met Yoko, he was oblivious to the fact that the band members had been plotting all along to usurp and ride the coattails of his creative properties. Like a bad case of mold, the doubt and distrust would eventually erode the fabric of camaraderie that held together the world's favourite band! Damn you Yoko! Damn you!!! (Alright, she was probably not the ONLY reason they broke up.)
5) Prodigal son, Sean Lennon is born to John and Yoko on John's birthday (October 9th) in 1975. Happy birthday, John. Hey, was your first son Julian invited to the party? No, that's right. Yoko brought to your attention his secret desire to ride your coattails (You just can't trust those 11 year-old sons).
6) Yoko Ono dedicated the "John Lennon Peace Tower" in Reykjavik Harbor, Iceland in 2007. At the ceremony, they show a lovely video montage played to John's signature tune, Imagine. They are later sued by Yoko for playing the song without permission.
(That statement is completely false, but entirely possible.)
In Yoko's defense, her motives over time, have been proven completely altruistic. After John's death, she refused to accept any of his inheritance, choosing instead to live solely off of the proceeds from her own music. (Insert hysterical laughter here, complete with squealing and snorting. Congratulations. You have just produced a Yoko Ono song.)
Well, that was fun, but here are a few other things that happened on this week in music history:
Steve Miller (The Joker) was born on October 5th in 1943.
Little known fact: Steve Miller was once a bandmate of another famous singer/songwriter by the name of Boz Scaggs. (Hey, I didn't say it was interesting. Just that it was "little known")
Jerry Lee Lewis records Great Balls Of Fire this week in 1957. Shortly thereafter, he gave way to righteous indignation when the media questioned him about his surprise elopement to his 13 year old cousin. His response was "Hey, I plays this here piana real good! Don't that give me the right to @*#*$% my 13 year old cousin without her parent's consent?" (That statement is completely false, but entirely possible.)
Neil Sedaka records Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen in 1961 prompting a young Barry Manilow to say, "That's what I want to be when I grow up".
Musician and part-time wifebeater, Jackson Browne is also born on John Lennon's birthday in 1948. So was the late John Entwistle of the Who in 1944. Yoko did not let John attend their birthday parties.
Robert "Kool" Bell, the man who put the "Kool" in Kool & the Gang was born on October 8th in 1950. (Celebrate good times come on)
ABBA members Benny and Anni-Frid got married this week in 1978. It would last three years, which is approximately how much of my life has been spent futilely trying to avoid listening to the song Dancing Queen.
Mick Jagger responds to what some say are racist lyrics in the Rolling Stones' Some Girls album this week in 1978. He apologizes and blames it on his collaboration with some Jew.
Al Martino ("Spanish Eyes") was born on October 7th in 1927. (This one's for my mother)Classmates Jesus and Alexander the Great said of Martino, "That cat sure can sing!"
Mama Cass Elliot of the Mamas & the Papas was strip-searched and jailed in London over an unpaid hotel bill this week in 1967. The officer who performed the search was never found.
Mama Cass Elliot collapses on the opening night of her solo Caesar's Palace engagement in Las Vegas in 1968. One of the roadies was never found.
Chuck Berry is given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this week in 1987.
What a week.
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