Glass Onion: On John Lennon

Following our last exploration of a biopic of dubious quality, Antony flies solo this time to explore another one which, despite having some sense of time and place, is also somewhat lacking and to some extent unintentionally comedic. ‘Birth of the Beatles’, which came out in 1979, will always hold a unique place as the only Beatles biopic made while John Lennon was still alive. Considering that he’d reacted negatively to Cynthia’s apparent rewriting of history in her book ‘A Twist of Lennon’ in 1978, it’s quite something to ponder what he might have thought of this Dick Clark-produced TV film. Preceding this, Antony offers a guitar lesson for the Bob Dylan song ‘Masters of War’ and then the song that it inspired (musically at least)- John Lennon’s ‘Working Class Hero. There are also pre-outro Easter Eggs to be found in this episode… Enjoy! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com Antony demonstrates Beatles guitar parts on ‘Pop Goes The 60s’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Y4f1efz6s episode links Birth of the Beatles film page and full film https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078865/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VpIA_87cxM Scene comparisons with real events https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAY0_CGZNRY Backbeat scenes (Prellies/Astrid photographs the band) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIpUr1wX5Rw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq3l4frmFDo The development of the Scouse accent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcpXePrrCIk Working Class Hero official video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMewtlmkV6c Saturday Night And Sunday Morning (Angry Young Man) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/B_G9niYeB8Q Cry For A Shadow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4WMeOLHp28

Ghosty joins Antony once again to wrap up our dissection of ‘John & Yoko: A Love Story’, and there is also some discussion of two other presentations from 1985. ‘John Lennon: A Journey In The Life’ is a ‘cheap and cheerful’ trawl through the Lennon story, with another Liverpudlian Bernard Hill portraying our hero in John’s own words, and ‘John Lennon Remembered’ is a short documentary featuring two of the other ‘frontline Beatles’ (sorry Ringo) plus other talking heads who knew Lennon at different stages of his life. Ghosty will be back later in the year for another documentary review, and the next episode will be a review of another slightly hilarious Beatles biopic. Enjoy! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com Ghosty’s Cliff Richard/Shadows podcast and you tube channel https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-p5kf8-10892e3 https://www.youtube.com/@GhostyTMRS/videos Ghosty on the 4Kids Flashback podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAi2NSYpECo episode links John & Yoko: A Love Story https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089380/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlTZRynp5j0 John Lennon: A Journey In The Life (1985) https://archive.org/details/john-lennon-a-journey-in-the-life-tv-movie-1985_202312 Roger Waters- Across The Universe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThSDoOpnWmc John Lennon Remembered (1985) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl9C7QXonGw Big Train George Martin sketch (must-watch!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIA_NVFnXZ8 ‘One To One: John & Yoko’ film trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxagfYjeMV4 John Lennon: Love Is All You Need (2010 doc) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3345610/

We’re happy to welcome back David ‘Ghosty’ Wills to discuss John & Yoko: A Love Story, a 1985 biopic starring Mark McGann and Kim Miyori that was very dear to our hearts, at least until we rewatched it! We discuss some of the better scenes and also the unintentional comedy and ‘TV movie tropes’ of others. We cover about two thirds of the film here, and next time round we’ll complete our review and also look at a couple of other presentations from the same year. The conversation is preceded by Antony’s thoughts on two recent John & Yoko documentaries, namely ‘Daytime Revolution’ and ‘One To One: John & Yoko’ Enjoy! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com Ghosty’s Cliff Richard/Shadows podcast and you tube channel https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-p5kf8-10892e3 https://www.youtube.com/@GhostyTMRS/videos episode links IMDB page and the full film https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089380/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pReBFeCOH8E ‘Daytime Revolution’ and ‘One To One: John & Yoko’ trailers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkjiRlTVVnQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxagfYjeMV4 John and Yoko with David Frost 1972 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg9Aovt29UQ Mark Chapman gets John Lennon’s autograph (Chapter 27 film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFUXP2NYl5c

Another podcast journey comes to an end as we conclude our look at John Lennon (and The Beatles’) religious, spiritual and philosophical journey by use of Steve Turner’s excellent book ‘The Gospel According To The Beatles’ After a brief recap of the previous episodes, Part 4 picks up from the formation of Apple in 1967, our four favourite rock gods soon discovering that utopian ideals, while often a good thing for the world, usually run into problems when they rub up against harsh reality. From there we cover the break-up of the Beatles, John’s psychic solo adventures (therapy, zen, astrology, magic) and an encounter that Steve Turner had with John & Yoko in 1971. We hope you’ve enjoyed this alternative look at the many changes that John and his bandmates went through in those crazy and remarkable years up to 1980, when one quarter of the famous foursome was gunned down by an individual who was apparently grappling with the forces of light and darkness in his head, even possibly praying to Satan himself. Like everything else, an exploration of the world just beyond visible light can be used for good or bad. If nothing else John Lennon was mostly striving, through various means, to improve his life and make himself a better person, which is something we can all aspire to. See you soon for our next podcast adventure Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com Steve Turner’s book https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22515.The_Gospel_According_to_the_Beatles?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=q7FtACTtFS&rank=1 episode links John, Paul and Apple (New York 1968) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC5bUE2d_c0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmBFFIwrttk It’s all going wrong at Rutle Corps! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8ifa3wqqDE What is Primal Therapy? https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-primal-therapy-5211136 Zen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen Alan Watts on the Zen game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP87pQ3Yb0c How to access your Higher Self https://scottjeffrey.com/higher-self-meaning/ John Lennon: Knocking on Dylan's Door https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVI7fwfwrzk ‘The Art & Music of John Lennon’ by Peter Doggett https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/798473.The_Art_And_Music_Of_John_Lennon

Continuing our lengthy exploration of John Lennon’s religious, spiritual and philosophical journey by use of Steve Turner’s excellent book ‘The Gospel According To The Beatles’, Part 3 covers some fascinating chapters spanning the years 1964 to 1968 in the book’s rough chronology. John starts to consider the limitations of fame, is influenced by Bob Dylan and starts to finally put some of the spirit of his books into his song lyrics. The lads are ‘turned on’ by Dylan and take a somewhat logical trajectory through pot, LSD and meditation, always looking for some kind of answer and meaning. The concept of ‘love’ is changing in society at this time, and it seems that more and more people are trying to find God on their travels, usually without entering a church. The figure of Jesus Christ continues to linger in John’s life in this period, culminating in one of his most offbeat revelations in May 1968 after returning from their meditation sojourn in India. Tune in for Part 4 next month Enjoy! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com Jon Stewart’s book ‘Dylan, Lennon, Marx & God’ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59593530-dylan-lennon-marx-and-god Steve Turner’s ‘A Hard Day’s Write’ book https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35666.A_Hard_Day_s_Write episode links John and George discuss meditation on the David Frost Show in 1967 (parts 1 & 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpYg2H34piw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXfkdLZLqXg All You Need Is Love in colour! (June 1967) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16IQt0bEqZI Joe Goodden’s superb look at the Beatles and drugs (reviewed in episodes 49 & 50 of this podcast) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36379732-riding-so-high What is LSD? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSD Albert Hoffman gets on his bike (LSD discovery) https://www.bicycling.com/culture/a39763696/bicycle-day-albert-hofmann-lsd-psychedelic/ Paul McCartney spliffing very recently https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtklrYCzugo Revolver: Death and Rebirth https://medium.com/the-riff/the-beatles-revolver-a-spiritual-journey-of-death-and-rebirth-e73113b07242 Religion in the Beatles’ songs https://www.huffpost.com/entry/beatles-songs-religion_n_4760561 The religious views of The Beatles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_of_the_Beatles ‘The Art & Music of John Lennon’ by Peter Doggett https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/798473.The_Art_And_Music_Of_John_Lennon Excellent audiobook about the Rolling Stones’ Altamont disaster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_76909yHfc

We kick off 2025 with the continuation of our lengthy exploration of John Lennon’s religious, spiritual and philosophical journey. Part 2 starts with more of John and the Beatles’ general beliefs about the world before starting a chronology of the Beatle years from the particular perspective of Steve Turner’s book ‘The Gospel According To The Beatles’ We go back to John’s Sunday School grounding and his always ambivalent attitude to Jesus Christ and the religion he spawned, through the school years, his ‘religious’ (so to speak) devotion to rock and roll, Stu and Astrid, Hamburg, existentialism and finally the freedom-loving philosophy and behaviour of the Beatlemania-era foursome in 1963 and 64. Ref- the intro clips come from John Lennon’s Playboy interviews shortly before his death in 1980. The outro song is by ‘The Fab Four’ Beatles tribute band Enjoy! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com Jon Stewart’s book ‘Dylan, Lennon, Marx & God’ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59593530-dylan-lennon-marx-and-god Steve Turner’s ‘A Hard Day’s Write’ book https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35666.A_Hard_Day_s_Write episode links Royston Ellis on the 1960 Beatles https://www.ibtimes.com/beatles-1960-liverpool-royston-ellis-remembers-996876 The original ‘Beatnik Horror’ article from 1960 https://www.flickr.com/photos/29873672@N02/6897934379 Jude Kessler on John & Stu’s relationship (‘Pop Goes The 60s’ channel) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbED8SRpUoI ‘Angry Young Men at the Kitchen Sink’ (linking 2 genres) https://literaturestudies.co.uk/angry-young-men-at-the-kitchen-sink/ Existentialism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism Did Lewis Carroll’s migraines inspire his ‘Alice’ books? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(05)74368-3/fulltext ‘Looking For Lennon’ documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVpyOa2Kn1Y ‘The Art & Music of John Lennon’ by Peter Doggett https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/798473.The_Art_And_Music_Of_John_Lennon The religious views of The Beatles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_of_the_Beatles Liverpool’s Anglican cathedral https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_Cathedral

We end Glass Onion’s 6 year with the start of another multi-part series, the first 4-parter in the history of the podcast. Using (mostly) the John Lennon parts from Steve Turner’s excellent 2006 book ‘The Gospel According To The Beatles’, we trace our hero’s religious, spiritual and philosophical journey through its many twists and turns in his intense four-decade ride through life. Antony also comments on his own journey in these areas, some of which overlaps with that of John Lennon and The Beatles. Part 1 looks at the first two chapters of Steve’s book, focusing a lot on the ‘Bigger Than Jesus’ controversy of 1966. This is preceded by an attempt to lay some groundwork for this series by defining ‘religion’ and ‘spirituality’ and pondering what the differences (if any) between them are. There are multiple audio clips at the start to help us along, and you will find many useful web links in the show notes below Enjoy! And see you in January 2025 for part 2. Best wishes from Antony Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com episode links Steve Turner’s book https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22515.The_Gospel_According_to_the_Beatles Jon Stewart’s book ‘Dylan, Lennon, Marx & God’ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59593530-dylan-lennon-marx-and-god Steve and Jon on the ‘Unbelievable ?’ podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COHA7qRQX5o John defends ‘Bigger Than Jesus’ in Chicago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZaI7m1xpAg Brian Epstein speaks about the controversy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsqdzC2kFeA John Lennon- God ‘video’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX7GsonWTJA Andrew Hickey’s podcast on the Beatles in 1966-67 (including ‘Bigger Than Jesus’) https://500songs.com/podcast/episode-150-all-you-need-is-love-by-the-beatles Beatles interviews database http://beatlesinterviews.org/ Joe Goodden’s superb book on the Beatles and drugs https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36379732-riding-so-high ‘The Rest Is History’ podcast about Jesus’s existence (2 parts) https://therestishistory.com/287-jesus-christ-the-mystery/ https://therestishistory.com/288-jesus-christ-the-history/ John Cleese and Michael Palin defend ‘The Life of Brian’ in 1979 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYMpObbt2rs Band Aid 40 anniversary documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6_6PzRQ9sQ&t=1s William Mann ‘oustanding composers’ article in The Times in 1963 https://www.beatlesbible.com/1963/12/27/the-times-what-songs-the-beatles-sang-by-william-mann/

We conclude our look at John Lennon as an actor, starting from 1965’s ‘Help!’ and with particular emphasis on what was arguably his only ‘serious’ role, albeit in an anti-war satire ‘How I Won The War’. He also voices a famously sprawling Beatles TV film about a bus, and there’s a film cameo and brief comedy sketch in amongst it all as well. Antony is joined once again by professional actor Ross Marshall, and there are multiple audio clips to complement the conversation. Glass Onion will return in December for 1 or possibly 2 more episodes looking at John Lennon’s religious and spiritual life. Enjoy! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com Ross’s acting page and his new film, currently streaming on A***** Prime https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6892498/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19632160/?ref_=nm_flmg_knf_t_1 episode links John’s scenes in ‘Help!’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FesTTkMcSd4 How I Won The War (filmed in 1966, released in 1967) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_I_Won_the_War John’s scenes in ‘How I Won The War’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEZFe94xpkk Our original review of the film https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com/episode-38-how-i-won-the-war-reel-britannia-film-podcast John is interviewed on the set of the film in Almeria, Spain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8u5Ct8cdpQ&t=137s John as the doorman of the ‘Ad Lav’ (‘Not Only But Also’, Nov 1966) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qAo0wx--C0 James Hargreaves’s very imaginative interpretation of the ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CTIlgC0P0Q John riffs with Little Nicola on the bus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTjP74avEpQ ‘I Am The Walrus’ in 4k (glorious!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMOrBbcoFbo Mr Creosote scene (somewhat influenced by Magical Mystery Tour) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aczPDGC3f8U The Beatles’ cameo in the ‘Yellow Submarine’ film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM8S4Y7FPMk John needles Peter Sellers in Twickenham https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpcAUdgCChc ‘Daytime Revolution’ trailer (new doc about John & Yoko) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkjiRlTVVnQ John at his charismatic peak playing DJ in 1974 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCq-kdYEvT4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_G7PN9Yovw

The show keeps rolling with a look at John Lennon as an actor, both in films and TV sketches and also in his persona as Beatle John with the press and on stage. Antony is joined in this endeavour by professional actor Ross Marshall, and the conversation also looks at the craft of acting itself in terms of styles and John Lennon’s (un)suitability for it. Part 1 reaches the end of 1964, including discussion of John’s performance in ‘A Hard Day’s Night’. Part 2 will be out in a few weeks Enjoy! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com Ross’s acting page and his new film, currently streaming on A***** Prime https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6892498/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19632160/?ref_=nm_flmg_knf_t_1 episode links John’s scenes in ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjkYjI4Mjd0 John on ‘Not Only But Also’ in Jan 1965 (2 appearances, both filmed in Nov 1964) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P2j24WMzbg Eoghan Lyng analyses and discusses John’s acting https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/exploring-john-lennons-foray-into-acting/ Antony discusses A Hard Day’s Night on the ‘Classic Film Jerks’ podcast https://player.fm/series/classic-film-jerks-2394703/a-hard-days-night Marlon Brando talks about acting and has a friendly disagreement about it with Dick Cavett https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0yo5xKqt0o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tvca0FcuSs David Mamet’s book on acting https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_and_False:_Heresy_and_Common_Sense_for_the_Actor Michael Caine’s acting masterclass and Peter Serafinowicz’s parody of it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZPLVDwEr7Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdaLhOODouI&t=1s

For our latest bonus episode, we offer a diversion and a trip back to the past as your humble host is interviewed about his and other people’s music by a friend in Madrid in 2016. Topics touched upon include songwriting, creativity, performance, recording and (no surprise) The Beatles and John Lennon. Preceding the interview are Antony's thoughts after a reread of the Ray Coleman revised and updated 'Lennon' biography. The next regular episode will be out at the start of November Enjoy! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com episode links James Jarman in action with the Gines in 2015 TTFN- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nkbYIWzLdc iAddict- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqqlttrSp_Y Antony interviews James in Madrid in 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPCHg7BOc34&list=PLJHwepa7LNQ2oXU3H7zDFwmW4iUsXHc_h&index=1 Creativity, Communal Experience & Mental Health ('Life And Life Only' episode 19 - relevant part starts at 10.30) https://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com/e/episode-19-life-coaching-creativity-communal-experience-mental-health/ ‘Lennon: The Definitive Biography’ by Ray Coleman https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52247.Lennon John & Yoko: A Love Story (1985 TV film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u_FUvmmrPg&list=PLxzkNx9uq6gjgbNne6prJSQNH6YcC0xmr Imagine: John Lennon (1988 documentary) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095360/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

We complete our 2-part look at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival concert of September 1969 and the ‘white-suited apostle’ John Lennon’s involvement in it with the highly flexible Plastic Ono Band. Following ‘Revival ‘69’, Antony and Dave Thurmaier turn their attention to a 1971 film that should be in every Lennon fan’s video collection, namely D.A. Pennebaker’s film ‘Sweet Toronto’. Antony also reads some other articles and opinions about the event (Goldman despisers, please look away now) and gets Dave’s take on a few Lennon questions that used to be regularly tackled on Glass Onion, involving reality and also a parallel universe where John is still alive (and well?...). As you listen, try to imagine an 80s and 90s where his presence is still active rather than being consumed by his legend, and Cobain gets or makes the call (Kurt plays The Beatles- see below) Enjoy! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com Dave’s podcast https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-i5y5r-ef07d3 episode links Sweet Toronto film (appropriately grainy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiSf0gY_X6k Revival ’69 trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twSK2dycpB0 Alternative John Lennon performances of the songs from the Toronto set (BBC 1963, Hollywood Bowl 1965, Rock and Roll Circus, Madison Square Garden, a Montreal hotel room) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kSnNyC3_So https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZkoXOHLxbo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeFwaWFTGYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPPW4MNZwQ8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftE8vr0WNus Yoko Ono’s Why (with graphics) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_cwuRmjhsY A Yoko pop album you should check out https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n-lSeTHdHd7gyEmlAFe6WHeKftwUgkHGA Rubber Soul film (comparison of Lennon 1970 and 1980 interviews) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB8Z1LRBmTA Cold Turkey at the Lyceum isolated tracks (a song about pain!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLfQ0bplMv8 Kurt Cobain- And I Love Her https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBzA4shGmw8 Pennebaker and Dylan’s ‘Don’t Look Back’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNIQznF6NkQ

And so the next century of Glass Onion begins. We’ve got another fine 2-parter for you, with Antony joined by Dave Thurmaier, the co-host of the ‘I’ve Got A Beatles Podcast’ and former guest of the show way back in 2019 and 2020. The Toronto Rock and Roll Revival concert of September 1969 yielded a live album for John & Yoko plus D.A. Pennebaker’s film ‘Sweet Toronto’ (which will be reviewed in the next episode) and most recently a fantastic 2022 documentary by Ron Chapman. This latter doc is the focus of part 1 of our talk, and before that Antony and Dave discuss Beatle releases of the past year such as the ‘Now And Then’ song and video and the new Mind Games box set. Enjoy!! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com Dave’s podcast https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-i5y5r-ef07d3 episode links Revival ’69 trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twSK2dycpB0 The Plastic Ono Band set (to be fully reviewed in the next episode) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiSf0gY_X6k The Doors play ‘The End’ in Toronto (video from Isle of Wight 1970) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0ewoypJQUI Bo Diddley and his riff at Toronto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X50nxR2Xz10 Alice Cooper and the feral chicken https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq9bEzADxyk John, Yoko & Zappa play ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’ (1971) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_sQLIUi0mQ John Lennon 1976 interview (1980 schtick in place) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4tAmScwAQ4 Mike Tree on ‘Something About The Beatles’ podcast https://somethingaboutthebeatles.com/2024/03/10/277-mike-tree-in-nutopia-with-michael-meideros/

Over 4 years on from our original episode about ‘Revolution 9’ (episode 25, in the show notes), we return to the topic with an audio version (including multiple sound clips) of a discussion that originally went out on video on Matt Williamson’s excellent you tube channel ‘Pop Goes The 60s’ back in March. We discuss our origin stories with the track, it’s conception and recording, some of the ‘musique concrete’ works that influenced it, the other Beatles’ reaction to it and a few other things. This is preceded by Antony’s thoughts on the new version of the ‘Let It Be’ film and some discussion/defence of Albert Goldman from a Mojo magazine special about John Lennon. There are multiple links below to some interesting work, including quite a few avant-garde pieces that may not seem accessible but do have some rewards to be found if the mood is right, rather like ‘Revolution 9’ itself. Enjoy!! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com The ‘Pop Goes The 60s’ you tube channel and the video version of this discussion https://www.youtube.com/@popgoesthe60s52 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WIuYjjARrw&t=1s episode links The original Glass Onion episode on Revolution 9 https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com/episode-25-revolution-9-john-lennon-drugs-vietnam-and-everyday-life Revolution 9 songfacts https://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/revolution-9/ Revolution 9 isolated tracks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqQ6lStuJwA Revolution1 take 18 (the origin of Rev 9) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3glcY2LQIk ‘Avant-Garde’ and ‘Musique Concrete’ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avant-garde https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musique_concr%C3%A8te Giles Martin mixes critiqued https://somethingaboutthebeatles.com/2024/06/05/283-giles-on-trial-the-reissues-critiqued-with-john-leckie-and-jerry-hammack/ Liverpool vs Albert Goldman (1988) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmQHhXRS7uU One Hour with Albert Goldman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dI8pFvAiak John Cage’s Rozart Mix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICxG_o50y2E Gesang Der Junglinge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpSO3UHKy_g The Lovin’ Spoonful’s ‘War Games’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE86UINrJS4 Luis Bunuel’s ‘Un Chien Andalou’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbBfHy2qNeA Dream Scene from the ‘Wonderwall’ film (1968) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=779ZlgO9low 2001: A Space Odyssey Stargate sequence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou6JNQwPWE0&t=57s Salvador Dali dream sequence from Hitchcock’s ‘Spellbound’ (1945) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKDmLbMrAjc

And so we complete the milestone! Scott Phipps once again joins Antony to complete their whistle-stop, greatest hits tour through John Lennon and the 1960s. Scott gives us a brief sketch of each year through a few news events (some extremely random but no less interesting) before our two intrepid heroes each pick a Beatles/Lennon talking point, this time covering the years 1965 to 1969. Thanks once more to all those who’ve been on the Glass Onion journey. My heart has truly been touched by the interest shown in what has been a 5-and-a-half-year odyssey exploring the utterly unique creature that was and is John Lennon. He has been gone from this earth for over 43 years now, but – forgive the cliché – the music lives on, and with modern technology allowing us to access untold amounts of interviews, alternate takes, documentaries and the like, he’s arguably never been more alive than right now. Glass Onion: On John Lennon will continue, and the next couple of episodes are already well into the planning stage. For now, enjoy!! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com Scott's Podcasts (Rainbow Valley, Reel Britannia, The Stinking Pause) https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/reelbritannia https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/stinkingpause https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/rainbowvalley episode links ‘The Other 1960s’ with Frances Rotunno (my mother!) https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com/episode-23-the-other-1960s-with-frances-rotunno The Beatles At Shea Stadium (original audio) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E-W26eqfjM https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058957/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%2520beatles%2520at%2520shea John Lennon in ‘How I Won The War’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxy48n7Y9xA John trips out at the Ally Pally! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z0Ph7ldFYg ‘A Day In The Life’ isolated tracks (majestic) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMRxKp81t7o The Beatles react to Brian Epstein’s death https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6wmiPIa88c The Rock and Roll Years: 1967 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpaa5w6hbOc 'One After 909' on the roof! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z79S6S7_3D8 John Lennon vs Al Capp (full version) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYxFO8o-t2E The Abbey Road Medley- vocals only (sublime!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXM77NdG_Jw Stevie Riks does Johnny Rotten https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYDMb4l8H68#

What better way to mark Glass Onion’s century than with a traditional multi-parter? In the first of two shows to celebrate our milestone, Antony is joined again by Scott Phipps to take a whistle-stop, greatest hits tour through John Lennon and the decade that made him and which he helped propel into history. Scott puts on his ‘Rainbow Valley’ trousers (see show notes) to sketch out each year for us before we each pick a Beatles/Lennon talking point for discussion. This time we tackle 1960 to 1964 as our hero goes from pure rocker to public figure and part of a national obsession. He also starts to wonder if songwriting could be more than ‘I love you and you love me’. Thanks to all those who’ve been on the Glass Onion journey, especially those who’ve consumed every episode and left inspiring and generous feedback Enjoy!! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com Scott's Podcasts (Rainbow Valley, Reel Britannia, The Stinking Pause) https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/reelbritannia https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/stinkingpause https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/rainbowvalley episode links The Beatles at the Star Club 1962 (cleaned-up, stereo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6PdWt4I7Ok Stuart Sutcliffe biographical information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Sutcliffe Lennon’s first Lost Weekend (‘The Beatles Naked’ podcast) https://player.fm/series/the-beatles-naked/episode-19-hamburg-spring-62-lennons-original-lost-weekend The Beatles at the Cavern 1962 (colorised) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfgvoNvjRFY The Hours and Times (recommended film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hours_and_Times John talks about ‘In His Own Write’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxfjW6F9R6M Antony discusses ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ film on the ‘Classic Film Jerks’ podcast https://pod.link/488613190/episode/430c4f82adc8ddb2495be860d112fbb6 Scott discusses ‘The Big Freeze’ 1962-63 https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/rainbowvalley/id/24520524

We felt it in poor taste to add show notes at such a sad time for the world...

In the last episode before we notch up our century, Antony flies solo to muse on and discuss various items of Lennon interest. In order, these are the 40 anniversary of the ‘Milk And Honey’ album, the cancelling and virtues of the Lennon-penned Beatles song ‘Run For Your Life’, May Pang’s 2022 documentary ‘The Lost Weekend: A Love Story’, the work of Mike Williams and his theory on the impossibility of the recording of ‘Rubber Soul’ (Antony gets tied in knots at this point negotiating his position in the middle ground of the mainstream-conspiracy continuum!), and an extended look at the 2000 ‘Gimme Some Truth’ documentary. Finally there’s a look at the recent Apple TV documentary ‘John Lennon: Murder Without A Trial’ and David Whelan’s new book ‘Mind Games: The Assassination of John Lennon’, both of which naturally focus on the grisly events of December 8 1980. There are multiple audio clips as ever and what is probably a record number of links in the show notes. Episode 100 will appear in March Enjoy! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com episode links John Lennon Real Life childhood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P3crKoa8tg Antony’s ‘white reggae’ song ‘New World (Order)’ https://antonyrotunno.bandcamp.com/track/new-world-order Mike Pachelli guitar lesson for ‘Run For Your Life’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMLC8Hhb13s ‘The Lost Weekend: A Love Story https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19812518/?ref_=tt_urv Tony King as the Queen of England https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx-DNpoKfVg Julian Lennon - Saltwater https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7vdP0VZ3dE Mike Williams on the impossibility of ‘Rubber Soul’ and other theories https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccEhmQ0M4FY&list=PLAW3gU1yflm_lFhOhwLoIQRXg8ZHLhevX Olivia Harrison- ‘Hello Billy’ or ‘Hello babes’? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO1Q8qkVf6c Ably House play ‘I Feel Fine’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkugg_tWV0Q What did John Lennon play on George Harrison's songs? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtd-sug3i8c Trailer for ‘John Lennon: Murder Without A Trial (on Apple TV) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnSnkvGKuyI David Whelan’s Substack page https://substack.com/@davidwhelan David’s ‘Mind Games’ book https://freepress.org/article/book-review-mind-games-assassination-john-lennon David on the ‘Something About The Beatles’ podcast https://somethingaboutthebeatles.com/2024/02/09/275-anomalies-in-the-assassination-of-john-lennon-with-david-whelan/ The Man Who Shot John Lennon (1988 documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J8aMKRZZwQ Dr Stephen Lynn squirms! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkw25rVcn84

We round off Glass Onion’s 5 year with a personal episode. Antony explores further his origin story with John Lennon and the ongoing relationship and fascination with the subject of our show (yes, it’s our show). You will also hear some writing that didn’t quite culminate in a book this year, and there’s some discussion of childhood, both Antony’s and John’s, and the glorification of it. Finally, did you know myopia was a superpower? Enjoy the show and see you in 2024! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com episode links Glass onion book intro (early draft) https://www.antonyrotunno.com/2021/07/30/introduction-to-glass-onion-conversations-on-john-lennon-draft/ Raw and melodic (Plastic Ono Band outtake 1970) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6SdkBQYvT0&list=PL4H5cduO6BifOIQ-rynn4G4ifrQFNwmV3&index=2 Gloriously weird John & Yoko (1972 film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagine_(1972_film) Birth of the Beatles/John & Yoko: A Love Story (bad but strangely charming TV films) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1y_W75_ZMA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlTZRynp5j0

We conclude our 1967 odyssey by picking up from mid-June and detailing all the main Lennon and Beatles events for the rest of 1967. The Beatles are linked by satellite to hundreds of millions, they almost buy a Greek island, the Maharishi enters their lives and they make their own TV special just in time for it to be shown in black-and-white among the traditional wholesome Yuletide entertainment. In between all this, the rather sad life of Brian Epstein comes to an end, John Lennon’s first solo film project is unleashed onto the world, and a few more classic Beatlesongs are created. We hope this deep dive into another incredible year for the Fabs and the world has pleased you. The hippy dream of course didn’t quite work but there was truly something in the air in ’67 and a communal spirit amidst the turmoil of the Vietnam War and the general madness of a crazy world. The next Glass Onion episode will be out in a couple of weeks Enjoy! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com links to Tony Green’s work Review of Peter Jackson’s ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ https://countercultureuk.com/2022/09/13/a-month-in-the-life-peter-jacksons-the-beatles-get-back-reviewed/ Facebook page with links to novels and essays https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066601250572 episode links Our World 1967 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_World_(1967_TV_program) The Beatles perform ‘All You Need Is Love’ (colourised) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_paPrw0gAUo The Rutles ‘Love Life’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukIsUd0r0YM The Death of Brian Epstein https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5D3_NSLuyc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6wmiPIa88c&t=67s Magical Mystery Tour film clip (John & Little Nicola) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTjP74avEpQ James Hargreaves tries to make sense of the film! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CTIlgC0P0Q Mr Creosote from ‘Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life’ (inspired by MMT film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aczPDGC3f8U George goes to Haight-Ashbury https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I-ThafU1e4 John & George with David Frost (about meditation) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rytubzzStM Paul and George ‘have a word’ with the Maharishi in Sweden https://webgrafikk.com/blog/paul-mccartney/sweden-1967/ The Fool On The hill session photo montage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B95SVtsBL7A The Magical Mystery Tour party (21/12/67) https://www.beatlesbible.com/1967/12/21/magical-mystery-tour-launch-party/ Sam Whiles dives deep on ‘Now And Then’ https://mccartneypod.podbean.com/e/now-and-then-history-review-paul-or-nothing-bonus-episode-125/

In this episode we start to work our merry way through the Lennon/Beatles events events of this most swinging of Beatleyears, reaching mid-June. The Fabs start off by releasing what could be their greatest single ever and then turn their full attention to creating what is surely at least their most famous album, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. We cover the recording, album cover, launch party, release and legacy of ‘Pepper’, as well as some of the other songs recorded around the same time and used for other singles and projects. In amongst all this, John Lennon trips out in public at one of the premier British psychedelic events of the hippie era… Enjoy! Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com links to Tony’s work Review of Peter Jackson’s ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ https://countercultureuk.com/2022/09/13/a-month-in-the-life-peter-jacksons-the-beatles-get-back-reviewed/ Facebook page with links to novels and essays https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066601250572 episode links Strawberry Fields Forever video (in shimmering colour!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtUH9z_Oey8 Strawberry Fields Forever take 26 (brass & strings score) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PNtvnUEjJk A Day In The Life ‘video’ (orchestra overdub session) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usNsCeOV4GM A Day In The Life take 1 (echoey counting starts at 2.10) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4txyItk5lXY John Lennon at the 14-Hour Technicolor Dream (music by Pink Floyd) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z0Ph7ldFYg Yoko Ono performs ‘Cut Piece’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFaYNusT9Cc Sgt Pepper’s launch party https://www.the-paulmccartney-project.com/1967/05/launch-party-for-sgt-peppers-lonely-hearts-club-band/ Who’s who on the Sgt Pepper album cover https://ultimateclassicrock.com/sgt-pepper-cover-art-whos-who/ ‘Paul Is Dead’ clues on the Sgt Pepper cover https://turnmeondeadman.com/paul-is-dead-clues-on-sgt-peppers-lonely-heart-club-band/ Sgt Pepper’s Musical Revolution (Howard Goodall) http://www.howardgoodall.co.uk/works/tv-presenting/sgt-peppers-musical-revolution Howard Goodall - The Beatles: A Musical Appreciation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQS91wVdvYc Cynthia Lennon ‘John’ audiobook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v97WjVEFJyI&list=PLfATtdZX-KZ6TAhRBbTdKv3j3XkxqB7Rt&index=1