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Unseen Footage of John Lennon in New Documentary
- Posted on Nov 19th 2010 6:49AM by James Lawrenson
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Entitled 'LennoNYC,' the film will be broadcast on PBS on Nov. 22. It has also been making appearances on the film festival circuit.
Director Michael Epstein told the BBC, "The film is an attempt to look at his post-Beatles life. New York meant freedom for John. It was an opportunity for him to be just John Lennon."
Footage included in the film shows Lennon and Yoko Ono hanging out with pop art's most famous son Andy Warhol and beat poet Allen Ginsberg.
Lennon moved to New York in August 1971 and lived there most of the time until his murder in December 1980.
Also included in the film are scenes from Lennon's final live performance with Elton John at Madison Square Gardens.
Part of why he moved to New York can be seen in an extract of the film, where Lennon says, "People occasionally ask for an autograph, or just want to shake hands, which is the coolest. I'm just known enough to keep my ego floating, but unknown enough to get around, which is nice."
Although the film is approved by Lennon's widow Yoko Ono, Epstein claims that there was no editorial interference from her.
"It is the unfortunate question that is always asked about Yoko, but the truth of the matter is... there was never ever a moment where she said, 'No, you can't do that.' It was a lovely experience working with Yoko."
- Filed under: News, Television
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Susan Radzanower
It is ridiculous to say John's music had no meaning. I think what he meant was people looked into the lyrics too much and came up with wrong interpretation. Then again, isn't the meaning of music what we as individuals decide how to relate to what is being said. John loved Yoko. It was his choice and she did bring out a creative side of him.
The bottom line is the world lost a musical genius when John was assasinated. It is all so sad. It doesn't matter what his personal life was but what he contributed to our lives through his incredible music.
JOSEPH G MATTERA
1 reply to JOSEPH G MATTERA's comment
WHY IS THIS CREATIN YOKO ONO INVOLVED IN ANY THING JOHN LENNON; JOHN'S BIGGEST MISTAKE; WAS HOOKING UP WITH THIS PARASITE; NO TALENT; NO PERSONALITY;
SHE IS NOTHING WITHOUT JOHN LENNON;
YES THERE IS A SON; WHO IS ALL LENNON
THIS CREATIN YOKO DESTROYED JOHN LENNON AND THE BEATLES;
SHE IS A CANCER................
Rich
What planet are you from. Yoko was in John's life because he chose her. I'm guessing he didn't ask your opinion when they were hooking up. And they were together until the day and perhaps the second he died. She has carried on his legacy musically and politically with respect and reverence for what he represents. It was not Yoko that sold Revolution for a sneaker commercial. She tried to prevent it because it was unseemly as did the three surviving Beatles. They were unsuccessful because Michael Jackson owned the publishing and gave permission. It was Yoko who gave her blessings to Strawberry Fields in Central Park and many other expressions of peace an love in remembrance around the world. Paul may be Sir Paul, but in honor of John's memory the Queen renamed Liverpool International Airport Liverpool John Lennon International Airport. Their motto: "Above Us Only Sky" from Imagine. Guess who represented John at the dedication with the Queen and did so with grace and dignity. You don't like her music...fine. No one says you have to. Just show a little respect for the judgement and memory of the man you supposedly are a fan of. The man who picked her to be his ultimate life partner.
November 22 2010 at 7:47 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
lookeelou
Lennon and the beatles began to see that their fans were becoming too gullable and naive about their music, reading too much into it them..
also, i dont like reading or watching the beautiful people doing things together, id rather see lennon or any beatle just sitting down and talking a fan or a normal person, instead of them hanging out with other celebratie types, etc.
edwardd972
While there is little doubt John Lennon was a genius songwriter, it is also very clear he was a deeply flawed human being. He was capable of extreme cruelity, selfishness, and rudeness, the way he shunned his son Julian while not even providing for him was an absolute disgrace. When Lennon died, Julian was shut out once again while number 1 son Sean was treated as royalty. As a final kick in the ass Julian was forced to appear before Queen Yoko hat in hand in order to receive any money from his father's estate.
November 22 2010 at 5:05 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Kagome
1 reply to Kagome's comment
Jamie You need to recheck your facts On the Beatles are bigger than Jesus comment. Beatlemania was still going strong at the time! He made that comment You should check out the whole story and get it right.John was misquoted by the press
November 22 2010 at 3:39 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Kent
John was not misquoted. He was quoted out of context by American teen magazines like Tiger Beat.
November 23 2010 at 8:16 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
jamie
The person who inspired just about every musical act after Elvis..47 years later the music industry is still trying to compare performers to the Beatles..Obviously you do not have the joy of music in your life. But then again I googled your name and couldn't find any reference to you anywhere.
November 22 2010 at 1:50 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
jamie
John was simply responding to a reporters question about the beatles loosing their popularity.Leave it to the media to try and bring down every one who rises to the top.I'll bet it sold alot of papers..
November 22 2010 at 1:45 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Brian Workman
Lennon Who!?!????
November 22 2010 at 1:17 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Kagome
2 replies to Kagome's comment
John Should be remmebered for his music not his comments and politics. I know he should not have gotten involed with Yoko She was John downfall! She was only out for fame and Johns money
November 22 2010 at 12:51 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
jamie
I can't beleive all the Yoko haters still out there..Have you ever stopped to think that John could have had any women in the world and he chose Yoko...Like John said "I had only two partners in my life Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono." I think I have chosen pretty well.The fact that John loved Yoko was evident in his Song "Woman".Some of Johns most inspiring music came after he teamed up with Yoko..There isn't a day goes by that I don't think about John and how much we lost. Think about the music we never got to hear..Hate Chapman not Yoko. Yoko inspired John..
November 22 2010 at 1:25 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Kagome
@ Jamie John was already married when he met Yoko to John Had a son and a Wife he neglected! Between I don`t one song woman is anything that big John had Cynthia as a partner too so he had 3 of them! I hate Chapman like all Beatles fans! Yoko has no talent at all Yoko and does not have 1 hit song of all the albums she put out since she met John. We all miss John.
There are alot of John Lennon & Beatles that have not yet been Released Sitting in Vaults at EMI Abbey Road Studios In London. Just collecting Dust Never will be released by EMI to the public! Since EMI owns and controls the tapes! And wont release them unless John`s Estate asked them too
SJ
@jadamd Lennon's songs of the 60s were generally boy-meets-girl love songs, truly with no "hidden meanings." But once John began maturing, exploring his inner realities (meditation, psychedelics, therapy, etc) and paying attention to politics (civil rights & the horrific Vietnam war), of course his writing matured too. Songwriters can only write from what they have experienced and feel at the time.
November 21 2010 at 10:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
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