This letter appears on page 48 of the new Olivia Harrison book Living in the Material World, a better version of last week's HBO special (see Wyman's Slate review, from below). There are rumors about scads of letters in Lennon's hand from this period, which Hunter Davies will collect for publication … [Read more...]

Aired October 4, 2011, anticipating Lennon's October 9 birthday. Tim Riley discusses his new Lennon biography. See his author page for upcoming appearances in NYC, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. … [Read more...]

Image via WikipediaFinally, the film really never investigates the real mystery of Harrison: What was he so morose about? Now, Ringo Starr is one who appreciates the cosmic joke life played on him. He has a cheerful acceptance of life's whimsy, hiding what no doubt has been his daily prayers since … [Read more...]

When I last visited in 2008, this gravestone was still missing. My guess is that her daughter Julia Dykins Baird Lennon had it placed there after being unmarked for many years. Still a very moving place: imagine the young Lennon visiting his mother's ghost. … [Read more...]

This first list ran in the Kirkus newsletter this week, the second list got dumped: Riley's 10 Favorite Lennon Tracks"Ten is way too hard, but it's a very illuminating exercise," Riley said when asked to list his favorites. "Once you do it, you realize Lennon remains among a handful … [Read more...]

Image via Wikipedia My favorite memory of REM: driving around upstate New York in 1985 to catch encores, which could include everything from "I'll Be Your Mirror" to "Hang on Sloopy." In an interview for Rochester's City Newspaper, Buck turned me on to the Plimsouls. Favorite obscurity: … [Read more...]

I have often wondered how long it would take for people to stand up for Sinead O'Connor and proclaim how right she was on SNL in 1992, or how demoralizing it was to watch her get booed off Dylan's stage a few weeks later. Like how many years will it take for people to start using the dreaded Vietnam … [Read more...]

Kirchherr, who is 73, gave up photography in the late 1960s, frustrated by the unending requests for her Beatles images. Yet she remains an indelible presence in the mythology of pop. It can be a heavy legacy. "I had a great time sharing my memories, but I'm getting a bit tired of performing," … [Read more...]

BUT SCOUSERS DON'T READ THE SUN: Lennon's immigration form, c. 1980 FANTASY HITS: Eddie Floyd's "Big Bird," London, 2011 CHAIN OF FOOLS: Origins of Hip-Hop … [Read more...]

Image via WikipediaOverflow Chautauqua Festival crowd last Friday night for these bluegrass giants, and they reverse booted a set that made grandmothers snicker and grown men giggle. Krauss has developed into the least cloying sentimental singer imaginable, and she presides … [Read more...]

--From the Evolution of the map of Africa --See also: Sean Kuti on how the West can't save AfricaRelated articlesSeun Kuti drops new album (vanguardngr.com)The Rise of Seun Kuti (jambase.com)Femi Kuti: Africa for Africa (Review) (popmatters.com)Seun Kuti and Fela's Egypt 80 … [Read more...]

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Image by AWKWORDrap via Flickr...SO LADIES AND GENTLEMAN... ALWAYS LAST, BUT NEVER LEAST. LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE MASTER OF DISASTER, the BIG KAHUNA, the MAN WITH A PHD IN SAXUAL HEALING, the DUKE OF PADUCAH, the KING OF THE WORLD, LOOK OUT OBAMA! THE NEXT BLACK PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES EVEN … [Read more...]

Sir Richard Thompson O.B.E. … [Read more...]

Image via WikipediaNational Public Radio's On Point show with Tom Ashbrook, devoted to Springsteen's Big Man, Clarence Clemons. Thursday, June 23, 2011. Related articlesPhoto Profile: Clarence Clemons (wzlx.radio.com)New Jersey Will Fly Flags At Half-Mast For Clarence Clemons … [Read more...]