John Lennon was born during the bombing of Liverpool in WWII. He came into this world in the middle of some of the worst violence of the last century and he left through violence.
The CW—conspiratorial wisdom—is that John Lennon was murdered by agents of the Reagan Administration who knew what their plans were for Central America in the early 80s when Lennon emerged from reclusion and did not want Lennon interfering with their anti-communist crusade as he had with Nixon’s in Vietnam.
It does not matter why Lennon was killed because nothing will change that fact. However, had he lived, we may well be living in a different world now. The same could be imagined if Bob Marley, who died in May 1981, had lived.
A couple of months ago I wrote a post espousing my theory that we would not have a president Barack Obama today had Michael Jackson’s influence not been felt in America especially for the last three decades.
The same is true with Lennon. Had Lennon lived he would most likely have focused first on his music and being a father. He had a young son to raise and an older son to get to know.
If memory serves, Lennon said in the Playboy interview that he had plans to do new versions of “She Loves You” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand”. “Milk and Honey” would have had some new songs and he would surely have worked with a wide variety of musicians. He would have appeared on the 1981 Grammy’s to universal adulation.
The Beatles would have certainly re-united for the Anthology albums and, chances are, they may have re-united for new Lennon and McCartney collaborations and Harrison compositions from their matured perspective to help us look back at the 60s and project those values of peace and love throughout the 80s, 90s and now on an album or two or more and perhaps even a handful of performances—especially in Liverpool and maybe Hamburg—almost always for a worthy cause.
Perhaps Lennon would have teamed with his son Julian. Perhaps Julian would not have even pursued a career had his father lived.
He may have worked with Oliver Stone on a film project or two. He almost certainly would have performed at the big anti-nuclear rally in Central Park in June 1982 that Dennis and I attended.
Had Lennon lived, he and McCartney would have been able to snatch their songs away from Michael Jackson and we’d be spared the abuse of Beatles’ songs by Target and whatever credit card/bank that commercial is for.
But Lennon’s greatest effect may have been politically. If Lennon had avoided politics, America’s involvement with the Contras would have ignited his awakening. A benefit concert for CISPES seems appropriate, where Lennon may have sung and recorded a new version of “Give Peace a Chance”. Maybe a solo album titled “The Savior”, the English translation of El Salvador, or “The Agency”.
As Iran Contra developed, that scandal’s political embarrassment for Reagan, North, et al would have whetted Lennon’s appetite for political blood and revenge against conservative American presidents and their self-serving egos.
He may have made some critical remarks in interviews or at rallies about Reagan, North et al which would have caused a stir. He may have re-united with Abbie Hoffman who had re-emerged by 1980 as well, and may have inspired Jerry Rubin to put aside his success in business long enough to get radical about Central America.
Having survived the Strom Thurmond-inspired plot to have the INS deny his Green Card and deport him, Lennon may have felt inspired and emboldened to take on Reagan and the CIA. He would certainly have inspired many to take on Reagan, North et al, which is the reason for his death that the conspiracy theory mentioned at the top of this post is based on.
Had Lennon lived perhaps Reagan, North et al would have imploded harder and Bush would have lost to Dukakis, who, if he won, would have lost to Bush in ’92—or Clinton—primarily because of the economy.
Had Lennon lived it may have been harder for the Christian Right to become as powerful as they had because Lennon would have skewered the right-wing Christian hypocrisy in Central America—and right here in the U.S.
“Imagine” may have been followed by another anthem, “Realize”. He would have performed in Berlin right after the fall of the wall since they performed several times in Hamburg before and after its construction. The wall’s fall was certainly in keeping with the world vision he expressed in “Imagine”.
He and Yoko may have introduced America to some form of self-help psychology on Oprah. And just for the hell of it, for a week, he and Yoko may have taken the center square on the New Hollywood Squares, hosted by John Davidson from 1986 to 1989.
The Internet would have been the perfect tool for Lennon’s peace movement. But the big question is: How would Lennon have reacted to September 11th?
I think he would have reacted by reaching out to Muslim activists and musicians, which means he would most definitely have worked with Salman Ahmad and Junoon. After all, Lennon was a major inspiration to Junoon founder Ahmad.
Through Ahmad, Lennon would have reached out his message of peace and “Imagine” throughout the Muslim world to any of those who would listen. And he would have succeeded.
The American government feared Lennon in the 70s because of his influence over America’s youth. As Lennon got older and there were new generations of youth, Lennon’s influence would have naturally grown much bigger.
The changes he could have helped bring about are left to all of our imaginations. And isn’t that what he said. I think what is most important to be remembered about Lennon is he used his imagination as a tool.
We must all do the same.
Lennon was a Libra—the most powerful star sign in the whole zodiac. Librans understand what I mean.
Christ has returned to Earth for his Second Coming. In 2008, he ran for and won election to the U.S. House of Representatives from the 27th Congressional District of Texas in Corpus Christi.
Congressman Christ’s arrival at the Capitol building every day always drew a crowd of the curious, the skeptical and the lame asking Christ to heal them. And he did. Those who had AIDS and cancer came and were cured, those who could not see or walk came and became sighted and pedestrians, those who had a severe addiction to “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” left with a desire to only watch PBS.
After Congressman Christ cured everyone, he turned to begin ascending the Capitol steps when someone called out from the crowd, “What have you enjoyed since your return?” Congressman Christ turned and replied, “Pizza. With no anchovies.”
“Who is your favorite Pope?” someone shouted from the back.
“John Paul…no wait, those are my two favorite Beatles,” He answered and began singing “Hey Jude” to himself.
Meanwhile, in the background a long black limo pulled to a stop. An old man climbed out. He was Douglas Coe, the 80 year old leader of The Family, Washington’s secret religious power elite group. And Congressman Christ watched him for He knew that Coe had come for Him.
The crowd parted as Coe walked through them. “You see, I am like Moses parting the Red Sea,” Coe said as he smiled to Congressman Christ.
“Moses parted the Red Sea to help the Children of Israel escape the Egyptian army. You are not running from an army but are trying to command one using my name,” Congressman Christ replied.
“Then you know who I am. You are either very perceptive, extremely lucky or you really are Christ,” Coe said.
“You have many doubts,” Congressman Christ said, “You doubt that my words and those of our Heavenly Father to help the poor are true. You believed what your founder said—that he had a vision of God who told him everyone got it wrong that our Heavenly Father was really concerned more about the rich and powerful than the poor and oppressed.”
“The rich and powerful are God’s children too,” Coe said as he approached the first step, “You should live with us at C Street.”
Congressman Christ ignored the invite. “Do you remember what I said in Matthew 24?’ He asked and looked squarely in Coe’s eyes.
Coe only smiled, knowing the scripture to which Congressman Christ referred.
Congressman Christ tired of Coe’s attempts at manipulation. He said, "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.... For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect."
Coe’s smile was frozen on his face. Then he spoke: “I just needed confirmation that you are truly Christ, Master.”
“I am truly Christ,” He said. Congressman Christ turned and began to ascend the steps.
“I can take you to many capitals around the world so you may speak to many leaders to help you with your work,” Coe called out.
Congressman Christ stopped and turned. “And as Satan told me in the desert, ’All this authority I will give You and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.’”
Coe could no longer smile.
“You hold the rich and powerful above the meek and poor,” Congressman Christ told him as he descended the steps. The crowd that was gathered became excited. “Do you remember my Sermon on the Mount?” He added.
Coe looked at him blankly.
“The meek shall inherit the earth,“ He said. “Do you remember when I said in the Synagogue “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor?” He asked.
“So you do not love the rich and powerful?” Coe asked.
“You are setting for me a trap with words like the Chief Priests of the Temple?” Congressman Christ responded.
Coe smiled a shit-eating grin.
“Did I not have compassion for the Roman Centurion? Did I not welcome the tax collectors?”
Coe turned and walked back to his limo. Congressman Christ called out to him, “I have not finished with you. When I visit your office, will you invite me in?”
Coe slammed his limo door and sped off.
There was a long silence. Congressman Christ looked out at the amazed crowd.
“Was he an evil man?” someone shouted.
“No, but God gave his believers sexual scandals so the people would be made aware of his bad deeds,” He answered.
There was a pause.
“So what’s your favorite movie?” someone called out.
“‘Dirty Harry’,” He called back then ascended the steps.
Join us next week for another thrilling and rapturous episode of “Congressman Christ” when Sarah Palin asks Him to join her on Facebook as a friend.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Lennon & McCartney
52 years ago today John Lennon and Paul McCartney met at the Woolton Village Fete. The impact of that meeting is still reverberating throughout the world.
Three months later I was born. It’s ridiculous, but I have always felt a sense of connection in knowing that the Beatles first record was released on my fifth birthday and the same with Monty Python’s first show debuting on my twelfth birthday. I guess that means my destiny is to be a successful comedic-musical blogger.
I remember when they came over in 1964. There was an excitement they created that lasted years. I did not get to see them on Ed Sullivan because my father always watched “Bonanza” and I had no clue anyway. However, my aunts were about six and eight years older than me and they were into the Beatles. I remember sitting in their friend's bedroom listening to a 45 of “She Loves You”, I think it was. I also remember the Beatles’ picture postcards and buttons from 1964.
I remember “I Saw Her Standing There” emanating from our TV one night. I remember watching the Beatles cartoons every Saturday morning. The Beatles, and the British invasion that followed, and the immensely inspired creative response of American bands, plus the growing Motown Sound, plus the turbulent changes in the 60s we all lived through, made for an explosion in popular music that few today can comprehend and the world may never see again.
This past week, everyone has been talking about the genius of Michael Jackson, who only put out an album every four or five years while the Beatles were putting out genius albums every three to eight months and singles out every four to six months.
I diverged from the Beatles for many years because I didn’t own records at that age. I re-discovered the Beatles in December 1980 after Lennon’s assassination, as a young man, better able to understand and appreciate their music. The first album I bought was the White Album and then on and on. I read “Shout!”, the Phillip Norman book and studied their music. That fed my creativity no end, no doubt.
I mentioned in my Michael Jackson piece my theory about music and comedy. I really first grasped it with the Beatles, it became more specific with regard to structure listening to “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”.
That was when Dennis Perrin and I began doing Kawasaki Rodeo, otherwise known as Karaoke Romeo, otherwise known as Kamakaze Radio, the misspelling of which we later claimed was intentional as a tribute to the Beatles spelling “Beetles” with an “a”. In fact, our first show was the same month as Lennon’s murder. Dennis and I discussed the Beatles constantly as well as other music he turned me on to. He and I used to refer to ourselves as the Lennon and McCartney of comedy. We would disagree over which one of us was Lennon. He always won, though, because he and Lennon shared the same birthday and his material was edgier. We copied the layout of the White Album for our programs for a particular show.
John and Paul, as we all know, came at music from opposite ends of the spectrum with their shared passion for 50s rock ‘n’ roll connecting them. As everyone knows, this is what made the Beatles so successful. They were both, in their own right, musical geniuses. Obviously their relationship became strained at the end, as this photo will attest.
How and why Mick and Keith were able to maintain their partnership through all the years and not John and Paul is one of those great unanswerable questions. And it is a shame. Lennon said they were only a pop group during the Beatles break up, but I think that was his justification for wanting to end it. The Beatles were obviously more than a pop group, and still, he had a right to live his life any way he wanted if breaking up was the only way he could.
As Lennon mentioned in the famed Playboy interview, and as was depicted in the made-for-VH-1 movie, “Two of Us”, directed by “Let It Be” director Michael Lindsay-Hogg, John and Paul almost made it to SNL to perform in 1976 as a result of seeing one of Lorne Michaels’ pitches for the Beatles to perform on SNL for $3000 the night that McCartney surprise-visited Lennon at the Dakota. A shame they did not, is an understatement.
I read the Albert Goldman book about Lennon and listened to all the things Julian said about Lennon as a father. It did make me see Lennon differently. He was a flawed man. And blind idol worship is wrong regardless of whom they are. The music and their other legacies are all that is really important.
It is impossible, and obviously unnecessary, for me to state all the changes the Beatles brought about which shaped our contemporary world. What may be most significant is they made the world much smaller and united its youth through music, desire for love and peace, hair, clothing, et al.
Today, because of the path the Beatles carved out, we all share the same predominate popular culture. Too bad it sucks now. Perhaps also, rock/pop stars as global social- and political-issue activists—like Bono and all the -Aid concerts back in the 80s, arose from the Beatles, especially Lennon.
Arguably, the greatest testament to the Beatles’ legacy is their influence on Muslim youth.
In my opinion, the best example of the Beatles' influence on anyone from a Muslim country is Salman Ahmad, a Pakistani musician and a phenomenal guitarist, who spent his youth in New York, and whose former band Junoon became the “U2 of Pakistan”. Ahmad has become an activist for many issues, and organized a concert for peace on Lennon’s birthday on October 9, 2001, barely a month after the WTC attacks, which was dedicated to the victims of 9/11 and they all sang “Give Peace A Chance”.
That the western world and the Muslim world have built bridges through music that may help us withstand and fight against the political acrimony of all of our governments, is a solid testament to the resonance of what began 52 years today.
The video below is my favorite Junoon song (the word means “passion” in Urdu), and then back to John and Paul, okay? The song is called “No More” and is their most recent English-language tune, also dedicated to the victims of the 9/11 attacks.
More Junoon in a later post.
A long time ago, when I was nineteen, I was a disc jockey. While it may be an interesting blog concept, I only wish to upload/play one Lennon-McCartney song here, arguably their greatest collaboration, the title of which well suits the observance commemorated in this piece: “A Day in the Life”.
John Lennon was born during the bombing of Liverpool in WWII. He came into this world in the middle of some of the worst violence of the last century and he left through violence.
