Understanding John Lennon. Francis Kenny
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Название: Understanding John Lennon
Автор: Francis Kenny
Издательство: Bookwire
Жанр: Изобразительное искусство, фотография
isbn: 9780856834462
isbn:
Early in 1960 John Lennon, Stuart Sutcliffe, Rod Murray and I formed The Dissenters, whose aim was to make Liverpool famous! We figured that Liverpool had more than its fair share of musicians, writers, comedians, artists and sculptors. We four would attempt to do this in our various ways – John with his music, Stuart and Rod with their painting and me with my writing. (A plaque, made by my art school friend Fred O’Brien, dedicated to the place where we made our vow is to be found in Ye Cracke, Rice Street.)
Francis Kenny is another example of what we were aiming to achieve – to put the light on creative people from the city. He was born in the Toxteth area of the city and left school with no qualifications, worked for 15 years in the construction industry and then entered a vacuum of unemployment before attending Coleg Harlech, an adult residential college in North Wales, where he achieved a Diploma in Political Philosophy and Economics. This was followed by a period at Liverpool University where he completed a BA Honours in Economics and Politics and Sociology. He also qualified as a teacher after completing a Postgraduate Course in Education at Bolton University. He then completed MAs in Urban Regeneration at Hope University and Screen Writing at Liverpool John Moores University.
Francis began writing 15 years ago and has penned a dozen screenplays, a novel, Waiting For the Beatles and a crime novel, All I Ever Wanted, among other works, including a stage play.
Francis was to tell me that his book ‘aims to present a “below the surface” alternative view of John’s creative and emotional make-up’.
This work is now endorsed by a former Dissenter. Read, enjoy and learn.
Regards,
Bill Harry, Founder of Mersey Beat1
__________________
1Bill Harry was born in Liverpool and attended Liverpool Art College where he met and became good friends with John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe. While at college, Bill developed an interest in journalism which led to his founding of Mersey Beat magazine, whose first print run of 5,000 copies came out on 9 November 1961 and was an instant sellout. The magazine included articles and band dates, and became a treasure trove of information to all those interested in the rock ’n’ roll scene on Merseyside.
Bill’s role in the ‘birth of The Beatles’ was crucial, not only in his support in Mersey Beat but also through his relationship with Brian Epstein via the selling of his magazine in Brian’s family music store NEMS, and later encouraging Brian to attend a Beatles gig.
As the success of The Beatles took on global proportions, Bill partnered up with Brian to produce a national music paper, The Disc & Music Echo. As the 1960s drew to a close, Bill moved into PR and came to represent some of the biggest music artists around, including David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.
Bill is the author of over two dozen books, most of these publications dealing with John and The Beatles.
Milestones in the life of Joh n Lennon
1940John born on 9 October to Julia and Freddie Lennon in war-torn Liverpool.
1941John lives in Newcastle Road, Liverpool with his mother and maternal grandparents.
1942John’s seafaring father Freddie is still away at sea.
1943Julia begins a relationship with a Welsh soldier stationed in Liverpool, Taffy Williams.
1944Julia gives birth to a girl (Victoria) with Williams the father; the child was given up for adoption.
1945Julia and John move in with Bobby Dykins.
1946Due to the intervention by Social Services over the common-law living arrangements of Julia and Bobby, John goes to live with Julia’s sister Mimi and her husband George at Mendips in the Liverpool suburb of Woolton.
1947Mimi changes John’s school, which meant he became further away from his mother’s home.
1948At school John becomes ill-disciplined and aggressive.
1949John immerses himself in books, poetry and story writing, which became a refuge from his emotional turmoil.
1950Mimi takes in lodgers from the local university, meaning she and George sleep downstairs while John’s upstairs box room is flanked by rooms containing students.
1951John passes Eleven Plus exam, which gains him entrance into Quarry Bank, the local grammar school.
1952John forms a gang: he is influenced by his story book hero Just William. John is the leader.
1953John’s poor discipline, shoddy class work and bullying behaviour continue at Quarry Bank.
1954John discovers his mother lives only a mile away from Mendips.
1955A skiffle craze hits the UK and John is one of the 10,000s of youngsters who form skiffle groups.
1956John discovers rock ’n’ roll and Elvis, and while playing at a local fête with his band The Quarrymen, he meets up with Paul McCartney.
1957John starts at Liverpool Art College. John’s Quarrymen now includes Paul’s friend, George Harrison.
1958In the summer John, Paul and George ‘cut a disc’ at a local recording studio. The next day his mother is involved in a fatal car accident.
1959The group change their name from The Quarrymen to The Silver Beetles and conduct a short tour of Scotland.
1960The name of John’s band changes again to The Beatles. Pete Best joins on drums as they embark on a 12-week engagement at the Indra club in Hamburg.
1961Brian Epstein visits The Cavern Club where The Beatles had become the club’s resident band and offers to be their manager.
1962Brian secures a recording contract with Parlophone Records for the band. John marries Cynthia. Ringo Starr joins The Beatles as Pete Best is sacked weeks before the release of the group’s first single ‘Love Me Do’.
1963The second and third release of The Beatles’ singles, ‘Please Please Me’ and ‘She Loves You’, ignites the beginning of Beatlemania. John’s son Julian is born.
1964The Beatles arrive in New York for The Ed Sullivan Show and a TV audience of 73 million. The same year sees the cinema release of the group’s film A Hard Day’s Night.
1965John’s confessional song ‘Help!’ becomes the title for the band’s next feature film of the same name. The Beatles become heavy users of marijuana and begin to experiment with LSD.
1966The band stop touring and The Beatles’ music takes on a major sea change with their album Revolver, its direction being foreshadowed by its precursor, Rubber Soul, the previous year.
1967The Beatles’ album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is released against the backdrop of the counterculture hippy movement and general alternative lifestyles of young people.
1968The Beatles immerse themselves in СКАЧАТЬ