This last known photo of John Lennon and Paul McCartney together was taken by John Lennon’s girlfriend May Pang at a beach-front house in Santa Monica, California, which Lennon was renting in March 1974. McCartney had stopped by for a visit (at the time Lennon and Ono were in the middle of their 18-month separation, but eventually reunited in early 1975).
When John decided to produce Harry Nilsson’s “Pussy Cats” album, Lennon thought it would be a great idea to have everyone who was working on it living under one roof. John and May took the master bedroom. When John first saw it, he said, “So, this is where they did it,” referring to John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe, who had many sexual trysts in this very house*. The library, complete with official portrait of President Kennedy on the wall, was converted into a bedroom for Ringo Starr.
John Lennon was murdered outside his NYC home on December 8, 1980 – exactly 30 years ago today. As a founder of The Beatles, who released their first single in 1962 (Love Me Do), he formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 20th century, along with Paul McCartney. When the Beatles split up in 1970, he embarked on a solo career. As of 2010, Lennon's solo album sales in the United States exceed 14 million units, and as writer, co-writer or performer, he is responsible for 27 number-one singles on the US Top 100 chart.
*This house, still standing at 625 Palisades Beach Rd., had been built for MGM chief Louis B. Mayer in 1936. It was bought by actor Peter Lawford, husband to J.F.K.’s sister Patricia, in 1956. Lawford introduced J.F.K. to Marilyn Monroe and provided his house as a private refuge for their liaisons. Lawford was the last person to talk to Marilyn Monroe prior to her death on August, 4, 1962. He had called earlier that day to invite her to dinner at this house. When she didn’t arrive, he called her back around 8:30 pm and noticed that her voice was slurred. Eventually she stopped talking, without hanging up the phone. Lawford called his lawyer to arrange for someone to go by to check up on Marilyn. The official time of Monroe’s death was established as 9:30 pm.
But I digress.
No comments:
Post a Comment