As astronomically successful and unique as John Lennon’s short life was, tragedy and hardship punctuated his 40 short years, from the death of his mother on July 15, 1958, to his own fateful end in December 1980. The latter event would impact the entire world, not to mention his former bandmates. But the former tragedy was equally influential, deeply affecting Lennon, his band, and the music they created.

Without Julia Lennon, John might not have grown into a musician. Perhaps he would have settled for a blue-collar job or the bohemian life of a visual artist. Fortunately for John (and the rest of the world), Julia happily passed down her love of music to her son. 

Considering her son’s global cultural influence, it should come as no surprise that Julia Lennon (née Stanley) was as every bit as charismatic, daring, and rebellious as her son, John Lennon, would come to be. If there were ever a problem child in the Stanley family, they would likely give Julia the title. She danced, sang, joked, and played instruments without any care for lady-likeness or societal (and familial) expectations that might be looming over her.

Julia married Alf Lennon in 1938, much to the chagrin of her family, who didn’t believe the Merchant Navy steward had the proper means to support the family. Nevertheless, the marriage persisted, and eventually, Julia and Alf became pregnant with their first and only son, John Lennon. Alf and Julia’s marriage fell apart shortly thereafter, and John’s life didn’t get much easier after that. Julia’s sister, Mimi Smith, insisted that John live with her instead of Julia. Various accounts dispute the reasoning behind this arrangement, but it went into effect nonetheless. John moved into a small bedroom in his aunt’s house in 1945.

Source: americansongwriter.com/Melanie Davis

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The iconic boy group, with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison, stole the hearts of many with their loving voices and looks. George temporarily left The Beatles in January 1969 due to creative differences and the band's internal dynamics. He rejoined the group days later and helped create a fan favorite song from their most iconic album, Abbey Road.

While George studied Indian music when working with Ravi Shanker, which he incorporates into the mix, along with other sounds, in the middle of the song, the Beatles member made one tiny error.

George was stuck when it came to the final verse and did not know if it should have been “it seems like years” or “it feels like years”. He went a different route and sang a mixture, combining the two, "it seels like years”. The singer was known for his powerful lyrics.

Their lyrics have also made headlines for being controversial.

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The band's song I Am the Walrus released in November 1967, written by John and credited to John-Paul (the songwriting partnership between the two). The track was released on the B-side to the single Hello, Goodbye and on the Magical Mystery Tour EP and album. It also appeared on the Beatles' 1967 television film Magical Mystery Tour.

Source: Jailene Cuevas/themirror.com

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When The Traveling Wilburys first appeared on the scene, they spread joyous vibes across the music world. Here were five legends putting aside any ego, to the point that they even used fake names, to deliver effortlessly rootsy music that charmed and enthralled listeners.

But when they returned for their second album a few years later, a bit of gloominess hung around the edges. One of the Wilburys had passed away in the interim, leaving a gaping hole that the four remaining members knew they couldn’t even try to fill.
The Wilburys Rise

The common story about the creation of the Traveling Wilburys is that it was a spontaneous thing. But that’s not quite the case. As he was making his 1987 album Cloud Nine, George Harrison expressed to Jeff Lynne that he wanted to one day put together a band featuring all his favorite artists. He mentioned Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan as ideal members.

That dream became a reality when Harrison, needing to make a B-side for a single, assembled Lynne, Dylan, Orbison, and Tom Petty. Harrison’s record company reverberated with excitement when they heard the finished product, “Handle With Care”. They asked if the collaboration could be more than a one-time thing.

In a two-week period in the spring of 1988, the five men put together enough material for an album. The band name evolved from Harrison’s term for when a studio recording sounded funny for unknown reasons. With all five men taking aliases, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 arrived in October 1988. It became an immediate sensation, both critically loved and commercially successful.

Source: americansongwriter.com/Jim Beviglia

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The Beatles have a complicated history. Their time together was plagued by turmoil, which dampened their legacy. However, there are tender moments in the band’s collective history that remind us that they were once kids who forged a friendship with music as the groundwork. One such moment is Paul McCartney‘s “Little Willow.” 

Several decades after the Beatles broke up, McCartney decided to pen a song in honor of Ringo Starr’s late wife, Maureen Starkey. Attempting to comfort her children, “Little Willow” is a sonic explanation of life’s unpreparable changes. Wind’s going to blow you hard and cold tonight / Life, as it happens / Nobody warns you, willow, hold on tight, the lyrics read.

Though the band had been broken up (and ended on a sour note), McCartney thought a lot of Starkey and didn’t think twice about honoring her in this way.

“I wanted to somehow convey how much I thought of her,” McCartney once said. “For her and her kids…It certainly is heartfelt, and I hope it will help a bit.”

Even though Starkey inspired this song, McCartney did what he does best and “conjured” up a larger-than-life story to help him tell this emotional tale.

“I was very affected by Maureen’s death, and I remember just going into a room and putting those sentiments into that song,” he added elsewhere. “The sort of fragility of life is in that song. But it wasn’t called ‘Maureen,’ it was called ‘Little Willow.’ I always prefer to conjure up some story or tale or some bit of imagination around something, because then I can get my emotions out, but it’s not quite as raw.”

Source: americansongwriter.com/Alex Hopper

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Starr, who celebrated his 85th birthday on Monday, July 7, was in a reflective mood as he looked back on his 37 years of sobriety.

The former Beatle was speaking to reporters at his annual “Peace & Love” birthday celebration in Beverly Hills when he made the announcement and shared how his life changed after giving up alcohol.

Surrounded by his musician friends, including Jackson Browne, John Desmond of The Doors and Colin Hay (Men At Work), Starr shared his sobriety journey.

“Well, I ended up in a rehab because I was not treating myself or anyone around me with any respect,” he said, as reported in People magazine.

“It was all about me, and I came out, and I haven’t had a drink since. Thank the Lord.”

In 1986 both he and his second wife, former Bond girl and actress Barbara Bach, entered treatment together to deal with their substance and alcohol addictions.

Starr has previously discussed his difficulties with addiction before, and in 2015 told the Times of London, he could not remember much of the 1970s or 1980s.

“I look in the mirror and I’m 24. I never got older than 24.”

The Liverpool-born drummer continues to keep a tour schedule that would exhaust musicians half his age and will take his live act, Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band, on tour through the United States later this year.

Source: startsat60.com/Nicole Keramos

Yoko Ono was not a factor in the break-up of The Beatles despite being blamed for decades, a ­historian claims. Martin Lewis points to Apple TV’s recent Get Back series as evidence her presence in the Beatles studio did not cause the tension between John Lennon and his ­bandmates many insist was behind the demise.

Yoko being at the 1969 Let it Be album recordings has gone down in music folklore as the beginning of the end for the Fab Four. But Martin, who has worked with both her and Paul McCartney in recent years, said: “The fans wanted a villain. The media likes a villain. We all do. That’s natural, but not reality.”

‌Speaking about the Apple TV series, he added: “They are in the studio. Yoko’s there, which was unusual. They didn’t normally have wives or girlfriends in the studio. Who does John relate to through the whole eight hours? He looks at Yoko once in a blue moon. His eyes are on Paul. He’s with his buddy of the last 13 years. It’s all about John and Paul.

‌“Yoko was there, she wants to be there. He’s not rude. He’s just not interested. He’s working with his mate and having fun. The whole film gives the lie to that nonsense. It’s John and Paul, but bonding, writing, having fun, reminiscing. He’s polite to Yoko.

"She didn’t break up the Beatles. John and Paul have been together since July 57, when they were 17 and 16 respectively. They were nearly 30. That’s a long time. So they were growing apart. She’s not the villain.”  ‌

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Martin also claimed racism played its part in the treatment of Yoko and her public perception. Speaking at the LA Jewish Film Festival’s opening night film Midas Man, about Beatles manager Brian Epstein, he said: “A lot of it was racist because John was dumping his English rose wife and going off with a Japanese and an Asian woman. John made a very interesting point… up until Yoko, he was [called in the media] John.

Source: mirror.co.uk/Tom Bryant

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