At the risk of being seen as ignorant, I must admit that the first time that I saw John Lennon’s appearance of Instant Karma on the Top of the Pops program, I did not recognize one of the band members. It was only much later that I was to learn of the considerable talents and achievements of the man named B.P. Fallon who was to appear in the video.
Bernard Patrick Fallon was born August 24, 1946, later to become more commonly known as B.P. Fallon. Part of his significant list of achievements was as an Irish DJ, a journalist, an author of several books, an actor, a photographer and a musician.
His introduction to a Beatle came with John Lennon granting him a 3-part interview for Melody Maker back in 1969 during the Amsterdam Bed-In. His Beatles association was deepened when he later worked at Apple for Derek Taylor. The Melody Maker interview was in 3 parts. Two of the three issues are shown here as they are a part of my personal collection, thanks to eBay! Special thanks are also extended to Chip Madinger for providing the particulars of the info regarding the three issues of MM featuring the B.P. Fallon interview with John and Yoko from 1969!
Melody Maker April 19th 1969:
You can see the MM exclusive message concerning the interview on the right hand side of this page crediting B.P. Fallon for the 3-part interview:
Melody Maker November April 26th 1969:
B.P.’s MM exclusive is credited to him in Part 3 of the interview:
There were also ‘rumors’ circulating that B.P. happened to be a marijuana tester for one of the Beatles, though not for John as many might have expected! You will hear that story by Mr. Fallon himself on one of the links provided elsewhere on this post.
In 1970, while John Lennon was preparing a live vocal appearance of his song, Instant Karma, on the UK TV program, Top pf the Pops, John asked B.P., who was backstage, to appear in the video with him. It fit in perfectly with John and Yoko’s idea that the Plastic Ono Band was a conceptual band and that anyone can be a member of the band. (You are the Plastic Ono Band!)
To further illustrate J and Y’s concept of the POB:
The front cover of my personal copy of the July 5, 1969 issue of NME which featured John’s design of Yoko’s concept of flexibility in the perception of the make-up of their conceptual band. The plastic flexible containers with the tape machine and microphones and a phone directory indicating that virtually anyone could be a member of the band.
In any case, B.P was in two versions of the performance of Instant Karma. One version in which he appears in a hat borrowed from an audience member where he holds a bass guitar during the performance, while Mal Evans plays a tambourine and Klaus Voormann is also on bass. In the other video, B.P. plays the tambourine apparently the one used originally by Mal in the other video.
A good summary of some of the basic biographical information about Mr. Fallon is provided at this Wikipedia site where you can also learn about his duties as a publicist for Thin Lizzy and T. Rex. B.P also represented Ian Drury. His musical output is also discussed in the piece.
B.P. admired and respected the late Sinéad O’Connor and he took many fabulous photographs of her.
One common theme running throughout B.P.’s career are his strong Irish roots which he is obviously very proud of. It is a theme repeated in so many sources of information about the man!
There is another Beatles-related connection to B.P as he was one of the writers of a tribute song to the late Wings guitarist, Henry McCullough. His song to Henry details the admiration he had for the musician and many of the prominent musicians that Henry worked with.
B.P.’s tribute to former Wings guitarist, Henry McCulloch:
A few sample websites to learn more about B.P. Fallon:
The Top pf the Pops appearance of the Plastic Ono Band on YouTube with B.P. with the hat on and a bass guitar.
An alternative version or take of the song with B.P playing the tambourine
INSTANT KARMA! (Ultimate Mix) – Lennon/Ono with The Plastic Ono Band. Version 2. HD Remaster, 2021. – YouTube
B.P. interviews George Harrison on his radio show:
Irish program about B.P and the Beatles connection:
The Beatles And BP Fallon 1983 Late Late Show, Ireland – YouTube
The trailer to the B.P Fallon documentary Rock ‘n’ Roll Wizard which details his impressive musical, radio, and writing career.
BP Fallon Rock’n’Roll Wizard (Official Trailer) – YouTube
B.P talks about his documentary on the Ray D’Arcy Show:
BP Fallon – Rock’n’Roll Wizard – The Ray D’Arcy Show – Omny.fm
A great article in the Irish Independent Weekend from Jul 14, 2018.
It is truly amazing to realize that B.P. has had such a very long and tremendous 60+ productive years in the music industry. We thank him for his wonderful contributions!
A sample from B.P.’s recording career:
“Still Legal” is the title of the first album by BP Fallon & The Bandits, which was released in January 2013. The album features 11 tracks and was released on their own label, Vibrosonic Records.
The cd was signed and I purchased it on eBay!
Track list:
Credits for the cd by BP Fallon and The Bandits
Another B.P. Fallon signature from the collection!
In this version of the Top pf the Pops program BP Fallon has a bass guitar though the only thing that is live is Lennon’s vocal of the song. John had asked B.P. backstage to help him with the video by pretending to play bass. He told B.P. that anyone can be a member of the POB. (A conceptual band)! Klaus Voormann is also seen playing bass in the video. In one version of the video we also see the late Mal Evans (the Gentle Giant) and friend of the Beatles playing tambourine
B.P.’s Special 75th Birthday tribute to John Lennon:
FROM B.P. Fallon’s website: In this piece you can obviously see the love and respect that B.P. had for John!
B.P. Fallon’s wonderful 75th birthday tribute to John Lennon:
John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band 1970: John Lennon & Yoko Ono & Mal Evans & BP Fallon. Photography by Ron Howard/Redferns courtesy of Guitar World
The website link to the tribute
Happy 75th Birthday John Lennon – BP Fallon
John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band 1970: John Lennon & Yoko Ono & Mal Evans & BP Fallon. Photography by Ron Howard/Redferns courtesy of Guitar World.
“So it’s John Lennon’s 75th Birthday, God bless him. I’m very sad he’s not here and I’m very glad that he was. Glad? John Lennon changed my life, he changed everything for so many people, he and The Beatles and beyond. The world will never be the same, thanks to John and his chums.
“And yet… Give Peace A Chance. Yes please. We need it now as much as ever – wars all over our battered yet still blessed planet, lunatics rushing around with guns, this uncertain globe melting from greed and stupidity.
“Did John Lennon save the world? No. But he gave it a try in his naive and magical way, Dr Winson O’Boogie from Liverpool, England, with his guitar and his music and his aspirational and inspirational thoughts.
“Was he perfect? No. Strangely strange but oddly normal, a fallible human being like all of us, not some deity but an enormously special and gifted rock’n’roller who reached out. John, thank you. We love you. Rest in peace”
– BP Fallon, October 9th 2015
John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band performing ‘Instant Kar… | Flickr
Photos of B.P. Fallon and John Lennon on the Top pf the Pops show appear at his website: In one take of the song he appears hatless playing a tambourine. In another take he performs with a hat and holding a bass guitar.
BP Fallon speaks about John Lennon (audio) – BP Fallon
It is certainly obvious to me how much B.P. loves and admires his Irish roots and appropriately enough. I will close this post with a B.P. Fallon book which I recently acquired about B.P. travelling with and photographing the touring band, U2!!!
U2: Faraway So Close Paperback – January 1, 1994
by B. P. Fallon (Author)
Little Brown & Co
My copy of the U2 book was signed by B.P. back in 1995:
The back cover of my copy of the U2 book by B.P. Fallon:
Remember, WE ALL SHINE ON in our own way!!!
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
