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A JAPANESE BEATLES/ LENNON BOOK

As a Beatles collector, I always keep a lookout for unusual items not published in the US, like this Japanese Beatles book. This particular larger format magazine type book was published in Japan. As you can see from the couple of sample pages provided, it contains several JL sketches that I do not recall seeing in other publications. I see copies of this often being offered on Ebay! Often I come across foreign publications whereby I do not understand the language the publication is written in, but the photographs alone are worth the price of the purchase. This book is one of those…at least in my opinion!

John Lennon Days 1992 Japan Event Program

32 pages most in full color (colour)

Includes Rare pictures of John’s Daily Howl book

Japanese Beatles Book
Japanese Beatles Book

A couple of sample pages from the book/magazine:

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“SIGNING THE BASEBALLS” (JOHN LENNON’S SONS AND PETE ROSE)

I have a couple of passions- I love reading about the Beatles and their story, and I love baseball. This post combines the two interests. We have a couple of baseballs each signed by a Beatle’s son, Sean and Julian Lennon, which I obtained on Ebay. 

Unfortunately, I can’t afford Beatles signed baseballs. There are sets of baseballs where all 4 members of the Beatles have signed the ball, but you better have access to Fort Knox if you want to buy them, as the costs are in the stratosphere. As a more affordable alternative, I do enjoy however having the following signed baseballs in the collection!

Sean Lennon signed baseball:

The photo that the seller provided of Sean signing the ball:

Julian Lennon signed baseball:


Julian Lennon Signed Baseball
Julian Lennon Signed Baseball

And a Ball with a Beatles Connection:

This is signed baseball that I find most amusing. Banned from baseball because of gambling, this is a Pete Rose signed baseball stating “I’m Sorry I broke Up the Beatles.” Pete probably figured that mention of the Beatles would make collectors clamor even more for this signed item. Pete Rose is the all-time hits leader in Major League Baseball and the same title can be attributed to the Beatles as they are the all-time leader in total record sales across the globe. I purchased this Pete Rose signed baseball on Ebay! Pete Rose posthumously has been reinstated to be eligible for baseball’s Hall of Fame. Now that he is gone, that decision seems to be cruel regarding the timing as he never got the chance to see his baseball accomplishments duly honored. Whatever your beliefs about his gambling problem, he sure knew how to play the game of baseball...

Pete Rose Signed Baseball:

Hope you enjoyed these particular examples of cross-collecting, when one form of collecting overlaps with another!

JOHN BUZZ BEZZINI

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Teaflix with Angie and Ruth McCartney – Special Guest David Bedford

If you didn’t get to see the Teaflix Special where Angie and Ruth McCartney interviewed David Bedford, it is here again for you on YouTube.

Enjoy!

Teaflix with Angie McCartney

Get David’s New Book – The Beatles: What If?

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NIGEL WALLEY – A FRIEND OF JOHN LENNON AND THE QUARRY MEN!

Quarry Men is Correct! Quarrymen is not? Nigel Walley was The Quarrymen’s Manager. That topic has been the subject of much discussion and debate over the years!!!

Bill Harry – in the last link of this blog post (at the bottom of the page) quite clearly states that the Quarry Men should be listed as two words not one word (Quarrymen) which has become the far more common usage of the group name for some inexplicable reason over the years! Though members of The Quarrymen don’t agree!

I have the administrator of this group, David Bedford, to thank, for me being able to acquire this wonderful piece shown below signed by early John Lennon friend, Nigel Walley. Nigel helped to organize some of the early bookings for John’s Quarry Men group. He was also probably the last person who ever saw John’s mom, Julia alive, as he was walking her to the bus stop away from Mimi’s house when Julia was hit by a car. Just before the accident Nigel had made the turn in a different direction to head to his own home which was near to Pete Shotton on Vale Road. Nigel later expressed the feeling that he felt that John always quietly harbored resentment towards him after Julia’s death, as if he could have done something differently to have prevented Julia’s accident and tragedy.

Nigel was to become quite the golfer in his professional career after the Quarry Men ended!

As you can see from the signed card below, the photo was seemingly taken on Lime Street, immortalized in the Liverpool traditional song, “Maggie May” which was about “ladies of the evening.” The date on the photo appears to be May the 5th, 1958.

Nigel Walley and John Lennon
Nigel Walley and John Lennon

A rare YouTube interview with Nigel:

The Quarrymen Episode 6 – Nigel Walley Quarrymen Manager and John Lennon #quarrymen – YouTube

An excellent article about Nigel from former Mersey Beat editor, Bill Harry: Nigel Walley: Their First Manager – Bill Harry – Mersey Beat

More confirmation about the two names to the group rather than the one:

.: Nigel Walley remembers the Quarry Men 1963

KEEP ON ROCKING AT THE QUARRY THIS WEEKEND!!!

Our blog administrator, David Bedford, this weekend on Friday, June 20th through Sunday June June 22, plays bass as a member of the Quarry Men at a special Beatle convention at THE SPA PAVILION THEATRE – FELIXSTOWE – SUFFOLK! There are many wonderful Beatles-related activities being planned for this event!

For further information and details:

Call Nigel Pearce on 07388 638719, Email contact is redleadernigel@hotmail.co.uk
or Ray Anderson on 07774 801945 – Email
 eapstudios123@gmail.com or ray.anderson@spapavilion.net

Buzz

OUR BOOK OF THE WEEK – SONGS WE WERE SINGING

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The Beatles: What If? David Bedford on Angie McCartney’s Teaflix live today

The Beatles: What If?

Join Angie & Ruth #McCartney for #Teaflix Tuesday at 11:30am Pacific time on https://fb.com/drangiemccartney on Tuesday June 17th, 2025.

Today, they are joined by old friend David Bedford who is a Beatles author/ historian/podcaster/ filmmaker who grew up in The Dingle, Liverpool. He started to write for the British Beatles Fan Club magazine in 2000. His first book, now on its third Edition: Liddypool: Birthplace of The Beatles. His second book, The Fab one hundred and Four: The Evolution of The Beatles, was published in 2013. In 2016, he was a co-author with Hunter Davies on The Beatles Book, with Keith Badman and Spencer Leigh. Published in 2018, his fourth book was Finding the Fourth Beatle, the story of the 23 drummers in The Beatles. He even self-published a part fact, part fiction, detective novel called “Inspector Rocke: That’ll Be The Day That I Die” set in Liverpool in 1960, featuring The Beatles.

Published in 2020 was The Country of Liverpool: Nashville of the North, and in 2021, ACC published The Beatles Fab Four Cities, co-written with Beatles tour guides Richard Porter and Susan Ryan.

He was also the Associate Producer and historical consultant for “Looking For Lennon” (2018).

In 2024, he was the Archive Producer for the film about The Beatles in Hamburg, called “No Hamburg, No Beatles”. In 2025, together with writing partner Andrew Phillips, they released “What If?” via New York publisher Imagine & Wonder and Golden Age Music Collectables. It’s the journey of probabilities that examines the question “what if The Beatles never met?”.

He is currently working on new books and a movie too!

He has a Liverpool Beatles podcast called Liddypod. www.liddypod.com and a YouTube channel called Brightmoon Liverpool, at www.youtube.com/brightmoonliverpool.

Find out more at www.davidabedford.com

Teaflix is sponsored by MrsMcCartneysTeas.com

Join Angie & Ruth #McCartney for #TeaflixTuesday on June 17 at 11:30am PT ☕️ at fb.com/drangiemccartney with Beatles author & historian David Bedford! A proud Liverpudlian from The Dingle, David’s books include *Liddypool*, *The Fab 104*, *Finding the Fourth Beatle*, and *What If?*. He’s also worked on Beatles films like *Looking for Lennon* & *No Hamburg, No Beatles*. More: davidabedford.com

Sponsored by: MrsMcCartneysTeas.com

GET YOUR COPY NOW!

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“ALL TOGETHER NOW” BEATLES ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE NETHERLANDS BY WILLIBRORD BAAR

Managed to secure this wonderful English language book, All Together Now, in 2020 from the Netherlands of illustrations by artist, Willibrord Baar. He offers illustrations and interpretations of 211 of the Beatles songs in his book!

For further information about the book:

All together now : Willibrord Baar

I first made contact with the artist when I formerly was on Facebook. It is the only thing I miss about FB. I met so many nice and talented people there who I miss corresponding with very much! Willi was one of those individuals!

Here is the Beatles book I purchased from Willi:

All Together Now
All Together Now

I enjoy Beatles books that go beyond the typical biographical and historical analysis of their work. Enjoying books with a different approach and perspective like this is a great pleasure for me…

The author’s signed inscription to me in the book:

A few sample illustrations from his book: STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER

Strawberry fields forever (Lennon/McCartney, 1967)

Here is Willi’s text describing his interpretation of the song in the book:
The title of the song is inspired by the Children’s Salvation Army, close to the house of John Lennon. In the bewildered garden Lennon had a beautiful place to play with his boyfriends. Like McCartney’s Penny Lane, Strawberry Field is Lennon’s memory from his childhood. I have chosen for strawberry’s all over, they seem to roll through the entrance, the former gate of the Salvation Army. There was a temptation to use colour, but Children’s Salvation Army sounds so dark. That’s why I used the black and white only.

Sgt. Pepper:

The author’s illustration of the Beatles song, Good Night

The author shares his inspiration for his Good Night illustration:

Contact information for the artist: His email is located at this link All together now : Willibrord Baar

I was very pleased to add this wonderful Dutch treat to my Beatles book collection!

Veel gezondheid voor iedereen!

John “BUZZ” Bezzini