Count Elvis Presley, Lenny Bruce, and John Lennon as only some of the targets of Albert Goldman.
Jim Morrison of the Doors was to be the next bullseye that Mr. Albert Goldman was setting his sights on and working on a book about the Doors lead singer, when he passed away from a heart attack on a plane flight from Florida to London in 1994.
There are those that claim that Goldman did his homework exceedingly well when writing his books as his sources were certainly very numerous in his work. Let us try to be fair and acknowledge there may be a lot of truth in his writings based on his research. That does not discount the tone in which his books are written with the obvious intended goal of taking established cultural icons and cutting them down to size, reflecting all their faults, failings and insecurities.
It is the same rationale and logic that makes people feel better when they criticize celebrities. Or when people read the tabloids to see the foibles of people that have always been described as being better or more talented, or having more advantages than the reader has. The stories of the celebrities failings often help to serve the purpose of putting the reader and the celebrity on the same level. “They have the same problems that we do.”
Albert Goldman’s Lennon Biography
It is my opinion that Albert Goldman in his Lennon biography revealed more about his own insecurities than he did of John Lennon. How can a person write a book, painting a picture of someone with seemingly no redeeming qualities evident on virtually every page of the book and pass it off as the “researched truth.” If Goldman’s conjectures were 100% accurate, what does that say about the people that chose to be around John, like Paul McCartney, who admired John? Did Paul therefore have a bad judge of character by choosing to be a friend of John’s? How can Goldman write a biography about a man who made his fame and reputation on being a musician and only touch minimally on his musical creative talents in the book?
It is known that Goldman wanted the sleaze and controversial information about John to be the focus of the book as that is the modus operandi of his journalistic style. He directed his researchers to dig up the dirt. Goldman was not a stupid man. He knew that controversy sells, whether it is true or not. The accusation always gets more coverage in a news story than the retraction does. It is reported that A. Goldman received an $800,000 fee for writing the Lennon book. He spent 800 pages questioning John Lennon’s motivations and behavior, yet little is known about what the motivations were of the author who wrote the book about John!
The power of language is so important to any writer. The choice of words being used can immediately alter your perceptions about someone that is being described. If someone calls you a freedom fighter vs. calling you a terrorist, that choice of words will radically alter the mind’s eye view of how you are perceived. Albert Goldman’s prose is loaded with vitriol and venom with the obvious intention to cut away the reverence people might have held for the celebrity in question. He wants to bring them down to earth. That notion appeals to the masses as it serves the purpose of elevating the feelings of self-importance that the non-celebrity may have of themselves.
Many people were amazed that Yoko Ono said very little publicly about the book believing that to acknowledge the title would be giving it added publicity and credence. However, Yoko did do a one hour Westwood One radio show hosted by confidante Elliot Mintz which dealt with the Lennon family discrediting many points raised by Goldman in his Lennon biography.
Most people who followed John’s career would tell you that John himself would be the first person to tell you he had a lot of faults. Many of those faults helped to contribute to and create a tremendous amount of great music.
The Goldman Phenomenon
I think it is important to me to use some “rock” imagery to finish discussing this portion of the “Goldman phenomenon” .
Cliches and Bible wisdom seem to be the most suitable avenue to take:
“Let he who would be without sin, cast the first stone.” “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones!”
That sums it up for me…..What about you? We all know John Lennon was certainly not a saint, but we also know he was not the demon that was portrayed by Mr. G in his book!!!
NOW WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THE PRINT ITEMS DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE:
In 1971 Mr. Goldman took a decidedly different tone in this rare 2-part interview he conducted with John Lennon,
in the JUNE and July 1971 Issues of CHARLIE MAGAZINE!
These two magazines reflected a different Albert Goldman who realized that Mr. Lennon was a very intelligent human being who was as sharp as a tack and that he seemed to actually admire.
It makes one wonder why his tone would change so drastically, 13 years later when he sought to write Lennon’s biography. Also, why when Goldman writes any biography, the tone of the book is based on tearing down the protagonist, most of the time in a brutal fashion!
These two magazines are very difficult to find. One I was able to locate on Ebay and the other issue I was able to find with the assistance of the former editor of the Lennon fanzine entitled Instant Karma, Marsha Ewing.
The Walrus imagery from my copy of the magazine:
The 2nd part of the interview in the July 1971 issue of Charlie Magazine:
A brief excerpt from the magazine:
The Lives Of John Lennon
US Edition of the book:
Publisher-William Morrow & Co
Publication date – January 1, 1988
People will ask me why would I consent to collect a signed copy of a book where I personally detested the author’s approach to his task. To answer that criticism I say that Mr. Goldman is part of the Beatles story, whether I like it or not. I also have Lew Grade’s signature. I did not approve of what Lew Grade did to John and Paul regarding their publishing empire, but he was part of the story/history, and for that reason I also have his signature in my collection.
I collect the bad guys as well as the good guys…
UK Editon of the book with the light cover in direct contrast to the US edition. I remember visiting Liverpool in 1988 when the book was issued and I remember fans tearing out pages of the book in protest of the book’s content. It was at the Adelphi hotel prior to a Liverpool Beatles convention!
Transworld/Guild Publishing -1988
The Doors
Goldman’s last book victim was going to be about the Doors lead singer, Jim Morrison.
This Wikipedia article details some of the magazine prep work Goldman had done with the Jim Morrison saga.
Goldman was to die of a heart attack on a plane flight from Florida to London and the Jim Morrison book was never completed
Lenny Bruce
LENNY BRUCE by ALBERT GOLDMAN from the journalism of Lawrence Schiller published by Virgin Books – 1975
I own this Lenny Bruce bio by Goldman because I wanted to learn if his journalistic style was evident in all of the books he writes. He inscribed and signed this volume to a lady he knew:
Elvis by Goldman
This is the book that started the reputation of Goldman’s known talent and penchant for taking rock icons and bringing them down to earth with their assortment of faults. What someone forget to tell Goldman was that these figures certainly had faults but his portrayals of them had the pendulum swinging too far in the other direction classifying the celebrities as being devoid of seemingly any good qualities, whatsoever. A lack of balance in his presentation, so to speak!
Publication Year 1981
Hardcover Elvis author: Albert Goldman, Publisher: Allen Lane
PEOPLE MAGAZINE
AUG 15 1988– Excerpts of the Goldman bio circulation in People magazine which would be seen alongside the National Inquirer at supermarket checkouts…
The Australian Nov.1988 issue #424 of Rolling Stone magazine whereby the Rolling Stone authors dispute many of the claims made by Goldman in his book: The Inside Story article was written by David Fricke and Jeffrey Ressner!
Rolling Stone Magazine # 537 October 20, 1988 John Lennon – The US edition of the magazine a month earlier
The Character Assassination article was written by David Fricke, Jeffrey Ressner
Though not having anything to do with the Goldman book there was an article in this magazine that dealt with how others were dealing with the passing of John Lennon and not in the best of ways!!!
The Betrayal of John Lennon | Vicki Sheff
Playboy Magazine
Playboy Magazine in MARCH 1984-featured an article entitled The Betrayal of John Lennon. Not completely sure if the article was written exclusively by Vicki Sheff or if her former husband, David Sheff was involved in contributing to the piece. (If you know, please fill me in with the details). This unbelievable article demonstrates that the Lennons were on the receiving end of a tremendous amount of vile behavior by many assorted individuals many of which were some of Albert Goldman’s primary sources for his book. I wonder what Albert Goldman thought of the observations and reporting of Ms.
Sheff when constructing his own version of what supposedly happened in The Lives of John Lennon. After all, many of Goldman’s primary sources certainly had axes to grind and they also had their own personal agendas to satisfy. Therefore, try to be careful thinking you ever know the absolute or complete truth about anything unless you know every facet of the story…remember people in general have a tendency to believe what they WANT to believe! That is how rumors are often spread and are propagated!
A few programs on YouTube about the controversial Goldman book:
A look at Albert Goldman’s Book about John Lennon,
This UK presentation of The Making of a Best Seller dealing with the Goldman book was excellent. Here are a couple excerpts on the YT channel:
John Lennon & Albert Goldman: The making of a bestseller (Channel 4 1988)
John Lennon and Albert Goldman: The Making of A Bestseller part 9/10 – YouTube
LIVERPOOL HAS THE LAST WORD:
Liverpool Vs Albert Goldman !! – YouTube
Closing comment, I wonder why Albert Goldman only chose to write about dead celebrities? Was he afraid that a living individual would contest or challenge any of his data or conjecture?
As most people are aware, you can not be held legally responsible or accountable for libeling the dead!
Conclusion?
What do you think of Goldman and his books? I would like to hear what you think.
John “BUZZ” Bezzini
OUR BOOK OF THE WEEK
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How different would the world have been without The Beatles?
This book explores the many times The Beatles story could have turned out so differently. What if it didn’t happen the way it did?
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