Posted on Leave a comment

Tell Me Why – Roag Best

Tell Me Why Podcast
Tell Me Why Podcast

Join Jude and  Roag Best as they discuss the opening of the Casbah Coffee Club Suites Air BnB, home of the Casbah where The Quarrymen played opening night on 29 August 1959.

Roag Best
Roag Best

In addition, Roag tells us about his amazing Liverpool Beatles Museum and shares Mona Best’s favorite quote.

Watch “Tell Me Why” with Roag Best here: Roag Best

Roag Best on Tell Me Why Podcast

Check out Jude’s Books

Posted on 4 Comments

Remembering John Lennon – Special Show

On Sunday 13th October on Future Radio 107.8FM – Norwich Groove Britain presents a very special programme remembering John Lennon after his 84th birthday. This programme contains much great music from The Beatles and his solo career, which encases his vision, effect, and ability to understand the art of music to the fullest degree. So join Nigel Pearce on GROOVE BRITAIN at 3 pm UK Time for a really wonderful exploration of the man’s music that enlightens us all after those 54 years of The Beatles split !! go to www.futureradio.co.uk and click listen live !! then enjoy.

Website link www.futureradio.co.uk 

John Lennon
John Lennon

Nigel Pearce

Get Nigel’s book on Apple here

Posted on Leave a comment

DEZO HOFFMANN BEATLES PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS

A few years ago, I was fortunate to be able to obtain a signed photo print from the late official Beatles photographer, Dezo Hoffmann. I chose this photo to purchase because the Beatles are all handling Apples possibly signaling a portend of things to come

Dezo Hoffmann Photo of The Beatles
Photo of The Beatles

Saw this on YouTube -some brief home movies shot by Dezo and his crew in 1963

The Beatles At Allerton Golf Course & Sefton Park – Dezo Hoffman Color Home Movie – 25 March 1963 – YouTube

Here are a few Beatles photo books by Dezo Hoffmann acquired over the years!

Published by Putnam and Omnibus Press circa 1983

With The Beatles by Dezo Hoffmann
With The Beatles by Dezo Hoffmann

The Beatles Conquer America—Virgin Books, 1984

The Beatles Conquer America
The Beatles Conquer America

McGraw-Hill Companies 1986-The Faces of John Lennon

The Faces of John Lennon

Published by Avon Books, 1985 This is an alternate cover of The Beatles Conquer America book shown above the Lennon book

The Compleat Beatles book featured over 100 Dezo photos-Published by Contemporary Books, 1985

Art Direction and Cover Design by Ed Caraeff

The Compleat Beatles
The Compleat Beatles

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Columbus Books (January 1, 1985) Dezo’s photos of John with a different title and a different cover to his other Lennon title

John Lennon by Dezo Hoffmann
John Lennon by Dezo Hoffmann

Do you have a personal favorite photo taken of the Beatles as a group or of an individual Beatle by Dezo Hoffmann?

Buzz

Posted on 2 Comments

JOHN LENNON – “MORE POPULAR THAN JESUS” ARTICLE

John Lennon’s blunt nature often displayed truth in the observation that he could be his own worst enemy at times, especially with his “More Popular Than Jesus” comments! Public relations were certainly not his area of expertise. That was more of Paul’s realm! Though some would argue that John’s airing of his viewpoints was one of their favorite Lennon qualities as they made people “think” about social problems rather than just blindly accepting them as normal aspects of everyday life. Some subjects are certainly more controversial than others and discussing them can often lead to spirited conflict. Well, the Beatles were not immune to controversial subjects during their tenure at the top of the musical hierarchy…

John Lennon, in the mid-sixties made a comment to journalist Maureen Cleave that many believed was taken out of context that the influence of religion on the youth was declining whereas the mass following the Beatles were receiving was having more of an impact on the youth culture at that particular point in time.

Though his religious comments did not have a significant impact in Europe when they were made to journalist Maureen Cleave, when the comments appeared in the States, quite the controversy ensued as there was burnings of Beatles records and threats made on the Beatles lives. No doubt that this contributed to the 1966 decision for the Beatles to stop their touring careers!

Here are a few items from my collection dealing with this controversy

The September and October issues of Datebook magazine


September 1966 issue – the Cleave interview appears in this issue:

John's More Popular Than Jesus Comments Appeared Here
John’s More Popular Than Jesus Comments Appeared Here

The October 1966 issue where the publisher defends Lennon’s comments:

An excerpt of the Datebook publishers letter surrounding the controversy:

Finally, the “I Apologize” LP put together to market the controversy. It contained a news conference surrounding the matter and interviews with individual band members. It was not a big seller! However, I did add a copy to the collection primarily because of all the heated conversations about the incident.

In your opinion, what was the most controversial aspect of the career of the Beatles? What event seemed to bother you the most?

Buzz

Discover More about John Lennon at The Beatles Bookstore

Posted on Leave a comment

Tell Me Why Podcast – Tim Hatfield

Tell Me Why

Join Jude and Tim Hatfield as they discuss his book on surviving the challenging times of CoVid (and beyond) with the

inspiration and hope in each The Beatles song!! 

Tell Me Why” with Tim Hatfield

Tell Me Why with Tim Hatfield

Get Tim’s Great book here

Discover Jude’s Fascinating John Lennon Series here

Posted on Leave a comment

“Tell Me Why” Podcast With Bruce Spizer

“A short, sharp podcast for busy Beatles People in-the-know!”

Tell Me Why
Bruce Spizer
Bruce Spizer

He has “music in his bones.” Actually, he has music everywhere – in records, in notes, in notes about records, and in books from the notes about the records…Bruce Spizer is The Beatles Music Man!

Enjoy this conversation about his latest release, The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night and More!

“Tell Me Why” with Bruce Spizer

Bruce Spizer Interview

Upcoming guests on “Tell Me Why”:

Roag Best

Tim Hatfield 

Caitlin Larkin

Jay Bergen

Remember to visit

The John Lennon Series 

and pre-order Some Forever, Shades of Life, Part 2 (Aug. 1965 – March 1966)

Book Release Party, March 28-30, 2025 at The New York Metro Fest for Beatles Fans!

Listen to a NEW chapter in the audiobook of Vol. 3 in The John Lennon Series, She Loves You here!

Narration and voices by Scott R. McKinley

Check Out Jude’s Books Here at The Beatles Bookstore

Jude Kessler
Jude Kessler