Tag: John Lennon

As stated on numerous occasions in the past I also love to collect signatures of people that played a notable role or part of an interesting side story to the Beatles tale. I recently acquired these signatures for the collection as a few examples.

Timothy Leary – the Harvard professor that advocated for the therapeutic use of LSD. Mentioned in the song “Give Peace a Chance”, and he and his wife were at the John and Yoko Bed-In where the song was premiered. Leary also asked John to write a campaign song for him which evolved into “Come Together.” Leary was not too pleased with the resulting situation and the track was to become the leadoff track for Abbey Road. Timothy Leary passed away in 1996.

Timothy Leary – Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Timothy Leary’s signature in the book:

Allen Ginsberg , a friend of Yoko’s and a beat poet of the ’60s. He is also mentioned in “Give Peace a Chance” and was at many of John and Yoko’s happenings. Allen also did an unusual performance with Paul McCartney called “The Ballad of the Skeletons” which has been posted by someone on YouTube.

Allen Ginsberg and Paul McCartney playing “A Ballad of American Skeletons” – YouTube

Ginsberg passed away in 1997

Allen Ginsberg – Wikipedia

Here is a signed Ginsberg book that I acquired for my collection:

Baseball signed by Beat era poet:

Lawrence Ferlinghetti 

A signed poem about baseball written by Lawrence Ferlinghetti that I purchased. The poem is about his passion for baseball and the San Francisco Giants!

Ferlinghetti passed away in 2021 and was over 100 years old at his passing.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti – Wikipedia

A signed baseball poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti to accompany the signed baseball:

Passing away at the age of 101, Ferlinghetti was one of the most renowned radical poets produced in America. Ferlinghetti published such well known Beat writers as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.

Noticed on this online site at the link below that he wrote a poem that mentions about John Lennon dying too soon and not being around anymore to give us the age-old answer to the question of “Why are we all here?”

A poem that mentions John Lennon dying too young “before he got to share “the answer” with all of us.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti Not Dying | CSB Website (christopherscottbuck.com)

Royston Ellis – UK beat poet from the early ’60s who passed away in February of 2023. His Wikipedia background which details with the inspiration he gave for the songs of Paperback Writer and Polythene Pam. His friendship with John Lennon is also discussed on the Wikipedia page. Mark Lewisohn has discounted Royston’s claim that it was he who suggested that the Beatles spell their name as BEATLES rather than BEETLES!

However, in David Bedford’s book, The Fab One Hundred and Four: The Evolution of The Beatles, Ellis explains how and when he mentioned to John Lennon that he should change the name from The Beetles to The Beatles.

Royston Ellis – Wikipedia

Royston Ellis with the Beatles on the island of Guernsey in 1963, three years after the poet and the rockers first crossed paths in Liverpool. (Emmalena Ellis) I assume that Emmalena Ellis is the curator of the Royston Ellis Estate and the owner of the Beatles/Ellid photo. It was during the time that this photograph was taken that the inspiration for Polythene Pam arose. You will need to seek out the answer to that mystery on the internet.

Though not the book “The Primal Scream” that inspired John to write and record the John Lennon “Plastic Ono Band” LP, I recently bought this book because I was able to obtain Arthur Janov’s signature in this book. As you are aware I try to collect the signatures of many of the people that played an important role in the Beatles or solo Beatles lives! Janov’s therapy helped to create what many music critics have called a masterpiece despite it’s lukewarm sales figures due to it’s stripped down production and emotional intensity! Janov died in 2017 at the age of 93. He will always be associated and known for the psychotherapy he provided for both John and Yoko!

Arthur Janov – Wikipedia

The album that Arthur Janov helped to inspire:

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Get Your Copy of The Fab One Hundred and Four: The Evolution of The Beatles

Though not related to Mal, there was another person with the surname of Evans that was to touch the lives of the Beatles – her name was Shirley Evans!

Shirley (Surely) you jest – or just play the Accordion!!!

As you are aware, as a collector of Beatles print-related material, I also collect the signatures of people that may have played a role, however small, in their story. When the Beatles did their Magical Mystery Tour movie, they also wrote some incidental music for the film that did not appear on the official recording. From her obituary in the Guardian written by Phil Davison written and posted on Sun Sep 2010 12.42 EDT:

“John Lennon wrote an instrumental in her honour, “Shirley’s Wild Accordion”, with Evans playing the accordion, Paul McCartney on maracas and yelling “Go on, Shirl!”, Ringo Starr on drums and Evans’s then husband, Reg Wale, on percussion. Intended for the Magical Mystery Tour film and album, it was recorded at the De Lane Lea studios, with Lennon credited as producer of a Beatles’ track for the first time. Although Lennon told Evans he hoped the track would make her a fortune, it was cut from the film. An unknown number of copies of “Shirley’s Wild Accordion” were pressed, but the track was never released and is believed to be still languishing in archives. It remains much sought after by Beatles completists.”

Someone since that obituary has posted her recording of the song on YouTube. Prior to her passing in 2010, Shirley had issued a CD a few years back that appeared on eBay and signed so I purchased it for the collection. It is packed away currently so unfortunately the signature can’t be shown on this particular post. Shirley appears on the Magical Mystery Tour Bus in the movie!

John watching Shirley as she records her bit for the movie (Not sure who took this photo-so if you can help with attribution, we can update with proper acknowledgement).

The Beatles – Shirley’s Wild Accordion (Stereo) Previously UNRELEASED! – YouTube

Bought this on eBay several years ago a cd that was signed by Shirley!

This bio summary was included in the cd package:

Here are some details about Shirley’s life: Accordion Memorials – Shirley Evans (accordions.com) According to some reports Shirley had written a book: According to the link above: “She had for many years lived in Florida, working as a show business agent. Prior to her passing, Shirley had written ‘The Beatles and Me – and Shirley’s Wild Accordion’, a book which is as yet, unpublished.”

What an amazing story! Had you heard of Shirley and her Accordion before?

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I remember writing to the publisher (WYMER) of sensationalist journalist DON SHORT several years ago inquiring about purchasing a signed copy of his book and I was successful in that venture as you can see in the pictures shown below. I am including photos of both the book and the signature on this post. Short was often given access to the Beatles through Brian Epstein and John Lennon often referred to him in many interviews that he gave over the years. Short wrote numerous articles about the Beatles including one very revealing story about John Lennon and his dad Freddie, when Short attempted to reconcile the two men. Mr. Short passed away in May of 2023.

A short biography (no pun  intended) appearing in Wikipedia

Don Short (journalist) – Wikipedia

Don Short’s bio published in 2020:

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wymer UK (March 20, 2020)

Cover of the book:

The signature of the late Don Short: According to Mr. Short’s note to me from 2020, I was apparently the first purchaser of the book in the United States.

The back cover of his book:

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