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Solo forums => John Lennon => Topic started by: Xose on November 08, 2010, 12:37:34 PM

Title: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on November 08, 2010, 12:37:34 PM
After hard research, I think I have found the maker of John Lennon Spanish guitar: Mayoral, from Barcelona...

[/url](http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/6654/etiquetaiii.jpg) (http://img530.imageshack.us/i/etiquetaiii.jpg/)

(http://img576.imageshack.us/img576/3389/etiquetaii.jpg)[url=http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/6930/etiqueta.jpg]http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/6930/etiqueta.jpg (http://img576.imageshack.us/i/etiquetaii.jpg/)[/img][/url](http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/6930/etiqueta.jpg)[/url]

(http://img.anuncios.ebay.es/fd/ab/fdabaee608c3186d7b76d2b10a9167cc/guitarra-espanola-flamenca-mayoral-ano-1988_big.jpg)

(http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/4161/l114950116401.jpg) (http://img295.imageshack.us/i/l114950116401.jpg/)

What does this mean?? Amongst many other interesting facts, this means that Beatles Monthly Book August 1965 statement that the guitar was purchasing at Hotel Fénix in Madrid directly to the maker, on 2 July 1965, is wrong: the guitar was purchased directly to the maker (=Mayoral) on 3 July 1965 at Avenida Palace Hotel in Barcelona (=and that explains why the guitar is seen on Lennon hands at Barcelona and not at Madrid...)

Best!! ;)

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Ligger on November 08, 2010, 01:57:38 PM
Great research, Xose. Don't stop.
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on November 08, 2010, 06:24:21 PM
Thank you Ligger!! ;)

No, I don't... ;)

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Bobber on November 08, 2010, 07:49:54 PM
A quest for the truth. Great job, Xose.
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on November 08, 2010, 08:58:03 PM
Thank you Bobber!! ;)

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on December 06, 2010, 09:20:38 PM
Got it!!! ;)

I wasn't easy, but I finally could find it. McCartney holding Lennon's Mayoral at their room in Hotel Avenida Palace, Barcelona, 3 July 1965:

(http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/964/maccawithmayoral.jpg) (http://img59.imageshack.us/i/maccawithmayoral.jpg/)

The photo was taken by the Spanish journalist Juanita Biarnés. She had flight with them from Madrid to Barcelona that day, and spent a few hours with them at the room. She even sang and danced some rumbas and sevillanas with them at the room!!

What does this mean?? This mean that, at that historical day, at least three Beatles played that guitar at that room:

Lennon:

(http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/68/johnlennonenhotelavenid.jpg) (http://img146.imageshack.us/i/johnlennonenhotelavenid.jpg/)

(http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/68/johnlennonenhotelavenid.jpg) (http://img185.imageshack.us/i/johnlennonenhotelavenid.jpg/)

(http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/8518/3jul1965enelhoteldebcni.jpg) (http://img42.imageshack.us/i/3jul1965enelhoteldebcni.jpg/)

Harrison:

(http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/3861/ghconguitespdejlenbcn.jpg) (http://img502.imageshack.us/i/ghconguitespdejlenbcn.jpg/)

And McCartney...

Best!! ;)

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on December 06, 2010, 09:22:03 PM
The guitar is also partially seen here:

(http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/1396/19062435.jpg) (http://img828.imageshack.us/i/19062435.jpg/)

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: nimrod on December 06, 2010, 11:15:36 PM
amazing mate....dont know where you get those pictures from  ???
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on December 07, 2010, 01:16:54 AM
amazing mate....dont know where you get those pictures from  ???

Hard research, my friend, hard research... and A Little Help From My Friends... ;)

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: nimrod on December 07, 2010, 06:46:40 AM
Hard research, my friend, hard research... and A Little Help From My Friends... ;)

Xosé

Well Xosé, well done and thanks for sharing.  :)
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on December 07, 2010, 08:32:27 AM
Well Xosé, well done and thanks for sharing.  :)


Thank you nimrod!! ;)

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on December 11, 2010, 04:18:31 PM
Quote from: Xosé
Got it!!!  ;)

It wasn't easy, but I finally could find it. McCartney holding Lennon's Mayoral at their room in Hotel Avenida Palace, Barcelona, 3 July 1965:

([url]http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/964/maccawithmayoral.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://img59.imageshack.us/i/maccawithmayoral.jpg/[/url])

The photo was taken by the Spanish journalist Juanita Biarnés. She had flight with them from Madrid to Barcelona that day, and spent a few hours with them at the room. She even sang and danced some rumbas and sevillanas with them at the room!!...


From the same report, I'm including some paragraphs, together with my English translation (=I beg your pardon for the mistakes!!  :-[ ):

(http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4327/albniz.jpg) (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/albniz.jpg/)

"...John didn't stop playing the Spanish guitar all the time; mostly Spanish classical pieces. They talk to me about Albéniz works..."

(http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/5486/discosdeflamenco.jpg) (http://img683.imageshack.us/i/discosdeflamenco.jpg/)

"...They take with themselves [back to England] a Spanish guitar, a book about bullfighting and, above all, flamenco recordings...."

(http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4134/antologa.jpg) (http://img139.imageshack.us/i/antologa.jpg/)

"...They like the Flamenco very much; I also have sent to them the Antología del Cante Flamenco (http://www.scribd.com/doc/26173769/Antologia-Del-Cante-Flamenco). They want to do some songs with Spanish cadenza,.."

VERY interesting...

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on December 20, 2010, 12:17:20 AM
(http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4327/albniz.jpg) (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/albniz.jpg/)

"...John didn't stop playing the Spanish guitar all the time; mostly Spanish classical pieces. They talk to me about Albéniz works..."

At the 'Get Back' sessions, 8 February 1969, Lennon plays with his Casino the riff of 'Malagueña', by Lecuona (=excuse me, but I don't know how to upload here the mp3, and I haven't find that piece on youtube...)

My guess is that 'Albéniz piece' Lennon played on his Spanish guitar at Avenida Palace Hotel in Barcelona, on 3 July 1965, was in fact Lecuona's 'Malagueña'...

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on December 20, 2010, 11:53:40 AM
BTW: could be, perhaps, 'Asturias' the most widely known Albéniz piece played with guitar outside Spain at those days?? (=first half of sixties...)

Best!! ;)

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Bobber on December 21, 2010, 08:29:11 AM
At the 'Get Back' sessions, 8 February 1969, Lennon plays with his Casino the riff of 'Malagueña', by Lecuona (=excuse me, but I don't know how to upload here the mp3, and I haven't find that piece on youtube...)

I believe the Get Back sessions were over by the end of January. So what session is this exactly?
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on December 21, 2010, 08:40:10 AM
8 February 1969. Twickenham...

Best!! ;)

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on January 03, 2011, 12:54:06 PM
I have just spoken to Juanita Biarnés on the phone. A wonderful lady (=she is 75 years old now...)

Some facts she has told me:

"...I went to the room before their gig. The guitar had arrived there before me. The guitar was handed to them by one of their bodyguards. They were all the time asking me about Spanish music, flamenco, etc. They asked me to play palmas (=handclaps). I sent the Antología del Cante Flamenco vinyls box to their office in London, a few days after. They mentioned Albéniz, but they didn't play any Albéniz piece. They were playing only chords and things like that with the guitar. From what I could understand (=I didn't understand English very well at those days) they were absolutely amazed with the guitar sound. The guitar seemed to them an instrument with a marvelous sound..."

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on April 26, 2011, 03:46:01 PM
Juanita Biarnés:

"...They purchased several copies of Toros y toreros, by Picasso and Luis Miguel Dominguín. As they couldn't get all the copies they wanted, they asked me to send them a few more back to England..."

(http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/904/picassotorosytoreros.jpg) (http://img130.imageshack.us/i/picassotorosytoreros.jpg/)

it's interesting what the Beatles took along with them from Spain, back to England:

- A Spanish guitar (=the Mayoral..)

- A copy of the Antología del Cante Flamenco (=sent by Juanita Biarnés to their London office...):

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NAo0Y5Xk0z8/SwXRCB1w_MI/AAAAAAAACPU/wQ3Y84FScug/s1600/Antologia1957r.jpg)

- Several copies of Toros y Toreros, by Picasso and Luis Miguel Dominguín...

- And some Cordobese hats:

(http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/7073/policas.jpg) (http://img823.imageshack.us/i/policas.jpg/)

(http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4391/policasii.jpg) (http://img148.imageshack.us/i/policasii.jpg/)

Lennon played wearing that hat in Barcelona, and there is a photo at the airport, on his arrival to London, with the same hat (=and Ringo also wears a Cordobés hat):

(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a326/talanca/PIX/Lnd5.jpg)

And some monteras and Flamenco dolls as well:

(http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/1272/conmonteras.jpg) (http://img854.imageshack.us/i/conmonteras.jpg/)

(http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/1200/muecasflamencas.jpg) (http://img855.imageshack.us/i/muecasflamencas.jpg/)

(http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/9119/muecasflamencasii.jpg) (http://img840.imageshack.us/i/muecasflamencasii.jpg/)

(http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/9479/muecasflamencasiii.jpg) (http://img683.imageshack.us/i/muecasflamencasiii.jpg/)

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on December 15, 2011, 10:34:19 AM
The Grammy Award for Revolver, the drawings for the Bee Gees' 1st LP and John Lennon's Mayoral guitar are there:

(http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/1382/imageovp.jpg)

(http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/3089/imageujq.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/808/imageujq.jpg/)

(http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/6886/imagepsl.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/imagepsl.jpg/)

(http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/9342/etiquetamejor.jpg) (http://img820.imageshack.us/i/etiquetamejor.jpg/)(http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/8091/etiquetaypuentebcn.jpg) (http://img836.imageshack.us/i/almeria19663.jpg/)

But the question is: Lennon's home or Voormann's one??

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on December 15, 2011, 10:35:44 AM
The Grammy Award for Revolver, the drawings for the Bee Gees' 1st LP and John Lennon's Mayoral guitar are there:

([url]http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/1382/imageovp.jpg[/url])[/url]

([url]http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/3089/imageujq.jpg[/url])

[url=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/imagepsl.jpg/]([url]http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/6886/imagepsl.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/808/imageujq.jpg/[/url])

([url]http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/9342/etiquetamejor.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://img820.imageshack.us/i/etiquetamejor.jpg/[/url])([url]http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/8091/etiquetaypuentebcn.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://img836.imageshack.us/i/almeria19663.jpg/[/url])

But the question is: Lennon's home or Voormann's one??

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Ken Wood on December 15, 2011, 02:31:16 PM
I`d say Voorman`s - for some vague reasons:
a) why should he take all this stuff to John to have a photo taken?
b) I don`t recognize this room as being in one of John`s places (though I don`t claim I know all of John`s rooms)
Kenwoodlennon might be able to answer the room question: http://kenwoodlennon.blogspot.com/ (http://kenwoodlennon.blogspot.com/)

I think there is a bit about this guitar in Voorman´s book.
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on December 15, 2011, 02:40:28 PM
Hello Ken,

Thank you very much for your reply...

I`d say Voorman`s - for some vague reasons...

Excellent...

This confirms what Voormann himself told me time ago: they used to change guitars amongst themselves by then...

...I think there is a bit about this guitar in Voorman´s book.

Aha... This is very interesting.

Unfirtunately, I don't have a copy of that book. What does he say about this guitar??

Best!! ;)

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Ken Wood on December 15, 2011, 04:53:33 PM
I`ll try to look it up tonight - remind me should I forget to!
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Ken Wood on December 17, 2011, 11:26:10 AM
Well, I guess I was wrong.
I read this books quite a while ago and some parts again just recently - now I browsed through it in search for guitar-stories, two caught my attention:
- George borrowed one of his first Gretsch`s to Klaus to keep as long as he wants
- Klaus visits John (around the time of the composing of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" and while he waits for John he grabs one of his guitars and plays a bit.
But I couldn`t find anything about John giving the spanish guitar to Klaus.
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on December 17, 2011, 02:54:42 PM
Hello Ken,

Thanks A LOT for your help!! ;)

Anyway, it's very interesting to see Lennon's Spanish guitar at Voormann's (=London??) flat by..., early 1967?

Best!! ;)

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on February 17, 2015, 03:44:06 PM
Hello my friends,

...this means that Beatles Monthly Book August 1965 statement ..

Does anyone here have a copy of that Beatles Monthly Book issue?

Thanks in advance and very best wishes from Spain!!

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Bobber on February 17, 2015, 05:19:04 PM
I believe I have them all digital.
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: KelMar on February 17, 2015, 07:00:22 PM
Hello my friends,

Does anyone here have a copy of that Beatles Monthly Book issue?

Thanks in advance and very best wishes from Spain!!

Xosé



Xosé, this is all I could find in the August 1965 Beatles Monthly regarding John's guitar purchase in Spain:


(http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee372/KelMar1963/beatlebook_Aug_1965_zps48bad74d.jpg)

I will look again later to be sure!
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Bobber on February 17, 2015, 07:36:38 PM

Xosé, this is all I could find in the August 1965 Beatles Monthly regarding John's guitar purchase in Spain:


You beat me to it!  ;D
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: KelMar on February 18, 2015, 07:07:09 AM
You beat me to it!  ;D

LOL I wasn't sure how handy those files were for you to access. I have a link to them right on my desktop.
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Xose on February 18, 2015, 08:44:32 AM

Xosé, this is all I could find in the August 1965 Beatles Monthly regarding John's guitar purchase in Spain:...

Excellent, In My Life... Thank you very much!! ;)

Xosé
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: KelMar on February 18, 2015, 06:47:49 PM
You're very welcome Xosé!
Title: Re: John Lennon Spanish guitar
Post by: Bobber on February 22, 2015, 11:11:50 AM
Is it a mystery now that the Monthly mentions Madrid as well?