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Author Topic: May Pang's Picturebook  (Read 9638 times)

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Bobber

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May Pang's Picturebook
« on: January 21, 2008, 03:19:55 PM »


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Paul Doherty

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Re: May Pang's Picturebook
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2008, 04:46:40 PM »

May is nice...fair play to her.
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harihead

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Re: May Pang's Picturebook
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2008, 04:34:04 PM »

I'm not sure if this belongs here or under the Beatles books thread--

A write-up of some of the contents of May Pang's new book here, complete with photos and interesting anecdotes: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=513300&in_page_id=1879

A good one:

THE FINAL CONTRACT

At the end of 1974, after three years of court battles and acrimony, the final dissolution of The Beatles was about to happen.

The meeting was scheduled for December 19 at New York's Plaza Hotel - ironically, this was the first place the group stayed in America in 1964.

George Harrison was in New York on his Dark Horse tour. Paul and Linda McCartney came in, and of course John and I were already in the city. Only Ringo was missing, but he had signed the documents in England.

Julian was with us for the Christmas holiday and all was calm, all was bright. John was even planning to join George on stage during his concert at Madison Square Garden.

Gathered around a huge table were George, his lawyer and business manager; the McCartneys, with Paul's in-laws and lawyers; Ringo's lawyer and business manager; Neil Aspinall, of Apple, with two sets of company lawyers (one for America and one for Britain); and John's lawyer Harold Seider and his team.

Harold told me that after a while, George said out loud what everyone was thinking: "Where's John?"

"Good question," replied Harold. Harold left the room to call John, who wouldn't come to the phone.

I was with John and it was up to me to tell Harold he had decided not to attend the meeting. Although John was concerned with shouldering a major tax burden because he lived in the United States, I could sense there was a bit more on his mind. His official reason for not showing was 'the stars aren't right'.

George, already in a dour mood because his tour was getting poor reviews, went ballistic. He started yelling at Harold, as did all the other lawyers in the room.

Then George picked up the phone and called John. I answered and asked if he wanted John, but he barked, "No! Just tell him whatever his problem is, I started this tour on my own and I'll end it on my own!" before slamming down the receiver. John was listening over my shoulder.

George's rage didn't last long. Julian went to George's concert the next day and returned home with a message saying: "All's forgiven, George loves you and he wants you to come to his party tonight."

We did go to the party at the Hippopotamus Club, where George, John, and Paul all hugged.

John, Julian and I left New York the following day to spend Christmas in Florida. On December 29, 1974, the voluminous documents were brought down to John in Florida by one of Apple's lawyers.

"Take out your camera," he joked to me. Then he called Harold to go over some final points.

When John hung up the phone, he looked wistfully out the window. I could almost see him replaying the entire Beatles experience in his mind.

He finally picked up his pen and, in the unlikely backdrop of the Polynesian Village Hotel at Disney World, ended the greatest rock 'n' roll band in history by simply scrawling John Lennon at the bottom of the page.



Extracted from Instamatic Karma: Photographs Of John Lennon by May Pang to be published in the United States by St Martin's Press on March 4. A limited signed edition will be available in the UK later this year - for details visit www.instamatickarma.co.uk.

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Bobber

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Re: May Pang's Picturebook
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2008, 06:24:55 PM »

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alexis

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Re: May Pang's Picturebook
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2008, 06:42:34 PM »

Thank you Hari for a most interesting read. I love the link with the pics. The one with Paul and John just vegging on the boat somehow made me both happy and sad at the same time ...

I wonder a bit about how much artistic license she takes with her writing. In the passage you excerpted, she seemed to be in two places at once ... hearing George and everyone else in the room yelling at John's lawyer, and also at the other end of the phone with John. Good ears, obviously!

Either way, a great post to read ... thanks again!
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Alexis

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Re: May Pang's Picturebook
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2008, 08:09:02 PM »

Sounds interesting. I'll have to pick it up  :)
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harihead

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Re: May Pang's Picturebook
« Reply #6 on: February 13, 2008, 03:47:28 AM »

Thanks for moving this to the right thread, Bobber! It does sound like a fun read. I enjoyed her first book very much.
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All you've got to do is choose love.  That's how I live it now.  I learned a long time ago, I can feed the birds in my garden.  I can't feed them all. -- Ringo Starr, Rolling Stone magazine, May 2007<br />

Bobber

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Re: May Pang's Picturebook
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2008, 10:51:09 PM »

It arrived today. Looks pretty good at first sight. Indeed John doesn't look unhappy at all during this so-called Lost Weekend. He looks relaxed and alright, joking around with friends and relatives. Some interesting pictures taken in the Beach House of Paul and Ringo and even one of them together. I'll try to make good snapshots and post them here if anyone is interested.
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harihead

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Re: May Pang's Picturebook
« Reply #8 on: March 18, 2008, 11:32:38 PM »

Quote from: 63
I'll try to make good snapshots and post them here if anyone is interested.
"if anyone is interested", he says casually.

Yes. Yes, I think a person here or there may be interested.

SQUEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't realize it was out there yet. I must get a copy!

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All you've got to do is choose love.  That's how I live it now.  I learned a long time ago, I can feed the birds in my garden.  I can't feed them all. -- Ringo Starr, Rolling Stone magazine, May 2007<br />

alexis

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Re: May Pang's Picturebook
« Reply #9 on: March 19, 2008, 01:07:25 AM »

Quote from: 63
It arrived today. Looks pretty good at first sight. Indeed John doesn't look unhappy at all during this so-called Lost Weekend. He looks relaxed and alright, joking around with friends and relatives. Some interesting pictures taken in the Beach House of Paul and Ringo and even one of them together. I'll try to make good snapshots and post them here if anyone is interested.


Umm, please sir, may I see one or two if you would sir, please?

 :) :)
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I love John,
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I love them all!

Alexis

Bobber

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Re: May Pang's Picturebook
« Reply #10 on: March 19, 2008, 08:23:46 AM »

Mmm, well alright. I'll see what I can do.
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Bobber

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Re: May Pang's Picturebook
« Reply #11 on: March 19, 2008, 08:52:19 PM »

Some snapshots. Not very good quality, but just to give an impression:

Paul at the piano at the beach house:



Paul and Ringo (I thought that Keith Badman wrote that they didn't met at the beach house, but I might be wrong. Obviously they did:)





John finally signing the papers to end The Beatles:


Julian and Mal Evans in Disneyland:


I haven't read the book itself yet, but judging from the pictures, John gives a relaxed impression, looking for a way to find a new balance in his life with friends and family. One really wonders how Yoko tempted him to come back. You could of course answer 'love', but there are lots of other answers as well...
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Bobber

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Re: May Pang's Picturebook
« Reply #12 on: March 20, 2008, 02:20:19 PM »

Quoted chapter 'the dream is over':

"After three years of court battles, public and private arcimony, and millions of dollars, the final dissolution of The Beatles was about to happen. With just a few more kinks to iron out, the dissolution meeting was set to take place at the Plaza Hotel in New York City - ironically, the first place the group stayed in America in 1964 (and just a short walk from our apartment).
It was scheduled for December 19, 1974, when George would be in New York on his Dark Horse tour. Paul and Linda came in, and of course John and I were already here. Julian was with us for the Christmas holidays, and for the moment, all was calm, all was bright. John was even planning to join George on stage at Madison Square Garden.
At the Plaza, George, with his lawyer, David Braun, and business manager, Denis O'Brien; the McCartneys, with Paul's in-laws and lawyers, Lee and John Eastman; Ringo's lawyer, Bruce Grakal, and business manager, Hilary Gerrard; and Neil Aspinall, with two teams of lawyers for Apple (one for the U.S. and one for the U.K.) gathered around a very large table to get all the signatures on te paperwork dissolving the partnership. Ringo wasn't there because he was ducking a subpoena from Allen Klein, but he had already signed the documents back in England. They had him on long distance to confirm he was 'alive'. John's lawyer and advisor, Harold Seider, was there along with his team, David Dolgenos and Michael Graham. Paul and Linda had a camera set up to document the historic occasion.
Harold told me that after a while, George said out loud what everyone was thinking: "Well, where's John?"
"Good question", replied Harold, who was wondering himself.
Harold left the room to call John, who wouldn't get on the phone. I was home with John. It was up to me to tell Harold that John had decided not to go to the meeting at The Plaza. Although John was concerned with shouldering a major tax burden because he lived in the United States, I could sense there was a little bit more on his mind. His official reason for not showing was "the stars aren't right."
George, already in a dour mood because his tour was getting poor reviews and his voice was shot, went ballistic. He started yelling at Harold and blamed him for John not coming. Soon, all the other lawyers erupted at Harold. George then picked up the phone and called John, but got me. I asked if he wanted John, and he barked, "No! Just tell him whatever his problem is, I started this tour on my own and I'll end it on my own!" and slammed the phone down. John was listening over my shoulder. Paul and Linda came by the next day, realizing John was upset with the proposed deal. Paul assured John "we'll work it all out."
George's rage didn't last long. When Julian went to George's concert the next day, Neil Aspinall, John, and I went to talk with Lee Eastman, Linda's father. While there, Julian called with a message from George: "All's forgiven, George loves you and he wants you to come to his party tonight." We did go to the party at Hippopotamus Club, where George, John and Paul hugged. John, Julian, and I left New York the following day to spend Christmas in West Palm Beach, Florida.
On December 29, 1974, the voluminous documents were brought down to John in Florida by one of Apple's lawyers. "Take out your camera, Linda", he joked to me. Then he called Harold Seider to go over some final points.
When John hung up the phone, he looked wistfully out the window. I could almost see him replaying the entire Beatles experience in his mind.
He finally picked up his pen and, in the unlikely backdrop of Disney World, at the Polynesian Village Hotel, officially ended the greatest rock 'n' roll band in history by simply scrawling 'John Lennon' at the bottom of the page.
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Kevin

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Re: May Pang's Picturebook
« Reply #13 on: March 20, 2008, 02:58:59 PM »

Cool. It's a shame that May doesn't give any insight into the real question - what was John's state of mind that day? She offers a few teasing glimpses, but is either staying schtum or John kept her at  a greater distance than he did his ex-bandmates.
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Bobber

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Re: May Pang's Picturebook
« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2008, 03:26:48 PM »

I was wondering exact the same thing. "Something else on his mind". But what? I read in Cynthia Lennon's book that she was in New York that same day and even joined May, John and Julian to Disneyland. How to deal with his ex-wife might have been on his mind.
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harihead

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Re: May Pang's Picturebook
« Reply #15 on: March 21, 2008, 05:19:49 PM »

Quote
Julian called with a message from George: "All's forgiven, George loves you and he wants you to come to his party tonight." We did go to the party at Hippopotamus Club, where George, John and Paul hugged.
Good for Julian! This was the last time George saw John in person, I believe.
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All you've got to do is choose love.  That's how I live it now.  I learned a long time ago, I can feed the birds in my garden.  I can't feed them all. -- Ringo Starr, Rolling Stone magazine, May 2007<br />

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A Fond Look at Lennon’s ‘Lost Weekend’
« Reply #16 on: April 05, 2010, 09:13:32 PM »

An old but interesting article...

By ALLAN KOZINN
Published: March 12, 2008

Published: March 12, 2008

If there’s one thing that May Pang has been fighting for the last 28 years, it’s the idea that John Lennon was depressed, isolated and out of control during the 18 months she lived with him, from the summer of 1973 to early 1975, when he reconciled with his second wife, Yoko Ono.

Lennon himself fostered that notion by referring to the time as his “Lost Weekend” in interviews he gave in 1980, when he released “Double Fantasy,” a joint album with Ms. Ono that was his return to music-making after five years’ silence. And lurid, oft-repeated tales of a drunken Lennon’s being evicted from the Troubadour, a nightclub in Los Angeles, seemed to support that image.

But to Ms. Pang, now 57, the “Lost Weekend” was a remarkably productive time, during which Lennon completed three albums — “Mind Games,” “Walls and Bridges” and “Rock ’n’ Roll” — produced songs for Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson, and recorded with David Bowie, Elton John and Mick Jagger. And having already detailed these experiences (along with the Troubadour expulsions and other dark moments) in “Loving John,” her 1983 memoir, Ms. Pang has returned with the photographic evidence.

Her new book, “Instamatic Karma” (St. Martin’s Press), is a 140-page collection of casual photos that Ms. Pang took during her time with Lennon. Apart from a handful included in “Loving John” — cropped and in black and white, but mostly printed in full and rich color here — she has kept them in a shoe box in her closet, occasionally pulling them out to show friends.

“I began to think about publishing them just in the last couple of years,” Ms. Pang said on Monday at her publisher’s office in the Flatiron Building. “A friend of mine kept saying, ‘You tell all these stories about John, and when you do, you say, “Wait a minute, I have a photo to go along with that!” How come we never see these photos in a book?’ So, I thought maybe it’s time to put them out. It would let people see John in that world, through my eyes. And it would get rid of that whole ‘Lost Weekend’ thing, where everyone says he was always down and looked terrible. I don’t think these photos appear that way.”

They don’t: in the pages of “Instamatic Karma” — the title is a play on Lennon’s song “Instant Karma” — Lennon looks relaxed and happy, and is seen spending time with his first son, Julian, as well as with some famous friends, among them Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Nilsson and Keith Moon. He is shown working in the recording studio, swimming in Long Island Sound, clowning around in Central Park and visiting Disney World.

“They are personal and unique and very touching,” said Cynthia Lennon, Lennon’s first wife, who flew to New York from her home in Mallorca, Spain, to be the host of Ms. Pang’s publication party at the Cutting Room on Tuesday. Ms. Lennon got to know Ms. Pang when she escorted her son, Julian, on two of his four trips to visit his father while he was living with Ms. Pang.

“It’s lovely for me to look back, especially with Julian in these photographs,” she said. “But I’m here just because May is a good friend of mine and has been since we met.”

Ms. Pang arranged her book by subject instead of chronologically, with four chapters labeled “At Home,” “At Play,” “At Work” and “Away.” To her regret, she did miss a few famous moments. The March 28, 1974, Los Angeles jam session that included Lennon, Nilsson, Mr. McCartney and Stevie Wonder, for example, was not documented.

But Ms. Pang did capture one momentous event: Lennon’s signing the agreement that dissolved the Beatles’ partnership on Dec. 29, 1974.

After four years’ negotiation, the Beatles had agreed — or appeared to have — on the terms governing their formal split, and a meeting had been arranged at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan on Dec. 19. George Harrison was performing at Madison Square Garden that night; Mr. McCartney had flown in from London; and Mr. Starr, having signed the document earlier, was on the telephone.

At the last minute, Lennon objected to a clause that he felt would create tax problems for him (as the only Beatle living in the United States), and decided not to attend. Harrison, furious, canceled plans for Lennon to join him onstage at Madison Square Garden, but Mr. McCartney turned up at the East 52nd Street apartment that Lennon and Ms. Pang shared to discuss the sticking point.

Ten days later, when Lennon, Julian and Ms. Pang were at Disney World, a lawyer bearing the revised contract turned up, and Lennon asked Ms. Pang to take out her camera. As Ms. Pang describes the scene in “Instamatic Karma,” Lennon had a last-minute telephone conference with his own lawyer

“When John hung up the phone,” she writes, “he looked wistfully out the window. I could almost see him replaying the entire Beatles experience.” Ms. Pang then photographed him signing just beneath the clearly legible signatures of Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Richard Starkey (Mr. Starr’s real name), the shutter clicking between the “h” and “n” of his first name.

Given that Lennon had been particularly militant about leaving the Beatles in 1969, it might seem odd to learn that he did so wistfully. Not to Ms. Pang.

“Everybody changes,” she said. “With John things changed on a daily basis. It’s a question of time. Five years earlier was not the same situation. In 1974 he had just seen everyone. The friendship was still there. They were brothers. There was no animosity. And even though they all felt they had to break up to get to the next level of their musical careers, John had started this band that changed the world. It changed pop culture. It changed how we live and how we dress. And he knew that. So when he sat down to sign, he knew that this was it. His was the last signature. As he had started the group, he was the one to end it.”


Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/arts/music/12pang.html?_r=1&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/S/Starr,%20Ringo

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"John was the best. I loved John. He was fine singer, a fine musician and he was a fine friend." -Ringo
“He's (Ringo) every bloody bit as warm, unassuming, funny, and kind as he seems. He was quite simply the heart of the Beatles.” – John
 

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