Nowhere Boy - Young John Lennon's biography

He got his passion for music from his mother. His uncle, George, gave him his first instrument, a harmonica, his mother, Julia, his first rock and roll lessons, his aunt, Mimi, his first 7 pounds guitar and Paul his first notions of musical notes and the dream of having their own songs and recordings. The witty sense of humor, his defiance, fierceness and his intelligence did the rest. Although uncle George and Julia left him early, Mimi took care of him for the rest of his life. As the ending of the film says: “John called Mimi as soon as he arrived in Hamburg… and every week thereafter for the rest of his life”.

"Nowhere boy" is the story of a troubled adolescence, with questions and no answers, with great talent and no direction. John Lennon is torn between his joyful mother and his rigid aunt, both concealing secrets or feelings. But when music came into his life, he found his way. The introduction of music into his existence was underlined at the beginning of the film by the wire that John and his uncle installed into his room, for listening to the radio.

I found the movie powerful, witty, vivid, exactly as I expected it to be. A very interesting fact was that the name of the band, "The Beatles", was never mentioned in the movie, maybe to highlight that the film is only about the "nowhere boy".

Strengths: Aaron Johnson was perfect for playing such a complex character as John Lennon and I particularly appreciated him for having the looks, attitude and tone of voice of John.

Weaknesses: no Beatles songs :); Paul and George do not resemble at all with the real ones (last picture, the second and the fourth from left); some details are not so exact: for example, I know that Julia Lennon was killed while riding a bike and the movie shows no sign of bikes.

All in all, you must see it!



Pictures in comparison :)


John Lennon




John Lennon (Nowhere boy)




John Lennon and Aunt Mimi




Aunt Mimi (Nowhere boy)



The Quarrymen



The Quarrymen (Nowhere boy)



The Quarrymen (Nowhere boy)

Do you want to know a secret? - the story behind the song

This is a love song written by John Lennon and based on a song his mother would sing to him as a child (photo): "Want to know a secret? Promise not to tell? We are standing by a wishing well." ("I'm Wishing" from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs movie).

Although rumors have persisted that John wrote this song about his girlfriend Cynthia, whom he'd just married, evidence remains inconclusive. It is true that he'd gotten her pregnant and was urged by Brian to marry her, yet keep the marriage a secret so as to make him appear available to female fans. But whether the "secret" in question is that John has decided he loves Cynthia, or that their marriage is the secret, is hard to tell. For his part, Lennon always treated it as a generic love song in interviews.

This was given to George to sing and was the first recorded Beatles song not sung by John or Paul. It was not, however, written specifically for him. (George and Ringo were often given songs to sing in the early days, so as to reach out to their individual fans.) John has said that "I thought it would be a good vehicle for him, because it had only three notes and he wasn't the best singer in the world." :)

The Beatles and their loved ones

This video says more than words:

Like father, like son! - The Beatles

Take a look :)

Sean / John Lennon

Dhani/ George Harrison

James / Paul McCartney

Ringo Starr/ Zak

What do George Harrison and Eric Clapton have in common? Pattie Boyd!

Pattie Boyd is an English model and photographer and the former wife of both George Harrison (1966 - 1974) and Eric Clapton (1979 - 1989). She was the inspiration for love songs written by both musicians, Harrison's, "Something", "For You Blue" and "Isn't It a Pity", and Clapton's "Layla", "Wonderful Tonight" and "Bell Bottom Blues".

She remembers her relationship with George:

"I had met George six years previously, in 1964, when he was filming A Hard Day's Night. Britain and most of Europe was in the grip of Beatlemania. On first impressions, John seemed more cynical and brash than the others, Ringo the most endearing, Paul was cute and George, with velvet-brown eyes and dark chestnut hair, was the best-looking man I had ever seen. At a break for lunch I found myself sitting next to him. Being close to him was electrifying.

Almost the first thing he said to me was: 'Will you marry me?' He was joking but there was a hint of seriousness. We got together soon after that and married two years later on January 21, 1966. I was 21, he was 22. I was so happy and so much in love. I thought we would be together and happy for ever.

Three years later, in 1969, George wrote a song called Something. He told me in a matter-of-fact way that he had written it for me. I thought it was beautiful and it turned out to be the most successful song he ever wrote, with more than 150 cover versions. Frank Sinatra said he thought it was the best love song ever written. George's favourite version was the one by James Brown. Mine was the one by George Harrison, which he played to me in our kitchen.

But, in fact, by then our relationship was in trouble. Since a trip to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in India in 1968, George had become obsessive about meditation. He was also sometimes withdrawn and depressed.

And there were other women, which really hurt me. George was fascinated by the god Krishna who was always surrounded by young maidens. He came back from India wanting to be some kind of Krishna figure, a spiritual being with lots of concubines. He actually said so.

It was around this time that Eric began to come over to our house. He and George had become close friends, writing and recording music together. Eric's guitar playing was held in awe by his fellow musicians. He was an incredibly exciting performer to watch. He looked wonderful on stage, very sexy.

But when I met him he didn't behave like a rock star - he was surprisingly shy and reticent. I was aware that Eric found me attractive and I enjoyed the attention he paid me. It was hard not to be flattered when I caught him staring at me or when he chose to sit beside me. He complimented me on what I was wearing and the food I had cooked, and he said things he knew would make me laugh. Those were all things that George no longer did."

So, she begins to see Eric Clapton:

"We met secretly at a flat in South Kensington. Eric Clapton had asked me to come because he wanted me to listen to a new number he had written. He switched on the tape machine, turned up the volume and played me the most powerful, moving song I had ever heard. It was Layla, about a man who falls hopelessly in love with a woman who loves him but is unavailable.

I was married to Eric's close friend, George Harrison, but Eric had been making his desire for me clear for months. I felt uncomfortable that he was pushing me in a direction in which I wasn't certain I wanted to go. But with the realisation that I had inspired such passion and creativity, the song got the better of me. I could resist no longer."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-473174/Pattie-Boyd-My-hellish-love-triangle-George-Eric--Part-One.html

About her book, "Worderful Today": http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0755316428/ref=sib_rdr_dp