Confessions of a Rock ‘n’ Roll Name Dropper: My Life Leading Up to John Lennon’s Last Interview, released December 8, 2023, is Laurie Kaye’s 219-page memoir about her career in radio and the many rock stars she interviewed. The central focus of the book is her extraordinary experience interviewing John Lennon on December 8, 1980, hours before he was shot and killed. Referring to it as the “best day of her life and also the worst”, it has taken her decades to decide to write out her memories.
Note: This article was originally published in March 2007 on Daytrippin’s website.
[Text Copyright 2007 by Dayrippin’;Photos copyright by Julia Baird]
My discussion with Julia Baird occurred on Tuesday, March 20, 2007, just as her new book, Imagine This: Growing Up with My Brother John Lennon was released in the UK. Having gotten a copy and devouring it with rapt interest, I’m grateful at the opportunity to interview her for Daytrippin’.
Background
Julia Baird was John Lennon’s half-sister, and her story about their childhood is riveting as she discloses for the first time, the family secrets that were kept hidden so many years. The shocking truth as to why John went to live with his Aunt Mimi instead of their mother, Julia Lennon, was never revealed until the mid-1990s. The confusion about John’s childhood caused him emotional distress throughout his life, and it was a theme in his music many times.
In recent years Julia’s tireless research and persistent questions of family members and neighbors finally began to pay off. She learned of the concocted stories that were devised by Aunt Mimi when John became famous, to sacrifice Julia Lennon’s character and conceal her own wrongdoings. These misconceptions formed the basis of public opinion and have appeared in every biography about the Beatles since then. Julia Baird sets out to reverse this deception and honor the memory of the mother that she and John shared.
Probably the biggest falsehood that has been spread is that Julia handed John over to her sister, Mimi, to raise him, in 1946 when Julia’s life was rough. She was cast as a frivolous woman who also willingly gave away her baby daughter, Victoria, in 1945 when she’d had a wartime affair with a Welsh sailor while her husband, Alf Lennon was away at sea.
Note: This article was originally published in February/March 2008 on Daytrippin’s website.
(Copyright 2008 by Dayrippin’; Any or all parts of this interview may not be reprinted or reposted without the consent of Daytrippin’)
[All photos copyright 2008 by May Pang]
I recently had the opportunity to interview May Pang about the upcoming release of her new book, Instamatic Karma, for Daytrippin’. It showcases the many photos she took during her intimate relationship with John Lennon, from the summer of 1973 till early 1975, during John’s separation from Yoko Ono.
Her first book, Loving John, was published in 1983, then republished under the title John Lennon:The Lost Weekend in 1992 and dealt with the story of their relationship. Instamatic Karma, a photo book, will be a vital addition to any Lennon fan’s collection.
May was a skilled amateur photographer who used a 35mm camera in many of her shots, so the pictures are excellent. May’s artful lens captured a happy, relaxed John Lennon in candid settings that will joyfully surprise fans.
Due out March 4, 2008 by St. Martin’s Press, it’s being released in hard cover, approximately 7 by 9 1/4″, 140 pages, including roughly 150 pictures, both b&w and color. May will be appearing on Good Morning America that day as well.
Our phone interview was conducted December 29, 2007. May talked about many aspects of her relationship with John, from the type of camera she used and John’s opinions of her photographs, to the work she did on John’s albums and films, and exactly how their relationship grew to be more intimate. This was a very enjoyable interview with the woman who interrupted John and Yoko’s marriage, and she is now ready to share her personal photographs with the world.
Note: This article was originally published in March 2008 on Daytrippin’s website.
[All photos copyright by Nancy Andrews]
It’s been said that rock ‘n’ roll was a boys-only club in the 1960s and 1970s. Among the few women who gained entry was a high-spirited, half-Sicilian and half-Cherokee beauty named Nancy Lee Andrews.
A top Eileen Ford model, Andrews was the perfect complement to former Beatle Ringo Starr. Her six-year relationship (1974-1980) and engagement with the world’s famous drummer granted her an all access pass to a world beyond the velvet rope.
Part of that access included intimate and candid photographs of Ringo Starr’s life in the seventies. Andrews started her career on the other side of the lens in 1970 when renowned photographer Milton Greene recognized her need to click the shutter.
Encouraged by Starr, Andrews began shooting fashion for designer boutiques along Rodeo Drive and trendy Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. Later she shot Starr’s publicity photos and two of his album covers, Ringo the 4th and Bad Boy. During this time, she also snapped legendary artists George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, The Band, Keith Moon, Donovan, Harry Nilsson, Leon Russell, Dolly Parton and Carly Simon.
Her pictures and memories are preserved for posterity in the new photo book, A Dose of Rock ‘n’ Roll (Dalton Watson Fine Books). Andrews is also about to embark on a worldwide photo exhibit, showcasing her life at the peak of pop culture.
Did you happen to watch Paul McCartney’s new HULU documentary called McCartney 3,2,1? The 6-part 3-hour special premiered on July 16, 2021 in the US and it offers fans an in-depth discussion between Paul and producer Rick Rubin about many Beatles songs and a few Wings and solo McCartney numbers.
It was a great idea to get Paul to sit down and talk about his career with a focus on the instrumental side of things (especially his bass playing) since he is going to turn 80 years old next year. The series was a joint venture between Paul and Rick Rubin, who are both listed as Executive Producers. Paul’s company MPL Communications is also listed in the credits.
Daytrippin' Beatles Magazine 