Daytrippin' Beatles Magazine

The Latest Beatles News, Travel, Biography and Discography


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May Pang talks about her book, “Instamatic Karma: Photographs of John Lennon”

by Shelley Germeaux

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.

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Ringo Starr’s former girlfriend, Nancy Andrews, talks about life with Ringo and her book “A Dose of Rock ‘n’ Roll”

by Marshall Terrill

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.

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5 things I learned from Paul McCartney’s HULU documentary

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. 

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Ringo Starr at 80: I feel like I’m 24

Ringo Starr, the oldest of The Beatles, will turn 80 years old on July 7. Every year, since 2008, Ringo has celebrated his birthday by asking fans around the world to declare “Peace and Love” wherever they are at 12 noon. This year, due to the coronavirus, Ringo’s birthday celebration will be online.
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Ringo-80-birthday-show
Ringo’s Big Birthday Show will be broadcast on his YouTube channel at 8 pm EST/ 5 PM PST on July 7 and will feature appearances by many of his friends including Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Sheila E. and Gary Clark Jr.

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Was It Just A Dream? Beatles fans who had spiritual connections with George Harrison when he died

By Shelley Germeaux

issue18Note: This article originally appeared in the Spring 2002 (No. 18) issue of Daytrippin’ – just a few months after George Harrison’s death. 

Psychic phenomenon – precognitive dreams, strange coincidences, and intuitive hunches about people we care for – is always an interesting topic of discussion. It usually happens with relatives and close friends, but in this case I am talking about George Harrison. A few Beatle friends have shared with me some “strange” experiences they had between the hours preceding his death on November 29, 2001 and before we heard the news on November 30. Maybe some of you had similar experiences.

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