Rock Stars Boxed Set: Murder, Manslaughter and Misadventure

by Joe Bensam

  However, a much bigger and more powerful force was about to have an impact on John’s life. As he continued to protest against the Vietnam war in public, he made himself many enemies - most notably the most powerful man in the world, President Richard Nixon. With millions of young voters now able to vote for the first time, following a change in the law, Nixon was afraid that John and his fellow protesters had the power to turn public opinion against him and his policies, and so threaten his re-election.

  John and Yoko in New York

  Before long, FBI agents were infiltrating events that John attended, as well as peace groups that he had associations with. They eventually managed to muster up enough ‘evidence’ to prevent John and Yoko’s visas from being renewed. The Onos were fortunate enough to find a good lawyer to act for them, and an epic battle began - the former Beatle verus the leader of the western world. Soon John and Yoko and their assistants found that they were being followed everywhere by FBI agents, and that every movement was recorded and analyzed for evidence of anti-American activities.

  Meanwhile, John and Yoko moved into the Dakota building adjacent to Central Park on the Upper West Side. John tried to get Mimi to come and visit him in his new home, but she declined, saying prophetically: ‘I’m not going to a land where there’s guns, John.’

  John recorded a new album, but this time it was in his own name only, with no mention of Yoko or The Plastic Ono Band. Mind Games proved to be his best work for some time, showing some of the genius he had left behind in the Beatles.

  Chapter 9 - John’s Lost Weekend

  Yoko and John were growing apart in other ways, too. In a twist that was bizarre even by their relationship standards, Yoko suggested that John should have an affair. Not content with just suggesting the idea, she also found the perfect woman for the job - 22-year old May Pang, a Chinese-American who had been acting as their secretary. In September 1973, John flew to Los Angeles with May, anticipating just a two-week trip for ‘business’ purposes. In the end, he was to stay for 14 months - for what he later called his ‘lost weekend.’

  The whole episode proved to a complicated and inexplicable one. John didn’t want to be apart from Yoko, and Yoko did not want to be apart from John. May was unclear to the end where she was his mistress or his secretary. And dozens of other young ladies had their moment with John, as if he had been transported in time back to Hamburg. Nevertheless, John still stayed closely in touch with Yoko, phoning her many times a day.

  John and May Pang in L.A.

  But John was soon back in the studio in L.A. recording an album that was destined to go nowhere. After a two-year break, he reconnected with Julian, inviting his son and Cynthia to visit. Months rolled by, and John moved back to New York, living in an apartment with May while the legal wrangles over his visa continued. Two albums followed, Walls and Bridges then John Lennon Rock ‘n Roll, the second a simple and powerful album that harked back to his roots in the Cavern.

  John had recorded the single Whatever Gets You Thru The Night with Elton John, and promised Elton that if it ever go to number one, he would go on stage with him to perform the song live. To his astonishment, both the single and the album Walls and Bridges hit number one in America, and Elton made sure that John kept his promise. On Thanksgiving Eve, he joined Elton in New York to play three songs in a memorable performance. Unknown to John, Yoko arrange to have a VIP seat just in front of the stage.

  John was so nervous before going on stage that he threw up, but he was welcomed by 18,000 fans in a joyous return to live performance. By the time they had played I Saw Her Standing There, introduced by John as ‘a number by an old estranged fiance of mine called Paul,’ the audience was going wild. In what turned out to be his final stage appearance ever, John felt that his fans loved him as much as ever.

  On stage with Elton John

  Yoko met John backstage, and they both knew that the reunion that had been on the cards for so long was not far away. Before long, John had moved back into the Dakota, and their married life resumed as more or less normal, May Pang being discarded as an extra who was no longer required. John and Yoko renewed their wedding vows in a ceremony in their apartment, both dressed in white as they had been at the original ceremony.

  With their marital life resumed, Yoko soon found that she was pregnant at the age of 42. Because of her history of miscarriages, Yoko was advised to stay in bed as much as possible, and John became her faithful servant, bringing her whatever she needed. A few months later, she gave birth to a boy, named Sean Taro Lennon. While Yoko was in labor, they learned that John had finally won his campaign to live legally in America. He got his green card a year later.

  When the family arrived back in the Dakota, John took on a new role, that of house husband. It was agreed that Yoko would get on with the business of making money, while John raised Sean. Yoko proved to be a brilliant negotiator, helping to settle the legal battles with Alan Klein and the other Beatles in a way that worked out very well for John.

  John settled into his new role raising Sean, investing far more time and energy into this son than he had ever done for Julian. While Sean was cossetted with every luxury that money could buy, Julian and Cynthia struggled on in poverty in the UK, with little support from John’s wealth. John enjoyed leading a relatively normal life, taking Sean out for walks around the neighborhood. People would sometimes stop and ask if he was John Lennon.

  ‘I get told that a lot,’ he would say. ‘I wish I had his money!’

  Relationships with Paul, George and Ringo healed, and they often met up. On on occasion, John and Paul were watching TV in the Dakota apartment when the producer of Saturday Night Live jokingly offered to pay $3000 if the Beatles would come into the studio and perform. The two songwriters briefly contemplated getting into a cab and turning up for a surprise performance, but in the end, it was just too much trouble. And so the next few years past without much by the way of incident. John made up for all the years of chaos and non-stop action with a peaceful interlude of family life.

  Chapter 10 - A New Beginning and a Tragic End

  Throughout the late 70s, John had been watching other artists achieve increasing success while he continued his role as domestic child raiser and bread maker. Yoko was highly-successful in her business ventures, turning their healthy royalty income into the foundation of a business empire that extended from dairy farms to Egyptian artefacts.

  John, however, secretly ached to get back into show business and demonstrate that he was still a force to be reckoned with. He saw the other Beatles doing well, especially Paul, who signed a $22.5 million record deal that John eyed enviously. But somehow, he had lost the creative spark. He had never officially retired, so there was continual speculation in the media about when the next John Lennon musical project would appear. None did, because John simply didn’t have the material, and he had vowed with Yoko to suspend all creative work while Sean was young.

  Early in 1980, John felt the urge to travel. Not only that, but Yoko’s numerologist had detected ‘dark clouds gathering above his head’ and told him that he needed to leave the US. He ended up in South Africa, but that adventure only whetted his appetite for more. John sailed towards Bermuda on a chartered yacht, intending to meet up with Sean at the end of the journey. But as the yacht travelled through the notorious Bermuda triangle, a heavy storm blew up, with all of the crew becoming seasick except for the captain and John. After 48 hours of steering the ship alone, the captain had no option but to ask John to take over. He briefly taught John what to do, and then had to retire to get some sleep. John picked it all up very quickly, and after some initial panic, began to enjoy himself.

  After the storm subsided, John had found a new role on the ship as a crew member, not just a famous passenger. When they finally reached Bermuda, John was able to enjoy the relief of a relaxed two-month vacation with Sean. And during that time, his spirit of creativity returned. He wanted to make another album.

  ‘I was so centred
after the experience at sea that I was turned into the Cosmos,’ he said. ‘And all these songs came...after five years of nothing. Not trying, but nothing came anyway, no inspiration, no thought, no anything, then suddenly voom voom voom...’ John bought some basic recording equipment, and started committing a whole host of new songs to tape.

  John with Sean on the yacht that he steered to Bermuda

  He returned to New York in July 1980 with a catalog of songs ready to record. He hired Jack Douglas as producer, and went into the Hit Factory Studios to record. John had some great songs prepared, but the producer was a little concerned to notice that each John song was to be alternated with a Yoko song. Nevertheless, the news that John Lennon was recording sent vibes running through the recording industry, and soon major labels were clamoring to get in on the act. John was determined to beat Paul’s $22.5 million deal, but in the end settled for a deal with a newcomer in the industry, Geffen Records.

  The first single Just Like Starting Over was released in October, and John found himself in the public eye once more. The album Double Fantasy followed a month later, and sales of both were promising. Yet John wasn’t done yet, and immediately went back into the studio to record the next project album, provisionally entitled Milk and Honey. As November rolled into December, John seemed happier than he had for many years. He was enjoying the attention that the new records were bringing him, but also glad to have his sound domestic life with Yoko and Sean. He felt that he had turned a corner, and was looking forward to life in his 40s.

  Mark Chapman after his arrest for John’s murder

  What he did not know was that the recent press coverage had also stirred up the interest of a man named Mark David Chapman. Born in Texas, Chapman had moved to Hawaii and lived a confused a troubled existence. He had been obsessed with the Beatles from a young age, but recently his passion had begun to turn to a new and uglier dimension. As fresh stories about John hit the press, Chapman became disillusioned with his former hero, believing that the ‘working class hero’ had sold out to become a rich businessman - one of the ‘men in suits’ the Beatles had always despised.

  Chapman also had an obsession with Holden Caulfield, the narrator of J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye. He began hearing voices in his head that told him Lennon must die, and believed that when John was dead, he would be able to become Holden Caulfield himself. He bought a gun, and made a trip to New York in October, but lost his nerve about the whole idea and returned home. Yet a few weeks later he was back, and in early December was hanging around the Dakota building with the few regular fans and photographers who stalked the building.

  On 7 December, he tried to take some photos of John, pushing closer than convention allowed. John got angry and tried to snatch the camera, but Chapman pulled away. John said to Yoko in frustration: ‘if anyone gets me, it’s going to be a fan.’

  Monday December 8 dawned as an ordinary if busy day for John. After some interviews and a photo session, he was due back in the studio to continue recording. So in the late afternoon, he left the Dakota building with Yoko. Chapman saw his chance to get an autograph, and John paused to ask him: ‘is that all you want?’

  Chapman later said that he had planned to shoot John at that point, but due to his politeness, he backed off. For the rest of the evening, John was busy in the studio, working on a song called Walking on Thin Ice. He found time to call Mimi and talk about his planned trip back to the UK. Afterwards, Yoko wanted to go for a meal, but John said he wanted to go home and say goodnight to Sean.

  They arrived back at the Dakota by limo, pulling up at the kerb outside. Yoko got out first and walked around to the entrance, with John following a few yards behind. Chapman had left his hotel that morning, knowing that he would never return. He had left a few possessions neatly laid out on a table in the centre of the room, as a message to the police who would find them later. The display included a copy of the Bible, opened at the gospel of St. John, with the text altered to read ‘The Gospel According to John Lennon.’

  John and Yoko outside the Dakota

  Chapman was waiting in the shadows, still holding the copy of Double Fantasy that John had autographed earlier. As John passed ahead of him, he called ‘Mr Lennon,’ and dropped into a combat stance. He fired five shots at John’s back, the first missing and going over his shoulder, the other four hitting John in the back and shoulder. John staggered forward and managed to climb the first few steps towards his apartment, then collapsed calling out, ‘I’m shot.’

  The porter on duty rang the alarm then knelt to see what he could do to help. He thought of applying a tourniquet, but when he saw the extent of the blood loss, he knew it was hopeless. The security guard approached Chapman and shook the gun from his hand, kicking it away into the gutter. Two police cruisers pulled up moments later, finding Chapman standing at the scene of his crime, silently reading The Catcher in the Rye.

  It was clear there was no time to wait for an ambulance. John was carried into the back of a police car and rushed to Roosevelt Hospital, with Yoko following behind in the second police car. When they arrived at the hospital, John had no pulse and was not breathing. Doctors fought to save him, but with 80% blood loss, it was clear that they had no hope. At 11.07 pm he was pronounced dead. Yoko, of course was distraught. ‘Oh, no, no, no’ she cried, ‘please tell me it’s not true.’

  ***

  John’s death led to worldwide shock and mourning on a scale that had not been experienced since the assassination of President Kennedy. Just Like Starting Over and Double Fantasy shot to the top of the charts, while sales of all of John’s material, plus everything recorded by the Beatles, went through the roof. At least two people committed suicide after hearing the news. On 14 December, huge crowds gathered in New York and Liverpool, as well many other places around the world, to remember John in a ten-minute silence. In 1985, a part of Central Park was dedicated as Strawberry Fields in John’s memory.

  Fans join a silent vigil for John in Central Park, New York

  Chapman pleaded guilty to John’s murder, and was sentenced to life imprisonment. In recent years, he has applied for parole numerous times, but each request has been declined.

  ***

  More than three decades after his tragic death outside the Dakota, John’s memory lives on in the collective consciousness of the world today. Many of today’s most successful musicians cite the Beatles as one of their main influence, and their music continues to sell in huge volumes. translating first from vinyl to CD, and now to the new world of MP3s and iTunes.

  John’s message to the world...’give peace a chance’

  Millions of people who had not been born when John was shot, let alone when the Beatles were performing, still get great pleasure from his unique and extraordinary contribution to music, art and culture in the modern world. John Lennon may be gone, but we can safely say that he will never be forgotten.

  Michael Jackson...Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll: The Truth About the Man Behind The Legend

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1 - A Star is Born

  Chapter 2 - The Road To Success

  Chapter 3 - On Track for Stardom

  Chapter 4 - No Sex, Please...I’m Michael Jackson

  Chapter 5 - The Thriller Phenomenon

  Chapter 6 - Wacko Jacko Makes Another Fortune

  Chapter 7 - The Accusations Start To Fly...

  Chapter 8 - Michael On Trial

  Chapter 9 - This is it For Michael

  Chapter 10 - Long Live The King of Pop!

  Chapter 1 - A Star is Born

  The world of entertainment changed for ever on a grey day in 1963, when a five-year old kid climbed onto the stage at Garnett Elementary School in Gary, Indiana.

  Nobody was expecting much except enthusiasm, including his mother, who was in the audience to witness the child’s first ever public performance. But when he started to sing the ambitious choice of 'Climb Ev’ry Mountain' from The Sound of Music, a stunned silence fi
lled the hall. It became immediately apparent that this small boy not only had bags of self-confidence, but a great deal of natural singing talent, too. His teacher and some members of the audience started to cry, and when the astonishing performance ended, the young man got a standing ovation.

  Michael Jackson as a young boy

  This was just the first of many standing ovations for the young Michael Jackson. And while his mother’s heart brimmed with pride as she applauded her son along with everyone else, she could scarcely have imagined that this was the first step on the road to fame, fortune...and one of the most bizarre and extraordinary lives in the history of show business. A story that was to one day end in tragedy, but which had begun five years earlier in the most inauspicious way imaginable...

  ***

  Michael Joseph Jackson may have been destined for a life of great wealth and luxury, but his life began on in a style that can only be described as dirt-poor poverty. He was born on 29 August 1958 with, according to his mother, 'a funny-looking head, big brown eyes and long hands.'

  His family lived in Gary, Indiana - a bleak industrial suburb of Chicago with little to recommend it except for the chance to find employment in the local steel mill. His father, Joseph, worked intermittently at the mill when work was available, taking jobs such as potato picking when it was not. But his income was unpredictable and never amounted to much. So the family had to manage as best as they could in a tiny, two-bedroom shack at 2300 Jackson Street.