KBEAR: Billings' Greatest Hits » John Lennon

40 Years Ago: John Lennon Ordered to Leave the US by Immigration Authorities

Dave Swanson — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 15:47:17 +0000

On March 23, 1973, John Lennon was issued an order by US immigration authorities to leave the United States. He was given 60 days to do so. The reason given for the deportation stemmed from his conviction in 1968 in England for possession of marijuana; however, as we now know, it had more to do with the Nixon administration's general fear of Lennon, his political views and his influence. Lennon's wife, Yoko Ono, was, however, granted permanent residence at the time.

Yoko Ono Urges New Gun Control Laws

Jeff Giles — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:06:47 +0000

Since John Lennon was shot and killed on Dec. 8, 1980, his widow Yoko Ono has devoted herself to campaigning for stricter gun control legislation -- so it's only fitting that yesterday (March 21), Ono celebrated what should have been their 44th wedding anniversary by issuing a poignant reminder of what's at stake in the ongoing battle over our interpretation of the Second Amendment.

Top 10 John Lennon Love Songs

Stephen Lewis — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:10:37 +0000

The generalized argument when discussing the Beatles' principal songwriters is that Paul McCartney wrote the ballads, and John Lennon penned the rockers. Upon closer inspection of Lennon’s impressive discography, it’s obvious that Lennon could write a beautiful sentiment with the b

47 Years Ago Today

Dave Swanson — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:09:29 +0000

On March 4, 1966, an article appeared in the London Evening Standard that would cause an uproar and ripple for some time. Journalist Maureen Cleave was doing a series entitled 'How Does a Beatle Live?' and her encounter with John Lennon provided controversy that spread far beyond the London paper.

Multiple John Lennons Involved in Brazilian Crime Wave

Jeff Giles — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:17:41 +0000

John Lennon was known for having more than his fair share of brushes with the law while he was alive, but this is ridiculous. The U.K.’s Daily Mail reports that no fewer than four men named John Lennon have been involved in a recent Brazilian crime wave — with one of them even turning up [...]

New Film Inspired by John Lennon

Dave Lifton — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:57:28 +0000

Classic rockers are featuring quite a bit in the plots of movies these days. Last month, 'Not Fade Away,' a film about New Jersey teenagers inspired by the Rolling Stones to form a band, opened in theaters. This spring will see the beginning of production on 'Imagine,' in which a musician receives a letter of encouragement from John Lennon.

John and Yoko: 44 Years Ago

Dave Lifton — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:33:07 +0000

It's arguably the most controversial album cover in rock history, and, if authorities in New Jersey had their way 44 years ago, every last one of them would be destroyed.

On Jan. 2, 1969, 30,000 copies of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's ‘Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins’ were seized by police at Newark Airport on the grounds that its cover photograph was deemed pornographic.

Album Signed by John Lennon for Killer Up For Sale

Dave Lifton — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 05:13:58 +0000

We realize this piece of news borders on tasteless, but one of the most macabre pieces of rock memorabilia in history is for sale. NME is reporting that the copy of John Lennon's 1980 album 'Double Fantasy' that he signed for Mark David Chapman hours before the ex-Beatle was killed by Chapman, is being auctioned off. And it is of a sad coincidence that this news arrived on the anniversary of that tragic event.

Yoko Ono Launches New John Lennon-Inspired Fashion Line

Sterling Whitaker — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 19:30:06 +0000

Yoko Ono demonstrated that she is every bit as talented at fashion design as she is in her musical pursuits with the launch of her new John Lennon-inspired fashion line on Tuesday night (Nov. 27) in New York City. As Spin reports, Ono originally began to sketch out a line of clothes that expressed her [...]

John Lennon, George Harrison and Elvis Presley on List of Top-Earning Dead Celebrities

Dave Lifton — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 21:30:54 +0000

It's often been said that death can be the ultimate career move. But for our most iconic celebrities, the money can keep rolling into their estate long after they've gone. A new list from Forbes tracks the top-earning dead celebrities, with some classic rockers placing high on the list.

John Lennon Lashes Out at Paul McCartney in Newly Published Letter From 1971

Dave Lifton — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:30:47 +0000

Today (Oct. 9) would have been John Lennon's 72nd birthday, and with it comes the publication of a new book, 'The John Lennon Letters.' the publication contains nearly 300 letters written by Lennon during his lifetime, giving an unfiltered and uncensored look at one of the most written-about figures of the past 50 years.

John Lennon's Killer Would Prefer to Stay in Prison

Billy Dukes — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:00:04 +0000

Last week, Mark David Chapman was denied parole for a seventh straight time since serving the minimum of his 20 year to life sentence for shooting Beatle John Lennon. That seems to be what he wants. The convicted killer says that if were granted parole he would “probably stay right where I’m at.”

Queen, Beatles + John Lennon Lead U.K. Survey to Determine 'Favorite No. 1 Single'

Chad Childers — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 19:00:39 +0000

Rock history has provided us with many great songs, but which is the best? That’s what the folks at the U.K. Official Charts Company are determined to find out. They’ve launched a new poll in which fans are asked to vote for their ‘Favorite U.K. No. 1 Single.’ To help matters out, they’ve narrowed down [...]

Mel Gibson Rumored to Say of John Lennon: 'I'm Glad He's Dead'

Jeff Giles — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:00:50 +0000

Just when we thought Mel Gibson might have exited the “rage-o-holic crazybags rumors” phase of his career, yesterday came word that his latest film project, a biopic about the Old Testament warrior hero Judah Maccabee, had fallen apart — and out of that mess came a letter from the movie’s would-be screenwriter, Joe Eszterhas, that paints a picture of Gibson as a guy who’s angry at… well, pretty much everyone, including John Lennon.

Cee Lo Green Angers Fans by Imagining Different John Lennon Lyrics

Jessica Sager — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:00:08 +0000

Cee Lo Green is known for doing his own thing, from feathered costumes and defying gravity to dropping the f-bomb in every chorus of his biggest hit. But when the soulful singer changed lyrics to John Lennon‘s legendary ‘Imagine,’ fans felt like it was a ‘F— You’ to the former Beatle‘s message.

Guess How Much John Lennon's Tooth Sold For?

Jami Bond — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:15:49 +0000

Wow! The tooth fairy is broke now! John Lennon’s tooth brought in more than $31,000 at an auction in England Saturday. The tooth had been in the family of Lennon’s former housekeeper. Lennon gave it to Dot Jarlett to dispose of sometime between 1964 and 1968, but then her to give the tooth to her [...]

John Lennon Inspired Steve Jobs to Strive for Perfection

Nancy Dunham — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:00:42 +0000

John Lennon‘s creativity and work ethic didn’t just help ensure the Beatles‘ music was legendary, it also inspired Apple’s recently deceased co-founder Steve Jobs to strive for perfection within his company, according to an authorized biography of the visionary by Walter Isaacson.

John Lennon's Son Sean Leads Occupy Wall Street Protesters in Song

Joe Robinson — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:00:37 +0000

The Occupy Wall Street movement got a little entertainment from the son of a Beatle earlier this week when Sean Lennon descended on the encampment with some friends to offer up an inspiring revolutionary ditty for the masses. What did the son of John Lennon, and his buddies perform: ‘Power to the People?’ Nope. ‘Imagine?’ Not exactly. Try Madonna’s ode to unhindered capitalism, ‘Material Girl.’

John Lennon's Tooth Slated for Auction

Shauna Wright — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:00:22 +0000

Beatles fans often clamor to get their hands on just about anything related to the Fab Four, but this is one piece of memorabilia that may give pause to even the most rabid collector: a tooth, purportedly pulled from the mouth of John Lennon.

John Lennon Letters & Notes To be Published In 2012 [VIDEO]

Big Bear — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:57:58 +0000

John Lennon was a very private person but yet had an uncanny sense of airing his views on politics, religion, music…and just about everything else. Since John Lennon was killed his widow Yoko Ono has held onto everything John. Until this day she has not given permission for anyone to publicly release many of John [...]