Musician, photographer, documentarian, philanthropist and author Julian Lennon is celebrating Earth Day this year with the publication of his third children’s book, Love the Earth, with profits going towards his White Feather Foundation. The organization, dedicated to the conservation of life by supporting the environment and providing clean water, education, and health to indigenous cultures, is named in honor of his late father, the Beatles’ John Lennon — and the younger Lennon tells Yahoo Entertainment that it was like he;d received a message from dad that made him realize he needed to stop “just being a rock ‘n’ roller” and “step up to the plate.”
At the time of the Pet Shop Boys’ Release album’s uh…release in 2002, critics couldn’t agree whether it was the band’s death-throes or their brilliant reinvention they were hearing.
Although this album saw the band move a bit from their typical electronic disco template to a more band-focused, guitar-infused pop sound (former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr appears on several songs) there’s a depth and maturity to the songwriting that marks the record as more than a mere staving off of stagnation. Yes, it’s a change. But it feels like growth, not desperation.
“Home and Dry” charted at #14 in the UK, where the band’s singles success extended well beyond the 80’s. Needless to say, it did not trouble the US charts.
Hypothetical questions about The Beatles! My favorite. What if John Lennon was not assasinated in 1980.
1: At the time of his death he was in the preliminary stages of planning a tour to support the album Double Fantasy. Lennon hadn’t embarked on a proper tour since 1966. A return to touring would have been interesting.
2: He would have hosted Saturday Night Live. By all accounts John Lennon was a frustrated comedian. He connected with George Martin because of the producer’s association with the British comedy troupe The Goons. He was on the record as saying he would have been happier being a member of Monty Python’s Flying Circus than The Beatles. As a NYC resident Lennon hosting Saturday Night Live would have been a near certainty…