If Memory Swerves™, this weekend marks the 50th Anniversary of an event that shamed not only the bearded and beloved Beatle Brother™ John Lennon, but his put-upon bandmates and all of bloody England. On May 25, 1969, Lennon staged a week-long “bed-in” with his showboating Hawaiian housewife Yoko Ono® — his new wife, truth be well told, as this was their honeymoon — at the Hilton Hotel® in Amsterdam (and another, the week following, at the Queen Elizabeth in Montreal). Intended as a civil protest over one bloody thing or another, the televised “Bed-In For Peace®" was a twist on the “sit-ins” of the era that, alas, was judged a shameful exercise by the citizenry on either side of the pond. However goodly Lenny's intentions, the shame ran deep: He shamed his Auntie Mimi and Uncle George Smith, who raised young John as their own, often suffering for their efforts. He shamed his real mum Julia and dad Alfred, who were, admittedly, shameful characters themselves. He shamed his first wife Cynthia (Powell) Lennon and young son Julian, whom he had shamefully left behind to hook up with the twice-married Ono. He shamed his ex-bandmates Stuart Heathcliffe and Pete West, all of the Quarrymen, the Kinks, the Hollies and every other English band hoping to graduate from the Top of the Pops® to American Blandstand™, with the possible exception of The Pollywoggs™ — John, Paul, George, Zingo and Yours Truly Dooley® on broomstick bass. Lennon shamed his classmates, the faculty and good names of the Dovedale Primary School, Quarry Bank High School and Liverpool College of Art. Crikey, the only one who wasn’t shamed by the incident was the avant-gardener "Yoko Ono" — literally, “one yolk, scrambled” — whom, after posing in the merkined altogether for the cover of “Two Virgins,” appeared to have known no shame. Then again, it all seems rather harmless now. All they were saying was, “give peace a chance,” but all we were thinking was, “give us a break, Len.”Monday, May 25
Bedwedders
If Memory Swerves™, this weekend marks the 50th Anniversary of an event that shamed not only the bearded and beloved Beatle Brother™ John Lennon, but his put-upon bandmates and all of bloody England. On May 25, 1969, Lennon staged a week-long “bed-in” with his showboating Hawaiian housewife Yoko Ono® — his new wife, truth be well told, as this was their honeymoon — at the Hilton Hotel® in Amsterdam (and another, the week following, at the Queen Elizabeth in Montreal). Intended as a civil protest over one bloody thing or another, the televised “Bed-In For Peace®" was a twist on the “sit-ins” of the era that, alas, was judged a shameful exercise by the citizenry on either side of the pond. However goodly Lenny's intentions, the shame ran deep: He shamed his Auntie Mimi and Uncle George Smith, who raised young John as their own, often suffering for their efforts. He shamed his real mum Julia and dad Alfred, who were, admittedly, shameful characters themselves. He shamed his first wife Cynthia (Powell) Lennon and young son Julian, whom he had shamefully left behind to hook up with the twice-married Ono. He shamed his ex-bandmates Stuart Heathcliffe and Pete West, all of the Quarrymen, the Kinks, the Hollies and every other English band hoping to graduate from the Top of the Pops® to American Blandstand™, with the possible exception of The Pollywoggs™ — John, Paul, George, Zingo and Yours Truly Dooley® on broomstick bass. Lennon shamed his classmates, the faculty and good names of the Dovedale Primary School, Quarry Bank High School and Liverpool College of Art. Crikey, the only one who wasn’t shamed by the incident was the avant-gardener "Yoko Ono" — literally, “one yolk, scrambled” — whom, after posing in the merkined altogether for the cover of “Two Virgins,” appeared to have known no shame. Then again, it all seems rather harmless now. All they were saying was, “give peace a chance,” but all we were thinking was, “give us a break, Len.”