"F" John Lennon
As I've discussed in previous posts, I was a Stones guy, not a Beatles dork. I formed this opinion probably when I was around 8 years old. I simply gravitated to the Stones. Mick and Keith seemed so much cooler to me than John and Paul, who seemed to be a little too "idealist" for me. Brown Sugar vs. Eleanor Rigby. No contest in my book. John and Paul seemed too serious and self-important to me where as the Stones, while serious musicians, also focused on having a lot of fun. However, I still enjoyed the music of the Beatles and bought it when I had the funds to do so.
My early opinion was validated when I was around 9 or 10. My parents and I used to go to Manhattan once a year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. One year, we were at F.A.O. Schwarz toy store. While there, my dad came up to me where I was checking out some toys and asked me if I knew who the gentleman was across the room. It was none other than John Lennon. My father, always prepared, produced a pen and paper and suggested I go and discretely ask him for an autograph. So I went over to him, introduced myself, and very politely asked "Mr. Lennon" (I went to military school at the time) if I could please have his autograph. Never even bothering to make eye contact with me he informed me, rather briskly, that "no, I'm not signing any autographs today". I was embarrassed that he dismissed me so abruptly. When my father asked me what had transpired he was none to pleased, but told me not to worry about it. "What an asshole," I remembered thinking as we left the store.
I've met many celebrities since then, and while I don't ask them for autographs anymore, none was ever more self important and rude than John Lennon. I was luke warm on The Beatles music and regardless of the above, I always thought his solo stuff was crap.
As a side note, later that day, we went to the Plaza Hotel and had lunch in the restaurant just off of the lobby, the Palm Room I think. Anyway, who did my father point out was having lunch about 3 tables away from us? None other than The Greatest, Muhammad Ali. After a few minutes of my dad prodding me and me declining he assured me, "Mr. Ali will sign an autograph for you." Tentatively, I approached the table with a still fresh wound from my earlier encounter. He noticed my approach before I reached his table. I was filled with apprehension and perhaps he noticed. Then his eyes lit up and a big smile came across his face. Not only did Mr. Ali sign an autograph for me, but he sat me in his lap and spoke with me for several minutes. When I told him that I was taking boxing lessons, he held his big fist up to my jaw and jokingly let me know he would be ready for my challenge whenever I was. To this day, Muhammad Ali is the one person in my history, that fills me with the emotions of joy and love when I see, hear, or read about him.
My early opinion was validated when I was around 9 or 10. My parents and I used to go to Manhattan once a year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. One year, we were at F.A.O. Schwarz toy store. While there, my dad came up to me where I was checking out some toys and asked me if I knew who the gentleman was across the room. It was none other than John Lennon. My father, always prepared, produced a pen and paper and suggested I go and discretely ask him for an autograph. So I went over to him, introduced myself, and very politely asked "Mr. Lennon" (I went to military school at the time) if I could please have his autograph. Never even bothering to make eye contact with me he informed me, rather briskly, that "no, I'm not signing any autographs today". I was embarrassed that he dismissed me so abruptly. When my father asked me what had transpired he was none to pleased, but told me not to worry about it. "What an asshole," I remembered thinking as we left the store.
I've met many celebrities since then, and while I don't ask them for autographs anymore, none was ever more self important and rude than John Lennon. I was luke warm on The Beatles music and regardless of the above, I always thought his solo stuff was crap.
As a side note, later that day, we went to the Plaza Hotel and had lunch in the restaurant just off of the lobby, the Palm Room I think. Anyway, who did my father point out was having lunch about 3 tables away from us? None other than The Greatest, Muhammad Ali. After a few minutes of my dad prodding me and me declining he assured me, "Mr. Ali will sign an autograph for you." Tentatively, I approached the table with a still fresh wound from my earlier encounter. He noticed my approach before I reached his table. I was filled with apprehension and perhaps he noticed. Then his eyes lit up and a big smile came across his face. Not only did Mr. Ali sign an autograph for me, but he sat me in his lap and spoke with me for several minutes. When I told him that I was taking boxing lessons, he held his big fist up to my jaw and jokingly let me know he would be ready for my challenge whenever I was. To this day, Muhammad Ali is the one person in my history, that fills me with the emotions of joy and love when I see, hear, or read about him.
posted by David Ess at 8:42 AM
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