John Lennon’s 70th Birthday To Be Marked By Two Month Festival
By Seraphina L.
Liverpool, the hometown of famous Beatles member, John Lennon, will partake in a special “tribute season” this fall. To honor the musician on what would been his 70th birthday, there will be a two-month long festival celebrating his music and peace. The festival will begin on October 9th (his birthday) until December 9th, which is the 30 year mark of his death (give or take a day).
According to Contact Music, the festival will include music, arts, film and poetry, and a major tribute concert called ‘Lennon Remembered’, at Echo Arena. There will also be a major birthday celebration at the famous Cavern Club, where the Beatles were discovered over in the the UK.
Liverpool’s mayor, Mike Storey, had the following to say about the upcoming event:
“John Lennon is one of the most iconic figures of the 20th Century and a Liverpool lad who became known in every corner of the globe [...] His enduring message of peace is as important now as ever and continues to be an inspiration to many. The John Lennon Tribute Season will allow us to remember him as a man, celebrate his music, and his overall contribution to our city.”
So far, all we know about musicians in the lineup is Ozzy Osbourne. Surprisingly, Osbourne’s wife, Sharon says the former Black Sabbath member is quite fond of Lennon as she revealed, “Ozzy is a huge John Lennon fan. I imagine he will want to see all the sights and maybe stay in the John Lennon suite at the Hard Days Night Hotel.”
Although Ozzy has accepted in an invitation, there is no word on any other lineup announcements yet. However, we do know that the exhibition by Lennon’s son Julian and ex-wife Cynthia, “White Feather: Spirit of Lennon” will have an extended showing for the two-month festival.
What do you think of a John Lennon festival?
Friday, March 26, 2010 12:28AM
I saw the Beatles in the USA and it was a fab concert I will have that memory forever.
Thanks Laura N
Friday, March 26, 2010 12:32AM
I love it!
Friday, March 26, 2010 12:38AM
Shit, I want to go… really bad.
Friday, March 26, 2010 12:47AM
John Lennon was the greatest, and he will always be remembered.
Friday, March 26, 2010 1:01AM
Who are these nitwits that organized this thing – John Lennon put together with Ossie Osborne is an insult to everything Lennonesque!
Friday, March 26, 2010 1:09AM
John Lennon deserves to be honored. He is one of the greatest musicians this planet has produced.
Friday, March 26, 2010 1:14AM
Sadly, the festival isn't coming to America. I never got to listen to the words of John Lennon, having been born in 1992. Even though he was viciously murdered before I was born, I still consider him the biggest influence in my life. He was an amazing man whose words are timeless. I think that there should be an American version of the festival that takes place in NYC, the place that he was living during the few years before his death.
Friday, March 26, 2010 1:21AM
Yet another stupid reason to get people to buy more Beatles and Lennon stuff. Don't get me wrong. I loved the Beatles music (I'm just tired of it after nearly 50 years), but I bought the same recordings on Vinyl LP's and 45's, then 8-tracks, then cassettes, then CD's, and would you believe vinyl again. So far I refuse to buy the new CD's because the one that I've heard isn't THAT much better than the other set. As for Lennon, he NEVER came close to putting out something remotely as good as when he was in the Beatles. "Imagine" is the kind of dribble that you would expect from a "genius" who was emotionally retarded. Yeah, I was sad when he was killed, but life goes on and that was 30 years ago and some of us have managed to get over it. If you're under 40, then go ahead and enjoy yourself, but the fact is you missed the party and the freaking party has been over for decades.
Friday, March 26, 2010 1:22AM
damn i wanna go too
Friday, March 26, 2010 1:27AM
What about Ringo?
Friday, March 26, 2010 2:15AM
I grew up on the Beatles. Had all their albums on mono (till Sgt Pepper) . I cried the day he was murdered. And wonder what wonderful music and art he would have created if…
"In my life" is one of the best songs ever written
Friday, March 26, 2010 2:24AM
About time. I want to be there.
Friday, March 26, 2010 2:47AM
I hope Paul, Ringo, Dhani, Julian and Sean get out on stage together … maybe better yet have Zak sit in for Ringo and … does Paul have a musician son, anyone … ???
Friday, March 26, 2010 2:59AM
What a great talent of musical skill humor and wit, a lot of emotion brought on by his early years of parental strife that never seemed to leave him, all brought together with the artist within and the times made for some amazing music.
Friday, March 26, 2010 3:01AM
I agree Lenny, All the music NOT created what a loss. His last album was just the beginning of greatness.
Friday, March 26, 2010 3:05AM
John Lennon was an incredible muscian and I felt (and still feel) a deep sense of loss. I went to see them in 1964 in Dallas, Texas and it's a memory I treasure. It was almost a year after the assasination of President Kennedy in Dallas, an event that devastated me. The Beatles were fun and at 18 I needed the break from the grief that permeated the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Friday, March 26, 2010 3:09AM
James, Lighten Up
Friday, March 26, 2010 3:30AM
Bigger then Jesus!
Friday, March 26, 2010 3:34AM
NO ONES ASKING YOU TO BUY ANYTHING, ARE THEY? THEY ARE STILL BETTER THEN ANYTHING THAT'S OUT TODAY.
Friday, March 26, 2010 3:34AM
Osbourne speaks of his fondness of not only the Beatles, but their gift of melody, naming them the best ever. Shame that some people can't let fans enjoy their moment. See the video on CNN while promoting his new book.
Friday, March 26, 2010 3:45AM
HEY BONEHEAD! LEARN TO COMPREHEND ABOVE ITEM ABOUT OZZY. IT SAID HE ADMIRED
LENON AS A MUSICIAN. NO ONE IS MATCHING ANYONE UP. LEARN TO READ, BOZO!!!
Friday, March 26, 2010 3:50AM
And what have you done to contribute to the planet on the scale of Lennon?……….. I thought so.
Friday, March 26, 2010 3:58AM
How bitter and angry you are. You have intimate knowledge of being emotionally retarded to post something like that. Just because you are a failure at everything you attempted is no reason to write such idiodic drivel. Let me guess- fat, bald, divorced, friendless, mommy and daddy issues your kids hate you, and you have failed at every thing you have attempted at life. So you spew your moronic racist hatred like a 2 year-old. I hope you don't get too upset and kill a bunch of people at your minimum wage job. No is putting a gun to your head to buy anything. And no one cares what you think. Let's hear some of your music, since you are such the genius. Go ahead, post your real name and address and reveal yourself coward. Better yet, crawl back to under the rock you came from and die alone and bitter and angery. Loser.
Friday, March 26, 2010 4:14AM
Paul has a son, James who is also a musician…he has a cd coming out this year!
Friday, March 26, 2010 4:57AM
You trash talking MF!
Friday, March 26, 2010 5:13AM
John was a one of a kind artist . His artistry and humanity came through in everything he did. Having his music and social activism as a part of my life was crucial to me as a boy and then teenager who grew up physically and emotionally abused and abandoned in my own family. Just the concept that there was strength and value in communicating with clarity about the issues of the day was a source of strength to me. .In some way this spoke to the things going on in our house.The Plastic Ono Band record was a watershed album to me personally as it spoke to many of the feelings I had but couldn't quite define.God, Mother ,Working Class Hero, and Isolation to name a few are songs of personal struggle to define one's reference points in ones own life with clarity.Self examination and raising ones awareness at the center of it all. His was an artistry that informed and explored the human condition in a way that spoke to me. Raw and laid open for all to see. Human and imperfect. My life for one was impacted by his ability to communicate about his life which in some way provided reference points for my own. That kind self examination is something we can all use today as we start to reference our lives differently as all that we believed in proved false and we as a society.look ahead to a more evolved process of life. Thank you John for being there and doing what you did. I hope to pass it on to the best of my ability. I hope the festival can respectfully reflect you lifes' energy and work….Peace
Friday, March 26, 2010 5:13AM
hey Laura, what was it like at the concert what songs did they play…
Friday, March 26, 2010 5:19AM
James,
Go crawl back under your rock. Nobody, nobody (except other social misfits) would agree with you. I suppose you'd say the same about Mozart and Gershwin. Hmmm, their music is even older. What a loser, you are!
Friday, March 26, 2010 5:23AM
Obviously you are just not a true Beatles Fan, Their Music Is Timeless i was Born In 1979 So I Never Experienced Them Fully But My Father did and he is not tired of them after listening to their music since the 60's and even my 4 year old brother like's their music also. you prolly we're just was a band wagon rider back then listening to their music so you yourself would think you we're cool and make others believe you we're cool to just to fit in!
Friday, March 26, 2010 5:34AM
Lennon was still a Masterpiece in the making when he was murdered. Many blamed Yoko on the break-up of the Beatles. It was Love that broke up the Beatles. For the first time in John's Life he found one he truly Loved in Yoko & it was easiy seen or, let's say heard in his music. John and Yoko got closerover time through the thick and thin & I believe they were the closest when he was murdered. I believe he was one of the most open & emotional writers in history. He let you know through each album how he was feeling at the time. His earlier albums was filled with much pain. His last album was "Heaven". He was the best in expressing his emotions in music. Songs like Woman & Jealous Guy which the latter has the most touchinglyricsof an appology. "I was feeling insecure, You might not love me any more, I was shivering inside, was shivering inside,
I was trying to catch your eyes, Thought that you were trying to hide, I was swallowing my pain,
I was swallowing my pain. ……they just don't write music anywhere near that anymore. RIP John
Friday, March 26, 2010 6:10AM
obvious troll is obvious. an hero nao
Friday, March 26, 2010 6:17AM
We should have an American Tribut to Lennon in central park, free to the general public….ala Lennon in style. Yes! And televised so all of us can see and hear it who live on the west coast as well.
Thursday, March 25, 2010 11:45PM
If I have a chance to go there, i’ll be there. I’m a Beatle and a John Lennon fan by heart. Nothing more to say…….I want to be JOhn Lennon!
Friday, March 26, 2010 10:12AM
Paul probably does have musicians in the family, however he never mentions his kids, and of course all for the better. His kids prob look just like him. maybe blonde hair like linda? paul needs help singing and but yeah all those beautiful people on one stageat one time, awesome to say the least……….
Monday, March 29, 2010 3:58AM
What the hell is wrong with you? Go listen to your Nickleback and shut the hell up
Saturday, May 8, 2010 4:41PM
please send more datails