Yoko Ono will again oppose the release of the man who nearly 30 years ago killed her husband, former Beatle John Lennon, and who comes up for parole next month, her lawyer said.

Ono has consistently opposed parole for Mark David Chapman and has again sent a letter to the parole board, her lawyer, Peter Shukat, told the Daily News.

“Her position has not changed,” Shukat said in an article published Tuesday.

Lennon was shot to death on December 8, 1980, outside the famed Dakota apartment building just west of Central Park as he and Ono returned home from a recording session

Chapman — now 55 and serving a 20-years-to-life sentence for the slaying — is scheduled to be interviewed by a three-member parole board panel during the week of August 9. It will be his sixth bid for parole.

Shukat refused to say whether Ono’s most recent letter to the board is the same one she has submitted every two years since Chapman first became eligible for parole in 2000.

In that letter, Ono wrote that if Chapman is released, “I am afraid it will bring back the nightmare, the chaos and confusion once again. Myself and John’s two sons would not feel safe for the rest of our lives.”

She also wrote that Chapman would not be safe if allowed back on the streets.

Due to his notoriety, Chapman is kept in a special unit apart from the upstate Attica prison’s general population. He works as a porter, cleaning up offices, and assists inmates in one of the prison’s law libraries.

Despite some early minor prison violations, Chapman’s record has been clean since 1994, the Daily News said.

Robert Gangi, head of the prisoners’ rights group, Correctional Association of America, doubts Chapman will be released because of the public outrage it would cause.

“Given that he committed a high-profile crime and he killed one of the most famous and most beloved figures literally in the world, it’s highly unlikely three parole commissioners would vote to grant him release,” Gangi told the News.

Lennon would have been 70 this October

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NOWHERE Boy director Sam Taylor-Wood has had a baby girl with her 20-year-old fiance Aaron Johnson. The 43-year-old gave birth to Wylda Rae in London on Wednesday. The artist turned film-maker and Aaron, who played John Lennon in Sam’s Liverpool-made movie, confirmed the news in a “happy announcement” yesterday.

Love blossomed for the couple on set while they filmed the story of the future Beatle’s teenage years. A statement issued on the couple’s behalf said: “Sam Taylor-Wood and Aaron Johnson are happy to announce the birth of their daughter Wylda Rae, who was born on July 7, in London.” Acclaimed biopic Nowhere Boy was Sam’s first foray into directing a feature-length film.

The pair announced their engagement on the night of the film’s premiere in October last year and in January they confirmed they were expecting their first child together. Sam already has two daughters with her ex-husband, art dealer Jay Jopling.
Despite the 23-year age gap, the couple have said their friends and family are “really supportive” of their relationship.

Sam, who has battled cancer twice, said previously: “(They have reacted) really positively. They know how intensely we feel.” Aaron has described himself as “a very lucky man” after landing a breakthrough film role as well as a wife-to-be. He said previously: “(My friends and family have been) really lovely and supportive.”

Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Aaron’s co-star in the movie Kick-Ass, posted on the website Twitter: “Aaron Johnson’s baby was born!! So exciting!” Earlier this year Aaron was named best newcomer at the prestigious Jameson Empire Awards for his portrayal of the young Lennon in the movie. Last month he was voted Man Of The Year at the Glamour Awards.

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After a couple of post from Larry Kane’s book “Ticket to Ride“… I decided to take a peak at some of the less known of The Beatles.. and where else can you see those but in The Beatles Unseen book by Mark Hayward

The best thing about this book, if you’re a real die hard fan of the fab four, is that obviously this book contains hundreds and hundreds of photos of the boys from fans everywhere. These photos was sold in auctions (and I must say, it probably costs fortunes!).

Another good thing about it is that it’s not a standard book that you read from cover to cover… You don’t even have to read it if you want to.. you can just stare at the pictures.. but in my case, I just flip it wherever (whenever time frame of the Beatles I want to be) and I read along..

And now, for tonight… here are some Beatles quotes from the interview The Beatles made in a press conference in Adelaide…. Page 122-123 of the book, “The Touring Days”

Reporter: Well fellas, tell me, what did you think of the Adelaide reception?
John Lennon: Oh, it was great@ The best ever.
Reporter: Was it like I’d mentioned to you on the plane it would be?
John Lennon: Yeah, it was better!
Reporter: Was it like you’d ever had before?
George Harrison: No, much better.
John Lennon: We’d never done one of those “drives” as well. It was marvelous.
Reporter: How would it compare with the ones in the United States when you arrived there?
Paul McCartney: This was bigger. There was more people there.
Reporter: Do you think it was very well conducted?
John Lennon: Yes. Everybody was well behaved.
Reporter: Did you get a fright at all outside the Town hall?
John Lennon: Not fright. Shock, you know, because there was so many.
George Harrison: I had a feeling we might’ve got shot, ‘cosw it’s the first time we’d been sitting inthe back of a car waving, you know.

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The first even on the Beatles in San Francisco when they arrived on February 7, 1964 was a press conference. Here are some of the less known interview question and answers:

Q: How was your trip?
John Lennon: It was like a plane trip, you know.

Q: How often do you get haircuts?
John Lennon: Uh, about once every three weeks.

Q: Who is your tailer?
Paul McCartney: A fella called Millings.

Q: What did you have to eat today?
John Lennon: Corn flakes with jelly beans and chips

Q: Is your hair real?
Paul McCartney: Is yours?

Read more about the tour in Larry Kane’s Book:

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09-09-09! John Lennon and Beatles Rockband Day!

Dude, need I say more? Happy Birthday to John Lennon! And I can’t wait for my very own Rockband Game.. please buy my Guitar Hero World Tour. :)

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Rare John Lennon Items To Be Displayed In Liverpool…. 411media reported this as White Father, when it is actually White Feather.. oh well, both of us are ‘borrowing’ stories anyway, so might as well correct it.

The personal narration of life with John Lennon – by his son Julian, and Julian’s mother, Cynthia with the opening of White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon. This is this coming June 17, 2009

Beginning in Merseyside with the meeting at art college of John and Cynthia it follows the journey from their clandestine marriage and the birth of Julian, both of which coincide with the sharply increasing trajectory of the band’s fame and fortune. The exhibition culminates in the story of Cynthia and John’s separation and divorce, givingvisitors the chance to immerse themselves in the personal journey of a normal family’s struggle to cope with the effects of fame thrown upon them; particularly relevant in today’s celebrity conscious society.

Nothing demonstrates this more acutely than the title of the exhibition, ”White Feather”. During a tender moment when Julian was a child, John first spoke to him about the white feather.

As Julian explains: ”The white feather is so prevalent in my life. One thing for sure is that it’s always represented peace to me. And one of the things my father said to me was that should he pass away, if there was some way of letting me know he was going to be ok, or that we were all going to be ok, it was by in some way, shape or form presenting me with a white feather.”

Then, around ten years ago while Julian was on tour in Australia, a group of Aborigines presented him with a white feather, asking him to be the voice for their plight. It was a breathtaking and inspirational moment for Julian. This episode motivated Julian to set up The White Feather Foundation, a charity that embraces environmental and humanitarian issues and helps to raise funds to improve the life of others.

Julian Lennon says: ”John Lennon is an idol to millions of people who grew up loving his music and ideals, but to me he is the father I loved and lost. I hope this exhibition lets people see another aspect of his life and our time together as a family. This collection represents something of great importance to us as it is part of our history.”

Jerry Goldman Managing Director of the Beatles Story comments: ”The Beatles Story is dedicated to celebrating the music and cultural influence of the Beatles. We are delighted to be working with Julian and Cynthia to tell their story of their life with John through this world exclusive exhibition at our new venue.”

White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon, takes place at the recently expanded world famous Beatles Story within the new Mersey Ferries terminal building on Liverpool’s renowned waterfront before touring worldwide.

Neil Scales, Chief Executive and Director General of Merseytravel, which owns the Beatles Story, says: “This is a story about a family; but it is also a story of global significance and one that opens up the lives of John, Cynthia and Julian in a way never seen before. We are in the business of creating the world’s number one Beatles experience at the Beatles Story and to have this exclusive on our doorstep – John’s home town – is a privilege.”

To find out more about the exhibition go to: http://www.whitefeatherexhibition.com/

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In 1969, Lennon and Ono visited Niagara Falls during their Canadian “Bed-In for Peace.” Their June 1, 1969, visit was filmed, and those images were frequently used by both Lennon and Ono. Lennon used the footage in his 1975 promotional film that tied in with his release of “Stand by Me” as a single. Ono used much of the same footage in the 1988 “John Lennon: Imagine” film.

Looks like Yoko Ono will be coming back to the place where they stayed all day with JOhn Lennon in their pajamas.

Here’s what we read:

Niagara Falls Mayor Ted Salci said he has contacted Ono’s management and asked if she could attend the Lundy’s Lane event, especially because it falls almost 40 years to the day that she and Lennon were at Niagara Falls. Ono could not be reached for comment.

“We’ll give her the red carpet treatment,” Salci said. “We’ll give her the key to the city, or whatever else she wants.”

“All We Are Saying,” key words from Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” — a song he first recorded and released in 1969 — will feature music from various Southern Ontario youth groups.

Ono did appear in Montreal earlier this year as part of that city’s celebration of the couple’s “bed-in” for peace.

It was during the bed-in that Lennon and Ono made the day-long side trip from Montreal to Niagara Falls, at the urging of Roy Kerwood, a then-18-year-old photography student who befriended the famous couple. Later that year, Lennon made a rare in-concert appearance at a rock and roll revival festival at Toronto’s Varsity Stadium. The Beatles officially broke up in 1970.

Salci said the official invitation came at the behest of Bill Colclough, Lundy’s Lane Historical Museum public programmer and organizer of the “All We Are Saying” event.

“I know the history,” Colclough said. “If we asked, I’m not sure it would go very far. But, coming from the mayor and city council, it might carry more weight with Yoko Ono.”

Niagara Falls has had its fair share of famous visitors. Two weeks, actor Brad Pitt took two of his children on the Maid of the Mist. Princess Diana also rode the Maid of the Mist in 1991 and the Rolling Stones were riders on the Maid of the Mist in 1975.

“Yoko will be in good company,” Colclough said.

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Los Angeles (E! Online) – The boy genius has given way to the convicted murderer.

Phil Spector, the legendary record producer, eccentric and recluse with a reputation for building walls around people as much as his signature music, was found guilty of second-degree murder by Los Angeles jurors today in the 2003 shooting death of cult-movie star Lana Clarkson.

Spector, who was taken immediately into custody, showed no emotion at the verdict, reports said; his wife Rachelle sobbed.

The 69-year-old Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member faces up to life in prison when sentenced May 29.

This was Spector’s second judgment day on the Clarkson case. In 2007, a jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of convicting Spector.

At the second trial as at the first, prosecutors said Clarkson fell victim to a man who had a history of waving guns at, and acting violently toward, women, especially when he’d been drinking. Spector’s defense argued she shot herself.

There was one new twist at the new trial, but it ended up being a nonfactor, unfortunately for Spector.

At this trial, jurors had the option of convicting Spector of a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. They not only didn’t take the option, they also convicted the former hitmaker of using a gun while committing a crime.

For L.A. prosecutors, the guilty verdicts were a welcome change. They previously failed to win convictions against celebrity murder defendants O.J. Simpson and Robert Blake.

Spector’s fame dates back to 1958, when, at age 19, he wrote and sang his way to No. 1 on the chart with “To Know Him Is to Love Him.”

As a young producer, Spector dominated the pre-Beatles 1960s with hit (“He’s a Rebel”) after hit (“Da Doo Ron Ron”) after hit (“Be My Baby”). The songs were predominantly recorded by girl groups and were exclusively backed by the aural sensation known as the “Wall of Sound.” Spector’s magic touch continued through the 1960s, with “Unchained Melody,” the Beatles Let It Be, John Lennon’s “Imagine” and George Harrison “My Sweet Lord,” among other standouts.

But over the past 30-40 years, Spector’s fame gave way to a kind of infamy—the mad genius who, per lore, pulled gun on Lennon and the Ramones, or who, per Ronnie Spector, of the Spector creation the Ronettes, treated her more as a captive than wife during their troubled marriage.

Spector’s alleged gun-waving ways caught up to him at trial, if not on night of Clarkson’s death at his Alhambra, Calif., castle-style home. At Spector’s first trial, five women testified about being at the other end of a gun drawn by Spector. Their testimony was allowed to be introduced in the new trial.

Spector and Clarkson, the queen of Roger Corman’s Barbarian Queen movies, met Feb. 3, 2003, at L.A’s House of Blues, where the 40-year-old Clarkson worked as a hostess and where Spector visited shortly after midnight.

About five hours later, after the pair was driven to Spector’s home, Spector walked out of his mansion, and, per testimony at the first trial, told his driver: “I think I killed somebody.”

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Hey folks, as a fellow Beatle fan and a John Lennon fan.. I’m just here to pass on the news.. :)

As the 40th anniversary of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s infamous honeymoon approaches the artist has released an appeal message to Beatles fans urging them to recreate their ‘Bed In for world peace.’

As John took up with the avant grade performance artist in 1969 he turned away from his Fab Four image and rejoiced in the surrealist projects he undertook with his Japanese wife.

The original Bed In took place at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel from March 25-31, 1969, and saw Lennon and Ono demonstrate against the Vietnam War by inviting journalists to witness their honeymoon celebrations at the hotel and interview them without about peace.

Journalists and TV crews descended in their cosy cuddle sessions expecting the famous nudists to make love in front of the cameras only to be met by appeals for people to ‘stay in bed and grow their hair for peace.’

John said at the time that they were trying to sell peace to the world and again invited scorn by comparing the idea behind the stunt to Jesus Christ, explaining that if Christ was alive now he would use the modern miracle of communication.

He said: “If you want to sell peace, you’ve got to sell it like soap or Coca Cola.

“We Want Christ to win. We’re trying to make Christ’s message contemporary. What would he have done if he’d had advertisement, records, films, TV and newspapers?

“Christ made miracles to tell his message. well the miracle today is communications, so lets use it.”

They were largely ridiculed by the media at the time, who said that Yoko had gone to his head, which in turn resulted in the recording of The Ballad Of John And Yoko and a number one hit for The Beatles.

The Daily Mirror reported: “A not inconsiderable artistic talent has completely gone off his rocker.”

Although their peaceful demonstrations were mocked at the time they are now seen as pioneering and making way for the lauded efforts of Bono and Bob Geldoff.

Another week-long Bed in protest took place at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal from May 26 – June 2.

Posting on Imaginepeace.com, Ono asked fans to recreate the famous demonstrations and send in their pictures or stories to the website for publication.

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Found this page that posted a lyrics that supposedly written by JOhn Lennon… He could have, I may not be familiar with it.

Here’s the lyric:

There may be not much
difference
Between Chairmon Mao and
Richard Nixon
If we strip them naked.

There may be not much
difference
Between Marylin Monroe and
Lenny Bruce
If we check their coffins.

There may be not much
difference
Between White House and and
Hall of People
If we count their windows.

There may be not much
difference
Between Raquel Welch and
Jerry Rubin
If we hear their heartbeat.

Chorus:
We are all water from
different rivers
That’s why it’s so easy to to meet
We are all water in this vast,
vast ocean
Someday we’ll evaporate
together.

There may be not much
difference
Between Eldridge Cleaver and
Queen of England
If we bottle their tears

There may be not much
difference
Between Charles Manson and the Pope
If we press their smile

There may be not much
difference
Between Rockefeller and you
If we hear you sing.

There may be not much
difference
Between Rockefeller and you
If we show our dreams

—

Anyone want to comment of the lyrics?

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