Each year, the amfAR Gala is one of the biggest celebrity-studded and exclusive black-tie events during the Cannes Film Festival. Always held on the last Thursday of the festival, the evening brings together notable names and those with thick wallets to raise money for AIDS research and HIV prevention, treatment, education and advocacy. This year, the 30th edition of the gala — held at Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc — started off with cocktails and the red carpet, then a dinner and live auction.
Among the glittering stars attending the gala were Michelle Yeoh, Heidi Klum, Andie MacDowell, Diane Kruger, Colman Domingo, Maria Bakalova, Odell Beckham, Jr., Tommy and Dee Hilfiger, Paris Jackson, Magic Johnson, Coco Rocha, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, Bella Thorne, Julian Lennon and more.
The cocktail hour featured drinks by Seventy One Gin, DraftKings and Homolog as guests mingled and posed for photos. As the crowd gathered in the tent...
Among the glittering stars attending the gala were Michelle Yeoh, Heidi Klum, Andie MacDowell, Diane Kruger, Colman Domingo, Maria Bakalova, Odell Beckham, Jr., Tommy and Dee Hilfiger, Paris Jackson, Magic Johnson, Coco Rocha, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, Bella Thorne, Julian Lennon and more.
The cocktail hour featured drinks by Seventy One Gin, DraftKings and Homolog as guests mingled and posed for photos. As the crowd gathered in the tent...
- 5/24/2024
- by Allyson Portee
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The program for amfAR’s milestone 30th Cannes gala is growing.
Nick Jonas has booked a trip and will perform at the starry event which will also feature a “special musical moment” by Cher. Demi Moore is hosting the gala on May 23, a showing that will punctuate a busy festival for the veteran actress who has a film in competition, The Substance, and duties with Chopard as the jeweler’s godmother for a gala ceremony.
“We could not be more excited to add the amazing Nick Jonas to our Cannes lineup this year,” said amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost. “We are grateful to him for recognizing the importance of amfAR’s work in the fight against AIDS and we know that, together with Demi Moore and Cher, he will make this an unforgettable evening.”
Chairs of gala include Mohammed Al-Turki, Pedro Almodóvar, Jonathan Bailey, Fan Bingbing, Angela Bassett, Odell Beckham, Jr.,...
Nick Jonas has booked a trip and will perform at the starry event which will also feature a “special musical moment” by Cher. Demi Moore is hosting the gala on May 23, a showing that will punctuate a busy festival for the veteran actress who has a film in competition, The Substance, and duties with Chopard as the jeweler’s godmother for a gala ceremony.
“We could not be more excited to add the amazing Nick Jonas to our Cannes lineup this year,” said amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost. “We are grateful to him for recognizing the importance of amfAR’s work in the fight against AIDS and we know that, together with Demi Moore and Cher, he will make this an unforgettable evening.”
Chairs of gala include Mohammed Al-Turki, Pedro Almodóvar, Jonathan Bailey, Fan Bingbing, Angela Bassett, Odell Beckham, Jr.,...
- 5/9/2024
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
John Lennon‘s son, Julian Lennon, famously inspired The Beatles’ “Hey Jude.” Julian feels that the tune wasn’t about him at first. Here’s a look at how his memories compare to Paul McCartney’s.
John Lennon’s son said The Beatles’ ‘Hey Jude’ is about his personal ‘crap’
During a 2023 interview with Esquire, Julian discussed the origin of “Hey Jude.” “Initially, I think the concept of the song was about Mum,” he said. Julian’s mother was Cynthia Lennon, John’s first wife. The couple divorced in 1968, the same year “Hey Jude” came out.
Julian said Paul later rewrote the song to be about him. “But then it came to me, and what the hell I was going to be dealing with later on in life,” he said. “[Paul] wasn’t wrong in all the crap that I’ve been through. It’s not been smooth sailing in any way,...
John Lennon’s son said The Beatles’ ‘Hey Jude’ is about his personal ‘crap’
During a 2023 interview with Esquire, Julian discussed the origin of “Hey Jude.” “Initially, I think the concept of the song was about Mum,” he said. Julian’s mother was Cynthia Lennon, John’s first wife. The couple divorced in 1968, the same year “Hey Jude” came out.
Julian said Paul later rewrote the song to be about him. “But then it came to me, and what the hell I was going to be dealing with later on in life,” he said. “[Paul] wasn’t wrong in all the crap that I’ve been through. It’s not been smooth sailing in any way,...
- 12/20/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 2021, Julian and Sean Lennon attended the premiere of The Beatles: Get Back together. Though the half-brothers are over 10 years apart in age and were raised by different mothers, they have a solid relationship. Julian Lennon explained that while he didn’t particularly want to attend the Get Back premiere, he did it to support Sean.
Julian and Sean Lennon did not want to go to the ‘Get Back’ premiere
When Get Back premiered, Lennon’s two sons, naturally, received an invite to the screening. Sean did not particularly want to go, but he felt he had to. Julian, who did not want to go either, told his brother he would attend with him.
“Sean didn’t really want to go to the Get Back premiere,” Julian told Esquire in 2023. “He felt overwhelming pressure. And I didn’t particularly want to go. But he said he felt obligated to go,...
Julian and Sean Lennon did not want to go to the ‘Get Back’ premiere
When Get Back premiered, Lennon’s two sons, naturally, received an invite to the screening. Sean did not particularly want to go, but he felt he had to. Julian, who did not want to go either, told his brother he would attend with him.
“Sean didn’t really want to go to the Get Back premiere,” Julian told Esquire in 2023. “He felt overwhelming pressure. And I didn’t particularly want to go. But he said he felt obligated to go,...
- 12/20/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Most people would love to be the subject of a classic rock song. On the other hand, John Lennon’s son, Julian Lennon, has mixed feelings about The Beatles’ “Hey Jude.” He connected the song to his decision to follow in his father’s footsteps. John’s interpretation of “Hey Jude” conflicted with Paul McCartney’s.
John Lennon’s son said Paul McCartney wrote The Beatles’ ‘Hey Jude’ for him and his mom
During a 2023 interview with Esquire, Julian discussed how “Hey Jude” connected to himself and his mother, Cynthia Lennon. “It was ‘Hey Jules’ at first, but that didn’t quite sit well rhythmically,” he said. “‘Hey Jude’ was a better interpretation. Paul wrote it to console Mum, and also to console me.”
Julian has mixed emotions about the power ballad. “It’s a beautiful sentiment, no question about that, and I’m very thankful — but I’ve also...
John Lennon’s son said Paul McCartney wrote The Beatles’ ‘Hey Jude’ for him and his mom
During a 2023 interview with Esquire, Julian discussed how “Hey Jude” connected to himself and his mother, Cynthia Lennon. “It was ‘Hey Jules’ at first, but that didn’t quite sit well rhythmically,” he said. “‘Hey Jude’ was a better interpretation. Paul wrote it to console Mum, and also to console me.”
Julian has mixed emotions about the power ballad. “It’s a beautiful sentiment, no question about that, and I’m very thankful — but I’ve also...
- 12/20/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon‘s son, Julian Lennon, was asked to name the first music he remembered hearing. Shockingly, the tune in question was not a Beatles song. However, Julian compared the track to one of The Beatles’ biggest hits.
John Lennon’s son has strong memories of hearing a psychedelic rock song
During a 2023 interview with Esquire, Julian named the first piece of music he remembered hearing. “‘Whiter Shade of Pale,'” Julian said. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” is the signature song of the psychedelic rock band Procol Harum. The tune typifies the British music of the 1960s, with its unusual lyrics, its classical music elements, and its full-throated vocal performance by Gary Brooker.
Julian recalled what it was like hearing “A Whiter Shade of Pale” for the first time. “I was three, I think,” he said. “I remember going, ‘I kind of like this.’ Songs bring you back to the time and the place.
John Lennon’s son has strong memories of hearing a psychedelic rock song
During a 2023 interview with Esquire, Julian named the first piece of music he remembered hearing. “‘Whiter Shade of Pale,'” Julian said. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” is the signature song of the psychedelic rock band Procol Harum. The tune typifies the British music of the 1960s, with its unusual lyrics, its classical music elements, and its full-throated vocal performance by Gary Brooker.
Julian recalled what it was like hearing “A Whiter Shade of Pale” for the first time. “I was three, I think,” he said. “I remember going, ‘I kind of like this.’ Songs bring you back to the time and the place.
- 12/20/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The world mourned the loss of John Lennon after his 1980 death. The sadness felt by music lovers was palatable, knowing The Beatles would never again have the opportunity to reunite. While John’s wife, Yoko Ono, organized a 10-minute silent vigil to honor him, there was no official wake. Why didn’t John Lennon have a funeral after his death?
John Lennon didn’t have a funeral after his death
After John Lennon’s death, his wife, Yoko Ono, had his remains cremated. The day after Lennon died, he was cremated at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.
In the book The Lives of John Lennon, author Albert Goldman wrote Ono decided there would be no ceremony honoring Lennon immediately after returning to their apartment in the Dakota the night of his death. Little is known about why Ono chose not to have an official funeral for Lennon, and she...
John Lennon didn’t have a funeral after his death
After John Lennon’s death, his wife, Yoko Ono, had his remains cremated. The day after Lennon died, he was cremated at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.
In the book The Lives of John Lennon, author Albert Goldman wrote Ono decided there would be no ceremony honoring Lennon immediately after returning to their apartment in the Dakota the night of his death. Little is known about why Ono chose not to have an official funeral for Lennon, and she...
- 12/8/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The elusive motives behind Mark David Chapman fatally shooting John Lennon are now finally being explained in a boundary-breaking Apple TV+ docuseries.
“John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial” interrogates why Chapman, a photographer from Hawaii, set out to murder Beatle Lennon. Interviews with Chapman’s defense lawyer David Suggs and Dr Naomi Goldstein, the psychiatrist who first assessed Chapman, give new insights into his state of mind at the time of the 1980 killing. A witness to Lennon’s murder, taxi driver Richard Peterson, and Jay Hastings, a doorman at The Dakota who heard Lennon’s last words before he was shot outside of the infamous building, also speculate what compelled Chapman to kill.
Lennon and wife Yoko Ono’s shared confidante Elliot Mintz is further interviewed as the docuseries questions whether Chapman had religious motives or was part of a larger conspiracy to kill celebrities.
Per the series tagline, “Murder Without a Trial...
“John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial” interrogates why Chapman, a photographer from Hawaii, set out to murder Beatle Lennon. Interviews with Chapman’s defense lawyer David Suggs and Dr Naomi Goldstein, the psychiatrist who first assessed Chapman, give new insights into his state of mind at the time of the 1980 killing. A witness to Lennon’s murder, taxi driver Richard Peterson, and Jay Hastings, a doorman at The Dakota who heard Lennon’s last words before he was shot outside of the infamous building, also speculate what compelled Chapman to kill.
Lennon and wife Yoko Ono’s shared confidante Elliot Mintz is further interviewed as the docuseries questions whether Chapman had religious motives or was part of a larger conspiracy to kill celebrities.
Per the series tagline, “Murder Without a Trial...
- 11/28/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
There have been a number of eye-opening Beatles documentaries through the years, from the Beatlemania doc Eight Days a Week; a tribute to the Fab Four’s loyal secretary, Good Ol’ Freda; Martin Scorsese’s poignant George Harrison: Living in the Material World; and last but certainly not least, Peter Jackson’s recent eight-hour opus Get Back, chronicling the recording of the group’s final album, Let It Be, and subsequent demise.
Now, we have what hopes to be the definitive documentary about the aftermath of Mark David Chapman...
Now, we have what hopes to be the definitive documentary about the aftermath of Mark David Chapman...
- 11/28/2023
- by Marlow Stern
- Rollingstone.com
London – A psychedelic eye mosaic commissioned by John Lennon for the swimming pool at his Kenwood home in Surrey in 1965 leads Bonhams’ Rock, Pop & Film sale on Wednesday 29 November at Knightsbridge, London.
Claire Tole-Moir, Bonhams Head of Popular Culture in London, commented: “This monumental mosaic, commissioned by John Lennon is a striking example of the Beatle’s artistic vision and influences. Lennon’s Kenwood home in the English countryside was a place of respite from all the public attention he experienced during the height of The Beatles’ popularity. It’s said Lennon would spend idle hours near the swimming pool and that the mosaic could even be seen from his favoured ‘sunroom’ at the top of the house. With Kenwood still under private ownership, it is very rare to see anything from when John Lennon lived there, making the ‘Psychedelic Eye’ mosaic an incredibly important artefact of Beatles history.”
Consisting of approximately 17,000 tiles,...
Claire Tole-Moir, Bonhams Head of Popular Culture in London, commented: “This monumental mosaic, commissioned by John Lennon is a striking example of the Beatle’s artistic vision and influences. Lennon’s Kenwood home in the English countryside was a place of respite from all the public attention he experienced during the height of The Beatles’ popularity. It’s said Lennon would spend idle hours near the swimming pool and that the mosaic could even be seen from his favoured ‘sunroom’ at the top of the house. With Kenwood still under private ownership, it is very rare to see anything from when John Lennon lived there, making the ‘Psychedelic Eye’ mosaic an incredibly important artefact of Beatles history.”
Consisting of approximately 17,000 tiles,...
- 11/8/2023
- by Music Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Music
John Lennon took a hands-off approach to raising his son Julian, but he threw himself into his second son Sean’s upbringing. Yoko Ono told Lennon he would bear primary responsibility for raising their son, and he wholeheartedly agreed. He took his role as father seriously and was highly concerned about Sean’s health. Lennon didn’t even want people touching his son for the first months of his life.
John Lennon didn’t want anybody touching his son, Sean
Shortly after Sean’s birth in 1975, Lennon called his lawyer, Leon Wildes.
“‘It’s John. I’m a father,'” Wildes recalled him saying, per the book Lennon: The Definitive Biography by Ray Coleman. “He was ecstatic, bouncing around his room as he spoke.”
Lennon was highly protective of his young son.
“In the months following the birth John allowed very few visitors to the Dakota,” Coleman wrote. “He was afraid they might spread germs.
John Lennon didn’t want anybody touching his son, Sean
Shortly after Sean’s birth in 1975, Lennon called his lawyer, Leon Wildes.
“‘It’s John. I’m a father,'” Wildes recalled him saying, per the book Lennon: The Definitive Biography by Ray Coleman. “He was ecstatic, bouncing around his room as he spoke.”
Lennon was highly protective of his young son.
“In the months following the birth John allowed very few visitors to the Dakota,” Coleman wrote. “He was afraid they might spread germs.
- 10/20/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Julian Lennon was the first Beatles child and the inspiration for several songs, including “Hey Jude.” Paul McCartney wrote the song for him in the midst of John Lennon’s tumultuous divorce from Cynthia Lennon. “Hey Jude” is a classic Beatles song. While Julian says he likes it, it also reminds him of a dark period in his family’s history.
Julian Lennon said ‘Hey Jude’ brings up bad memories
Not long after Lennon told Cynthia he’d cheated on her multiple times and insisted he wanted to make their marriage work, she came home to find him sitting in a bathrobe with Yoko Ono. This was a fatal blow to their marriage, and they divorced. The split devastated Cynthia and put a great deal of distance between the three-year-old Julian and his father.
McCartney was the only Beatle who stayed in contact with Cynthia after the divorce. He decided...
Julian Lennon said ‘Hey Jude’ brings up bad memories
Not long after Lennon told Cynthia he’d cheated on her multiple times and insisted he wanted to make their marriage work, she came home to find him sitting in a bathrobe with Yoko Ono. This was a fatal blow to their marriage, and they divorced. The split devastated Cynthia and put a great deal of distance between the three-year-old Julian and his father.
McCartney was the only Beatle who stayed in contact with Cynthia after the divorce. He decided...
- 10/11/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Five years after John Lennon’s death, his family members could hardly believe a television program about his life. While some of his family members had problems with him in his life, they all agreed that the program John Lennon: A Journey in the Life did not capture him well. Here are the problems they had with the film.
John Lennon’s family was not happy about a program about his life
In 1985, the documentary John Lennon: A Journey in the Life aired. Per TV Guide, the film relied on interviews and documentary footage as well as dramatizations.
“In December 1985, in its Everyman series, BBC Television transmitted John Lennon: A Journey in the Life,” Ray Coleman wrote in his book Lennon: The Definitive Biography. “The role of John was taken by Bernard Hill, to whom Lennon had sent a good luck telegram when Hill had starred in an excellent London stage production called John,...
John Lennon’s family was not happy about a program about his life
In 1985, the documentary John Lennon: A Journey in the Life aired. Per TV Guide, the film relied on interviews and documentary footage as well as dramatizations.
“In December 1985, in its Everyman series, BBC Television transmitted John Lennon: A Journey in the Life,” Ray Coleman wrote in his book Lennon: The Definitive Biography. “The role of John was taken by Bernard Hill, to whom Lennon had sent a good luck telegram when Hill had starred in an excellent London stage production called John,...
- 10/10/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon and his dad, Fred Lennon, had a fraught relationship for most of Lennon’s life. They went for years without speaking, and their first reunion after years apart was tense and uncomfortable. After a particularly bitter fight, Fred even believed Lennon was making plans to murder him. Despite this level of animosity, Lennon made amends with his father before his death.
John Lennon and his dad reconciled in 1976
After reuniting in the mid-1960s, Lennon and Fred fell out of contact again in 1970. Lennon had recently undergone primal scream therapy. When Fred arrived at his party, Lennon confronted him about the issues that had come up during therapy, Fred’s abandonment chief among them.
“As his voice tailed off, his rage seemed to change to anguish and for one moment I thought he might even begin to cry,” Fred’s wife Pauline wrote, per the book Lennon: The Definitive Biography by Ray Coleman.
John Lennon and his dad reconciled in 1976
After reuniting in the mid-1960s, Lennon and Fred fell out of contact again in 1970. Lennon had recently undergone primal scream therapy. When Fred arrived at his party, Lennon confronted him about the issues that had come up during therapy, Fred’s abandonment chief among them.
“As his voice tailed off, his rage seemed to change to anguish and for one moment I thought he might even begin to cry,” Fred’s wife Pauline wrote, per the book Lennon: The Definitive Biography by Ray Coleman.
- 9/28/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Step into the spotlight with us as we delve into the hidden world of Julian Lennon, a talented artist who has carved his own path beyond the shadow of The Beatles. While he bears the surname of one of the most celebrated musicians in history, he is so much more than just his name. With a distinctive voice that echoes his father’s (John Lennon), he has crafted his own sound, blending elements of rock, pop, and introspective lyrics. However, his impact extends beyond the realm of music. With a heart for philanthropy, he has used his platform to support causes...
- 9/21/2023
- by Ima Whyte
- TVovermind.com
Exclusive: Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired The Lost Weekend: A Love Story, the documentary feature in which May Pang discusses her whirlwind love affair with singer John Lennon, when she was just 23 years old and his assistant. The film, which premiered at Tribeca, is directed by Eve Brandstein, Richard Kaufman, and Stuart Samuels. The tale is told through May’s inside perspective, capturing a love affair that shaped a prolific period for Lennon post-Beatles.
Briarcliff will premiere the docu on digital and Blu-ray on October 13, 2023, the week of John Lennon’s birthday, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
A lesser known chapter in the life of the late Beatles singer Lennon, it took 50 years for Pang to tell her story on film. She recounts her 18-month relationship with John—a relationship orchestrated by Yoko Ono herself. During this period, May helped John reunite with his son Julian Lennon, and participated firsthand in his most productive period post-Beatles.
Briarcliff will premiere the docu on digital and Blu-ray on October 13, 2023, the week of John Lennon’s birthday, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
A lesser known chapter in the life of the late Beatles singer Lennon, it took 50 years for Pang to tell her story on film. She recounts her 18-month relationship with John—a relationship orchestrated by Yoko Ono herself. During this period, May helped John reunite with his son Julian Lennon, and participated firsthand in his most productive period post-Beatles.
- 8/25/2023
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
John Lennon was the first Beatle to have both a wife and a child. He married Cynthia Lennon just before the explosion of Beatlemania because they discovered she was pregnant. He wanted to keep their relationship private, but news of their nuptials leaked. The press quickly gave Cynthia and the couple’s son, Julian, nicknames, much to Lennon’s disgust.
John Lennon didn’t like the nickname the media gave his wife and child
Lennon and Cynthia married in 1962 after several years of dating. He didn’t have plans to propose to her, but they quietly tied the knot after learning about her pregnancy. He didn’t want people to know he was married, and Cynthia worked to keep her pregnancy under wraps.
John Lennon and Julian Lennon | Keystone Features/Getty Images
“If … the main man in the group, John, was found to be married, then it might take away from that particular success,...
John Lennon didn’t like the nickname the media gave his wife and child
Lennon and Cynthia married in 1962 after several years of dating. He didn’t have plans to propose to her, but they quietly tied the knot after learning about her pregnancy. He didn’t want people to know he was married, and Cynthia worked to keep her pregnancy under wraps.
John Lennon and Julian Lennon | Keystone Features/Getty Images
“If … the main man in the group, John, was found to be married, then it might take away from that particular success,...
- 8/14/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles‘ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” is often assumed to be about LSD. Paul McCartney said certain lines of the song reflect The Beatles’ drug use. On the other hand, John Lennon said the writing of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” had nothing to do with LSD.
Paul McCartney’s feelings on the trips behind The Beatles’ ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’
In the 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Paul discussed his experiences with LSD. “I had mixed feelings about it, certainly, but we took it and in songs like ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,’ when we were talking about ‘cellophane flowers’ and ‘kaleidoscope eyes’ and ‘grow so incredibly high!’ we were talking about drug experiences, no doubt about it,” he said.
Paul said he sometimes cried when he was on LSD because he felt like he’d seen God. “And sometimes you were just plain knackered,...
Paul McCartney’s feelings on the trips behind The Beatles’ ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’
In the 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Paul discussed his experiences with LSD. “I had mixed feelings about it, certainly, but we took it and in songs like ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,’ when we were talking about ‘cellophane flowers’ and ‘kaleidoscope eyes’ and ‘grow so incredibly high!’ we were talking about drug experiences, no doubt about it,” he said.
Paul said he sometimes cried when he was on LSD because he felt like he’d seen God. “And sometimes you were just plain knackered,...
- 7/27/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles and The Rolling Stones waved off rumors of a feud between the bands, but John Lennon once terrified Brian Jones for his own amusement. Lennon and Jones were friendly, with the former considering Jones an incredible musician. Their relationship meant that Jones was fair game for Lennon’s pranks. Once, Lennon convinced a terrified Jones that the police were going to arrest him.
John Lennon made Brian Jones think the police were after him
When Lennon bought a car, he made a number of modifications, adding a record player, a custom horn that played “Lilli Marlene” when honked, and a microphone attached to speaker systems in the front wheel wells. With the speakers, Lennon could communicate with the outside world, talking to pedestrians or playing the sound of trains and airplanes to confuse people.
He also used the microphone to terrify his friends and acquaintances. If he happened...
John Lennon made Brian Jones think the police were after him
When Lennon bought a car, he made a number of modifications, adding a record player, a custom horn that played “Lilli Marlene” when honked, and a microphone attached to speaker systems in the front wheel wells. With the speakers, Lennon could communicate with the outside world, talking to pedestrians or playing the sound of trains and airplanes to confuse people.
He also used the microphone to terrify his friends and acquaintances. If he happened...
- 7/24/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
John Lennon and Yoko Ono only had one child together. John explained how they changed their lifestyles in order to have a child. The child, Sean Ono Lennon, grew up to become a musician in his own right.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono had a child together named Sean Ono Lennon. They didn’t think they’d be able to have a kid with each other. Subsequently, an acupuncturist from San Francisco put them on a specific regimen and then they managed to have Sean.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono felt they couldn’t have a kid due to John’s health and Yoko’s age
In a 1980 interview contained in the book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, John discussed the conception of his son, Sean Ono Lennon. Notably, Sean is the only child he had with Yoko. His only other child,...
John Lennon and Yoko Ono only had one child together. John explained how they changed their lifestyles in order to have a child. The child, Sean Ono Lennon, grew up to become a musician in his own right.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono had a child together named Sean Ono Lennon. They didn’t think they’d be able to have a kid with each other. Subsequently, an acupuncturist from San Francisco put them on a specific regimen and then they managed to have Sean.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono felt they couldn’t have a kid due to John’s health and Yoko’s age
In a 1980 interview contained in the book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, John discussed the conception of his son, Sean Ono Lennon. Notably, Sean is the only child he had with Yoko. His only other child,...
- 6/26/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Northbrook, Ill. – May Pang is an essential part of John Lennon’s history, having been his lover from 1973 to 1975. While with John, she clicked a number of candid photos, collected in the exhibit “The Lost Weekend – The Photography of May Pang” at the Art Post Gallery in Northbrook (Illinois) from June 16th through the 18th, 2023. Pang will appear at the exhibit for all three days, and all of the photos will be available for purchase. For more information, click May Pang.
One of the closest persons to John Lennon in the decade after the break up of The Beatles … a period in Lennon’s life often called the “Lost Weekend.” Pang also has a new documentary about her life with John, aptly titled “The Lost Weekend A Love Story.” The film will be available for digital download in September.
John Lennon and May Pang
Photo credit: Iconic Events
May Pang...
One of the closest persons to John Lennon in the decade after the break up of The Beatles … a period in Lennon’s life often called the “Lost Weekend.” Pang also has a new documentary about her life with John, aptly titled “The Lost Weekend A Love Story.” The film will be available for digital download in September.
John Lennon and May Pang
Photo credit: Iconic Events
May Pang...
- 6/16/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
John Lennon’s first son, Julian, had more of an impact on The Beatles than many might expect. For instance, Paul McCartney wrote “Hey Jude” to give Julian Lennon words of comfort as his parents went through a divorce. Another famous song by The Beatles was based on a drawing he made. However, Julian doesn’t why or how he came up with the idea behind it.
Julian Lennon doesn’t remember the inspiration for the drawing that John Lennon used for ‘Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds’ John Lennon | Keystone Features/Getty Images
Many still believe that “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” references hallucinogenic drugs. The title clearly spells out the acronym for LSD, and the supposed drug connection led to it being banned by the BBC. However, John Lennon claimed the track had no connection to drugs and was based on a drawing created by his son.
Julian Lennon doesn’t remember the inspiration for the drawing that John Lennon used for ‘Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds’ John Lennon | Keystone Features/Getty Images
Many still believe that “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” references hallucinogenic drugs. The title clearly spells out the acronym for LSD, and the supposed drug connection led to it being banned by the BBC. However, John Lennon claimed the track had no connection to drugs and was based on a drawing created by his son.
- 6/8/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Donald Glover, Jason Momoa, Laura Dern, Woody Harrelson, Ian Somerhalder and Rosario Dawson pen letters to a future generation about climate concerns in the above clip from the documentary Common Ground, which The Hollywood Reporter is debuting exclusively.
The film, written, directed and produced by Kiss the Ground helmers Josh and Rebecca Tickell and premiering at the Tribeca Festival on Thursday, explores the connections between farming, politics and illness as well as the Regenerative Agriculture movement. Glover, Momoa, Dern, Harrelson, Dawson and Somerhalder narrate. In addition to warning the next generation, the famous narrators provide hope for ways to fix broken systems.
“As parents of two young children, Common Ground is not only a love letter to kids, but all of the co-narrators of the film are also writing the letter to their children,” Rebecca Tickell tells THR. “The film, and the letter it depicts, are a commitment that we...
The film, written, directed and produced by Kiss the Ground helmers Josh and Rebecca Tickell and premiering at the Tribeca Festival on Thursday, explores the connections between farming, politics and illness as well as the Regenerative Agriculture movement. Glover, Momoa, Dern, Harrelson, Dawson and Somerhalder narrate. In addition to warning the next generation, the famous narrators provide hope for ways to fix broken systems.
“As parents of two young children, Common Ground is not only a love letter to kids, but all of the co-narrators of the film are also writing the letter to their children,” Rebecca Tickell tells THR. “The film, and the letter it depicts, are a commitment that we...
- 6/8/2023
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Julian Lennon will host and executive produce a docuseries on how our surroundings influence the making of art.
The series, entitled “Inspired,” will be co-produced with New York-based documentary specialists Cargo Film & Releasing. The show will explore the way new places influence and shape the creative process of contemporary artists.
In each episode, Lennon — the son of late Beatles member John Lennon — will meet top artists to uncover a “rich tapestry of inspiring stories and allow the viewer to visit a city, region or country through their eyes.”
Lennon is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, philanthropist, film producer, author and photographer. The project marks one of his first forays into television presenting.
Lennon said: “What’s so special about this series is getting to know an artist and the culture of a place through a specific lens — this unique relationship an artist has with a certain place that gets their creative juices going.
The series, entitled “Inspired,” will be co-produced with New York-based documentary specialists Cargo Film & Releasing. The show will explore the way new places influence and shape the creative process of contemporary artists.
In each episode, Lennon — the son of late Beatles member John Lennon — will meet top artists to uncover a “rich tapestry of inspiring stories and allow the viewer to visit a city, region or country through their eyes.”
Lennon is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, philanthropist, film producer, author and photographer. The project marks one of his first forays into television presenting.
Lennon said: “What’s so special about this series is getting to know an artist and the culture of a place through a specific lens — this unique relationship an artist has with a certain place that gets their creative juices going.
- 6/5/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Julian Lennon shares many traits with his dad, John Lennon. For one, he looks strikingly similar to his father. While his half brother, Sean Ono Lennon, admits he lives off The Beatles’ money his dad earned, Julian has also enjoyed a fruitful music career of his own, partly out of necessity. He missed out on millions of dollars when he was cut out of his dad’s will. Though he showed respect for his father’s music, Lennon revealed his favorite album isn’t a Beatles record or solo John album.
Julian Lennon | Frans Schellekens/Redferns Julian Lennon’s favorite album is an English electronica record, not a Beatles or John Lennon release
Lennon showed plenty of love for his dad and The Beatles when talking to Goldmine Magazine about his favorite albums. He said John’s Walls and Bridges album from 1974 was a highlight. Lennon had the chance to...
Julian Lennon | Frans Schellekens/Redferns Julian Lennon’s favorite album is an English electronica record, not a Beatles or John Lennon release
Lennon showed plenty of love for his dad and The Beatles when talking to Goldmine Magazine about his favorite albums. He said John’s Walls and Bridges album from 1974 was a highlight. Lennon had the chance to...
- 6/3/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles set an impossibly high bar for groups that followed them. They had dozens of top-100 hits during their brief but prolific career, and even when they abandoned songs that didn’t work, they performed well for other artists. Several of The Beatles’ non-album singles became incredibly successful. Let’s look at five of them that went to No. 1.
Note: We considered only original songs that reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts and never appeared on a studio album during The Beatles’ active years. Songs with more weeks at No. 1 rank higher than songs with more time on the charts.
(l-r) Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, George Martin, and John Lennon | Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images 5. ‘Paperback Writer’ Weeks on chart: 10 Weeks at No. 1: 2
“Paperback Writer” arrived in May 1966. The tune became an interesting nexus in The Beatles’ sound. It mixed beautiful vocal harmonies that...
Note: We considered only original songs that reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts and never appeared on a studio album during The Beatles’ active years. Songs with more weeks at No. 1 rank higher than songs with more time on the charts.
(l-r) Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, George Martin, and John Lennon | Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images 5. ‘Paperback Writer’ Weeks on chart: 10 Weeks at No. 1: 2
“Paperback Writer” arrived in May 1966. The tune became an interesting nexus in The Beatles’ sound. It mixed beautiful vocal harmonies that...
- 5/16/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Julian Lennon was John Lennon’s first child and the first of all The Beatles’ children. He didn’t have a particularly strong relationship with his father, though. After Lennon and his first wife, Cynthia, divorced, Julian rarely saw his father. While he has said he has forgiven his father for his behavior, Julian once said he did blame Lennon for not being a good father to him.
Julian Lennon and John Lennon | Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images John Lennon’s son Julian was angry with his father for a long time
Julian was born in 1963, just as The Beatles were making it big. By 1968, his parents had divorced following Lennon’s affair with Yoko Ono. After that, Julian’s relationship with his father grew strained. While they saw each other more in the 1970s, Julian said Lennon always felt like a stranger to him.
“It was still very distant.
Julian Lennon and John Lennon | Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images John Lennon’s son Julian was angry with his father for a long time
Julian was born in 1963, just as The Beatles were making it big. By 1968, his parents had divorced following Lennon’s affair with Yoko Ono. After that, Julian’s relationship with his father grew strained. While they saw each other more in the 1970s, Julian said Lennon always felt like a stranger to him.
“It was still very distant.
- 5/13/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon famously spoke about becoming a “househusband” to raise his second child, but he had a more distant relationship with his eldest son, Julian. Julian Lennon was born early in The Beatles’ time as a band, and his parents divorced when he was young. From there, his relationship with Lennon grew distant; he admitted to feeling like he hardly knew him. He shared why he felt this made Lennon a hypocrite.
Julian Lennon and John Lennon | David Cairns/Getty Images John Lennon’s son Julian said his father’s behavior was hypocritical
After The Beatles broke up, Lennon began speaking often about the importance of peace and love. He hosted bed-ins for peace with Yoko Ono, integrated the messaging into his music, and spoke out against the Vietnam War. Julian believed this behavior made his father a hypocrite.
Yoko Ono, Julian Lennon, and John Lennon | Bettmann/Contributor via Getty
“I have to say that,...
Julian Lennon and John Lennon | David Cairns/Getty Images John Lennon’s son Julian said his father’s behavior was hypocritical
After The Beatles broke up, Lennon began speaking often about the importance of peace and love. He hosted bed-ins for peace with Yoko Ono, integrated the messaging into his music, and spoke out against the Vietnam War. Julian believed this behavior made his father a hypocrite.
Yoko Ono, Julian Lennon, and John Lennon | Bettmann/Contributor via Getty
“I have to say that,...
- 5/9/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney and John Lennon bonded over the deaths of their mothers and, according to McCartney, Lennon also spoke candidly about his relationship with his father. He was not a part of Lennon’s life for most of his childhood, but they reunited during Lennon’s time with The Beatles. According to McCartney, Lennon never fully recovered from his father’s absence.
John Lennon | Michael Putland/Getty Images Paul McCartney said John Lennon struggled with his relationship with his father
When Lennon was young, his father, Alfred, and his mother, Julia, separated. Alfred fell out of his life entirely, and Lennon moved in with his aunt and uncle. While he saw Julia sporadically throughout his childhood, he was fully estranged from Alfred. According to McCartney, Lennon’s formidable reputation as a teenager was a result of his upbringing.
“John was the local Ted. You saw him rather than met him,...
John Lennon | Michael Putland/Getty Images Paul McCartney said John Lennon struggled with his relationship with his father
When Lennon was young, his father, Alfred, and his mother, Julia, separated. Alfred fell out of his life entirely, and Lennon moved in with his aunt and uncle. While he saw Julia sporadically throughout his childhood, he was fully estranged from Alfred. According to McCartney, Lennon’s formidable reputation as a teenager was a result of his upbringing.
“John was the local Ted. You saw him rather than met him,...
- 5/8/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Chicago – One of the closest persons to John Lennon in the decade between the break up of The Beatles and his untimely death was May Pang … his lover from 1973 to 1975 … a time in Lennon’s life often called the “Lost Weekend.” Pang narrates a new documentary that sets their record straight, aptly titled “The Lost Weekend A Love Story.”
May Pang is a Manhattan-born daughter of Chinese immigrants and ardent music fan, who became the 19-year-old personal assistant to John Lennon and Yoko Ono beginning in December of 1970, shortly after The Beatles broke up. So when the couple resettled in New York City, she was indispensable to Lennon and Ono’s many wacky projects, In 1973. John began the infamous “Lost Weekend,” which included an intimate relationship with Pang, with Yoko’s blessing, and that level of connection lasted until John and Yoko reconciled in 1975. The film is a comprehensive overview...
May Pang is a Manhattan-born daughter of Chinese immigrants and ardent music fan, who became the 19-year-old personal assistant to John Lennon and Yoko Ono beginning in December of 1970, shortly after The Beatles broke up. So when the couple resettled in New York City, she was indispensable to Lennon and Ono’s many wacky projects, In 1973. John began the infamous “Lost Weekend,” which included an intimate relationship with Pang, with Yoko’s blessing, and that level of connection lasted until John and Yoko reconciled in 1975. The film is a comprehensive overview...
- 4/23/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
In hindsight, The Beatles could just as easily have been called The Chameleons. They started out by writing short and saccharine pop tunes, went in new directions as they changed their sound, and eventually recorded more complex and layered songs that proved how creative they could be. The longest Beatles songs fully displayed the band’s songwriting prowess and showed how much they developed in just a few years.
Note: We only included selections from Beatles albums and singles, so The White Album outtake “What’s the New Mary Jane” won’t appear on our list.
(l-r) Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon | Daily Mirror/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 5. ‘A Day in the Life’ Run time: 5:37
If you were making a list of the Beatles’ signature songs, then you’d have to include the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band closer on the list.
Note: We only included selections from Beatles albums and singles, so The White Album outtake “What’s the New Mary Jane” won’t appear on our list.
(l-r) Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon | Daily Mirror/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 5. ‘A Day in the Life’ Run time: 5:37
If you were making a list of the Beatles’ signature songs, then you’d have to include the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band closer on the list.
- 4/22/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Julian Lennon is using his critically acclaimed platform to speak out against alleged “abuse” within the music industry.
In a recent interview with People, the “Too Late for Goodbyes” singer-songwriter shared his negative experiences within the music industry, explaining that his stories would make for an exciting read in the future.
Lennon, 60, began by revealing that he’s recently been “reviewing” his life in hopes of potentially writing about it “at some stage”, but what stuck out the most to him during his analytical process was the enormously negative interactions he’s experienced with record labels and management in his lifetime.
“I was going back over things that have happened to me in the past and I was actually shocked at how the industry and the people in the industry treat artists,” he begins. “I mean, it’s disturbing, it truly is. The abuse is unbelievable.”
Read More: Julian Lennon...
In a recent interview with People, the “Too Late for Goodbyes” singer-songwriter shared his negative experiences within the music industry, explaining that his stories would make for an exciting read in the future.
Lennon, 60, began by revealing that he’s recently been “reviewing” his life in hopes of potentially writing about it “at some stage”, but what stuck out the most to him during his analytical process was the enormously negative interactions he’s experienced with record labels and management in his lifetime.
“I was going back over things that have happened to me in the past and I was actually shocked at how the industry and the people in the industry treat artists,” he begins. “I mean, it’s disturbing, it truly is. The abuse is unbelievable.”
Read More: Julian Lennon...
- 4/21/2023
- by Emerson Pearson
- ET Canada
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the newly released documentary “The Lost Weekend A Love Story,” which is a chronicle of May Pang and John Lennon’s brief but historically important love affair. Currently in theaters, since April 14th.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
May Pang is a Manhattan-born daughter of Chinese immigrants and ardent music fan, who became the 19-year-old personal assistant to John Lennon and Yoko Ono beginning in December of 1970, shortly after The Beatles broke up. So when the couple resettled in New York City, she was indispensable to Lennon and Ono’s many wacky projects, In 1973. John began the infamous “Lost Weekend” the same year, which included an intimate relationship with Pang, with Yoko’s blessing, and that level of connection lasted until John and Yoko reconciled in 1975.
”The Lost Weekend A Love Story” is currently in theaters, since April 14th. Featuring interviews with May Pang and Julian Lennon,...
Rating: 5.0/5.0
May Pang is a Manhattan-born daughter of Chinese immigrants and ardent music fan, who became the 19-year-old personal assistant to John Lennon and Yoko Ono beginning in December of 1970, shortly after The Beatles broke up. So when the couple resettled in New York City, she was indispensable to Lennon and Ono’s many wacky projects, In 1973. John began the infamous “Lost Weekend” the same year, which included an intimate relationship with Pang, with Yoko’s blessing, and that level of connection lasted until John and Yoko reconciled in 1975.
”The Lost Weekend A Love Story” is currently in theaters, since April 14th. Featuring interviews with May Pang and Julian Lennon,...
- 4/18/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Julian Lennon recently turned 60, making him 20 years older than John Lennon at the time of his death. Julian was only a teenager when John was killed, but he could always remain connected to his father through his music. While reflecting on the memories of his dad, Julian shared two songs from John Lennon’s solo career that continue to amaze him.
Julian remembered his last moments with his father Julian Lennon | Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Julian and John had a complicated relationship. Julian is the first son of the “Imagine” singer with his first wife, Cynthia Lennon. The pair got divorced, and a few years later, John moved to New York with Yoko Ono, where they had his second son, Sean. Julian went a long time without seeing his father, but John did make an effort to rekindle their relationship in his final years.
“Dad and I had been getting on...
Julian remembered his last moments with his father Julian Lennon | Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Julian and John had a complicated relationship. Julian is the first son of the “Imagine” singer with his first wife, Cynthia Lennon. The pair got divorced, and a few years later, John moved to New York with Yoko Ono, where they had his second son, Sean. Julian went a long time without seeing his father, but John did make an effort to rekindle their relationship in his final years.
“Dad and I had been getting on...
- 4/15/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon lived a busy life after The Beatles. We’ll find out more about his mid-1970s relationship with May Pang in the movie Lost Weekend: A Love Story. When he went back to his wife, Yoko Ono, after the Lost Weekend period, John more or less committed himself to raising his son, Sean, for several years. Meanwhile, his older son, Julian, endured a distant relationship with his father, which might have cost him millions of dollars when John’s will excluded him.
(l-r) Julian Lennon; John Lennon | Tim Mosenfelder/WireImage; Mark and Colleen Hayward/Redferns John Lennon’s relationship with his oldest son, Julian, was complicated and distant
John and his first wife, Cynthia, welcomed their son Julian in 1963. One of the reasons they married in 1962 was because she was pregnant, though it wasn’t planned.
John’s busy Beatles schedule and general unhappiness in his marriage manifested...
(l-r) Julian Lennon; John Lennon | Tim Mosenfelder/WireImage; Mark and Colleen Hayward/Redferns John Lennon’s relationship with his oldest son, Julian, was complicated and distant
John and his first wife, Cynthia, welcomed their son Julian in 1963. One of the reasons they married in 1962 was because she was pregnant, though it wasn’t planned.
John’s busy Beatles schedule and general unhappiness in his marriage manifested...
- 4/13/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon‘s “Lost Weekend” wasn’t as horrible as we thought, according to May Pang, John’s girlfriend during the period. John exhibited destructive behavior during his 18-month break from his wife, Yoko Ono. However, his “Lost Weekend” was also one of the former Beatle’s most creative and productive periods.
John Lennon and May Pang | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Many view John Lennon’s ‘Lost Weekend’ as one of his darkest periods, but that’s because of the name
One of the biggest misconceptions of John’s “Lost Weekend” is that he was distraught being separated from Yoko and therefore went on a bender of drinking and taking drugs. This couldn’t have been farther from the truth.
His “Lost Weekend” started when he and his wife began having marriage issues. In 2012, Yoko told The Telegraph that she “needed a rest” and “space.” She also mentioned that...
John Lennon and May Pang | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Many view John Lennon’s ‘Lost Weekend’ as one of his darkest periods, but that’s because of the name
One of the biggest misconceptions of John’s “Lost Weekend” is that he was distraught being separated from Yoko and therefore went on a bender of drinking and taking drugs. This couldn’t have been farther from the truth.
His “Lost Weekend” started when he and his wife began having marriage issues. In 2012, Yoko told The Telegraph that she “needed a rest” and “space.” She also mentioned that...
- 4/12/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When John Lennon‘s first wife, Cynthia, heard their son, Julian Lennon, sing for the first time following John’s 1980 murder, she had to do a double take. She wasn’t alone. Fans worldwide were stunned when they heard the Beatle’s son sing.
Julian Lennon | Bettmann/Getty Images John Lennon’s first wife, Cynthia, was stunned when she heard her son, Julian Lennon, sing
Cynthia Lennon was John’s first wife from 1962 to 1968. She knew John before The Beatles were swept up in fame and experienced the most hectic moments of the band’s popularity. So, she got to see many of the behind-the-scenes moments of one of the most important bands in history.
Her marriage crumbled in the late 1960s after John started his affair with Yoko Ono. However, she never stopped loving the musician. While he started a new life and solo career in the 1970s, she...
Julian Lennon | Bettmann/Getty Images John Lennon’s first wife, Cynthia, was stunned when she heard her son, Julian Lennon, sing
Cynthia Lennon was John’s first wife from 1962 to 1968. She knew John before The Beatles were swept up in fame and experienced the most hectic moments of the band’s popularity. So, she got to see many of the behind-the-scenes moments of one of the most important bands in history.
Her marriage crumbled in the late 1960s after John started his affair with Yoko Ono. However, she never stopped loving the musician. While he started a new life and solo career in the 1970s, she...
- 4/6/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
German media giant Bertelsmann closed out 2022 on a high, with overall revenue hitting $21.9 billion (20.2 billion euro), the highest in the company’s history. But the group, which controls European TV conglomerate Rtl Group and production subsidiary Fremantle, music division BMG and leading publisher Penguin Random House, saw its profits more than cut in half to $1.14 billion (1.05 billion euro) compared to 2021 as Bertelsmann invests heavily to juice the creative and streaming sides of its businesses.
That M&a strategy is most evident at Fremantle, where revenue jumped 22 percent year-on-year to $2.49 billion (2.3 billion euro), helped by the acquisitions of a 70 percent stake in leading Italian TV producer Lux Vide (Devils, Medici) and 51 percent of the Irish group Element Pictures (Normal People, The Favourite). Bertelsmann chairman and CEO Thomas Rabe has set Fremantle a revenue target of $3.25 billion (3 billion euro) by 2025.
BMG, which acquired the German music label Telamo last year, continues to gobble up music rights,...
That M&a strategy is most evident at Fremantle, where revenue jumped 22 percent year-on-year to $2.49 billion (2.3 billion euro), helped by the acquisitions of a 70 percent stake in leading Italian TV producer Lux Vide (Devils, Medici) and 51 percent of the Irish group Element Pictures (Normal People, The Favourite). Bertelsmann chairman and CEO Thomas Rabe has set Fremantle a revenue target of $3.25 billion (3 billion euro) by 2025.
BMG, which acquired the German music label Telamo last year, continues to gobble up music rights,...
- 3/30/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
John Lennon‘s first son, Julian, followed in his father’s footsteps briefly in the 1980s, but his career fizzled out. Now, he’s returning to music and doing what he loves.
Julian Lennon | Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images John Lennon’s son, Julian, said it was hard entering the music industry as a Lennon
Julian doesn’t think he was born to make music like his famous father. He fell in love with acting in school. However, once he picked up a guitar, the rest was history.
Julian released his debut album, Valotte, in 1984. Four other albums followed, but Julian dropped his music career after Photograph Smile in 1998.
During an interview on Larry King Live, Julian discussed leaving his music career behind. It had been 15 years since he’d entered the recording studio, mostly because he’d never had a great relationship with the music industry.
“It’s just been a tough road,...
Julian Lennon | Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images John Lennon’s son, Julian, said it was hard entering the music industry as a Lennon
Julian doesn’t think he was born to make music like his famous father. He fell in love with acting in school. However, once he picked up a guitar, the rest was history.
Julian released his debut album, Valotte, in 1984. Four other albums followed, but Julian dropped his music career after Photograph Smile in 1998.
During an interview on Larry King Live, Julian discussed leaving his music career behind. It had been 15 years since he’d entered the recording studio, mostly because he’d never had a great relationship with the music industry.
“It’s just been a tough road,...
- 3/19/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Yoko Ono and John Lennon’s marriage may be the stuff of rock ‘n roll history, but new details of an affair are shedding light on the eccentric partnership.
Former employee May Pang exposes her extramarital relationship with late Beatle Lennon, alleging the two dated for 18 months during his marriage to Ono. Documentary “The Lost Weekend: A Love Story” features interviews with Pang, Ono’s son Julian Lennon, and archived footage of Lennon himself calling the idea of his affair with Pang “ridiculous.”
Pang was 19 years old when she began working at Apple Records and soon started an affair with Lennon while employed as his and Ono’s personal assistant. Ono’s rocky marriage to Lennon inspired her to ask Pang to be intimate with her husband. Ono and Lennon were married in 1969, one year before the Beatles disbanded in 1970. Lennon later was shot and killed in 1980.
“Yoko walked into my office and said,...
Former employee May Pang exposes her extramarital relationship with late Beatle Lennon, alleging the two dated for 18 months during his marriage to Ono. Documentary “The Lost Weekend: A Love Story” features interviews with Pang, Ono’s son Julian Lennon, and archived footage of Lennon himself calling the idea of his affair with Pang “ridiculous.”
Pang was 19 years old when she began working at Apple Records and soon started an affair with Lennon while employed as his and Ono’s personal assistant. Ono’s rocky marriage to Lennon inspired her to ask Pang to be intimate with her husband. Ono and Lennon were married in 1969, one year before the Beatles disbanded in 1970. Lennon later was shot and killed in 1980.
“Yoko walked into my office and said,...
- 2/27/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Each member of The Beatles amassed an incredible amount of wealth in their lifetimes, and their children also have more than a few dollars to their names. Being the children of the Beatles has provided them with a significant amount of wealth, but each has also set out on their own career path. Here are the Beatles children with the highest net worths.
The Beatles | Fiona Adams/Redferns 5. James McCartney and Zak Starkey
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey and Paul McCartney’s son James McCartney both have a net worth of around $20 million.
James McCartney and Zak Starkey | David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images
Starkey, like his father, works as a drummer. He began playing as a child and has drummed professionally since the 1980s. He has worked with The Spencer Davies Group, Oasis, The Who, and his father’s All-Starr Band.
Like Starkey,...
The Beatles | Fiona Adams/Redferns 5. James McCartney and Zak Starkey
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey and Paul McCartney’s son James McCartney both have a net worth of around $20 million.
James McCartney and Zak Starkey | David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images
Starkey, like his father, works as a drummer. He began playing as a child and has drummed professionally since the 1980s. He has worked with The Spencer Davies Group, Oasis, The Who, and his father’s All-Starr Band.
Like Starkey,...
- 2/26/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Each of the Beatles had children, and, as with many celebrities, they found careers similar to their parents. While some have found success in other industries — notably fashion and photography — many of the Beatles’ children also became musicians. Here are the Beatles children who followed in their fathers’ footsteps.
The Beatles | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Julian Lennon
John Lennon’s first child, and the firstborn Beatles child, Julian Lennon, began his music career in 1984, not long after his father’s death. His debut album, Valotte, found great success and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 1985.
Julian released several other albums, though Valotte remains his most successful. Like his father, he primarily sticks to the rock genre. He also tackled one of Lennon’s most famous songs in 2022. He had initially vowed to never cover “Imagine,” but with the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, he...
The Beatles | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Julian Lennon
John Lennon’s first child, and the firstborn Beatles child, Julian Lennon, began his music career in 1984, not long after his father’s death. His debut album, Valotte, found great success and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 1985.
Julian released several other albums, though Valotte remains his most successful. Like his father, he primarily sticks to the rock genre. He also tackled one of Lennon’s most famous songs in 2022. He had initially vowed to never cover “Imagine,” but with the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, he...
- 2/23/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Netflix viewers have lamented the streamer’s “bananas” decision to cancel another popular series.
The streaming service has recently cancelled a number of popular fantasy shows, including Fate: The Winx Saga and vampire series First Kill.
Now, Warrior Nun has become the latest show on that list, just one month after season two arrived on Netflix.
The fantasy series, based on Ben Dunn’s comic books, follows Ava Silva (Alba Baptista), a young girl who wakes up in a morgue and learns she now has supernatural powers that can be used to defend the world from demons, with the help of an order of warrior nuns.
Despite the show spending three weeks in Netflix’s worldwide top 10 and peaking at No 5 (according to Deadline), creator Simon Barry announced on Tuesday (13 December) night that they would not be returning for a third outing.
Posting a photo of a sunset on social media,...
The streaming service has recently cancelled a number of popular fantasy shows, including Fate: The Winx Saga and vampire series First Kill.
Now, Warrior Nun has become the latest show on that list, just one month after season two arrived on Netflix.
The fantasy series, based on Ben Dunn’s comic books, follows Ava Silva (Alba Baptista), a young girl who wakes up in a morgue and learns she now has supernatural powers that can be used to defend the world from demons, with the help of an order of warrior nuns.
Despite the show spending three weeks in Netflix’s worldwide top 10 and peaking at No 5 (according to Deadline), creator Simon Barry announced on Tuesday (13 December) night that they would not be returning for a third outing.
Posting a photo of a sunset on social media,...
- 12/14/2022
- by Isobel Lewis
- The Independent - TV
House of the Dragon’s biggest fan is not one many people will have had on their bingo cards.
Reality star Kylie Jenner has revealed that she has watched HBO’s Game of Thrones spin-off “probably like five times” all the way through.
Jenner released a 2022 Year in Review video on her YouTube channel on Monday (13 December), reflecting on some of her favourite moments of the year as well as her favourite films and TV shows.
“Favorite TV show this year, obviously House of the Dragon,” Jenner said. “I’ve watched the whole thing, it’s hard to say... Probably like five times now.”
Jenner previously starred in a House of the Dragon parody with her half-sister Kim Kardashian.
On The Late Late Show with James Corden in September, Corden and Kardashian put a “Targashian” spin on the series for a short video segment.
The clip ends with the pair...
Reality star Kylie Jenner has revealed that she has watched HBO’s Game of Thrones spin-off “probably like five times” all the way through.
Jenner released a 2022 Year in Review video on her YouTube channel on Monday (13 December), reflecting on some of her favourite moments of the year as well as her favourite films and TV shows.
“Favorite TV show this year, obviously House of the Dragon,” Jenner said. “I’ve watched the whole thing, it’s hard to say... Probably like five times now.”
Jenner previously starred in a House of the Dragon parody with her half-sister Kim Kardashian.
On The Late Late Show with James Corden in September, Corden and Kardashian put a “Targashian” spin on the series for a short video segment.
The clip ends with the pair...
- 12/13/2022
- by Tom Murray
- The Independent - TV
Harry and Meghan has set a new record for documentary series on Netflix in just its first four days on the platform.
In data released by the streaming service on Tuesday (13 December), it was revealed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s factual programme has become the platform’s most-watched documentary series in its first week.
The first three episodes landed on Thursday 8 December, with the final three episodes set to air on Thursday 15 December.
In less than a week of being available, Harry and Meghan has racked up 81.55 million viewing hours.
As well as this, more than 28 million households worldwide have pressed play on some part of the series.
Harry and Meghan also took the number two position in the weekly chart for the streaming platform. The most watched title for the week was the Addams Family-branded comedy-drama, Wednesday, headed up by Jenna Ortega.
It’s expected...
In data released by the streaming service on Tuesday (13 December), it was revealed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s factual programme has become the platform’s most-watched documentary series in its first week.
The first three episodes landed on Thursday 8 December, with the final three episodes set to air on Thursday 15 December.
In less than a week of being available, Harry and Meghan has racked up 81.55 million viewing hours.
As well as this, more than 28 million households worldwide have pressed play on some part of the series.
Harry and Meghan also took the number two position in the weekly chart for the streaming platform. The most watched title for the week was the Addams Family-branded comedy-drama, Wednesday, headed up by Jenna Ortega.
It’s expected...
- 12/13/2022
- by Nicole Vassell
- The Independent - TV
Wednesday has hit a major landmark in its third week of streaming on Netflix.
The series, which launched on the platform on 23 November, has become one of only three programmes to garner one billion views within its first month.
Only Squid Game and Stranger Things season four have reached this achievement before.
Wednesday has thus surpassed Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story to become the second-most watched Netflix programme in the English language, behind Stranger Things.
The series features Jenna Ortega as the eponymous character and the daughter of the Addams Family.
According to Variety, Netflix measures its most popular list by the number of hours watched in its first 28 days of availability. This time period saw Dahmer, starring Evan Peters as the eponymous serial killer, reach 856.2 million hours.
Wednesday has passed this number and still has a week left to hit its month mark on the platform.
However,...
The series, which launched on the platform on 23 November, has become one of only three programmes to garner one billion views within its first month.
Only Squid Game and Stranger Things season four have reached this achievement before.
Wednesday has thus surpassed Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story to become the second-most watched Netflix programme in the English language, behind Stranger Things.
The series features Jenna Ortega as the eponymous character and the daughter of the Addams Family.
According to Variety, Netflix measures its most popular list by the number of hours watched in its first 28 days of availability. This time period saw Dahmer, starring Evan Peters as the eponymous serial killer, reach 856.2 million hours.
Wednesday has passed this number and still has a week left to hit its month mark on the platform.
However,...
- 12/13/2022
- by Nicole Vassell
- The Independent - TV
Angelo Badalamenti, the composer best known for composing the score for the TV series Twin Peaks, has died aged 85.
He died of natural causes on Sunday (11 December), his family said in a statement.
As well as his work on Twin Peaks, Badalamenti composed a number of scores for other David Lynch films, including Blue Velvet (1986) and Mulholland Drive (2001).
He made cameos in both films, starring as the coffee-loving gangster Luigi Castigliane in Mulholland Drive, and playing piano with Isabella Rossellini in Blue Velvet.
In his lifetime, the Brooklyn-born composer worked with musicians such as Nina Simone, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Shirley Bassey, Marianne Faithfull, Liza Minnelli, Pet Shop Boys and LL Cool J.
As a child, Badalamenti grew up listening to Italian opera with his family. He began piano lessons at eight years old and went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Manhattan School of Music.
He died of natural causes on Sunday (11 December), his family said in a statement.
As well as his work on Twin Peaks, Badalamenti composed a number of scores for other David Lynch films, including Blue Velvet (1986) and Mulholland Drive (2001).
He made cameos in both films, starring as the coffee-loving gangster Luigi Castigliane in Mulholland Drive, and playing piano with Isabella Rossellini in Blue Velvet.
In his lifetime, the Brooklyn-born composer worked with musicians such as Nina Simone, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Shirley Bassey, Marianne Faithfull, Liza Minnelli, Pet Shop Boys and LL Cool J.
As a child, Badalamenti grew up listening to Italian opera with his family. He began piano lessons at eight years old and went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Manhattan School of Music.
- 12/13/2022
- by Annabel Nugent
- The Independent - TV
Angelo Badalamenti, the composer best known for composing the score for the TV series Twin Peaks, has died aged 85.
He died of natural causes on Sunday (11 December), his family said in a statement.
As well as his work on Twin Peaks, Badalamenti composed a number of scores for other David Lynch films, including Blue Velvet (1986) and Mulholland Drive (2001).
He made cameos in both films, starring as the coffee-loving gangster Luigi Castigliane in Mulholland Drive, and playing piano with Isabella Rossellini in Blue Velvet.
In his lifetime, the Brooklyn-born composer worked with musicians such as Nina Simone, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Shirley Bassey, Marianne Faithfull, Liza Minnelli, Pet Shop Boys and LL Cool J.
As a child, Badalamenti grew up listening to Italian opera with his family. He began piano lessons at eight years old and went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Manhattan School of Music.
He died of natural causes on Sunday (11 December), his family said in a statement.
As well as his work on Twin Peaks, Badalamenti composed a number of scores for other David Lynch films, including Blue Velvet (1986) and Mulholland Drive (2001).
He made cameos in both films, starring as the coffee-loving gangster Luigi Castigliane in Mulholland Drive, and playing piano with Isabella Rossellini in Blue Velvet.
In his lifetime, the Brooklyn-born composer worked with musicians such as Nina Simone, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Shirley Bassey, Marianne Faithfull, Liza Minnelli, Pet Shop Boys and LL Cool J.
As a child, Badalamenti grew up listening to Italian opera with his family. He began piano lessons at eight years old and went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Manhattan School of Music.
- 12/13/2022
- by Annabel Nugent
- The Independent - Music
Pamela Anderson fans will get the opportunity to learn about the actor in her own words with the release of a new documentary film.
The former Baywatch star will be the focus of Pamela, a love story, directed by Ryan White and set to launch on Netflix in the new year.
Using footage from the actor’s personal archives, the film will stand as an opportunity for Anderson to share stories about her life on- and off-camera.
The official description of the project reads: “In her own words, through personal video and diaries, Pamela Anderson shares the story of her rise to fame, rocky romances and infamous sex tape scandal.”
In 1996, Anderson and her former husband Tommy Lee had their sex tape stolen and sold across the internet.
The violating event was the first instance of an online celebrity sex tape scandal and was portrayed in the 2022 series Pam & Tommy,...
The former Baywatch star will be the focus of Pamela, a love story, directed by Ryan White and set to launch on Netflix in the new year.
Using footage from the actor’s personal archives, the film will stand as an opportunity for Anderson to share stories about her life on- and off-camera.
The official description of the project reads: “In her own words, through personal video and diaries, Pamela Anderson shares the story of her rise to fame, rocky romances and infamous sex tape scandal.”
In 1996, Anderson and her former husband Tommy Lee had their sex tape stolen and sold across the internet.
The violating event was the first instance of an online celebrity sex tape scandal and was portrayed in the 2022 series Pam & Tommy,...
- 12/13/2022
- by Nicole Vassell
- The Independent - Film
Since The White Lotus wrapped up its second season on Sunday (11 December), fans have been sharing their many feelings about the episode on social media.
From heartbreak about who died in the last moments, to theories about the paternity of some characters’ children, viewers have found plenty to discuss and debate.
One topic that has taken over much of the conversation concerns Meghann Fahy, who plays Daphne – the wife of tech entrepreneur Cameron (Theo James), holidaying with their married couple friends Harper and Ethan (Aubrey Plaza and Will Sharpe).
Throughout the season, Daphne became a much-cherished character for her sunny disposition and her lack of worries over the issues in her marriage.
However, a scene in the finale episode secured Daphne as many people’s favourite part of the programme and gained Fahy many compliments for her acting skills.
In episode seven, Ethan told Daphne of his fears that her...
From heartbreak about who died in the last moments, to theories about the paternity of some characters’ children, viewers have found plenty to discuss and debate.
One topic that has taken over much of the conversation concerns Meghann Fahy, who plays Daphne – the wife of tech entrepreneur Cameron (Theo James), holidaying with their married couple friends Harper and Ethan (Aubrey Plaza and Will Sharpe).
Throughout the season, Daphne became a much-cherished character for her sunny disposition and her lack of worries over the issues in her marriage.
However, a scene in the finale episode secured Daphne as many people’s favourite part of the programme and gained Fahy many compliments for her acting skills.
In episode seven, Ethan told Daphne of his fears that her...
- 12/13/2022
- by Nicole Vassell
- The Independent - TV
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