Glass Onion: On John Lennon

Antony Rotunno
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Glass Onion: On John Lennon

A deep dive into the music and complex psychology of John Lennon, featuring interviews with such noted authors and podcasters as David Bedford, Dan Richter, Jude Kessler, Kit O'Toole and Ken McNab, as well as ex-Quarrymen bandmates Rod Davis and Colin Hanton

  1. 9 OCT

    Bonus Episode #15- Antony interviewed by James Jarman in 2016

    For our latest bonus episode, we offer a diversion and a trip back to the past as your humble host is interviewed about his and other people’s music by a friend in Madrid in 2016. Topics touched upon include songwriting, creativity, performance, recording and (no surprise) The Beatles and John Lennon. Preceding the interview are Antony's thoughts after a reread of the Ray Coleman revised and updated 'Lennon' biography. The next regular episode will be out at the start of November Enjoy!   Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com   Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno   Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod   Twitter handle  https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon   Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching)  https://www.antonyrotunno.com   Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media)  https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com   episode links James Jarman in action with the Gines in 2015 TTFN- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nkbYIWzLdc iAddict- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqqlttrSp_Y   Antony interviews James in Madrid in 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPCHg7BOc34&list=PLJHwepa7LNQ2oXU3H7zDFwmW4iUsXHc_h&index=1   Creativity, Communal Experience & Mental Health ('Life And Life Only' episode 19 - relevant part starts at 10.30) https://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com/e/episode-19-life-coaching-creativity-communal-experience-mental-health/   ‘Lennon: The Definitive Biography’ by Ray Coleman https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52247.Lennon   John & Yoko: A Love Story (1985 TV film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u_FUvmmrPg&list=PLxzkNx9uq6gjgbNne6prJSQNH6YcC0xmr   Imagine: John Lennon (1988 documentary) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095360/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

    1h 24m

  2. 18 SEPT

    Episode 102- Toronto 1969 Part 2: Sweet Toronto with Dave Thurmaier

    We complete our 2-part look at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival concert of September 1969 and the ‘white-suited apostle’ John Lennon’s involvement in it with the highly flexible Plastic Ono Band. Following ‘Revival ‘69’, Antony and Dave Thurmaier turn their attention to a 1971 film that should be in every Lennon fan’s video collection, namely D.A. Pennebaker’s film ‘Sweet Toronto’. Antony also reads some other articles and opinions about the event (Goldman despisers, please look away now) and gets Dave’s take on a few Lennon questions that used to be regularly tackled on Glass Onion, involving reality and also a parallel universe where John is still alive (and well?...). As you listen, try to imagine an 80s and 90s where his presence is still active rather than being consumed by his legend, and Cobain gets or makes the call (Kurt plays The Beatles- see below)   Enjoy!   Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno   Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod   Twitter handle  https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon   Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching)  https://www.antonyrotunno.com   Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media)  https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com   Dave’s podcast https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-i5y5r-ef07d3   episode links Sweet Toronto film (appropriately grainy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiSf0gY_X6k   Revival ’69 trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twSK2dycpB0   Alternative John Lennon performances of the songs from the Toronto set (BBC 1963, Hollywood Bowl 1965, Rock and Roll Circus, Madison Square Garden, a Montreal hotel room) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kSnNyC3_So https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZkoXOHLxbo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeFwaWFTGYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPPW4MNZwQ8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftE8vr0WNus   Yoko Ono’s Why (with graphics) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_cwuRmjhsY   A Yoko pop album you should check out https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n-lSeTHdHd7gyEmlAFe6WHeKftwUgkHGA   Rubber Soul film (comparison of Lennon 1970 and 1980 interviews) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB8Z1LRBmTA   Cold Turkey at the Lyceum isolated tracks (a song about pain!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLfQ0bplMv8   Kurt Cobain- And I Love Her https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBzA4shGmw8   Pennebaker and Dylan’s ‘Don’t Look Back’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNIQznF6NkQ

    1h 36m

  3. 28 AUG

    Episode 101- Toronto 1969 Part 1: Revival '69 with Dave Thurmaier

    And so the next century of Glass Onion begins. We’ve got another fine 2-parter for you, with Antony joined by Dave Thurmaier, the co-host of the ‘I’ve Got A Beatles Podcast’ and former guest of the show way back in 2019 and 2020. The Toronto Rock and Roll Revival concert of September 1969 yielded a live album for John & Yoko plus D.A. Pennebaker’s film ‘Sweet Toronto’ (which will be reviewed in the next episode) and most recently a fantastic 2022 documentary by Ron Chapman. This latter doc is the focus of part 1 of our talk, and before that Antony and Dave discuss Beatle releases of the past year such as the ‘Now And Then’ song and video and the new Mind Games box set. Enjoy!!   Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno   Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod   Twitter handle  https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon   Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching)  https://www.antonyrotunno.com   Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media)  https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com   Dave’s podcast https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-i5y5r-ef07d3   episode links Revival ’69 trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twSK2dycpB0   The Plastic Ono Band set (to be fully reviewed in the next episode) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiSf0gY_X6k   The Doors play ‘The End’ in Toronto (video from Isle of Wight 1970) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0ewoypJQUI   Bo Diddley and his riff at Toronto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X50nxR2Xz10   Alice Cooper and the feral chicken https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq9bEzADxyk   John, Yoko & Zappa play ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’ (1971) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_sQLIUi0mQ   John Lennon 1976 interview (1980 schtick in place) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4tAmScwAQ4   Mike Tree on ‘Something About The Beatles’ podcast https://somethingaboutthebeatles.com/2024/03/10/277-mike-tree-in-nutopia-with-michael-meideros/

    1h 36m

  4. 27 JUN

    Bonus Episode # 14- Revolution 9 Revisited (Antony on 'Pop Goes The 60s')

    Over 4 years on from our original episode about ‘Revolution 9’ (episode 25, in the show notes), we return to the topic with an audio version (including multiple sound clips) of a discussion that originally went out on video on Matt Williamson’s excellent you tube channel ‘Pop Goes The 60s’ back in March. We discuss our origin stories with the track, it’s conception and recording, some of the ‘musique concrete’ works that influenced it, the other Beatles’ reaction to it and a few other things. This is preceded by Antony’s thoughts on the new version of the ‘Let It Be’ film and some discussion/defence of Albert Goldman from a Mojo magazine special about John Lennon. There are multiple links below to some interesting work, including quite a few avant-garde pieces that may not seem accessible but do have some rewards to be found if the mood is right, rather like ‘Revolution 9’ itself. Enjoy!!   Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com   Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno   Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod   Twitter handle  https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon   Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching)  https://www.antonyrotunno.com   Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media)  https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com   The ‘Pop Goes The 60s’ you tube channel and the video version of this discussion https://www.youtube.com/@popgoesthe60s52 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WIuYjjARrw&t=1s   episode links The original Glass Onion episode on Revolution 9 https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com/episode-25-revolution-9-john-lennon-drugs-vietnam-and-everyday-life   Revolution 9 songfacts https://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/revolution-9/   Revolution 9 isolated tracks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqQ6lStuJwA   Revolution1 take 18 (the origin of Rev 9) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3glcY2LQIk   ‘Avant-Garde’ and ‘Musique Concrete’ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avant-garde https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musique_concr%C3%A8te   Giles Martin mixes critiqued https://somethingaboutthebeatles.com/2024/06/05/283-giles-on-trial-the-reissues-critiqued-with-john-leckie-and-jerry-hammack/   Liverpool vs Albert Goldman (1988) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmQHhXRS7uU   One Hour with Albert Goldman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dI8pFvAiak   John Cage’s Rozart Mix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICxG_o50y2E   Gesang Der Junglinge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpSO3UHKy_g   The Lovin’ Spoonful’s ‘War Games’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE86UINrJS4   Luis Bunuel’s ‘Un Chien Andalou’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbBfHy2qNeA   Dream Scene from the ‘Wonderwall’ film (1968) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=779ZlgO9low   2001: A Space Odyssey Stargate sequence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou6JNQwPWE0&t=57s   Salvador Dali dream sequence from Hitchcock’s ‘Spellbound’ (1945) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKDmLbMrAjc

    1h 52m

  5. 5 JUN

    Episode 100b- John Lennon In The 1960s (Part 2 of 2)

    And so we complete the milestone! Scott Phipps once again joins Antony to complete their whistle-stop, greatest hits tour through John Lennon and the 1960s. Scott gives us a brief sketch of each year through a few news events (some extremely random but no less interesting) before our two intrepid heroes each pick a Beatles/Lennon talking point, this time covering the years 1965 to 1969. Thanks once more to all those who’ve been on the Glass Onion journey. My heart has truly been touched by the interest shown in what has been a 5-and-a-half-year odyssey exploring the utterly unique creature that was and is John Lennon. He has been gone from this earth for over 43 years now, but – forgive the cliché – the music lives on, and with modern technology allowing us to access untold amounts of interviews, alternate takes, documentaries and the like, he’s arguably never been more alive than right now. Glass Onion: On John Lennon will continue, and the next couple of episodes are already well into the planning stage. For now, enjoy!!   Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com   Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno   Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod   Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon   Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com   Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media)  https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com   Scott's Podcasts (Rainbow Valley, Reel Britannia, The Stinking Pause) https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/reelbritannia https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/stinkingpause https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/rainbowvalley   episode links ‘The Other 1960s’ with Frances Rotunno (my mother!) https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com/episode-23-the-other-1960s-with-frances-rotunno The Beatles At Shea Stadium (original audio) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E-W26eqfjM https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058957/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%2520beatles%2520at%2520shea John Lennon in ‘How I Won The War’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxy48n7Y9xA John trips out at the Ally Pally! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z0Ph7ldFYg ‘A Day In The Life’ isolated tracks (majestic) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMRxKp81t7o The Beatles react to Brian Epstein’s death https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6wmiPIa88c The Rock and Roll Years: 1967 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpaa5w6hbOc 'One After 909' on the roof! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z79S6S7_3D8 John Lennon vs Al Capp (full version) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYxFO8o-t2E The Abbey Road Medley- vocals only (sublime!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXM77NdG_Jw Stevie Riks does Johnny Rotten https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYDMb4l8H68#

    1h 35m

  6. 12 MAY

    Episode 100a- John Lennon In The 1960s (Part 1 of 2)

    What better way to mark Glass Onion’s century than with a traditional multi-parter? In the first of two shows to celebrate our milestone, Antony is joined again by Scott Phipps to take a whistle-stop, greatest hits tour through John Lennon and the decade that made him and which he helped propel into history. Scott puts on his ‘Rainbow Valley’ trousers (see show notes) to sketch out each year for us before we each pick a Beatles/Lennon talking point for discussion. This time we tackle 1960 to 1964 as our hero goes from pure rocker to public figure and part of a national obsession. He also starts to wonder if songwriting could be more than ‘I love you and you love me’. Thanks to all those who’ve been on the Glass Onion journey, especially those who’ve consumed every episode and left inspiring and generous feedback Enjoy!!   Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com   Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno   Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod   Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon   Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com   Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media)  https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com   Scott's Podcasts (Rainbow Valley, Reel Britannia, The Stinking Pause) https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/reelbritannia https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/stinkingpause https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/rainbowvalley   episode links The Beatles at the Star Club 1962 (cleaned-up, stereo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6PdWt4I7Ok Stuart Sutcliffe biographical information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Sutcliffe Lennon’s first Lost Weekend (‘The Beatles Naked’ podcast) https://player.fm/series/the-beatles-naked/episode-19-hamburg-spring-62-lennons-original-lost-weekend The Beatles at the Cavern 1962 (colorised) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfgvoNvjRFY The Hours and Times (recommended film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hours_and_Times John talks about ‘In His Own Write’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxfjW6F9R6M Antony discusses ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ film on the ‘Classic Film Jerks’ podcast https://pod.link/488613190/episode/430c4f82adc8ddb2495be860d112fbb6 Scott discusses ‘The Big Freeze’ 1962-63 https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/rainbowvalley/id/24520524

    1h 16m

  7. 1 APR

    Episode 99.5- Paul Is Dead

    We felt it in poor taste to add show notes at such a sad time for the world...

    32 min

  8. 15 FEB

    Episode 99- Gimme Some (More) Truth

    In the last episode before we notch up our century, Antony flies solo to muse on and discuss various items of Lennon interest. In order, these are the 40th anniversary of the ‘Milk And Honey’ album, the cancelling and virtues of the Lennon-penned Beatles song ‘Run For Your Life’, May Pang’s 2022 documentary ‘The Lost Weekend: A Love Story’, the work of Mike Williams and his theory on the impossibility of the recording of ‘Rubber Soul’ (Antony gets tied in knots at this point negotiating his position in the middle ground of the mainstream-conspiracy continuum!), and an extended look at the 2000 ‘Gimme Some Truth’ documentary. Finally there’s a look at the recent Apple TV documentary ‘John Lennon: Murder Without A Trial’ and David Whelan’s new book ‘Mind Games: The Assassination of John Lennon’, both of which naturally focus on the grisly events of December 8th 1980. There are multiple audio clips as ever and what is probably a record number of links in the show notes. Episode 100 will appear in March Enjoy!   Feedback to glassonionpod@yahoo.com   Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno OR https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno   Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod   Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon   Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com   Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology and Alternative media)  https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com   episode links John Lennon Real Life childhood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P3crKoa8tg   Antony’s ‘white reggae’ song ‘New World (Order)’ https://antonyrotunno.bandcamp.com/track/new-world-order   Mike Pachelli guitar lesson for ‘Run For Your Life’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMLC8Hhb13s   ‘The Lost Weekend: A Love Story https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19812518/?ref_=tt_urv   Tony King as the Queen of England https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx-DNpoKfVg   Julian Lennon - Saltwater https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7vdP0VZ3dE   Mike Williams on the impossibility of ‘Rubber Soul’ and other theories https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccEhmQ0M4FY&list=PLAW3gU1yflm_lFhOhwLoIQRXg8ZHLhevX   Olivia Harrison- ‘Hello Billy’ or ‘Hello babes’? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO1Q8qkVf6c   Ably House play ‘I Feel Fine’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkugg_tWV0Q   What did John Lennon play on George Harrison's songs? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtd-sug3i8c   Trailer for ‘John Lennon: Murder Without A Trial (on Apple TV) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnSnkvGKuyI   David Whelan’s Substack page https://substack.com/@davidwhelan   David’s ‘Mind Games’ book https://freepress.org/article/book-review-mind-games-assassination-john-lennon   David on the ‘Something About The Beatles’ podcast https://somethingaboutthebeatles.com/2024/02/09/275-anomalies-in-the-assassination-of-john-lennon-with-david-whelan/ The Man Who Shot John Lennon (1988 documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J8aMKRZZwQ Dr Stephen Lynn squirms! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkw25rVcn84

    2h 2m
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About

A deep dive into the music and complex psychology of John Lennon, featuring interviews with such noted authors and podcasters as David Bedford, Dan Richter, Jude Kessler, Kit O'Toole and Ken McNab, as well as ex-Quarrymen bandmates Rod Davis and Colin Hanton

Information

  • Creator
    Antony Rotunno
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2024
  • Episodes
    119
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Antony Rotunno 2019. All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Glass Onion: On John Lennon

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