Glass Onion: On John Lennon

Antony Rotunno
  • 4.7 (39)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY

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. 1D AGO

    Episode 116: John Lennon's Jukebox with Matt Williamson

    To celebrate the recently-passed 7th anniversary of the first episode of Glass Onion way back when, we welcome Matt Williamson of the 'Pop Goes The 60s' you tube channel to discuss an intriguing and entertaining documentary from 2004. From the long-running UK arts and culture programme 'The South Bank Show', which had earlier brought us 'The Making of Sgt Pepper', comes an exploration of John Lennon's influences and musical loves by way of the portable jukebox he apparently brought on tour with him in 1965 and 1966, having loaded it with 40 of his favourite choons. Matt and Antony also touch on the argument and fine line between inspiration and plagiarism, and the differences between 'black' and 'white' voices and music, both of which the documentary explores in a fairly gentle way. We also assess how John's own music stacks up against some of his idols, a lot of whose songs he covered   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   Matt's 'Pop Goes The 60s' channel https://www.youtube.com/@popgoesthe60s52   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 The documentary, the jukebox and the songs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgABKFLOKj8&t=1s https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lennon%27s_jukebox https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOtuAJmIXVn8ifjw7pQaTQdNcFyTNkyiu   Money- Barrett Strong vs The Beatles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96XJl7mxDtc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeWjEYhk7Xo   Rock And Roll Music- Chuck Berry vs The Beatles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRF6nmqcbxo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wOZbMjzJsQ   Green Onions vs 12-Bar Original (no competition) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFQEsUjI0U8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W3G-CmjPtM   John Lennon's isolated vocal on 'Twist And Shout' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtVtMvvlemw   Lennon rocks out (Be-Bop-a-Lula/Slippin' and Slidin') https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8huF2Jgn4c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72D3dPnjtcI   List of hit songs written by Lieber and Stoller https://www.leiberstoller.com/Charts.html   This May Be The Last Time- The Staple Singers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1jGF-6bFpI   Led Zeppelin plagiarism (oh dear) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyvLsutfI5M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zThdTAWQFAQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5uMQDlKn8g   Betty Everett knocks it out the park! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0v1MQRg5js   John & Paul reunite?! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab_xJaDFBCs   War Games by The Lovin' Spoonful (Rev 9 vibes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE86UINrJS4   It Might Get Loud (great rock doc) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbxOM1ErYs4&t=1s

    1h 46m

  2. 12/15/2025

    Episode 115: John Lennon In 1975 (Part 2 of 2)

    And so we bring to an end Glass Onion's 7th year… John Lennon's 1975 is mostly remembered for being the year that he became a father for the second time and dropped out of the music biz for 5 years, apparently to become the most famous househusband in the world (the jury's still out on that one). Before he did that though, he front-loaded the year with the usual frenetic activity you'd expect from a year in the life of our hero. There were albums and singles of his own, musical collaborations with others, his final ever live appearance, interviews for TV, radio and print, lots of written letters to friends and family, some Beatle contact, a public appearance here and there, lawsuits and his ongoing fight with America's powers that (probably shouldn't) be. Oh, and he also found time for a sudden change in his lovelife, his past lover quickly consigned to (Lennon) history. Best wishes for the season 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's albums of 1975: Rock 'n' Roll https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_'n'_Roll_(John_Lennon_album) Shaved Fish https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaved_Fish   Previous Glass Onion episode on the Rock 'n' Roll album and legal shenanigans https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com/episode-65-rock-and-roll-1975-album-review-paul-or-nothing-swapcast-1   The majestic 'Angel Baby' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4kea1yZj0E   John's 2 TV interviews of 1975 (Bob Harris/Tom Snyder) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKDpCWO3nes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OQl10ZlfqU   John's final live performance (Imagine, April 1975) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtbzOENU3ec   John and *BOMF perform for 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkLXcQTusUw   John Paul (not that one) and Art at The Grammy's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUlR8jWUKd8   John does a bit of 'Lady Marmalade' on piano https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rs6Px9Cl-cg   May Pang's 'The Lost Weekend: A Love Story' https://www.maypang.com/the-lost-weekend   Was John actually hypnotised by Yoko? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOsspa7uEis   Recommended books: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29501681-lennon-on-lennon https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21514255 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13528387-the-john-lennon-letters   Lennonology website https://lennonology.com   David Bowie's 'Fame' (John on guitar and vocals) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypgq0qdgVZA   Operation Paperclip (important history) https://explorethearchive.com/operation-paperclip

    2h 9m

  3. 11/19/2025

    Episode 114: John Lennon In 1975 (Part 1 of 2)

    For our final offerings of the year, we present a 2-part look at 1975, the year of Antony's birth. As is traditional, we first cover the year itself in terms of world events, births & deaths, films and (non-Lennon) music, before turning to the John Lennon events of the year.   The Vietnam War is finally winding down, and there are numerous other examples of progress and destruction in another memorable 12 months on our blue planet. Ali & Frazier fight the fight to end them all and there are great films, singles and albums galore.   We'll look at John Lennon's part in all this fun and games in December   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 1975 in film and music https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_in_film https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_in_music   Jaws 4k clips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCzncv0ISaE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOe3n9eO6Lc Film Gold audio commentary (2021) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1c_E-LuSxs&rco=1 Documentary on the film's legacy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgtJEhEppu4 Mr Jaws! (spoof song) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeYCOFblZRg   The Thrilla in Manila fight in HD and 2007 documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olp9gsmD_A0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEtCq6X7fUI   Paul Simon on the Dick Cavett show (Still Crazy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjtOa8d_BHU   Rolling Thunder Revue documentary (Dylan by Scorsese) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9577852/   'The Eleventh' podcast series (available everywhere podcasts are found) https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/truecrime/presents-the-eleventh/105982868   Eoghan Lyng's book about George Harrison https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61043229-george-harrison-in-the-70s   George Carlin on 'The Owners of the Country' (tough love) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dY4WlxO6i0   Christopher Hitchens gives the case against Henry Kissinger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNi-rhLGNj8   Baby You're A Rich Man 'video' (Beatles in Greece) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nECfL2_rqVk

    1h 13m

  4. 10/23/2025

    Episode 113: Lennon Naked with David 'Ghosty' Wills

    David 'Ghosty' Wills is back once more to look at another biopic that's not really very good (we'll do something classic next time, I promise!), though our levels of (non-)appreciation of 2010's 'Lennon Naked' differ slightly Christoper Eccleston gives something of a powerhouse performance as a very brutal and cutting version of John Lennon, starting in 1964 but mostly focusing on the 1967-71 period. All the main events of that time in John's life are covered here, with a soap-opera style reminiscent of the previously reviewed 'John & Yoko: A Love Story'. Antony and Ghosty also discuss biopics in general, and the difficulty in capturing charismatic figures and writing dialogue worthy of them There'll be another Glass Onion 2-parter to round off 2025, the first part due to come out in 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   Ghosty's Cliff Richard/Shadows podcast and you tube channel https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-p5kf8-10892e3 https://www.youtube.com/@GhostyTMRS/videos   episode links Lennon Naked film pages and full film https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1560164/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lennon_Naked   The fictional Magical Mystery Tour press conference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdXLdbJ_xk8   Scene comparisons with real events https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mFsahlxZZc   Glass Onion's 2020 episode on depictions of John Lennon on film (including Lennon Naked) https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com/episode-30-john-lennon-on-film-the-good-the-bad-and-the-cameos-with-ed-chen   Elliot Roberts watched every Beatles biopic… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eon5X1W8uGc   John & Yoko's real encounter with Gloria Emerson (keep smiling) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIM7D_IfCtI   Freddie Lennon's 1965 smash-hit Xmas single (not quite) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azAiSG09FBk   The World of John & Yoko (BBC 1969) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dqVemtlJvk   Pete Shotton's recommended memoir https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1154066.John_Lennon   John Lennon at his humorous best (Get Back 1969) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K9zuXRTul0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XdYb-16F7c

    1h 39m

  5. 08/06/2025

    Episode 112: Birth of the Beatles (Part 2 of 2)

    We complete our look at 'Birth of the Beatles', the 1979 biopic which holds a unique place as the only one of its kind made while all 4 Beatles were still alive. The timeline goes somewhat awry but we go from the boys having departed Hamburg in late-1960 to the tragic death of one of their band members and then the arrival in the story of their well-groomed, well-spoken but also fragile guardian angel. From there, destiny takes its course… Before this, Antony offers a short item on 'The John Lennon Letters' print/audio book, a fine entry in the canon of Lennon/Beatles books that offers us personal and valuable insights into the eternal enigma that was and is John Lennon. The voice of Christopher Eccleston, who portrayed John in the TV film 'Lennon Naked', can be heard reading some of the letters   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 Birth of the Beatles film page and full film https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078865/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VpIA_87cxM   Scene comparisons with real events https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAY0_CGZNRY   Backbeat (1994)- Stu's death & John's tribute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3WmUNvMpKo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T5h_Cr0i7o   Pete Best on the Letterman show and TV-Am (1982/1990) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3j7nqx0Pgs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_p_zKrKWFE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQpBXrESRig   Mona & Pete Best discuss Pete's dismissal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_p_zKrKWFE   'Drummed Out!' book (recommended) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2372130.Drummed_Out_   'The John Lennon Letters' (essential Lennon reading) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13528387-the-john-lennon-letters   John promotes 'In His Own Wife' with a little help from George https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1SjHkEepuk   'A Shot of Rhythm and Blues' BBC version (powerful Beatles rock cover) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VgvJj4EBpc

    1h 25m

  6. 07/17/2025

    Episode 111: Birth of the Beatles (Part 1 of 2)

    Following our last exploration of a biopic of dubious quality, Antony flies solo this time to explore another one which, despite having some sense of time and place, is also somewhat lacking and to some extent unintentionally comedic. 'Birth of the Beatles', which came out in 1979, will always hold a unique place as the only Beatles biopic made while John Lennon was still alive. Considering that he'd reacted negatively to Cynthia's apparent rewriting of history in her book 'A Twist of Lennon' in 1978, it's quite something to ponder what he might have thought of this Dick Clark-produced TV film. Preceding this, Antony offers a guitar lesson for the Bob Dylan song 'Masters of War' and then the song that it inspired (musically at least)- John Lennon's 'Working Class Hero.' There are also pre-outro Easter Eggs to be found in this episode…   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   Antony demonstrates Beatles guitar parts on 'Pop Goes The 60s' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Y4f1efz6s   episode links Birth of the Beatles film page and full film https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078865/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VpIA_87cxM   Scene comparisons with real events https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAY0_CGZNRY   Backbeat scenes (Prellies/Astrid photographs the band) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIpUr1wX5Rw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq3l4frmFDo   The development of the Scouse accent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcpXePrrCIk   Working Class Hero official video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMewtlmkV6c   Saturday Night And Sunday Morning (Angry Young Man) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/B_G9niYeB8Q   Cry For A Shadow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4WMeOLHp28

    1h 14m

  7. 05/27/2025

    Episode 110- John & Yoko: A Love Story and more... with David 'Ghosty' Wills (Part 2 of 2)

    Ghosty joins Antony once again to wrap up our dissection of 'John & Yoko: A Love Story', and there is also some discussion of two other presentations from 1985. 'John Lennon: A Journey In The Life' is a 'cheap and cheerful' trawl through the Lennon story, with another Liverpudlian Bernard Hill portraying our hero in John's own words, and 'John Lennon Remembered' is a short documentary featuring two of the other 'frontline Beatles' (sorry Ringo) plus other talking heads who knew Lennon at different stages of his life. Ghosty will be back later in the year for another documentary review, and the next episode will be a review of another slightly hilarious Beatles biopic.   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   Ghosty's Cliff Richard/Shadows podcast and you tube channel https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-p5kf8-10892e3 https://www.youtube.com/@GhostyTMRS/videos   Ghosty on the 4Kids Flashback podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAi2NSYpECo   episode links John & Yoko: A Love Story https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089380/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlTZRynp5j0   John Lennon: A Journey In The Life (1985) https://archive.org/details/john-lennon-a-journey-in-the-life-tv-movie-1985_202312   Roger Waters- Across The Universe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThSDoOpnWmc   John Lennon Remembered (1985) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl9C7QXonGw   Big Train George Martin sketch (must-watch!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIA_NVFnXZ8   'One To One: John & Yoko' film trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxagfYjeMV4   John Lennon: Love Is All You Need (2010 doc) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3345610/

    1h 30m

  8. 04/26/2025

    Episode 109- John & Yoko: A Love Story with David 'Ghosty' Wills (Part 1 of 2)

    We're happy to welcome back David 'Ghosty' Wills to discuss John & Yoko: A Love Story, a 1985 biopic starring Mark McGann and Kim Miyori that was very dear to our hearts, at least until we rewatched it! We discuss some of the better scenes and also the unintentional comedy and 'TV movie tropes' of others. We cover about two thirds of the film here, and next time round we'll complete our review and also look at a couple of other presentations from the same year. The conversation is preceded by Antony's thoughts on two recent John & Yoko documentaries, namely 'Daytime Revolution' and 'One To One: John & Yoko' 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   Ghosty's Cliff Richard/Shadows podcast and you tube channel https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-p5kf8-10892e3 https://www.youtube.com/@GhostyTMRS/videos   episode links IMDB page and the full film https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089380/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlTZRynp5j0   'Daytime Revolution' and 'One To One: John & Yoko' trailers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkjiRlTVVnQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxagfYjeMV4   John and Yoko with David Frost 1972 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg9Aovt29UQ   Mark Chapman gets John Lennon's autograph (Chapter 27 film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFUXP2NYl5c

    1h 23m
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4.7
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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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    133
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Antony Rotunno 2019. All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Glass Onion: On John Lennon