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. OCT 23

    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

  2. AUG 6

    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

  3. JUL 17

    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

  4. MAY 27

    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

  5. APR 26

    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

  6. MAR 13

    Episode 108: The Gospel According To John Lennon (Part 4 of 4)

    Another podcast journey comes to an end as we conclude our look at John Lennon (and The Beatles') religious, spiritual and philosophical journey by use of Steve Turner's excellent book 'The Gospel According To The Beatles' After a brief recap of the previous episodes, Part 4 picks up from the formation of Apple in 1967, our four favourite rock gods soon discovering that utopian ideals, while often a good thing for the world, usually run into problems when they rub up against harsh reality. From there we cover the break-up of the Beatles, John's psychic solo adventures (therapy, zen, astrology, magic) and an encounter that Steve Turner had with John & Yoko in 1971. We hope you've enjoyed this alternative look at the many changes that John and his bandmates went through in those crazy and remarkable years up to 1980, when one quarter of the famous foursome was gunned down by an individual who was apparently grappling with the forces of light and darkness in his head, even possibly praying to Satan himself. Like everything else, an exploration of the world just beyond visible light can be used for good or bad. If nothing else John Lennon was mostly striving, through various means, to improve his life and make himself a better person, which is something we can all aspire to. See you soon for our next podcast adventure   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   Steve Turner's book https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22515.The_Gospel_According_to_the_Beatles?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=q7FtACTtFS&rank=1   episode links John, Paul and Apple (New York 1968) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC5bUE2d_c0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmBFFIwrttk   It's all going wrong at Rutle Corps! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8ifa3wqqDE   What is Primal Therapy? https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-primal-therapy-5211136   Zen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen   Alan Watts on the Zen game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP87pQ3Yb0c   How to access your Higher Self https://scottjeffrey.com/higher-self-meaning/   John Lennon: Knocking on Dylan's Door https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVI7fwfwrzk   'The Art & Music of John Lennon' by Peter Doggett https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/798473.The_Art_And_Music_Of_John_Lennon

    1h 21m

  7. FEB 14

    Episode 107: The Gospel According To John Lennon (Part 3 of 4)

    Continuing our lengthy exploration of John Lennon's religious, spiritual and philosophical journey by use of Steve Turner's excellent book 'The Gospel According To The Beatles', Part 3 covers some fascinating chapters spanning the years 1964 to 1968 in the book's rough chronology. John starts to consider the limitations of fame, is influenced by Bob Dylan and starts to finally put some of the spirit of his books into his song lyrics. The lads are 'turned on' by Dylan and take a somewhat logical trajectory through pot, LSD and meditation, always looking for some kind of answer and meaning. The concept of 'love' is changing in society at this time, and it seems that more and more people are trying to find God on their travels, usually without entering a church. The figure of Jesus Christ continues to linger in John's life in this period, culminating in one of his most offbeat revelations in May 1968 after returning from their meditation sojourn in India. Tune in for Part 4 next month 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   Jon Stewart's book 'Dylan, Lennon, Marx & God' https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59593530-dylan-lennon-marx-and-god   Steve Turner's 'A Hard Day's Write' book https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35666.A_Hard_Day_s_Write   episode links John and George discuss meditation on the David Frost Show in 1967 (parts 1 & 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpYg2H34piw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXfkdLZLqXg   All You Need Is Love in colour! (June 1967) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16IQt0bEqZI   Joe Goodden's superb look at the Beatles and drugs (reviewed in episodes 49 & 50 of this podcast) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36379732-riding-so-high   What is LSD? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSD   Albert Hoffman gets on his bike (LSD discovery) https://www.bicycling.com/culture/a39763696/bicycle-day-albert-hofmann-lsd-psychedelic/   Paul McCartney spliffing very recently https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtklrYCzugo   Revolver: Death and Rebirth https://medium.com/the-riff/the-beatles-revolver-a-spiritual-journey-of-death-and-rebirth-e73113b07242   Religion in the Beatles' songs https://www.huffpost.com/entry/beatles-songs-religion_n_4760561   The religious views of The Beatles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_of_the_Beatles   'The Art & Music of John Lennon' by Peter Doggett https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/798473.The_Art_And_Music_Of_John_Lennon   Excellent audiobook about the Rolling Stones' Altamont disaster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_76909yHfc

    1h 32m

  8. JAN 7

    Episode 106: The Gospel According To John Lennon (Part 2 of 4)

    We kick off 2025 with the continuation of our lengthy exploration of John Lennon's religious, spiritual and philosophical journey. Part 2 starts with more of John and the Beatles' general beliefs about the world before starting a chronology of the Beatle years from the particular perspective of Steve Turner's book 'The Gospel According To The Beatles' We go back to John's Sunday School grounding and his always ambivalent attitude to Jesus Christ and the religion he spawned, through the school years, his 'religious' (so to speak) devotion to rock and roll, Stu and Astrid, Hamburg, existentialism and finally the freedom-loving philosophy and behaviour of the Beatlemania-era foursome in 1963 and 64. Ref- the intro clips come from John Lennon's Playboy interviews shortly before his death in 1980. The outro song is by 'The Fab Four' Beatles tribute band 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   Jon Stewart's book 'Dylan, Lennon, Marx & God' https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59593530-dylan-lennon-marx-and-god   Steve Turner's 'A Hard Day's Write' book https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35666.A_Hard_Day_s_Write   episode links Royston Ellis on the 1960 Beatles https://www.ibtimes.com/beatles-1960-liverpool-royston-ellis-remembers-996876   The original 'Beatnik Horror' article from 1960 https://www.flickr.com/photos/29873672@N02/6897934379   Jude Kessler on John & Stu's relationship ('Pop Goes The 60s' channel) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbED8SRpUoI   'Angry Young Men at the Kitchen Sink' (linking 2 genres) https://literaturestudies.co.uk/angry-young-men-at-the-kitchen-sink/   Existentialism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism   Did Lewis Carroll's migraines inspire his 'Alice' books? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(05)74368-3/fulltext   'Looking For Lennon' documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVpyOa2Kn1Y   'The Art & Music of John Lennon' by Peter Doggett https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/798473.The_Art_And_Music_Of_John_Lennon   The religious views of The Beatles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_of_the_Beatles   Liverpool's Anglican cathedral https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_Cathedral

    1h 20m
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4.7
out of 5
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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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    130
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Antony Rotunno 2019. All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Glass Onion: On John Lennon

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