Strawberry Fields Forever: John Lennon Remembered

by Vic Garbarini, Dave Marsh (Introduction), Brian Cullman

A biography published immediately following Lennon's death. Featuring a special chronological biography, a complete report on Lennon's tragic death, and the complete Newsweek interviews with John and Yoko.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction

177 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Kevinjwoods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to read what amounts to a cheap cashin from 1980, good to read a piece of journalism describing with the immediacy of being there the reaction to his death, giving details that are mostly forgotten, also interesting to hear about some of the other albums by John and Yoko that are mostly forgotten in the rush to praise Imagine. I also doesn't gloss over things like his 18 month lost weekend, his disagreements with Paul, or his producing a Nillson album.

[AllynMay]

sad and non sense death of a person work hard for peace.

[Joe Schilp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of the content I've already read, though back in 1980, when this book was rushed to print in the wake of Lennon's assassination, much of this may have been fresh. The best part of the book was the reprint of one of his last interviews, where you really discover just how much of a prick he was about The Beatles. Anyone harboring fantasies about a reunion "if he had survived" is out of their minds; Lennon was absolutely never going to do it. Never.

Worst part of the book is any adulation regarding Yoko's singing "talent." Anytime a mic was near her, music was made worse, from the time she joined-up with John right to the end. Her screeching was not art. Not at all.

[Andy Howells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rushed into print just days after Lennon’s death, "Strawberry Fields Forever" is raw, uneven, and very much a product of the moment. Part tribute, part rushed biography, it mixes facts, essays, and interviews — including John and Yoko’s 1980 Newsweek piece — with the occasional slip-up and a sometimes disjointed feel. But as a time capsule of grief and reflection in December 1980, it remains powerful. Worth a read for its immediacy and for fans who want to glimpse how Lennon was remembered in those first shocked weeks. ★★★★☆

[City Mist · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite constantly claiming the contrary, this is obviously a blatant cash in on the death of John Lennon, and it reads like one. It's very brief, there are typos everywhere, chapters restate each other as if the three credited authors worked on individual sections without communicating at all. Mark David Chapman hadn't even been sentenced yet when this was released.

[Fran Durbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. I found the book in a charity shop and couldn’t resist. It’s a quick read, but a really enjoyable one if you’re a Beatles or John Lennon fan. A nice little find.

[Lise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just another John Lennon biography.