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The Lives of John Lennon
Profiles John Lennon from his childhood to his death, reveals the offstage Lennon and the violence that shaped his tortured life, discusses Lennon's hidden existence with Yoko, and assesses his impact as a cultural hero
719 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
December 27, 2010
If you're going to read this you need to have a sick bag ready. But Lennon fans probably owe it to themselves to chomp through this pile of bile, this ream of spleen, these 700 pages of hate-mail, as a cold turkey shock therapy corrective to the meretricious Saint John vomitoriums usually coughed up by the hacks, half-friends, distant relatives and showbiz bindweed who throng the Beatley shelves. It's entrancing to read a book of such unmediated contempt, for according to Goldman, Beatley John was a paranoid violent junkie who probably murdered Stu Sutcliffe and whose every song was a variation of Three Blind Mice.
That said, the first 200 pages are a great detailed and convincing account of JL's complex upbringing and when it was published 90% of this stuff was new to me. And while I'm on that subject, Beatley John fans should not miss the recent British film "Nowhere Boy" which is about this very period. I went to the movies to see something else, I really didn't wanna see a bloody film about Lennon, but lo! it turned out to be a great little movie.
That said, the first 200 pages are a great detailed and convincing account of JL's complex upbringing and when it was published 90% of this stuff was new to me. And while I'm on that subject, Beatley John fans should not miss the recent British film "Nowhere Boy" which is about this very period. I went to the movies to see something else, I really didn't wanna see a bloody film about Lennon, but lo! it turned out to be a great little movie.
July 31, 2009
This came out in 1988 and caused a huge scandal because it suggested that Lennon helped murder a Hamburg sailor he was rolling, and also killed Stu Sutcliffe by kicking him in the head, that he had a long-term homosexual affair with Brian Epstein, etc. etc. I’d avoided reading it because Paul McCartney told me to back then. The book is and is not what I expected. Goldman shamelessly over-writes, throwing about nasty characterizations that wind up looking pretty ridiculous. But his facts feel straight to me, beneath the overheated rhetoric. His take on the music of the Beatles and Lennon is pretty much in line with my own tastes (he finds the song “Imagine” to be insipid and ridiculous – I thought I was the only person in the world who felt that way), but because of his over-writing, his dislike for something almost always comes across as disgust or hatred which warps the overall tone of the book. And I found a bunch of factual errors I caught off the top of my head (George Harrison’s first solo album, All Things Must Pass was a 3 record set, not a 4 record set, etc.) which undermines this reader’s confidence some. But the accusations, the accounts about Lennon’s life and character seemed plausible and substantial to me. Both he and Yoko were intermittently shrewd about manipulating the media and their image, but they were also quite sloppy too, and a lot of people talked, and this is where Goldman got his dirt, and a lot of it was not pretty (the thing that shocked me most was the apparent fact that Sean Lennon, born in 1975 – the baby they had after John and Yoko cleaned up, John became a “househusband” etc. – was born with a heroin addiction. For sure Yoko was still doing heroin as late as 1979, as Goldman reports and Yoko was forced to admit (Goldman interviewed her dealer). This isn’t the John and Yoko story we’d been told. Rampant hypocrisy is perhaps the most unsavory aspect of John and Yoko. I feel kind of dirty reading it, but on the other hand, I feel that I share a lot of Lennon’s characteristics – sloth, depression, drinks too much, hypocrisy, etc. Which is to say I am not disgusted by Lennon so much as I marvel that he managed to accomplish so much – in fact Goldman doesn’t focus enough on the accomplishments. For instance, an album, even a mediocre one such as Mind Games just sort of appears in 1973, but all you hear about 1973 is the Lennon never getting out of bed, the drugs, etc. Still, a better book than I was lead to believe.
July 9, 2008
If I had to choose my all-time favorite book -- biography or otherwise -- this would probably be it. Certainly, the fact that it's about a Beatle automatically moves it toward the front of the line. But why choose this particular book -- which I've re-read more times than I can count -- when there are so many other Beatle bios out there? Simple: this one's terrible.
No, really. This is a train wreck. Goldman has a major axe to grind, and over the course of 700-plus pages, he grinds his axe to iron powder. Lennon comes across as a mainly lucky, mostly untalented, naive bisexual musician with serious mother issues. It's Character Assassination to the Extreme -- of Lennon, Yoko Ono, and almost everyone but Paul McCartney -- and you'll find yourself marveling at the body count Goldman leaves behind. Every page contains one cynical, sneering appraisal of Lennon and his work after another, with Goldman trashing Lennon's motivations and so often rooting for him to fail that it begs the question of "Why in the world would you devote 700 pages and seven years of your life to a subject you obviously can't stand??"
I don't know the answer, but I'm glad Goldman did it anyway -- because this one is so gawdawful that it's terrific.
(Review from my website at brianjayjones.blogspot.com)
No, really. This is a train wreck. Goldman has a major axe to grind, and over the course of 700-plus pages, he grinds his axe to iron powder. Lennon comes across as a mainly lucky, mostly untalented, naive bisexual musician with serious mother issues. It's Character Assassination to the Extreme -- of Lennon, Yoko Ono, and almost everyone but Paul McCartney -- and you'll find yourself marveling at the body count Goldman leaves behind. Every page contains one cynical, sneering appraisal of Lennon and his work after another, with Goldman trashing Lennon's motivations and so often rooting for him to fail that it begs the question of "Why in the world would you devote 700 pages and seven years of your life to a subject you obviously can't stand??"
I don't know the answer, but I'm glad Goldman did it anyway -- because this one is so gawdawful that it's terrific.
(Review from my website at brianjayjones.blogspot.com)
September 24, 2007
This book casts a giant shadow over the legend of Saint John of Liverpool. Being a Lennon fan myself, I bought into the myth of the Ballad of John and Yoko, the peace-nic image and the devoted house husband that gave up his career to be a house-husband. What is presented here is a gifted musician who wants to be an in-your-face bad boy but needed to depend on others for support; first, the Beatles then Yoko, who sold out his black leather biker and ducktail to the Beatle bangs and suits and his hard rocking music to goofy bubblebum ballads. Later, he sold out his band and his first born son to Yoko, his replacement mother figure, and ulimately sold himself out to make her significant. The years as house-husband baking cookies were really spent in bed on various amounts of coke and heroin. Despite its derogatory tone, as I find most myth-shattering books, John is a shown as a figure with whom to empathize, not a guru or saint or political activist but a regular guy with incredible talent. In short, the book made me a fan of John Lennon not the myth.
December 19, 2023
Das Schauermärchen von John und Yoko
Drei Sterne für ein derart umfangreiches Werk erscheinen verhältnismäßig wenig. Wer immer schon alles nur erdenkliche Schlechte über John Lennon und noch Schlimmeres über Yoko Ono lesen wollte, wird von Albert Goldman umfassend informiert. Er lässt keine Schweinerei aus, für die der gern Friedensapostel verehrte Ex-Beatle verantwortlich war und erst recht keinen Scheißhaufen, in den der gern möglichst verantwortungsfreie Weltverbesserer getappt ist.
So weit, so gut oder auch schlecht, John Lennon war eine arme, reich gewordene Sau, deren Leben in Fremdbestimmung begann und endete. Ein gewalttätiger Mensch, der unter die Fuchtel einer willensstarken Pseudo-Künstlerin geriet, die auf ihren Mann herab sah und seine Projekte sabotierte.
Goldmann lässt zwar auch keine Gemeinheit des kleinen John aus, der seine Unsicherheit durch aggressives und diskriminerendes Verhalten kompensierte, aber zwei Drittel seines Buches sind John und Yoko, bzw. deren Affären, Drogen und den Durchstechereien von Yokos Günstlingen gewidmet.
Goldman schnappt dabei nach jedem nur erdenklichen Brocken, ohne je Quellenkritik zu üben oder den Wahrheitsgehalt näher unter die Lupe zu nehmen. Von daher gebe ich nur drei Sterne, weil das Zusammentragen von Fakten nur die halbe Arbeit ist. Eine Lebensbeschreibung, die derart kritisch mit ihrem Gegenstand umgeht, muss auch Quellenkritik leisten und darf nicht nur jede Schweinerei aneinander reihen, die von selbst Geschädigten oder geprellten Mittätern und anderern Kriminellen aufs Tapet gebracht wird. Zumal sich bei den leicht überprüfbaren Fakten Fehler eingeschlichen haben, die an Goldmans Glaubwürdigkeit nagen: All things must pass von George Harrison war ein Dreifach und kein Vierfach-Album, der Pink-Floyd-Produzent heißt Bob Ezrin, nicht Bob Ezra. Dergleich zu korrigieren ist vielleicht Aufgabe des Lektorats, aber die Musik ist ohnehin absolute Nebensache in dieser großen Abrechnung.
Das Ganze gleich einer dicken Prozessakte gegen den gelegentlich durchaus bemitleidenswerten Angeklagten, der in seiner selbst verschuldeten Unfreiheit sterben musste. Tragischerweise zu einem Zeitpunkt, als er einen ernsthaften Anlauf nahm Yoko und die Drogen hinter sich zu lassen. So Goldmans Darstellung an einer Stelle. Aber nach allem, was vorher zu lesen war, bestehen doch ernsthafte Zweifel, ob der Ex-Beatle noch dazu in der Lage gewesen wäre.
Seine Witwe hat jedenfalls maximales Kapitel aus dem Opferstatus ihres Mannes geschlagen und sich ihr Boytoy ins Haus geholt.
Fazit: Gut nachvollziehbare Antworten auf die Frage, warum John Lennon kein substanzielles Album nach den Beatles gelungen ist, bleibt dieses Buch nicht schuldig, wer vorher noch so naiv oder nostalgisch war, Imagine irgendwie gut zu finden, wird sich danach sehr schwer mit dieser substanzlosen Ansammlung links-anarchischer Gemeinplätze tun.
Trotz alledem nervt dieser konstante Anklage-Gestus, der wirklich alles gegen den immer schwächer werdenden John und die mit etwa einem Drittel bedachte Yoko in Anschlag bringt. Selbst wenn jedes noch so schmutzige Detail stimmen sollte*, diese Biographie hat einen gewissen Pamphletcharakter.
* die Schilderung einer von Yoko verdreckten Wohnung hätte gereicht, sechs immer ausführlichere Schmutzidyllen sind schon grenzwertig.
Drei Sterne für ein derart umfangreiches Werk erscheinen verhältnismäßig wenig. Wer immer schon alles nur erdenkliche Schlechte über John Lennon und noch Schlimmeres über Yoko Ono lesen wollte, wird von Albert Goldman umfassend informiert. Er lässt keine Schweinerei aus, für die der gern Friedensapostel verehrte Ex-Beatle verantwortlich war und erst recht keinen Scheißhaufen, in den der gern möglichst verantwortungsfreie Weltverbesserer getappt ist.
So weit, so gut oder auch schlecht, John Lennon war eine arme, reich gewordene Sau, deren Leben in Fremdbestimmung begann und endete. Ein gewalttätiger Mensch, der unter die Fuchtel einer willensstarken Pseudo-Künstlerin geriet, die auf ihren Mann herab sah und seine Projekte sabotierte.
Goldmann lässt zwar auch keine Gemeinheit des kleinen John aus, der seine Unsicherheit durch aggressives und diskriminerendes Verhalten kompensierte, aber zwei Drittel seines Buches sind John und Yoko, bzw. deren Affären, Drogen und den Durchstechereien von Yokos Günstlingen gewidmet.
Goldman schnappt dabei nach jedem nur erdenklichen Brocken, ohne je Quellenkritik zu üben oder den Wahrheitsgehalt näher unter die Lupe zu nehmen. Von daher gebe ich nur drei Sterne, weil das Zusammentragen von Fakten nur die halbe Arbeit ist. Eine Lebensbeschreibung, die derart kritisch mit ihrem Gegenstand umgeht, muss auch Quellenkritik leisten und darf nicht nur jede Schweinerei aneinander reihen, die von selbst Geschädigten oder geprellten Mittätern und anderern Kriminellen aufs Tapet gebracht wird. Zumal sich bei den leicht überprüfbaren Fakten Fehler eingeschlichen haben, die an Goldmans Glaubwürdigkeit nagen: All things must pass von George Harrison war ein Dreifach und kein Vierfach-Album, der Pink-Floyd-Produzent heißt Bob Ezrin, nicht Bob Ezra. Dergleich zu korrigieren ist vielleicht Aufgabe des Lektorats, aber die Musik ist ohnehin absolute Nebensache in dieser großen Abrechnung.
Das Ganze gleich einer dicken Prozessakte gegen den gelegentlich durchaus bemitleidenswerten Angeklagten, der in seiner selbst verschuldeten Unfreiheit sterben musste. Tragischerweise zu einem Zeitpunkt, als er einen ernsthaften Anlauf nahm Yoko und die Drogen hinter sich zu lassen. So Goldmans Darstellung an einer Stelle. Aber nach allem, was vorher zu lesen war, bestehen doch ernsthafte Zweifel, ob der Ex-Beatle noch dazu in der Lage gewesen wäre.
Seine Witwe hat jedenfalls maximales Kapitel aus dem Opferstatus ihres Mannes geschlagen und sich ihr Boytoy ins Haus geholt.
Fazit: Gut nachvollziehbare Antworten auf die Frage, warum John Lennon kein substanzielles Album nach den Beatles gelungen ist, bleibt dieses Buch nicht schuldig, wer vorher noch so naiv oder nostalgisch war, Imagine irgendwie gut zu finden, wird sich danach sehr schwer mit dieser substanzlosen Ansammlung links-anarchischer Gemeinplätze tun.
Trotz alledem nervt dieser konstante Anklage-Gestus, der wirklich alles gegen den immer schwächer werdenden John und die mit etwa einem Drittel bedachte Yoko in Anschlag bringt. Selbst wenn jedes noch so schmutzige Detail stimmen sollte*, diese Biographie hat einen gewissen Pamphletcharakter.
* die Schilderung einer von Yoko verdreckten Wohnung hätte gereicht, sechs immer ausführlichere Schmutzidyllen sind schon grenzwertig.
March 30, 2012
Goldman's biography of John Lennon is entertaining but there is a sinister undertone throughout the book. I've read that the author started out with admiration for the musician but ended up feeling increasingly negative about Lennon. Personal feelings are no doubt an occupational hazard of writing about the life of a public figure but a biographer has a responsibility to remain objective to the best of his/her ability. It's pretty evident that Goldman was unable to do that. In addition, Goldman's sources and methods of obtaining "facts" often come into question. Still it is not all together a bad thing when a writer takes on the mythology of an artist of Lennon's stature. When this book was published, Lennon was all but regarded a saint. That's an unfair assessment of the man himself and a disservice to his many fans. The sticky stuff of truth is the substance an artist such as Lennon deserves and one, I would like to believe, Lennon himself would have considered imperative to any study of his life and character. Biographers Bob Spitz and Philip Norman do a better job of walking the fine line between respecting a great artist yet showing the flaws inherent in the man. If you're going to read the Goldman account, following up with Norman's biography would provide some needed balance.
August 14, 2012
As a Beatles fan, I really appreciated reading this piece of rock de-mythology. After his death, it was considered heresy to see John Lennon as the nasty, irreverent rocker he had always been instead of the cuddly peacenik martyr he became in rock legend.
Goldman was a jazz fan who took a dim view of the teenybopper music of the Sixties. But as in his biography of Elvis, the most impressive parts here are his descriptions of the musical milieu of his subject. He notes that Liverpool was a backwater whose rock scene became very competitive in the early Sixties; Hamburg was a seedy Mecca for rock bands who wanted to work hard in a dangerous environment to hone their act. By the time the Beatles returned to Liverpool, they were a professional rock machine that had no equal among the docile skiffle groups in the Mersey scene.
Elsewhere, Goldman takes pleasure in slaughtering the sacred cows of Beatles legend. He characterizes their transformation from savage rockers to friendly pop stars as a sellout. He paints Brian Epstein as a feckless twit, George Martin as a bitter gofer. The villain of all Beatles histories, Allen Klein becomes a crafty bulldog who saved the Beatles' bacon when he ended the Apple debacle and negotiated their lucrative new contract with Capitol. Far from an ineffectual heartthrob, Paul McCartney was a dedicated bandleader, while John became an indolent recluse. Though Goldman gives credit where it's due, he takes the Beatles to task for replacing their brash creativity with rock star arrogance.
Like all of Goldman's biographies, this one loses steam as its subject slides into his inevitable decline. With the talentless Yoko, John squandered his genius and peddled insincere politics and nostalgia music. Unlike other Lennon biographers, Goldman portrays the John/Yoko dynamic as a minefield of competition and resentment. He also places the blame on John for the puerile sloganeering and uninspired conservatism of his later output. Then, after years of being surrounded by toadies and astrologers, Lennon was finally getting his confidence back; his killer cut short his rebirth.
I'm not going to defend Goldman's habitual lapses into silliness, like his speculation about what might have happened in Lennon's trips to Thai brothels. But this book is a handy antidote for the obnoxious mythmaking of the Beatles publicity industry, celebrating the mercurial, incisive imagination people forget John had.
Goldman was a jazz fan who took a dim view of the teenybopper music of the Sixties. But as in his biography of Elvis, the most impressive parts here are his descriptions of the musical milieu of his subject. He notes that Liverpool was a backwater whose rock scene became very competitive in the early Sixties; Hamburg was a seedy Mecca for rock bands who wanted to work hard in a dangerous environment to hone their act. By the time the Beatles returned to Liverpool, they were a professional rock machine that had no equal among the docile skiffle groups in the Mersey scene.
Elsewhere, Goldman takes pleasure in slaughtering the sacred cows of Beatles legend. He characterizes their transformation from savage rockers to friendly pop stars as a sellout. He paints Brian Epstein as a feckless twit, George Martin as a bitter gofer. The villain of all Beatles histories, Allen Klein becomes a crafty bulldog who saved the Beatles' bacon when he ended the Apple debacle and negotiated their lucrative new contract with Capitol. Far from an ineffectual heartthrob, Paul McCartney was a dedicated bandleader, while John became an indolent recluse. Though Goldman gives credit where it's due, he takes the Beatles to task for replacing their brash creativity with rock star arrogance.
Like all of Goldman's biographies, this one loses steam as its subject slides into his inevitable decline. With the talentless Yoko, John squandered his genius and peddled insincere politics and nostalgia music. Unlike other Lennon biographers, Goldman portrays the John/Yoko dynamic as a minefield of competition and resentment. He also places the blame on John for the puerile sloganeering and uninspired conservatism of his later output. Then, after years of being surrounded by toadies and astrologers, Lennon was finally getting his confidence back; his killer cut short his rebirth.
I'm not going to defend Goldman's habitual lapses into silliness, like his speculation about what might have happened in Lennon's trips to Thai brothels. But this book is a handy antidote for the obnoxious mythmaking of the Beatles publicity industry, celebrating the mercurial, incisive imagination people forget John had.
July 19, 2010
I like this book probably more than I would ever admit out loud, and that's because it's just a great story. It reads almost like a John Irving novel (without the intricate twists and coincidences). It's just awful and full of hatred, but damn...is it fun to read!
I read this a few times when I was in high school and had an unhealthy obsession with the Beatles. Needless to say, I was shocked and inspired. It wasn't a turn-off to read horrible things about someone I admired, because (even if they are true), the writing style just lends itself to fiction. It actually inspired me to write a lot of stories. (I even tagged pages in the book with little Post-It notes) I figured, hey, if this guy can write a huge book about a guy that everybody loves, and it's so obviously full of crap, then I can take an liberties I want. It was a good time for me to explore fantasy, sex, and violence in my own writing, and I owe a lot of that to this book.
I read this a few times when I was in high school and had an unhealthy obsession with the Beatles. Needless to say, I was shocked and inspired. It wasn't a turn-off to read horrible things about someone I admired, because (even if they are true), the writing style just lends itself to fiction. It actually inspired me to write a lot of stories. (I even tagged pages in the book with little Post-It notes) I figured, hey, if this guy can write a huge book about a guy that everybody loves, and it's so obviously full of crap, then I can take an liberties I want. It was a good time for me to explore fantasy, sex, and violence in my own writing, and I owe a lot of that to this book.
September 3, 2012
While the Lennon legend enjoyed a gifted and inspired life, the private Lennon lived in torment, poisoning himself with drugs and self-hatred. The Lives of John Lennon exposed for the first time all of his various lives, from idealist to cynic, from ascetic to junkie. It is a lasting tribute to his brilliant achievements and a revelation of the price he paid for them.
For many years I refused to read this book because I did not want to blot or tarnish, with content that had been repeatedly described as putrid, hostile, slanderous, character-damaging dreck, my image of John Lennon.
After finding a hardcover in mint condition for only three hundred bucks, however, I couldn't resist, and I'm glad I buckled. First off, like me, anyone wanting to read the book probably loves John so much that nothing anyone could ever say about him would really sully or ruin their affection for the man.
Secondly, I realized quickly why Yoko Ono had so fervently condemned this book as I reached the second half. Overall, Goldman says nothing horribly negative about John (yes, he's described as neurotic and slightly crazy, but didn't we always know that about John, and wasn't that part of his appeal?) The person Goldman painstakingly describes as evil is Yoko. She comes across as satanic in nature, and while I was initially hesitant to accept this harsh assessment of her, too many other books, such as Pete Shotton's and Tony Bramwell's, paint a similar portrait for Goldman to be completely wrong.
For instance, Goldman is the only writer to reveal that no record exists of the phone calls Yoko Ono famously and dramatically claims to have made to Paul and Mimi the night John died. An abundance of facts of this nature are to be found in the book.
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I recommend you read it. The experience made me realize that my love for John is impenetrable, and if yours is too, then I recommend you check this book out. Ask yourself, who is the person who has done the most campaigning to destroy this book? The answer is the woman about whom Goldman does a good deal to expose.
(As a final asterisk, I meant to only give this a four star review, but I edited the review so many times that I ultimately hit the wrong button)
For many years I refused to read this book because I did not want to blot or tarnish, with content that had been repeatedly described as putrid, hostile, slanderous, character-damaging dreck, my image of John Lennon.
After finding a hardcover in mint condition for only three hundred bucks, however, I couldn't resist, and I'm glad I buckled. First off, like me, anyone wanting to read the book probably loves John so much that nothing anyone could ever say about him would really sully or ruin their affection for the man.
Secondly, I realized quickly why Yoko Ono had so fervently condemned this book as I reached the second half. Overall, Goldman says nothing horribly negative about John (yes, he's described as neurotic and slightly crazy, but didn't we always know that about John, and wasn't that part of his appeal?) The person Goldman painstakingly describes as evil is Yoko. She comes across as satanic in nature, and while I was initially hesitant to accept this harsh assessment of her, too many other books, such as Pete Shotton's and Tony Bramwell's, paint a similar portrait for Goldman to be completely wrong.
For instance, Goldman is the only writer to reveal that no record exists of the phone calls Yoko Ono famously and dramatically claims to have made to Paul and Mimi the night John died. An abundance of facts of this nature are to be found in the book.
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I recommend you read it. The experience made me realize that my love for John is impenetrable, and if yours is too, then I recommend you check this book out. Ask yourself, who is the person who has done the most campaigning to destroy this book? The answer is the woman about whom Goldman does a good deal to expose.
(As a final asterisk, I meant to only give this a four star review, but I edited the review so many times that I ultimately hit the wrong button)
January 12, 2009
I learnt Lennon had a pretty sad life shot through with anger, violence and insecurity. He leant heavily on Yoko and bought the myth they fabricated about their relationship while at the same time resenting her domination of him. Surprisingly little examination of his relationship with McCartney. Goldman jut states they were hostile towards each other. But reading between the lines it looks like Lennon wouldn't have written half the stuff he wrote without Paul there to compete with. He seems like a bit of a lazy bastard and its easy to think he didn't use his talent and opportunities to the max especially during the 1970s. I hadn't previously appreciated how heavy the drug use was which couldn't have helped. One of the saddest aspects for me was how screwed up he felt over the failure of his parents to love him but that he in turn totally failed to love his own kids - the cycle repeats. Seems incredibly self obsessed, but that may be part of creativity. No matter how painful his life was and how unfullfilled his talent may have been, he certainly changed the world and touched and enhanced the life of millions. RIP John hope you're happier now x
January 24, 2019
Традиційно, одна справа споживати продукт творчості, а інша - дізнаватися про його автора.
Краще цього не робити.
Джон і Йоко - травмовані неадекватні люди, які тільки те й робили, що більше провалювалися у свої травми, всіляко їм сприяючи.
Цікаве чтиво, але лишає неоднозначне враження.
Краще цього не робити.
Джон і Йоко - травмовані неадекватні люди, які тільки те й робили, що більше провалювалися у свої травми, всіляко їм сприяючи.
Цікаве чтиво, але лишає неоднозначне враження.
April 4, 2011
Well, here it is, the book that Beatles fans have been warned about. There’s no doubt Lives is entertaining and readable, but it’s also ridiculously over-the-top. Many Beatles fans have pegged Lives as a character assassination of Lennon. In some ways it is. Goldman is relentlessly harsh on his subject, claiming that Lennon abused his wives and children, stole his songs, murdered Stu Sutcliffe, was ugly and kept a filthy home. If you take it with a grain of salt, however, I found Lives to be often laugh-out-loud funny.
(Note: Ambitious readers also may want to keep a running count of how often the author contradicts himself, sometimes within a few pages of each other.)
Goldman isn’t a terrible writer, but his style is reminiscent of that of a carnival barker. I mean, seriously, just try and read his description of Jimi Hendrix without snickering:
His favorite stunt was to thrust his Stratocruiser between his thighs, while extorting from it an undreamt-of range of excruciating Iron Age sounds, as he mowed down all these hip white English kids with his huge, swiveling, screaming electric co*k.
Clearly, a ROFL is in order.
Goldman is also obsessed with foreshadowing Lennon’s violent death throughout the text, often in absurdly exaggerated ways:
Triggered by a pistol-like drum shot, the record fires Lennon's voice at the listener like a bullet.
Wow, got some wine to go with that cheese?
Speaking of cheese, Goldman also relishes getting in digs wherever he can at John and Yoko’s on-again, off-again vegetarianism. He acts as if May Pang saved Lennon’s life by serving him something called “blood pudding”:
Soon Lennon was restored to his normal weight and recharged with the energy he had lost through years of malnutrition.
Ah yes, the magical properties of blood pudding. (Blech!)
Some of Goldman’s accusations are indeed incredibly serious. Others, not so much. You know, I can’t really fault anyone for spending excessive amounts of times sleeping or curled up on the couch with something to read, heck, those are my two most avid interests.
(Note: Ambitious readers also may want to keep a running count of how often the author contradicts himself, sometimes within a few pages of each other.)
Goldman isn’t a terrible writer, but his style is reminiscent of that of a carnival barker. I mean, seriously, just try and read his description of Jimi Hendrix without snickering:
His favorite stunt was to thrust his Stratocruiser between his thighs, while extorting from it an undreamt-of range of excruciating Iron Age sounds, as he mowed down all these hip white English kids with his huge, swiveling, screaming electric co*k.
Clearly, a ROFL is in order.
Goldman is also obsessed with foreshadowing Lennon’s violent death throughout the text, often in absurdly exaggerated ways:
Triggered by a pistol-like drum shot, the record fires Lennon's voice at the listener like a bullet.
Wow, got some wine to go with that cheese?
Speaking of cheese, Goldman also relishes getting in digs wherever he can at John and Yoko’s on-again, off-again vegetarianism. He acts as if May Pang saved Lennon’s life by serving him something called “blood pudding”:
Soon Lennon was restored to his normal weight and recharged with the energy he had lost through years of malnutrition.
Ah yes, the magical properties of blood pudding. (Blech!)
Some of Goldman’s accusations are indeed incredibly serious. Others, not so much. You know, I can’t really fault anyone for spending excessive amounts of times sleeping or curled up on the couch with something to read, heck, those are my two most avid interests.
August 27, 2008
The truth is out there. Somewhere between this and the gauzy tripe the Beatle/Ono hype machine would have us swallow.
January 24, 2020
This rather damning book on Lennon caused quite a stir when it was first released. It was controversial due to its bluntness and dispelling of the myth that surrounded John Lennon up to that point which in every single biography up until Goldman's and even some after made John out to be revered, saint-like, and not entirely flawless, but a man who had two sides to him. This book presents multiple upon multiple sides of Lennon via 6 years of research by Goldman.
This all isn't to say that everything in the book is honest, truthful, and correct. Many errors in facts occur as do many misspellings, wrong years, etc... ( i.e. famed produced Bob Ezrin is written a few times as Bob Ezra ), but if even half or a quarter of this book is to be believed it is shocking what Lennon not only accomplished, but went through in 40 years time as far as education, fame, sex, money, marriages, fatherhood, drugs, and overall life in general.
Goldman name checks every single person interviewed as well as researching video, articles, books, and other media on Lennon and Yoko and the latter actually comes out worse than the former. Revealing snap shots of Lennon's life are revealed and I found stuff in this book ( again taken with a grain of salt ) that I never even knew about.
Lennon's Lost Weekend ( more like a year ) is given a lot of space to breathe in these pages and is actually John at his most prolific with the possibly exception of the 22 songs he poured out in a matter of weeks before his death in 1980 with producer Jack Douglas.
Goldman himself is actually a pretty decent writer overall and though John is painted many times in a negative light and deservedly so as a negligent father, drug abuser, violent, raging alcoholic, etc... his other sides such as his wit, humor, creativity, and genuineness are as well.
Lennon is still a major enigma wrapped in a paradox and surrounded by mystery and one who would have turned 80 this year.
This all isn't to say that everything in the book is honest, truthful, and correct. Many errors in facts occur as do many misspellings, wrong years, etc... ( i.e. famed produced Bob Ezrin is written a few times as Bob Ezra ), but if even half or a quarter of this book is to be believed it is shocking what Lennon not only accomplished, but went through in 40 years time as far as education, fame, sex, money, marriages, fatherhood, drugs, and overall life in general.
Goldman name checks every single person interviewed as well as researching video, articles, books, and other media on Lennon and Yoko and the latter actually comes out worse than the former. Revealing snap shots of Lennon's life are revealed and I found stuff in this book ( again taken with a grain of salt ) that I never even knew about.
Lennon's Lost Weekend ( more like a year ) is given a lot of space to breathe in these pages and is actually John at his most prolific with the possibly exception of the 22 songs he poured out in a matter of weeks before his death in 1980 with producer Jack Douglas.
Goldman himself is actually a pretty decent writer overall and though John is painted many times in a negative light and deservedly so as a negligent father, drug abuser, violent, raging alcoholic, etc... his other sides such as his wit, humor, creativity, and genuineness are as well.
Lennon is still a major enigma wrapped in a paradox and surrounded by mystery and one who would have turned 80 this year.
May 29, 2024
Gespreid gelezen om de negativiteit van de giftige pen van Goldman niet teveel te laten inzinken. Hier en daar wel interessante stukken maar lijkt me vooral gebaseerd te zijn op informatie “via via” en roddels.
August 10, 2017
"L'umore arrabbiato, nichilistico e disperato proiettato così senza filtri sul The Primal Scream Album verrà confermato poi nella famosa intervista a Rolling Stone, senza dubbio la più provocatoria, appassionata e profonda dichiarazione mai rilasciata alla stampa da un uomo dello spettacolo. (...) Perchè d'un tratto, dalla bocca del loro ex leader, i Beatles quegli innocenti e amati cantanti di ninnenanne, venivano smascherati come i Beastles (bestiali): 'I più grossi bastardi sulla faccia della terra'. Deciso a distruggere il mito una volta per tutte, John si mise all'opera con tutte le sue forze. Rivelò che le tournée non erano che orge scatenate organizzate dallo staff di ruffiani dei Beatles e protette dalla polizia. (...) Paul era descritto come il cattivo della situazione (...), come un intrigante, montato arrivista del mondo dello spettacolo (...). Per quanto riguarda i fans dei Beatles, John li raffigurò come 'una brutta razza', e i loro successori, gli hippy, come 'composti maniaci che andavano in giro con dei fottuti simboli di pace'. (...) La cosa più scioccante dell'intervista non fu smitizzare i Beatles ma il modo sprezzante in cui liquidò gli anni Sessanta. (...) La verità era, secondo Lennon, che 'non è successo niente tranne per il fatto che ci siamo vestiti a festa'."
Della celebre biografia del critico musicale A. Goldman, di cui il grosso già sapevo da anni perché ampiamente sfruttato dalla stampa nei suoi aspetti più privati e scandalistici, colpisce soprattutto l'acredine - diciamo pure l'antipatia - dell'autore nei confronti del protagonista, di cui spesso cita l'infanzia difficile, ma di cui non giustifica - e sarebbe effettivamente difficile - l'aggressività, l'odio, i comportamenti in genere.
Certo anche Yoko Ono e Paul McCartney ne escono male (anche qui nessuna novità) ma per chi ama la dolcezza senza mielosità delle melodie e soprattutto dei testi di Lennon, o anche per chi per anni ha creduto che fosse il profeta della Pace, è un piccolo shock rendersi conto dell'abissale distanza tra la sua poesia e la sua vita quotidiana, tra le sue aspirazioni ideali e il suo pesantissimo carattere. E non basta dire che la droga, droghe di ogni tipo, appesantirono e inquinarono la sua anima fino a renderla irriconoscibile: le sue nevrosi (le stesse da cui nascono le sue canzoni) c'erano già tutte fin dall'infanzia, i suoi traumi, la sua ricerca di una madre-padrona, che alla fine trovò in Yoko.
In un certo senso la sua storia d'amore più serena sembrerebbe quella con la povera May Pang, un'assistente cui Yoko ordinò di fare da amante a John per quell'anno e mezzo in cui lei preferì dedicarsi alla propria autopromozione (in esclusiva, si intende, perché comunque la cosa era ed è in cima ai pensieri di Yoko sempre e comunque): una ragazzotta paciosa, sensuale, messa lì per esaudire ogni suo desiderio, laddove secondo Goldman la prima moglie era stata poco più di una groupie e la seconda era un'avida, autoritaria, superstiziosa sfruttatrice.
Che tristezza, nel complesso. Anche al pensiero che John abbia passato gli ultimi anni senza comporre nulla, prima per l'abulia causata dalla depressione, poi perché la Ono glielo proibì sostenendo che secondo i suoi veggenti fino al 1982 lui doveva stare fermo.
Così morì nel 1981, quando aveva appena ritrovato la creatività e inciso "Double fantasy", che comunque fino a quel 9 dicembre non se l'era filato quasi nessuno, e che schizzò in cima alle classifiche solo grazie all'assassinio.
Lo stile del libro è faticoso: affrettato, aggrovigliato, spesso incomprensibile, prolisso. Goldman esamina con competenza anche le canzoni dei Beatles e di Lennon solista, ma sembra che stia parlando di un prodotto, non della magia e dell'incanto.
Spesso preferisce soffermarsi ad analizzare i contratti, le truffe, i litigi con manager, avvocati, mogli e società di comodo che circondarono i Beatles prima e dopo il loro scioglimento.
Una lettura fastidiosa per il suo esasperato cinismo, insomma, ma utile per mettere dei punti fermi nella biografia di un mito.
Della celebre biografia del critico musicale A. Goldman, di cui il grosso già sapevo da anni perché ampiamente sfruttato dalla stampa nei suoi aspetti più privati e scandalistici, colpisce soprattutto l'acredine - diciamo pure l'antipatia - dell'autore nei confronti del protagonista, di cui spesso cita l'infanzia difficile, ma di cui non giustifica - e sarebbe effettivamente difficile - l'aggressività, l'odio, i comportamenti in genere.
Certo anche Yoko Ono e Paul McCartney ne escono male (anche qui nessuna novità) ma per chi ama la dolcezza senza mielosità delle melodie e soprattutto dei testi di Lennon, o anche per chi per anni ha creduto che fosse il profeta della Pace, è un piccolo shock rendersi conto dell'abissale distanza tra la sua poesia e la sua vita quotidiana, tra le sue aspirazioni ideali e il suo pesantissimo carattere. E non basta dire che la droga, droghe di ogni tipo, appesantirono e inquinarono la sua anima fino a renderla irriconoscibile: le sue nevrosi (le stesse da cui nascono le sue canzoni) c'erano già tutte fin dall'infanzia, i suoi traumi, la sua ricerca di una madre-padrona, che alla fine trovò in Yoko.
In un certo senso la sua storia d'amore più serena sembrerebbe quella con la povera May Pang, un'assistente cui Yoko ordinò di fare da amante a John per quell'anno e mezzo in cui lei preferì dedicarsi alla propria autopromozione (in esclusiva, si intende, perché comunque la cosa era ed è in cima ai pensieri di Yoko sempre e comunque): una ragazzotta paciosa, sensuale, messa lì per esaudire ogni suo desiderio, laddove secondo Goldman la prima moglie era stata poco più di una groupie e la seconda era un'avida, autoritaria, superstiziosa sfruttatrice.
Che tristezza, nel complesso. Anche al pensiero che John abbia passato gli ultimi anni senza comporre nulla, prima per l'abulia causata dalla depressione, poi perché la Ono glielo proibì sostenendo che secondo i suoi veggenti fino al 1982 lui doveva stare fermo.
Così morì nel 1981, quando aveva appena ritrovato la creatività e inciso "Double fantasy", che comunque fino a quel 9 dicembre non se l'era filato quasi nessuno, e che schizzò in cima alle classifiche solo grazie all'assassinio.
Lo stile del libro è faticoso: affrettato, aggrovigliato, spesso incomprensibile, prolisso. Goldman esamina con competenza anche le canzoni dei Beatles e di Lennon solista, ma sembra che stia parlando di un prodotto, non della magia e dell'incanto.
Spesso preferisce soffermarsi ad analizzare i contratti, le truffe, i litigi con manager, avvocati, mogli e società di comodo che circondarono i Beatles prima e dopo il loro scioglimento.
Una lettura fastidiosa per il suo esasperato cinismo, insomma, ma utile per mettere dei punti fermi nella biografia di un mito.
January 21, 2014
My personal take on The Beatles is that George Martin was the most important “member” of The Beatles. Martin, as Producer and Recording Engineer, was doing things with 4-track equipment in England that nobody else in the world could get near; not even the best producers in Hollywood with their then state-of-the-art 8-track recorders could accomplish what George Martin coaxed out of his older equipment. Every time John Lennon would ask the impossible, George Martin would find a way to deliver, incidentally setting a new world-standard for audio recording, almost on a song-by-song basis the world-standard for rock and roll songs, the bar, was raised.
(I took a three year sabbatical from writing novels to compose and record music, so I know something of audio engineering and audio producing. The role of producer is almost always underestimated.)
That said, what interests me the most in The Lives Of John Lennon are the Power Plays between Paul and John, and the way Yoko glommed onto John.
Yoko comes off like a bat-shit crazy stalker who eventually wore John down with her insane persistence bludgeoning through his passive haze of acid-induced inertia. Goldman nails Yoko, in my opinion, even if only half of what he wrote about her is true.
Lennon is not the hero here. Goldman is gleefully vicious in his writing about John Lennon. McCartney, curiously, is the default hero of this bio; but Yoko is The Last Man Standing when all the bullets have stopped flying.
@hg47
October 8, 2008
Really interesting, in-depth (at over 700-pages) account of John Lennon's entire life. As a huge fan, I'll admit the man was often pretty despicable. But it's a highly-flawed and fucked up genius that's interesting, right? Even if you aren't a Lennon/Beatles fan, you'll enjoy this as a juicy biography, just skip the parts about the actual music! Actually, any fan who wants to keep the image of the benevolent, peace-loving, [later-in-life] family man image of John Lennon intact, then do not read this.
August 20, 2018
This was not an easy read for me. Not because it is poorly written, but I could only take so much of what a self-indulgent ass wipe John Lennon was before I needed a break. Until I read this I has respect for Mr. Lennon. Not so much afterward. And Yoko Ono! I had thought there wasn't a female on the planet to rival my ex-wife for pure evil. I may have found her match.
Forgive me for a tiny spoiler, but it typifies what's wrong with Yoko. John had made clear that he did NOT want to be cremated. As soon as he was killed, that's what she did. And then stuck his ashes under her bed.
Forgive me for a tiny spoiler, but it typifies what's wrong with Yoko. John had made clear that he did NOT want to be cremated. As soon as he was killed, that's what she did. And then stuck his ashes under her bed.
February 5, 2008
The vehement hatred that seeps through this one's pores may stain your fingers. Though Lennon was obviously no saint (his abandonment of his first wife and son stands as evidence of that), Goldman's wild allegations that Lennon was a street mugger strain credulity.
August 29, 2008
Goldman is consistently inaccurate in his biographies, apparently relying on rumor and innuendo as his primary sources. This is tabloid-style sleaze. Avoid it and any other biographies by this author.
August 6, 2007
I'm still waiting for a good biography of Lennon.
June 18, 2021
Like Goldman’s earlier book on Elvis; read as satire these books are actually hilarious. If you really want to get close to these Demi-Gods listen to their records. Know a tree by its fruit.
June 3, 2025
Comprehensive and depressing.
One takeaway: don't have heroes.
One takeaway: don't have heroes.
December 17, 2020
Albert Goldman created a scandal when he published The Lives of John Lennon in 1988. In it the author attempted to destroy Lennon and everything he stood for, and at 704 pages that's a lot of character assassination. It is not my wish to refute Goldman's claims or to try to resurrect John's reputation when this biography is so baseless. This book is tabloid trash talk where facts are an afterthought.
By 1988 I was in university enrolled in literature courses and had no time to read anything else during semesters. At that time I was also not as obsessed about acquiring every book with the Beatles' (or John Lennon's) name on it. Thus I ignored this biography--which retailed for $29.95--when it came out. I was nonetheless curious enough to buy it (as opposed to simply borrow it from the library where I worked) for a remaindered price of $5.99 some time later. And so for roughly the past thirty years I have kept this disgraceful book sealed in its cellophane wrap, too ashamed to read it but I suppose not ashamed enough to display it on my bookshelf. I guess if anyone ratted me out for owning it I could point out that it still being sealed meant that I hadn't read it. However it was now time to read it once and for all and relieve my shelves of 5 cm of valuably needed space.
Most book reviews at the time focussed on the book's first chapter, which portrayed John as an anorexic catatonic imbecile living a Howard Hughes existence glued to his TV set. The characterizations are laughable because they are so over-the-top. The author mixed all the colours from his palette to paint John as a murderer and a man obsessed with his own death. Not only that, but John, who made no secret about his extramarital affairs, apparently slept around with so many women to cover up his closeted homosexuality. When I heard all these claims in 1988 I came up with the decision to refer to the book from then on as The Lies of John Lennon.
Yoko is treated just as scathingly and once she is introduced into John's life Goldman seems to write two biographies instead of one. I have never believed that Yoko, who grew up within a wealthy banking family and educated at private American schools, would have trashed her smarts for the crackpot advice of charlatans such as psychics and tarot readers. During the late seventies Yoko used her financial expertise to expand the Lennon coffers with wise investments. People don't get rich using hokum as financial advice.
In preparation for this read I packed the book with plenty of notepaper, however I surprised myself by my minimal notations. Most of my notes were reminders to verify information Goldman presented as facts. His claims were easily verifiable, and certainly would have been even if I had read this in 1988. Details such as street names, record releases, song titles and years when material was released were not researched. How hard would it be to verify that the song "Help!" was released in 1965 and not 1966? Or that the Cavern was located on Mathew Street and not Matthew? If a biographer cannot get details like this correct then what credibility does he have with shady reminiscences from Lennon bone-pickers from 1960?
In spite of the way I feel about Goldman as a researcher, I do have to commend him as a writer. He can tell a good story which I enjoyed reading--his treatment of the subject matter notwithstanding--yet his professional reputation 32 years later continues to waft with noxious miasma. It is easy to denounce those who attack our heroes yet I wonder what we would be thinking of Goldman had he devoted his talent to nobler pursuits than trashing John Lennon and Elvis Presley (in an earlier biography). Is fame a double-edged sword? Would we have even noticed the author unless he ripped John and Elvis to shreds?
There are good Lennon biographies by Ray Coleman and Philip Norman that are worth your time.
By 1988 I was in university enrolled in literature courses and had no time to read anything else during semesters. At that time I was also not as obsessed about acquiring every book with the Beatles' (or John Lennon's) name on it. Thus I ignored this biography--which retailed for $29.95--when it came out. I was nonetheless curious enough to buy it (as opposed to simply borrow it from the library where I worked) for a remaindered price of $5.99 some time later. And so for roughly the past thirty years I have kept this disgraceful book sealed in its cellophane wrap, too ashamed to read it but I suppose not ashamed enough to display it on my bookshelf. I guess if anyone ratted me out for owning it I could point out that it still being sealed meant that I hadn't read it. However it was now time to read it once and for all and relieve my shelves of 5 cm of valuably needed space.
Most book reviews at the time focussed on the book's first chapter, which portrayed John as an anorexic catatonic imbecile living a Howard Hughes existence glued to his TV set. The characterizations are laughable because they are so over-the-top. The author mixed all the colours from his palette to paint John as a murderer and a man obsessed with his own death. Not only that, but John, who made no secret about his extramarital affairs, apparently slept around with so many women to cover up his closeted homosexuality. When I heard all these claims in 1988 I came up with the decision to refer to the book from then on as The Lies of John Lennon.
Yoko is treated just as scathingly and once she is introduced into John's life Goldman seems to write two biographies instead of one. I have never believed that Yoko, who grew up within a wealthy banking family and educated at private American schools, would have trashed her smarts for the crackpot advice of charlatans such as psychics and tarot readers. During the late seventies Yoko used her financial expertise to expand the Lennon coffers with wise investments. People don't get rich using hokum as financial advice.
In preparation for this read I packed the book with plenty of notepaper, however I surprised myself by my minimal notations. Most of my notes were reminders to verify information Goldman presented as facts. His claims were easily verifiable, and certainly would have been even if I had read this in 1988. Details such as street names, record releases, song titles and years when material was released were not researched. How hard would it be to verify that the song "Help!" was released in 1965 and not 1966? Or that the Cavern was located on Mathew Street and not Matthew? If a biographer cannot get details like this correct then what credibility does he have with shady reminiscences from Lennon bone-pickers from 1960?
In spite of the way I feel about Goldman as a researcher, I do have to commend him as a writer. He can tell a good story which I enjoyed reading--his treatment of the subject matter notwithstanding--yet his professional reputation 32 years later continues to waft with noxious miasma. It is easy to denounce those who attack our heroes yet I wonder what we would be thinking of Goldman had he devoted his talent to nobler pursuits than trashing John Lennon and Elvis Presley (in an earlier biography). Is fame a double-edged sword? Would we have even noticed the author unless he ripped John and Elvis to shreds?
There are good Lennon biographies by Ray Coleman and Philip Norman that are worth your time.
December 8, 2009
I found this book entirely readable. Even with thousands of interviews and years of research, I was still suspicious of the author's intentions. This is a controversial book in that it puts Lennon in a very bad light, but Yoko Ono comes off as the real villain. Like any piece of history, a writer chooses a specific interpretation and this is why one must read other sources or viewpoints to balance the overall account. I am doing that now as I read another Beatles book. But let's get back to Lives of Lennon. Goldman picked out quotes that sound more sensational than anything, like Lennon's drug addiction, strange living habits, supposed bisexuality and killing of two people (some random in Hamburg and Beatles' original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe). Knowing that Lennon is dead and can't defend himself, the interviewees can say anything they want. But the basic facts come across as the truth. I also believe Yoko's role in Lennon's life. After all, this is probably the main reason why Yoko criticized the book after it is was first published. She comes across as a controlling, narcissistic wanna-be artist who used Lennon to gain the attention she craved. I completely believe that part. So maybe that sums up the book perfectly...The Lives of Yoko Ono.
Read
January 7, 2008This came out a long time ago (the late eighties or early nineties) and Goldman, like Lennon, is dead, too, now.
His book on Elvis didn't hurt Elvis's reputation because Elvis's fans love Elvis all the way. The book on John Lennon is another matter entirely.
I've read bits and pieces and, certainly, when the book came out, the media coverage was inescapable. A lot of people, among them people who knew John or worked with him, condemned the book immediately.
The ultimate flaw of this book is the hatred with which it is written. Goldman is like a father trying to get his teenage children to hate their stepfather. He is desperately worried we WON'T hate John Lennon. Goldman uncovers nothing new and doesn't make many more factual errors than most biographies have, but you can hear him hissing as you read. He said in an interview that when he started the book he thought he would like John. That's the first sign that he had no clue who John was. Any interview John gave showed what a contradictory person he was and knew himself to be.
THE LIVES OF JOHN LENNON is bad not because its conclusions are wrong but because it is, through and through, a personal attack on its subject.
His book on Elvis didn't hurt Elvis's reputation because Elvis's fans love Elvis all the way. The book on John Lennon is another matter entirely.
I've read bits and pieces and, certainly, when the book came out, the media coverage was inescapable. A lot of people, among them people who knew John or worked with him, condemned the book immediately.
The ultimate flaw of this book is the hatred with which it is written. Goldman is like a father trying to get his teenage children to hate their stepfather. He is desperately worried we WON'T hate John Lennon. Goldman uncovers nothing new and doesn't make many more factual errors than most biographies have, but you can hear him hissing as you read. He said in an interview that when he started the book he thought he would like John. That's the first sign that he had no clue who John was. Any interview John gave showed what a contradictory person he was and knew himself to be.
THE LIVES OF JOHN LENNON is bad not because its conclusions are wrong but because it is, through and through, a personal attack on its subject.
February 6, 2013
Albert Goldman made his career at what it could be considered being a hack writer and only going after the subjects of his books as a rabid dog would do towards unprotected school children. Anything negative about the subject was all he wanted to hear and use. Yes, he claims it took six years to gather the information (that he wanted to use only) in putting together this terrible offering. He approached (or found) people who had nothing nice to say about Lennon (the same as he did on his Elvis and Jim Morrison bashing books). It was a true fact that Lennon was not a very nice person and had an ego too full blown and along side of the self-indulgent, non-artistic Japanese Witch and home wrecker, Yoko Ono, they became arrogance and self-indulgence personified.
If you'd like to read about the little known other side of John Lennon (but keeping in mind most that was written here was only rumored), by all means read this book. But please understand the premises Goldman has written in the style (coined as Bio-porn) of celebrity bashing he was most noted for and use your own judgement throughout it's pages.
Mr. Goldman. Hot down there, isn't it?
If you'd like to read about the little known other side of John Lennon (but keeping in mind most that was written here was only rumored), by all means read this book. But please understand the premises Goldman has written in the style (coined as Bio-porn) of celebrity bashing he was most noted for and use your own judgement throughout it's pages.
Mr. Goldman. Hot down there, isn't it?
April 30, 2021
Why do you give a book 5 stars? I give books 5 stars if I enjoy them. I thoroughly enjoyed this. Everyone comes off badly but none more so than Goldman himself. What a bitter old horror he must have been.
Everyone in this book is discounted as basically a moron. Cynthia Lennon he says has no personality. John was not only definitely bisexual and in love with Brian Epstein but he's also a double murderer and a psychopath. George Harrison is crap at the guitar and thick. Ringo is a clown but a nice guy. Linda McCartney the biggest groupie there ever was. Everyone is given the worst possible analysis and this book is clearly through a lens of total rage, jealousy and personal hatred for Lennon.
For a book about Lennon, around half is about Yoko. And I mean in depth about Yoko. She's a bitch and a real life witch.
Who knows wtf happened really. And while it's fascinating to read the nitty gritty of the logistics and direct quotes, I genuinely think the rest is a mean and probably highly inaccurate interpretation.
But thoroughly enjoyable.
Everyone in this book is discounted as basically a moron. Cynthia Lennon he says has no personality. John was not only definitely bisexual and in love with Brian Epstein but he's also a double murderer and a psychopath. George Harrison is crap at the guitar and thick. Ringo is a clown but a nice guy. Linda McCartney the biggest groupie there ever was. Everyone is given the worst possible analysis and this book is clearly through a lens of total rage, jealousy and personal hatred for Lennon.
For a book about Lennon, around half is about Yoko. And I mean in depth about Yoko. She's a bitch and a real life witch.
Who knows wtf happened really. And while it's fascinating to read the nitty gritty of the logistics and direct quotes, I genuinely think the rest is a mean and probably highly inaccurate interpretation.
But thoroughly enjoyable.
October 29, 2015
I bought this book back in '93, and was thrilled to get it as I was a hard-core Lennon fan.
However, I wasn't aware at that time of the hatchet jobs Goldman was well known for in his biographies of rock stars.
The book itself was a pretty good read, and I was shocked by some of the of the things I read. I have no idea if it was true or embellished with Goldman's BS but it still made for good reading, although it did cause some major scream-out arguments I had with another die-hard Lennon fan when I had to read some of the excerpts to him.
It does go into lurid detail about a lot of things that was only whispered about in other books and newspaper rags and Goldman certainly didn't have much love for Yoko either. It's a book worth reading as long as you have strong BS Filter to use along with it.
However, I wasn't aware at that time of the hatchet jobs Goldman was well known for in his biographies of rock stars.
The book itself was a pretty good read, and I was shocked by some of the of the things I read. I have no idea if it was true or embellished with Goldman's BS but it still made for good reading, although it did cause some major scream-out arguments I had with another die-hard Lennon fan when I had to read some of the excerpts to him.
It does go into lurid detail about a lot of things that was only whispered about in other books and newspaper rags and Goldman certainly didn't have much love for Yoko either. It's a book worth reading as long as you have strong BS Filter to use along with it.
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