Thank you, Chris, for those important words. John Lennon's death was a brutal reminder that fanaticism can go too far. I've often wondered what John might be up to in those years since. I think he would have got together with Paul McCartney at some point or other. But I don't think he would have been able to stay relevant in the same way he was in the '70s.

That morning, I got on the school bus ( I was 10), and the driver told me "a Beatle died". I didn't quite grasp his meaning exactly but I had heard several Beatles' songs and solo songs up until this event, but still wasn't yet understanding of the impact the Beatles had on everything. Over the next few days, I basically immersed myself in finding out all I could about this mysterious John Lennon and was trying to find the answer to the question of what had he done to deserve being murdered. I still can't answer that question 26 years later.

From all this , I ended up becoming a huge Beatles fan as well as a fan of their solo work. Funny thing.....me being so young and uninformed at that time....I didn't grasp what a huge loss it was at the time it happened, but it seems like a greater loss to me now.

"So very Merry Christmas and a happy new year...let's hope it's a good one...."

We love you John!

I was in high school when it happened. My father told me about John's murder the same night it happened, just before I went to bed. I didn't get any sleep at all that night. I went to school the next day and everyone was in shock just like me.

Like millions of others, I was informed by Howard Cosell during the Monday Night Football Game that evening.

I was 17 and actually listening to my recently purchased 45 of "Just Like Starting Over". I couldn't get enough of it. I had just become a Beatles fan the previous year and bought everything I could get my hands on. (On a 17year old's budget). I made friends with an older Brit, who worked at The Record Bar, (Remember that store?) who also happend to run an import business with a friend of his, (who was a giant Grateful Dead fan and collector). He was able to buy me all of the Beatles and solo stuff from the UK and Japan. I wanted to collect the original LP's in their original intent and not the bastardized American versions. Immedialtly after my Dad called me into his room to listen to Cosell, I put on Double Fantasy and played it all night. The next day, I was at the Record Bar and my friend said they were selling all of Lennon's stuff but to little old ladies. He asked one of them if she was a fan and she honestly replied, "No, I just want it in case it is worth something someday" That made me even more sad. What a great loss!

I've still kept my issue of Newsweek from that tragic week in December, 1980. I'll never sell it - out of respect for John Lennon.

It just dawned on me that November 29th was the five year anniversary of George Harrison's death. Another Beatle who died too young. But like Lennon, we still have his music.

And unlike Yoko, Mrs. Harrison respects George's music by not remixing or futzing with anything.

Yoko Ono's Chauffeur: 'I Was Sexually Harassed'

Friday, December 15, 2006

The driver accused of attempting to extort $2 million from his employer Yoko Ono insists the Japanese singer/artist is simply trying to prevent him from suing her for sexual harassment.

Turkish-born Koral Karsan, 50, was arrested Wednesday and arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday on charges of first-degree attempted grand larceny.

Assistant District Attorney Maureen O'Connor told the court the driver promised John Lennon's widow he would release embarrassing recordings and photographs of her, as well as threatening her, saying "he had people on standby waiting to kill the victim on his orders" unless she paid him $2 million.

O'Connor asked Judge Tanya Kennedy to set a high bail because she feared Karsan was an "extraordinary flight risk" because he has family in Turkey - where he lived before he moved to New York 10 years ago.

A letter, supposedly written by Karsan, which was given to Ono on her late husband's anniversary of his death, was read in court.

Part of the letter read, "I will not only write about these recordings but will distribute them to European broadcast stations. Be advised I am moving back to Turkey permanently and will publish my book in Turkey and will distribute the prints throughout the internet from Iran where I have already secured e-commerce capability."

Karsan denies the charges and according to his lawyer Patrick Kevin Brosnahan, "There are other issues between my client and the complainant."

As he left a Manhattan police station on Wednesday, Karsan claimed Ono's allegations were an attempt "to stop me from pursuing a sexual harassment case."

Ono's longtime lawyer Elliot Mintz says, "This lady has never harassed anyone. She is the victim of a cruel and malicious shakedown."

Judge Kennedy has put Karsan in jail until he posts a $500,000 bond or $250,000.

Copyright World Entertainment News Network 2006

Being sexually harrassed by Yoko Ono??

Ewwwww.
Did she torture him even further by making him listen to her music?? Now, that's really cruel!!

Sexually harassed by a 73 year old woman. Yowza!

Yeah a jury will buy that.

Ah, you know how it is, it's so hard to get good hired help these days!


Rick A.

What could be more a more embarassing recording than "Approximately Infinte Universe"???

P.S.--We've already seen Yoko nude, too...

The image of a young Yoko nude is seared in my head forever. Can you imagine the 73 year old Yoko?

Well, he was obviously walking on thin ice. Instant Karma, I say.

Imagine there's no heaven. (It isn't hard to do.)

John, yer banned!

Of course, now Linda has to ban me for banning you, but that's par for the course 'round here.

Do not underestimate how loathed she is by some of the American public. She might lose a harassment case simply because she is who she is.

You. Yoko. Mistletoe.

And you call me evil?????

How about we compromise on Me, Jane Asher & Mistletoe. Paul's ex aint bad for a woman of her years.

Linda, I'm calling St. Nick about your lump of coal delivery for Christmas Eve. You've been...forewarned.

Supposedly the police have actual tapes of Karsan threatening Ono and her family... I suspect the sexual harrassment angle won't play out very far.