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Yoko Ono selling John Lennon's New York home for first time in 50 years

<p>For the first time in 50 years, the house where John Lennon and Yoko Ono lived in New York City has hit the market.</p> <p>The brick, bluestone and terra cotta structure at 496 Broome St. was the first home the pair bought together in New York City before they moved to the Upper West Side of Manhattan. </p> <p>Yoko Ono has held onto the property since she first bought it with the late Beatles member, and has now listed it with her son with JLL Real Estate, for an asking price of $US5.5 million ($8.23m AUD).</p> <p>“The building on Broome St. was sort of like a base for their artistic ventures,” Philip Norman, author of “John Lennon: The Life,” told the <em><a href="https://nypost.com/2024/05/21/real-estate/yoko-ono-lists-former-nyc-home-for-5-5m/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a></em>. “Bank Street was their salon, where people could just walk in.”</p> <p>First built in 1885, the two-storey building has an open-plan format, with a gallery-like ground floor space with 14.4-foot-high ceilings, an open kitchen and a lofted bedroom.</p> <p>On the second floor, there’s a live-work space and a recording studio.</p> <p>“496 Broome St. is both a unique piece of New York history and popular culture and a prime investment opportunity for the right buyer,” said Paul Smadbeck, who holds the listing.</p> <p>“Versatile zoning and its location in one of the city’s most desirable and trendsetting neighbourhoods offers an exciting opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind property.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Mediapunch / JLL Real Estate </em></p>

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Paul McCartney shares rare photo for John Lennon’s 81st birthday

<p dir="ltr">Paul McCartney posted a rarely seen photo featuring himself and John Lennon for what would have been Lennon’s 81st birthday over the weekend.</p> <p dir="ltr">The black and white photo is of the iconic songwriting duo holding their guitars under their chins, as if they were violins, and is accompanied by the caption, “Happy Birthday thoughts for John - Paul”.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUzVPQ8M7vN/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUzVPQ8M7vN/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Paul McCartney (@paulmccartney)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Lennon shared his birthday with his son, Sean, and Yoko Ono posted a message for the pair on her own Instagram over the weekend, writing, “Happy Birthday John! Happy Birthday Sean! I love you! yoko”. Sean turned 46 over the weekend.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUzvmglgPuM/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUzvmglgPuM/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Yoko Ono (@yokoono)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Drummer Ringo Starr shared lyrics from Lennon's most famous solo single, 'Imagine', last week, as well as a photo of the cover of The Beatles' final album,<span> </span><em>Let It Be,<span> </span></em>accompanied by the caption, 'Why hunger'.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUoOapUJwMV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUoOapUJwMV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ringo Starr (@ringostarrmusic)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p> </p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUqCLXBpEFe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUqCLXBpEFe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ringo Starr (@ringostarrmusic)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Lennon was shot and murdered by Mark David Chapman on December 8, 1980, at the age of 40, in the archway of the Dakota in New York City. Yoko Ono took to Twitter on the 40th anniversary of his death last year to remember him, writing, "The death of a loved one is a hollowing experience. After 40 years, Sean, Julian and I still miss him."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">The death of a loved one is a hollowing experience.<br />After 40 years, Sean, Julian and I still miss him.<br />'Imagine all the people living life in peace.'<br />Yoko Ono Lennon<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/enoughisenough?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#enoughisenough</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/peace?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#peace</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/guncontrolnow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#guncontrolnow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gunviolence?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gunviolence</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/guns?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#guns</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gunsafety?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gunsafety</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/firearms?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#firearms</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/endgunviolence?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#endgunviolence</a> <a href="https://t.co/TsHWuCdu2Y">pic.twitter.com/TsHWuCdu2Y</a></p> — Yoko Ono ☁️ (@yokoono) <a href="https://twitter.com/yokoono/status/1336308015465689088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2020</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">In a candid <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/oct/10/it-was-john-who-wanted-a-divorce-mccartney-sets-the-record-straight-on-beatles-split" target="_blank">interview set to air later this month</a>, Paul McCartney finally sets the record straight on The Beatles’ break up, clarifying that it was Lennon who “wanted a divorce”, not him. “I didn’t instigate the split. That was our Johnny.”</p> <p dir="ltr">McCartney describes it as the most difficult period of his life, and says he would have happily continued making music with The Beatles if not for John’s desire to “break loose”. He agreed with the assertion that the band’s musical journey could have been much longer, saying, “It could have been. The point of it really was that John was making a new life with Yoko. John had always wanted to sort of break loose from society because, you know, he was brought up by his Aunt Mimi, who was quite repressive, so he was always looking to break loose.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty Images</em></p>

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Lost John Lennon interview recording up for auction

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 1970, four Danish teenagers interviewed music legend John Lennon for their school paper. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now, half a century later, a recording of their 33-minute interview, which also includes an unpublished Beatles song, will be auctioned off in Denmark. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The cassette tape is expected to sell for up to $42,000, as the unique item is in high demand from music memorabilia collectors. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When the 16-year-old teens interviewed Lennon in northern Denmark on January 5th 1970, they said they weren’t starstruck. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono had </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">"a message of peace, and that was what was important to us," recalled Karsten Hoejen, who made the recording on a tape recorder borrowed from the local hi-fi shop.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The tape recording largely features Lennon and Ono speaking about their time in Denmark and world peace, as the interview took place at the height of the Vietnam War and the Cold War. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Their peace message was what we came for," Mr Hoejen told The Associated Press.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"There was a very relaxed atmosphere, a cozy atmosphere. Lennon and Ono had their feet on the (coffee) table."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The teenagers originally wanted to interview Lennon for their school newspaper, but turned up late for the official press conference. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"We knocked on the door" and moments later they sat next to Lennon and Ono.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Hoejen held the microphone, and his friend Jesper Jungersen photographed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At some point, "someone ... I cannot recall who ... asked Lennon if could play the guitar for us." </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He played and sang with Ono "Give Peace a Chance" and then "Radio Peace".</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to Mr Hoejen, it was made for a radio station in The Netherlands but was never aired.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The items up for sale at the auction include the tape, 23 still photos and a copy of the school newspaper, and are expected to be worth at least $42,000.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844673/john-tape.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/dbd1d9654d564ff99c19ede5173ed501" /></span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: Getty Images</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"What also makes (the tape) interesting is that it is a time pocket. It was recorded on an old-fashioned tape recorder," Alexa Bruun Rasmussen of Denmark's main auction house Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneer said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"When listening to the tape, you realise that they talk straight from their hearts. This is not a staged press conference."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The four boys behind the interview eventually found out that they "were sitting on a treasure. So the cassette was put in a bank vault," Mr Hoejen said, and they wondered what to do with it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"A collector or a museum would likely get more of it than us having it in a bank vault," he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"So we decided to sell it."</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>

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