Kenwood: August 28th, 1967.

Serenity Now! On the afternoon of August 28th, 1967, a very stunned (albeit serene) John and Ringo gathered with Ray Coleman round the pool at Kenwood to discuss the previous day's events. Pete Shotton had driven up from Hayling Island that morning to lend moral support, but, having found John very serene indeed on his perch, headed off again to tend to matters supermarket.
John, of course, was later to regret the whole Maharishi-led Serenity Now response to Brian's death.
As it sayeth in Seinfeld: Serenity Now - Insanity Later. And so it came to pass that under the influence of Arthur "Insanity Now - Serenity Later" Janov, John, fresh from Primal-ing, resented the way he'd bottled up his real feelings of anger/guilt etc., and characterised the Maharishi as a "f**kin' idiot" in the Wenner Rolling Stone interview.
Though he was later to turn on Janov in similar fashion, if certain accounts are to be believed John stuck with the notion of "squeezin' the real feelin'"(TM), occasionally in ways that might generously be described as "somewhat insensitive", right up until the end of his own life.
Alas, no pics from the day in question, but plenty o' text; download and zoom in to read.

Hyde Park: further shiznit.

The venerable Meet The Etc. recently posted some rather good new Hyde Park pics, so I thought I'd go for a stroll and see what other Then Unt Nows might be found. Firstly, the above pic. Some reasonable doubts have been raised as to whether John's Roller was at the '67 Hyde Park session, but the location certainly seems to match the pic on the right, "done" today. If so, they parked up near Hyde Park Corner, on the mix of sand and horse-shit between Rotten Row and South Carriage Drive.
They'd then have walked round to the eastern end (absolutely riveting stuff) of Serpentine Road, and headed along toward the Serpentine itself.
This pic would seem to have been taken near the Cavalry Statue; the shape of the paths is the only one that fits, though there have clearly been changes in the ensuing half century:


After a spot of tea (covered elsewhere here), they were pictured on a bench or two. The new photo on MTB finally gives the exact location - note the 4 trees in the background, looking almost exactly the same still:


There's no bench on the spot now, but the same ones, presumably refurbished a bit, are still there dotted around the edge of the lake. I'm going to need a hand etc.:


And this:


Finally (thank feck), the Beatles, o' course, had form when it came to Hyde Park pics; apparently, according to tome o' tomes the Beatles' London, this was the very spot where Beatles For Sale was, errr, also "done":

29/04/67: Die Blumenkinder von London

As Alan Partridge might say, "extra ordinary". John, plus, I'd hazard a guess, Terry Doran (though I could be wrong), doing the "eye" thing at the 14 Hour Technicolour Dream, having driven up from Kenwood, on Owsley.
And here's a John's-eye view of the whole aforementioned "thang":


Someone or other has uploaded a German doc onto YouTube, stuffed with milieu, and full of Fabs-related interest.
Dandie Fashions on the Kings Road (later to become Apple Tailoring)? Try 16.04. John Crittle much in evidence.
Apple shop opening? Previously unseen (by me, and I assume, probably wrongly, by you) footage at around the 28 minute mark, or so.
Plus the above of John at the Ally Pally (16.40 or thereabouts).
Enough o' my yakkin'. Here 'tis:


Many thanks to Master Julian Carr for sniffin' this oot.

PS: Some (including me) have questioned whether that is Terry Doran. Well...:

Montagu Square: September, 1968.

John during the Cott interview in September 1968, in the main room downstairs at 34 Montagu Square. A mountain of junk (or non-junk, as the case may be) has followed him and Yoko from Kenwood, including the Brennels from the attic studio:


The flat has been characterised as a tip by various people who had access during the period, with musical equipment, old newspapers, "knickers" (dirty or otherwise) strewn hither and, indeed, thither in every room; and so it would seem. Others recall that the temperature was overly hot, and the air always thick with Indian incense acquired in Rishikesh.
These days, it's a much more spartan affair:

Kinfauns: March, 1969.

It's always instructive to read what they said at the time, as opposed to what they couldn't remember later, and so it is with this fascinating little slice of vérité from the week after George got "done" by the "fuzz" (who, allegedly, brought their etc. to be on the safe etc.).
The source of a couple of oft-repeated quotes, the article also shows George either spinning away like mad, or else providing yet another "everything you know is wrong" moment vis-a-vis contemporary inter-Fabs relations (though the most telling bit is probably Hari's refusal to raise so much as a titter at John's HDN-style antics. Gilt and gingerbread had clearly parted company).
You'll likely have to download this, and then zoom in to read it. Or not.


Many thanks go to Bruno Dupont for tracking the above down.

Abbey Road: further flotsam.

Anne Copley lived opposite the corner of Abbey Road and Alexandra Road in 1969, and had the presence of mind to nip over and salvage the very tiles featured on the rear of the titular sleeve (or what was left of them) mid-demolition, as the famous intersection was being consumed by the Alexandra Housing development.
She glued the bits together, stuck 'em in a cupboard, and there they remained for 40 years. And now she's sold them. Price? 7 grand.
Amazing (or not) how much remains: the white suit worn by John, the non-white suit sported by the Schnoz, the metal studs from the side of the crossing, the VW...and now the tiles. Whither the Black Maria?
Another bit o' fluff, filched from the estimable Beatles Bible site, purportedly shows the actual crossing captured later on the actual day that the actual sleeve shot was actually err... shot. Looks like it too; while that may or may not be the same car parked near the far gate, the outline of the trees is identical:

Mmmmmmmmmm...sweet trivia.

Kenwood: hall action.

More errr... "action". Cynthia, plus ever present "snout", outside the hall. 1967. Or 1968.

Let's hope something more interesting happens sometime soon.

Hamburg: Jager-passage 22.

An extract from the contemporary Hamburg telephone directory, showing the inhabitants of Jagerpassage 22 (as pictured, o'course, above) at the time (spring 1961):


And, Astrid's gaff, her father being a man from the motor trade:


Thanks to Thorsten Knublauch for sending these in. (Oh yes, Kenwood; there will be something soon.)

6834KD: waiting for the van to etc.

All is trivia, isn't it? (Isn't it?)
And isn't it instructive to compare the Beatles touring apparatus in 1963 (crappy little white van, plus car), with the individual limos plus massed trucks favoured by today's "pop stars".
Also of note was the attention to trivia displayed by ver contemporary fannage, which gives us the following priceless detail concerning the typical contents of said crappy white van:


On a partially related "tip", anyone with access to the BBC iPlayer may (or may not) wish to "check" this week's thrill packed edition of Gardeners' World, which has a feature filmed at Chiswick House, scene of Paper"bok" Writah, Rain etc. (actually not etc.: that's it). They don't mention the Beatles, but you'll no doubt spot the locales.
And I'm going to need a hand getting that lamp post into my boot.

1967: 1967: 1967:

The one above is new to me, and clearly goes with this 'un, which isn't:


And this 'un, which also isn't:


Where were these taken? EMI? Who is that man/woman/etc sporting bi-focals (other than Winston)?

London: summer, 1969.

Speaking of pre-digital film, these surely amongst the final photos of the four of 'em together, apparently captured watching a rough cut of Let It Be. George's parents and missus also in evidence, together with Terry Doran, who is seen enjoying a suspiciously large cigarette:


And what does this have to do with Kenwood? Fecked if I know.
Gracias Eric Nernie.

Hamburg: Der Dom - November, 1960.

Given that pre-digital film is just a load of photographs run in sequence at speed (obviously), a doff o' the cap is in order to whoever it was that realised you could string these famous Astrid shots together in similar fashion.
The result is remarkable; John really looks like he's been up all night doing God knows what, and I can't help but think of that quote in Philip Norman's Shout! from Jim Hawke. Hawke ran the Hamburg Seaman's Mission, a place much frequented by the Beatles, who were described thusly: "They'd come in about eleven in the morning and stay until three or four in the afternoon. They'd be quite subdued. I'd look over from the bar and see the five of them, always round the same table, not talking - just staring into space. I've seen the same look on men who've been away at sea in tankers for a long time. Not with it, if you know what I mean."
At any rate, the above is impressive. If anyone knows who deserves the credit, comment away...

The Beetle: 281F

Yaaaah, apparently the Chassis number is 118583936, and, this is fascinating, the engine number is actually 0920080 (it's a rear mounted air-cooled transverse flat-four, of course), and blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.
Right?


Errrr...right. There are limits, but I am ashamed to "admite" that I read the above (taken from the 1986 auction where the actual VW was actually sold, for the actual sum of 2530 quid) with some degree of interest (though what it "means" vis-a-vis Paul being "ex", I know not).

Weston-Super-Mare: Royal Pier Hotel etc.

In late July 1963, they did spend a week in Weston-Super-Mare, playing shows at the local Odeon with Gerry & The Pacemakers et al in the evening, and generally arsing about during the day. (As is usually the case with matters related, some of this arsing about survives, on the Alf Together Now bootleg, or via YouTube where around half an hour of Dezo Hoffmann's uncut home movies from the time can be seen.)
The Royal Pier Hotel housed 'em; it ended up burning down a few years back. Before so doing it stood derelict for a while, during which an urban explorer type managed to get in and capture the very spot (albeit from a different angle) where breakfast was served:


All that now remains is a pile of rubble and some twisted metal:


Ver Lads were also "photoed" at various local locales, including Birnbeck Pier:


The steps thereof:


And indulging in a bit of de rigueur donkey-related-dicking-about near Weston Pier:


Many thanks to Patrick Morgan for the above photos.

34 Montagu Square: by day.

Readahahas will no doubt remember the mystery of the "John's office mystery"; there are many great photos of John, Yoko and Robert Fraser hanging out in this heavily wood-panelled room, but no trace of such a place exists now at number 34.
Subsequent to my last visit, I managed to track down a plan of the flat from 1954 (which, for various reasons partly connected to sheer laziness on my part, cannot be reproduced here), and armed with same, I headed back the other day to see if this locale could at last be pinned doon... of which more in a minute.
First, though, and at the risk of repeating myself, I couldn't resist getting a definitive "then & now" of our old pal(s) the Two Virgins shot(s). Done in daylight, the location is obvious, were it ever in any doubt. (Incidentally (if, sadly, not interestingly), the structure visible through the window was once the kitchen of the whole house, before it was split into flats.)
And another:


So to the old plan, which shows a partition wall in the downstairs kitchen which does seem to correspond to the wall in the office shots (see previous post). This whole area underwent massive renovation in the mid-90s, with a new shower built here (the walls of which can be seen in the "now" pic below).
Thus the best guess is that this was indeed the location of John's office (and note the apparently corresponding position of that door):


Though some doubt remains, that's probably it. Try not to worry too much in case it isn't.
Big thanks again to Peter for all his help.

Cavendish Avenue: circa August/September, 1967.

John arriving at Paul's, and another to add to the pile of same.
I'm guessing August or September '67 based on the barnet, and the "Joseph" coat, which also saw an outing on the way to Bangor to meet that ol' Maharishi circa then.
However, an exact date for this would be of interest; it might even capture John's arrival at the first post-Brian-demise meeting round Macca's "crib", when it was decided 1. to continue, and 2. to make a start on MMT asap.
(Or, as ever, not.)

Kenwood: house of green.

All aboard the Trivia Express, people. Next stop Anal Tragedy (pop.1). Nevertheless, one of the more famous images to emerge from Kennie was John with his sunflower eye, a variant of which can be seen above. I'm sure it's been on here before, but something about the lo-res quality of this 'un caught my eye; that's got to be the greenhouse there behind him:


Thus, another location becomes pin-downable. That sequence of photos will have been taken at the bottom of the steps, beside the enduring tree:


Joe Baiardi's video captured the very spot:


And here's a "now" from the same source, the greenhouse gone these days, in common with much else:


Speaking of things gone, NEMS in Liverpool has been demolished. A fairly unlovely building, true, but of immense importance in the Beatles' story, it now joins a shameful list of buildings destroyed for no good reason up there.
Liverpool is a fantastic city, but the people in charge of planning are a bunch of *****ing ***s ******ing ****s **** * * * *******************ing *****s.
As long as The National Trust preserve the childhood homes of John and Paul, and the Best family continue their sterling job with the Casbah, Beatles fans will have a reason to go to Liverpool. But as the list of places to visit dwindles ever further, so the chances of repeat trips dwindle too, with all the long term knock-on effects to the economy that entails.
Astonishingly short sighted and stupid. ****s.

WABRAD: 1974.

Lizzie Bravo recently sent a link to a radio show that John did in New York in 1974, as part of his efforts to promote Walls and Bridges. I don't recall having heard it heard it before, and it got me wondering what other promotional shizzle might be oot there.
The ever interesting You Are The Plastic Ono Band site (link under Friends & Neighbours) lists most of the details regarding John's promo spots re. Walls and Bridges on US radio. He was a busy boy in September '74, and sure enough, some of this is floating around on YouTube. The conversations cover similar ground, but occasionally veer off into more interesting territory - and at the very least, they are pleasant things to have on in the background, and reminders of a time when it was possible to switch on the radio and hear an impromptu interview with the Winston (if you lived in the States, at any rate).
Let's start with one that YATPOB seems to have missed; John on Pennsylvania station WZMF. The interviewer is mildly obsessed with the Plastic Ono Band album, which leads to some intereshting reflections from John. (In fact, he thanks the DJ at the end for forcing him to think about his answers.) Listen here: PART 1 & PART 2.
Here's the rest of the list, copied over from YATPOB, with links to the bits I've been able to find on YouTube inserted:
??/Sep/1974 KSAN FM - San Francisco interview to Tom Donahue
20/Sep/1974 KHJ AM - Promoting "Walls & Bridges" in L.A
25/Sep/1974 RKO Radio - 70 minute interview
26/Sep/1974 CHUM Radio - Toronto station interview
??/Sep/1974 WMMS FM - Cleveland interview with Denny Sanders
27/Sep/1974 KHJ AM - Los Angeles, John is Guest DJ on Breakfast show
He gives capsule answers to callers on various topics, and takes the piss in fine style out of the adverts. (I actually larfed out loud a couple of times listening to this. And that doesn't happen.)(At one point he attempts a Scotch accent - fairly terribly, I thought, until I realised that he is actually doing an Ivor Cutler impersonation - and a pretty good one, too!) Interestingly enuff, many of the callers are kiddies on their way to school, one or two of whom are noticeably "atrimble" at speaking to yer actual Lennon; this in 1974, mind you, when the Beatles were auld farts, and the kids all dug the new scene - your Gary Glitters, Showaddywaddys (or whatever the fuck they were called etc.). Yet that Beatle "magic" clearly persisted.
Anyway, if you just want the advertorial piss-takes, then go HERE.
Or the whole show (more or less) here: PART 1 & PART 2.
27/Sep/1974 WAXB FM - Mark Parenteau interview for Detroit station
John gibbers about his UFO experience, and names his favourite Beatles song. Listen HERE.
27/Sep/1974 Capital Radio - Kenny Everett interview
27/Sep/1974 "Rock Speak" BBC Radio 1 - Michael Wale interview
28/Sep/1974 WNEW FM - New York interview by Denis Elsas
John drops by WNEW in NYC on a rainy Saturday afternoon (see above pic), bringing with him a few 45's, which he proceeds to play (these, o' course, being some of the very records that would typically ring out around Kenwood of an evening). He also discusses various things, such as artificial stereo on Beatles re-issues, the number 9, unacceptable air, where he nicks his ideas from etc.PART 1, PART 2, PART 3 & PART 4.
29/Sep/1974 WRKO - 40 minutes
01/Oct/1974 KRQS Radio - Minneapolis interview by Alan Stone
06/Oct/1974 "Speaking of Everything" (WABC) Howard Cosell interview
??/Oct/1974 WEBN Cincinnati - Short 4 min phone interview
10/Oct/1974 Jim Ladd Interview - More promoting "Walls & Bridges"
Hear it here: PART 1 & PART 2.

If anyone knows of any others, link in comments.

Tittenhurst: more caravan.

Further evidence, not that any is needed, of the caravan in the grounds at Tittenhurst. Compare with the Kenwood fan pic below.
Of slightly more interest, the above is, as far as I can recall, the only pic to have surfaced thus far actually showing John (and Yoko) with the feckin' thing.


And Ringo, must I really ask ye again, whither the caravan?