Синтия Леннон

Sunday, September 18, 2005.
Lennon's first wife puts herself back in Beatles' story

John Lennon's first wife Cynthia says she and her son were "airbrushed" from the Beatles' story and wants to set things straight in a book that reveals he once hit her and ruined their marriage with drugs.

"I'm a great believer in justice in life and I think there has to be two sides," she said.

The book John, will be released on September 27.

It is one of a clutch of books to be published ahead of the 25th anniversary of Lennon's murder on December 8, 1980, including one edited by his widow, Yoko Ono, that will be a collection of tributes and anecdotes by friends and celebrities.

It also comes hot on the heels of a Broadway musical produced under Ono's guidance that was criticised as one-sided and that will close this month after a mere six-week run.

Reviewers said the show was more about John's life with Ono than his life as a Beatle.

Not a widow

Cynthia Lennon rejects the idea that her book is a retaliatory blow.

"(When) I read about the battle of the widows, I thought, 'I'm not John's widow, Yoko is John's widow'," she said, adding she does not harbour any bitterness toward Ono.

The woman who met Lennon at art school in Liverpool say that while countless books have told the story of the Fab Four, who revolutionised popular music in the sixties, not many have been written by those involved.

"The fans deserve it," she said.

"They should have a true perspective on what's going on from everybody who was connected," she said from her home in Spain.

Secret marriage

In the book, she describes the early days of the Beatles, from Liverpool to Hamburg, and how her marriage was kept secret because the band's manager, Brian Epstein, thought it did not suit a Beatle's image to have a wife and baby in tow.

She also recounts how Lennon once hit her out of jealousy when they were dating, and how his use of the psychedelic drug LSD destroyed their marriage.

"It's the intimacy of the story that I have tried to portray," she said, adding she feels like she and her son Julian, now 42, were "airbrushed" out of the story.

Much of the story of their 1962-1969 marriage she already told in her 1978 book A Twist of Lennon.

Relationships

But the new book adds details of John's relationship with Julian after the divorce and the impact of his death in 1980.

There is also more about Ono, who married Lennon in 1969 and who controls his estate.

Cynthia Lennon describes her growing suspicions about Ono's evolving love affair with John during the marriage, and how Lennon's grieving widow made clear his ex-wife was not welcome immediately after he was slain.

"It's not as though you're an old school friend of mine, Cynthia," she recalls Ono telling her when she suggested accompanying Julian to New York after Lennon was shot by John Chapman.

Julian, a teenager at the time, went to New York without his mother.

Other woman

The book, to be published by the Crown Books unit of Random House, also discusses the other woman in Lennon's life, May Pang, with whom he lived during a break from Ono.

Pang has written her own book called John Lennon: The Lost Weekend.

Now 66 and with her fourth husband, Cynthia Lennon makes no apologies for selling letters and memorabilia after the divorce, saying: "It did pay a lot of bills".

While the book discusses her divorce settlement and money problems, she says she does not dwell on such things.

"Money was never of any importance to me because I married a budding Beatle, but I fell in love with an art student," she said.

She says writing the book was painful but she wanted to add her piece to the "jigsaw puzzle" of the Beatles' legend.

"I think about this as the Bible," she joked, recalling Lennon's famous declaration that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1462682.htm

Перечень мероприятий по случаю выхода книги (из новостного письма www.lennon.net):

Cynthia Lennon’s UK book tour

‘John’ by Cynthia Lennon is published on Monday 26 September. An enormous amount of interest has been shown by the media and apart from many newspaper and magazine interviews Cynthia will also be appearing on various TV and radio shows throughout the UK.


Sunday 25th September:

Parkinson’s Sunday Supplement on BBC Radio 2 at 12 noon
Book signing at Waterstones, 311 Oxford Street, London W1, 1-2 p.m.


Monday 26th September:

Breakfast News on BBC1, 6-9.15 a.m.
This Morning on ITV1, 10.30-12.30 a.m.

‘In Conversation with Cynthia Lennon’ - event at Foyles, 113 Charing Cross Road, London WC2, 6.30 p.m.
For tickets and further information log onto
www.foyles.co.uk and click on Events or call
0870 420 2777


Tuesday 27th September:

Loose Women on ITV1, 1.30-2.15 p.m.


Wednesday 28th September:

The Breakfast Programme on BBC Radio London, 6-9 a.m.

Midweek on BBC Radio 4 at 9 a.m.
Fred McAuley on Radio Scotland at 10 a.m.
Book signing at Selfridges, Oxford Street, London W1, 6 p.m.


Thursday 29th September:

Signing at Waterstones, Bold Street, Liverpool, 1 p.m.
Signing at Costco, 30 Waterloo Road, Liverpool L3, 4-5 p.m.


Saturday 1st October:

David Jenson’s Show on Capital Gold



Details of Cynthia Lennon’s USA book tour to follow.

Signed copies of the book 'John' are still available at www.lennon.net

Из личного опыта... Попробуйте представить, как грустно было читать объявление о грядущей раздаче автографов на дверях книжного магазина Waterstone's в Ливерпуле 29-го августа, зная, что через месяц я буду совсем в другом месте...

А вот информация для тех, кому посчастливится оказаться 4-го октября в Нью-Йорке:

Author Events

10/4/2005
Barnes & Noble
33 E. 17th Street New York, NY 10003
212-253-0810
7 pm

http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/catalog/display.pperl...=9780307338556&view=isbn%5fevents

В ходе рекламной компании в поддержку книги выяснилось, что Синтия несколько лет назад вышла замуж за Ноэля Чарльза (это уже четвертый ее брак)...

Вот текст ее краткой биографии, например, с http://www.lennon.net/Lennon/autobiography.htm


Cynthia Lennon was born in Blackpool in 1939 and bought up on the Wirral.

While attending the Liverpool College of Art she met John Lennon, whose rebellious style, caustic wit and passion for rock and roll already marked him out as someone different. John and Cynthia married in 1962 and Julian, their son, was born in 1963. When the Lennon's were divorced in 1969 Cynthia retained custody of Julian who saw his father sporadically until John's death in 1980. In the years since, Cynthia has been a restaurateur, a designer and a TV personality. She now lives in Spain with her husband, Noel Charles.

Единственное другое упоминание о муже и замужестве Синтии, которое удалось найти одному из членов Fanspaek'a (дискуссионного листа фэнов Джулиана):

From Wales on Sunday:

Lucy's Lowdown: Luvvie me do.(Features)

7/28/2002

WAS at an exhibition of oil paintings at Esdi's restaurant in Puerto Portals in Majorca last week spotted Cynthia Lennon, John Lennon's first wife, who happens to be a very talented artist herself. She looked very much the woman in love while telling us all about her new hubby Noel Charles, whom she wed just a few weeks ago.

They were spending some quality time on the island and were very excited about her son Julian's new bar Red which is due to open shortly. Noel is somewhat of a celebrity himself too, having been in the club business for most of his life. He's now writing his autobiography, due out next year, which is said to contain many a celeb secret. Hmm, watch this space.

COPYRIGHT 2002 MGN Ltd

А по этим ссылкам можно уже почитать отрывки из книги:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8802-1774227,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-1773993,00.html

Love from Tanya.

В дополнение к информации от BeatSister:
Cynthia will be doing a VERY rare and VERY special talk, reading, and signing in New York City from her new book about her life with John. This special event will be held on Tuesday, Octobert 4, at 7 P.M. at the Barnes & Noble, Union Square, 33 East 17th Street, New York City 10003. For more information, contact: Adrienne Short at (212) 253-0810.

А вообще-то она уже издавала одну свою книгу в 1978 году:
A TWIST OF LENNON
Author: Cynthia LENNON
Pages: 174
Photos: 14 b/w photos & about 10 illustrations (pictures)
Published in 1978 A Starr Book, Great Britain

Cruel, bullying, yet funny - the intimate John Lennon
Sep 27 2005
By Sam Lister Daily Post Staff

TO MILLIONS around the world, John Lennon was a legend who could do no wrong. Иut to his first wife he was the man who once savagely attacked her and scarred his first-born child by abandoning him for years at a time. Now Cynthia Lennon has decided to reveal what marriage to the musical genius was really like in a new warts-and-all book.

"John", released yesterday, tells of the Beatles star's cruel streak, including how he sent a messenger to tell her their marriage was over, as well as their happier times.

Cynthia, who was brought up in Hoylake, told the Daily Post: "I feel Julian is still very scarred by it all. It's not always easy for a mother to talk to her son, which is why I wanted to write it all down.

"It is much easier to put it on paper. I hope it helps him understand. I wanted him to know everything, the good things and the bad about his father. I felt very angry at the way he was treated in retrospect but time heals all wounds. John could be a verbal bully, although it would be tinged with humour. He hit me once but it was the first and last time. If you think about great artists, the majority have had amazing but tragic lives.

"He was a legend to so many people but to me he was the man whose socks I washed, and by hand at that - we didn't have a washing machine. I didn't want the marriage to be over, but it was taken out of my hands. It was a cowardly end, it should never have happened that way, but I think he did regret that later on."

The couple, who met at art school, were together for 10 years, right through the peak of The Beatles' global stardom.

Although Cynthia did write a book about their marriage in the 1970s, she claimed she was too afraid of John's power to delve too deeply into their time together.

In John, she has told of everything from Lennon's confession that he slept with other women throughout their marriage, to how his family struggled to fight for their share of his estate when he died.

She also reveals the day she walked in to find her husband sat with Yoko Ono, and realised they were having an affair and how the two women have battled ever since.

Cynthia, who went on to marry three more times, now lives in Spain with her husband Noel where she writes and paints.

She added: "Writing the book was quite heavy duty. But I had to write, I felt I had to get it all out and it was my time to tell my story.

"There have been so many books and films and I don't recognise myself at all. I wanted to put the record straight. I feel I was entitled to write it. It has come from my heart and I stand by every word I have said. I still have great admiration for his talent and great sadness over what happened to him and that he can't be part of Julian's life. There have been a few occasions when I have tried to repair a few bridges with Yoko but we are too opposite. I feel sad that Julian and Sean are half brothers and should be enjoying time together. There is no escape from the Lennon legend for me or Julian. People are always curious but I don't mind that. I can live a fairly normal life now."

Cynthia Lennon will be signing copies of her book at Waterstone's on Thursday, at 1pm.

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/printable_version.cfm?objectid=16178376&siteid=50061

Cynthia Lennon appearing live in NYC

Cynthia Lennon, ex-wife of Beatle John Lennon, will be doing a very rare and very special talk, reading, and signing in New York City from her new book about her life with John.

This special event will be held on Tuesday, October 4, at 7 pm at the Barnes & Noble, Union Square, which is located at 33 East 17th Street in New York City.

In addition Cyn will be on ABC TV's Good Morning America at 7 am on Wednesday October 5th.

Also on Wednesday October 5th, Cynthia will appear on Access Hollywood and on CNBC. On Thursday October 6th, she will be on CNN Headline News: Showbiz Tonight and on Friday, October 7th, she will be appearing on The View on ABC TV.

Published September 30, 2005

May Pang and Cynthia, two lovers of Lennon, meet at The Cavern Sep 30 2005

IN A rare get-together, two of the three most important women in John Lennon's tangled love life met last night at Liverpool's Cavern Club.

John's first wife Cynthia was in town to sign copies of her new book about her tempestuous marriage to the Beatle, called simply John.

Also there was May Pang, for whom John famously left Yoko Ono for an 18-month period in the early 1970s.

It is believed to be one of the few occasions in which the two women have ever met.

Four-times married Cynthia had spent the afternoon at Waterstones signing copies of the book, which reveals the secrets of her time with Lennon.

The book charts their relationship through its highs and lows including the day she walked into to find her husband sat with Yoko Ono and realised they were having an affair.

Cynthia now lives with her husband Noel in Spain, where she writes and paints.

Her spokesman said: "She's having an absolutely delightful time. It's lovely for her to be back in the Cavern.

"She's noticing the changes that have been made but when she walked in the door she said: "The design over the door is mine".

"She was very pleased to see that was still there."

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=16192352&metho...

Video Link - Cynthia Lennon BBC interview: BBC News: Life With John Lennon.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/ifs_news/hi/nb_wm_fs.stm...1&nbwm=1&nol_storyid=4285152

Cynthia Lennon and Cilla Black attend the book launch party celebrating the launch of "John," a biography of John Lennon by Cynthia Lennon, his first-wife, at Fitzroy Square on September 27, 2005 in London, England.

Cilla Black and Julian Lennon attend the book launch party celebrating the launch of "John," a biography of John Lennon by Cynthia Lennon, his first-wife, at Fitzroy Square on September 27, 2005 in London, England.

Cynthia Lennon, Sir George Martin, Lady Martin and Julian Lennon attend the book launch party celebrating the launch of "John," a biography of John Lennon by Cynthia Lennon, his first-wife, at Fitzroy Square on September 27, 2005 in London, England.

Sir George Martin, May Ling and Julian Lennon attend the book launch party celebrating the launch of "John," a biography of John Lennon by Cynthia Lennon, his first-wife, at Fitzroy Square on September 27, 2005 in London, England.

Cynthia and Julian Lennon attend the book launch party celebrating the launch of "John", a biography of John Lennon by Cynthia Lennon, his first-wife, at Fitzroy Square on September 27, 2005 in London, England.

Julian Lennon with his partner Lucy (!!!!!!) attend the book launch party celebrating the launch of "John", a biography of John Lennon by Cynthia Lennon, his first-wife, at Fitzroy Square on September 27, 2005 in London, England.

Эти и другие причудливые сочетания людей на http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/search/FrameSet.aspx...3%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0&p=7&tag=2

Cynthia's book signing at the Barnes and Noble store in Union Square (NYC) was a great success. The audience area was completely full and the staff stopped allowing people to enter. There were easily several hundred people there. Cynthia came out promptly at 7 p.m. and after allowing the press to take their photos, she stepped to the stage. She received a standing ovation as she did so. A Barnes and Noble staffer introduced her, and then Cynthia spoke for a few moments before reading her introductory passage to her new book, "John." There was a brief question and answer period for the audience with maybe 8 or 9 questions. The first question was a surprise because a guy told her that one of the bombers in London had been wearing a New York t-shirt and what did she think of that? Obviously this was a lousy way to start the Q&A, but Cynthia, after finally hearing the question, just said that this wasn't the place to talk about politics and if the guy did want to, than he should talk to Bush.

She was asked if she'd seen "Lennon" (the Broadway musical) and she said that she was curious and would have liked to have put on a black wig and sat in the back row just to see it, but she was here and it was gone -- obviously a reference to the musical which never once mentioned her having closed due to its lack of success. One guy told her that back in the early days of the Beatles, while all the girls were attracted to the Beatles, that there were a lot of guys like him that were attracted to her. Someone else asked her what John was really like, but she deferred to the book and would only say that he was a changeling like everyone, growing and changing with the times.

At 7:30 the book signing began and Cynthia graciously and without any rushing at all signed everyone's copies. I was in the back of the room and I got my book signed around 8:40. I'd already purchased one of the signed British editions from lennon.net (thanks to your web site), but it was an honor and a pleasure to spend a few moments speaking directly with Cynthia as she signed my American edition. She would only sign her new book, but she would sign up to two copies. Bob Gruen, the photographer famous for his New York City photos of John, was at the back of the room early on, but I lost sight of him. May Pang was there and she was happily posing for photographs and also signing the photo of her and Cynthia that appears in the new book. She signed quite a few books and I must say I got her to sign my book as well as I left and got to tell her how much I had enjoyed her book. It was a great evening for Beatles fans, some of whom were heading over to the Garden to catch Paul's Tuesday night show. Tomorrow is Paul's last show of four in NYC. I saw the show on Friday and it was mindblowing -- completely overwhelming!! I've had a great Beatles week! Bruce Bosso/Brooklyn NYC

http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/news/314cynbook.html

"Пятый битл" появился в составе легендарных The Beatles чуть ли не с момента их основания - Стью Сатклифф (Stu Sutcliffe), изначально появившийся в составе группы лучший друг Леннона (John Lennon), умерший вскоре после того, как покинул коллектив; Джордж Мартин (George Martin), благодаря продюсерскому таланту которого перед молодыми гениальными парными начали открываться двери шоу-бизнеса; Йоко Оно (Yoko Ono) - муза Леннона, максимально приближённая к группе в последние годы существования The Beatles и даже, по мнению многих, отчасти повинная в их распаде; Билли Престон (Billy Preston), чьи отличные клавишные партии можно услышать на последних студийных и концертных записях битлов...
Все эти люди в разное время и по вполне объективным причинам величались "пятыми битлами", но сегодня "из тени" вновь выходит имя, никогда не фигурировавшее слишком часто в истории группы, но от этого не менее важное для неё. Тихая и незаметная девушка из северного пригорода Лондона, которая, посещая подростком художественную школу, встретила молодого студента Джона, Синтия Леннон (Cynthia Lennon) имеет право называться "пятым битлом" ничуть не меньше остальных.

Она была с молодыми музыкантами с самого начала и прошла бок о бок с группой один из сложнейших периодов в их истории - начальный, пору головокружения от невероятной популярности, наркотиков и изматывающей работы.

С момента её болезненного расставания с Джоном прошло 35 лет, с момента смерти Леннона - 25. Этот год Синтия выбрала специально, посчитав, что настало нужное время - книга "Джон" ("John") раскрывает её собственный взгляд на бывшего мужа, совместную жизнь с ним (1962-1969) и группу The Beatles, а также призвана устранить те неточности и откровенные сплетни, которыми грешат многочисленные биографии звезды.

"Единственный способ услышать правду - узнать её изнутри, а не снаружи," - говорит Синтия, - "Я думаю, время настало".

66-летняя вдова Леннона рассказывает, что написала книгу в том числе и для своего сына, который, по её словам, очень напуган жизнью. На вопрос о реакции Джулиана (Julian Lennon), Синтия ответила, что до сих пор её ждёт и готова ждать ещё, пока сын захочет с ней говорить.

"Я не пассивная, я - терпеливая. Но одного я не спущу просто так никогда - физического насилия," - намекнула она на вступление к "Джону", не вошедшее в её предыдущую книгу ("A Twist of Lennon", 1978), в котором говорится о том, как Леннон ударил её в порыве ярости, увидев танцующими их с Сатклиффом.

По словам Синтии, она не может держать зла на Джона за боль, причинённую расставанием, потому что "в жизни есть куда более важные вещи, чем развод". Книга "Джон" просто объективно рассказывает о взаимоотношениях Леннона с Джулианом после развода, об общении сына Синтии и Йоко Оно, о том, каким ударом для всех стало одно из самых известных убийств XX века, произошедшее в 1980 году.

9 октября 2005 года Джону Леннону исполнилось бы 65 лет.

http://www.zvuki.ru/R/P/13856/