Remembering John Lennon: New App Reveals Rare Photos
In June of 1980, John Lennon
took a summer vacation. He sailed from Newport, R.I., aboard a 43-foot
sloop with a crew of four to Bermuda, where he rented a house and flew
his son Sean, then 4, down to join him. Ordinarily, that wouldn't be
such a loaded statement, but given what happened December 8, 1980, Lennon's trip to Bermuda has gained a kind of misty-eyed significance.
You can see what we mean with John Lennon: The Bermuda Tapes, a sprawling, interactive album app now available through iTunes.
The app consists of two parts: An illustrated narrative of Lennon's time in Bermuda, as well as interviews
with Lennon, Yoko Ono, the ships's crew (and a few other notables),
plus demos of the songs he made while on holiday. Collectively, the app
is an indispensable, afternoon-swallowing treat for Lennon and Beatles
fans.
Yet pictures can't really describe how pretty and innovative this app
is. Designed by Peabody and Emmy-award winning director Michael Epstein,
it's insanely detailed and totally immersive. You can guide yourself
through scenes from the vacation using your phone: Walk around the
island, or guide the sail boat through a storm the crew encountered.
Lennon, the only one not incapacitated by food poisoning or exhaustion,
was left alone at the helm at one point; he sang sea chanteys and later
likened the experience to being onstage at the height of fame. He also
credits the wild experience as the catalyst that inspired him creatively
and helped conquer his writer's block.
Back on land, you can explore the island disco where Lennon heard the
song "Rock Lobster" by The B-52s for the first time (which he credits as
the moment that convinced him people were ready for his musical
collaboration with Yoko), and listen to them discuss how it felt having
John Lennon cite their song as an inspiration. (Not an experience many
people had.)
There are also pictures of Lennon
with Sean and the crew, including a portrait a local artist drew of
Lennon and Sean, and handwritten lyric sheets to several songs, such as
"Woman."
Then, of course, there's the music. Lennon says in one of the tapes that
his experience with the storm left him "tuned in to the cosmos, and all
the songs came." Hearing bare-bones versions of immortal Lennon songs
like "Woman," "(Just Like) Starting Over" and "Dear Yoko" that he wrote
while there, it's hard not to agree with him. Other tapes reveal how he
cut songs using pots and pans for percussion, his misgivings about the
music industry ("Walking away is much harder than carrying on. I know
because I've done both") and how he approached the songwriting process.
All net proceeds from the app ($4.99) go to WhyHunger, an organization that works to feed hungry and impoverished children worldwide and educate communities about farming.
The cumulative effect of the app is harrowing: Hearing Lennon's voice
and seeing pictures of him with Sean, it's hard to believe it's been 33
years since his death.
As he sings in "Dear Yoko," "Even after all these years / I miss you when you're not here."
John and Sean Lennon
Courtesy Yoko Ono
John and Sean Lennon
Courtesy Yoko Ono
An image from the "John Lennon: The Bermuda Tapes" app
John Lennon: The Bermuda Tapes
A portrait of John and Sean Lennon by Nancy Gosnell
Courtesy Nancy Gosnell / Yoko Ono
John Lennon's handwritten lyric sheet to "Woman"
Courtesy Yoko Ono
Tyler Coneys (l) and John Lennon
©Tyler Coneys
John Lennon playing guitar in Bermuda
Courtesy Yoko Ono
As he sings in "Dear Yoko," "Even after all these years / I miss you when you're not here."
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