Joko’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”
McCartney does Christmas with “Simply Having A Wonderful Christmastime”
George’s “Ding Dong, Ding Dong”. This video is great, a real Christmas treat!
Ringo’s 1999 version of the classic Beatles Christmas song, “Christmas Time (Is Here Again)”.
I have been a bad Beatles fan and the guilt is getting to me. My busy life has caused me to put this blog on the back burner and as a result, I missed marking the anniversary of the passing of both George and John. George died ten years ago on the 29th of November and it was thirty-one years ago that we lost John on December 8th.
I had been living in London for almost three months when George died. I was there on a six-month work abroad program (which turned into five years) because my life-long Beatles obsession had turned me into quite the anglophile. And after spending five weeks there while in high school, I knew I had to live there again and was determined to have nothing ruin my trip, not even September 11th, which happened just a month before I left.
I found out that George had died from my mom. She called me as soon as she had heard and despite her living thousands of miles and many time zones away, she heard the news first. I’m glad I heard it from her. I was distraught and didn’t know what to do or where to go. I was in London, so close to the Beatles and their magic. I went to Abbey Road, a place I had frequented several times since arriving two months before, and the only place I could think of where I could pay my respects. I didn’t have the forethought to buy flowers or a card—I just brought myself and my discman, the irony not intentional as I listened to Abbey Road as I walked the same street.
A few other fans were there and I sat on a low wall opposite the famed studio, watching Patti Boyd being interviewed by a news crew. I left after maybe an hour, feeling a little bit better.
I was four when John died and already a fan. My parents decided not to tell me what had happened as they thought it may upset me. I found out anyway, watching the news with them that night. My father told me that I was upset and confused. I didn’t understand why someone would shoot him. I still don’t.
Below are posted some of my favorite photographs of John and George together. Two beautiful souls who are greatly missed.
