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John Lennon: The New York City Years at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex in NYC
by Rich and Laura Lynch
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in New York City features artifacts, history, music and has on-going rotating exhibits that showcase members of its hallowed halls. Since May 2009 the rock museum has offered a dynamic presentation offering insight into the last ten years of John Lennon's life. John was best known and loved for his work in the influential Beatles, but he was also a significant solo artist - and, he loved New York.
Interestingly, in addition to Manhattan - John's life revolved around seaport cities. John was born and raised in Liverpool, England where incoming ships would bring goods including records to John's home town and that was Lennon's first exposure to the diversity and power of music.
After forming the Beatles (John Lennon-guitar/vocals, Paul McCartney-bass/vocals, George Harrison-guitar/vocals and at that time Pete Best-drummer) he went to Germany to play in all night clubs. The four honed their skills in the seedy seaport city of Hamburg and within a few short years the Beatles (with drummer Ringo Starr instead of Best) would become one of the biggest and most groundbreaking pop/rock bands of all time.
After the Beatles disbanded, John and his second wife Yoko Ono moved to New York City. The two had to fight deportation to stay in the metropolis surrounded by water. They won their battle and spent what would be the last decade of John's short life in The Big Apple - apt for a man who's recordings appeared on a record label adorned with this iconic fruit. The Annex exhibit focuses on this period in Lennon's life.
Created by Yoko Ono and Jim Henke, Vice President of Exhibitions and Curatorial Affairs for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, JOHN LENNON: THE NEW YORK CITY YEARS serves as a tribute to Lennon, his work both in and out of the music scene and the undeniable influences of New York City. A portion of the cost of each ticket to the exhibition goes to Spirit Foundations, a charitable foundation set up by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, to further their philanthropic initiatives. Exhibition Planning and Design for JOHN LENNON: THE NEW YORK CITY YEARS was by the New York based company Ralph Appelbaum Associates Incorporated.
As you enter the exhibit there is a wall with the titles and times of John's solo songs. Personal momentos included the New York City cut off T-shirt that John wore for publicity photos. Those images are ubiquitous to this day - still seen on clothing and posters.
Lennon's favorite army jacket worn often in the early 70's, a #1 belt buckle and the coat and pin John worn to the 1975 Granmys was on display, along with a number of instruments including the upright Steinway piano that John composed much of the Doulbe Fantasy and Milk and Honey albums on.
In addition to being a musician, Lennon was an artist who worked in various mediums. The display features pen and ink prints, doodles and album cover drafts that John crafted. There are hand written lyrics, photos, personal letters and many personal quotes to be absorbed as one walks through the room.
Yoko Ono - an avant guard artist in her own right - was credited with inspiring John's insightful song "Imagine". Excerpts from Ono's book "Grapefruit" shows the similarities. Yoko's handy work was on display also. On one of the walls was a white rotary phone with a sign "Telephone Peace for NYC 2009" stating that if it rings it will be Yoko there on the other end of the line. Ono was and is recognized for unusual representations. In the late sixties, this type of unique art sparked John's interest in Yoko and would be the force behind their Bed In For Peace and some of their other controversial concepts.
The most dramatic and disturbing part of the exhibit was John's familiar round glasses splattered with blood along with the startling photo Yoko took of them. Ono placed the bloody glasses on a window sill overlooking Central Park (NYC). The picture was used on a number of occasions including anti gun programs, Yoko's Season of Glass album cover and a poster that was used to commemorate what would have been John's 60th birthday.
Just as shocking is the paper bag of clothes that was returned to Ono a few months after John's senseless murder on December 8, 1980. Overall the exhibit is a celebration of John Lennon's art and life but his early demise dwells in the room. John had passion for film, the humanities, music, politics and New York City and that is the true spirit of the JOHN LENNON: THE NEW YORK CITY YEARS exhibit.
Related Links:
For more information on JOHN LENNON and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links --
JohnLennon.com
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