Mark Lewisohn: Q&A from Beatleweek 2018

Thanks to Jimmie Rudolfsson, we have the full Q&A session with Beatles author Mark Lewisohn from last week in Liverpool, divided into three segments, totalling 96 minutes. You may be disappointed to find out that publication of volume two in his ongoing biography trilogy (which now seems to consist of four volumes, the final one going up to and including 1974) is no longer aiming for a 2020 publication date, but may take longer. Perhaps next year he can give us an estimate.

Still, there are lots of interesting questions asked by the audience, only surpassed by Mark’s detailed answers. I have assembled all three segments into one playlist for your convenience.

18 Responses

  1. Gabor Peterdi says:

    2020+??? I know it must be perfect, but will we be able to read them? Or is Mark writing for the Bieber generation? Gotta keep ourselves alive…

  2. Popper says:

    I always thought the target was 2002 anyway.

  3. db says:

    Interesting stuff, I wonder why he's not taking it up to '95 though

  4. Popper says:

    …oops. My last post – I meant 2022!

  5. piper909 says:

    I pray all the time that Mark can finish this important work in his lifetime and that I can also hold on long enough to read the entire story!

  6. Unknown says:

    What a fantastic Q&A session. Mark is always so thorough with is answers, never dismissive,
    and always open minded. Such a modest gentleman.

  7. Martin says:

    I always thought it would end at 1980, for the obvious and very sad reason.

    And maybe Mark would shed some more light on John's apparent plans for a Beatles reunion.
    Yoko is supposed to have said, 'Just days before his brutal death, John was making plans to go to England for a triumphant Beatles reunion. His greatest dream was to recreate the musical magic of the early years with Paul, George and Ringo … (he) felt that they had traveled different paths for long enough. He felt they had grown up and were mature enough to try writing and recording new songs'.

    But does Mark know any more?

  8. piper909 says:

    Yes, what Martin said. There are these odd reports of permits being sought for a central Park concert, depositions from John about a future Beatles reunion for the "Long & Winding Road" film project, and particularly the mysterious things John reportedly said — while the tape recorder was running — on the night of his death to Jack Douglas (producer of Double Fantasy) at the studio — a conversation so disturbing, for some reason, in some way, that Douglas has said he went in and erased or destroyed those tapes and has refused to discuss that conversation in any detail since. Will he take this to the grave?

  9. Martin says:

    Well, apparently the 'Free As A Bird' demo tape had 'For Paul' written on it in John's handwriting. There was also John's 'We need the boys to get together to help out Ringo' (on his 'Stop And Smell The Roses' album) remark in 1980. There are also tales of John planning to play live and do re-worked versions of 'She Loves You' and 'I Want To Hold Your Hand'. I do hope Mark covers this period and what did (or didn't) go on….

  10. Unknown says:

    Thanks Jimmie (and Roger) for the Lewisohn link. As always an interesting listen.
    Bern

  11. piper909 says:

    I'd hope Mark has interviewed Mary Hopkin, who has been sadly overlooked in the past. And has anyone ever located the Mal Evans memoir manuscript, said to be lost since 1976?

  12. Martin says:

    Also, didn't Paul have it written into his renewed EMI contract around 1980 that he could write, play and record with John, George and Ringo under the name 'The Beatles'at any time? I'm sure Jack Douglas and Andy Peebles have mentioned a potential Lennon & McCartney meeting that was planned for early 1981…

  13. Martin says:

    I wonder if Mark will interview any Stones on the so-called 'rivalry' and the friendships they had with the Beatles? Brian Jones would have been great, but he is sadly no longer with us. Would be a coup if Mark could get Mick to do an interview though….

  14. piper909 says:

    Yes, an excellent idea. I assume Mark will track down associates and allies like the Stones. I just saw Michael Nesmith perform in Austin the other day — another guy to interview (he even stayed with the Lennons in 1967, and talks a bit about this in his recent memoir). Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, they all spent time with a Beatle. I personally put Mark on the trail of Marijke Koger (now Koger-Dunham) from The Fool, who has an excellent retrospective of her own on YouTube.

  15. Teddy Salad says:

    Everybody put The Fool down.

  16. piper909 says:

    Heh! Not me, though!

  17. Unknown says:

    Honestly, Mark, you should put out book 2 in two parts…release what you have so far, as 2A, and when you finish, the second part as 2B. Those of us who were there and are most interested are dying off. Please hurry.

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