Lennon Revealed [Hardcover]

Larry Kane (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 2005

John Lennon-working class hero, rebel with a cause, citizen of the world. He would have been 65 this year. A quarter of a century after his death, the questions remain: what was John Lennon really like, what drove him to the heights of creativity and the depths of despair, and why do his music and message still resonate for millions around the world? Now acclaimed broadcast journalist and author Larry Kane uncovers the mysteries of Lennon's life and implodes the myths surrounding it. Kane definitely has the right credentials for the job. He was the only American reporter who traveled in the Beatles' official entourage to every stop on their history-making first American tours, and he stayed in touch with Lennon until an assassin ended the former Beatle's life. Lennon Revealed is filled with revelations about John Lennon's path from public glory to personal destruction, and ultimately to the inspiring rebirth that defines a triumph of the spirit. Drawing on extensive personal accounts and extraordinary new interviews with more than 50 confidants and experts-most notably, with Yoko Ono-Kane brings the reader closer than ever to the man who, in life and in death, has had a singular impact on humanity. Kane also provides stunning new information about Lennon's relationships with Ono, his childhood soulmate Stuart Sutcliffe, his lover May Pang, and Beatles manager Brian Epstein. The book includes an exclusive DVD featuring the final filmed interview with Lennon and Paul McCartney, conducted by Larry Kane in 1968. Brief clips from this famous interview have appeared in just a few places, including the official documentary Imagine.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this breezy collection of remembrances, journalist Kane (Ticket to Ride) fondly-if a bit too reverentially-remembers his times with enigmatic Beatle John Lennon. In 1964, Kane, then a radio reporter, was assigned to follow the Beatles in America, beginning a relationship with Lennon that lasted throughout the musician's short life, and one that obviously engendered some real affection. In brisk, entertaining prose, Kane, with a supporting cast of many Beatles associates, assesses the many faces of Lennon from a journalistic yet intensely personal perch. "Was John Lennon a mean bastard? A foolish prankster? An aggressive sex fiend? A musical tyrant? A gay man?" The answers, Kane says, are as complex as Lennon himself. Kane shares his take on the man and the pivotal moments in his life, including Lennon's relationships with his bandmates and Yoko Ono, his involvement in the peace movement, and the infamous "lost weekend" and the Yoko-ordained affair with secretary May Pang. A final chapter of letters written by Lennon fans, however, feels tacked on. There are certainly better books on Lennon, but readers should enjoy Kane's personal, honest recollections. "My reporting of Lennon and his adult life will no doubt vary from others," Kane aptly notes, "but it is mine."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Kane met John Lennon when he traveled with the Beatles on their American tours, which he chronicled in Ticket to Ride (2003). Now, 25 years after Lennon's murder, he offers an affectionate but clear-eyed look at the musician's life, based on his recollections and interviews with many of Lennon's friends and associates. Eschewing chronological treatment, Kane proceeds somewhat disjointedly, dividing the book into chapters on such aspects of Lennon as his significant relationships (including with second wife Yoko Ono and paramour May Pang), wild streak, peace activism, love for New York City, and relations with the other Beatles, particularly Paul McCartney. Perhaps because Kane is a reporter rather than a critic, he downplays Lennon the musician; otherwise, he reveals many facets of a complex figure. If the book ultimately doesn't constitute a definitive portrait, it demonstrates why expecting one is probably futile. Yoko Ono told Kane that Lennon "didn't want people to just adore him. He wanted people to know what he [was] made of." Kane's account hews to that wish. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: Running Press; Har/DVD edition (September 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762423641
• ISBN-13: 978-0762423644
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #968,490 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #72 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( L ) > Lennon, John

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Very Personal Account, November 3, 2005

By 

T. B. Vick "T.B.V." - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lennon Revealed (Hardcover)

Although Larry Kane was a reporter throughout the career of John Lennon's life from the time the Beatles came to America to the time John Lennon was killed, he became quite close to John.

This book is his account of the friendship and the professional relationship he had with John. Kane details his first meeting with John Lennon and the rest of the Beatles. Additionally, Kane details the last meeting he ever had with John before his death on December 8th 1980. Moreover, every other meeting and encounter is discussed in between these two encounters.

However, the thing that struck me about this whole book was how Kane introduced the book. Kane begins chapter one by detailing (and I do mean detailing in the truest sense of the word) the events that lead up to and at the point of John's death. So, the reader is introduced to John, in this book, at his death. This was a very interesting way to being the book. The details in chapter one are fairly shocking. It only took me a few minutes to get through the first 20 pages because of the way Kane told the story and how much detail was there to really keep my attention.

The overall tone of the book was one of serious fondness. Kane has a very high respect for Lennon and this comes through in this book. He paints Lennon for his reader with warts and wrinkles as well as bright colors and wonderful hues. So the reader gets a very well rounded picture of Lennon. Moreover, Kane details arguments that he and Lennon had and how Lennon sometimes treated Kane like dirt. By the time you finish the book you get a very transparent view of John Lennon, but with a presentation that is quite respectful and honest.

Kane also details how the Beatles, when they were together and after they broke up, treated one another. He explains first hand accounts of certain things that occurred between each member that he actually witnessed first hand. There were several accounts that Kane presented that I had never read anywhere else. So these occurrences were new, even to a somewhat seasoned Beatles' fan (but I won't ruin those details for you).

This was a very enjoyable read. Kane's work is one of the better works I have read about an individual Beatle member or the group as a whole. If you are a Beatles' fan, or especially a John Lennon fan, you will want to read this one!

p.s. The DVD is a very nice addition to the work. There is a rare TV appearance of John as a 'weatherman.' Pretty cool.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read, October 12, 2005

By 

fattuchus "fattuchus" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lennon Revealed (Hardcover)

If I could I would probably give this book 4.5 stars. It is very pleasant to read and the author does not have an ax to grind. He exploses John's strengths and weaknesses, but in a kind way and without sounding like a Lennon worshiper.

I have read many books about John and the Beatles. I guess I believed I knew it all, but thanks to this book by Larry Kane, I learned a few more interesting tidbits. Kane interviewed a number of people for this book including both the famous and the not at all famous. Normally I would question the veracity and importance of interviewing, for example, a young man who worked as a Lennon gofer, but I found these little points delightful.

Unlike the other reviewers, I did not give this book a full 5 stars for two reasons:

1. I believe the author spends too much time on John and his relationship with Stu Sutcliffe. Stu was a good friend of John and an influence, but Kane elevates Stu to the same status as Yoko, Cynthia and May. I don't buy it. I imagine much of his information is gathered from Stu's sister who has a vested interest in making Stu as important as possible.

2. Second, based upon what I have read so far, although Mr. Kane did interview May and Yoko and attempted to interview Cynthia (who refused to cooperate) it appears there are no comments from some key people in John's life: the other Beatles, his aunts and uncles or his sons. Paul and Ringo are still alive; George had opinions about John based on old interviews. Plus it seems to me Sean and Julian should have fabulous insights into their father. For some reason, this is all missing and seems odd since we have opinions from people who hardly knew John.

However, if you are a Lennon or Beatle fan, I highly recommend this book.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, November 17, 2005

By 

Frank C. Branchini "beatlefanfcb" (Edgewater, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lennon Revealed (Hardcover)

I thoroughly enjoyed Larry Kane's first Beatles book: Ticket to Ride, but Lennon Revealed is just disappointing.

Lennon Revealed doesn't live up to Kane's self-promotion. Kane oversold the book claiming it would contain new revelations and insights into Lennon's life. Not if you are at all familiar with Lennon's life and career! There are a few touching stories from people who interacted with John that I had not heard before but there is nothing new for any fan who is relatively-well-read on Lennon's life.

Kane claims to not have a bias and simply to present information so that others can draw their own conclusions. But this problematic. He brings up claims made by Pauline Sutcliffe that John Lennon beat up Stu Sutcliffe causing his death. Kane softens this charge somewhat, but he includes it in the book.

Pauline has made this charge previously, based on what she says Stuart told her. The problem is that Millie Sutcliffe, Pauline and Stuart's mother, has given interviews which I have heard in which she talks about the beating which she thinks caused Stuart's death. Millie Sutcliffe attribbutes her information to Stuart. And the account of Stuart's comments as reported by Millie directly conflict with the account of Stuart's comments as reported by Pauline. This essential information is needed if you want to have an objective opinion on Pauline's charges . . . but you won't find it in Kane's book.

One glaring error jumped off the page at me while I was reading. Kane writes of Derek Taylor, "In a phone conversation with me in 2004, Derek wondered . . ." Derek Taylor died in 1997!

Kane ends the books with comments from fans about Lennon's impact on their lives. Talking about Lennon's murder, one fan says, "If this city can kill John Lenon, it can kill anyone."

New York didn't kill John Lennon. It was a pathetic mental defective from Hawaii. John Lennon loved New York. It was the city that he chose to live in. This is just ignorant beyond belief. I am not sure why Kane thought this was worthy of inclusion in this book.

If you're looking for a better Lennon biography, try Ray Coleman's Lennon.