The Making of John Lennon

John Lennon musical Icon and leader of the greatest band the world has ever known. What was the secret that made this Rock ‘n Rock Juggernaut come off its rails? The Making of John Lennon, challenge previous assumptions of John and The Beatles and presents an alternative view, which looks at mental health, class and despair. In many ways the main thrust of the screenplay centres on the confusion, pain and corrosiveness that can, at times, accompany the demands and expectations of the creative process at its highest level. The work presents a radical insight to a band that was at the forefront of a social and Cultural Revolution. This is based on a recently book published, ‘The Making of John Lennon’ by Indiana University, and was ranked second out of 12 best books on John Lennon by Huffington Post. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/imagine-12-great-books-ab_b_8665582 1962, the Band arrive in the ‘Sin City of Europe’, Hamburg for a 12 week gig. The gig ends with George being deported for being underage. Paul and drummer Pete thrown out for starting a fire and Stuart deciding to stay on with newly found girlfriend Astrid. John returns home alone to Liverpool defeated. Its 1945 John’s Aunt Mimi plots against John’s mother - Julia in order to gain ‘ownership’ of five year old John. Young John’s time at his Auntie’s home results in a regime of parsimony, loveless and strict discipline. From his bedroom Young John can see a nearby home for unwanted children (Gladstone Hall) where he regularly sees a boy, the same age as himself in the home who stands behind a barred window. In 1957 a Teenage John becomes obsessed with Rock ‘n Roll band. The introduction of Paul McCartney and George Harrison coincide with John’s time at Liverpool Art College. John’s ambitions are kicked into overdrive with the offer of playing Hamburg. Mimi though still treats John as a child and refuses his trip to Hamburg. A bitter and vicious argument ensues, John declaring that Hamburg will make his fortune. Pulling himself out of the defeat of Hamburg John finds The Beatles being offered management in the shape of Brian Epstein, a record deal and chart success. It’s now the John’s childhood emotional flaws really show, with a prejudicial and corrosive attitude to anyone weaker than himself or being seen different from the norm. Beatlemania sees John’s emotions follow a roller coaster of elation and self- loathing, being a father and husband generates feelings of resentment and entrapment. The end of The Beatles’ touring, and their becoming a studio band, throws up fresh challenges to John and his mental health. John’s reliance on his song writing and his waiting for the muse to come, is in stark contrast to the studious and disciplined Paul’s approach to his music. Paul has waited to lead the band and his diligence in taking on-board recording studio expertise signals a long and tortuous fight for leadership of The Beatles. ‘Paul’s’ Sergeant Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour and the death of John’s ‘patron’ Brian Epstein, sends John into a depression in which he tries to self-medicate with drink and drugs. John’s despondency and despair spirals out of control. He doesn’t want to leave the band he formed, in case he is replaced and the band carries on without him. He needs to break up the band totally, he sees a way to achieve this through conceptual artist – Yoko Ono. Yoko is the antithesis of everything Beatles’ fans believe they stood for- she’s foreign, odd, and mysterious. As ‘John and Yoko’, he fights back against Paul and introduces a studio war of attrition. The ‘John and Yoko Bandwagon’ results in worldwide vilification and ridicule for the couple. It now seems obvious to all thatthe band are going to split. Only the efforts of Paul, who provides six out of eight of the last Beatles singles, and is now the de facto leader of The Beatles, are the band held together. The last months of the band are one of gloom, despair and backbiting. John starts to use heroin and speaks to the rest of the band through Yoko. But despite of all their differences the band come up with their last hurrah, the stunning Abbey Road. After a photo shoot to promote the album in the grounds of John’s Mansion, John finds himself in room watching the other members of the band drive off. Hereflects on his unhappy childhood, the desperate need to feel loved, and the emptiness of success and recalls the boy, in Gladstone Hall who stood behind the barred window and wonders where that boy is now.