So the story behind these new, fascinating pictures, taken by a young man who got invited into John’s life, sounds true the sort of daft thing John often did. Was he potty, silly, dicing with danger? Or just innocent and naive?
He had been locked in hotel bedrooms for his own safety, guarded going in and out of concert halls, smuggled out of places in case he was attacked – and yet he constantly let total strangers into his own house. In 1968, John Lennon had all the fame and fortune most people could ever wish for. Hunter Davies asks why the photographs have never seen the light of the day before Mr Herring, a retired illustrator now living in Australia, insists his memories of events at Harrison’s house are correct.Ī spokesman for Paul McCartney did not comment last night. They had a number of sessions at George’s house and Paul was certainly at most of them – maybe not this one – because we have the recordings.’īut he added: ‘This does not undermine the general story, which I do believe. Last night, Mark Lewisohn, a leading authority on the Beatles, said Mr Herring’s photographs were ‘fantastic because they capture a moment in history’.īut he cast doubt on the revelations about Paul’s resignation letter, saying: ‘There’s no way that can be accurate because the Eastmans had no part in Paul’s life until his relationship with Linda began in October 1968, and there was no way Paul was quitting at this point. The rare items are expected to fetch in excess of £10,000 when they go on sale on March 24. Mr Herring kept his day with the Beatles under wraps for 47 years, only going public when he contacted a Manchester auction house, Omega Auctions, to enquire about selling his photographs and other memorabilia. Later, Lennon gave Mr Herring a lift back to the station, Mr Herring capturing one final iconic photograph as Lennon glanced into the car’s rear-view mirror. Mr Herring said he saw no drugs or alcohol.
The Beatles spent the rest of the day rehearsing in a small room and only broke to enjoy vegetarian curries. Mirror image: Lennon is captured by Michael Herring as the pop star gives his young fan a lift Linda’s brother John would later play a central role in steering Paul’s exit from the band. Paul is quitting.” ’Įastmans may have been a reference to the New York law firm Eastman & Eastman, the family business of Lee Eastman, father of the future Linda McCartney, who Paul had met in 1967. I can only paraphrase, but I recall George saying, “It’s from Eastmans and he’s not coming. It was as if they were expecting he wasn’t coming that day. ‘I understood it was a letter from Paul’s attorney saying Paul wanted to quit the band. George opened it and there was a personal delivery guy. Mr Herring said: ‘There was a knock on the door. In the house, Mr Herring was introduced to Ringo Starr and Harrison’s girlfriend Pattie Boyd.Īnd then came the arrival of a hand-delivered letter. It appeared there was some question over whether Paul was going to show up for the rehearsal.’ I found him in me garden.” They were chatting and the topic they were talking about was Paul. ‘George looked up and said, “Who’s this, then?”’ Mr Herring, 67, recalled.
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It was here that Mr Herring captured his series of evocative images. They jumped into Lennon’s Mini and drove to Harrison’s Surrey bungalow, Kinfauns – adorned with psychedelic murals – to find George sitting on his lawn, playing the guitar. Herring says he rode with the group from Lennon's house in his mini to Harrison's Surrey bungalow and later to watch them record