The Beatles Story Museum, Albert Dock, Liverpool

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THE BEATLES STORY


The Beatles Story is an exhibition and museum dedicated to the leading 1960s group The Beatles. It is based in Albert Dock, Liverpool, England.


HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM

The Beatles Story is located on Liverpool’s historic Albert Dock. The attraction opened in 1990 and has since welcomed over two million visitors from around the world.

At the Beatles Story, the story of the rise of the 1960s band The Beatles is told. There is an audio guide narrated by John Lennon's sister, Julia.

The story begins at Woolton Village Fete, where Paul McCartney tells how he first met John Lennon. On view are some of the original instruments played by John and his Skiffle band and the Casbah Coffee Club.

Three years later, the band was in Hamburg, Germany. John, Paul, George, Stuart and Pete played as The Beatles at the Star Club.

Next the story moves back to Liverpool and the Cavern Club at the height of the Merseybeat era, with recollections from Cavern Club regulars.

London is the next stop with a behind the scenes look at Abbey Road Studios, hearing how George Martin almost rejected The Beatles before jetting off to the USA and the hysteria of Beatlemania.

The history behind the groundbreaking Sgt. Pepper album is presented, followed by an underwater experience in the Yellow Submarine.

Finally, the break-up of the band, the role they played in the overthrow of the Soviet Union, their solo projects and the legacy of The Beatles are covered.



The North End Music Store (NEMS). Photo by Beatles Story.


OTHER KEY HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

* John Lennon's iconic round spectacles

* Brian Epstein describes his first impressions of the Beatles

* George Harrison's first ever guitar

* The world's only 'blue' White Album

* A never before heard interview with Paul McCartney

* The emotional and evocative White Room



The White Room. Photo by Beatles Story.


The Beatles Story exhibition is accompanied by a gift shop with a wide selection of official Beatles merchandise and souvenirs, including everything from records, CDs, and various other memorabilia.


FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

The Beatles Story has announced that it is planning a major expansion programme, which will more than double the existing floor space to provide new exhibition areas and improved visitor facilities, expected to open in spring 2008 to coincide with the city’s year as European Capital of Culture.


THE PLANNED EXPANSION WILL INCLUDE:

* Rooms celebrating the solo careers of George and Ringo, in response to the wishes of many visitors. There will also be a number of improvements made to the existing Paul and John rooms.

* A “hands-on” interactive Children’s Learning Centre — this is part of the Beatles Story’s commitment to life-long learning and will greatly enhance the visitor experience for both school groups and families.

* A “family friendly” version of the Living History audio guide.

* A new temporary exhibition space to host themed changing exhibitions throughout the year.

* A café and relaxation area to complete the experience.

* Improved orientation area with enhanced group facilities.




The Beatles Story footage. (1.50 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAEqGY8tg1g




The Beatles Story museum corporate video. (6:34 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHet3APayC0


www.beatlesstory.com/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_Story

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Cynthia and son Julian Lennon


WHITE FEATHER - FASCINATING NEW EXHIBITION AT BEATLES STORY MUSEUM
JUNE 17, 2009 - DECEMBER 31, 2009


clickliverpool.com
By Chris Johnson.


Published Fri 12 Jun 2009 19:07,
Last updated: 12 Jun 2009



A new exhibition White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon has been launched at Liverpool's Beatles Story museum.

Beatles Story MD Jerry Goldman, officially launched the world premiere of the exhibition with a spectacular balloon release.

Three hundred transparent balloons, each containing a single white feather filled the sky as as they were carried off by a stiff breeze at the Pier Head.

Members of the public will have a chance to win 50 special tickets to the Beatles Story (including admission to White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon) if they find one of the special prize winning balloons.

This event was staged on the first floor terrace of the new Mersey Ferries terminal building on Liverpool's renowned waterfront which will also host White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon from 17th June - 31st December.

White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon tells the intimate personal story of the life of the Lennon family; for the first time presented as an exhibition.

It gives a unique insight into life with John Lennon that only Julian and Cynthia Lennon can give.

Throughout the exhibition Julian and Cynthia recollect their memories through exclusive on-screen conversations in which they retell the experiences and emotions of their lives with John.

The Lennons' unseen collection of memorabilia including family photos, clothing and instruments helps guests trace a story that is both poignant and inspiring.

Nothing demonstrates this more acutely than the title of the exhibition, 'White Feather.

During a tender moment when Julian was a child, John first spoke to him about the white feather:

As Julian explains: ''The white feather is so prevalent in my life. One thing for sure is that it's always represented peace to me.

"And one of the things my father said to me was that should he pass away, if there was some way of letting me know he was going to be ok, or that we were all going to be ok, it was by in some way, shape or form presenting me with a white feather.''

Jerry Goldman at the Beatles Story said: "The Beatles Story is dedicated to celebrating the music and cultural influence of the Beatles.

"We are delighted to be working with Julian and Cynthia to tell their story of their life with John through this world exclusive exhibition, being hosted in our new second venue."




The Liverpool Beatles Story Director, Jerry Goldman, launches the world premiere of White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon
on Friday 12 June 2009 at Noon. He releases 300 transparent balloons each containing a single white feather. This took place on the roof terrace of the new Mersey Ferry terminal building which will host the exhibition White Feather: The Spirit
of Lennon from 17 June to 31 December 2009. (0:40 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMgyTklnVyU




Discussion of the White Feather by host Ian Punnett on a
coast-to-coast radio show on December 22, 2007. (3:25 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwJJXTCMkTg



www.artinliverpool.com/index.php/museums/beatles-story

www.clickliverpool.com/culture/culture/124774-white-feather---fasinating-new-exhibiton-at-beatles-story-museum.html

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Julian Lennon said he put together the White Feather exhibition to
show that he still loves his father.


JULIAN LENNON: COLLECTING BEATLES MEMORABILIA HELPED ME HEAL


telegraph.co.uk


Published: 7:00AM BST 17 Jun 2009


John Lennon's son Julian Lennon says he has finally shaken-off feelings of bitterness towards his father after gathering memorabilia for a new exhibition.


As he opened a new display about the murdered Beatle on Tuesday night, Julian said that collecting momentos for the display has helped the healing process.

Julian, who was immortalized in the song Hey Jude also spoke about his gratitude to Paul McCartney for the love he had shown during his childhood.

Julian, 46, told how his mother reminded him that the Hey Jude lyrics were written for him.

Julian said: "I had been told when I was a kid but I'd forgotten. It was not until my early teens that I was reminded it was about me.

"I can't say it directly helped with any reconciliation but what it did mean to me was that there were other people on the fringe of our life that had a great deal of love, not only for myself but for mum too.

"To this I still have to appreciate and thank Paul for his love and care. It was a very, very kind gesture and one it seems that will never be forgotten."

Cynthia Lennon, 69, added: "We experienced what we experienced and we were in the public eye all the time. But Julian and I have always had these feeling of brotherhood - strange though that seem for mother and son."

Asked whether he had completely left behind feelings of rage against being deserted by his father Julian said: "It has definitely changed without a doubt.

"I realise myself that hate wastes a lot of time and energy and I would rather re-direct any energy that I have to good and positive use.

"It's a connection. It's a blood line. It's a love line - you can't just ignore that.

"The idea is to work through all those issues and problems. I feel that we have reached that level at this point. It is part and parcel of what we are trying to do with White Feather.

"It's to show that we still love the man - and the Beatles - and what we have all been through has been a tough few decades but we have come out the other side feeling strong.

"Hopefully we are educating and giving fans a slightly different aspect on how dad's life was with us in his earlier years, on his way to fame and obviously becoming famous."

Centerpiece of the exhibition are the pencil-scribbled original notes for the lyrics of Hey Jude.

The 1968 Beatles chart-topper was composed by McCartney in a car as he headed to a meeting with Cynthia and Julia at their home.

Originally titled Hey Jules McCartney later changed the words to Hey Jude.

Julian bought the notes for £25,000 at auction in 1996 and has purchased many of the other items in the exhibition.

Other possessions on display include Julian's Honda mini-monkey bike given to him by his father, and an electric guitar inscribed with the message To Julian from Daddy, Christmas 1973.

White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon runs from 17th June - 31st December at the new Mersey Ferries Terminal building at the Pier Head, Liverpool.

The title White Feather is a reference to a memorable conversation between father and son in which John told Julian that if he died and passed into an after-life he would send him a white feather signal.

Julian explains: "One of the things my father said to me was that should he pass away, if there was some way of letting me know he was going to be ok, or that we were all going to be ok, it was by in some way, shape or form presenting me with a white feather.'

"About eleven years ago I was on tour in Australia and I was approached by an aboriginal tribe who gave me a white feather and asked me to help them - which I was taken aback by."

He told how he went on to make a TV documentary about the tribe and in the process decided to set-up the pi]White Feather Foundation[/i] which had aided aboriginals and other struggling people directly and by supporting other charities.

Asked whether the white feather was a message he said: "That's difficult to say - but what it did do for me was to motivate me to do something positive and for me that is the most important thing."


www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5554057/Julian-Lennon-Collecting-Beatles-memorabilia-helped-me-heal.html

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John Lennon with wife Cynthia in 1964 at Heathrow Airport in London.
Photo by Dezo Hoffman.


JOHN'S FIRST WIFE ON LIFE WITH JOHN


bbcnews.co.uk
Ian Youngs


Page last updated at 08:43 GMT,
Thursday, 18 June 2009 09:43 UK


John Lennon's first wife Cynthia and son Julian have opened an exhibition of photos, letters and personal mementos from their life with the late Beatle.



Julian Lennon and his mother Cynthia igniting a candle for peace during the opening
of White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon at The Beatles Story Exhibit in Liverpool.
Photo by Marco Campigli.


Cynthia met John when they were at art college in Liverpool in 1958, and they married in 1962 after discovering she had become pregnant with Julian.

Cynthia witnessed the Beatles' rise to global fame but the couple divorced in 1968, after Lennon met Yoko Ono.

Items in the exhibition in Liverpool include an electric guitar inscribed with the message "To Julian from Daddy, Christmas 1973", and Paul McCartney's handwritten lyrics for Hey Jude, originally Hey Jules, written for Julian during his parents' split.

Here, Cynthia gives an insight into the John Lennon she knew, her mixed feelings about the "naughty boy", and why she finds another Lennon exhibition run by Yoko Ono offensive.



Julian Lennon and Cynthia at the launch of White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon
at The Beatles Story Exhibit. Photo by Marco Campigli.


Why have you decided to hold this exhibition now?

We've been working on it for about two years. When John died, Julian received nothing in terms of any his treasures. They all went on sale - they were at Christie's and Sotheby's.

Julian has spent a lot - a lot - of money buying back things, beautiful things, that were important to John in our lives, for the family. They've been stuck in a bank vault for too long and we thought, this is cruel, we really should put them on show.

There are postcards, there are photographs, it's a very family orientated exhibition. It's explaining to those who are interested that there was life before John went to America.

You've said many people consigned you to a "brief walk-on part" in John's life - are you trying to set the story straight?

It's not even that. My son said I was treated like a puff of smoke, she doesn't exist. We love each other very dearly, we've gone through a hell of a lot, and we just want to say that we're here, we have no doubts now, we have no angst.

We're not being bitter about anybody, but we just want to state a fact about who we are and what we are, and let the fans enjoy it

John's story fascinates a lot of people - is the John that the world knows the same John that you knew?

Coming back to Liverpool [to launch the exhibition] and meeting all the old mates that knew John and were part of his life was wonderful.

Even though John was a bit of a naughty boy - I could say a stronger word than that - on the odd occasion, he has so much love surrounding him, whether he's here or not here.

That is something Julian and I are very lucky to have experienced, and that's what we're trying to express.

How would you describe John to someone who didn't know him?

John's personality? He was not to be confronted, let's put it that way. You either loved him or you hated him, and that's still the same now, even though he's not here. You either loved him or you hated him, but you could not ignore him.

Have you deliberately shunned the limelight since your time with John?

I have done a lot of Beatles conventions that a lot of people never knew about. I didn't have any money, so I used to go off and do these conventions and support the Beatles. I would get a pittance of payment.

I would never denigrate any of them, truly, because I think their talent was just magical. And it will go on forever. I've dipped in and out of the limelight, but mainly to earn a living.

Have you avoided the films and books that have included you?

The film about Brian Epstein (The Hours and Times) - absolute load of rubbish. Done in America.

It's a little bit like the Bible. There are so many different ways of looking at this story and so many ways of writing about it. And very few actually live it. And the ones that live it are the ones that say least about it.

How did it feel going back to Liverpool with Julian?

It was the first time the two of us have been in Liverpool together since he was born. He doesn't even know Liverpool but he's got the best Liverpool accent.

I had to learn a Liverpool accent when I was thrown in the deep end at art college, and all the Liverpudlians said I was posh. He's only been in Liverpool for five minutes and he's got the best Liverpool accent.

How did you feel about the exhibition staged by Yoko Ono with the clothes from day John died?

I can't even comment on that because that would never cross my mind. Any exhibition that shows blood-stained glasses and blood-stained clothes has nothing to do with me and I think it's offensive so that's all I can say. I don't understand that, I really don't.

White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon is open at the Beatles Story Pier Head in Liverpool until 31 December. Cynthia Lennon was speaking to BBC News music reporter Ian Youngs.


news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8105992.stm

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The new Beatles Story at Pier Head, Georges Parade, Liverpool L3 1DP
(Within the new Mersey Ferries terminal building) Tel: [phone]
Photo by Jeff P. McDonald


WHITE FEATHER: THE SPIRIT OF LENNON


"Growing up as John Lennon's son has been a rocky path. He was a great talent, a remarkable man who stood for love and peace in the world, but to me he was the father I loved and longed for in his many absences. Mum was his first love, she was the one who held us together through it all.




White Feather - The Spirit of Lennon. Julian Lennon talks about
his dad John Lennon and the white feather. (0:39 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFwP2oFv6lE


I started collecting these personal pieces because I felt they belonged back in our family. This collection represents something of great importance to me as it is a part of our history."

Julian



Julian Lennon and his mother Cynthia at the Beatles: LOVE
premiere in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 30, 2006.


"For ten years I shared my life with a man who became a legend in his lifetime. When the Beatles formed and went on to delight and astound, I was at John's side, sharing the highs and lows of his public and private lives. It was at a time when he was at his creative best, a time when he loved his family and The Beatles.

John was an extraordinary man, infuriating, lovable, sometimes cruel, witty, talented and needy. I have always loved him and never stopped grieving for him. That's why I want to tell the story of the John I knew. He believed in the truth and would want nothing less."

Cynthia


www.artinliverpool.com/index.php/museums/beatles-story/1866-beatles-ph-white-feather
www.beatlesstory.com/
www.whitefeatherexhibition.com/
www.whitefeatherexhibition.com/story.htm

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YELLOW SUBMARINE MODEL STOLEN FROM OUTSIDE LIVERPOOL'S BEATLES STORY


Liverpool Echo
by Catherine Jones


Jul 4 2009


THIEVES have stolen a model of the Fab Four’s iconic yellow submarine from outside The Beatles Story.

Attraction bosses are now appealing for the 5ft wooden sub to be returned to the Albert Dock venue.

They will give £100 to the Linda McCartney Centre if the much-photo-graphed model is handed back in one piece.

The sub has stood outside the main entrance since it opened in 1990.

It went missing over the last few days.

Managing director Jerry Goldman said: “We are very upset and angry someone would perform such a selfish act. We would like to offer a £100 reward to be donated to the Linda McCartney Centre on behalf of anyone who can return our submarine safely.”

Call 0151-709 1963 or email [e-mail]


www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/07/04/yellow-submarine-model-stolen-from-outside-liverpool-s-beatles-story-100252-24071511/

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Julian and his mother Cynthia light the peace candle before
the White Father: Spirit of Lennon exhibition.


INTERVIEW WITH JULIAN LENNON, SON OF THE BEATLES' JOHN LENNON


Chesterchronicle.co.uk
By Chester Chronicle


Jul 16 2009


She left more than 40 years ago and he was too young to remember living there, but Cynthia and Julian Lennon, first wife and first son of Beatle John chose their Liverpool birthplace as the setting for a new exhibition about their tortured life with Beatle legend John.



Julian and Cynthia at the ribbon cutting.


The White Feather exhibition, housed in a shiny new edifice at the Pier Head’s ferry terminal, charts the rise and fall of John and Cynthia’s marriage against the rise and rise of Lennon’s fame.

It evokes the art school romance that brought the two together and Julian into the world, the shotgun wedding – on the night of which the fab four rushed to Chester for a gig – and the inevitability of the destruction of the family as John departed into a psychadelic world of stardom, drugs and Yoko.

Inheriting nothing after his deified father’s death, Julian has spent millions of pounds at auctions acquiring family heirlooms, many of which are on display at the exhibition.





He explained: "The only way I could regain any of his belongings or any of the Beatles’ works was to actually go out and buy them myself.

"It’s been a collection I’ve been trying to put together over 10, 20 years and slowly, but surely, I’ve been able to gather some things back into the family and will continue to do so.

"Now that I’ve actually seen the exhibition I have great hopes on expanding it and bringing more to light of our earlier days together and rather than have everything locked away in storage in a safe for nobody to see.

"I just felt it would be better outside – especially in this city – for the fans to see."

There is the cape John wore in the film Help!, the floral sheepskin jacket he donned for the launch of seminal album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band as well as lyrics to an unreleased song and private photographs.

In intimate letters and filmed reminiscences, the loss that must have been felt by the abandoned mother and son is palpable.

The visitor is later buoyed by a room dedicated to Paul McCartney’s penning of Hey Jude for Julian. Originally entitled Hey Jules, the song implores the confused youngster not to be afraid and to let Yoko into his heart.

Asked what John would have made of the exhibition, Cynthia replied: "That’s a hard one. What do you think WE think of the exhibition? It’s historical, it’s hysterical, it’s part of our lives and I’m sure if he was around...well it wouldn’t be here would it?!"

Admission to the White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon exhibition is £8 adults, £6 concessions and it runs until December 31, 2009.


www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/entertainment-chester/news-reviews/2009/07/16/interview-with-julian-lennon-son-of-the-beatles-john-lennon-59067-24168508/