INTRO The lights are hot. My
own blood drips slowly from every riff that emanates from this old guitar. Bang,
bang, the notes bounce from wall to wall, off the old man smoking the cigar. He
didn’t seem to feel it.
Reminiscing about John has been difficult for
me. When people asked what it was like to work with him I would usually just say
“Great” because I knew that I could never communicate my experiences in a brief
sentence or even a long conversation. A life like his couldn’t be summed up or
broken down. I worked closely with John & Yoko 5 days a week, 10 hours a day for
about 4 months. Even though when compared to a lifetime, I only knew John for a
short while, his life made an impression on mine that is to this day
inexplicable.
It slowly comes to rest on the concrete marble floor, where our feet are wrapped
in the cords of sound and technology.
Damn, I can’t see a thing. When did wearing glasses become so uncool?
I was the arranger and musical associate
on the “Double Fantasy” album. It has taken me 23 years to write about that
experience. During these years I have been
approached about writing a book on many occasions, but always declined. Finally
I realized that this was a story that needed to be told. In many ways writing
this book has been a cathartic experience for me. This is a story that should be
read not only for its sentimental value, but also for the purpose of
appreciating what I have come to understand through knowing John. Essentially,
one should be aware of the intrinsic value of loving what you do regardless of
what benefits or wealth it may bring.
As for the time being, I still strum a guitar that has no more gloss on it than a ‘57 Chevy, with a great engine that has run faithfully for 300,000 miles. Music is not a high gloss career, it is a life-style for those who are unafraid of being soiled by the means to their dreams and psychologically beaten by the necessary end to their beginning. It is not a profession that demands respect, and at times it takes a great deal to even respect myself after giving in to the conventions that bind the breadth and depth of musical possibility. Nevertheless, John and Yoko always treated me with respect and a certain amount of humility. They knew I had paid my dues and was worthy. Greatness is not a word that often describes people or even their intentions. John was great, which is probably why I feel determined to write about my experience with an artist who could be recognized for his talent, dedication to music, commitment to happiness, and rare moral standards.
In summation, music is the
medium through which I am most challenged, establish my self worth, and derive
my greatest happiness. Music also set the scene in which I found the opportunity
to work with John Lennon. From this experience I have learned to recognize what
music as a career and passion has to offer me. For some it may be medicine, for
others it may be in writing or teaching. Regardless of the path we may choose,
the object of our intentions should be to fulfill our desires and to be the best
at what we do and therefore be satisfied. I think that we often misconstrue the
natural tendency to better ourselves and sometimes find that we have entered a
race for stability and luxury, rather than happiness or self worth.
There were many things that happened during my brief time with the Lennons,
which I will write about in this book, and some that will remain private. None
of what appears here has been written to exploit the memory of John, or those
who are included in this story. “Double Fantasy” was awarded Album of the Year
in 1981. I received a Grammy Award as the Arranger on this album. In addition I
received a Platinum Album for “Double Fantasy,” and Gold Records for “Woman” and
“(Just Like) Starting Over.”