My Fab Weekend with John Lennon and Yoko Ono

I got to hang out with John Lennon and Yoko Ono one fab weekend in 1971. I never knew there was a visual of the moment until someone (Mark Mahal, another kid lucky enough to get close to the action that weekend--see his story on Lennonology) told me about this short film by Jonas Mekas in which I appear for 1 second at the end. I've taken the liberty of adding a voiceover to Mr. Mekas's film telling my story of that weekend. (You can order the film with the original soundtrack from www.jonasmekas.com.) A Syracuse musician friend, Ed Hamell (www.hamellontrial.com), also wrote about this same weekend in his punk ballad "John Lennon." He bumped into John in the mens room. Thanks to my son Ben for technical assistance.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• john
• lennon
• birthday
• party
• yoko
• ono
• ringo
• alan
• ginsberg
• phil
• spector
• jonas
• mekas
• beatles
• klaus
• voorman
• maureen
• cox
• paul
• krassner
• ed
• hamell
• on
• trial
• syracuse
• everson
• museum
• Ringo Starr
• John Lennon

[Kolkraqr9]

Greetings! I'm Mark Mahal the guy who turned Gary on to the film by Jonas Mekas. What a special moment in time captured on film for Gary, myself and really for us all. That was one whirlwind of a weekend in October of 1971 and as time has passed these treasures have come to light. Check out my story at either "This Is Not Here" at Lennology or "Birthday Cake" at Bagism. Nice job Gary. *****

[garysescape]

Hi Mark. If we ever meet should we share that piece of John's birthday cake you've kept in your freezer all these years?

[PDFolirant]

what a beautiful memory- love love love it- you're a lucky man :) do you still play?

[garysescape]

@PDFolirant Thanks to you and all the folks who've commented below. I appreciate it. Happy New Year too. Yes, I still play and have several guitar videos on this channel--all done for fun and expression, just like putting together the My Fab Weekend video... once the film dropped in my lap. That was lucky too, although not as lucky as getting to have the fab weekend in the first place.

[roger333L]

Thank you for sharing, the way you told the story gave me chills , You made me feel like I was there . Thank you, More people should share there memories like you have.

[garysescape]

Thanks, I appreciate your thoughts. At first I couldn't fit my audio story to Jonas Mekas' 6 minute film, so I kept cutting lines and eventually it became what it is. Gary

[danhesketh]

Really enjoyable, thanks for sharing. Greetings from Oslo

[Kolkraqr9]

@garysescape Of course if your intentions are for both of us to land in the emergency room with severe food poisoning. :)

[AlexCondella]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing! :)

[dennyburkes]

M A S S I V E .

Thanks for sharing this!

[SuperC888]

fourteen bucks....haha.... nice vid, thanks for your story, Gary. Very kewl!!! It appears that you were in the right place at the right time.... timing's everything. Thanks for sharing your experience and memories.

[SuperC888]

can you tell me which notarieties were there? I can see Allen Ginsberg, you mentioned Phil Spector, ... who else?

[trublu71]

Thank you a million times over for sharing this. This time with John and so many other great talents I am sure was quite something.

[xzyza2000]

@garysescape How lucky you are to be in the film with Lennon..

[xxsteff07]

MAUREEEEEEN (L)

[aberdeen1802]

Incredible, amazing, and wonderful. Thank you for this!

[Katchka1]

Great! Can you email me? I am compiling a video. I just would love to include part of this!

[millypants1]

thats great man ....really very cool......

[cacker1966]

Very sweet. Thanks for sharing

[WiltatKansas]

Wow, thank you, amazing video, a little acelerated though, that's not only John Lennon, only McCartney was not there, and me either, of course, lol

[garysescape]

Thanks to friends and strangers alike (proszę bardo to Kinga1Kosinka) for time travelling with me.

[steveo7858]

How cool is that?! Lovely story,

[DJMystaspot]

Great story and cool film! Fabulous! Amy Holmes Hehn

[Kinga1Kosinska]

Amazing story.Thank You for sharing!<3

[kmlh9]

thank you its one of the best how cool!!