Live Review

John Lennon Remembered – Echo Arena, Liverpool

• 24th Dec 2010

I wondered if we had arrived too early as the arena was only a third full with ten minutes to go: the top tier was closed. Judging by the average age of the crowd, it felt like we’d arrived for the local church nativity play. I was expecting some younger people to make the effort, but as I’ll explain, it turned out to be their loss. The background music was of Lennon’s early influences: plenty of Elvis, skiffle and late 1950’s rock n roll. The big screen displayed information of his early background. Then 100 children from Dovedale Primary School (Lennon’s former school) entered the stage and sang the Yoko parts to The Sessions’ Lennon impersonator’s Happy Christmas (War Is Over). Thus commenced the night of celebration of the great man’s life, music and legacy.

Jon Keats, our compare, quoted a true yet moving message from Yoko Ono: “Remember John with deep love and respect…..we still learn so much from him today.” Paul McCartney’s and John’s half-sister Julia Baird’s quotes were read out, then The Quarrymen played four songs including Lonnie Donegan’s Rock Island Line but what was more apt was the fact they grew up with John and knew him so well. They witnessed the most pivotal moment in musical history: when Paul auditioned for John to start a new band together.

The Shakers then did a few numbers that gave a glimpse of The Beatles during their Hamburg years. Tony Sheridan flew in just for the occasion and performed My Bonnie with the same energy as it was surely played with 50 years ago. The cast of The Sessions played part of their new play in Los Angeles. Numbers such as Please Please Me, If I Fell and Norwegian Wood were portrayed so well that the two (yes, two of each) Lennons and McCartneys could have all won Stars In Your Eyes. Each note and sound was created so perfectly, the set was just like on record with Sir George Martin on controls. We didn’t know this was just the warm up to what could have been easily Lennon himself in Mark McGann after the interval.

The second half began with In My Life, the winner of the best ever Lennon song as voted for by the public. He then had to keep to this standard all night, which he did so effortlessly. It sounded as if John was singing himself and didn’t falter for the next 2 hours. Mother, in my opinion, was Lennon’s most personal lyrics, and this was performed inclusive of screams and raw honest emotion. This nearly got a standing ovation alone. He went through the whole Lennon ‘Best Of’ catalogue, especially with his 70’s music. Most songs were followed by a famous Lennon quote, and as we know, there were many. The songs varied so much, but then again, Lennon’s back catalogue does. The numbers jumped from Julia, to One After 909, to Girl, to Hide Your Love Away, to Hard Days Night, to Strawberry Fields Forever, and so on. Beatles pop classics were performed with the deep personal and moving Lennon compositions. Lennon’s work contained not just lyrics, but global messages, in God, Working Class Hero, All You Need Is Love, amongst others. He was never afraid to explain his relationship with Yoko in songs like I’m Losing You, Woman, Jealous Guy, etc.

John Lennon used his fame to make a difference to people’s way of thinking rather than just sit on his multi-million pound fortune in a mansion, hence adding to his legacy. His songs and lyrics were beyond meaningful, hitting the core of any individual’s heart, soul and feelings. The quotes that McGann expressed were reflective of Lennon’s life with such precession. Whether you loved or hated him, you certainly understood him. He wore his heart on his sleeve with brutal honesty. How Do You Sleep, yet another example of this.

Obviously, as messages go, you simply can’t better Imagine. This the first of many standing ovations and the loudest sing-a-long of the night. Twist and Shout and Instant Karma were then finally followed by Give Peace a Chance, joined again by Dovedale Primary, then Come Together due to public demand.

The special guests included also: an art school friend and editor of Mersey Beat Bill Harry; Beatles Press Officer, close friend and ex CEO of Apple, Tony Bramwell; Joey Molland, guitarist who played on Lennon’s Imagine; Grammy award winning sound engineer Dennis Ferrante who worked on most Lennon albums in the 1970’s (also responsible for the production of the music on the night);
Plastic Ono Band drummer Alan White, who played on Instant Karma and Imagine amongst many. However the man who simply stole the show was McGann.

The emotion in his voice was so honest, precise and genuine, that you’d find it hard to find anyone who can play John Lennon better, in singing and speaking. As tribute acts go, you simply couldn’t get a more exact performance. All that was missing was the Lennon-esque wigs!