John Lennon 1980 – Author Ken Womack

The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Author Interview Series

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show. I’m Paul Vogelzang, and this is episode #491.

As part of our Smithsonian Associates Year of Music author interview series, our guest today is Beatles biographer extraordinaire, Ken Womack.

Ken Womack has written numerous highly acclaimed books about the Beatles and will be appearing at the Smithsonian Associates program via Zoom, Dec 2. More details are available at the web sites we have listed in the show notes.

In today’s conversation, music historian Kenneth Womack traces the story behind Double Fantasy, John Lennon’s remarkable 1980 comeback album with wife Yoko Ono. Along the way, Womack reads from his forthcoming book John Lennon 1980: The Last Days in the Life and he’ll explore with us the powerful, life-affirming story of the former Beatle’s renaissance after five years of self-imposed retirement. Lennon’s final pivotal year would climax in several moments of creative triumph as he rediscovered his artistic self in dramatic fashion. In thinking about Lennon, Womack shows how the gifted songwriter and musician lived, rather than how he died much too soon.

That of course is our guest today, author Ken Womack, reading from his new book, John Lennon The Last Days in the Life. Drawing on new interviews, John Lennon 1980 is an informative, engaging, and often deeply moving portrayal of the final chapter in John Lennon’s remarkable life. It isn’t a story about how the gifted songwriter and musician died, but rather, about how he lived.

Our Not Old Better Show audience loves John Lennon and the Beatles, and you’ll love this Smithsonian Associates presentation by Ken Womack, but we have him here today, so please join me in welcoming via internet phone, Beatles author, Ken Womack.

My thanks to Beatles biographer, Ken Womack, author of the new book: John Lennon 1980: The Last Days in the Life. Ken Womack will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates on Dec. 2, via Zoom. More details available in the show notes. My thanks, as well, to the fine folks at Smithsonian Associates who always help so much with the show. And, of course, my thanks to you, my wonderful Not Old Better Show audience. Be safe everyone, practice smart social distancing, and Talk About Better. The Not Old Better Show. Thanks, everybody.
For details about Ken Womack at Smithsonian Associates, please go here:
https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/lennon-ono-and-making-of-double-fantasy?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=OCT20eAAboutPerformingArts10.17.20&utm_content=version_A&promo=253352