Star Wars, John Lennon and Warren Beatty

What’s the connection?

For some, the story I am about to tell will seem so far fetched, that I can hear the skepticism. “What the hell has he been smoking?”

I have had numerous remarkable experiences in my life, but three in particular resonate as social history in the making.

Somewhere in the archives of a Montreal newspaper lies a photograph of John Lennon and yours truly in profile, seated on the edge of the peace bed next to him.

A beautiful French Canadian girl I liked at high school was given the only copy of the photograph I had, as a token of my affection. I am a hopeless romantic. But hey, the reason I was there in the first place was not about fame or fortune. It was the message.

It was May 27th 1969. I was 17 years old and sitting in a hotel room in Montreal, Canada with John Lennon, Yoko Ono, my high school buddy Bill Duquet and about a dozen press and photographers. How we got there and how it affected my life is an adventure. ‘The force was with me’, and I do mean that inexplicapble connection to what I can only descibe as the ’spiritual ether’ that exists all around us.

Peace. Five letters, one word. Ease to say, elusive to achieve.

I’m all for the idea of a world movement dedicated to achieving Peace on Earth through Love. Hippy yeah. Trippy yeah. But the fact is, John and Yoko’s peace campaign, was a glorious, courageous idea. Peace on Earth. Something mankind must never stop dreaming of and working towards.

Growing up in Montreal as an anglophone, I was aware of the cultural and religious differences that lay at the heart of the political and social landscape. Fights between English and French youth were not uncommon. English and French Canadian history had already created the Provinces’ dilema, the cultural divides that had embroiled England and France in wars for hundreds of years in Europe were still echoing in Quebec.

To be continued…

June 1st, 2007

One Response to “Star Wars, John Lennon and Warren Beatty”

  1. GIROD Says:
    January 4th, 2008 at 8:44 am

    Dear Sir,

    Happy New Year ! I’m the editor of the Official French Star Wars magazine, and we are abour to run an interview of you (done by Titan publishing) but we would like to add a recent picture of you.

    Would it be possible to email me one in order we add it in the artwork page ?

    Thanks in advance.

    Best regards.

    Patrice Girod