Tag: happy birthday

Strawberry Fields, October 9th, 2013, 8am

The anniversary of John Lennon’s birthday is a day I always celebrate. I got to Strawberry Fields a couple of times, I sing some songs, I blast it through my iPhone. This year was even better because I played DJ at work today and my colleagues very graciously humored me while I played through the 6.5 hours of John Lennon and Beatles music that I’d packed onto an iTunes playlist on my work computer (because you wouldn’t believe how impossible it is to find John Lennon’s actual albums on Spotify).

I burned Mind Games Sessions (Disc 1 and 2), John Lennon (acoustic), Wasuponatime, Imagine, Abbey Road, and The White Album (discs 1 and 2) onto my computer. 

And after that was over, I played the Across the Universe soundtrack which, thankfully, was on Spotify. (And yesterday we listened to Instant Karma all day.)

I stopped by Strawberry Fields on my way to work this morning (the above photo was taken at 8am) and then I stopped by again after my yoga class ended at 9pm. At 9, there were dozens of people there and many musicians set up, all happily playing, and singing, their hearts out.

John Lennon is tied in first place with a certain Billie Joe Armstrong for favorite musician ever. And why not? Lennon was one of Armstrong’s inspirations growing up so it make perfect sense. Taking a few hours out of my day (and my colleagues’ day) is the least I can do to celebrate him.

I am he, as you are he, as you are me, and we are all together.

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Happy belated 40th birthday, Billie Joe.

Yesterday was Billie Joe Armstrong’s 40th birthday. Forty? Whoa. Wasn’t he 22 and Dookie was released a hot second ago? Time flies! I don’t have anything eloquent to say, except, you rock, dude. I have a guitar lesson today and that’s due to your inspiration. Keep being outspoken, foul-mouthed, and musically awesome.  

Here are some of my favorite shots that I’ve taken of Mr. Armstrong in the last year or two:

Foxboro Hot Tubs, Don Hills, April 2010

American Idiot, February 27th, 2011

The Final Soundcheck, March 23rd, 2010

American Idiot, the final performance after-show, April 24th, 2011

Green Day – the surprise New York concert at Webster Hall’s Studio, October 29th, 2011

It’ll be John Lennon’s 70th birthday tomorrow (October 9th) and in honor, a free screening of the new movie “Nowhere Boy,” which claims to depict Lennon’s life in a way we’ve never seen before. It will be shown at Rumsey Field in Central Park at 7pm.  Gates open at 6pm. More information can be found here.

PS: All the Idiots out there should take Green Day off repeat from their iPods this weekend to pay tribute to one of Billie Joe Armstrong’s idols (and teachers), as reported at the 92nd Street Y talkback last month.  I know I am.  And yes, okay, you can add Green Day’s cover of Working Class Hero onto this weekend’s playlist.

(Photo via)