What a waste

Liverpool 13th October 2019

Double Fantasy – John and Yoko

Museum of Liverpool

This is a free exhibition, celebrating the meeting of two of the world’s most creative artists who expressed their deep and powerful love for one another through their art, music and film. They used their fame and influence to campaign for peace and human rights across the world, transforming not only their own lives, but art, music and activism forever.

Featuring personal objects alongside art, music and film produced by John and Yoko, the exhibition is drawn from Yoko’s own private collection, some of which has never been displayed.

Exhibits include  original artwork by both, including Yoko’s Ceiling Painting/Yes Painting, Painting to Hammer A Nail and Apple, as well as The Daily Howl, a hand-made book by John from his childhood and numerous examples of his distinctive line drawings. The exhibition also features conceptual work the couple produced together, such as War is Over, Plastic Ono Band, and elements of their first collaboration Acorn Peace.

– Many personal items, such as John’s wire-rimmed glasses, Yoko’s large Porsche sunglasses, iconic items of clothing, such as John’s New York City t-shirt, and items from their wedding outfits are also displayed.

I was overwhelmed by a tremendous feeling of loss as I moved, transfixed, through the exhibition. As you reach the end of the chronological exhibits you come to 1980 as you knew you must. The comments from Yoko, Sean and Julian are incredibly moving causing a wave of sadness to engulf me.

Mark David Chapman, I will never know what drove you to commit such a senseless murder. I can only surmise what John would have gone on to achieve if you hadn’t intervened. How much more great music would he have made, would he have written an autobiography, would the Beatles have played Live Aid. Because of you Mr. Chapman we will never know

The exhibition closes November 3^rd, try and see it.

No visit to Liverpool is complete without visiting some of the cities pubs. After leaving the exhibition and walking through the rain drenched city centre I found myself in one of my favourites. The Globe is a small pub opposite Central station. I love to sit and listen to the conversations in here. The bar staff are fantastic, possessing a sixth sense as to when patrons are ready for another beer. Timothy Taylor’s Landlord is my beer of choice when I visit.

In the evening, after a curry, we met friends in the Fly in the Loaf. An ex-bakery, this comfortable, spacious pub sells beers from the Isle of Man amongst it’s selection of real ales. Next stop is Ye Crack on Rice street. I love this place! This is where John Lennon took Cynthia on their first date and the pub is festooned with some excellent photos of him. On this night one of the small rooms had some original artworks for sale featuring paintings of Lennon.

There is a great selection of beers on offer and the locals are a friendly crowd. I also love this place because the bar staff are Evertonians!

Next stop was the Philharmonic pub. This is the place where Paul McCartney played a secret show on the episode of James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke dedicated to Macca. The pub is most famed for the Gents toilets! The immaculate Victorian pissoir attracts a stream of women on nights out to look at it’s magnificence (allegedly!).

No night is complete without a visit to Mathew street, site of the original Cavern club. It’s the Grapes where we head though. This is the pub where the Beatles used to come between sets at the Cavern. Lots of Beatles memorabilia is on show and it is a fitting venue to finish off a great day in a special city.