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Comment by JPGR&B SUBS ●:
Annotation:
When this reader first came across Seaman's text some years ago he was indeed encouraged. The author, it seems, spent a considerable amount of personal time with John Lennon shortly before Lennon's death in December 1980 and from his position of a relative outsider offers a very interesting perspective on both John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Only photographer Bob Gruen can perhaps offer such a personal attestation to these years at the Dakota. It also appears that, according to Double Fantasy producer, Jack Douglas, Lennon loved having Seaman around. Seaman was arrested in September 1982; the charge was theft of items, including John Lennon's diaries, from the Dakota Buildings. After the hearing, Seamen commented that he did not take the properties for revenue, stating 'there are aspects of this case which have not been revealed'. As it turns out this is a witty, emotional work which, upon further re-reading, holds-up well, albeit in a rather obsequious way to the memory of John Lennon (as for Yoko, Seaman does not appear to have a great deal of time for the woman who sacked him in 1982).
The Last Days of John Lennon continues to be a 'must read' for all who want to glean not only a little authentic information, but also an interesting perspective concerning Lennon's last years.
Michael Brocken
While providing a supplement to Albert Goldman's portrait of Lennon's last years, it must be noted that the author admitted abusing the trust reposed in him by John and Yoko in not only violating the confidentiality clause of his employment contract, but also in absconding with 374 photographs and private papers, including letters and a diary, belonging to Lennon, which he then sold after Lennon's death. Seaman apologized in open court as part of a settlement agreement in which he returned the photographs and the profits from the sale of the papers, as well as paying an amount in unspecified damages to Yoko Ono. His memories may add something to an understanding of Lennon during his self-styled 'house-husband' years - a note from Lennon to Seaman asking if the latter had 'sold or perhaps rented' boots indicates that Lennon may, himself, have had doubts about Seaman's trustworthiness - a caveat, perhaps, from beyond the grave.
Melissa Davis
Source:
The Beatles Bibliography: A New Guide To The Literature - Michael Brocken and Melissa Davis (The Beatle Works Ltd., 2012), with acknowledgement, and used here with permission from the authors for educational and historical purposes only.