Fascinating Interview dated back in 2009 with John Lennon Research
Queen, Jude Sutherland Kessler.
by Shelley Germeaux
But First, meet the Queen…Jude Southerland Kessler has spent her
entire life either preparing to write or researching/writing the myth-busting
John Lennon Series.
Jude completed high school in three years and when “she was just
seventeen,” she went on to Northwestern State University, LA, to acquire two
degrees (English and history) in three years. Kessler immediately won a
graduate assistantship to The University of Maryland in 1974 and received her
master’s degree in English in 1976. She has taught on the junior high and high
school levels and was an English instructor at The University of Maryland and
Troy State University, Alabama. Kessler also has a paralegal degree in Law
Research.
In 1986, this student of history began research into The John
Lennon Series, a 9-volume work on the life of John Lennon. With a personal
Lennon library of over 500 books, numerous interview CDs, DVDs, periodicals,
and interview tapes, Kessler undertook seven trips to Liverpool, England to
interview John Lennon’s childhood friends, early band members, art college
mates, and business associates.
Establishing a reputation as the leading Lennon expert, Kessler
began to speak to organizations across the United States and to write for the
Kansas City Beatlefan magazine. She also interviewed U.S.-residing “Beatle
people” such as May Pang, George Harrison’s sister, Louise; reporter Larry
Kane, Angie and Ruth McCartney, and journalist Ivor Davis.
In late November of 2007,
Kessler published Shoulda Been There (1940-1961) the first historical narrative
biography in The John Lennon Series, the result of twenty years of research
into Lennon’s life. In 2010, Kessler released the second volume in The John
Lennon Series, Shivering Inside (1961-63), followed in 2014 by Volume 3, She
Loves You (1963-1964). That same year, she was one of 13 authors included in
the respected volume, New Critical Perspectives on The Beatles: Things We Said
Today. And in March of 2018, she will release Vol. 4 in The John Lennon Series,
Should Have Known Better (1964).
Kessler has been Guest Author for The Fest for Beatles Fans in New
York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas and is the official blogger for
The Fest for Beatles Fans. She was a Guest Presenter at BeatlesFestWest in San
Francisco and BEATEXPO in Stanford, CT. In 2008, Kessler was selected as
“Featured Author” for the Melrose Arts Festival in Louisiana and keynote
speaker for the Philadelphia Women’s Night of Commerce, 2009.
In Feb. 2014, Kessler addressed Penn State Altoona’s “Beatles International
Conference” and the University of Pennsylvania’s “Tomorrow Never Knows
International Symposium.” And in 2016, she served as Chairperson for the GRAMMY
Museum of Mississippi’s “From Cavern to Candlestick” Symposium, the first
Beatles’ symposium in the new museum.
In 2012, Kessler was asked
by Beatles at the Ridge Director, Charles Snapp, to create “The Beatles Authors
and Artists Symposium.” For the last five years, Kessler has continued to chair
that successful and growing symposium and to build its reputation.
Kessler has hosted “The John Lennon Hour” on BeatlesARama Radio
and BlogTalk Radio, and she has been featured on BBC’s “Up All Night,” Rod
Quinn’s ABC Radio “Up All Night” from Australia, and May Pang & Cynthia
Neilsen’s “Dinner Specials” among many other radio and personal appearances.
And now, I present Ms Germeaux’s 2009 article:
Recently I met (via email) Jude Southerland Kessler, author of
“John Lennon: Shoulda Been There”, a historical bio-novel covering the period
1940-1961, the first twenty-one years of John Lennon’s life. Published in 2008,
the book is a resounding 788 pages before its extensive bibliography, and
includes an interview CD with the Beatles first manager Allan Williams. The
foreword is written by John’s Liverpool mate, Bill Harry. Susan Ryan did a
great review of it for Daytrippin’ last year; this article is not a review but
a short interview with the author as well as my initial overview.
The intriguing aspect of this book is the attention to the facts
of John’s life down to minute details, as Jude creates scenes and
conversational script around actual events that have been documented. The only
new material that is not included are the newer revelations from Julia Baird’s
recent book, “Imagine This” which was released around the same time Jude’s book
was. Jude also missed out on an actual trip inside Mendips, which was opened to
the public after Jude concluded her research. But those things do not detract
from the story since Jude did have access to Baird’s earlier work.
Jude has researched John’s life for twenty years, making seven
trips to Liverpool to interview many people associated with John, people you
have read about but probably never thought to try and track them down, such as
the life model Jane Furlong from the Art Institute, and Rod Murray, John’s old
roommate. She inspected the actual entries about John at Quarry Bank School,
and wrote to the people who owned John’s Liverpool home, Mendips (before it was
opened to the public.)
Even if you are not into novels per se, this book is worth your
time if you are a Lennon fan who would like to be able to picture the events in
your mind and imagine how they may have happened. You’ll need to overlook the
lack of offensive language that littered John’s vocabulary, as Jude carefully
uses a more PG style. For example, the F word is “fugging”. But you get the
picture, and the book becomes accessible to all age groups; also absent are
early sexual experiences or any mention of his first real girlfriend, Barbara
Baker. Jude has done an excellent job of writing the conversations in true
Liverpudlian scouse; pretty amazing for an American girl. Down to the local
slang at that time, the names of meals, tea and holidays, it’s Liverpool all
the way.
We’ve heard it all before in so many books, with slight variations
and corrections through the years as more facts come to light. What we haven’t seen in print are possible
conversations and dramatic scenes that must have taken place…the judgments and
hostilities that were going on in the Stanley family that caused Mimi to be so
horrified at John’s living conditions at Julia’s that she took matters into her
own hands to extricate him; the close bond that grew between Uncle George Smith
and John, explaining John’s grief when he died; the shenanigans at Quarry Bank
School that exasperated the headmaster and all the teachers at the school,
resulting in his expulsion. In each case you are living through the events as
they occur. And that is how John’s traumatic childhood begins to unfold for the
reader in an emotional context.
Even the title begins to make more sense. Thinking that it meant
that WE all “shoulda been there” because it was such an amazing time, it
actually means THEY all “shoulda been there” for John when he was little, but
weren’t.
Here is the interview that I conducted with Jude:
Shelley: Is your name really Jude? I have to ask because of the
obvious connection to the song “Hey Jude”.
Jude: I was born Judith Ann Southerland. My mother is Irish
(O’Neal) and Jude is the Irish nickname for Judith. Once I got to gradeschool,
it became “Judy” no matter how hard I tried to tell everyone. (My husband’s
name is Rande…silent “e” and everyone called him Randy…he hated it as much as I
hated Judy.) When he and I met in 1977, we agreed to call each other by our
correct names, and over the years (33 years of marriage and four years dating),
it has stuck.
Shelley: What are the upcoming editions and dates that you plan to
publish?
Jude: There will be four more books in the series…if I survive the
pressure of deadlines!
*Shivering Inside (10 Dec. 1961-The Ed Sullivan Show) Will be out
on John’s birthday in 2010
*She Loves You (Ed Sullivan Show to meeting Yoko)
*Shoulda Known Better (Meeting Yoko through the Lost Weekend)
*Shine On (John’s return to New York through 8 Dec. 1980)
SG: Jude, what prompted you to do this project, and why did you
start researching John 20 years ago?
JK: I had been a John Lennon fan (and consequently, a Beatles
fan…in that order) since I was nine years old. Like so many other girls (and
guys) who grew up in the 60’s, I had the Beatle bracelet, pennant, wallet, card
collection, pictures, 45’s and albums. I was a dyed in the wool FAN.
And I was always a writer. In 1965, published a juvenile book of poetry called Memories
from Gradeschool Years and was named my junior high school’s poet laureate
(LOL!!). I wrote a novel in elementary school and did my own illustrations
(both dreadful!). Like many prepubescent girls, I worshipped Louisa May Alcott!
And in 1975, I received my Master’s in English and began teaching creative
writing at Troy State University. The point of all this info? To say that I
wanted to write a novel from a very early ago…I realized that writing a novel
was what I was here to do.
In 1986, when I began to earnestly consider beginning that
long-delayed book, I asked myself, “What do I know well enough to write about
authoritatively? What is my area of expertise?” The only thing I really knew
well (so I thought) was John Lennon.
Of course, almost immediately (as I began my research) I
discovered that I knew nothing about him at all. So I began purchasing books on
John and The Beatles: ten books, one hundred books, two hundred, three
hundred….I collected periodicals, taped interviews, and later interview DVD’s
and CD’s…I squirreled away anything and everything that I could get my hands on
about John. I created an entire Lennon/Beatles room in my home.
But there was another, more important motivation for my focus on
John Lennon as the subject of my novel(s). My “mission” in life, I believe, has
always been to care for neglected or abused children. Wherever my husband and I
have lived, there has always been a child living close to us who became part of
our family and ended up virtually moving with us and our son, Cliff, until we
moved away. John was one of those children. He has lived with me since December
of 1963. I wanted to tell the story of that little boy who had to prove that he
was worthy, valuable, and “bigger than Elvis” because his heart overflowed with
a “sadness that [went] too deep for
words.” I wanted to tell readers (whether they were Beatles fans or not) that
what parents do makes a huge difference in the life of a child.
SG: What is the most profound thing that you have learned about
John, that really surprised you?
JK: I honestly don’t think I had any real revelations about John…
not because I’m smart or clever, but because John was dead honest. He was
exactly the person you saw and listened to and observed. He was a straight
shooter…no sham, no gloss, no apologies.
He was – once I started researching him – exactly the person I had
always suspected him to be. I had long believed that the songs were all about
John’s tortured love for Julia, and the more I discovered about him, the more
obvious that premise became. From the plea “not to wear red tonight” in “Yes It
Is,” (red was Julia’s favorite color) to the admission: “I’m a loser, and I’m
not what I appear to be,” John always, always sang of his love for Julia and
his loss. She was the center point of every song. (See “I’ll Cry Instead” or
“In My Life” or “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me.”)
I had also always believed that inside John’s gruff exterior was a
soft, loving, giving man. And every single one of my interviews in Liverpool
with his friends and associates bore that concept out. Liverpudlians told me so
many stories of the kind and thoughtful things he did for them. (They’re all in
the book! You’ll love them…amazing examples of John’s heart.)
I had always believed John to be witty, pithy, cutting edge…and he
was. I believed him to be easily hurt. He was. I believed him to be
lost…constantly searching for “the next big thing” to make him happy. He was.
I wish I had discovered that John was happier than I had imagined,
but I didn’t. There were moments of smiles, of course…moments of fleeting joy.
But the sadness was always there, just beneath the surface. John had a “chip on
his shoulder that [was]bigger than his feet.”
And he sincerely believed that “half of what [he said] was meaningless.”
He was never really happy here. I believe he’s happy now.
SG: Can you name some of your favorite interviews in this process?
JK: Cue the theme from “Love Story” (“Where Do I
Begin…”)…Serially, I had no bad interviews. All were interesting, exciting,
amazing. How did a girl from a small town in north Louisiana get to walk with
such giants? I’ll never know. I only know I’ve been blessed. My life has been a
wonder and continues to be, thanks to wonderful Beatles friends and readers,
and the best husband on earth.
But I digress…back to interviews:
Meeting Allan Williams, the Beatles first manager, was an unruly,
joyous, raucous experience. My husband and I spent four unforgettable evenings
with Allan and his late friend, Beryl Adams (who worked for Brian Epstein at
NEMS and was once married to Bob Wooler). The stories and fun we all shared
will keep me smiling for the rest of my life. Allan gave me three great
interviews (one of which is on the CD in the revised copy of Shoulda Been
There). He also got into a fist-fight over me, which was the happiest night of
my life and another long story for another day.
The late Bob Wooler, DJ at the Cavern Club, was a man beloved by
every single person in Liverpool. He was eloquent, informed, and easy to talk
to. The stories he shared (with his bent toward alliteration and purple prose)
were so vivid and alive. I loved visiting with him. (But he would NOT tell me
the exact words that he said to John at Paul’s 21rst birthday party. He said he
was taking that statement to his grave.)
My favorite interview of all time was June Furlong, the life model
at Liverpool College of Art. She was John’s idol when he was in school. June
was a very famous and exquisite model. All the great artists of Europe (Bacon,
Foy, Auerbach) had painted June in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. So, John
used to shadow June to discover what she did to become so famous and
sought-after. He questioned her about what it took to get to the top. During
the process of interviewing June, we became fast friends. We still write each
other every month and stay in close contact. She means the world to me.
I also loved meeting Rod Murray, Helen Anderson, Joe Flannery,
Colin Fallows (Liverpool College of Art), Dave Bennion from QuarryBank (now
Calderstones CC) in Woolton, Tony Jackson, John’s Uncle Charlie, Louise
Harrison, Ruth McCartney, George Jardine (John’s art college professor), Billy
May, and many, many others. Honestly, I still have to pinch myself to believe I
actually sat in The Grapes or Ye Cracke and talked to these larger than life
people. Strange days indeed.
SG: Were you able to take the tour through Mendips, and what did
you think of that?
JK: No. sigh…..I was in Liverpool between 1993 and 2000…and
Mendips was not open to the public at that time. I wrote to the owner of
Mendips at that time and asked if I could please come in and see the house, and
I explained exactly why I wanted to do so. A week or so later, I receive a very
courteous reply telling me that the home was not open to the public and that only
the friends of the owner were admitted to the home.
Well…..pathetic person that I am (seeing Mendips meant so much to
me), I wrote back to the owner and said, “I could be your friend! I’m a nice
person.” I sent him/her photos of me, newspaper clippings, and any info that
might introduce myself to this stranger in Liverpool. I know, sad. But I so
wanted to walk inside that house.
Long story short, he/she wrote back to me saying that he/she would
NOT admit me to the home, but that instead would give me specific details about
the home just as it had looked when he/she purchased the home from Mimi Smith.
The letter described the fireplaces, cabinets in the kitchen, upstairs baths
and bedrooms, etc., and it gave me all the detail that I needed to paint an accurate
picture of the house that John called home.
When I published Shoulda Been There, I felt that it would be
selfish for me to hoard that letter to myself, so it is included in the
appendix for all to read. By the way, it was handwritten on John Lennon’s stationery.
You can check the printed phone number. It is the original.
One note that I’d like to add: I love hearing from readers, and in
the past two years, I’ve tried to answer every e-mail in a reasonable amount of
time. But Shivering Inside has to be in the publisher’s hands by 1 June in
order to make the publication deadlines, so I’m running out of time. I’m
receiving between 40-80 e-mails a day. Please understand that I may not be able
to answer every question. It’s not that I don’t want to answer, it’s that I
can’t finish the next book if I do. Thank you so much for understanding! I’m
trying to dog paddle as fast as I can.
I want to thank Jude for her wonderfully open answers to my
questions, and for her dedication to the truth about John’s history. Jude’s
efforts have taken her deep into the heart of Liverpool and John Lennon’s story
in a way that brings it all alive for the reader. No doubt, readers will feel
not only like they “shoulda been there”, but that they were.
To purchase her books, you can check out Amazon, and Jude’s website found at:
Please feel free to leave any comments or corrections and share
these articles plus the blog's website with your friends, especially Beatles’
fans. You and they might also enjoy knowing more about my Love Songs CD and my
novel, BEATLEMANIAC. Just click on the “My Shop” tab near the top of this page
for full details.
No comments:
Post a Comment