Imagine all the Money, Mr. Williams

Is it just me or was The Spirit of John Lennon séance one of the most vacuous programs ever produced?

As I espied the various "psychics", my consternation level hit the Richter scale.

I also noticed that no one connected to Lennon estate, especially Yoko, had anything to do with the thing.

No one, that is except the Beatles alleged first manager, Allan Williams .

I am a Beatles / Lennon fan, and in 1994, when a Beatlemania convention rocked through Toronto, I met the Outer Circle -John's first wife Cynthia Lennon , Beatle's first drummer Pete Best, late Beatle bass player Stu's Sutcliffe's sister Pauline Sutcliffe ,( who showcases Stuart's artwork) George's sister Louise Harrison , and of course, Allan Williams " The Man who gave the Beatles away".

All of the above have since written their own Beatle books.

But Williams, like a Cockney Willy Loman, made quite a tacky impression gulping his hotel vodka and orange, while peddling John Lennon lithographs and the like.

Meethinks, he hath been giving the Beatles away for a LONG time.

As I watched the Spirit of Lennon credits roll, and expectedly saw Williams name in the mix, me mind rolled back to that surreal day in 1994.

After chatting, mostly listening to Williams, about all things Beatle, he got a scathingly brilliant idea.

"To whom it may concern,

This letter is to confirm that Coral Andrews has the right to negotiate my book "The Man Who Gave the Beatles Away" , to be published in the USA and Canada within six months of the date of this letter Oct, 6, 1994."

I lost the letter ... and then found it again this year - 12 years too late.

I possessed the hardcopy of the ultra-candid Man Who Gave the Beatles Away but I gave it back to Williams, (well he wrote it, I rationalized,) as he exchanged copies for my newly-signed paperback.

Now the same tell-all hardcover edition book is a Top Pop Collectible on E-bay from $12 to $85.

I still have my autographed paperback.

Over the years, I have seen Allan Williams being interviewed, feeding off memories of his precious Liverpool Lads in various unauthorized programs.

I am surprised Williams wasn't part of this seamy séance circle. The only other parasite missing was Albert Goldman .

And I sometimes imagine what would have happened had I tried to publish the book on this side of the pond.

Regarding the idea of this deplorable program longtime Yoko and John pal Eliot Mintz said a John Lennon pay per view séance for $9.95 ( brought to you by British music-hall impresario Paul Sharratt of The Spriit of Diana $ 14.95 pay-per-seance infamy) was not John's style of communicating his message to the world.

His MUSIC was.

AND - Allan Williams self-proclaimed "Fool on the Hill" should know better.

The last cosmic laugh is on John Lennon, because unlike many thousands of duped pay per-view subscribers, he didn't have to pay to see this piffling tripe.

If Lennon had a message, the word PEACE is so bloody obvious.

An ape could have asked him more intelligent, less obvious questions and his goggled spectre super-imposed on infrared cameras in Lennon's fave New York café haunt, was beyond ludicrous.

If John Lennon had anything to say, wouldn't it be quite topical and wry?

How about ... "Can't believe England lost The World Cup and that wanker David Beckham resigned".

Likely Lennon was watching this televised rubbish having a sudsy libation with George Harrison.

Blimey! Is he next?

I predict Paul Sharratt and Allan Williams are thinking about it right now.