Remembering John Lennon
Will there ever be another era of pop music history quite like the 1960s? Every
generation will claim their era was the best, but if we’re to be objective, there was
something truly magical about that decade!
While many people will immediately think of London, especially Carnaby Street, as the
home of music culture in the 1960s, there is much to be said for Liverpool. Merseyside
gave us Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Searchers … and, of course, The Beatles. John
Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison immediately became
household names thanks to their catchy pop ditties and reinvented themselves
countless times over.
Arguably John Lennon went through the most significant evolution over the years, from
a mop-topped cheeky chap that fronted a successful guitar band to an iconic figure for
world peace. Helen Anderson was lucky enough to know Lennon personally, forming a
lifelong friendship when the two met at the Liverpool College of Art in 1958. Perhaps
more notably, Helen Anderson was responsible for some of John Lennon’s most iconic
looks.
One of the first new personas Lennon took on was during the filming of Help! in 1965. At
this point, John Lennon became associated with a leather Bakerboy cap perched on the
back of his head. The cap quickly became the must-have souvenir for Beatlemaniacs
across the world and was constantly snatched while the band were mobbed in public.
Innumerable sellers and collectors claim to have the original hat, but nobody can be
sure – Helen Anderson had to make countless replacements!
Thankfully you can still own a little piece of John Lennon history today by purchasing a
flawless replica, still hand-made by Helen Anderson in Liverpool. The hat is a truly
timeless fashion statement, so it’s just as appealing today as it was six decades ago. It
would be best if you acted quickly, though, as stocks are limited and Helen has no
immediate plans to create any more caps.
If you’re not a fan of headwear, you may prefer to pay tribute to John Lennon through
other clothing. Helen Anderson has you covered here too, with a wide range of T-shirts
and associated garments that feature Liverpool’s favourite son. Some of these shirt
designs also feature the rest of the Beatles, making them essential apparel for any Fab
Four fanatic. However, Helen’s personal favourites are recreations of hand-drawn
sketches of John Lennon, capturing three disparate periods in the life of her good
friend.
“My Buddy John” is a pencil drawing of how Helen Anderson will never forget John
Lennon – an aspiring teenage Teddy Boy who hero-worshipped Lonnie Donegan and did
his best to imitate the aesthetic of Buddy Holly. “The Return of the Cap” captures a side
profile sketch of Lennon wearing the Bakerboy cap mentioned above. Finally, “The
Dream’s Not Over” memorializes John Lennon’s look during the Sargent Pepper years,
defined by long, flowing locks and an iconic amulet.
Perhaps the most fitting tribute to John Lennon’s versatility as an artist and a
humanitarian is that he evolved so much that everybody remembers and visualises him
differently. By visiting the Helen Anderson web shop, you’ll gain a unique insight into a
global celebrity that this Liverpool-born fashion designer knew as a great friend.
Source - https://www.postingstation.com/remembering-john-lennon/