By Terry Ott

Well, it's been a while since I was awash in hate mail, so, what the hell, here goes.

The buzz is getting buzzier on various Beatle Websites and Internet discussion forums about the upcoming parole hearing of Mark D. Chapman.

You know, the usual "how could they even consider letting this monster out," and "where do I go to sign a petition to keep him in," and other assorted variations of the above.

Guess what I think?

I think that if John Hinkley-who attempted to kill former president Ronald Reagan-can eventually work his way towards release-which he is- so should MDC.

If Chapman can pass a mental compentency test, then I believe he should be entitled to the same rights that any other murderer is entitled to in the United States, when it regards release from custody.

This Decemeber, Chapman will have been in prison for 24 years.

Very, very few offenders serve over 20 years for murder in the US.

Should there be a special law for offenders who murder beloved rock stars? Should such an offense automatically qualify for the death penalty? Or life in prison without possibilty of parole?

I don't think any fair and clear minded person would agree with a Draconian law like I have just articulated.

Would it be better if MDC was in the can for 30 years? 35? 40, fattening up like a prize Heffer?

Some argue that he should be kept in prison until Yoko Ono is no longer with us. That effectively means that he could conceivably- but highly unlikely- get out this year, or not for another 10 or 20 years. Ms. Ono could live to 100, after all.

Therefore, it is my belief that the just hype surrounding the semi-annual hoo-ha that arrives whenever MDC is up for parole, only furthers his twisted agenda, and possibly even inspires other such nutbars out there in waiting.

If he qualifies for parole, let 'em out, and hopefully he'll crawl under a rock, or maybe get hit by one.

I urge all serious Beatles fans to sign up for the Yahoo Beatles Remixers group.

Although the group evolved from humble beginnings, it now is offering some really good remixes.

A guy by the name of Bob just uploaded something called "Stawberry Fields Suite," a 6 minute plus opus to the great Strawberry Fields Forever.

I think I counted about 7, 8, 9, or even 10 versions of the tune in various states of ready, and according to VM, a regular group member, Bob is new to the remixing rackets, but seems to have a natural knack.

And I agree, the "Suite" is a sweet piece of audio, and who knows, something like this could catch on like the Black Album did this past summer.

Which is to say a splendid time is guaranteed for all until the Apple legalists take notice, and issue their ususal "cease and desist" order.

But if and until then, live it up!

Whoa!

Hey!

Stop the presses!!!!!!!!!!

Let it Be WILL NOT be out on DVD in 2004.

Baby, what a big surprise!

This is really taking on Rutles-like stature. Did Ron DeKlein nick the master tape?

How long have they-the rocket scientists at Apple- been "working on" this release. My best guess is about 3 years, at least. Probably longer.

I just got finsished going through all of the extras on the superb The Kids Are Allright, Who, DVD from 2002, and for a project that was very difficult to pull together, with video and film and audio scattered all over the place, and in bad condtition to boot, the whole project took them less than 2 years.

Hell, talk of the new LIB DVD started surfacing just after the 1999 Yellow Submarine DVD, and I seem to recall projected release dates for LIB, dating to the fall of 2002, then 2003, then 2004, and now, oops!

By the time they get this sucker out, 5.1 will be the Beta/8 track of audio formats, or is that what they are taking so long on, a 6.1, 7.1 or 8.1 mix?

For God's sake, Apple: cut the cake/crap and put this thing out, now!

Regular reader Val e-mailed to say that she thought the recent booting of Cat Stevens from a flight as he was trying to fly to Washington from his home in London, England was a bad move on the US's part and reminded her of the way the Richard Nixon government went after John Lennon, now some 30 years ago.

The American government claims that Stevens, now calling himself Yusuf Islam, was a contributor to extremist and/or terrorist groups, perhaps even those involved in the 9/11 plots.

Although Cat/Yusuf has got to be a really different to give up the life of a pop star for that of a holy man, I doubt very much that he, like Lennon, was any danger to the United States.

Even George Bush's buddy in terror fighting, UK PM Tony Blair, was aghast, and demanded an explanation, as is Stevens/Islam.

I read one wire service report that said the security personnel that detained old Cat were busy obtaining autographs, something that would not be a common occurence for any other "enemy combatant."

Hell, Stevens is probably lucky he didn't get deported to Guantanamo, Cuba!

As in the case of John Lennon's immigration problems, this latest incident with Cat Stevens may well end up as a stain-or at least a seriosu misjudgement-on the part of the US authorities.

Maybe W should listen to Peace Train.

I have just been struck by a brilliant idea.

Longtime SPM PR flack Geoff Baker has just quit or just got the sack from Sir Pauly McCartney, and I think he should apply for a job with Yoko Ono.

Although Yoko already has a trusty right and left handed boy in Elliot Mintz, I think the gaining of Baker would represent an unprecedented intelligence coup in the ongoing Apple Corps holy war, AKA the Beatles business affairs.

For instance, GB and YO and EM could huddle on whether PM would be pulling another "lost Lennon" song crediting trick when the next Macca live album comes out.

(Oh yeah, there'll be another.)

Or, an inside look at what moves Paul might be making in the next Apple "committee" meeting. You know, whether Let it Be would ever come out on DVD, in our lifetime.

Then, if ever Mintz is given the boot, well he and Baker can get together and do another book!

The possibilties are endless!

And me head is just spinning thinking of all the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune that I must endure after this dispatch.

Oh well, as W sez: bring 'em on!

Well, after getting the sack as a "joke" last year, Macca media man Geoff Baker got it for real yesterday, after Sir Paul evaluated his recent "performance," and deemed it not cricket or ix-nay.

Boy, I can't wait for the book!

Maybe infamous rakemucker Kitty Kelly will be interested, because this one should prove very juicy, if not down right dirty.

It seems the dish is that dear Heather, new wife of Sir P, is the one who put the X on Mr. Baker's backside, thereby greasing the rail he rode out of (London) town on.

Being media flunkie to perhaps the most powerful pop star in the world could not have been an easy job, and God knows Apple Corps is the not the well adjusted mental health type of place to work.

Still, SOMETHING major must have taken place for Baker to get the boot after so many years, and we may in fact soon be hearing from Geoff, or at least his side of the story from that old tried and true "source close to the Beatles," which in turn may be Baker himself.

You never can tell though; Baker may have been given the sack because he refused to sign a non-disclose contract, as Paul would have been acutely aware of former lackies in the UK betraying their masters with books after the fact.

Baker will most likely though, take some time to evaluate his options.

If he does intend to pen a tell-all book, he does not want to give too much of the dirt away for free. Better to save that for the book and promo tour.

What with the Mark Lewisohn book(s) on the horizon, and now this cock-up, Sir P may be sweating a little.

Regular readers know that I am not a Yoko Ono hater, basher, or whatever.

All in all, I think she has done a good job of keeping John's legacy and music alive, but a few recent items have rubbed me the wrong way.

First, the latest Rolling Stone issue with Michael Moore on the cover has a story about YO having "remade" Give Peace A Chance.

As most Beatle fans know, GPAC was credited to the usual Lennon-McCartney duo, but Paul has readily admitted he had nothing to do with the tune.

Now maybe Yoko did, but I don't seem to recall John saying anything at the time other than he was afraid to credit Yoko because he didn't have the guts, or some such thing.

Still, it would seem barely kosher to me that Yoko would re-do the famous song, but as they say, she was there, so let her conscience be her guide.

The other thing bothering me is the feeble 4 "bonus" tracks to added to the upcomning reissue of Rock and Roll. And as I understand it, several of the "bonus" tracks have already appeared on Menlove Avenue, so like, what's the big deal?

As it stands, the current line-up would by my math leave about 30 minutes of wasted space on the CD, and with the hours and hours of tape available from the infamous Phil Spector sessions, a measly 4 tracks is bordering on a rip-off.

Sorry, Yoko, But that's what I think.

Although you can make it all better by putting out a box set of the Rock and Roll sessions!

Just don't re-do Imagine.

While it is great that we will be getting two "new" John Lennon releases this fall, I really wish that Yoko Ono would put out on DVD the 1972 One to One concert in New York City, so far only offered in a now out of print VHS version.

A new release of what was called John Lennon Live In New York City should include both the matinee and evening show, all restored and remastered in remixed in 5.1 audio, and with as many extras that Ms. Ono can dig up.

These concerts would be a great showcase for multi-channel audio, and would for the first time-other than some snippets on the Lennon Anthology box- provide video and audio of the superior second concert, of which little has been seen. (For some reason, the VHS version contained the first show whicjh John called the rehearsal.)

The CD version of the concert is also the first show, and maybe Ms. Ono could also release an updated CD of both shows at the same time as a DVD release.

Ah well, maybe next Christmas season.

In any event, that's my 2 cents.

On September 6, the Toronto Star had an article noting the 40th anniversary and to the day that the Beatles played their first show at Maple Leaf Gardens.

As regular readers may recall, I have written about being lucky enough to have been at that show, and related all the usual things such as I could not really hear anything except screaming.

But what also came to mind is that although the Fabs would return to Toronto for 4 more shows in 1965 and 1966, I don't think I ever came close to going to see them a second time.

This may have been due to my parents' dismay of having to pay for tickets, but I seem to remember that even though the 1964 show was exciting to be at, not being able to hear the music and surviving the incredible crush of the crowds was not so much fun.

Perhaps that is why crowd totals in 1966 started to tail off, as the fans grew older and a little wiser, and may have preferred to stay home and listen to their records. I know I did.

And the Beatles themselves understood this, I think, and that is a major reason why they said "no mas" after Candlestick Park, and went back to England to create what would become their seminal work, Sgt. Pepper.

But man, it's been a fast 40 years!

NB: thanks to David for the ever watchful eye.

Well, it looks like the back end of 2004 will be the fall of the Beatles.

What with 2 new repackages from John Lennon, a George Harrison DVD and maybe even the rumoured Capitol albums box set, the lead up to the Christmas season-tradionally a Beatles fan goldmine-would seem to be filled with Fabs' product.

But to throw a little rain into the parade, I'd like to remind everyone that in an age of SACD, DTS, and DVD-Audio, all of the reported Beatles and related releases are coming to us in plain old allbeit remixed and remastered stereo.

The future is now in audio, and I fear that Apple is piddling away many chances to lead, and in fact may be turning off fans who see Apple's tardy inro into high end audio as a cynical attempt to milk as much as possible from hard-core Beatle fans whom they assume will buy each and every edition of every release no matter how many duplications.

In my opinion, it is an absolute disgrace that music fans can go to any CD and record shop and buy excellent SACD, DTS and 5.1 recordings of AC DC, the Eagles, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones and many, many others, yet the Beatles-the greatest pop band of all time-are only available in high tech audio in the Anthology and Yellow Submarine DVD sets.

Really, when you think about the above, and the tired old fact that the CD catalogue mostly remains un-remastered since 1986, and well, you get the idea that it is just crazy.

Possibly it is the dreaded Apple "committee" that is to blame for all the delays.

For God's sake, if the infamously battling Eagles can get back together and work together to please their fans, you'd think the people who control Apple could do the same.

The mind boggles, it really does.