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pan6467 · 12-09-2005, 07:50 AM

There was a comic book back in the 70's by Marvel called "What if..." It usually teamed Marvel Superheroes..... so stealing from that idea, plus the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest tragedies in my lifetime and other things. I thought what a bout a thread where people could just sit back and imagine a world event or a life experience that would make things different if it had not happened (or if it had).

For example.... what if Marc Antony had beaten Octavius? Or What if we had never gone to Vietnam? Or lost WW2? or the Beatles had not broken up.... or that girl/boy in the 5th grade that turned you down actually said yes?

Write it how ever you want, 1st person, as a total outside observer, as an insider, whatever..... be creative and have fun......

My what if......

What if John Lennon had not been killed, but had still had been shot? (As written like an encyclopedic biography.)

The television was turned to Monday Night Football, on that cold December night when Howard Cosell announced John Lennon had been shot. No details on whether he was dead or not.

The crowds gathered in Central Park and around the hospital praying for Lennon to survive. No one minded the cold evening, as the warmth of their memories and goodwill for Lennon kept them warm.

News arrived as the sun was coming out, Lennon survived and would be okay, but would need a few months to recouperate.

Double Fantasy, his most recent album stayed on the charts for 2 years and would become the best selling album of all time, as he toured sporadically, often taking months off disappearing to spend time with his wife Yoko and son Sean and speaking out against the Reagan presidency.

Lennon made historic news in 1984 when campaigning for Democratic nominee Gary Hart, by saying that if Gary Hart was elected the Beatles would reunite for a one off inaugural show. Gary Hart won both the nomination and the general election by landslide.

John Lennon joined Paul, George and Ringo onstage at the Lincoln Center for the most watched television show in history, the long awaited Beatles reunion. At first the tension onstage could be felt by all. George Harrison took off his guitar and had started walking off stage in apparently a bad mood until John spoke and told George that the show was not for them but for the people. Paul, meanwhile stood there quietly smiling for the cameras.

Halfway through their set, as the group continued to play methodically and without warmth, John spontaneously walked over to Paul and gave him a big hug and was heard to say, "I love you, brother." Paul's reaction was similar and the show picked up pace, warmth and smiles.

After the show, the Beatles left as a group hurriedly and without speaking to the throng of press. They arrived in NYC in time to appear live on Nightline. Where John and Paul said that they would try to write an album together and that the Beatles were not dead yet.

However, as months progressed, word out of Abbey Studios was that the secluded Beatles were fighting and often one of the four would leave, only to have producer George Martin find some common ground to bring the rogue Beatle back.

The Rolling Stones meanwhile were making news by touring feverishly and releasing albums to luke war reception.

In 1986, the Beatles finished recording and released the 12 song album "Second Act". The songs were equally divided between John and Paul, with Ringo and George each having written 1 song.

The surprising "In God's Hands" a semi hymnal hard rocker written and sung by George was the biggest hit of the multi platinum selling, Grammy Award winning disk.

John maintained his activism and moderated for President Hart and the Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev tried to end the Cold War, with trade and peace treaties.

Paul, meanwhile was pushing for a Beatles tour, trying to maintain their comeback.

Finally a tour was scheduled for 1987. Rock promoter Billy Graham and Paul McCartney had gotten the Rolling Stones, The Who, Pink Floyd and the Kinks to all do a 10 city tour with the Beatles as a tribute to the British invasion of the 60's.

But again, trouble brewed for the Beatles. John, who had just recorded a hit duet with son Julian, backed out claiming the tour was too commercial and that he was again going solo.

George decided to team up with friend and fellow guitarist Eric Clapton to record a series of best selling albums.

Ringo regrouped his All-Starr touring band and went on a summer tour.

Paul feeling as the odd man out swore he would never again appear onstage with John.

The Beatles and the individual band members never regained their momentum. Musically, they were to become has beens.

By 1992, John Lennon had dropped out of music again, took to social activism and had written a tell all book. Paul tried touring solo again but found he was reduced to small venues. Ringo maintained his All-Starr Summer tours to moderate success and George had dropped out of public life totally, devoting his life to religion and charity.

In June, 1997, John, Paul and Ringo were seen together at a 30 year anniversary for their album Sgt. Pepper, sponsored by Rolling Stone Magazine and Time Warner. They refused to appear together in pictures and were said to be very cold toward each other.

Later that year John Lennon reported that he had lung cancer. He dropped out of public life and died at the age of 57, in NYC, December 8, 1997, 17 years to the day he was shot. He was survived by his wife Yoko, and 2 sons Julian and Sean, both recording artists and both having had hit duets with their father.

12-09-2005, 07:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	What if...... There was a comic book back in the 70's by Marvel called "What if..." It usually teamed Marvel Superheroes..... so stealing from that idea, plus the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest tragedies in my lifetime and other things. I thought what a bout a thread where people could just sit back and imagine a world event or a life experience that would make things different if it had not happened (or if it had). For example.... what if Marc Antony had beaten Octavius? Or What if we had never gone to Vietnam? Or lost WW2? or the Beatles had not broken up.... or that girl/boy in the 5th grade that turned you down actually said yes? Write it how ever you want, 1st person, as a total outside observer, as an insider, whatever..... be creative and have fun...... My what if...... What if John Lennon had not been killed, but had still had been shot? (As written like an encyclopedic biography.) The television was turned to Monday Night Football, on that cold December night when Howard Cosell announced John Lennon had been shot. No details on whether he was dead or not. The crowds gathered in Central Park and around the hospital praying for Lennon to survive. No one minded the cold evening, as the warmth of their memories and goodwill for Lennon kept them warm. News arrived as the sun was coming out, Lennon survived and would be okay, but would need a few months to recouperate. Double Fantasy, his most recent album stayed on the charts for 2 years and would become the best selling album of all time, as he toured sporadically, often taking months off disappearing to spend time with his wife Yoko and son Sean and speaking out against the Reagan presidency. Lennon made historic news in 1984 when campaigning for Democratic nominee Gary Hart, by saying that if Gary Hart was elected the Beatles would reunite for a one off inaugural show. Gary Hart won both the nomination and the general election by landslide. John Lennon joined Paul, George and Ringo onstage at the Lincoln Center for the most watched television show in history, the long awaited Beatles reunion. At first the tension onstage could be felt by all. George Harrison took off his guitar and had started walking off stage in apparently a bad mood until John spoke and told George that the show was not for them but for the people. Paul, meanwhile stood there quietly smiling for the cameras. Halfway through their set, as the group continued to play methodically and without warmth, John spontaneously walked over to Paul and gave him a big hug and was heard to say, "I love you, brother." Paul's reaction was similar and the show picked up pace, warmth and smiles. After the show, the Beatles left as a group hurriedly and without speaking to the throng of press. They arrived in NYC in time to appear live on Nightline. Where John and Paul said that they would try to write an album together and that the Beatles were not dead yet. However, as months progressed, word out of Abbey Studios was that the secluded Beatles were fighting and often one of the four would leave, only to have producer George Martin find some common ground to bring the rogue Beatle back. The Rolling Stones meanwhile were making news by touring feverishly and releasing albums to luke war reception. In 1986, the Beatles finished recording and released the 12 song album "Second Act". The songs were equally divided between John and Paul, with Ringo and George each having written 1 song. The surprising "In God's Hands" a semi hymnal hard rocker written and sung by George was the biggest hit of the multi platinum selling, Grammy Award winning disk. John maintained his activism and moderated for President Hart and the Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev tried to end the Cold War, with trade and peace treaties. Paul, meanwhile was pushing for a Beatles tour, trying to maintain their comeback. Finally a tour was scheduled for 1987. Rock promoter Billy Graham and Paul McCartney had gotten the Rolling Stones, The Who, Pink Floyd and the Kinks to all do a 10 city tour with the Beatles as a tribute to the British invasion of the 60's. But again, trouble brewed for the Beatles. John, who had just recorded a hit duet with son Julian, backed out claiming the tour was too commercial and that he was again going solo. George decided to team up with friend and fellow guitarist Eric Clapton to record a series of best selling albums. Ringo regrouped his All-Starr touring band and went on a summer tour. Paul feeling as the odd man out swore he would never again appear onstage with John. The Beatles and the individual band members never regained their momentum. Musically, they were to become has beens. By 1992, John Lennon had dropped out of music again, took to social activism and had written a tell all book. Paul tried touring solo again but found he was reduced to small venues. Ringo maintained his All-Starr Summer tours to moderate success and George had dropped out of public life totally, devoting his life to religion and charity. In June, 1997, John, Paul and Ringo were seen together at a 30 year anniversary for their album Sgt. Pepper, sponsored by Rolling Stone Magazine and Time Warner. They refused to appear together in pictures and were said to be very cold toward each other. Later that year John Lennon reported that he had lung cancer. He dropped out of public life and died at the age of 57, in NYC, December 8, 1997, 17 years to the day he was shot. He was survived by his wife Yoko, and 2 sons Julian and Sean, both recording artists and both having had hit duets with their father. __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"