Artist/bassist Klaus Voormann recalls playing in the Plastic Ono Band with John and Ringo

John Lennon from the Plastic Ono Band session, by Klaus Voormann

Variety has a new interview with Klaus Voormann about his work on John Lennon and Yoko Ono's respective Plastic Ono Band albums, which are celebrated in a new box set with lots of extras out today.

What can you say about the dynamic between you and Ringo in the studio for “John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band”? Other than how John’s voice is boosted in the mix, the one thing that comes through loud and clear on “The Ultimate Collection” is the intricacies of the rhythm section. You really feel it on this remaster. Was that an easy camaraderie?

Playing with Ringo, what he can play, it was heavenly. Fantastic. Us playing together was never a problem. He knew I was playing the right thing. I knew he was playing the right thing. That just glued itself together naturally, like one thing. Don’t forget John’s rhythm guitar in there. I feel as if his rhythm guitar playing has long been underestimated. It’s amazing. I don’t know another who is that good. That was, for me, the best part of the Beatles – John’s rhythm guitar and Ringo’s drumming.

 

Klaus Voormann and the Plastic Ono Band

Beatle friend, bassist and Revolver cover artist Klaus Voormann tells The Guardian about his times around the Fab Four and playing on John Lennon's first solo LP.

“Everything done in two takes, no fussing about, so raw and fresh and direct … Nobody ever told me what to play. I always played what I felt would suit the spirit of the song or the lyrics.

Klaus Voormann's "Revolver" sheet music

Along with creating the cover for Revolver, Klaus Voormann also designed covers for sheet music of the album's songs. We've featured some of those in the past. Here's the entire collection.

Portrait of Beatles friend Asrid Kirchherr by Klaus Voormann

From Klaus' Instragram feed:

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Klaus Voormann

Beatle friend, Manfred Mann bassist and Grammy-winning LP cover artist Klaus Voormann is 81 today.

"Revolver" sheet music with Klaus Voormann cover art

In addition to providing the cover to Revolver, Klaus did the artwork for a series of sheet music covers for songs from the album.

Vintage Pics: Presenting the Plastic Ono Band

Maybe HE's the Eggman!

New Beatles-inspired guitar pedal features Klaus Voormann art

A new guitar effects pedal, Dr. Robert, from Aclam features artwork by Beatles friend Klaus Voormann.

The pedal, manufactured by Aclam, features a look inspired by Voormann's Revolver cover art. And it promises to deliver Revolver-like sounds as well: it was designed to replicate the iconic Vox UL730 amp, used by The Beatles on Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Here's a sample:

New Klaus Voormann interview on "Sound Opinions"

Bassist, "Revolver" cover artists and Beatle pal Klaus Voormann is interviewed on a new episode of public radio program "Sound Opinions." You can listen here.

Details from "Sound Opinions":

Klaus Voormann was an artist living in Hamburg when he followed the sound of live music down into a cellar one night and happened upon his first live rock and roll show. He saw two acts from Liverpool that night: Rory Storm and the Hurricanes (with Ringo Starr on drums) and an irreverent dance band called The Beatles.

The friendship he struck up with The Beatles would alter the course of his life and prove to be lifelong. When they leapt forward into psychedelia with Revolver, they turned to Voormann to create a fitting cover image. That work won a Grammy and a place of honor (in tattoo form) on Jim's arm.

When John Lennon started pulling away from The Beatles, he enlisted Voormann to play bass in the Plastic Ono Band. George Harrison and Starr followed suit, trusting their "A Hard Day's Night" era roommate, Voormann, to provide the bassline on many of their solo albums as well.
His stature as a session bass player grew throughout the 1970's- he can be heard on albums by Carly Simon, Harry Nilsson and Lou Reed among many others. In the early 1980s Voormann added“producer”to his resume through his work with the German band, Trio.

Klaus Voormann

More images from Klaus Voormann's upcoming book: "It Started in Hamburg"

As mentioned a few days ago, artist Klaus Voormann, a longtime friend to the Beatles dating to their Hamburg days, has a new book coming out.

Details:

Musician and graphic designer Klaus Voormann’s Grammy award-winning Beatles “REVOLVER” album cover is considered a masterpiece. However, confining his achievements to the “REVOLVER” album cover wouldn’t capture the whole picture of his multifaceted artistic work.

On the occasion of his 80th birthday in 2018, the book „KLAUS VOORMANN – IT STARTED IN HAMBURG“ is dedicated to his substantial creative work, beginning in Hamburg in 1958. Looking back on a productive period of 60 years, the graphic art also refers to
the musician Voormann and the perennial influence of the world of music.
Besides well-known illustrations from the Beatles-area, almost 200 pieces of artwork  will reveal the artist’s diversity, including many graphic works, sketches and productions supplemented by fotos and stories – hitherto unknown to the general public – and contributions of companions and friends.

You can pre-order "It Started in Hamburg" from Voormann's website now.

"It Happened in Hamburg" - new book coming soon from Beatles' friend Klaus Voormann

Klaus Voormann, who created the cover art for the Beatles' Revolver and played bass on a number of solo Beatles albums, has a new book coming out this spring.

There are few details so far, but here's a look at the cover:

One imagines it will be similar in approach to his excellent "Birth of an Icon: Revolver 50," which includes a graphic novel re-telling of how he created the classic record sleeve in addition to reproduction of other Beatles-themed drawings and paintings.

Stay tuned to Voormann's website for more information.

Klaus Voormann Beatles art

History: "Klaus Voormann: Is he the new Beatle?"

Artifact: Klaus Voorman "Revolver" sketch

Via Bonhams:

Klaus Voormann (German, Born 1938): The Beatles,

circa 1966,
a 'Revolver' album cover sketch in pencil, signed by the artist, in card mount, 7¾ x 8in (19.5 x 20cm)

Footnotes

• Exhibited: Deutsches Haus der Geschichte, Bonn, 2006.

New series of limited-edition Revolver collages coming from Klaus Voormann

Genesis Publications, which never produces anything I can afford, has teamed with Klaus Voormann on a series of collages based on Voormann's cover for the Beatles' Revolver LP.

Each piece is different and hand-signed by Voormann. And there will be only 250. You can learn more here.

Video: Ringo and Klaus

Ringo reminisces with the Beatles' Hamburg friend and Revolver LP cover artist Klaus Voormann in a new video.

Ringo posts pic with Beatles pal and bassist Klaus Voormann

Here's Ringo on Twitter with Klaus Voormann, bassist and friend of the Beatles dating back to Hamburg. Also, he created the cover art for Revolver. Is he another guest, along with Paul McCartney, on Ringo's next LP?

Hanging out with Klaus Vormann  I'm living with bass players lately always good to see him peace and love. 😎✌️🌟💖🎶✈ pic.twitter.com/jlnUZC4PXh

— #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) March 8, 2017

Beatles Bits: Weekly News Roundup

Olivia Harrison has received permission from local authorities to construct a new facility to house George Harrison's private archives on the Friar Park Estate.

Olivia Harrison will remove temporary storage and utility units at Friar Park and erect new buildings after being given consent by South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority.

The development will nclude an archive building for the storage of family papers and objects which are currently stored in “unsuitable conditions” in various places around the estate.

The building would measure 20m by 8m and include accommodation for an archivist.

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There's very little info to date, but Variety reports that producer Michael de Luca, the mastermind behind the "50 Shades of Gray" films, is working on a John Lennon and Yoko Ono biopic with Yoko's participation.

“The Theory Of Everything” writer Anthony McCarten will write the script and produce with Ono, De Luca, and Josh Bratman of Immersive Pictures.

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Don't get excited by the Liverpool Echo's headline: The Sgt. Pepper suits going on display at the city's Beatles Story attraction are replicas, created in 2000. Still it's good to see that there will be a celebration there of the album's 50th anniversary.

The Beatles Story is also displaying a limited edition poster featuring an alternative photo from the album's cover shoot, which was given to 100 EMI executives on the 20th anniversary of Pepper in 1987.

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Who was Pablo Fanque? This article looks at the history behind the circus poster that inspired the Beatles' "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite."

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Klaus Voormann has teamed with Genesis Publications for a deluxe edition of his recent graphic novel detailing his creation of the Beatles' Revolver cover.

Each of the 500 available copies will include one of Voormann's signed original drawings from his personally curated collection. The box set, which celebrates the artist's 1967 Grammy for Best Album Cover, Graphic Awards, includes a special 12-page booklet, a foreword from Paul McCartney, an introductory letter from Ringo Starr and contributions from former Manfred Mann bandmate Mike d'Abo and Professor Lawrence Zeegen, Dean of the School of Design at Ravensbourne.

To get updates on what will likely be a very nice, but expensive, book go here. BTW: Amazon is listing a paperback "German edition" of Voorman's book for $55. The text in the preview pages is in English. So perhaps the book is printed in Germany but includes German and English text? Not sure, but it looks nice.

Creating the "Revolver" cover: BBC interviews Klaus Voormann

Artists and Beatles pal Klaus Voormann discusses creating the cover for the group's Revolver 50 years ago in a new BBC interview.

"They invited me down to Abbey Road to listen to the tracks - I was just blown away, floored by what I was hearing.

"I thought I was dreaming - Tomorrow Never Knows with its backward looped tapes and bird cries. It was something totally new."

...  As taken as the band were by his later interpretation of their hairdos for that Revolver cover though, he admits there were details that did not make the final cut.

"In one corner, I had Paul sitting on a toilet - they asked me to change that one. "And a picture of myself - John spotted that one and said 'Klaus, you cheeky beggar'."