The Women They Knew
by Steve
Marinucci
John Lennon and Ringo Starr have
been public figures for so many years now that it's pretty much taken for
granted who they are and how we look at them.
But two recent books show Lennon and
Starr in a different light in more private times with people they cared for at
that time.
"Instamatic
Karma" by May Pang and “A
Dose of Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Nancy Lee Andrews cover pretty much the same
territory. Pang's book is filled with pictures she took during a relationship
she had with Lennon that began during his separation with Yoko Ono and
continued on for several years afterwards, while Andrews’ book documents her
relationship with Ringo before he met and married Barbara Bach.
“Instamatic
Karma” ($29.95,
While “Instamatic
Karma” is a modest tome, “A
Dose of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Nancy Lee Andrews’ book, is a lavish one. The
deluxe version ($69) is boxed and autographed. The focus of the book, of
course, is on Andrews’ relationship with Ringo, which began in 1974 and ended
in 1980 after Ringo finished his work on the film “Caveman,” but her book also
includes pictures of others, as well. The short list: Leon Russell, Keith Moon,
the Band, Harry Nilsson, George Harrison, Carl Radle, 
Bill Graham and Donovan. And there
are plenty more.
Similar to the relaxed Lennon in
Pang’s book, Andrews’ pictures of Ringo out of his usual “Peace and Love” mode
might be surprising. The book, which includes shots of Ringo in the rock star
lifestyle he knew well during those years, also show a more tender side of
Ringo not usually on view. Some of the best shots here are of Ringo and his
children.
In the book, Andrews says she was
encouraged to take up photography by Milton Greene. “He handed me a Nikon
camera and said, ‘Try it and see what happens.’ “ She
did and this book is the result. She starts out shooting simple pictures, and
later gets an eye for the photographer’s art.
Her shots of Bill Graham show this.
She manages to capture both the intensity and softness of the rock promoter.
Her shots of Keith Moon catch him in a moment where he wasn’t in character, a
rarity.
Two of the most intriguing pages in
the book are the ones with actor Jon Voight and his “adorable daughter
Angelina,” who grew up to become Angelina Jolie.
Both books ends
on notes of separation from their Beatle lovers. Pang’s ends with
pictures taken at the
But, as the text concludes softly,
“Some things just weren’t meant to be …”
Andrews recalls that after filming
for “Caveman” ended, she didn’t hear from Ringo for two weeks. The end came
when he told her in
“No you can’t,” Andrews writes. “My
lightning, Eddie Barnes, finally struck me a decade later and it feels real
good when you meet and marry the right one.”
Both Pang and Andrews, though,
indicate in their books their time with Lennon and Starr were good times. And
that’s what makes both quite enjoyable and worth having.