Wrapping things up with Shelley and Peter ...
The final questions from the Zoom audience …
11. How often were you (Peter and Gordon) on the same bill as The Beatles?
JUST ONCE IN GERMANY. STRANGELY CALLED THE BLITZ TOUR. This fact may surprise you, but keeping in mind that although both acts were part of The British Invasion, they attracted their own followers and were musically different enough to not find themselves drawn to the same venues or tours.
12. ‘Woman’ was written by Bernard Webb, who was really Paul McCartney. Are there any other Bernard Webb songs?
NO. PAUL WANTED TO PROVE THAT IT WAS NOT JUST HIS NAME THAT WOULD SELL SONGS AND ‘WOMAN’ BECAME A HIT PROVING HIM RIGHT. THE TRUTH QUICKLY EMERGED, AS NO ONE WAS SWORN TO SECRECY. SO BERNARD WEBB WAS PERMANENTLY CHANGED TO PAUL MCCARTNEY ON ALL FUTURE PRESSINGS AND PAPERS.
13. Have you read “Liddypool” by David Bedford? I am wondering how it agrees with The Beatles memories.
NO, I HAVE NOT, BUT I NEVER LIVED THERE AND JOHN AND PAUL DID NOT TALK ABOUT THE EARLY DAYS IN LIVERPOOL MUCH, SO I DON’T KNOW HOW RELEVANT THE BOOK IS.
14. How did Paul come to live with you?
Hmmmm. Another Jane and Paul question, but Peter answers honestly.
HE WAS AROUND A LOT AS HE WAS DATING MY SISTER. MOTHER WOULD DO HIS LAUNDRY OR ASK HIM TO DINNER. FINALLY, HE WAS OFFERED THE GUEST ROOM. ANOTHER BEATLES CONNECTION IS THAT GEORGE MARTIN CAME TO MY MOTHER FOR REFRESHER LESSONS ON THE OBOE. THAT WAS BEFORE HE MET AND WORKED WITH THE BEATLES.
15. Peter and Gordon played at The Concert for Mike Smith. I saw you there. How did that come to be?
PAUL SCHAEFFER ORGANIZED THAT EVENT WHEN MIKE WAS ILL TO HELP PAY FOR HIS CARE. HIS WIFE KATHY MADE HIM CALL ME. SHE WANTED PETER AND GORDON TO APPEAR. I DECIDED IF WE WERE EVER GOING TO GET BACK TOGETHER, THIS WAS THE TIME. I CALLED GORDON AND HE IMMEDIATELY SAID YES. WE GOT TOGETHER AND PRACTICED. I THINK WE WORKED UP A SET OF SIX SONGS.
As part of a group that also was involved in raising money for Mike Smith, I am so touched by the outpouring of support he received during his final years.
16. I have a question about Linda Ronstadt. Is she the best or most versatile singer you … (question gets cut off by a resounding reply from Peter)
YES! YES TO ALL OF IT AND ANY OTHER SUPERLATIVES! SHE IS THE BEST SINGER I’VE EVER HEARD!
17. If there had been no Beatles, who would we be talking about here?
Now THIS is a thought provoking question and after the movie ‘Yesterday,’ brings up many ideas. Would we even BE here? Why would we have a Zoom meeting with Peter Asher? There would have been no book. I love his answer.
THEN THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO BRITISH INVASION … SO NO BRITISH GROUPS AT ALL. SO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE PEOPLE THAT THE BEATLES LEARNED FROM ... THE PEOPLE THEY ADMIRED ... BUDDY HOLLY, CHUCK BERRY, ELVIS.
18. How is Jane?
(Jane who? Hahahaha Oh, THAT Jane)
ACTING. BUSY ALL THE TIME. IN GREAT HEALTH. I DON’T GET TO TALK TO HER VERY OFTEN, BUT SHE IS GREAT.
19. Do you tease us on your show when you start a story and taper off without finishing it?
Cute question!
NO. IF I ABREVIATE A STORY, IT IS BECAUSE I AM BORED WITH IT. IF IT IS ANNOYING THAT I DO THAT, I WILL STOP.
(I am fine with it. If it is a story you are bored with, then I have probably heard it. If not, I will email you and beg for more … author ... teehee!)
20. Thank you for answering your email (Peter Asher DOES answer all his email. Just who else does that?)
How do you picture your radio audience in your mind? You can’t see us.
HANDSOME, CHARMING. I LEARN FROM THEM.
It’s as if he can actually see us, isn’t it?
A fun time was had by all.
Thank you to the Lapidos family for setting this up.
Thank you, Tom Frangione, for being moderator.
And a special thank you with great appreciation to Peter Asher for putting up with your inquiring fans once again.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
Oh wait …
Kent!
Isn’t there something more??
Why yes, Shelley, there is!!!
A week after the event, The Fest For Beatles Fans released the whole program on podcast so that those who were unable to attend (Me! Me!) could still tune in and listen.
That being said, Shelley has done an EXCEPTIONAL job of recreating the whole scenario … and, if you still want to hear more (and in Peter’s voice), here is the link that will enable you to do so …
It’s about 85 minutes long … but well worth the listen …
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=389884349115506&ref=watch_permalink
I have been wanting to do an interview with Peter for several years now and have just never gotten around to seriously pursuing it. However, after also purchasing the special 2-CD Set of Peter Asher Productions (available thru The Fest For Beatles Fans), I became fascinated with the idea of talking to him NOT about The Beatles (since so many of these stories have now been rehashed again and again and again, both on his radio programme and live in concert) but rather about his career as a Record Producer.
Shelley mentioned this to Peter and his response was “All he has to do is ask!!!”
So I’m asking …
And hopefully early next year we’ll have an EXCLUSIVE interview to share with all of you about some Peter Asher music that you may not be immediately familiar with. (Sure, we all know that he worked with James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt … but the list of artists that he has shared studio time with is absolutely STAGGERING!!!) So please stay tuned for that … and watch for more updates as they become available.
Thank you, Shelley, for a job well done …
We appreciate your diligence … and I’m sure our readers will echo that sentiment. (kk)
