Sam Leach - KEEP
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*eats junk food* Sam, did you hear about me accidentally vandalising the Grapes? I tripped over a fireplace!!
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Hi Sam and everyone, The radio is playing I Wanna Hold Your Hand right now, did everyone see John Lennon on the cover of Life magazine? We picked it up the other day it's got pictures and other things all with John, a very nice tribute
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Hello gang As you know I've spent a few days with Ellissay and Lauren which was good fun and we enjoyed ourselves...despite the rain !! As it's the 25th Anniversary of John's assassination, I felt you might all like to read my account of the inside story of my Tribute to John that I organised outside St. George's Hall, Liverpool on DEC 14th 1980. 100.000 people stood in the rain for NINE hours to show our feelings for John Lennon. If anyone wants to, please e-mail me at sam@samleach.com Please see below but you'll have to scroll down a little. Love you all. Sam xxxx My tribute to John. Just before dawn on December 9th 1980, my Daughter woke me with the chilling news that John had been shot dead. Recovering from the terrible shock, my first reaction was to wonder were the CIA behind it. An outlandish thought brought about by their open hostility and determination to hound him out of America. As I listened to the reports of his being killed, I felt assassination was a more appropriate term for someone of his stature. Sure enough, within the hour news reports concurred. The death of John Lennon attracted as much rhetoric and column inches as JFK or Bobby. Many local papers contacted me for comment but I was too shaken to be of much use. However two days later, I was taking my Wife to Ladbrokes Casino for a meal, when a radio station commented. "Earlier today St Nicholas Church held a memorial service for John Lennon. Only 40 turned up for the man who once said he was bigger than Jesus Christ." Although it was an impromptu service without any publicity, nevertheless the newscaster insinuated Liverpudlians were not bothered about John's death. Punching the dashboard, I vowed to shove that lie down the stations throat. But how?? While my Wife joined her Sister in the restaurant, I paced up and down in sheer frustration, unable to eat. Suddenly I knew what to do. Getting plenty of loose change from the barman, I slipped into a phone-box and rang inquiries, asking for the phone numbers of Newspapers, press agencies, TV and Radio stations. Ringing each one, I announced a free public tribute to John at St George's Plateau the following Sunday. An hour later I rejoined an angry Wife. She demanded. "What have you been doing and you've missed the soup.' That was lucky as I hated Ladbrokes soup. Cautiously I tried to explain what I was intending to do for John, which wasn't too easy, because at that stage I didn't know myself. I muttering vaguely, "I'm doing a show for John Lennon on Sunday." Finally, I got stuck into a juicy steak. My appetite had returned. At 6.00am the following day the telephone started ringing and didn't stop for four days. Lennon's pre-eminence was demonstrated as the World's media rang incessantly for details of what was happening in his home town. By this time I had decided to run a non-stop show with surviving `Merseybeat' groups from 9.00am until 7.00pm. Hopefully at least 10,000 Lennon fans would then hold a moving candle-lit ceremony, culminating with a ten minute silence. Ten minutes!! There were those who didn't think it possible for me to keep quiet for ten seconds, let alone a huge crowd. My phone became jammed with enquiries and I couldn't make outgoing calls. I asked British Telecom to give me another line. Under normal circumstances this would take at least four weeks. Because I was doing all this for John Lennon, BT had it installed within two hours. The next four days were a complete whirl in which time I only managed three hours sleep. Its tiring just recalling that hectic time. Media people from over 100 countries contacted me. The majority ignored the time difference, no doubt feeling. "We're working.....so get up." Consequently both phones rang non-stop until the early hours. Oddly, the only respite we received was from 3.00am until 5.00am. That must have been their lunchbreak. By this time I'd begun to realise the enormous task I had undertaken. Fortunately my Brother-in-law Gordon Brown and `Dollar' Doyle stationed themselves at my home to field incoming calls and keep the media up to date with events. Events which were moving at a bewildering pace. The first day over 20 groups volunteered their services. Free! Then a big headache was solved when Alan Knipe - a local club owner - offered his sound equipment. And an engineer. Again free!! Determined to ensure John's tribute did him and Liverpool justice, I rang everyone who was anyone, letting them know what we were about and asking for accolades to John that I could pass on to the Media. Messages of sympathy poured in from personalities such as Sir Harold Wilson, Bill Shankly, Joe Mercer, Henry Cooper, Gerry Marsden and many others. After three days there was no-one left to call. Or was there? Talking to so many famous people must have gone to my head a little. Suddenly I found myself ringing larger organisations for quotes on John's assassination. Such as The Vatican and The White House!! Okay...wheel me away. Despite the solemnity of the occasion, these calls produced a few funny moments which John would have loved. I rang the Vatican - not knowing it was closed - and asked to speak with someone close to The Pope who could obtain some sort of official comment. For 20 minutes I held an absurd conversation with a demented woman who couldn't understand a word I was saying. What's new, you might ask. She kept repeating over and over. "Un Papa...Un Papa. Cleaner..cleaner." Being `quick' I figured Papa meant the Pope so I must be getting somewhere. But was she telling me he was getting a bath or what?? Then success at last!!! A gentle, extremely cultured voice - sounding more like Rossano Brazzi - came on the line. Speaking better English than I, it was quite obvious he was at least a Cardinal. Explaining my difficulties and why I had called, `Rossano' laughed uproariously, telling me the lady was only a cleaner. He talked soothingly for about five minutes, during which time he made some nice remarks about John Lennon which would make good reading in tomorrow's newspapers. Before I rang off, I asked who he was, how close was he to The Holy Father and could I quote him?? `Rossano' chuckled, informing me he was a security guard. I hung up!! My wife Joan, Gordon and Dollar had been `ear wigging' and were agog, thinking I'd actually been talking to `Himself.' Sheepishly, I told them the truth and immediately they began skitting me and talking about `Delusions of Grandeur.' Angrily I suggested they didn't use words they couldn't spell. Their ribbing dwindled away as I began to dial The White House. I'd seen Jimmy Carter on telly and he seemed a down to earth sort of bloke. Well, he'd have to be wouldn't he, messing around with peanut farming. Surely he'd have time to say a few words. And put a sock in the collective gobs of these smart-arse detractors who were laughing in my face. A sexy voice dripping with honey trickled into my life. Albeit momentarily. "This is the White House. May I help you?" My knees turned to jelly. Hoping my wife wasn't looking at me too closely, I overcame the urge to chat her up. At least I had her phone number. Wondering if I was in over my head and when the `men in white suits' were coming for me, I first confirmed she wasn't a cleaner or security guard. She repeated frostily. "May I help you Sir? We're very busy at this time." Hastily, I explained the reason for my call. She gasped. "Are you quite serious...Sir? I'm putting you through to somebody else." By this time, her tone had descended to `extremely frigid.' Mentally crossing her off my list, I waited. Five minutes elapsed and by Joan's pained expression I knew she was figuring out the phone bill at a £1 a minute. Eventually an extremely youthful `Ivy Leaguer' came on, probably their newest recruit. "I'm afraid The President cannot respond to your enquiry at this time, Sir. He's at Camp David." Now it isn't for me to talk about security but if I were the `Pres' I wouldn't want everyone knowing where I'd shot off to. Especially an obvious nutter like I appeared to be. However having gone this far I wasn't giving up easily. The man from Harvard sniggered. "No, I'm not allowed to put you through to Camp David...Sir." This time the `Sir' was clearly an after-thought. His snigger turned into a roar of laughter when I suggested that President Carter - who had just been defeated by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 Presidential elections. "Must be a sore loser." The standard. "Thank you for calling - have a nice day." And this time they hung up. Joan snarled. "Fourteen minutes you were on then - that's £28." Women are either bad at Math or like to exaggerate. Until then I hadn't thought about the phone bill. Shrugging, I figured it would only be £300 tops . Silly me. Everything was now ready for John's send off so I didn't have to make any more outgoing calls. It was Friday afternoon and I checked the arrangements, happy that things had gone so smoothly. Famous last words!! I had reckoned without our wretched City Council. They rang me at 4.00pm asking was I covered for public liability? Although I explained this was to be a free concert, they insisted the event should be covered. And I had an hour to comply with their demands or the Tribute would be cancelled, even though the Police had already given their permission. Cutting a long story short, General Accident - who were also astonished at the Council's stipulation - covered me for liabilities at a cost of £500. Picking up the cover note, I got to the Council offices just in time. There are reasons why I mention all this, which will become apparent later. The extra expense meant the event would cost me over £1,000. It was suggested a collection be made but I was determined money wasn't going to sully the sad occasion. Some things are above monetary values. This was one. Tributes to John's memory were being organised World-wide. Fittingly however, the two main events would be in the Cities dearest to John Lennon's heart. Liverpool and New York. The `Big Apple' - whose Council were proud to organise their own tribute - had allotted a huge amount to cover their costs. How different to our own pathetic Councillors, who were hell-bent on making matters as difficult as possible for me. Yet this sorry bunch of clowns accepted all the reflected glory that ultimately came their way. There was one however who stood head and shoulders above them all. Jimmy Ross destined to be Liverpool's last Lord Mayor. Despite an already over-loaded schedule, he promised to make himself available whenever we needed him. Many others whom I'd approached, including the Police gave a similar assurance. We received a tremendous boost when Yoko arranged to have New York's ten minute silence coincide with ours. The day of the event I rose early, not having slept through worrying about the turn out. These fears increased when I heard rain battering against the window. When I arrived just before 8.00am, the deluge had decreased to a steady drizzle. Radio Merseyside - who had given us tremendous support - decided to transmit their whole day's programme `Live' from St George's Plateau. Despite the weather the ancient square was already swarming with Media teams from around the Globe. CBS TV had also given us blanket coverage and were given a prime position from which to film the entire event. Blinking in the rain, I stared across the Plateau, preying John's fans would turn up despite the weather. Or more to the point, because of it. It crossed my mind that was how the Beatles must have felt when they returned for `A Hard Day's Night.' Sadly, the bright young lad I'd first met twenty years earlier would never see his home town again. But we were about to ensure his memory would remain. I'd asked people from the old `Merseybeat' days to help the Police supervise the crowd. Friends I hadn't seen for years nodded sorrowfully as I passed around their stewards badges. Together with the huge Police force at least two hundred stood on the Plateau steps, ready and waiting for the expected crowd. How embarrassing if they failed to materialise. It was almost 9.00am and so far only a drenched handful stood waiting for events to begin. It seemed the radio news-caster - who only a few days before had sullied John's memory - might yet have another field day. Such fears however had to be put aside. Thanking the `early birds' for coming, I introduced our Lord Mayor Jimmy Ross. He congratulated us and then declared the Tribute open. After introducing the first group, I went inside to organise refreshments for our volunteers. An hour later I returned outside and to my amazement the entire square was a mass of people well in excess of 25,000. The Police had been forced to close Lime Street to all traffic. And it was only 10.00am on a miserable Sunday morning. To my relief, Liverpool were indeed going to see John off in style. To me the rest of the day seemed a blur, having only had four hours sleep in the previous four days. There was a hairy moment when some youngsters were in danger of being crushed on the barriers in front of the stage. The Police asked me to warn the crowd to step back and relieve the pressure. At first no-one moved. Explaining the dangers again I asked the heaving throng. "Take a step back for John." To our amazement the entire crowd moved back simultaneously. I felt a bit like King Canute. The Police rescued those at the front and no-one was hurt. However I was asked to stop all live groups as this was causing the pushing. This meant the last three hours were spent singing Lennon and Beatle songs over and over. "Give Peace a Chance" lasted over an hour, which must surely qualify for the `Guinness Book of Records.' Gerry Marsden sent a taped message conveying his feelings. During his rendering of "You'll Never Walk Alone," the crowd's performance - absolutely note perfect - brought a lump to everyone's throat. Even the `hard-boiled' Media men were afraid to catch each others eye. The Reverend David Shepherd - formerly an international cricketer now Bishop of Liverpool - also sent a taped eulogy. Just before the vigil commenced, I was asked to say a few words. Emotionally drained I stared at the flickering candles stretching into the distance. Having only had four hours sleep in the previous four days I was absolutely drained and don't remember what I said, but can recall my thoughts vividly. The huge crowd was swaying happily with the Police to "Happy Christmas/War is over." I looked at the four huge marble lions fronting the Plateau steps and thought of the four young `Lions of Liverpool' who had left to conquer the World. Then my eyes fell on the Cenotaph, a War memorial erected to Liverpool's dead Heroes. How appropriate to assemble here honouring John Lennon...`Working Class Hero.' I concluded my short speech, "Whilst his music lives.....Lennon lives." My friends were right. To me the ten minute silence seemed like hours. However the sadness was relieved slightly when a puff of wind - probably John larking around - blew out the Rev David Arnott's candle. A wag in the hushed crowd remarked. "Your candles gone out Baldy." After the vigil finished, I asked everyone to go in peace and as quietly as possible, not wishing to have any complaints. The huge horde - that Police estimates put at 100,000 - simply slipped away. Within minutes the vast square was empty, save for the Radio Merseyside Van and the World's Press and TV. But we could hear them in the distance chanting `Give Peace a Chance.' We looked at each other in silence, too emotional to risk speaking. Lennon's Music had shaken the World and suddenly I realised he had gone. One of his songs sprang to mind and I began to sing under my breath. "There are places I'll remember all my Life....though some have changed. Some for ever not for better. Some have gone...and some remain." The departing scouse choir reminded me John's music will also remain. Some fifteen minutes later I was at Radio Merseyside's news-van doing a final summary on the day's events. To our astonishment a mini-whirlwind suddenly threw some trash into the air, where it hovered for a few seconds. The radio crew were badly spooked and wondered what had caused the phenomenon. Without thinking I replied. "Its only John thanking us." Giving me a funny look, the Deejay ended the broadcast. As usual, at Beatle related events everybody won. The Media got coverage that demonstrated Liverpool's abiding affection for John Lennon. And we had sent John off in style, although I'm sure he'd have been embarrassed at all the eulogising. The next day our event was on the front pages of every newspaper in the World. Tributes poured into the City Council offices. For the life of me, I can't figure out why. All they did was hinder me, yet ever since they've had the gall to bask in the reflected glory. A glory that cost me £3,500, albeit mostly in phone-calls. I often wonder what sort of letters they would have received if I hadn't ran my event. The whole world would have been disgusted at the lack of activity in John's hometown. Just one final footnote. You may remember the Council had forced me to insure the Tribute even though it was free. Twelve months later they sent me a bill for £250 for `alleged' minor damage to a statue. By then it was too late for me to make a claim on the Insurance company. Eventually the `Corpy' took me to Court which threw the case out as `Having no merit."
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Thank you so much for sharing your story. What a wonderful tribute you made possible.
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Thanks Sam you made the City Of Liverpool proud that day, what a tribute. And don't get me started on the corpy Hey guy's can you keep a I met Sam Leach the other day, what a nice guy
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Sam, thanks for sharing your story. It has brought tears to my eyes.
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Thank you (((((Sam))))). I wish I could have been there to see it myself.
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Hi Sam, Thank you for sharing your story with John, such a sad thing that happened to him, he's deeply missed by everyone.
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I was considering coming back up to Liverpool on Saturday night for that thing at the Jac but I don't think I can as I should be queuing for wristbands at waterstones.
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LIPA:
Thanks Sam you made the City Of Liverpool proud that day, what a tribute. And don't get me started on the corpy Hey guy's can you keep a I met Sam Leach the other day, what a nice guy
Hi LIPA did you meet Sam the other day? That is awesome! I'd love to meet Sam too!
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Hi Fan 9091, Lauren, (aka Glass Onion), Moni 74 and Sara. I'm glad you liked my story about my tribute for John. Have a great holiday season. Love and Peace. Sam xxxx
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Hi Sam It's great to see you here! Thanks for sharing your tribute on John Lennon *excellent* Kinda left a me numb reading your tribute. You organized a GREAT tribute and send-off for John Lennon (you're truely awesome and so too is John) John will be deeply missed and never forgotten! He has touched the hearts of millions people world wide. Seasons Greeting to you & everyone
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Sam Leach:
Hi Fan 9091, Lauren, (aka Glass Onion), Moni 74 and Sara. I'm glad you liked my story about my tribute for John. Have a great holiday season. Love and Peace. Sam xxxx
Hi Sam, Thanks for letting Greg and I copy and paste what you've written on this thread for our board here's the link to your thread on our board if you have some free time to look at it http://s9.invisionfree.com/groovymusicforum/index.php?showtopic=7&st=20 Happy Holidays to you too from Greg and I
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Hello and higs to everyone!!
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Sam I know your thoughts were with JOhn & Paul today,.. thinking of you, much love Christina
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Yes, I hope you were ok yesterday. And in general, I don't want you working so hard!!
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Hi Sam! I am on just for a minute. I'll write a poper email as soon as I can! Me finally arrrived in Scotland. Had a nice week over here. Tomorrow I'll having my interview with the security company and have to work afterwards. So hope I'll be able to post on Sunday. Thanks again for the fantastic days in Liverpool! I so enjoyed it. And you know I already miss ya again! lol LIVERPOOL ROCKS!!!
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I miss you both as well. I am too cold to concentrate but I promise to email you very soon, Sam.
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Hello Everyone
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SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!! I love you!! Are you at the Jac tonight, by the way? I considered coming up but I'm not going to...