John Lennon's 80th birthday to be celebrated with pop-up TV channel
It's available to watch for one week only
John Lennon’s 80th birthday will be celebrated this Friday (9th October) with the launch of a dedicated pop-up TV channel.
The TV channel is called LENNON80 and it can be watched on Sky channel 371 and Virgin 346 nationally, plus Freeview 83 in many parts of the UK.
LENNON80 will be available for one week only and it will boast an array of classic and rare footage from the John Lennon archives, together with a series of brand new music shows themed around The Beatles legend.
One of the notable rarities is John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s appearance on chat show Parkinson on 1971, which was previously believed to be lost but now restored and brought back to TV in its entirety.
LENNON80 is a collaboration between Universal Music Group and music TV director Simon Sadler in conjunction with Lennon/Ono archivist Simon Hilton.
Simon Sadler, who compiled and co-ordinated the content, says: “There are not many artists worthy of a channel dedicated to just one name – but John Lennon is certainly one of them.
“To mark his 80th birthday we’re thrilled to have brought together many classic moments of John’s life – from his life at home, on the chat shows and the peace protests – as well bringing John’s solo music together with the songs he wrote for the Beatles for a rare outing on TV.”
A selection of the archive programmes on LENNON80 are as follows:
Bed Peace:
The classic documentary charting John & Yoko’s week-long Bed-In for Peace in Montreal, Canada in 1969.
Parkinson:
From 1971 a BBC TV John & Yoko interview thought long-lost, now restored and brought back to TV in its entirety.
The Old Grey Whistle Test:
From 1975 a complete episode of the BBC TV music show, including an extensive Bob Harris interview with John Lennon.
The Dick Cavett Show:
From 1971 & 1972 two appearances by John & Yoko on ABC’s primetime chat show in the USA.
John Lennon Birthday Concert:
From 2015, the Madison Square Garden concert to celebrate John’s 75th Birthday. Starring Brandon Flowers, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Sheryl Crow, Aloe Blacc & many more.
The new music shows include...
John Lennon’s 25 Greatest Songs:
A definitive countdown of the greatest Beatles & solo songs written by John. All 25 videos in their remastered form.
From The Lennon Archive:
From John, Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band, less well known music videos & some rare gems from the Lennon family archive, including John’s last live performance in 1975.
John’s Jukebox:
An eclectic selection of 70s & 80s tracks that influenced John in his solo years, many of which appeared on his own personal jukeboxes! Including Elton John, David Bowie, Lene Lovich, George McCrae, Bruce Springsteen & Madness.