Fact #157380
When:
Short story:
During John Lennon's notorious 'Lost Weekend', he and Harry Nilsson spend an infamous night at The Troubadour in Los Angeles, California, USA, heckling The Smothers Brothers. Also present in the crowd are Helen Reddy, Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward, tv personality Flip Wilson and porn star Linda Lovelace. Lennon is eventually ejected from the club.
Full article:
Separated from Yoko Ono, John Lennon was working in Los Angeles with Harry Nilsson on the album Pussycats. During a break in recording, the pair headed for The Troubadour where comedy duo the Smothers Brothers were on stage.
Loaded on Brandy Alexanders, Nilsson began making suggestions to Lennon for lewd comments he might direct at the hapless comedians.
“During our first set, I heard someone yelling something about pigs,” remembers Tommy Smothers. “It was fairly disgusting. It came from an area that was kind of the elite, raised area. The Smothers Brothers have slow timing. I work kind of slow, not the rapid-fire Robin Williams type of comedian. And I kept looking over and, every time I’d take a timing break, it would come in. I couldn’t figure out who it was. I knew Harry was there and I know how Harry Nilsson gets, because I’ve been out with him when we’ve been a little crazy. And I knew Lennon was there, but I didn’t know who was doing it. The heckling got so bad that our show was going downhill rapidly. No-one cared because it was just a happening anyway, but there was a scuffle going on and we stopped the show.”
“My wife ended up with Lennon’s glasses because of the punches that were thrown,” says Smothers. “Then he went outside and kicked the car parker.” Despite his superstar status, Lennon was unceremoniously dumped onto the sidewalk, and the Smothers Brothers had the last laugh.
-----------------------------------------------------------
John Lennon : I got drunk and shouted. It was the first night I drank brandy alexanders, which is brandy and milk, folks. I was with Harry Nilsson who didn't get quite as much coverage as me, the bum. He really encouraged me, you know. I usually have somebody there who says, 'Okay, Lennon, shut up>' And I take it. But I didn't have anybody around me to say 'Shut up' and I just went on and on. There was some girl who claimed that I had hit her, but I didn't hit her at all, you know. She just wanted some money and I had to pay her off because I thought it would hirt my immigration. She said she was a press photographer and she had an Instamatic! She didn't even have any pictures.
(Source : Old Grey Whistle Test tv interview, 1975)
Paul Body (janitor, The Troubadour) : A little known fact is that once he came to his senses, Lennon and his partner in crime, Harry Nilsson, filled up The Smothers Brothers’ dressing room with flowers and candy. I know, because I was the janitor who cleaned the dressing room.
Harry Nilsson : That incident ruined my reputation for the next ten years. Get one Beatle drunk and look what happens.
Tweet this Fact
Loaded on Brandy Alexanders, Nilsson began making suggestions to Lennon for lewd comments he might direct at the hapless comedians.
“During our first set, I heard someone yelling something about pigs,” remembers Tommy Smothers. “It was fairly disgusting. It came from an area that was kind of the elite, raised area. The Smothers Brothers have slow timing. I work kind of slow, not the rapid-fire Robin Williams type of comedian. And I kept looking over and, every time I’d take a timing break, it would come in. I couldn’t figure out who it was. I knew Harry was there and I know how Harry Nilsson gets, because I’ve been out with him when we’ve been a little crazy. And I knew Lennon was there, but I didn’t know who was doing it. The heckling got so bad that our show was going downhill rapidly. No-one cared because it was just a happening anyway, but there was a scuffle going on and we stopped the show.”
“My wife ended up with Lennon’s glasses because of the punches that were thrown,” says Smothers. “Then he went outside and kicked the car parker.” Despite his superstar status, Lennon was unceremoniously dumped onto the sidewalk, and the Smothers Brothers had the last laugh.
-----------------------------------------------------------
John Lennon : I got drunk and shouted. It was the first night I drank brandy alexanders, which is brandy and milk, folks. I was with Harry Nilsson who didn't get quite as much coverage as me, the bum. He really encouraged me, you know. I usually have somebody there who says, 'Okay, Lennon, shut up>' And I take it. But I didn't have anybody around me to say 'Shut up' and I just went on and on. There was some girl who claimed that I had hit her, but I didn't hit her at all, you know. She just wanted some money and I had to pay her off because I thought it would hirt my immigration. She said she was a press photographer and she had an Instamatic! She didn't even have any pictures.
(Source : Old Grey Whistle Test tv interview, 1975)
Paul Body (janitor, The Troubadour) : A little known fact is that once he came to his senses, Lennon and his partner in crime, Harry Nilsson, filled up The Smothers Brothers’ dressing room with flowers and candy. I know, because I was the janitor who cleaned the dressing room.
Harry Nilsson : That incident ruined my reputation for the next ten years. Get one Beatle drunk and look what happens.