A New App Immerses Fans in John Lennon’s Final Musical Journey
From the deck of a sloop in the mid-Atlantic to a makeshift recording studio consisting of two boom boxes and cassette tapes, a new iPad app brings John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s artistic process to light as a digital storytelling experience.
Unless you’re a die-hard John Lennon fan, you likely don’t know about the sailing trip he took in the summer of 1980.
Whilst Bermuda-bound from Newport, Rhode Island, the 43-foot-long sloop carrying a crew of three was lashed by 25-foot waves and gale-force winds, forcing Lennon to navigate the course alone. Landing safely on the island, Lennon encountered another perfect storm, this one comprised of the dissonant chords struck by emerging alternative music by the likes of Lene Lovich, Madness, and the B-52s.
The result was a wash of inspiration ultimately resulting in Double Fantasy, Lennon’s collaborative effort with wife Yoko Ono. The album debuted in November to mixed reviews, some openly mocking Lennon for slipping into sentimental territory surrounding his familial bliss.
The album might have gone down in the annals of forgettable efforts had Lennon not been murdered three weeks later. The comeback effort became a musical farewell to fans, its genesis overshadowed by the tragedy. Until now.
Thirty-three years later, John Lennon: The Bermuda Tapes offers music lovers the chance to experience the musical journey in a thoroughly digital way with a new app.
