Excerpt from "A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll"

John Lennon excerpt from A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll

By Nancy Lee Andrews

Ringo Starr wasn't the first Beatle in my life – that place is held by John Lennon. John and May Pang, his and Yoko’s secretary, moved from New York to Los Angeles in the fall of 1973 and were looking for a place to stay. Lou Adler, my boss at the time, offered his palatial Beverly Hills home for a few months. Having a Beatle in residence was a notch on his belt and provided him a lifetime of bragging rights.

Scribes and historians described this period as John's “Lost Weekend,” but I saw nothing to bolster that claim. During this time when John was with May, he was on a creative and productive streak. That eighteen-month period saw the creation of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Walls and Bridges and Pussycats as well as collaborations with Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, Elton John and David Bowie. The man was busy and anything but lost.

The three of us spent a lot of time hanging out in the studio (John was recording Rock 'n' Roll with Phil Spector), listening to music at the Troubador where Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles were regulars. He also enjoyed the eclectic offerings of Los Angeles. One night we went to a Bruce Lee movie at midnight with Bob Dylan. John loved eating at funky Chinese restaurants downtown because the food was great or getting hot dogs at Pinks or waiting in line for a delicious burrito from a Mexican stand. There was an unspoken understanding that a camera was not part of the comfort zone when he was among friends. It was about sharing time creatively that John loved.

On the other hand, John understood more than any other artist I knew how to convey his message through the media. John possessed one of the quickest minds, had a great wit and a big heart. He was on a higher metaphysical plane than anyone I had ever met. If you wanted to be around John, you checked your “bullshit” at the door or be prepared to get caustically busted. It’s no wonder that he and Harry Nilsson connected on so many levels, musically, politically and the heart. The Pussycats album was the ferment of these two great artists at that time… a classic.

John introduced me to one of the great loves of my life and for that I will be forever grateful. He saw a union between Ringo and me that could have been something to stand the test of time. Time is relative, time is what it is and for however long it lasts you drink it up, drain the cup and smile. I think that’s what John would say if he were here.

John Lennon came, he saw and he conquered, leaving a mark on our souls, some deeper on others. I love my personal mark he gave me. It’s extraordinary, but the night I got the phone call that John had died I was on my way out the door for some of that tasty Chinese food he so loved.

To order A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll, go to www.daltonwatson.com. To see more pictures, go to www.adoseofrocknroll.com.

A Dose of Joey Reynolds

Nancy Lee Andrews appears on Joey Reynolds Show March 11

Photographer Nancy Lee Andrews will appear on the Joey Reynolds Show 1 a.m. Tuesday, March 11 to promote her new book A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll. Reynolds is the host of the popular radio show, which is on WOR radio.

A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll, a photographic essay about her life with Ringo Starr. Andrews met Ringo through Lennon who introduced them in May of 1974. The photographs, taken over a decade starting in 1970, are a personal journey through her life at the peak of pop culture history.

The book is rich in photos of tender moments with Ringo, his loving relationship with his children, his playfulness and their travels around the world. Her years with the famous Beatle drummer brought Andrews and her highly original and perceptive camerawork into the world of some of the greatest rock and roll and pop icons of the time, along with the women who loved them. Among many others appearing in the images and text of the book, in addition to Ringo and the late, great John Lennon and George Harrison, are Keith Moon, Bernie Taupin, Arlo Guthrie, Hoyt Axton and Eric Clapton, to name a few

A Dose of Rock ‘n’ Roll is being issued by Dalton Watson Fine Books (www.daltonwatson.com) in a limited edition of 2,500. Priced at $69, it contains 292 pages, 207 color and 98 black and white photos, numbered and signed by Andrews, in a slipcase. It will debut at The Fest for Beatles Fans 2008 at the Meadowlands Hotel in Secaucus, New Jersey from March 28-30, 2008. The author will be on hand at the hotel to autograph books on Friday, 5pm-midnight; Saturday, noon-midnight; and Sunday, noon-10:30 pm. A regular edition will be released in June, 2008 for $39. ISBN # 978-1-85443-235-3.

Nancy Lee Andrews grew up between Jersey City and Alabama. She has worked notably and successfully on both sides of the camera. As a Ford model, she posed for legendary fashion photographers Richard Avedon, Milton Greene, Burt Stern and Irving Penn. Over the years of modeling she became increasingly interested in how the camera “captured the moment.” Greene, realizing her potential, gave her a Nikon camera and some film and told her to “start shooting.” Under his guidance, and from that first roll of film, she was hooked.

According to Andrews, “Ringo Starr was also ardent about photography. It was a huge part of our life.” They collaborated on two album covers, Ringo the 4th and Bad Boy, as well as the advertising shoot for his “Ringo” special.

In her book, Andrews captures the moment in words as well as images. Here’s a brief sample, about a day in George Harrison’s house. “George looked at me and said, 'Nancy, I want to give you something.' He took out a bowl of Indian cabochon blood rubies and told me to take as many as I wanted and design something for myself. I was astounded and asked for paper and pencil and started sorting through the rubies. Some were small and others ranged to the size of quail eggs. As George strummed the guitar and chatted with Ringo, I feverishly drew a design and showed it to the boys. George smiled and looked at Ringo and said, 'Alright, I've given Nancy the stones, now you can give her the gold.’” Later, Ringo had a necklace made by Aspreys, the Queen of England's jewelers.

An exhibition of Andrews’s photo portraits of musicians from the 1970s selected from A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll will be on view at Rock Star Gallery in Scottsdale, Ariz. April 12, 2008; The Ingleside Inn and Melvyn’s in Palm Springs, Calif. April 13-14; the June Kelly Gallery in SoHo, New York from June 11-14 and at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville from July 13 to August 31. A national gallery and museum tour is being planned.

Nancy Lee Andrews and May Pang to appear on the Joey Reynolds Show March 10-11

Nancy Lee Andrews and May Pang promote dual photo books

Rock photographer Nancy Lee Andrews and artist May Pang will appear together on the Joey Reynolds Show, WOR Radio, New York City, on March 10-11. The two will be interviewed live by Reynolds from midnight to 1 a.m. March 10. The show will repeat again on March 11.

Andrews will promote her new book, A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll (Dalton Watson Fine Books) a photographic essay about her life with Ringo Starr while Pang is promoting Instamatic Karma (St. Martin's Press), chronicling her 18-month relationship with John Lennon.

Andrews met Ringo through Lennon who introduced them in May of 1974. The photographs, taken over a decade starting in 1970, are a personal journey through her life at the peak of pop culture history.

To order A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll, visit www.daltonwatson.com. To order Instamatic Karma, go to www.amazon.com. For more information, go to www.adoseofrocknroll.com and www.maypang.com.

2nd annual Steve McQueen Days March 28-29

Steve McQueen fans from around the world will gather in Slater, Missouri, the actor’s boyhood hometown, to celebrate the life and work of the legendary actor on Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29.

The 2^nd Annual Steve McQueen Days is timed around the actor’s birthday; McQueen would have been 78 years old on March 24^th. McQueen was born in Beech Grove, Indiana but moved to Slater, when he was an infant and remained there for most of the next decade. Slater is located in central Missouri in Saline County and has approximately 2,100 residents.

Among those attending will be McQueen’s widow, Barbara McQueen, who will be signing copies of her book Steve McQueen: The Last Mile about her years with McQueen. Also attending will be McQueen’s friend from his early days in Greenwich Village and later, in Hollywood, Richard Martin. Martin has just produced a documentary on McQueen’s life titled An American Rebel. The film is based on the book Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel by noted biographer Marshall Terrill, who will be a key speaker during the festivities in Slater.

McQueen’s stuntman, Loren Janes, who worked with McQueen throughout his professional career from his television western series, Wanted: Dead or Alive to the last film he made, The Hunter will be presenting rare behind the scenes footage from Nevada Smith and The Sand Pebbles.

Highlights of the festival will include a Steve McQueen Lookalike Contest and a Classic Car and Motorcycle Show. McQueen was an accomplished and competitive semi-professional car and motorcycle racer who owned over 100 antique motorcycles. An auction of McQueen-related memorabilia to benefit the Boy’s Republic School in Chino, California will also be held during the weekend. McQueen attended the Boy’s Republic shortly after he left Slater and continued to visit and support the school throughout his life.

McQueen was a worldwide box-office champion in the '60s and '70s and starred in such blockbuster films as The Great Escape, Papillon and The Sand Pebbles, which garnered him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. This year also marks the 40^th Anniversary of Bullitt and The Thomas Crown Affair, which are among McQueen’s most acclaimed films. At the time of his death in November of 1980 from asbestos-induced cancer, McQueen was the most-popular and highest-paid actor in the world.

For additional information about the 2nd Annual Steve McQueen Days visit www.cityofslater.com.

# # #

A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll by Nancy Lee Andrews

"A Dose of Rock ‘n’ Roll"
(Dalton Watson Fine Books, $69.99)
Nancy Lee Andrews Shares Photos About Her Life with Ringo Starr


George, Jackie Stewart, and Ringo. Photo by Nancy Lee Andrews.

“Ringo Starr wasn't the first Beatle in my life – that place is held by John Lennon.”

Thus begins the text about John Lennon by photographer Nancy Lee Andrews in her new book, A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll, a photographic essay about her life with Ringo Starr. Andrews met Ringo through Lennon who introduced them in May of 1974. The photographs, taken over a decade starting in 1970, are a personal journey through her life at the peak of pop culture history.

The book is rich in photos of tender moments with Ringo, his loving relationship with his children, his playfulness and their travels around the world. Her years with the famous Beatle drummer brought Andrews and her highly original and perceptive camerawork into the world of some of the greatest rock and roll and pop icons of the time, along with the women who loved them. Among many others appearing in the images and text of the book, in addition to Ringo and the late, great John Lennon and George Harrison, are Keith Moon, Bernie Taupin, Arlo Guthrie, Hoyt Axton and Eric Clapton, to name a few.

To order A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll, visit www.daltonwatson.com. To learn more about Nancy Lee Andrews and her current photo exhibit and book tour, go to www.adoseofrocknroll.com.

A Dose of Rock and Roll is released

Press release for A Dose of Rock ‘n’ Roll

“Ringo Starr wasn't the first Beatle in my life – that place is held by John Lennon.”

Thus begins the text about John Lennon by photographer Nancy Lee Andrews in her new book, A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll, a photographic essay about her life with Ringo Starr. Andrews met Ringo through Lennon who introduced them in May of 1974. The photographs, taken over a decade starting in 1970, are a personal journey through her life at the peak of pop culture history.

The book is rich in photos of tender moments with Ringo, his loving relationship with his children, his playfulness and their travels around the world. Her years with the famous Beatle drummer brought Andrews and her highly original and perceptive camerawork into the world of some of the greatest rock and roll and pop icons of the time, along with the women who loved them. Among many others appearing in the images and text of the book, in addition to Ringo and the late, great John Lennon and George Harrison, are Keith Moon, Bernie Taupin, Arlo Guthrie, Hoyt Axton and Eric Clapton, to name a few.

A Dose of Rock ‘n’ Roll is being issued by Dalton Watson Fine Books (www.daltonwatson.com) in a limited edition of 2,500. Priced at $69, it contains 292 pages, 207 color and 98 black and white photos, numbered and signed by Andrews, in a slipcase. It will debut at The Fest for Beatles Fans 2008 at the Meadowlands Hotel in Secaucus, New Jersey from March 28-30, 2008. The author will be on hand at the hotel to autograph books on Friday, 5pm-midnight; Saturday, noon-midnight; and Sunday, noon-10:30 pm. A regular edition will be released in June, 2008 for $39. ISBN # 978-1-85443-235-3.

Nancy Lee Andrews grew up between Jersey City and Alabama. She has worked notably and successfully on both sides of the camera. As a Ford model, she posed for legendary fashion photographers Richard Avedon, Milton Greene, Burt Stern and Irving Penn. Over the years of modeling she became increasingly interested in how the camera “captured the moment.” Greene, realizing her potential, gave her a Nikon camera and some film and told her to “start shooting.” Under his guidance, and from that first roll of film, she was hooked.

According to Andrews, “Ringo Starr was also ardent about photography. It was a huge part of our life.” They collaborated on two album covers, Ringo the 4th and Bad Boy, as well as the advertising shoot for his “Ringo” TV special.

In her book, Andrews captures the moment in words as well as images. Here’s a brief sample, about a day in George Harrison’s house. “George looked at me and said, 'Nancy, I want to give you something.' He took out a bowl of Indian cabochon blood rubies and told me to take as many as I wanted and design something for myself. I was astounded and asked for paper and pencil and started sorting through the rubies. Some were small and others ranged to the size of quail eggs. As George strummed the guitar and chatted with Ringo, I feverishly drew a design and showed it to the boys. George smiled and looked at Ringo and said, 'Alright, I've given Nancy the stones, now you can give her the gold.’” Later, Ringo had a necklace made by Aspreys, the Queen of England's jewelers.

An exhibition of Andrews’s photo portraits of musicians from the 1970s selected from A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll will be on view at Rock Star Gallery in Scottsdale, Ariz. April 12, 2008; The Ingleside Inn and Melvyn’s in Palm Springs, Calif. April 13-14; the June Kelly Gallery in SoHo, New York from June 11-14 and at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville from July 13 to August 31. A national gallery and museum tour is being planned.

2nd annual Steve McQueen Days March 28-29

2nd Annual Steve McQueen Days

Steve McQueen fans from around the world will gather in Slater, Missouri, the actor’s boyhood hometown, to celebrate the life and work of the legendary actor on Friday and Saturday, March 28th and 29th

The 2nd Annual Steve McQueen Days is timed around the actor’s birthday; McQueen would have been 78 years old on March 24th. McQueen was born in Beech Grove, Indiana but moved to Slater, when he was an infant and remained there for most of the next decade. Slater is located in central Missouri in Saline County and has approximately 2,100 residents.

Among those attending will be McQueen’s widow, Barbara McQueen, who will be signing copies of her book Steve McQueen: The Last Mile about her years with McQueen. Also attending will be McQueen’s friend from his early days in Greenwich Village and later, in Hollywood, Richard Martin. Martin has just produced a documentary on McQueen’s life titled An American Rebel. The film is based on the book Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel by noted biographer Marshall Terrill, who will be a key speaker during the festivities in Slater.

McQueen’s stuntman, Loren Janes, who worked with McQueen throughout his professional career from his television western series, Wanted: Dead or Alive to the last film he made, The Hunter will be presenting rare behind the scenes footage from Nevada Smith and The Sand Pebbles.



Highlights of the festival will include a Steve McQueen Lookalike Contest and a Classic Car and Motorcycle Show. McQueen was an accomplished and competitive semi-professional car and motorcycle racer who owned over 120 antique motorcycles. An auction of McQueen-related memorabilia to benefit the Boy’s Republic School in Chino, California will also be held during the weekend. McQueen attended the Boy’s Republic shortly after he left Slater and continued to visit and support the school throughout his life.

McQueen was a worldwide box-office champion in the ’60s and ’70s and starred in such blockbuster films as The Great Escape, Papillon and The Sand Pebbles, which garnered him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. This year also marks the 40th Anniversary of Bullitt and The Thomas Crown Affair, which are among McQueen’s most acclaimed films. At the time of his death in November of 1980 from asbestos-induced cancer, McQueen was the most-popular and highest-paid actor in the world.

For additional information about the 2nd Annual Steve McQueen Days visit www.cityofslater.com.