John Lennon Rick N Hamer PICTURE

[Bernard from Belgium]

Those who read my first post will know my love for Hamer started with discovering Mr. John Lennon himself owned and played a Hamer...

For those who don't know the link between Lennon and Hamer, here's the story:

mid August 1980, Rick Nielsen and some other Cheap Trick members were invited to play along with John Lennon. Unfortunately according to what I read, John did have so much fun that Yoko decided to throw out Cheap Trick at the end of the session. I think the only track that survived from that day is "I'm losing You', released on the Lennon Anthology 4 cd box (cd n°4 Dakota). It can also be found on the compilation Wonsaponatime (although 10 sec. shorter).

Anyway, Hamer produced this "custom" Special... Actually a stock Hamer Special in a white finish (+ white headstock) with a red stripe running through. Under Hamer is written: John Lennon. On the truss rod you find the inscription "Rick N". I'll spare you the agony of trying to figure out this inside joke... Rick Nielsen + Hamer = Rick N Hamer, as Lennon was famous for the use of his Rickenbacker. The guitar was given to John by Rick.

I once saw a picture of John playing the guitar, but unfortunately I don't have the book, so I'm unable to show it.

Fact is, when seeing that picture I still didn't know it was a Hamer. Took me a little while to find out, and when I decided maybe it is a Hamer, I contacted Hamer dec. 2004. Andy Schlosser did some research and confirmed the fact that Hamer did build the guitar.

Andy Schlosser found this picture in the archives: the photo is a woman holding the guitar, together with Frank Untermyer, before the guitar was completely finished (neck pickup still missing) and sent out! Enjoy! When I tried to discover the whereabouts of the guitar, she has been (or maybe still is???) on display in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

By the way, after reading this story, please don't all start to bid on vintage Hamer Specials. Prices would go up, and I just might buy another one some time, hopefully still at a decent price...

Cheers!

Bernard

[atquinn]

Awesome story!

[Hamerica]

Wow! Great story. I had heard before that Rick had given John Lennon a Hamer and now here is proof.

Actually Rick and Bun E. sat on a couple of tracks and the story goes Robin was supposed to have flown out to do some backing vocals but it never happened.

There is a bootleg out there with the addational tracks that Bun E and Rick sat in on.

Cool story great pic and best of all look at how freaking young Frank U looks. Just a babe in the woods I tell ya.

Hamerica

[sw686blue]

Very cool story! Thanks for sharing it.

[Guest pirateflynn]

Where the hell is that guitar! Thanks for sharing ...... excellent!

[DavidE]

Freakin' Yoko.

Is there anything good that can be said about her? ;-)

[Guest pirateflynn]

Freakin' Yoko.

Is there anything good that can be said about her? ;-)

She controled Lennon's estate and made all his investment decsions after The Beatles broke up. By the time John died in 1980 he was worth over $400 million US dollars. That's not bad considering the chump change he and the other guys were left with after the Apple Corp. fiasco and all the lawsuits.

[Jack C]

Any more pics of the woman?

[edgar_allan_poe]

The woman in the picture is the infamous Kim Keller. If the picture went that low, you would see her wearing fishnets.

[Guest pirateflynn]

Any more pics of the woman?

Who Yoko ?

lol

I'm sorry ...... back to that cool guitar.

[ZR]

Jack C...that's what I was thinking!!

[Rockola]

Any more pics of the woman?

**Humming 'Pictures of Lily"**

She does have that Bailey Quarters appeal.

[frank_c]

Where the hell is that guitar! Thanks for sharing ...... excellent!

it's at the Rock Hall. i've seen it.

[cmatthes]

It's not currently on display at the R&R Hall, at least it wasn't as of a year ago. The only Hamer in the place was one of Tom Dumont's touring (graphic) Standards from 2001 or 2002. Of course, they have so much stuff warehoused, that they have to constantly rotate the stock. Kind of like the Hard Rock stuff...

Looks like Frank U's "Art Garfunkel" phase...

[elduave]

Freakin' Yoko.

Is there anything good that can be said about her? ;-)

Nice rack?

Any more pics of the woman?

**Humming 'Pictures of Lily"**

She does have that Bailey Quarters appeal.

Oh man, I DUG Bailey (if that was Kotter's wife).

[MCChris]

Oh man, I DUG Bailey (if that was Kotter's wife).

No, Bailey was the Mary Ann to Loni Anderson's Ginger on "WKRP in Cincinnati."

[elduave]

Oh man, I DUG Bailey (if that was Kotter's wife).

No, Bailey was the Mary Ann to Loni Anderson's Ginger on "WKRP in Cincinnati."

Oh man, I DUG her too! Kind of inter-changable.

BTW, great story & pics Bernard!

[Jack C]

I can see the Bailey thing (which I dig), but to me she gives off more of a Bridget Fonda vibe.

[MCChris]

Jeffrey Tambor's wife in "The Ropers" could be the hottest TV MILF of all time.

[kizanski]

Jeffrey Tambor's wife in "The Ropers" could be the hottest TV MILF of all time.

Horniest? Yes. Hottest? Noooo.

[MCChris]

Jeffrey Tambor's wife in "The Ropers" could be the hottest TV MILF of all time.

Horniest? Yes. Hottest? Noooo.

Not Helen Roper, dumbass. The neighbor lady:

Thankfully, she was as horny as Helen if not more so.

[serial]

Wonder if the woman in the photo with Frank is the one who did the graphic finishes? Those were done by a female artist out of house and sent back for topcoats and final assembly. Cool stuff! Thanks for sharing all of that!

[kizanski]

Jeffrey Tambor's wife in "The Ropers" could be the hottest TV MILF of all time.

Horniest? Yes. Hottest? Noooo.

Not Helen Roper, dumbass. The neighbor lady:

Thankfully, she was as horny as Helen if not more so.

Norman Fel was an ass-kicking super stud.

[frank_c]

It's not currently on display at the R&R Hall, at least it wasn't as of a year ago.

maybe it was part of the Lennon exhibit. i know i saw it there though.

[Willie G. Moseley]

One good thing about Yoko is that she made Wendy O. Williams sound like a better singer.