Friday, February 29, 2008

Just thinking out loud.

A new interview with Yoko Ono by Bill DeYoung can be found here.

A day or two before it was published, an excerpt appeared on the Abbeyrd Beatles News Page.

The excerpt contained an interesting exchange that was removed from the published version.

Q: How are things at Apple now that Neil’s gone?

A: I think that Jeff Jones, obviously, brought in some fresh air, and it’s all very exciting. But it doesn’t mean that Neil did a bad job — Neil was a part of the whole history, and he was doing a brilliant job. It’s just that sometimes it’s good to go through some changes, and we decided to do that.

Do you notice anything between the lines there? Like maybe Neil didn't just retire? Like maybe those in power felt it was time for a change?

If I were Neil Aspinall I don't know how I would take that after all those years of loyal service.

I'm not saying that Iamaphoney is Neil Aspinall. I'm just thinking.

If you play all of the Rotten Apple Series videos in sequence you will notice some abrupt stylistic changes along the way. If you look at any of the first few videos and then jump to #13 you wonder how they could have been made by the same person. I mentioned previously that original music didn't start appearing until somewhere in the 30s (Number 30 has original music, but that's only because it was pulled down for a couple months and then the soundtrack was replaced when it reappeared). Around the mid 30s came the announcement that Iamaphoney solved the Love Code. I think the first new song, based on "1-2-3-4-5-6-7 All good children go to heaven" backwards was on Video #36. Then in Video #39 this guy shows up for the first time.



Since that first appearance, the man pictured above has traveled the globe collecting clues...or in some cases leaving them. Video #41 marked another big advance in production techniques. One version of Video #65 showed a bit of a slickly produced documentary, which was immediately taken down. Now Video #101 seemed to open a new chapter with some type of game challenging Iamaphoney's fans to go find a hidden suitcase.

With so many changes, you have to wonder if the identity of Iamaphoney could have changed somewhere along the way. Or maybe the Iamaphoney "Organization" has expanded and evolved along with the content of the videos. So, imagine that you are some guy who has given your heart and soul to an organization for about 45 years or so, and you happen to see this video maker on YouTube gathering all kinds of popularity making guesses about things that you were an intimate part of until they dumped you. Maybe you are angry. Maybe you want to mess with your old bosses. So you provide some information. And you provide some resources. What if an insider like Neil, or someone else joined the Iamaphoney organization somewhere in the middle?

Ah, I guess this is crazy talk.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

no crazy talk my friend... but i don't think IAAP is neil

i remember there was something about a connection but i can't remember... way too long ago :(

Tafultong said...

Hello It's,

Thanks for the comment.

Yeah, I agree that there is no way that Neil is making these videos. But I don't think anyone has suggested that maybe at some point, a disgruntled insider saw the videos and decided to join the game. If Iamaphoney is one person, he sure has changed over the last year or so.

Anonymous said...

i think he got some help after the first few

the episodes became stronger and better overtime

the first 20 or some were all massproduction

then, they became much more clever with editing in flashing things

then in 36, then came with the "we have cracked the code" stuff.. it became awesome and misterious at that point.. then time passed, then it came to another level with new clues, and then 101 came.. which is VERY good edited, and converted for youtube too, if you look at some of the older movies, the quality was very low.. they're using pro-rendering now.

Mike :)

Anonymous said...

*****What if an insider like Neil, or someone else joined the Iamaphoney organization somewhere in the middle?

Ah, I guess this is crazy talk.*****


Hmmmm. "Rotten Apple".

Neil Aspinall left Apple in April 2007. Rotten Apple 30 came out in July 2007 after a break of several months from February 2007, which was when Rotten Apple 29 came out.

The following is from RA 47 (added August 20, 2007):

"Paul McCartney, world renowned musical genius, a trend-setting pop star of Beatle fame died in a car crash in 1966. For reasons both personal and professional, a concerted and clandestine campaign to divert attention from the matter was immediately undertaken. The facts surrounding McCartney's death were tightly guarded. Details were obsessively concealed or obscured to this day.

The truth was immediately buried in a frenzied, yet amazingly well coordinated subterfuge. For nearly 4 decades now our arcane secret has evaded full disclosure.

Through total commitment, we're a fraternal order, you see, we of the Beatle circuit, an Apostolic group of divergent, yet loyal personnel.

For me to break ranks shall be considered a betrayal of all that is sacrosanct. A true shock to those who know me best. Now, finally, I've made the decision to speak. The truth shall remain hidden no more. Here I present the treasure that so many people have steadfastly searched for."

I've been begging Iamaphoney or SOMEONE -- ANYONE to disclose who made those remarks.

"Hmmm" again.

Tafultong said...

Mikenl,

I agree with you. The learning curve and software upgrades can only account for so much. Plus, some of the changes were immediate, not at all a gradual improvement of technique.

Tafultong said...

65if2007,

You made some excellent points. I don't believe that the English Gentleman voice is Neil, but that doesn't mean he couldn't have written the script. And you are absolutely right about the timing. Very suspicious. And has Neil done any interviews or made any appearances since leaving Apple?

Anonymous said...

*****And has Neil done any interviews or made any appearances since leaving Apple?*****

The answer to that question is apparently no. At least, I cannot find that he has.

In fact, here is how he was described by one newspaper article in the immediate aftermath of his departure from Apple:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6551609.stm

"In fact, he became the Beatles' chief confidant: the man the Fab Four trusted the most. For his part, Aspinall showed unswerving loyalty and discretion. Even today, he never gives interviews and remains tight-lipped on every issue concerning Apple."

Once again, from the mystery man in RA 47:

"The facts surrounding McCartney's death were tightly guarded. Details were obsessively concealed or obscured to this day..."

"...we're a fraternal order, you see, we of the Beatle circuit, an Apostolic group of divergent, yet loyal personnel. For me to break ranks shall be considered a betrayal of all that is sacrosanct. A true shock to those who know me best."

Damn.

Anonymous said...

Former Beatles buddy brings Bible to Lodi

Anonymous said...

KENNETH ANGER

Tafultong said...

Anonymous,

Thanks for the links. Ken Mansfield will be a guest at the Fest For Beatle Fans this year.
New York Metro: March 28-30
Las Vegas: June 29-July 1
Chicago: August 8-10

Kenneth Anger is another guy that Paul McCartney was hanging out with in 1966 when something happened...

Anonymous said...

I don't think Neil Aspinall retired. He was replaced...he was replaced because he would stand in Paul and Yoko's (who really run the Beatles' empire) way when it came to certain things.

I believe that 2008 will be a huge year for the Beatles, and for PID. This year will mark the 40th anniversary of the White Album (arguably the darkest, most PID-centric album) and more importantly, Macca will turn 66(6).

Anonymous said...

Isn't the point of the whole thing that he may not be "Macca" at all?

Don't you mean to say instead that 2008 will mark the 66th anniversary of the birth of the true Macca?

I seem to recall a youtube video entitled "The Rather Unfresh Apple 2" in which the individual in question states (over 40 years ago), "I myself am 30..."

Anonymous said...

Smashing post sir. However I assume that Neil was at odds after the round and round situation over putting the Beatles music on I-Tunes, which is another ball of wax altogether.

Anonymous said...

65if2007, reality is decided on not by you and I but by those who make the rules of the game. The Beatles conglomerate in it's entirety has decided that a man should be named Paul McCartney whether or not that's his real name, and that he should be 65 years old whether or not that's his real age. He could be 71 this year and it wouldn't change the fact all the newspapers and magazines will report that he is indeed 66. "Paul" is the M.C. in this game that they've been playing, and as such, he must follow the rules carefully; therefore, in his mind, he IS 65, because he IS Paul McCartney. This was decided on a long, long time ago. Try to see the big picture!

Anonymous said...

Jude, I understand all that, bud, and that's implicitly understood in my nickname. But all of us in general and Iamaphoney, in particular, ARE engaged in a truth-finding process. Aren't we?

Anonymous said...

65if2007: Well, yes, but there are a number of reasons that the man known as Paul McCartnet may, in fact, turn 66 this year.

Tafultong said...

Stimulating discussion. As always, it's okay to disagree here. You can flame me for saying this, but I think the most likely scenario is still that the Paul McCartney we know today is the same one who joined the Beatles in July of 1957. However, I have some doubt about the most likely scenario. I assume you are all here because you have some doubts as well.

Still, I have not seen a comprehensive and plausible alternative scenario. But, I believe that Iamaphoney could be revealing one and that's what makes this study so fascinating for me.

I also think the "story" won't add up or make sense unless it contains some supernatural elements. But oh what a story it will be!

Iamaphoney is closing in on 100,000channel views. Either he has created a Frankenstein monster and can't back out now, or he will deliver the goods. I agree with Jude that 2008 will be an interesting year.

Anonymous said...

I would never "flame" someone who politely expressed an honest opinion -- especially not on his own blog.

The truth is that I have no idea of what the truth is either or of what to make of Iamaphoney.