Finding Claudio

Great new song inspired by the John & Curt meet-up by the brilliant 20th Century Boy...

Curt & John Inspire New Song Anything Fits (When You're On Some Trip) is the latest offering from 20th Century Son, a new musical venture of Glasgow musician Craig Casey. The title of the song comes from Lennon's response to Claudio's questioning. If you like classic guitar singer songwriting then you'll love this track. It's a...

Born on this day in 1948, Cesare Curtis Claudio.....

August 28: On this day in 1948, Curt Claudio was born.

https://youtu.be/99fXJ8nSR1M

Though known to many Beatle fans on sight, fewer know his name. Things that some people came to believe to be true of Curt turned out to be false, including that he’d been a traumatized Vietnam veteran, residing at a California VA hospital, or that he was in the audience at a taping of the Dick Cavett Show when John and Yoko were guests.

Curt was immortalized on May 26, 1971, when he came face-to-face with his idol at Tittenhurst Park. It was captured on film (as the Imagine sessions were being documented) and was seen around the world in 1988, as a particularly moving sequence in the Imagine documentary produced by David Wolper. Curt came off as bedraggled and a bit shellshocked in John’s company; after an awkward exchange regarding the “messages” he believed John was sending him through his music that was firmly deflected, he was invited in for a meal and sent on his way.

Thus began a decades-long mystery investigation by fans, concerning his identity, his fate, and what set him on the path to that encounter. Recent years have yielded results, unlike some open questions in Beatles history (like what happened to Jimmie Nicol). Had the moment NOT been caught on film - and Curt not possessed such angelic features - it’s doubtful that the occasion would have lived on very long in anyone’s memory. But it was, and he did, and the inherent pathos in the moment clearly touched a lot of souls seeing the footage.

Turns out his appearance wasn’t a complete surprise: Curt had signaled his intentions months in advance with a series of telegrams, announcing he was on his way. The Lennons had staff on site patrolling for people breaching what little security existed and camping out on the grounds of the estate, on the lookout for Curt. (Trespassers were a common occurrence.) Audio exists of a message from Curt, informing them that he was flying into Gatwick on May 18 and offering that he wouldn't come if he wasn’t welcome: “You say you want to help and you know I need help but I won’t come there until you wire back.”

Whether he received a response (unlikely) or not, he did arrive and his presence became known to staffers patrolling the grounds. Said secretary Diane Robertson: “Claudio would just appear out of a hedge sometimes. He looked rough but incredibly beautiful. There was something about him that was amazing. I think he was harmless really...”

Now knowing that he merely wanted to look into John’s eyes, they agreed to the meeting but also made sure it was caught on film; a potentially exploitative situation defended on the grounds that the couple were documenting their everyday lives anyway. The bulk of the conversation between John and Curt can be seen in the Imagine film. The key exchange as follows:

John: Well that’s alright, but don’t confuse the songs with your own life. They might have relevance to your own life, but a lot of things do. So we met, you know, I am just a guy, man, who writes songs. You can only say ‘Hello’, and what else is there?
Claudio: Yeah. I figured that if we met I would know just by reading you….
John: But know what?
Claudio: If what I was thinking was true.
John: Well, what…is it true?
Claudio: Well, I guess not.
John: Right! I am just a guy, man.
Claudio: But it all fits, you know?
John: Anything fits. If you’re tripping off on some trip, anything fits. You can get tripped off by the stars [astrology] in the newspaper. when they say you’re going to have a good day or a bad day. It could be your auntie’s boyfriend writing the stuff. But if you get into it, anything fits.
Claudio: Yeah, I just had to meet you.
John: Well, here we are. We met. And I’m just a fellow and I am working. And you met me and we say, ‘Hello’ and that’s it. There’s no secrets, really. You just have to try and remember what it was like when you were younger. Before you got tripped off.

Everything you could possibly want to know about the short sad life of Curt Claudio can be gleaned by this pending documentary’s website: https://www.findingclaudio.com

Curt passed away at 33 on December 22, 1981.

Over 1,000,000 views so far, thanks to you all! If you haven’t checked out our videos please check our website (link in bio)

Here's THE audio from THAT day.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsjTc6r92N8

Earliest Known Recording of The Quarrymen - Woolton Village Fete 1957 This is the earliest recorded material of John Lennon. What you're hearing now is what a young James P...

One of the many telegrams sent to Lennon from Curt...

'Mess with you, fight with you but can't leave you'

Signed off from 'William Bungalo Claudio', a clear reference to Lennon's 'The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill' from the White Album....

John talks about Abbey Road, track by track.... 🎼🍏https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHLC3cbeRdg

Lennon Talks Abbey Road-Track by Track more info please go to https://www.findingclaudio.com/

In his own words.....

How Billy Preston Became a Beatle is the story, in his own words of Billy Preston's incredible journey with The Beatles.https://www.findingclaudio.com/

For more info on 'Claudio' go to https://www.findingclaudio.com/

We've recently had access to letters from Curt to his friends, some sent just after he met Lennon, looking forward to sharing these with you....

Life Begins At 40, Lennon demo vocals & backing by the great Estefy Lennon.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkW3aQf7vIQ&lc=Ugx6mhz6nLNwiHEHvbN4AaABAg

Unheard Lennon with FULL backing track- Life Begins At Forty Written for Ringo Starr, ‘Life Begins at 40’ was recorded by John Lennon at his home in the Dakota building in the summer of 1980.Lennon had agreed to contri...

41 years ago today….

Happy birthday Rubber Soul…..

Draft #30 of the story, and my favourite part of the process, finely tuning the narrative….

John and Paul looking dapper…..

Lennon’s biographer, Ray Connolly, describes the meeting with Curt, in his excellent book Being John Lennon….

Lennon running through Dear Prudence during the White Album sessions…..

Happy 81st birthday Dr Winston O Boogie…some things never die

BIG thanks to seasoned best selling Beatles author, Mr Ray Connolly for writing the introduction to my story! Such a thrill because he wrote the first book I ever read on John Lennon, when I was 12 years old!

Since publishing the story this week I’ve been knocked out by the support I’ve received, I’ve redacted their names out of respect but these words of kindness are from 2 of the world’s leading Lennon writers and one of Curt’s closest friends. I want to thank you for this support, it means everything….

HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE that after 9 months of research the storyline is now finished and published here....

https://findingclaudio.com/story

Born 28th August 1948, thinking about Curt Claudio who would have been 73 today, his remarkable life story will be told soon.