Beatles Music Banned From Strawberry Fields

Beatles Sing-a-Long in Strawberry Fields, May 2009, Before Anti-Music Crackdown. Photo by Stephen C. Baldwin

By Stephen C. Baldwin

Musicians strumming and singing classic Beatles songs from the 1960s are no longer welcome in Central Park's Strawberry Fields.

Yesterday, on Sunday, June 28th, at approximately 4:00 PM, I personally witnessed the issuance of two expensive summons to several these musicians by undercover police. This action stopped the music -- most likely forever -- in Strawberry Fields.

The fines ($50.00 and $200.00) were for violations of the Park's "Quiet Zone" policy. Given that none of the musicians who play in Strawberry Fields are wealthy, these fines were successful in terms of "getting the message out" that the only proper way to celebrate John Lennon's life and work is through passive silence, not sympathetic musical participation.

Lennon opposed such passive silence in his lifetime, and I'm sure that he'd have been appalled by the idea that Fear, Paranoia, and Silence, not Joy, Peace, and Harmony, would now rule the atmosphere of the place that bears the name of Imagine, his most iconic song.

While "pro-silence" forces have successfully silenced Beatles music in Strawberry Fields (even though it was never loud or noisome, relying on acoustic instruments and vocal singing), they have been unable, at least so far, to completely stamp out free, live Beatles music in New York City. Fortunately, the New York City subway system (which has no "Quiet Zones") continues to host free Beatles music concerts performed by a band called The Meetles that I've mentioned on this site.

It's a real shame that the classic music of Lennon and McCartney has been forced undergound, but unless the Blue Meanies that run Central Park reconsider their policy, you'll never hear "Strawberry Fields" performed in Strawberry Fields again, the only way to hear Penny Lane will be to Take The A Train, and the only thing that musicians can reasonably Imagine is ruinous fines, the confiscation of their instruments, and the Sound of Silence.

There have been summonses given out in Strawberry Fields before and the music still continues. The Beatle holidays (birthdays, date of thier death) are usually tolerated. People still sing on these days and I think that tradition will continue. As far as on other days ,there is a chance that you will get a fine.
As far as the Meetles are concerned, they are friends with many that read this board and they have posted that they play underground.
The powers that be may silence music sometimes at Strawberry Fields but rest assured that there will be singing on Dec.8th and a few other select dates.
Cheers........................Kenny

This is crap! What next? Arrests for singing "Imagine"? The FBI following the Meetles? These powers that be (NYC Parks Dept) have nothing better to do with their time. It's all about the number of summonses they can issue. We should get a petition together and try to get Yoko onboard and present it to the NYC Parks Commissioner or Mayor Bloomburg. I hate to say it but the way things are done in NYC I am sometimes glad that I moved to the suburbs. Don't get me wrong, I still love NYC, but I'm sure that if I started a sing along in a park in Dutchess County I would not be harassed by undercover cops.

Beatles4ever,

Jose

Well, I guess it figures that the cops would crack down, especially if they cracked down on the Mayor. Technically, both
the Mayor and the musicans were breaking the rules. You can't really can't crack down on just one, even if the musicians
sound better than the Mayor.

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if Yoko called the cops -- the park folks have said before that SHE wants it to be a quiet
zone, and she helps bankroll SF (and she's a well-known dour killjoy). I'll bet it also doesn't help that the hat/guitar case is always out at these occasions now. I know that starving artists wanna make a buck, but you're almost asking for it, because, no offense, but what's the difference between that and the Mayor asking folks to throw money into his battered little guitar (Was that a Martin? ?

BTW, it seems that you can play instruments unhassled at nearby Bethesda Fountain, if any one's interested -- but you have to bring you own portable "Imagine" mosaic. Any artists or non-artists out there wanna whip one up?

I just happened to walk in as this was going down, and it was disheartening to see, since music seemed to have become a permanent fixture there. I got my own $100 ticket 2 1/2 years ago on George's birthday while playing my bass just loud enough to be heard alongside two acoustic guitars. I spent a morning waiting in lines and a crowded courtroom before having the clerk call my name. The judge listened to the charge, laughed dismissively, and said "don't do it again for six months." No fine. But the hassle was penalty enough.

We could start a letter writing campaign to the papers, Yoko and the CPC. In the meantime, though, we should simply change venue. The benches outside SF don't lend themselves to crowds particularly; I like the Bethesda Fountain suggestion - it's also a beautiful spot and it seems to be simply a matter of getting there first. Even if we don't, the area is large enough to accommodate maybe three musical acts. The Beatles fans that make the pilgrimage to the Imagine Circle probably continue in to see Bethesda Fountain anyway, so we're still likely to draw a crowd.

Rob made an excellent point in that this occurred near the end of the month. It's a dirty, but open, secret that the city is attempting to balance its books on the backs of ordinary people. So what do we do for Ringo's birthday? This is often the most sparsely attended, which I think makes us more vulnerable. Change venue or stand and deliver?

I read the different posts so far, and really appreciate what people have said. The main issue here, to alot of people, is that a place dedicated to John Lennon, one of the most creative people and outstanding champions of different causes has been designated as a quiet zone.
I understand that the conservancy has to protect the quality of life in the park, however, the ousting of musicians from strawberry fields, especially when they're playing there at daytime hours, and everybody is digging it, is completely absurd and goes against the very concept that John Lennon stood for.

Regarding what bob said, he made good points, however, as far as opening the guitar case, he is asking "what's the difference between that and the Mayor asking folks to throw money into his battered little guitar?"
Technically he may have point, however, there are several big differences between what "the mayor" is doing and what most musicians who play at s. fields are doing. Speaking on behalf of the meetles and our friends who play with us, we'll play whether there is money in the case or not. Secondly, we don't hustle the crowd the way "the mayor" does. We spread love and joy, which the people appreciate in different ways.
Thirdly, we don't try to take advantage of people the way "the mayor" does. Lastly, we don't spend the few dollars we make on drugs and alcohol.

This unfair "quiet zone" situation may exist, however the people have a voice and the conservancy and all others related to this situation should hear what most people have to say.

Sunday was a bad day in the life indeed for all of us who were there. The best overall solution to this problem - in my opinion - is to have designated quiet zone time...ideally, mornings and evenings. This would preserve at the Fields the legacy of John Lennon...what meant the most to him in his life: his music.

Regarding what bob said, he made good points, however, as far as opening the guitar case, he is asking "what's the difference between that and the Mayor asking folks to throw money into his battered little guitar?"
Technically he may have point, however, there are several big differences between what "the mayor" is doing and what most musicians who play at s. fields are doing. Speaking on behalf of the meetles and our friends who play with us, we'll play whether there is money in the case or not. Secondly, we don't hustle the crowd the way "the mayor" does. We spread love and joy, which the people appreciate in different ways.
Thirdly, we don't try to take advantage of people the way "the mayor" does. Lastly, we don't spend the few dollars we make on drugs and alcohol.

Hi, Eric, and everyone - sorry to see what happened at SF on Sunday, I enjoy hearing and seeing you and your friends play very much -- I just want to say that that I'm not questioning your sincerity or motives in playing at SF, I know you show up at all the anniversaries in the worst of weather, and at risk of a summons, such is your devotion to John and the Beatles, but you have to admit it at least doesn't look quite right when you're demanding a right to play at SF as a tribute to Lennon, and sitting behind a huge pile of cash -- and I'm sure the cops see that, too. I seem to remember a time when the busking aspect was not quite so prominent. Also, I've seen you come out from behind your drum kit and chastise fans for video-ing and not leaving some cash. Now I know that to some degree this is probably based on your frustration as a "starving artist", but this could be seen as a "hustle" of sorts by some -- including observing cops. Not to say that this went on Sunday, and not to say that I don't agree with you that something's wrong when we can't all get together regularly to make music at a shrine to John Lennon.

Anyway, I do hope to see you and your fellow musicians regularly back in the park again, somewhere and in the near future, unhassled, and prospering.

Hi Bob, thanks for your concern over the current situation at s. fields.
I understand what you mean, how some people, cops included could see us playing, notice the case with money and take it to the wrong way.
As I said before, there were times when we did well, there were also times when we didn't do well, but still played straight through. The point is, it's nice to be compensated for our hard work (it's much harder than most people think, since we have to lug all our stuff up there, set up and then hope we won't get harrassed by "the Mayor", or shut down or summonsed by the authorities), but we'll play regardless of money, weather, physical condition, etc. Believe me, in the last 10 years, we've weathered some serious hardship there, just trying to play this music for people.
As far as me saying something to people who video us, some people will literally film you non-stop, with complete disrespect for the performers, (people should always ask before they video you, this is not me speaking, this is general courtesy) then put it on YouTube, or worse, sell the footage to foreign media companies (if people are not aware of this, it happens all the time). I'm not chastising anyone, merely saying have little respect.
I hope the authorities will see that people love Beatle/Lennon music there, and that the true fans of this music and John Lennon should be respected.

Good news folks - there's now an online petition you can sign that will help end the crazy anti-music crackdown.

Here's the link. PLEASE SIGN IT IF YOU CARE ABOUT BRINGING BEATLES MUSIC BACK TO STRAWBERRY FIELDS!

http://www.thepetitio...
By the way, The Meetles picked up a LOT of signatures when they circulated this petition in the subway tonight.

This (peaceful but committed) fight has just begun!

Thanks very very much!