Secret Lennon Files Made Public

According to the Associated Press, FBI files pertaining to John Lennon have finally been made public after a 15-year legal battle. The files were initially requested by University of California, Irvine professor Johnathan M. Weiner who, at the time, was writing a book about the rock icon.

In a settlement with Weiner, the FBI agreed to release all but 10 of its files on Lennon. It also granted him more than $200,000 to pay for his cumulative legal costs.

Nothing in any of the released files implicates Lennon in any illegal act.

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

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