John Lennon w Almerii. Andaluzyjska historia powstania hitu The Beatles

Almeria's Tale Behind the Iconic Tune: Strawberry Fields Forever

Była jesień roku 1966, kiedy niespełna 26-letni John Lennon przybył do Almerii, aby wziąć udział w zdjęciach do komedii, pt. „Jak wygrałem wojnę”, w której wcielał się w rolę żołnierza Musketeera Gripweeda. 

Przez pierwsze kilka tygodni artysta mieszkał w apartamencie El Delfín Verde, który znajdował się przy plaży Zapillo w Almerii. To właśnie tam, otoczony nudą i osamotnieniem, stworzył pierwsze dźwięki słynnej piosenki “Strawberry Fields Forever”. Obok zielonego delfina znajdowała się restauracja El Manzanilla, do której muzyk często zaglądał na kolacje. 9 października 1966 roku świętował tam swoje 26. urodziny w towarzystwie żony Cynthii i Ringo Starra, którzy przyjechali specjalnie na tę okazję.

During the visit of his wife and friend, Lennon rented the famous Cortijo Romero villa, a grand residence dating back to 1866, which, during the filming of spaghetti westerns, was inhabited by many stars of the international cinema scene. The iron gates and lush gardens surrounding the estate were meant to remind Lennon of his childhood and the time he played in the Salvation Army's Strawberry Field garden in Liverpool, located near the musician's family home.

Inspired by the scenery and somewhat bored with his time on the coast, as he admitted in one of his later interviews, Lennon created a nostalgic melody, which he first recorded in its entirety in one of the bathrooms of the residence. The single "Strawberry Fields Forever," considered one of the flagship works of psychedelic rock, is regarded as one of the best in The Beatles' rich discography.

The residence years later became a museum of cinema history, now known as the Casa del Cine de Almería, in which we can, among other things, visit the mentioned bathroom, inside which there is a designer bathtub decorated with the lyrics of a famous song.

While strolling through the center of Almeria, you'll come across a monument depicting John playing the guitar. Additionally, the "Lennon Forever Almería" association was established to ensure that the memory of The Beatles and the artist's stay in the city and its surroundings remains alive in the pages of the city's history. The group is active on Facebook, working diligently to preserve the legacy of The Beatles and their impact on the region. HERE 

In later years, other band members also found themselves visiting Almeria. For instance, in 1971, Ringo Starr made an appearance in Almeria's Tabernas desert, playing the role of Candi on the set of the western film "Blindman".

Compilation of all scenes from the film "How I won the war" in which Lennon appeared: