Number 9

After Lynn Hansen's death in April 1995, I provided some assistance to the Hansen family in dealing with the estate, particularly with Lynn's comix and Beatles collections. Eventually both of those chunks of popular culture found an academic home in the Washington State University library system.

Then there was the problem of what to do with Lynn's unfinished manuscript, Number 9.

This was a book Lynn had been writing for at least a decade. The first time I proofread it was back in my days at Pullman, so that would've been between 1983-1986. Sometimes he would ask my help in researching trivia and details.

He was fascinated with the Paul-is-dead hoax from the Beatles era. He developed his own original theory about the event and kept fine tuning it over the years. His goal was to have the thing commercially published.

An interesting topic, to be sure. But not nearly half as interesting as the circumstances surrounding Lynn's final year, as covered in the memorial volume Interrupted Song.

To make a long story short, Lynn called me in August 1994 and said he was sending the Number 9 manuscript to me for safekeeping, since he was sure he would soon be dead or have to go undergound very soon. He made me promise to see that the work would be published.

According to Lynn's father, a newer version of the manuscript was found by the front or back door when the police went to Lynn's house and discovered his body.

Through phone calls and correspondence with Lynn's parents in Boise, we worked out a deal where I would edit the text and they would foot the printing bill-- although I think I paid for extra copies to distribute. I can't remember what the print run amounted to, perhaps as many as 100 copies or more. Some of them were given to libraries.

The final product was v, 77 leaves on letter size, held with comb binding.

The Hansens and I were at a loss to locate some of the people Lynn thanked in his introduction. As it has turned out over the years since his death, I have learned Lynn led a highly compartmentalized and enigmatic life. Among those in his comix circle I knew him as well as anyone, but I am still constantly amazed by strangers and the truly odd characters who find me and share some weird tidbit of info about Lynn that portrays a very different person than the Lynn I had known.

Editing this manuscript six months after Lynn died was quite difficult. He had a good outline. He had good essay hooks. He was just a clumsy and awkward writer. How do you edit something like this without losing the voice of the person who created it? Especially when it is impossible to return it to the author with suggested revisions? In addition to that, my mind wandered to an almost unthinkable direction.

This was a book about a death hoax. Death hoax. Lynn was immersed in planted clues, secret messages, creating an illusion. Today I am sure Lynn is really dead (even if he doesn't show up in the Social Security Death Index!) but in September 1995, right after I had finished transcribing and editing this book (on a typewriter!) I wasn't so sure. The surrounding events had been weird enough to make me wonder if I had been set up as I replayed 1994-1995 in my head.

Maybe one day I will draw a comic about this whole thing. Actually I have started to write it several times, but I keep waiting for enough clues in this real life bizarre mystery to show up so I can make sense out of it. I might be waiting forever.

I'm posting the covers and intro material to Number 9. The illustration for the cover was also used in promotional material when Washington State University held an exhibit of Lynn's Beatle collection in 1997, From Penny Lane to Abbey Road: the Beatles, 1964-1970.

Not a Second Time : Reviews of Beatles Songs as Sung by Other Artists

Published at the end of 1990, this is a collection of columns from a workplace newsletter called WLN Ink. I wrote about 8 more columns on this subject after this booklet was published.

A number of comix people knew about this little, shall we say, disease of mine and enabled it by sending me really bad versions they had come across, among them were Lynn Hansen, Wayno, Bruce Chrislip, Mark Campos. But I also started corresponding with garage bands, cassette artists and independent musicians like Micky Saunders and Greg Stomberg-- who were to music what we Newavers were to cartooning-- and really enjoyed hearing their original takes on the Beatles.

I must say I sure was pretty mean-spirited about Paul McCartney's music in here, and he really didn't deserve it. In fact, in a lot of ways he was the most experimental and creative of the Fabs. I now extend a public apology to Sir Paul McCartney, although he did a have a real bad musical patch there in the 1970s.

Anyway, before the days of Internet I started to acquire versions of Beatles songs as sung by other people. But it came to a screeching halt. Here's what I wrote in OlyBlog about the whole thing in 2007:

I used to acquire bad versions of Beatle songs sung by other artists. It all started with hearing Bing Crosby's version of "Hey Jude" on the radio in 1980, but it grew into something of a disease. However, I eventually cured myself.

Back about 1990, when I had been at this little activity for a decade, fellow-cartoonist Peter Bagge paid me a visit here in McCleary. I showed him my collection of bad Beatle versions and he sort of shook his head in dismay. A little later he wrote an introduction to the paperback Morty the Dog volume 2 (1991) and included this bit: "Now get this: life is so boring in this 'town' of his that this Hick-Who-Calls-Himself-Willis is forced to amuse himself collecting on cassette tapes every version of every Beatle song ever recorded ('Yesterday takes up three-and-a-half tapes alone!' he informs me with pride), easily the most pointless and absurd 'hobby' I've ever come across."

So here is how I cured myself. In 2003 I drove to Redding, California to visit a friend. By that time I had collected over 15 hours of "Yesterday" alone. So I played them all back-to-back on the way south, and part of the way north. They didn't end until I hit Salem on the return trip. By that time I had become another person-- a person no longer interested in hearing another version of Beatles song sung by a different artist.

Anyway, for your bibliographic pleasure, here is list of the artists who covered "Yesterday" that serenaded me to Redding, and back again to Salem. From Salem to McCleary I was numb and almost comatose:

12 Cellos of the Berlin Philharmonic
52 Key Verbeek Fairground Organ
101 Strings
All Star Pop Orchestra
Allen, Robert
Ambrose, Amanda
Ames, Ed
Arizita
Armenian Philharmonic
Arnold, P.P.
Arpin, John
Arthur Wilkinson & his Orchestra
Atkins, Chet
Ballard Beatles
Band of the Irish Guards
Banda de los Corazones Solitarios
Barbosa-Lima, Carlos
Basie, Count
Bassoon Extravaganza
Bayless, John
Bayless, John (as Bach)
Beatlemania
Beatles (Anthology)
Beatles (Anthology)
Beatles (Christmas message)
Beatles (Tokyo 7/1/66)
Beatles (Tokyo 7/2/66)
Beatles (Germany 1966)
Beatles (Sullivan 1965)
Beatles (TV anthology)
Bendorff, Benny
Berberian, Cathy
Bettys
Big Ben Banjo Band
Black, Cilla
Boltin, Michael
Boyz II Men
Brodshy, Vadim
Brothers Four
Brothers Four (Mono)
Bruno, Tony
Bugs & Friends
Byrd, Charlie
Canadian Brass
Caravelli
Cavallaro, Carmen
Chacksfield, Frank
Charles, Ray
Clark, Roy
Clayderman, Richard
Clayderman, Richard (Medley)
Columbia Musical Treasuries Orchestra
Cooper Point Gong Band (1990)
Cooper Point Gong Band (1995)
Corbett, Bill
Cramer, Floyd
Creams
Cugat, Xavier
Current Event
Dandy
David, Mel "Trumpet Man"
Dean, Billy
Diana Ross & the Supremes
DiCola, Vince
Dillards
Dino, Desi & Billy
Domingo, Placido
Domino, Floyd
Don Ho & the Aliis
Don Shirley Trio
Doodletown Pipers
Doonican, Val
Douglas, Steve
Dougals, Steve
Dr. Fink & the Mystery Band
Drusky, Roy
Duffy, John
Duke, Patty
Ed Kilbourne, Kent Kilbourne, Dave Myers
Ed Sullivan Singers
Edwards, Jackie
Elena Duran & Stephane Grappelli
Ellis, Ray
En Vogue
Esposito, Tony
Essex, David
Euphoria
Expressions
Eyes of Blue
Faithfull, Marianne
Farlowe, Chris
Farm Beatles
Feliciano, Cheo
Feliciano, Jose
Ferrante & Teicher
Fiedler, Arthur
Fisher, Eddie
Franchi, Sergio
Frank Pourcel Grand Orchestra
French & Saunders
Gary, John
Gary Tesca Orchestra
Gaye, Marvin
Gemini
Gene Siskel & Dennis Rodman
George Shearing with Quintet & Multi-Colored Orchestra
Gerald Wilson Orchestra
Gleason, Jackie
Gloriuex, Francois
Gold, Marty
Goldsboro, Bobby
Goodman, Benny
Gordon, Michael
Grant, Earl
Grebmots
Grossman, Mike
Grossman, Mike
Grossman, Mike
Grossman, Mike
Grossman, Mike
Gruisin, Dave
Guaraldi, Vince
Haax
Hanson, Paul, Jr.
Harry Deal & the Galaxies
Harvard Glee Club
Herbert Rehbein & his Orchestra
Hesitations
Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo
Hirt, Al
Hollyridge Strings
Hollywood Brass
Husky Marching Band
Inman, Jerry
Itoh, Kimiko
Ives, Burl
Jack Hansen & his Orchestra
Jack Hansen & his Orchestra
Jalopy 5
Jamie & the J. Silvia Singers
Jankowski, Horst
Jeebs, Prof. Hokum W. (TV)
Jeebs, Prof. Hokum W. (Radio)
Jensen, Dick
Jerry Murad's Harmonicats
John, Dr.
Johnny Mann Singers
Jones, Jack
Jones, Linda
Jones, Tom
Jurgens, Udo
Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus
Keith Textor Singers
Kerr, Anita
Kessel, Barney
King's Singers
Kiriakou, Emanuel
Kosinkis et al.
Kostelanetz, Andre
Lanin, Lester
Last, James
Lawrence Welk & Neil Levang
Lawrence Welk & Norma Zimmer
Lee, Brenda
Lee Castle & the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra
Lefevre, Raymond
Lendzian, Klaus
Lettermen
Lewis, Barbara
Liberace
Lindsay, Mark
Lipskin, Mike
Liverpool
London Fogs
London Starlight Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra with the London Pop Choir
Longines Symphonette
Lopez, Trini
Lunch Time
Lynn, Vera
Lynne, Gloria
Mancini, Henry
Mantovani
Mario Argandona/Tato Gomez
Marlowe, Michell
Marsden, Gerry
Marston, Stephen
Martin Bottcher und sein Orchester
Mathis, Johnny
Matsuoka, Keiko
Maxiplay Pops et al.
McCallum, David
McCartney, Paul
McCartney, Paul (Medley)
McCartney, Paul (Live 1990)
McCartney, Paul (Live 1993)
Merrill Jr. High School Intermediate Band of 1968
Midnight String Quartet
Moments
Monro, Matt
Monterey String Ensemble
Montez, Chris
Montgomery, Wes
Moon Flower
Moon Flower
Morgan, Jane
Morgan, Lee
Mottola, Tommy
Mullard, Arthur
Nero, Peter
Nevin Platt Jr. High School 7th Grade Chorus of '73/'74
New Classic Singers
New World Electronic Chambre Ensemble
Newman, David
Nordisle Bois et Son Orchestre
Now Sound Orchestra
Ofra Harnoy & the Orford String Quartet
Parigi, Gastone
Paw Prints
Percy Faith & his Orchestra
Percy Faith Strings
Pickin' On Pickers
Presley, Elvis
Pretty Goods
Pucho & the Latin Soul Brothers
Prysock, Arthur
Quezada, Vinicio
Rafey, Susan
Rage Against the Machine
Rainy Day Orchestra
Rainy Day Singers
Randolph, Boots
Raney, Sue
Raschi, Gene
Rawls, Lou
Ray Charles Singers
Ray Conniff & the Singers
Ray Martin & his Orchestra
Raymond & Eddie
Red Stripe Ebony Steel Band
Renay, Diane
Riddle, Nelson
Ripoffs
Robbins, Marty
Rochester Pops
Romantic Strings & Orchestra
Romantic Voices
Ron Butler & the Saxist
Rostal & Schaefer et al.
Rowan Atkinson & Peter MacNicol
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Russ Sainty & the Johnny Arthey Sound
Russell, Andy
Russell, Mark
Sandpipers
Seekers
Seely, Jeannie
Seltaeb
Shank, Bud
Sigler, Bunny
Sill, Tristan
Simon Gale Orchestra
Sinatra, Frank
Sir John Quintet
Smith, Kate
Smothers Brothers
Snoopy's Classiks on Toys
Sollscher, Goran
Spirit
Starlight Woodwinds
Stereo Sound Orchestra & Strings
Stomberg, Greg
Stomberg, Greg
Swarf Sisters
Swoboda, Carl
Syd Lawrence & his Orchestra
Sylvers
Szabo, Gabor
Takahashi, Aki
Taylor, Tyrone
Teddy Phillips, Colleen Lovett & their Mexicali Brass
Templeton Twins
Terry Baxter Orchestra & Chorus
Thielemans, Toots
Thomas, Carla
Toussaint, Allen
Toys
Trio Rococo
Unknown (A sing along ...)
Unknown (German)
Unknown (16 exitos)
Unknown (Yugoslavia)
Unknown (Let your feet walk ...)
Unknown (Seattle demo studio)
Van Eps, George
Van Palthe, Don
Vaughan, Sarah
Vaughn, Tom
Vernon, Jackie
Vic Lewis Orchestra
Villa, Claudio
Village Stompers
Waikikis
Warren Covington Orchestra
Warwick, Dionne
Wayne King & Orchestra
Welk, Lawrence
Wells, Mary
Williams, Andy
Williams, Roger
Willis, Bryan
Wilson, Nancy
Wings
Womenfolk
Wynette, Tammy
Zamfir

Who Buried Paul McCartney?

This one drifts pretty far from comic art, but there is a connection. And hey, how often does a guy get to say he shows up in the film credits? Although in reality it shouldn't have been my name, it should've been Lynn Hansen's.

This documentary was originally broadcast on Dutch television in 2005. Wouter Van Opdorp, the director, heard about Number Nine, Lynn Hansen's book presenting his theory on the "Paul is dead" hoax. Wouter contacted me, I sent him a copy, and apparently they used some of the info.

Although if they did use any of Lynn's book, I'm not sure where it shows up in the film. Several researchers have looked into this hoax as a detective or journalist would by interviewing people and doing lots of field work. That's the case with this highly entertaining documentary. But Lynn was more of an armchair theorizer (at least on this topic) and had a completely different take on the whole affair.

The piece was released on European DVD, which means I can only play it on my computer. It is, however, currently available on YouTube in 3 parts.

The Interrupted Song

A memorial to Lynn Hansen, published in spring 1995 during my print-on-demand phase. I have no clue how many of these are out there. And somehow that little numerical copy information void seems fitting for anything having to do with Lynn.

Events subsequent to Lynn's death have only made his demise all the more mysterious. A few people have surfaced, even as recently as 4 or 5 years ago, who have revealed sides of Lynn I never knew. His life was apparently compartmentalized to an incredible extent.

When most people die, the news is spread through a circle of friends. But Lynn didn't have that. He had a string of friends, and very few of us were connected to each other. And none of us knew him as well as we thought we did.

What exactly happened to me? After doing the normal guy thing and ignoring an abdominal pain for two weeks, my wife discovered I was in trouble when I let out a yelp while sitting down. She forced me to go to the hospital. This no doubt saved my life as the docs rushed to open me up ASAP. It turned out I had swallowed some toxic substance, which they could not identify, and a foot of my colon had died. They said I most likely would've croaked in a day or two if I had done nothing. I now have an 8 inch scar as a souvenir of that surgical adventure, plus nerve damage in my drawing hand (which is about half numb most of the time these days). This was referenced in Cranium Frenzy #8.

From what I gather, Lynn's symptoms were different. Apparently he was dehydrated and had flu-like problems. He died at the same time I was released from my week-long hospital stay.

I'll be revisiting this unfinished story when I post info about Lynn's book on the Paul McCartney death hoax entitled Number 9. And believe me, it just gets weirder.