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Yellow fever >> A conversation with Yellow Submarine's Nowhere Man
by RUPERT BOTTENBERG
On the eve of Yellow Submarine's video rerelease (all cleaned up and remastered with bonus footage), we put a call through to Pepperland (the film's cartoon wonderland, not la belle province) and chatted with Boob himself.
M: Hey, Jeremy. How're you doing? JHB, Phd.: I've a bit of a fever, I'm not at my best, but I shall answer your questions with vigour and zest. M: Oh, right. The rhymes. So this rerelease of Yellow Submarine is quite a big deal... JHB, Phd.: In Liverpool, August 30 was Yellow Submarine Day! Thousands and thousands dropped in to say, "Hey!" They painted a train in the theme of the movie, patterns and pictures--it looked rather groovy. The Yanks, for their part, have issued a stamp. It's our sub that adorns it--this one's a champ! M: And then there's the merchandising, of course. JHB, Phd.: A remastered soundtrack--the songs sound their best--storybooks, T-shirts and all of the rest. They'll reissue the die-cast submarine toy, which brought hours of fun to many a boy. So much salable product, oh goodness, oh gosh! When I get my cut, I'll be rolling in dosh! M: Which of the Beatles did you get along best with during filming? JHB, Phd.: John was standoffish, Paul and George too, but Ringo and I stuck together like glue. Such a sad little figure, the runt of the gang, but the only one with whom I did hang. M: Yellow Submarine is not only a masterpiece of pop art and animation, it's also a total psychedelic mindfuck. Like that crazy shit at the end, with you riding the flower that pops out of the Blue Meanie's head right up past the clouds. That shit's heavier than the end of 2001. Were you much into psychedelic drugs back then? JHB, Phd.: Pills and tabs that play tricks on the mind! Take a little trip, who knows what you'll find! M: Right. Last question: are you gay? JHB, Phd.: I'm talented, tasteful, flamboyant, it's true! There aren't many ladies in my book of who's-who! M: I'll take that as a "yes."
The new Yellow Submarine video and soundtrack are in stores now |
It was 30 years ago today, more or less, that the animated film Yellow Submarine was first released. While it starred the Beatles, or at least their cartoon stand-ins, it was the secondaries that stole the show. The Blue Meanies, the Snapping Turks, Captain Fred and of course Jeremy Hilary Boob, Phd--better known as the Nowhere Man.