Terri Hooley, who is often dubbed the ‘Godfather of Punk,’ recently reflected on his turbulent past. In an interview following the release of his biography ‘Terri Hooley: Seventy-Five Revolutions,’ he recalled a notorious incident with John Lennon, where he punched the Beatle.
This incident took place around 1970 during a visit to London. Lennon, mistaking Hooley for an IRA supporter, had offered to provide him with weapons. Hooley recalled:
“He was stoned, so it wasn’t my proudest moment. When I met Cynthia [Lennon’s first wife] and told her, she said, ‘You should have hit him harder!'”
Hooley Also Had a Fight With Bob Dylan
Hooley, a key figure in Belfast’s punk scene, is known for launching bands like the Undertones and the Outcasts and for his unconventional life. His life, however, is not just a story of music and protest.
Born into a Protestant family in east Belfast in 1948, Hooley lost an eye at age six. By 17, he was already Belfast’s premier DJ, known for his opposition to the Vietnam War. This opposition led to a confrontation with Bob Dylan in 1966 over Dylan’s refusal to stop paying taxes as a war protest.
In a previous interview, Hooley revealed more details about the punching incident. As he said, the encounter with Lennon ended only when Hooley’s glass eye fell out. Despite this, Hooley maintained that Lennon remained one of his idols:
“It was never about the politics; it was about the music.”
Hooley’s Lasting Influence and Recently Released Biography
Hooley’s influence extends beyond these incidents. His record shop, Good Vibrations, was not just a place for music but a symbol of unity in a divided country. His contribution to the music scene and culture in Northern Ireland has been recognized in various forms, including a biopic, a musical, and a documentary series by the BBC.
Despite facing bankruptcy in 1982 and health issues that led to the closure of his last record shop in 2015, Hooley’s passion for music and his influence on the punk scene remains. His recent biography, released to mark his 75th birthday, chronicles these experiences. You can get a copy here.
