Jonathan Knott
@jonathanknott.bsky.social
Journalist and writer. Writing about the Beatles' plans to buy a Greek island in the 1960s: https://www.beatlesingreece.com
Published: Journal of Beatles Studies | Featured: The Observer
Published: Journal of Beatles Studies | Featured: The Observer
First it was given names that didn’t exist… then it disappeared completely. Welcome to the latest twist in the story of the Greek island the Beatles wanted to buy in 1967.
My latest Substack post looks at what changed in the udpated Anthology documentary, and the possible reasons.
My latest Substack post looks at what changed in the udpated Anthology documentary, and the possible reasons.
The Greek island that disappeared
The new Anthology series doesn’t mention at all the group’s visit to Greece in 1967, or their intention to buy an island there – but it better explains the ‘summer of love’ context.
www.beatlesingreece.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:27 PM
First it was given names that didn’t exist… then it disappeared completely. Welcome to the latest twist in the story of the Greek island the Beatles wanted to buy in 1967.
My latest Substack post looks at what changed in the udpated Anthology documentary, and the possible reasons.
My latest Substack post looks at what changed in the udpated Anthology documentary, and the possible reasons.
In 1968, while The Beatles were recording tracks for the ‘White Album’, George Martin sent the group this postcard from Italy, saying he’d found the ‘perfect island for a recording studio’.
What did he mean? Full story in my new Substack post: www.beatlesingreece.com/.../george-m....
What did he mean? Full story in my new Substack post: www.beatlesingreece.com/.../george-m....
October 30, 2025 at 2:13 PM
In 1968, while The Beatles were recording tracks for the ‘White Album’, George Martin sent the group this postcard from Italy, saying he’d found the ‘perfect island for a recording studio’.
What did he mean? Full story in my new Substack post: www.beatlesingreece.com/.../george-m....
What did he mean? Full story in my new Substack post: www.beatlesingreece.com/.../george-m....
I tried to work out where one of the quotes in ‘The Beatles Anthology’ book comes from. It’s a more complicated story than you might think:
Anatomy of a quote from ‘The Beatles Anthology’
What exactly did George Harrison say about the Greek island, and when?
open.substack.com
September 25, 2025 at 10:03 AM
I tried to work out where one of the quotes in ‘The Beatles Anthology’ book comes from. It’s a more complicated story than you might think:
Reposted by Jonathan Knott
Beatles fan? Want to hear about new research from brilliant Beatles historian Obadiah Jones? You're in luck! 5 seasons his excellent podcast are available now covering everything from the Hard Day's Night chord to Greece '67, the 10,000 hours myth to the Sgt. Pepper medals. Enjoy!
September 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Beatles fan? Want to hear about new research from brilliant Beatles historian Obadiah Jones? You're in luck! 5 seasons his excellent podcast are available now covering everything from the Hard Day's Night chord to Greece '67, the 10,000 hours myth to the Sgt. Pepper medals. Enjoy!
Reposted by Jonathan Knott
This is a great read - highly recommended.
John Lennon's father had an eventful war in the merchant navy – but it’s been hard to know how much of his extraordinary tales to believe. Based on ships’ records, I’ve now pieced together the full story of how Alf jumped ship in New York, was imprisoned in Algeria and then hospitalised in Italy:
Desertion, theft and a stay in hospital: Alf Lennon’s eventful war
Newly-discovered ships' records reveal how John Lennon’s father jumped ship in New York and was imprisoned in Algeria for stealing cargo, before being hospitalised in Italy with venereal disease.
www.beatlesingreece.com
September 11, 2025 at 12:48 PM
This is a great read - highly recommended.
John Lennon's father had an eventful war in the merchant navy – but it’s been hard to know how much of his extraordinary tales to believe. Based on ships’ records, I’ve now pieced together the full story of how Alf jumped ship in New York, was imprisoned in Algeria and then hospitalised in Italy:
Desertion, theft and a stay in hospital: Alf Lennon’s eventful war
Newly-discovered ships' records reveal how John Lennon’s father jumped ship in New York and was imprisoned in Algeria for stealing cargo, before being hospitalised in Italy with venereal disease.
www.beatlesingreece.com
September 11, 2025 at 12:36 PM
John Lennon's father had an eventful war in the merchant navy – but it’s been hard to know how much of his extraordinary tales to believe. Based on ships’ records, I’ve now pieced together the full story of how Alf jumped ship in New York, was imprisoned in Algeria and then hospitalised in Italy:
The story of five-year-old John Lennon being forced to choose between his father and mother in Blackpool is almost certainly exaggerated. But Billy Hall, the friend John and his dad were staying with, did emigrate to New Zealand. Did Alf Lennon plan to follow him? I look at the events in this post:
The 'Blackpool incident': what we've been overlooking
Billy Hall, a good friend of John Lennon’s father Alfred, emigrated to New Zealand after the second world war. Did Alf intend to join him there?
www.beatlesingreece.com
August 21, 2025 at 1:12 PM
The story of five-year-old John Lennon being forced to choose between his father and mother in Blackpool is almost certainly exaggerated. But Billy Hall, the friend John and his dad were staying with, did emigrate to New Zealand. Did Alf Lennon plan to follow him? I look at the events in this post:
Exactly 58 years ago, the Beatles were in Greece searching for an island to buy.
For my Substack, I've recapped everything I've learned about this story - including phantom islands, financial strategies, cold war propaganda - and a bit more clarity about the mysterious 'Magic Alex':
For my Substack, I've recapped everything I've learned about this story - including phantom islands, financial strategies, cold war propaganda - and a bit more clarity about the mysterious 'Magic Alex':
Recap: what we’ve learned about the Beatles’ Greek island mystery
My attempts to clarify a historical footnote led me into a maze of phantom islands, financial strategies, secret services and cold war propaganda.
www.beatlesingreece.com
July 24, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Exactly 58 years ago, the Beatles were in Greece searching for an island to buy.
For my Substack, I've recapped everything I've learned about this story - including phantom islands, financial strategies, cold war propaganda - and a bit more clarity about the mysterious 'Magic Alex':
For my Substack, I've recapped everything I've learned about this story - including phantom islands, financial strategies, cold war propaganda - and a bit more clarity about the mysterious 'Magic Alex':
In this post, I look at why the Greek island the Beatles wanted is often referred to as ‘Leslo’ - despite there being no known island called this. It's included in Barry Miles’ Paul McCartney biography – but the author didn’t add it until a later draft: open.substack.com/pub/followth...
Where does the island name ‘Leslo’ come from?
While the name appears in Paul McCartney’s authorised biography, the author’s records suggests it didn’t originate from the Beatle himself.
open.substack.com
February 5, 2025 at 2:08 PM
In this post, I look at why the Greek island the Beatles wanted is often referred to as ‘Leslo’ - despite there being no known island called this. It's included in Barry Miles’ Paul McCartney biography – but the author didn’t add it until a later draft: open.substack.com/pub/followth...
I wrote about John Lennon's enduring fascination with islands, and what that might tell us about him: www.beatlesingreece.com/p/john-lenno...
John Lennon’s island fantasies
Considering Lennon’s interest in islands could help us understand his idealism, his reading habits, and his musical and literary writing – perhaps even his relationship with his father.
www.beatlesingreece.com
September 20, 2024 at 8:58 AM
I wrote about John Lennon's enduring fascination with islands, and what that might tell us about him: www.beatlesingreece.com/p/john-lenno...
I spoke to @gimmesometruthpod.bsky.social for this episode on the Beatles in Greece - discussing where they went, which island(s) they wanted to buy, and what we know about the mysterious 'Magic Alex': gimmesometruth.podbean.com/e/greece-1967/
Greece 1967 with Jonathan Knott | Gimme Some Truth
For this season 4 finale episode, I am joined by researcher and travel writer Jonathan Knott to present The Beatles' 1967 plans to buy a Greek island. This chapter in the history and one of its key pl...
gimmesometruth.podbean.com
August 22, 2024 at 4:24 PM
I spoke to @gimmesometruthpod.bsky.social for this episode on the Beatles in Greece - discussing where they went, which island(s) they wanted to buy, and what we know about the mysterious 'Magic Alex': gimmesometruth.podbean.com/e/greece-1967/
I looked at the evidence that the father of the Beatles' friend ‘Magic Alex’ may have worked for KYP, Greece’s Central Intelligence Service: followthesun.substack.com/p/a-secret-s...
A secret service connection? Argyris Mardas, IDEA and KYP
Employment by Greece’s Central Intelligence Service could explain why Alexis Mardas’ father is often associated with military and secret activity
followthesun.substack.com
May 29, 2024 at 4:32 PM
I looked at the evidence that the father of the Beatles' friend ‘Magic Alex’ may have worked for KYP, Greece’s Central Intelligence Service: followthesun.substack.com/p/a-secret-s...
For Erin Torkelson Weber’s website, I looked at the evidence for the Beatles’ abandoned plans to buy a Greek island: beatlebioreview.wordpress.com/2024/04/06/t...
The Beatles’ Puzzling Plan to Buy A greek Island
Hello Beatle people; The following is a guest post by UK journalist Jonathon Knott regarding the circumstances which surrounded the Beatles’ ill-fated intention to purchase a Greek Island back in 1967...
beatlebioreview.wordpress.com
April 6, 2024 at 12:03 PM
For Erin Torkelson Weber’s website, I looked at the evidence for the Beatles’ abandoned plans to buy a Greek island: beatlebioreview.wordpress.com/2024/04/06/t...
'How Britain got on board with Greece's dictators' - my article for Declassified UK www.declassifieduk.org/how-britain-...
How Britain got on board with Greece’s dictators
When Greek army officers seized power in Athens in 1967, Harold Wilson’s Labour government decided to do business with its repressive NATO and commercial ally, overriding human rights concerns, decl...
www.declassifieduk.org
January 2, 2024 at 11:35 AM
'How Britain got on board with Greece's dictators' - my article for Declassified UK www.declassifieduk.org/how-britain-...
In 1967, tax rates of around 90% presented a major conundrum to the Beatles’ accountants. The group’s friend Alexis Mardas is said to have suggested that he could help them ‘resettle and pay a lot less tax in Greece’. New Substack post:
'Alex said they could pay less tax in Greece’: the financial context of the Beatles’ island plan...
Alexis Mardas is said to have claimed that he could help the Beatles ‘pay a lot less tax in Greece than they were paying in England’
followthesun.substack.com
November 17, 2023 at 10:17 AM
In 1967, tax rates of around 90% presented a major conundrum to the Beatles’ accountants. The group’s friend Alexis Mardas is said to have suggested that he could help them ‘resettle and pay a lot less tax in Greece’. New Substack post: