AP/ September 28, 2009, 2:01 PM

"Lucy" of Beatles Fame Dies

Lucy Vodden, who provided the inspiration for the Beatles' classic song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," has died after a long battle with lupus. She was 46.

Her death was announced Monday by St. Thomas' Hospital in London, where she had been treated for the chronic disease for more than five years, and by her husband, Ross Vodden. Britain's Press Association said she died last Tuesday. Hospital officials said they could not confirm the day of her death.

Vodden's connection to the Beatles dates back to her early days, when she made friends with schoolmate Julian Lennon, John Lennon's son.

Julian Lennon, then 4 years old, came home from school with a drawing one day, showed it to his father, and said it was "Lucy in the sky with diamonds."

At the time, John Lennon was gathering material for his contributions to "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," a landmark album released to worldwide acclaim in 1967.

The elder Lennon seized on the image and developed it into what is widely regarded as a psychedelic masterpiece, replete with haunting images of "newspaper taxis" and a "girl with kaleidoscope eyes."

Rock music critics thought the song's title was a veiled reference to LSD, but John Lennon always claimed the phrase came from his son, not from a desire to spell out the initials LSD in code.

Vodden lost touch with Julian Lennon after he left the school following his parents' divorce, but they were reunited in recent years when Julian Lennon, who lives in France, tried to help her cope with the disease.

He sent her flowers and vouchers for use at a gardening center near her home in Surrey in southeast England, and frequently sent her text messages in an effort to buttress her spirits.

"I wasn't sure at first how to approach her," Julian Lennon told the Associated Press in June. "I wanted at least to get a note to her. Then I heard she had a great love of gardening, and I thought I'd help with something she's passionate about, and I love gardening too. I wanted to do something to put a smile on her face."

In recent months, Vodden was too ill to go out most of the time, except for hospital visits.

She enjoyed her link to the Beatles, but was not particularly fond of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."

"I don't relate to the song, to that type of song," she told the Associated Press in June. "As a teenager, I made the mistake of telling a couple of friends at school that I was the Lucy in the song and they said, 'No, it's not you, my parents said it's about drugs.' And I didn't know what LSD was at the time, so I just kept it quiet, to myself."

Vodden is the latest in a long line of people connected to the Beatles who died at a relatively young age.

The list includes John Lennon, gunned down at age 40, manager Brian Epstein, who died of a drug overdose when he was 32, and original band member Stuart Sutcliffe, who died of a brain hemorrhage at 21.

A spokeswoman for Julian Lennon and his mother, Cynthia Lennon, said they were "shocked and saddened" by Vodden's death.

Angie Davidson, a lupus sufferer who is campaign director of the St. Thomas' Lupus Trust, said Vodden was "a real fighter" who had worked behind the scenes to support efforts to combat the disease.

"It's so sad that she has finally lost the battle she fought so bravely for so long," said Davidson.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
15 Comments Add a Comment
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legacyabq says:
even if it WAS about LSD who cares?
It was the sixties.

LSD is good medicine ta make you think.

Thats why christians and republicans are so scared of it.

ALCOHOL: turn off yer mind; thinking is for hippies commies and ****, right?

Morons.

Anyway, very sad bout this lady. Lupus is painful and horrible.
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goldenlucy says:
Hasn't anyone seen the picture? I did and it looks just like a sky with bright things like diamonds and since Lucy was his little friend, that is exactly what a four year old would say to describe it.
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goldenlucy says:
When I was 23 I went to John Lennon's home in August of 1967. He happened to be there with Cynthia and good not have been nicer to us young fans. Later I told my friends the song was for me, because my name is Lucy, but then I would laugh and tell about the real Lucy. God Bless Her.
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erasmus111 says:
by puzzler125 September 28, 2009 1:20 PM EDT
Julian Lennon was born in April 1963 and the song was written in 1967. He was in school at age 4 and bringing home the picture? I don't think the facts "work" on this one.


All countries are different. Here our kids can start "preschool" at age 3. You can start kindergarten at the age of 5 and sometimes age 4, depending on when your birthday is.
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puzzler125 says:
Julian Lennon was born in April 1963 and the song was written in 1967. He was in school at age 4 and bringing home the picture? I don't think the facts "work" on this one.
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bill0bob replies:
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by puzzler125 September 28, 2009 1:20 PM EDT
"Julian Lennon was born in April 1963 and the song was written in 1967. He was in school at age 4 and bringing home the picture? I don't think the facts "work" on this one."

You are an idiot. The album was released in 1967. That does NOT mean the song was written in 1967. It just means it wasn't written AFTER 1967. Also, he was at a NURSERY SCHOOL. He could have easily been only 3 or 4 years old. Kids draw pictures in school all the time, and they frequently take them home to show their parents.

Why bring up mindless, stupid cr@p just so you can complain? A woman has died from a terribly debilitating disease. Show a little respect! If you can't do that, then just S-T-F-Up!
mejordelahistoria replies:
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each country is different, a US child has the brain potential of a chimp until their early 50's, thats if they managed to stop going to church and stopped playing video games as an intellectual activity. in England they probably draw, read and do other interesting things starting at age 4.
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bobkat258 says:
You people are all bleepin' STUPID.
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erasmus111 replies:
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by bobkat258 September 28, 2009 1:13 PM EDT
You people are all bleepin' STUPID.


Hahahahaha, ya think?
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bobkat258 says:
You people are all bleepin' STUPID.
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dnamj says:
She probably didn't have lupus at age 6 or 7. That is even more unlikely that taking LSD at that age.
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pickaguitar1 says:
Cool story...didn't know
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harpoot says:
Never knew there was a real Lucy. Rest in peace.
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