Stuart Sutcliffe's head

The Philip Norman book states that they found a brain tumor on Stu's
head right where the hoodlum had kicked him. Is that a coincidence or
can you get a tumor on your brain because somebody kicked you right
there?

Lizz Holmans...

Very unlikely. Most brain tumors are iatrogenic--meaning 'We don't
know', but head trauma isn't one of the likely causes.

F Parella...

That is not what iatrogenic means. A symptom that is iatrogenic is
caused by the treatment or the physician.

Lizz Holmans...

Dammit. You're right and I'm wrong. How embarrasskin'. It's a good
thing I retired.

F Parella...

I respect you for admitting it. Lots of people can't do that.

Lizz Holmans...

I'm not lots of people.

Lizz 'I only weigh as much as lots of people' Holmans

Lizz 'can I try "etiology unknown" next time?' Holmans

Chris Jepson...

I believe she may have meant to say "idiopathic".

Lizz Holmans...

That's the ticket. Thank you for saving me from my latest senior
moment.

Lizz 'growing old ain't for sissies' Holmans

Chris Jepson

Others say he had an inherited condition while Astrid said it was
because John Lennon kicked him. John fought a lot but I can't imagine
him kicking his idol in the head.

Lookingglass...

I recently read this story and was socked to read that John kicked Stu in
the head. I'm sorry I don't remember which book I read this in... either
Geoff Emerick's book or LENNON REVEALED by Larry Kane... more likely it was
Kane's book.

But if this story is untrue, where is the outcry of critics lambasting this
rumor??? Lennon is already "bad boy" enough without something like this
haunting his memory.

saki...

There's been a reasonable outcry of critics over the years suggesting that
the scenario didn't happen. Goldman's book ('nuff said) is the principal
source for the rumor. Stuart's sister Pauline also latched onto the tale,
oddly enough around the time she had a book to promote.

In addition to Lizz Holmans' assessment of Stu's situation, you might want
to read the thoughts of another medical professional on the subject, which
goes into a bit of detail. The original artcle appeared in rmb some years
ago:

Lizz Holmans...

Because medical records are sealed to protect patient privacy, and the
event happened so long ago that his chart will undoubtedly either be
in storage or have been destroyed.

Without any tangible evidence nothing can be proved. That leaves lots
of room for speculation. And it's because people *want* him to be a
badder guy than he probably was. Why, I don't know.

Lizz 'among so many other things I don't know' Holmans

dave (...half of what I say is meaningless...)

JohnB...

The film "Backbeat" (I know, hardly a viable "source") had Lennon and
Sutcliffe in a pub (not at a gig) when Lennon provokes an argument with
some others in the bar. They try to escape but are caught and beaten
up, both of them. Is there any more authentic account that this
version may have come from?

microknee finger...

I don't think so--Backbeat is highly fictionalized and doesn't really
pretend not to be. It blends together a lot of stuff.

~ Chad

Lizz Holmans...

I don't believe the kicking story because of the timeline. In none of
my years as a neurology nurse have I found anyone taking that long to
die from a blow to the head, unless the patient was in a coma for
months.

Lizz 'nowadays I prefer commas' Holmans