Roger Taylor and His Girlfriend Jill Johnson in Summerville’s Garden, ca. 1967

One of Roger Taylor’s regular girlfriends was Jill Johnson. A former pupil at Truro’s County Grammar School for Girls, she spent a year with Roger and was part of the set which followed The Reaction around and hung-out at Truro’s coffee bars. Roger and Jill often teamed up with his neighbor Vaughan Hankins and his wife-to-be Gill Wilton. Vaughan’s father owned a garage so getting a car was never a problem. The four would have nights out together at Tregaye Country Club, Flo’s Bar in Devoran or at the Pandora Inn at Restronguet on the road to Falmouth.

Roger has described Jill Johnson as his first proper love when he was around 15–16 years old. They met at a club where Jill sang in a folk band and ended up dating for about four years, from approximately 1966 to 1969.

“My first real love was a girl called Jill,” he said in Queen in Cornwall book. “A mate and I went to a club and there was a folk group playing with a girl singer in it. My friend was older and had a car and we gave her a lift. As it turned out we all went to a nearby fair. Then, when I ran into her again, we ended up together for four years.

“She was small and wore short skirts, which were ‘in’ at the time. We had lots of rows but I think that was the reason why I liked her so much. She had a very strong mind and she knew what she wanted. I can’t stand dumb girls. I like girls who can take care of themselves. Things fizzled out for us at college: she joined another folk group, and went out with the guitarist, and that was the end of it. She was quiet in some ways, now that I think about it, but she had a lot of power in her.”

Jill Johnson was afterwards part of an all-girl trio called The Jay Jays or The Three Jays, and then lastly The Jayfolk. The other members were sisters Pat and Sue Johnstone. One of Roger’s first recording sessions was back-up musician to The Jay Jays. The girls, playing guitars and flutes, have been rehearsing with Roger on drums in premises next to the Barley Sheath pub in the centre of Truro.

They met Rod Wheatley, the owner of a Ferrograph tape recorder, and he offered to tape some of their songs, Rod was helped by his friend, Grenville Penhaligon, and they put down two songs on two-track tape.

“I remember Roger turning up with these three gorgeous girls with gorgeous voices,” Rod said. “The session wasn’t very long, an hour perhaps. The music was very, very good. They certainly had it all together.”

Jill Johnson incidentally, forged her own career in music, fronting the folk quartet, The Famous Jug Band, until they split in the early 1970s. They released two albums on Liberty Records, before Jill became ill with agoraphobia and later moved to Canada where her two elder twin sisters already lived.

Jim Morrison and Pamela Courson at the Opening of “The Beard” at the Warner Playhouse, California, 1968

On January 24, 1968, Jim Morrison, Pamela Courson, and her sister Judy attended a performance of Michael McClure’s controversial play The Beard at the Warner Playhouse in Los Angeles. By this time, Morrison had already cemented his status as the enigmatic frontman of The Doors, whose second album, Strange Days, had been released just months earlier in September 1967.

The play, which featured a provocative dialogue between Billy the Kid and Jean Harlow, aligned with the countercultural movements of the late 1960s, drawing in figures like Morrison who thrived on artistic rebellion. McClure, a key figure in the Beat Generation, was known for pushing the boundaries of conventional theater, making this production a fitting attraction for Morrison and his circle.

Morrison and Courson’s relationship had begun in the mid-1960s, with some sources dating their first meeting to 1965 in Los Angeles. Pamela, who would later become one of the most influential figures in Morrison’s life, shared his love for poetry, art, and avant-garde culture. By 1968, she had firmly established herself as his muse, accompanying him to various artistic events across Los Angeles. The Warner Playhouse itself was a notable venue for experimental productions, and Morrison’s attendance that night reflected his deep appreciation for theater, a passion he had cultivated since his time as a film student at UCLA in the early 1960s.

This period marked a critical juncture in Morrison’s life, as The Doors were experiencing rapid commercial success following the breakthrough of their debut single, “Light My Fire,” in 1967. Just weeks after attending The Beard, Morrison and The Doors performed at the Fillmore East in New York on March 22–23, 1968, further solidifying their legendary status. Meanwhile, McClure’s play continued to stir conversation in theatrical circles, embodying the artistic experimentation that defined the era. The intersection of Morrison, Courson, and The Beard at the Warner Playhouse in early 1968 offers a snapshot of a transformative moment in 20th-century cultural history.

Nancy Lee Andrews and Ringo Starr Posing Together in a Photo Booth, ca. 1970s

Nancy Lee Andrews, a talented photographer and actress, found herself in the vibrant and whirlwind world of rock ‘n’ roll, particularly as she became romantically involved with Ringo Starr, the legendary drummer of The Beatles.

Their relationship began during a time of great personal and professional transformation for Starr. As the 1970s ushered in new musical movements, the breakup of The Beatles cast a shadow over the band members’ lives, and Starr, along with his new romantic partner, found solace in each other’s company. Their connection symbolized a fusion of artistic creativity and personal camaraderie, as they shared moments of quiet reflection amid the chaos of the music industry. One particularly charming memory from their relationship is captured in photo booth images, candid snapshots of their shared laughter and love during this defining period.

Nancy and Ringo were introduced through John Lennon at a social gathering—possibly a birthday party at John’s beach house in 1974. Their first encounter reportedly happened at a poker table where Ringo was playing.

“I met Ringo on a Monday afternoon in May 27, 1974,” said Nancy. “John had rented actor Peter Lawford’s infamous Santa Monica beach home where he and May Pang hosted many get-togethers. Girlfriends and wives were cooking in the kitchen and kids were swimming in the pool. It was a family get-together, rock ‘n’ roll style. A seat was offered to me at the poker table and I found myself next to Ringo.  He was so charming, playful, witty and cute as hell. He might have had sad eyes, but they were twinkling at me that day.”

“After our first date we were hooked on each other,” Nancy continued. “We just continued until one day we were looking for a house together and we were a couple. Our world was fast and on the move all over the world. We had a place in Monte Carlo, England, Amsterdam and LA. Between the recording studios, movie premieres, promotion tours, traveling nine months a year and juggling the children, friends and family we were gypsies — elegant gypsies. Sometimes we would unplug the phones and hide out in our own house not letting anybody know we were in town. Just a few days of old movies, some home made popcorn and our favorite meals. Those days were some of our best times.”

They were in a committed relationship for about six years and got engaged following Ringo’s divorce from Maureen Starkey in 1975. During a romantic holiday in Mexico, Nancy co‑wrote the song “Las Brisas” with Ringo, which appeared on his 1976 album Ringo’s Rotogravure.

In 1980, their engagement ended after Ringo met Barbara Bach, with whom he later married. Nancy subsequently sued Ringo for palimony.

Despite the breakup and legal battles, Nancy later expressed support for Ringo’s marriage to Barbara Bach, acknowledging he found someone special.

30 Photographs of Elvis Presley and His Girlfriend Linda Thompson in the 1970s

Linda Thompson, a former Miss Tennessee and a beauty queen, met Elvis Presley on July 6, 1972 at a private movie screening in Memphis, shortly after Elvis had separated from his wife, Priscilla Presley. Linda was 22 years old; Elvis was 37. They connected instantly — both were from Memphis, shared Southern roots, and Linda was drawn to Elvis’s charm, vulnerability, and need for emotional support.

Linda moved into Graceland and lived with Elvis for about four years. She became much more than a girlfriend — often helping take care of Elvis during his health struggles and erratic lifestyle, particularly due to his prescription drug use and sleep issues. Linda has described herself as being Elvis’s “nurse, lover, best friend, and caretaker.”

By late 1976, Linda ended the relationship because of Elvis’s declining health, mood swings, and unwillingness to make changes in his life. Despite their love, she realized she couldn’t save him. They remained close until his death in August 1977.

“I was with him for four and a half years, from 1972 to 1976,” said Linda. “He surrounded himself with people whom he loved and trusted, because he was so secluded from the world, and so sheltered. But a lot of people got very greedy. I think that's one reason Elvis felt lonely at times, he realized that even if they cared about him, they still lost sight of him as a human being. He would get depressed because he felt people didn't love him for being the simple person he was. They forgot about him as just a regular person with feelings like all of us.”

Linda Thompson has spoken affectionately about Elvis in interviews and her 2016 memoir A Little Thing Called Life, portraying him as a complex but deeply caring man.

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Nostalgic Photos of Helen Mirren and Liam Neeson Back When They Were Dating in 1983

Helen Mirren and Liam Neeson were romantically involved in the early 1980s after meeting on the set of the 1981 fantasy film Excalibur, in which Mirren played Morgana and Neeson portrayed Gawain.

While they dated from 1980 to 1985, Helen Mirren has emphasized that they “didn’t just date, we lived together for four years.” They described themselves as a “serious item” during this period. Mirren, being the more established actress at the time, even helped Neeson get an agent.

Neeson then opened up about the sweet, yet bizarre, way he discovered she had fallen for him, “Before I met her and we worked together, I had read somewhere that if she fancied a guy she would imitate his walk behind his back. I turned around one day and she was doing that to me.”

Recounting the first time he set eyes on her, while filming the movie Excalibur, he said: “I remember being on the set and standing with Ciaran Hinds as Helen walked towards us dressed in her full Morgana Le Fey costume. We both went, ‘Oh, f***’ and I was smitten.

He added: “I think Ciaran was too but I was very smitten!”

Even decades later, both actors speak very fondly of their time together. Mirren has stated, “We were not meant to be together in that way, but we loved each other very, very much. I love him deeply to this day. He’s such an amazing guy.” Neeson has also called Mirren a “remarkable woman and actress” and said he was “honored to have spent three or four years with that lady.”

Their relationship ended in 1985. Mirren went on to meet director Taylor Hackford during her audition for his 1985 movie White Nights, whom she later married in 1997. Neeson would later meet and marry Natasha Richardson. 

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Slash With His Girlfriend Melissa Fisher in 1978

A rare photo of a very young Slash with his first girlfriend, 12-year-old Melissa Fisher Fink, at Bancroft Junior High School, 1978:

The words of Slash:

“My first girlfriend was named Melissa. She was half chubby, gorgeous. She was 12 and I was 13 when we were together. Today that isn’t something so rare. Today it’s common to see guys do big things but in 1978 we were two “bold” guys, people would turn to watch us if we kissed in public.

“People looked at us closely. ‘Don’t ruin good times,’ that was our first law. We didn’t waste the relationship we had, which was good.

“The first time we were together was in her house. We started in the laundry room and ended up in the room (the apartment had a single one shared with her mother, Carolyn). Unfortunately Carolyn came home ahead of schedule so I had to slip out the window with my pants down my ankles. Luckily, I was able to hide in the bushes.

“When her mom wasn’t home, we used her bed and when she was home, we used the couch after Carolyn fell asleep due to the Valium. Eventually Melissa and Carolyn moved to the upstairs apartment that had two rooms: one for her and another for her daughter. Carolyn thought it would be better if we were in the house than anywhere else. To us, Carolyn was a divine!”

The Enduring Love Story of Alice B. Toklas and Gertrude Stein

The love story of Alice B. Toklas and Gertrude Stein is one of the most enduring and influential partnerships in literary and artistic history. Their relationship spanned nearly four decades, from their meeting in Paris in 1907 until Stein’s death in 1946.

Alice B. Toklas arrived in Paris on September 8, 1907, and on her very first day, she met Gertrude Stein. The connection was immediate and profound. Toklas later described Stein as a “golden brown presence,” her voice “deep, full, velvety like a great contralto’s, like two voices.” They fell instantly in love and remained inseparable.

Their home at 27 rue de Fleurus became the legendary salon of the Parisian avant-garde. It was a hub where leading figures of modernism in literature and art, such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and many others, gathered for conversation, intellectual exchange, and to view Stein and her brother Leo's impressive art collection.

While Gertrude Stein was the renowned writer and public figure, Alice B. Toklas was the indispensable partner behind the scenes. Toklas acted as Stein's confidante, lover, cook, secretary, typist, editor, and muse. She meticulously managed their household, typed Stein’s manuscripts, and provided the domestic tranquility that allowed Stein to focus on her groundbreaking work. Their affection was evident in the notes they left for each other around the house, signed “DD” (Darling Darling) and “YD” (Your Darling), and their nicknames “Lovey” and “Baby.”

In 1933, Stein published her most commercially successful work, The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas. This unique book was written by Stein but narrated in Toklas’s voice, offering a witty and insightful account of their shared life and the vibrant artistic circles they inhabited. The book brought international recognition to both women.

Their bond remained strong through significant historical events, including both World Wars. During World War I, they volunteered to deliver hospital supplies for the American Fund for French Wounded, driving across France in a Ford they affectionately named “Auntie.” They also survived the German occupation of Paris during World War II, a testament to their resilience and the protection afforded by their connections.

Their nearly four-decade-long partnership ended with Gertrude Stein’s death in 1946 from stomach cancer. According to Toklas, Stein’s final words were, “What is the answer?” and then, when no reply came, “In that case, what is the question?” After Stein’s death, Toklas continued to live in their shared home and dedicated herself to preserving and promoting Stein’s literary legacy. Toklas also became a published author in her own right, most famously with The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book (1954), which notably included a recipe for hashish fudge.

In the 1980s, a cabinet in the Yale University Beinecke Library, which had been locked for an indeterminate number of years, was opened and found to contain some 300 love letters written by Stein and Toklas. They were made public for the first time, revealing intimate details of their relationship. Stein’s endearment for Toklas was “Baby Precious,” in turn Stein was for Toklas, “Mr. Cuddle-Wuddle.”

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The Controversial Story of Mae West, the Silver Screen Icon, and Albert “Chalky” Wright, a Former Champion Boxer

Albert “Chalky” Wright (1912–1957) was an American featherweight boxer who fought from 1928 to 1948 and held the world featherweight championship in 1941–1942. His career record was 171 wins (with 87 knockouts), 46 losses and 19 draws.

In the 1930s, Wright became friendly with actress Mae West (1893–1980). West was a boxing fan and helped to finance Wright’s boxing career. He eventually became her live-in bodyguard and chauffeur for a time. The two reportedly began a romantic relationship though both publicly denied this.

In an era when Hollywood was obsessed with appearances and racial lines were strictly drawn, their relationship stood out as an act of quiet defiance. Their story wasn’t just controversial—it was courageous.

When the management at West’s Los Angeles residence, the Ravenswood Apartments, refused to allow Wright, a Black man, into her apartment, West responded by buying the entire building to ensure he had unrestricted access.

Wright also played a key role in protecting her from threats; in 1935, he assisted law enforcement during a sting operation against a would-be extortionist targeting West, planting a decoy purse near the Warner Brothers studio to catch the suspect.

Mae West may have broken all the rules, but what truly mattered to her was loyalty, justice, and standing by those who stood by her. And in Chalky Wright, she found a partner who did just that—with strength, dignity, and unwavering presence.

Candid Photographs of Eric Clapton and Then-Girlfriend Charlotte Martin in the Late 1960s

Eric Clapton and Charlotte Martin were in a relationship from 1965 to 1968. They were together for a period of time before she began a relationship with George Harrison, who was then married to Pattie Boyd, who would eventually marry Clapton.

Martin was working in London as a model when she first met Clapton at the Speakeasy club. It was during evening discussions for the formation of the band eventually known as Cream. Clapton later recalled in Clapton: The Autobiography:

“At the Speakeasy Club, I had first met one of the great loves of my life, a very beautiful French model, Charlotte Martin. I was smitten with her from the very first moment I set eyes on her. She was very beautiful in an austere way, classically French, with long legs and an incredible figure, but it was her eyes that got on me. They were slightly Asian with a downward slant, and a little bit sad. We started dating right away and soon moved in together into a flat in Regents Park. Charlotte was an incredible girl, more interested in films, art and literature than in modeling, and we had a great time together.”

On November 8, 1966, Clapton recited passages of “La Marseillaise” as a tribute to Martin, during a performance of Cream’s “I’m So Glad” on BBC Radio 1’s Saturday Club. In April 1967, while Martin was with members of Cream at a table in the Speakeasy, Clapton was introduced to Australian visual designer Martin Sharp by Martin, after a chance encounter there. Sharp began writing lyrics on a paper serviette and gave them to Clapton with his studio address at Chelsea, known as the Pheasantry. The lyrics became the song “The Tales of Brave Ulysses,” and subsequently Sharp was hired to design the cover of Cream’s second album Disraeli Gears. Clapton moved into the creative space of the Pheasantry with Martin, in June 1967, and later “Anyone for Tennis?” co-written with Sharp, was reputedly dedicated to Martin. On June 25, 1967, Martin participated in the satellite broadcast Our World, in the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love” segment.

After her split with Clapton, Martin stayed briefly with friends Pattie Boyd and George Harrison at their Kinfauns bungalow in January 1969, before returning to Paris to continue modeling work. She became the long-term partner of Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. They had a daughter, Scarlet Page, in 1971.

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Romantic Photos of Michael Caine and Bianca Pérez-Mora Macías (Later Known as Bianca Jagger) in the Late 1960s

Michael Caine and Bianca Macías, later known as Bianca Jagger, were in a relationship in the 1960s. They met in Paris and dated for several years, with Macías even moving to England with Caine.

While their relationship was public and involved some time together, People magazine reported that Macías later described Caine as “unkind, superficial and kept me like I was his geisha,” indicating that their relationship ultimately ended negatively.

Below are some romantic photos of Michael Caine and Bianca Macías together in the late 1960s:

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20 Photos Captured Romantic Moments of James Taylor and Carly Simon During the 1970s

James Taylor and Carly Simon met in the early 1970s, during a time when both were rising stars in the singer-songwriter scene. Taylor had already gained fame with songs like “Fire and Rain,” while Simon had hits like “That’s the Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be.” They married in 1972, at the peak of their fame, and were considered a golden couple of the music world.

Their marriage blended romance and collaboration. Simon often gushed about Taylor in interviews, and both inspired each other musically. Carly even wrote songs like “You’re So Vain” during this era—though not specifically about Taylor, he was often speculated to be part of her lyrical muse.

Taylor and Simon had two children, Ben and Sally, both of whom became musicians. Their home life was artistically vibrant but also reportedly tumultuous at times, due in part to Taylor’s struggles with addiction and the pressure of fame.

They occasionally performed together, and their voices harmonized beautifully. One of the most memorable duets is “Mockingbird” (1974), a cover of the Inez & Charlie Foxx song, which became a hit and remains a standout moment in their shared discography.

By the early 1980s, the marriage began to fray, and they officially divorced in 1983. Carly later revealed in interviews and her memoir Boys in the Trees that she felt emotionally abandoned by Taylor, especially as his addiction issues worsened. Taylor, meanwhile, rarely spoke in depth about their breakup but acknowledged it as a difficult period.

In June 2004, Simon said that she no longer speaks to her ex-husband. “I would say our relationship is non-existent. It’s not the way I want it.” In 2015, following the publication of her memoir, Simon reiterated in an interview that she and Taylor had not spoken in decades, saying, “I still want to heal him, I still want to make him all right. And I love him so much.”

Despite the heartbreak, their relationship left a lasting impact on fans and the music world. They were emblematic of a specific 1970s bohemian ideal—talented, soulful, and seemingly meant to be, even if they couldn’t make it last.

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Did You Know Kim Basinger Dated Prince? The Year Was 1989!

Prince and Kim Basinger had a brief romantic relationship in the mid-1980s. They reportedly met while filming the 1989 movie Batman, in which Prince contributed the soundtrack. Their relationship was characterized by mutual admiration, with Basinger expressing her appreciation for Prince’s music and artistic vision, leading her to move from Hollywood to his hometown of Minneapolis to be with him.

During their time together, the couple collaborated musically. They recorded an unreleased album titled Hollywood Affair, featuring tracks like “Color of Sex,” where Basinger raps lines such as “I’ll be your slave” and “I like the way you make me feel.” Additionally, Prince released “The Scandalous Sex Suite,” a 19-minute extended version of his song “Scandalous!” from the Batman soundtrack, which included suggestive exchanges between the two. Basinger later confirmed that these intimate sounds were authentic recordings from their studio sessions.

In 2015, Basinger spoke to The Daily Beast about Batman and her time dating Prince. Asked what it was like to go out with him, she said, “Oh god! You sound like my teenage daughter! He’s a brilliant talent. There’s no doubt about that. You know that, I’m sure.”

She continued, “Hey, listen, I don’t really have boundaries, so I enjoyed that time of my life. It was a really special moment in time, and I have great memories. I don’t put a lot of restrictions on myself, let’s just put it that way. If there’s someone I connect with, we’ll go on these rides together. So that was a neat time in my life.”

Their intense relationship raised concerns among Basinger’s family. Believing that Prince had an undue influence over her, they intervened by arriving unannounced at his residence when he was absent and persuaded Basinger to leave with them. This familial intervention contributed to the end of their relationship.

Following her split from Prince, Basinger returned to Hollywood. In 1990, she met actor Alec Baldwin on the set of The Marrying Man. The two married in 1993 and had a daughter named Ireland in 1995. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 2002.

2Pac’s Breakup Letter to Madonna, Written During His Incarceration at Rikers Island in New York on January 15, 1995

Tupac Shakur and Madonna were romantically involved in the early 1990s. Their relationship was not widely known at the time but was later confirmed by both Madonna and the late rapper’s brother, Mopreme Shakur.

In 2015, Madonna revealed in an interview with Howard Stern that she dated Tupac briefly in the early 1990s. Their relationship is believed to have taken place around 1993–1994, during Tupac’s rise in the rap industry and Madonna’s continued success in pop music. The relationship was kept mostly private, possibly due to the contrasting public images of both artists.

In 2017, a letter Tupac wrote to Madonna from prison in 1995 surfaced. In the letter, Tupac explained that he ended their relationship because he felt that dating a white woman, especially someone as famous as Madonna, could hurt his image and credibility in the Black community. He expressed regret and admiration for Madonna but stated that he needed to move on for personal and cultural reasons.

Penned on Jan. 15, 1995 while Shakur was at the Clinton Correctional Facility, where he was serving time on sexual abuse charges, the letter begins with an apology: “I’ve waited a long time 2 finally write this mainly because I was struggling to find all the answers so that I wouldn’t leave any unanswered questions,” he wrote. “First and foremost, I must apologize to you because like you said I haven’t been the kind of friend I know I am capable of being.” He goes on to describe their split as the consequence of how an interracial relationship might impact their respective careers—and especially his.

“For you to be seen with a black man wouldn’t in any way jeopardize your career,” he wrote. “But for me at least in my previous perception I felt due to my ‘image’ I would be letting down half of the people who made me what I thought I was.”

And while he describes himself as “a young man with limited experience,” the rapper also offers his sage advice, warning Madonna “not everyone is as honorable as they seem.” Their split, judging by the apologetic tone of the letter, was none too amicable, yet by the end of the letter the rapper seems prepared to put it behind them. Tupac closes the letter offering his friendship again to Madonna, admitting he had “grown both spiritually and mentally. It no longer matters how I’m perceived.”

Madonna has spoken positively about Tupac in interviews, stating that he was a kind and charismatic person. The breakup letter was later put up for auction, and was sold for more than $170,000, despite Madonna’s legal attempts to block its sale. Tupac was tragically killed in 1996, and Madonna has since acknowledged their brief romance as part of her past.