Joe Flannery, The Beatles’ booking agent during the band's early career, claims John Lennon confessed that he had gone overboard with his political statements.

Lennon was also planning to return to his hometown of Liverpool and wanted to sail into the city on board luxury liner Queen Elizabeth 2 as his fans lined the shore.

According to Britain's Daily Express, Flannery says he spoke to Lennon months before he was shot dead outside his New York apartment in 1980, and recalls, "We enjoyed a lengthy conversation." He said John mentioned, "We should start talking about me coming home, before Nixon gets me', he said. I was rather taken aback and asked him to explain. John launched into a diatribe against the former president. He was convinced that even out of office Nixon carried power and wanted him dead.

"He felt some kind of curse was hanging over him... His tone bothered me a little, expressing as it did what sounded like a touch of paranoia. 'It would be good to come home for a bit.'"

FAVORITE BABY BOY NAMES

-JACOB...FOR THE 14TH STRAIGHT YEAR.

-MASON

-ETHAN

-NOAH

-WILLIAM

TOP BABY GIRL NAMES

-SOPHIA...FOR THE 2ND STRAIGHT YEAR.

-EMMA

-ISABELLA

-OLIVIA

-AVA

1-IRON MAN 3 - $72.4M

2-THE GREAT GATSBY - $51.1M

3-PAIN AND GAIN - $5M

4-PEEPLES - $4.8M

5-42 - $4.6M

6-OBLIVION - $3.9M

7-THE CROODS - $3.6M

8-THE BIG WEDDING - $2.5M

9-MUD - $2.3M

10-OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL - $0.8M

Lou Gramm has stepped further back from talk of a reunion tour with his former band Foreigner by saying he's planning to retire in the very near future.

He and ex-colleague Mick Jones made contact again after nearly a decade of not talking after it was announced they'd be inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame next month.

Now Gramm says: "You know, I don't take any of that talk seriously. I've heard there was a mention, but honestly, I can't see that happening. I would have to see how it goes down, what it entails, how long it would be. There's a number of things that would make a difference to me, and I'm sure Mick feels the same way. I mean, after all those years you just can't jump into the deep water, you know."

In the same interview Gramm – who underwent surgery for a brain tumor in 1997 – says he frequently thinks about retiring. Asked if he's set a date he replies: "Maybe sooner than you think."

A special edition of Monopoly inspired by The Beatles animated film ‘Yellow Submarine’ goes on sale this month.

USAopoly, which creates custom versions of the legendary board game, will now extend the formula to Pepperland, with locations taken from the movie replacing the traditional Pennsylvania and Pacific Avenues, Marvin Gardens and B&O Railroad.

Inspired by the film, tokens include: Yellow Submarine, Dreadful Flying Glove, Jeremy Hillary Boob, Love Sign, Sgt. Pepper Drum and Old Fred.

1. "IRON MAN 3," $175.3 MILLION…2ND BIGGEST DOMESTIC DEBUT EVER…PLUS AN OVERSEAS HAUL OF A HALF-BILLION DOLLARS IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS.

2. "PAIN & GAIN," $7.6 MILLION.

3. "42," $6.2 MILLION.

4. "OBLIVION," $5.8 MILLION

5. "THE CROODS," $4.2 MILLION

6. "THE BIG WEDDING," $3.9 MILLION

7. "MUD," $2.2 MILLION.

8. "OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL," $1.8 MILLION.

9. "SCARY MOVIE 5," $1.4 MILLION

10. "THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES," $1.3 MILLION.