- September 28, 2009, 2:00 PM ET
Lucy Vodden, of “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” Song Fame, Dies
Lucy Vodden (née O’Donnell), who was the inspiration for the Beatles’ song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” has died, following a long battle with the autoimmune disease lupus. The British housewife — whose passing was announced by the St Thomas’ Lupus Trust charity — was 46. Vodden first achieved pop culture fame as a tot, when John Lennon’s son Julian drew a picture of her in nursery school in 1966. He took the picture home to his pops, explained it as “That’s Lucy in the sky with diamonds,” and a song legend was born.
The married housewife officially fessed up to being the Lucy from the classic song — which was released as a part of the group’s iconic “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album — two years ago, telling BBC radio:“I remember Julian and I both doing pictures on a double-sided easel, throwing paint at each other, much to the horror of the classroom attendant… Julian had painted a picture and on that particular day his father turned up with the chauffeur to pick him up from school.”
A “Rock Band” tribute above, and the actual drawing below. [Guardian]
Lucy Vodden, of "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" Song Fame, Dies - Speakeasy - WSJ