Sonny Drane
Encyclopedia
Sonny Drane is a German-born woman who was briefly popular as a model in Britain in the 1960s. She was propelled to prominence when her first husband, noted British photographer Robert Freeman
, included images of her in the first-ever Pirelli Calendar
for which he was the sole photographer. At that time, she was known as Sonny Freeman. (Her maiden name prior to her first marriage is presently unknown.) She has been married since the 1970s to her second husband, John Drane.
In 2008, biographer Philip Norman
claimed that Drane was the inspiration for John Lennon
's composition "Norwegian Wood
" recorded by The Beatles
in 1965.
, Drane grew up in Great Britain
during post-World War II
years. Her father was the Mayor of Wroclaw
when it was still a part of Germany. He was firmly anti-Hitler, resulting in a Nazi Party gauleiter
shooting him dead. Norman claims that though she was German-born, in the 1960s she used to tell people that she was Norwegian.
She is described by writer Philip Norman as having been an early 1960s model "with impish looks and a rangy physique that perfectly set off the new 'fun' fashions of young designers like Mary Quant
." Photographed in Majorca by her first husband Robert Freeman
, images of her were prominently featured in the inaugural 1964 Pirelli Calendar
as the calendar-girl for the months of February, March, May, July, September and October.
In the 1970s, Robert Freeman divorced her and she subsequently remarried John Drane, taking his last name as her own. She is still married to Drane and is a mother to Janine, Dean, Leah, Lucian and Suki; and grandmother to Cassius, Evie, Sonny and Owain. In recent years she has become an artist and poet.
In 1963, while she was married to Robert Freeman (who had recently begun his professional relationship with the Beatles), John Lennon was looking for a home to rent in London for himself and his wife Cynthia. Freeman suggested that the couple take a flat (apartment) in the same building in the South Kensington
area of London that he lived in. Freeman had become a good friend of the Beatles and socialized with them. Writer Philip Norman claims that Sonny also joined Freeman in socializing with Lennon and his wife. He further claims that she became personally close to Lennon and that she would often stay up late together talking "about things like life death, the way you do when you're young."
includes the claim that Drane conducted a clandestine affair with Lennon for over a year. He writes that the lyrics of the song "Norwegian Wood" are an implicit reference by Lennon to his alleged affair with Drane.
Robert Freeman (photographer)
Robert Freeman is a photographer and designer, most famous for his album cover photos for The Beatles and his design work on the end credit sequences of their first two films and the related film posters and advertising materials....
, included images of her in the first-ever Pirelli Calendar
Pirelli Calendar
The Pirelli Calendar is a trade calendar published by the Pirelli company's UK subsidiary. It has become an annual publication that dates back to 1964....
for which he was the sole photographer. At that time, she was known as Sonny Freeman. (Her maiden name prior to her first marriage is presently unknown.) She has been married since the 1970s to her second husband, John Drane.
In 2008, biographer Philip Norman
Philip Norman
Philip E Norman FSA was a British artist, author and antiquary.- Biography :Born in 1842 in Bromley, he was the son of George Warde Norman and brother of Frederick Henry Norman, the merchant banker....
claimed that Drane was the inspiration for John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
's composition "Norwegian Wood
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
"Norwegian Wood " is a song by The Beatles, first released on the 1965 album Rubber Soul....
" recorded by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
in 1965.
Background
Born in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Drane grew up in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
during post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years. Her father was the Mayor of Wroclaw
Wroclaw
Wrocław , situated on the River Oder , is the main city of southwestern Poland.Wrocław was the historical capital of Silesia and is today the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Over the centuries, the city has been part of either Poland, Bohemia, Austria, Prussia, or Germany, but since 1945...
when it was still a part of Germany. He was firmly anti-Hitler, resulting in a Nazi Party gauleiter
Gauleiter
A Gauleiter was the party leader of a regional branch of the NSDAP or the head of a Gau or of a Reichsgau.-Creation and Early Usage:...
shooting him dead. Norman claims that though she was German-born, in the 1960s she used to tell people that she was Norwegian.
She is described by writer Philip Norman as having been an early 1960s model "with impish looks and a rangy physique that perfectly set off the new 'fun' fashions of young designers like Mary Quant
Mary Quant
Mary Quant OBE FCSD is a British] fashion designer and British fashion icon, who was instrumental in the mod fashion movement. She was one of the designers who took credit for inventing the miniskirt and hot pants. Born in Blackheath, London, to Welsh parents, Quant brought fun and fantasy to...
." Photographed in Majorca by her first husband Robert Freeman
Robert Freeman (photographer)
Robert Freeman is a photographer and designer, most famous for his album cover photos for The Beatles and his design work on the end credit sequences of their first two films and the related film posters and advertising materials....
, images of her were prominently featured in the inaugural 1964 Pirelli Calendar
Pirelli Calendar
The Pirelli Calendar is a trade calendar published by the Pirelli company's UK subsidiary. It has become an annual publication that dates back to 1964....
as the calendar-girl for the months of February, March, May, July, September and October.
In the 1970s, Robert Freeman divorced her and she subsequently remarried John Drane, taking his last name as her own. She is still married to Drane and is a mother to Janine, Dean, Leah, Lucian and Suki; and grandmother to Cassius, Evie, Sonny and Owain. In recent years she has become an artist and poet.
In 1963, while she was married to Robert Freeman (who had recently begun his professional relationship with the Beatles), John Lennon was looking for a home to rent in London for himself and his wife Cynthia. Freeman suggested that the couple take a flat (apartment) in the same building in the South Kensington
South Kensington
South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It is a built-up area located 2.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross....
area of London that he lived in. Freeman had become a good friend of the Beatles and socialized with them. Writer Philip Norman claims that Sonny also joined Freeman in socializing with Lennon and his wife. He further claims that she became personally close to Lennon and that she would often stay up late together talking "about things like life death, the way you do when you're young."
"Norwegian Wood"
In his 2008 biography of Lennon, writer Philip NormanPhilip Norman
Philip E Norman FSA was a British artist, author and antiquary.- Biography :Born in 1842 in Bromley, he was the son of George Warde Norman and brother of Frederick Henry Norman, the merchant banker....
includes the claim that Drane conducted a clandestine affair with Lennon for over a year. He writes that the lyrics of the song "Norwegian Wood" are an implicit reference by Lennon to his alleged affair with Drane.