John Rosenburg

John Rosenburg (14.04.1939 - 11.06.2021) war ein Freund aus Deans Jugendzeit. Er lebte in Loveland, Colorado. Vor Deans Besuch in Denver 1985 schrieb er ihm den Song "Knowbody knows me back in my hometown".

John Rosenburg (April 14, 1939 - June 11, 2021) was a friend from Dean's youth, who lived in Loveland, Colorado. He wrote the song "Knowbody knows me back in my hometown" before Dean's visit to Denver in 1985.

I've written a book about my relationship with Dean. I tell how we met in 1959, our time spent together in California and on Capitol Records, how we lost contact with each other for over 20 years, how we found each other again in 1984, his week long stay at my home here in Loveland, Colorado in October of 1985, and some of the things we discussed late at night. Because of those discussions, I explain why I believe he was murdered.

I also reveal the truth concerning who discovered him and how he acquired a Capitol recording contract, how he actually got to Chile to promote his song "Our Summer Romance", his true feelings about the Wall, etc.

I am presently seeking a publisher for the book. If the book ever becomes a reality, it will also contain many personal letters as well as numerous pictures.

Keep up the good work with Dean's website and let's hope Hanks makes the movie about Dean. However, at this point in time it doesn't look promising.

John Rosenburg, 05.09.2005

Notiz von John Rosenburg zu seinem Song
"Nobody Knows Me Back In My Hometown":

"Als sich Dean 1985 auf sein Kommen nach Denver vorbereitete, um 'American Rebel' zu zeigen, hatte er die wildesten Ideen wie er bei seiner Ankunft begrüßt werden könnte. Der verrückteste Vorschlag war eine Pferdeparade vom Flughafen bis zum Capitol-Gebäude in Denver. Ich sagte ihm immer wieder, dass er solche Ideen vergessen könne, weil ihn niemand weder in seiner Heimatstadt noch in den Vereinigten Staaten kennen würde. Er kämpfte ein bischen mit dieser Offenbarung und konnte nicht glauben, dass man nicht wenigstens von einigen seiner Erfolge in seinem eigenen Land gehört hätte. Um ihm meine Ansicht verständlich zu machen, schrieb ich 'Nobody Knows Me Back In My Hometown' und schickte ihm den Song. Wie sich herausstellte, gefiel ihm der Song. Sogar so gut, dass er in ein Prager Studio ging, ihn aufnahm und ihn in seinen Dokumentarfilm 'American Rebel' einarbeitete."

Note about his song "Nobody Knows Me Back In My Hometown" from John Rosenburg

"When Dean was preparing to come to Denver in 1985 for the showing of 'American Rebel', he came up with all sorts of wild ideas concerning how he could be greeted upon his arrival. The wildest of all suggestions was a horse parade from the airport to the State capitol building. I proceeded in telling him that he could forget such ideas because nobody knew him in his hometown, or the United States for that matter. He struggled a bit with that revelation, not believing that at least a few of his accomplishments hadn't been heard of in his own country. So to get my point across, I wrote 'Nobody Knows Me Back In My Hometown' and sent it to him. As it turned out, he loved it. So much so, that he went to a studio in Prague, recorded it and included it in the 'American Rebel' documentary."

1986

Aufgeben wollte Dean seinen amerikanischen Traum dennoch nicht. Er schrieb an seine ehemaligen Klassenkameraden in Wheat Ridge einen betont optimistischen Brief, und im gleichen Ton auch an Johnny. Für den war eine Welt zusammengebrochen. Er hatte seinen Freund Dean nach vierundzwanzig Jahren wiedergefunden - und nun endgültig verloren, wie er spürte. Er schrieb einen letzten, bitteren Song für Dean und schickte ihm die Kassette:

"Wenn Du nichts Gutes über die USA zu sagen findest
Dann bleibst Du besser wo Du bist
Im Land des großen Roten Sterns
Aber ich werde Dich immer einen Freund nennen
Ich denke, das will ich bis zum Ende..."

Die Kassette kam in Rauchfangswerder erst nach Deans Tod an.

Jan Eik in Besondere Vorkommnisse

YANKEE MAN

You traded in the Stars and Stripes for something we don't understand,
And now you say you want to come back home,
But think of all those things you've said against this land you say you love,
I think you're gonna reap what you have sown,
Yankee Man, you've walked upon the wrong side of the world for just too long.

You chose to go behind the wall, to find your fame and that's not all,
You seem to think that way of life is best,
Because of this and things you've done, I'd say old friend the time has come,
To lay your dreams of coming home to rest,
Yankee Man, you've walked upon the wrong side of the world for just too long.

Yankee Man, you say you're proud to be an American,
But you turn around, and you tear your country down,
If you can't find nothing' good to say about the U.S.A.,
Then you'd better stay right where you are,
In the land of the big Red Star.

Some say you ride the winds of change, chameleon blood runs through your veins,
And friends are simply something to be used,
Well if that's true I pity you, you're not the man that I once knew,
Hate to be a walkin' in your shoes,
Yankee Man, you've walked upon the wring side of the world for just too long.

But still I'll always call you friend, I guess I will ntil the end,
I only wish you'd turn yourself around,
For if you don't change what you say, you're coming home could be the day,
Someone will place you six feet under ground,
Yankee Man, you've walked upon the wrong side of the world for just too long.

Yankee Man you say you're proud to be an American,
But you turn around, and you tear your country down,
If you can't find nothing' good to say about the U.S.A.,
Then you'd better stay, right where you are,
In the land of the big Red Star.

But if you feel you must return, there's something you had better learn,
The home folks feel you've done your country wrong.
And when you talk they hear a man, who finds it hard to understand,
He sold his country out for just a song,
Yankee Man, you've walked upon the wrong side of the world for just too long.

No maybe you're misunderstood, but you don't listen like you should,
Perhaps you'd better take the time to pause.
And realize youst where you've been, those things you've said and done and then,
If someone calls you traiter, it's because
Yankee Man, you've walked upon the wrong side of the world for just too long.

Yankee Man, you say you're proud to be an American,
But you turn around, and you tear your country down,
If you can't find nothing' good to say about the U.S.A.,
Then you'd better stay, right where you are,
In the land of the big Red Star.

Yankee Man, you've walked upon the wrong side of the world for just too long,
Yankee Man, you've walked upon the wrong side of the world for just too long.

Beiträge auf der Dean-Reed-Website

• Photos Jungles of Brazil 1962
• Song Nowbody knows me back in my hometown
• Concert/Konzert 10/1985 in Loveland/Colorado
• Book and film about/Buch und Film über Dean: Comrade Rockstar
• Book about Dean: "Rock 'n' Roll Radical: The Life & Mysterious Death of Dean Reed" by Chuck Laszewski
• Online newspaper, letter to the editor: about Tom Hanks April 2009

Press review/Pressespiegel

• Denver Magazine, June 1985: To Russia with Love
• St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch 07.11.1985: East Bloc star Dean Reed's life captured in 'Rebel'