PENNY: Pang relives Caribou times

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 11, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Thirty-four years after May Pang accompanied John Lennon to record with Elton John at Caribou Ranch, she finally made it back for a visit.

Pang's appearance Thursday for the Imagine Peace Paint-In in Denver's Civic Center to mark Lennon's birthday was preceded by a special trip to the legendary Nederland recording studio.

Pang, who was Lennon's girlfriend while he was estranged from Yoko Ono, has not set foot in Colorado since the four-day 1974 recording session with the ex-Beatle. Owner Jim Guercio granted her a rare chance to tour the place, which has been closed to outsiders since 1985.

"Seeing Caribou brought back such an amazing set of memories for me," Pang said. "I remember being with Elton in his sweat suit and him saying 'Oh my God, there's a bear out there!' "

She also had time for morning coffee at the Brown Palace Hotel on Thursday where the Beatles stayed in 1964 for their only Colorado concert. The "Beatles Suite" was booked, but she got the lay of the land.

"The Brown Palace was such an amazing hotel. I wish I had stayed there!" she said.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED . . . "Next time I have an idea like this will somebody sit me down and have my freakin' head examined?" Comedy Works owner Wende Curtis implored the VIP crowd that gathered in the brand new Comedy Works South on Thursday in the Landmark project in Greenwood Village.

After a year and roughly three weeks' delay, the new club is ready to rock. And rock it did when local stand-up comics, introduced by famed comedian George Lopez, each delivered a 10-minute bit.

"Wende was very nice to me early on . . . and she never called me Carlos," Lopez joked. "I will do anything to make this club a success."

Lopez did two shows Friday night and will do two more shows today. "I begged Mr. Agent, please ask George to do two shows Friday and Saturday because we need to make some money," said Curtis, who admitted to sinking gazillions of dollars into the new spot. Lopez, who never performs two shows in comedy clubs, agreed to make an exception for his pal. Tickets to tonight: comedyworks.com.

WALK THE WALK: If you live in the 38th and Lowell neighborhood and you hear a knock on your door today, the guy who comes a knockin' may be comedian Lopez. The funnyman is skedded to stump for Barack Obama with volunteers at moveon.org.

SIGN OF THE TIMES: A banner ad by Incredible Wine & Spirits that ran on the bottom of Page 16 in the Rocky sports section Thursday read - "$700 billion! . . . Need a drink?

EAVESDROPPING on two women at The Palm: "That dog wouldn't stop giving me kisses."

"At least you should make him take you to dinner."

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday through Saturday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail parkerp@RockyMountainNews.com.

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