John Lennon reveals 'torture' of Beatles' final album - interview coming up for auction (Part 1)

[@Jantonov1]

I Like how the interviewer asks, why does it take so long to record? Geez, The Beatles came out with something like 13 albums worth of material in 7 years!

[@sucesexe]

*... and they'd JUST realeased the bloody Abbey Road album !!!!!*

[@KingRiverVlogs]

Yeah, here’s what you need to do. Type up Matt Farley of Motern Media and you’ll find he has made 20,000 really good songs in 20 years, all of them are available online!

[@glenndrexler1677]

Yoko"! Your'e like A godamn fly!, Please go away!!

[@ferabra8939]

John describes "Let It Be" as "we never finished the songs". I bet any band nowadays would die to have songs as finished as "Get Back", "Let it Be", "The Long and winding road", "I've Got a Feeling", "Dig a Pony", "Accross the universe"...actually that record is amazing.

[@jockpierman7104]

+Fer Abra I think Let It Be...Naked is a much better representation of the original intent of the songs. And I like it much better than what Phil Spector did to the music!

[@ferabra8939]

Jock Pierman True, but then why isntead of releasing Let it Be as such they keep releasing the original Spector version? and another question, why are they still releasing as of november 2015 The Long and Winding Road in the 1+ package with the Spector version? they could use the naked version if they wanted. The answer is of course, that the Spector version is not bad at all. Actually, if you ask me, the definitive version of TLAWR is the Spector one. Yes, with violins, choir and all.The naked sounds...too naked.

[@ferabra8939]

I think McCartney overreacted a little with the Long and Winding Road in the midst of the breakup. For Let it Be he added horns and choir-like backing vocals, so in any case what Spector did couldn't be so far apart from Paul's original intentions.

[@christheother9088]

Yes, amazing record.

[@Ratelzwatel]

'Let It Be... Naked' (2003) is digitally edited. Spector didn't have that technology in 1970. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Be..._Naked

[@CusackCreatures]

Thank god for YOKO's Mumbly interjections.

[@avaalexander7722]

What was she even doing there while he was being interviewed? Was it 'bring your wife to work' day?

[@mattlegg209]

Lol! Good one

[@65TossTrap]

Yoko was leader of Beatles!!

[@droboogie8465]

Lol- Said no one seriously- EVER!

[@Mozart1220]

@@esperanzahewitt8280 Stop it.

[@milkymanway]

its so funny when Yoko talks while John is talking, and he just talks right over her like shes not even there lol

[@dannyd1572]

Knows her place. Ronnie Wood said John came over to his apartment and did heroin with Keith Richards once. He walked into the room..yoko walked in behind himi and John turned around to her and pointed to the corner and said "start knittin'"

[@milkymanway]

LOL! Thats fantastic, ive never heard that story, im laughing my fucking balls off

[@jw291183]

Actually, he was passed out on smack, while with the stones. Yoko was already in the corner, she expressed concern for him and he woke up and said, "bitch, get on knitting"

[@milkymanway]

lol

[@connor5669]

@@dannyd1572 So do you feel any different about laughing at a disturbing story of sexism six years later? genuinely curious.

[@naoatjp]

John finally learned to talk on and on, when Yoko started to speak. He is so smart

[@clairekeesey1285]

I can't understand a word she is saying

[@melodymundy5985]

naoatjp No. John is a weak damn fool. I just listened to Cynthia audio and it’s around this time of her divorce. She went through mental abuse from John. I love you, kiss kiss, I want a divorce, when yoko energized him. SAD!!!

[@13THBEATLE]

Melody Mundy yeah he sure wrote some bad songs when he got with Yoko. Don’t let me down ballad because I wAnt you imagine jealous guy oh my love oh Yoko Woman etc etc

[@yolhanson]

I like this. Lennon in a reasonable state of mind, no animosity, being frank and open about the realities of the time.

[@lorettanajarian529]

+cjh68 yes...one of his better interviews....probably "clean".

[@alishaighan4053]

cjh68 it's because the Beatles were still technically together in this interview, he can't shit on a band he's still in lol

[@thomaspick4123]

Loretta Najarian I agree. John is calm, clear minded, open. The main reason they broke up was Apple business dealings that were a disaster. As far as the band, they were okay. But, once apart, each was happy to work with other musicians to interject fresh ideas into their songs.

[@ro-steflahens9985]

The Ono person hadn't yet led him down the deeper slopes of the downward spiral into heroin, psychotic publicity stunts, and a dead-end recording career. Also, like someone said, the band hadn't broken up yet, but it would be a matter of weeks before his soulmate McCartney would decidedly divorce from him and take the lovely Linda to Scotland away from his frustrated love and away from the sewer rat Klein. Poor John... What a mistake it was to let that repulsive con artist into his personal life... Sad!

[@Mozart1220]

I love the Klein thing because Paul ended up being right.

[@sirfredrickeggenhauser2795]

I was getting annoyed by yoko thinking it was a John and Yoko interview, and i was going to bash her, but I see other comments have done that already, so good, I'm satisfied

[@NVRAMboi]

She's a human version of a Remora.

[@stevekaspar1396]

John was selfish and weak to allow that digger in the studio with the others

[@Mozart1220]

@@stevekaspar1396 Are you married?

[@paultaylor4647]

He talks about " suffering" and " torture" but all the video clips I've seen of Let It Be he always looks like he's having a great time!I tend to take things John said with a hefty pinch of salt!

[@adammartin7007]

This comment aged well in light of the new documentary.

[@gardendesignwithozzymaldon7807]

Yes. He talked a lot crap too.

[@peaceandlove544]

John Lennon knew People desliked yoko and that pushed him to have her in every interview. Before I did not believe she broked the Beatles but as time passes I understand how her presence and her and John's impossion of her in and between the Beatles rushed their separation. Paul mentioned something related to this.

[@Caifo]

She took him away, not just of the Beatles, but of all his family. She sold the houses John bought for his family members not long after he died. She's a little witch.

[@waterfalls5194]

+peace and love__Actually, she demanded equal say in his interviews like her "z list celebrity" was equal to his mega superstardom, claiming that their love and marriage was based on equality. If she couldn't bask in his spotlight, the he was forbidden to outshine her. Equality by her rules. (smh)

[@j.j.c.s2802]

'peace and love' - what a nasty piece of humanity you are.

[@peaceandlove544]

+Billy Shears (MaccaMagic) I just responded to someone

[@mrsbluesky8415]

John used yoko as his hit woman. He wanted out or wanted to hurt Paul, maybe both. But it was his decision to use her.

[@toogoodfella]

Yoko was talking like she's the one being interviewed.

[@AlanSmitheeman]

She always did in every interview with John. She actually had the gall to give the other Beatles musical "advice" in the recording studio.

[@melinarodriguez8395]

@@AlanSmitheeman It seems like she has no self awareness -what I can never guess is whether she did it on purpose or she really was that clueless about her own place and role.

[@AlanSmitheeman]

@@melinarodriguez8395 Narcissists have no self awareness and Yoko checks off all the categories for narcissism.

[@melinarodriguez8395]

@@AlanSmitheeman I think you might be right!

[@charwest9449]

Yes, Yoko is probably the most high profile case in history of what happens when you let a malignant narcissist into your life. It's a cautionary tale.

[@lisalentile177]

I think John had the coolest voice always was my favorite beatle

[@albertochoa7331]

I feel the same way.

[@justinherbert9146]

Watching the docu-series really showed how great Paul was and how he motivated the band - Ringo says that if not for Paul they never would have released so much material as they did - Paul was a driving force

[@oliverbird6914]

After 66 yes...still Lennon always makes the most interesting songs. He also wrote the most st songs in the Beatles. He was the engine room until he didn't want to be. Cameras happened to be there when Lennon wasn't interested

[@pocopico7409]

Now that we’ve seen the eight hour Get Back tapes, we can see that John was very truthful in all his answers. We definitely know what he means.

[@kentishtowncowboy]

John is clear, erudite and protective of The Beatles and that comes across well. The interviewer is keen to 'get a story' and he's being expertly handled. Yoko is desperately trying to elbow her way and her views into the interview and this despite her having no real talent at all.

[@larryhall2805]

It's not that she had no talent. She was in fact, a child prodigy on the piano. The problem with her is she thought she was a genius outside of that parameter.

[@guyaoki9651]

Goddammit, can't he get the damn mike together? Torturous listening to this and Yoko mumbling throughout as if we give a damn what she thinks.

[@TooCooFoYou]

YOU don't give a damn, I do.

[@paul195614]

Guy Aoki If we give a damn what you think.

[@brianwarner308]

no doubt man, terrible....

[@cherylmills9700]

Guy Aoki you are right... Sometimes I do not always SHut Up perhaps it cause I am milling over something.. Sorry it can be rather a rude. Habit of mine that I need to break...yoko£

[@mortensenegbert6619]

"I'd give you anything I got for a little peace of mind!"

[@andrewmriv]

It's a good thing Yoko shared her "wise" input. Her several years of being in the Beatles truly make her credible. Seriously. She needs to shut up

[@andrewmriv]

+Freyja11331ify I suppose sarcasm is hard to pick up on the internet. I wasn't being serious.

[@65TossTrap]

The Beatles should have signed Yoko as a solo artist and recorded their albums while she was touring.

[@richardeast3328]

Yoko is like second hand smoke.

[@frankhoward4485]

LOL

Recording an album was TORTURE? Jesus Christ John try actually working for a living. TORTURE is the other people working with your girlfriend stuck to your side grandiosely giving the band musical advice while completely ruining the usual vibe. I enjoy your songs-with the Beatles but I must add my TORTURE was trying to play DOUBLE FANTASY and having to repeatedly turn down the volume on the YOKO tracks. I ended the TORTURE by giving it away to a friend who ended his TORTURE by throwing it in the trash.

[@ro-steflahens9985]

YES!! And it's reportedly deadlier than the smoke inhaled through the cig filters lol

[@glenndrexler1677]

Yoko!Yoko!, please" Please SHUT UP!

[@krathebeast4149]

It's sad to see what happened to Lennon in his later years. He was so vibrant and full of life in his younger days. Probably the reason why my favourite Beatle was always George.

[@kolidkang]

Why the hell is Ono answering questions about making Beatles albums when she wasn't even around at the time?

[@hofner96]

Secretly, John had already left the band, and kept it secret until McCartney's April 1970 departure.

[@toppermost66]

Lennon did not do much after 66. It was all Paul and George.

[@222Lightning]

To give Yoko some credit she did contribute to the conversation that the three song writers had about 30 songs near the final album. That's interesting about John Harrison becoming a contributing member where as it was John and Paul writing all the songs early on.

[@singersongster]

Interesting interview. This was at the end of 1969. John is announcing that Let It Be was coming out in early 1970. He said January, but it actually came out in May. That was when Paul had planned to release his McCartney solo album. He got pissed off and announced that he was leaving the Beatles. But this interview was before all that.

[@amazinfrenchfry9649]

I feel like John's tone and his responses would A LOT more different if Yoko wasn't next to him

[@jakewoden8554]

The John Lennon that did not meet and fall in love with Yoko did not exist, except in your mind as some kind of ideal. The real Lennon was entitled to his own decisions; we did not own shares of him, nor was he bound to live up to our images of him. Yoko obviously did for him something no one else could, or whatever...his choice, his life.

[@delainepep22]

John spoke his mind before he met Yoko. He is who he is with or without her

[@grumpygroman]

Torture??? Yoko is a real torture!!!

[@nyclass22]

Yoko was a conceptual artist who was well-known by people in that circle (Charlotte Moorman, Nam June Paik, La Monte Young etc) she didn't really need John Lennon for anything. They fell in love and got married the way people do. Then, as a couple, they made a decision to turn their marriage into a piece of performance art, a bold decision for him, one of the most successful pop musicians in the world, at the time. Her work was not in any way connected to what the Beatles did or were doing. People (like me) loved the Beatles and we felt like we knew them personally, but we didn't, of course. The band started to fall apart as the members approached the age of thirty, unsurprisingly; they had spent an inordinate amount of time in very close proximity to one another. If you take a look at Yoko Ono's life and work she has had an extremely interesting time of it. Oh, and "Fly" is a great record, which was about a decade ahead of it's time. I doubt people's antipathy toward her ever bothered her a great deal.

[@cindyconsidine]

+Neil Murphy are you aware of the lengths Yoko went to in order to ingratiate herself in John's life? They didn't just 'meet and fall in love" as you described. The woman relentlessly stalked John and Cynthia in every way shape and form possible for months on end, threatening to kill herself if John didn't financially support her 'art' and camping outside their home etc. Read Cynthia's autobiography, the torture Yoko put them through, including little Julian, is horrendous.

[@nyclass22]

I have not read that book....I'll see if I can get a hold of it, thanks.

[@lorettanajarian529]

+cindy considine I read the book and you are completely correct. Yoko was a diversion for him, someone more exciting that Cynthia...but that's where it all ends. I think she influenced John into giving her and Julian a crappy divorce settlement, and I also think that he was probably re-thinking his behavior toward the end of his life. The only contact he ever had with Julian or Paul, was when he was in California during his "lost weekend", and that was because of May Pang. I also think Cynthia always hoped he'd come back to her. Additionally, it was Yoko who turned John into a heroin addict.

[@nyclass22]

I understand that someone might think that; however I read Philip Norman's recent biography of John and the things you mention appear to be speculation (not to say that you are wrong; it's just nowhere in the book. John (like anyone) probably did regret some of his earlier behavior.). As far as Yoko "turning John into a heroin addict" are you saying that he had nothing to do with it? That she forced him (a man who'd experimented with drugs his entire adult life) to take it? I have to add as well; so what?; is that bad for some reason? Norman said they used (never injecting the drug) for a short time and then stopped, going through the brief, physical withdrawal characteristic of heroin addiction. The demonizing of Yoko has always seemed to be actually based, primarily, on her "otherness", which is unfortunate. The break-up of the Beatles was sad, but hardly tragic; it had much more to do with a fight over managers and artistic differences within the band.

[@waterfalls5194]

+Neil Murphy That Phillip Norman book on John's life was Yoko approved. She cooperated with him, and provided him with information she wanted in the book. Phillip Norman, a big John Lennon fan, and until recently considered "the definitive biographer of The Beatles", bent over backwards to accommodate Yoko, pretty much writing a glowing book about John Lennon, including, humanizing his flaws and downplaying a lot of his "negatives", and portraying his love and devotion to Yoko, as strong and unwavering, that she inspired his genius to new heights etc. That's what Yoko really wanted in the book. After all the edits, were finished and the book went to press, Yoko withdrew her support and approval, claiming Norman was "mean" to John, although it was she who provided Norman with any "damaging" information about John. That was her power play. Assured the viewpoint of the narrative was to her liking, and waiting until it was too late for Norman to change anything, especially the overall narrative of the JohnandYoko So In Love myth, and with it being Norman's reputation as "The Definitive Lennon Biographer" at stake, she made her move. And that's what you read and were manipulated to believe.

[@murfdog19]

John was always so honest and open.

[@Noodles37UK]

Hey I had a dream the other morning and the young Yoko smiled at me, and I thought " she's nice, what's the PROBLEM" Then I woke up and remembered that Chuck Berry thing...

[@SGTPROVO]

I hate comments about the bands progress and problems from non-band people.The four Beatles were the best of the best with no outsiders interfering.

[@ShamanFourHawks]

Hard to believe people are still angry all these years on. This was a great "breakup" interview, just before Paul made it official (you can hear John saying as much). All I try to do now is be grateful we got as much as we did. Right after Brian Epstein died, everyone but Paul basically wanted to hang it up. So we owe Paul a debt for getting Magical Mystery Tour, the White Album and Abbey Road (along with Hey Jude) done for us...the other Beatles dragged along (even Sgt. Pepper found George missing for much of it). Let it Be, is as John says, half-baked. Time to relax...and be thankful.

[@TooCooFoYou]

Actually George was in plenty of the Sgt. Pepper's sessions. Ringo on the other hand basically didn't do nothing except sing 1 song and drum a few.

[@HankFinkle11]

Ken Mitchell No, everyone didn't want to hang it up. Remember Apple? That was a group business. The nail in the coffin was Alan Klein, even more than Yoko.

[@TheCliffandPhilShow]

***** "Drum a few"? Ringo did excellent drumming all over "Pepper"!:)

[@llenox50]

I think the nail in the coffin, literally, was when Brian died. They were just lost; didn't know what to do. Maybe Yoko was an opportunist, gold-digger, whatever, but Paul said he was madly in love with her, and wanted her with him all the time, and I would guess that Paul knew him best. He and Cynthia married very young, and many young marriages don't last. She said in her book that she wouldn't do drug, and that is mainly what broke them apart. He didn't treat her, and especially, his son right. If the interviewer actually asked Yoko a question, it would be fine for her to answer. It's rude of her to butt in on every question John is asked. The Beatles were so good, that everyone seems to "own" them, know them and what they think about everything, myself included. My sixteen year-old self did not realize at the time that this rock and roll band would change my life and how I saw the world. I saw them in concert on August 21st, 1966, in St. Louis. It was the day they played in Cincinnati in the morning, and St. Louis in the evening. It was an open air stadium, and it rained. They played on a little platform covered with a blue tarp, water running into to amps. They could have been electrocuted. I didn't hear a single note of music. I didn't scream. I read recently that this was the concert in which Paul finally agreed with the other three that touring was too crazy, and too dangerous, and that they would finish the current tour and work from the studio from then on. 3 to 4 years and it was over. I am now 66 years old, and listen to the Beatles everyday, and they are still the best band in the world!

[@d_walsh]

Whats Yoko saying @ 1:15 ?

[@VinnyDrysdale]

Yoko's "you know" tick is so annoying, and she does it to this day.

[@dafyddroberts2430]

Probably hung round Paul too much 😂

[@socrates1818]

There are some cool things here about the creative process. Excellent insight into his mindset at the time in general

[@Connected2U2]

Most of the people closest to John think during the time he met Yoko he was having some sort of stress, feeling burned out, drug induced mental breakdown. Then for what ever reason John was drawn to Yoko like a moth to a flame, and she pretty much encouraged those negative thoughts he was having. Yoko turned herself into John's rock in the storm he made in his mind. I'm sure she knew what she was doing, she had to have known. She embraced the idea of the more John pushed people away from him the closer he got to her. More or less John was a broken man when he met Yoko, and Yoko built him back up in such a way that she controlled him. I honestly don't blame Yoko for being an opportunist, and the effect she had on the Beatles and John, instead I blame all the people in John's life that let him get to that point of feeling so broken without noticing or caring, allowing someone like Yoko take a hold of John.

[@HBSuccess]

Connected2U2 "Broken man... blah blah blah - Baloney. John Lennon met a cool older, artistic Japanese chick and dug her. Simple. Who wouldn't in that situation? They got married - had a family and were a family together. By then the Beatles as a group had seen more, done more, and spent more time together in 7-8 years than any musical group in history - and probably still true today. I',m sure John Lennon needed more input in his life than just the 'Fab 4', managers, and lawyers. And consider this Yoko haters... he was treating her as an equal. Not "on a pedestal' - an equal. Isn't that what everyone wanted ? So don't be surprised when she shows up at interviews, TV shows, recording sessions, etc.

[@jmarty1000]

Tioga Fretworks John never treated George as an equal, so I can understand George's resentment of Yoko.

[@mrsbluesky8415]

Well, it’s hard to help an addict. And John was at this point. He was, as he said, uncontrollable.

[@peteytwofinger]

it seems like most of the JL interview tapes i have heard have audio which seems like john is punching the mic . wtf ?

[@jamesdrynan]

After watching Jackson's " Get Back, " I think torture is too strong a word, John. Then again, John was always a tad melodramatic. We miss him...

[@billrohane5685]

Abbey Road was the final album the Beatles recorded. Let it Be, the final album released.

[@rodneylee4026]

Whenever I'm in the mood to hear someone talk about themselves and moan and groan about everything I pull up an old Lennon interview until I'm satisfied.

[@maxwellfan55]

So many of these comments posted come from people who sound like wise wannabe psychologists giving their 'expert' advice. Most seem to dislike Lennon's girlfriend with astonishing intensity, yet they've never met her, passing opinions only by way of the media. Almost all seem to want their own private idea of who the Beatles were, a product or image to own and put on a shelf or record player for their own gratification. Yet if they had any respect for any individual member, or true appreciation, they would not say such things. How, for example would you like someone to be so publicly disrespectful about your girlfriend? Lennon was a clever, creative adult guy, and a brutally straight one capable of his own mind, so why do so many think they have some kind of control, disapproval or veto over his choice of partner, or have one that fits in with their own? In the surreal, public world of the Beatles that eventually robbed Lennon of his life too early, Yoko may have been his only sense of reality.

[@luxetmagna5516]

HA!... "So many of these comments posted come from people who sound like wise wannabe psychologists giving their 'expert' advice." As far as i can see here, you've written the most self righteous psychopomp diatribe out of all of these comments you idiot. read your own shit before you click reply. Yoko forced Julian Lennon to pay for letters that john wrote to him, yeah... she wasn't a fucking leech at all...

[@maxwellfan55]

Lux Et Magna Yes, I'm very satisfied with my reply, I did not try to analyse or show disrespect, only reflect what I see and hear to be true in front of me, and pass comment in this public forum. I would add there is much more to the Lennon/Ono picture also worthy of debate, though not I suggest with you. Now let's take a look at what you have put before the public. Let's start with 'self righteous psychopomp diatribe', then try repeating it without laughing at yourself. It's OK, others who read this will do that for you. Too late now I'm afraid, but since the word psychopomp doesn't actually exist we can dismiss that. Next, 'you idiot, read your own shit, fucking leech etc.' A pity, and all because you don't share the same opinion as somebody else. It doesn't sound good does it? Or make you sound too clever, or articulate. I suggest you apologise, get some help with English grammar then have another go Lux Et Magna. Oh, and 'john' begins with a capitol, spelt John. Like that. There, we are making a start.

[@maxwellfan55]

youschtube Thank you for your polite reply, I am frequently dismayed and exhausted by so many people out there being so offensive and aggressive. I try to remove myself from it because this is a wonderful forum to express and debate. The John Lennon story often inspires high emotions, perhaps understandable because he was a complex man, with a complex background. I do not deny his faults or envy his life, but neither did I know him personally, or his girlfriends. What I do know from his legacy was that he was an extraordinary creative and energetic musician and composer, leaving the world a lot to think about and listen to. For this he wins my unreserved respect and approval.

[@maxwellfan55]

ohcmon If you attempt to make an intelligent comment about this don't make it personal. This isn't about me. Nor do you know anything about me, what I do, and certainly nothing about Lennon and Ono's relationship. I refer to my earlier comment. Yoko Ono was Lennon's choice of girlfriend/wife, not yours or what you and apparently thousands of others would have him choose. Neither did he suffer fools gladly so he clearly chose this woman for his own sound, personal reasons. To begin with they were both artists, both anti establishment, both sharing a common philosophical ground of the times. I make no reference to her attributes or faults in their relationship because like you I am no position to. Why do so many people like you think they have some kind of autonomy over people's lives they're not even part of? When she appeared during the making of the White Album (in my opinion their best work by far) the Beatles as a pop group were existing and playing on borrowed time by their own admission, well documented, which you would know if you had any knowledge on the subject. Yoko might have been a distraction, even a catalyst, but was never the cause of their final break up.

[@maxwellfan55]

ohcmon If all you can comment is 'yes Yoko fucked up a lot of shit', then stop, take a look at what you have contributed to this debate, and ask yourself, should I have bothered? And yes I do know something about what you apparently 'know' because you have told us and revealed your media driven ignorance on this subject. Neither is anyone who reads this interested in my alleged 'ego' problems or 'personality traits' that you claim just because I express an opinion different to yours. There are plenty of books and recorded statements about the Beatles, I suggest go take the opportunity to learn from them before continuing. Go ahead and reply if you wish, but my communication with you ends here.

[@elwin38]

When John did this interview he had already made up his mind he was leaving the group. He wanted to add some songs(either on Abbey Rd or Let it Be)that he and Yoko did together and the group said no.

[@princeali1786]

Yup.

[@PAULLONDEN]

Oh well...you had "mother" to smooth out the "torture".....wonder how that "tension" occurred..... what a dope.

[@Monkofmagnesia]

I remember in his Playboy interview from the early seventies he stated that it "was a terrible feeling at Twickenham" studios". Getting up at 4:00 in the morning and having cameras and bright lights filming you is no way to write songs and record an album. In the end, Paul was the one who broke up the Beatles when he sued the other three in order to dissolve their partnership. According to Nicholas Schaffner in his book, "The Beatles Forver," avaialable on Amazon for a nickle, the Beatles were under contract until 1974 (or was it 76?), and George, Ringo, and John thought of staying together with Klaus Voorman on bass, but John got involved with other projects and did not care any more, so they went their seperate ways. However, in interws in the seventies and earlly eghties, the three always put the blame on the break up on Paul. Later, George, Ringo, and Paul would say they broke up because all four of them were tired of it.

[@adammartin7007]

There was never any serious consideration about swapping Paul for Klaus, certainly not from John.

[@mrsbluesky8415]

John broke up w the Beatles. He was bored.

[@jflo342]

Yoko never learned to shut up when someone else is speaking, she is so distasteful

[@christopher9152]

or when someone else is being interviewed...

[@robotsrule5051]

This interview reminds me of Spinal Tap, Jeanine talking over David St. Hubbins.

[@OroborusFMA]

He's such a lie-spinning revisionist. There's a September 1969 interview with him here at You Tube right at the time Abbey Road came out. He goes over the album song by song. He doesn't sound the least bit like someone who is wanting out. Fact of the matter is the other three rejected "Cold Turkey" as the next Beatles single and then he put it out himself, effectively announcing he was quitting at the same time. Yoko was a dagger through the heart of his muse; he was barely a shadow of his former self by 1972.

[@charwest9449]

Absolutely true.

[@toppermost66]

The life of a drug addict....almost bipolar.

[@glenndrexler1677]

WHAT A PAIN IN THE ASS" SHE IS!

[@fredapeeples6619]

I disagree. He went song by song, true. But, he was marketing the album to a great extent, and even though, he hinted it was all but over.

[@decadantdog4444]

@@glenndrexler1677 She must give great head for him to include her in everything.

[@jamesrae7597]

Johnny was always an honest lad. " I've been mental the whole time folks ".

[@waterfalls5194]

He was mental the whole time, but no, he was not always honest.

[@jamesrae7597]

nor have you or I laddie - one can certainly be judgemental for no damn good reason.

[@waterfalls5194]

"nor have you or I laddie..." Exactly. It's called being human. I was not judging him, I was agreeing with you. "Mental" meaning he suffered mental and emotional traumas from his childhood that never really was addressed sufficiently. And no he didn't always tell the truth. A lot of times John believed what he was saying, the moment he was saying it, although it may have contradicted something he had said years, months, weeks, days, even moments before. John was a complicated man with a lot of issues.

[@jamesrae7597]

Well stated. Back in the day I can only say, when hearing Johnny sing " I'm a real nowhere man " I knew he was a complicated lad as no one at the time would come up with something so introspective, personal, and bold. For a 14/15 year old it was a red pill moment.

[@Glitch4Twitch]

This is a GREAT interview, I never heard this before. I always wanted to ask a Beatle if there was ever a fist fight amongst them. 06:22

[@davidevans3227]

..about a minute in, is he talking about the film peter Jackson has gotten together recently (out next week?)

[@MattSmith-iq1ld]

Once The Beatles decided to continue after Epstein's passing in 1967, it was INEVITABLY going to lead to an unhappy split. It didn't matter if Paul was bossy or completely passive. Brian had that much influence on the band. That's why in the Beatles Anthology that Lennon said he KNEW the fab 4 were done once Epstein kicked it. In the end I am glad they stuck around because it led to songs like "Hey Jude," "I Am The Walrus," and "Old Brown Shoe." It was tough dealing with 2 years of bickering that ended up being sorted out. The only thing that really troubles me about Lennon is that he once told George Martin in the late 70's that he wished The Beatles could have recorded almost every song they ever did. Martin though he was nuts to feel that way. "How can you possibly say that when you guys penned that many great tunes and we spent so many hours in the studio perfecting those tunes." I think Lennon took The Beatles for granted. He didn't get how great they were compared to other artists, including himself as a solo performer. "Mind Games" vs. "Revolver" and "Walls and Bridges vs. "Abbey Road"." Please.

[@AKIRATV2]

I totally understand the "Suffering" thing.. Any record or anything I have worked on is ALWAYS torture. It's an obsessive, crazy, sweaty, over and over and over, perfectionist, pissed off, process. It always sounds great a year after it's done but during the making of any record it usually sucks big time...

[@IztokGolob-Naklo]

John had a nice way of "Shut the f**k" up working without anybody getting seriously hurt. And Yoko talking about every group going through frictions is hilarious. She of course should know.

[@julianabrown8283]

Listening to Yoko interject, is torture.

[@chairmanmeow3693]

At least we didn't hear her "sing"

[@randyking3057]

Totally.

[@alex59ba]

still mystery for me what John found interesting about Yoko or what value she brought to him, was she sexy at that time or smart or creative or funny or something? unbelievable Beatles ever managed to finish any record having her in a studio at the same time

[@challenge2357]

***** you are an idiot

[@waterfalls5194]

alex59ba When John first met Yoko at the Indica Art Gallery according to Tony Bramwell, Yoko latched onto him and clung tightly until he got tired of her and her art and had to untangle himself from her clutches and literally ran from her as she chased after him screaming "Take me with you!" I guess after that she changed her game plan. She then lured him with heroin and sex, and the rest as they say is history.

[@waterfalls5194]

+Brown Paw Yes, and after Paul's brush off, she targets John who also gives her the bum's rush, but a little thing like rejection wouldn't, couldn't, DIDN'T stop her. I just find it amazing that so many Yoko defenders believe the made up fairytale "Ballad of JohnandYoko" lock, stock, and barrel. The whole "They met and fell in love" bullshit, John and Yoko concocted to clean up, make wholesome and respectable, their ugly, lurid beginnings.

[@65TossTrap]

John met her a few days after the love of his life died. John needed a strong woman in his life. Yoko gave him the leadership he needed and was avant enough to keep things interesting. Also she plied him with heroin.

[@garrieleepeck8753]

How she treat John Lennon son Julian she gave all his stuff away he was leafed Then he took her to court to get money some people really believe she was watch John for a long time she knew his how to get into his head .there more to her than any one will ever no !!!

[@dstreamerii3958]

great video! john and yoko are inspiring brother and sister. both great artists! is the full one hour interview available?

[@mikecorey8370]

Uh, Yoko? No. She can't even string 2 sentences together without 5 "you know"s.

[@lindsaynoellewaller1762]

yoko was an avante garde artist who also studied music and opera as a child. its great that they were together and probably got so many ideas and support from each other.

[@BenCulture]

Lindsay Noelle Waller "Because" from _Abbey Road_ wouldn't exist had Yoko not sparked the musical idea. Yoko-hatred is 50% misogyny and 50% assorted bullshit.

[@RealTalkReporter]

***** A woman who hates men you would call a misandrist, and the noun form is MISANDRY, more appropriately referred to in this instance as, "someone who doesnt like men."(though i dont believe that's the Websters deffinition;-)

[@BenCulture]

***** said *"And there are even things about women in general that people don't like."* Thank you for proving my point, you misogynist loser. And I have never made a habit of "appealing" to anyone. A loser is a loser, and I have never hesitated to call them as I see them.

[@7karlheinz]

Recently someone on posted the Let it Be documentary on KZbin (it got pulled after a few weeks), I last saw the film in its initial release and thought (at the time ) that it was quite depressing. Since that time I have read many interviews like the one above from all four Beatles about what a terrible vibe and crappy film Let it Be was. I have to say watching it recently was a revelation! It was not only not depressing but filled with really enjoyable music and they seemed to be having fun. The only down part is where George is frustrated with Paul which is only a minute of the film but gets replayed in just about every Beatle documentary. Maybe the reason I found it depressing at the time was the Beatles breakup was very recent. I heard it is going to be re-released soon - I hope so! My dream Let it Be would be on multiple Blu-Ray discs containing the original film and ALL of the outtakes both audio and video!

[@rubyjames3105]

have you seen Get Back?

[@7karlheinz]

@@rubyjames3105 Yes, several viewings! I got Disney+ solely for that reason! I really liked the film, but I do miss Lennon saying "Isadora Duncan works for Telefunken" though...

[@geraldinejasnin7378]

what is the real date of this interview?? 1969 but october november december ??? A priori ils ( the beatles) ne voulaient pas se séparer ? pourtant il est di que John a annonce son départ le 28/9/1969!!!

[@thekitowl]

Let it be ( get back ) was Johns idea to record just as they were with ‘ No production shit ‘ . It was John who bought in Phill Spector , who ruined the record with his ‘Production shit’. There’s Torture.

[@onaturalia]

John was difficult. But maybe that was part of his genius.

[@TheseusTitan]

These celebrities crack me up. Lennon talks about a double album set and taking 6 months out of his life (my heart bleeds John). That’s funny, because the rest of us work all year around and that means every year we’re taking a YEAR out of life! Actors and actresses talk about working 12 hour days and getting 12 million in two years. We work 12 hour days and barely earn enough to live on. The funny part is they actually expect sympathy from us! They‘re regular comedians!

[@Azoria4]

Think about people coming up to you everyday, the pressure and the danger you feel

[@j.j.c.s2802]

Philistine.

[@elvisleeboy]

TheseusTitan You wrote in present tense. This interview was conducted in the early seventies. It's now 2016. If you want to compare how his life was to yours, consider the fact that he was murdered at the age of forty on his own doorstep, simply because he was famous, due to writing countless songs that have enhanced the lives of millions and continue to do so to this day. Your heart should indeed bleed for him.

[@TheseusTitan]

elvisleeboy There is nothing incorrect about the wording or construction of my paragraph. I continue to laugh at the absurdity of (all) celebrities who complain about the hours they spend to do something up to the present time. I’m laughing as I watched it and that was the present for me at the time. We all put in hours for much less. Your suggestion doesn’t make sense. Your comparison has nothing to do with the facts. We all take our chances in life to how long our life will be. Where Lennon was murdered has absolutely nothing to do with anything whatsoever. I can’t believe you even wrote that. As much as I enjoy Lennon’s iconic songs, I have no intention to bleed for a man who wrote some songs my friend. His demonstrations were off point and silly, influenced by Yoko. He used poor judgement to listen to her and to include her in his work. Did you ever think that he might still be alive today if it wasn’t for her and her dumbass ideas?

[@j.j.c.s2802]

TheseusTitan - Thanks for that wonderful insight and sophisticated use of the word 'silly'. Your "and that was the present for me at the time." is a real peach! Although, I thought the present was for everybody, all of the time? Oh! And "We all take our chances in life to how long our life will be" almost makes sense. Although, it would have made better sense to not to have written it at all, for all the sense it makes!

[@LollieVox]

"Striving for perfection & you never reach it" xo

[@DollsAndThings]

I never screemed I just wanted to hear their music and enjoyed that.If you are at a concert and screem you cant hear or enjoy the music.If I wanted to screem I could save my money ,stay home and screem at the T V.

[@parry58]

Its like Yoko is overdubbed onto this interview. No one is listening or remotely interested in what she is saying. Just random mumbling

[@droboogie8465]

Hmmm... I still keep hearing how John and George had a physical brawl and John flat out disputes that. As candid as he was, I'm inclined to accept John's account of things. As for Yoko's frequent "contributions" to this interview it seems she didn't get it that marrying John didn't make her a Beatle. After the breakup Linda McCartney was much more demure when hanging with Paul during an interview. I wish Yoko had followed her lead. I sure miss John and I do miss the Lovely Linda.

[@mrsbluesky8415]

John put her in the role of 5th Beatle or tried to. He said so himself in an interview. John was the conductor of his life, manipulation and all.

[@AlainFigueroa]

The title should be "Yoko Ono and John Lennon interview with.......".

[@KebabMusicLtd]

The small peace festival never really happened did it. There was the Isle of Wight festival of 1969 which featured amongst others, Bob Dylan. John and Ringo attended but didn't perform. I'm guessing that what was going to be the Peace Festival ended up as the Bed-in For Peace!

[@cindyconsidine]

+KebabMusicLtd Yes there was a peace festival it was in held in Toronto Canada and John and Yoko were the headline act, there was some drama with them not being able to get there though because of some legal crap though

[@cindyconsidine]

+cindy considine here it is:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry_Fields_(Canadian_festival)

[@KebabMusicLtd]

+cindy considine Yes, I meant that as far as John was concerned, it never happened. The small peace festival turned into the Bed-in for Peace. He says that he didn't want to go into some area and frighten them into thinking it would be another Woodstock. I think he means he wanted to just turn up without any publicity or anything... but clearly, someone in Toronto was against the idea of his attending, possibly for political reasons... You could possibly understand that kind of paranoia in the USA at the time, but not Canada!

[@chazs001]

Remember even if your not a Yoko fan that some of the greatest songs in music history are written about her through John.

He would have written great songs about whoever he was shagging

[@zapdunga12]

Well, you might be exaggerating a bit. There's no song about her on the White Album, Abbey Road or Let It Be. Even Starting Over was about John getting back with Paul. Yoko does sing " All the children sing" on Bungalow Bill, which Paul used to do and when John let her do it, Paul walked out. In his solo career John wrote a lot of songs about Yoko. And to her credit she helped write Imagine, The Luck of The Irish and Happy X- Mas.😊

[@AECJ1]

cold times sitting staring and suffering from exposure it makes sense it's just not easy to escape from pain and discomfort as well as as need personal space for growth it makes sense to want to be comfortable with the women who are trying to find a way to get you to be able to feel loved and at home somehow again after losing oneself for some reason or another

[@stevebiesiadabada6669]

So good to hear John Yoko is okay, but I listen to John Beatles to me are perfection

[@brianshaw21]

"Shaking Hands With Sir Paul McCartney" Now on sale at Nook and Kindle. Google it...

[@rickdicl]

THE woman who's name matches what I say when I hear her sing.

[@royfr8136]

We get angry...because we have all had a yoko in our lives.

[@linchen008]

that's so true!

[@VoodooChileJ11]

Let It Be. They hated that one but Abbey Road George Martin recalls fondly 'cause everyone seemed to actually enjoy doing it

[@kromedome0101]

Long story short: Lennon wanted "Get Back" to be a raw recording; the Beatles live in the studio, no slick production, or as he put it "the Beatles without their suits on". The original (very uninspired) recordings were shelved; they hired Phil Spector to 'fix' it. He went thru hours of tapes and compiled the "Let it Be" album as we know it. Opposed to what many think, he did a great job.

[@richardwillford7637]

Yeah, the basic material was pretty shambolic. Considering that, the end product was OK.

[@goodbyspam]

I believe John said the final product didn't make him puke.

[@gtw7319]

If I was the reporter I would've been like "excuse me, I'm talking to the talented one, please stay in your lane"

[@mb96001]

Why does Yoko even mumble. She's nothing, except living off of John's sweat.

[@MrVoola]

She is an artist in her own right.

saul Really??? Prior to John? Lol... I can put a sign on a card and attach it to the ceiling, hang a magnifying glass and provide a ladder. So... someone too bored or high to stay home climbs the ladder looks at the word YES through the magnifying glass. That makes ME an ARTIST??? I have pissed my initials in the snow a few types. Am I an artist in my own right too? You MORON😆

[@connor5669]

@ Drop your arrogance and do some research. She was a performance artist and experimental musician. She's well respected in those circles. I mean... John liked her art and you worship him I assume.

[@connor5669]

@ So art should be graded by how popular it is! Seriously, google her work. Independent of John, Yoko had her own career. John himself dragged her into his performances. She didn't insist. The hatred for Yoko is nothing but thinly veiled sexism. And let's be honest here, actually honest, your unbridled hatred for a woman you won't even do the smallest shred of research on reveals your own biases. I love the beatles but I will never understand fan boys obsession with hating Yoko

[@connor5669]

@ you know nothing about art. but it was fun making you waste your time.

[@rjmprod]

I bet the torture of the Beatles final album was for the other 3 working with Lennon and Ono..! Imagine trying to accomplish anything while having to deal with that.

[@skykiss12]

Exactly. The other 3 were cowards and didn't dare to speak up against Lennon.

[@lorrainetauson131]

Yoko actually stalked John while he was with his wife Cynthia!!! I don't agree that she was good for him at all. May Pang was good for him on his lost weekend bit. He was his funny Liverpudlian self again, he was in love with May, very happy, hanging out with his old mates which Yoko would not allow!!!! Yoko also would not give gifts from John to Julian as described in his will. Poor Julian had to buy all his father's stuff back! I can't stand her and I wish she would sit quietly during this interview with John about the Beatles recording sessions being very torturous as it is interesting.

[@infoguy1978]

lorraine tauson- may was much better than yoko

[@vegavairbob]

You can't take literally everything Lennon said. He meant it was torture perfecting the songs (not meaning torture working together). It' obvious listing to Let it Be (which was unfinished) perfecting them made them the great studio band they were. But Lennon had enough of that.

[@alexanderzumalave2022]

maybe he was talking about the "torture" of recording let it be (the sessions were horrible)

[@seanflannick9215]

Geraldo Rivera is the interviewer

[@coyote728]

There were more reasons than Yoko. One of the reasons "Let It Be" hasn't been released on DVD is because the others were feeling more like Paul's backup band and Paul comes off like a jerk in some of it. Both John and Paul were to blame - John for his insistence for having Yoko there at all times and Paul for acting like he was already a solo artist.

[@tigertank06]

The Beatles had problems during the Abbey Road sessions?

[@JohnSmith-cy8hq]

+tigertank06 I think they just consciously put their differences aside because they all wanted to make one last great album.

[@tigertank06]

John Smith Yeah, I read some stuff about that how Yoko and John were in a car accident but Lennon wanted her by his side during the Abbey Road recordings so he had a bed brought in for her. That caused some tension within the group.

[@richardwillford7637]

Yeah, some pretty bad ones. One argument ended with Paul leaving the studio, and then John climbing the wall to his house and smashing a window with a stone.

[@bendyparanormal]

I wish Yoko would just stop talking. She’s not a Beatle. She’s not being interviewed. Nobody wants to hear her interruptions, interjections and commentary. I like that John just keeps talking when she starts in.

[@ramilopez6921]

She always wanted to cling to John’s fame. She never stayed in her place which was behind John. I know he was “in love” with Yoko but Yoko should have been respectful enough to let John do his thing and interfere in The Beatles creative process.

[@jmarine1933]

And why is Yoko speaking?

[@DJ-bj8ku]

The interviewer sounds like Elliot Mintz, a close friend.

[@roberttalbot6397]

She wasn't music minded, John was the music Man, he just wanted her to make music,with him and finally herself

[@lisalentile177]

i love to listen to John talk

[@charwest9449]

one minute he's like 'I was pushed to make songs and Paul was coming up with them so much faster and I couldn't produce on schedule and only Paul wanted to do it but I'd had enough! But here he's saying there were now three of us trying to squash ALL our songs onto one album and I couldn't wait to get only two of them on a whole album. So which was it, was he overworked and couldn't come up with songs on a schedule, or was it that gosh he had too many songs and couldn't wait for them to be put on an album. Seems like he's playing both sides and neither of them is the truth.

[@mrsbluesky8415]

His ego couldn’t admit it was tough to come up w new songs. That came out in Get Back.

[@stuy2376]

Sounds like 1980 incredible quality.

[@williegeazer]

The way she was parading around with Her son looking like his dad when they first got together during the 50th anniversary hoopla ..the long hair and beard glasses with the weird hat. I don't know who I was more embarrassed for the surviving Beatles or Lennon. That was the freak show and a half

[@olegtoropov]

Why is she explaining Beatles. I don’t hear reporter asking her any questions directly.... I can see how she can be annoying.

[@genebrodeur4493]

Everybody should have their problems.

[@stan469]

Maybe they argued, but I have heard several bootleg recordings of them having fun playing around performing. Just for example, he recording from January 1969 with the medley that includes "Commonwealth" shows that Paul and John were having a lot of fun improvising.

[@mikemchugh3073]

And we all thought it was just her presence while recording that irked the other Beatles. She was probably mumbling to John the whole time there as well. Talk about "torture"....

[@anambrandao]

thank you!!!

[@Playitstraight44]

I can't stand Yoko's interjection because she tries to act like she is part of the process and it's so obvious she is just trying to take what is rightfully John's place to answer. If I were working on something and my wife was sitting in on an interview with me, I would be red hot if she chimed in on questions directed to me about work I am doing. She was and always will be a hack.

[@Monoaux]

wow, John/Yoko really resented George writing songs.

[@Bella-nt7ec]

right, in some other interview he kind of developed on that topic, calculated and said he wasn't gonna to work on an album for six months just for a bit of money (don't remember the exact figures) , it was all about money. Afterwards all the blame was put on PAUL, i mean for the split up

[@Monoaux]

@@Bella-nt7ec It really does seem like George was getting from both John/Yoko and Paul.