John Lennon Rolling Stone Full Interview (1970) by Jann Wenner

Full transcript: imaginepeace.co...
Source for audio: blog.wfmu.org/f...
Unfortunately, a few bits you'll find written in the transcript were cut out from this audio interview, even though the BBC speaker states "nothing has been removed" at the beginning.

[@Darren_McGovern-ROF]

Few people are this honest.

[@laco4275]

Darren McGovern he was often a scumbag, the original ghetto thug beating others in a drunken fury. No one in music was more dishonest or said more stupid and hypocritical things. He stole music from Zappa, beat Cynthia Lennon, neglected Julian, screamed for attention like a spoiled, narcissistic schoolgirl, was often verbally abusive, was closeted gay, and a not so good friend to people. While McCartney was the true gentleman and badass rocker, John was cheating on Yoko, getting drunk and abusing people, and later baking bread (how many fucking times do we have to hear the baking bread story). He was cool early but devolved into an uncool jealous hypocrite and Yoko groupie.

[@toddglass2519]

La co: you are literally an a$&hole

[@laco4275]

Todd Glass for telling the TRUTH ??? When Lennon was brutally honest or crying/complaining (often maliciously) about this or that you Johnboys always say something insidious like, "...that's JUST John being John," or "John had a hard time expressing himself," or "John had an a bad upbringing!" Excuses, excuses, excuses. When anyone dares tell the truth on John, you people cry foul. But I didnt tell half of it about he and Yoko - HE WAS THE ASSHOLE. JOHN (& YOKO) WERE THE ASSHOLES. Deal with it.

[@laco4275]

Todd Glass If I'm an asshole, so is Lennon.

[@toddglass2519]

La co: because you state something doesn't make it true, and also, if you detest Lennon so much why go on here and listen and/or comment? It's a waste of time. You aren't going to change anyone's mind. People love John Lennon deal with it.

[@warwick802]

I could listen to Beatle interviews for days

[@martinhasson4942]

Now? GET A LIFE! 😴🌏🇬🇧🇨🇮🔭🇨🇦🚛🍺🍹🤕😷🍦

[@partysugar519]

Or perhaps a bit of every Beatles interview ever all on one day......

[@hannaxin9928]

I would listen to John interview day n night

[@teacherlucas9982]

That's how I fill up my days, gladly :)

[@danielbrown1724]

This isn’t a Beatles interview, just an FYI It’s an interview with John Lennon. Side note; they were more than just one of the four 🙄

[@Smule-Sing]

52 years later I'm listening 3 hours of John Leon voice..Great to hear in what you being saying...

[@patriciaeddy7629]

I love hearing his voice so much.😔 Miss him and his smile. His music,his words, his heart.

[@diannebunnell5582]

Loved all the Beatles Miss hearing & seeing them.

[@sanjibkumarshah2465]

He was the man of soul.

[@craftiham]

John was incredible, he wasn't afraid to say what was on his mind. R.I.P. John Lennon

[@jimc4839]

Same. He had a great singing voice. I recently heard Sexie Sadie. His voice made that song.

[@DianePriore-l5v]

Right On! Only one Lennon ! Ty

[@flankerroad7414]

It's 1970. He's just gotten off the carousel of wonder, and all the bitterness and personal stress of that bleeds over into this interview. This is he fighting his way through the fallout and into clear air again.

[@moondeliight]

people who say this interview is "honest" and "truthful" have no idea what amount of pain John was going through at this era. i'm glad he moved past all the bitterness and became a better man before his time here on Earth ran out, he was taken from us too soon. R.I.P.

[@eduar2971]

He is unintentionally very funny and honest at the same time.

[@Blitz-dm3kv]

It's clearly intentional. Lennon was a massive goofball.

[@mattandersonmusic]

That was a pleasure to listen to. Love you John.

[@guitarmon100]

This is the most revealing interview I have ever heard...by a country mile. No other interview even comes close. Brutal, brutal honesty. THIS is what I love about John.

[@alastairmackay4861]

guitarmon100 I like how he admits that what he is saying is partly just mouthing off, he sees that everything he says gets picked over and made into a big deal if if it was said in the heat of the moment or whatever

[@alastairmackay4861]

steve anderson couldn’t agree more

[@natalieps2387]

Yes but john is a moody guy & his anger in the moment he lies. He admits that in the playboy interview in 1980 that he once said he & paul wrote mostly apart then admitted that was a lie they wrote everything for the most part eye ball to eye ball so he didnt mean it he said he was just mad. It's sad that he fell out with George at his death & people say paul & him made up but in the 1980 playboy interview he is trashing him.again saying he thinks he died creatively after yesterday & he is an ego maniac & just not a nice picture of paul. Seems nobody was ever mad at ringo I think bc he is a mensch & also he is not a threat to them even though he is a great drummer but not a writer or good voice imo.

[@mariaalejandra2913]

You love the John of Lennon Remembers? Not even John loved it!

[@allymayful]

Just remember it was probably Herion fueled, at this time - and it made him paranoid

[@kevinnagle2024]

Took John 10 years to look back fondly on the Beatles. If you listen to his RKO or BBC interviews the weekend he died he was very happy about the Beatle years. Just took time.

[@mrsgstd]

@ddjdd wfgggb Right, if you watch the Tom Snyder interview from 1975 he clearly was over his bitterness and spoke fondly and respectfully of his Beatle days and his former colleagues

[@lacy.knickers146]

It was still soon after they split so he still had some anger and as the years went on he mellowed a bit and he and Paul made up before he was killed. John was my favorite Beatle or should say person.

[@pleaserewind295]

That's the same for any breakup.

[@MarkAhrens-HeritageFilms]

Probably because he was largely irrelevant at that time.

[@lawrence142002]

He was getting ready to get back together with them according to both Paul and Yoko. The reunion concert or tour or whatever it was going to be was coming in spring 1981 since everyone was "ready" to do it. Sometimes things just don't work out.

[@antoinettewitt2098]

John's interviews i take with a grain of salt. He changes his mind in so many different areas throughout his lifetime of interviews.

[@robbedontuesday]

Really? Like what?

[@antoinettewitt2098]

@@robbedontuesday John changes his mind concerning his songs & how he wanted to do them over again etc. He told George Martin when he met with him at the Dakota before his untimely death he would have done everything (songs) differently. George Martin was shocked & mentioned this in an interview a few years later. This concerns all areas as well.

[@ROMANSv1212]

@@antoinettewitt2098 I don't get what you mean really? In this interview he clearly expresses his disdain for George Martin's self importance, believing that he (George Martin) along with others like Dick James and Brian Epstine made the Beatles - "I like to hear Dick James music and I like to hear George Martin's music please, play me some". It was a put down of George Martin particularly what he did on Sgt Pepper with his studio ingenuity with songs like Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite and Strawberry Fields. It was probably a projection of how he felt rather than reality. He said it and said that he wanted to re-record the Beatles songs, especially Strawberry Fields. George Martin confirmed in an interview that he said it so there was no change of minds here between different interviews. The white album was a response to George Martin's work as a producer by recording more stark sounding songs. I know that he says in this interview that some of what he says in interviews is partly lies, partly true and stuff he changes his mind on. I think he spoke of how he felt in the moment but people can change what they think and feel from moment to moment in general anyway let alone from what they said years ago. He was like alot of people like that really but as far as I can tell there was alot of what he said was pretty consistent with other later interviews. He didn't like bullshit - I believe he tried to be as honest as he could but he was figuring stuff out all of the time, he could have quite a big ego and he could also be very self deprecating and he could be very blunt about people and about himself. He was quite angry at this time. The therapy really opened him up and he gave his father both barrels around this time for what John thought his father did to him. Also the bitterness with him and the Beatles here is palpable and at times he comes over as a bit arrogant. But it's how he felt at that time and if you hear a later interview when he lived in New York that bitterness isn't there so he sees some things in a different way - that's just life. In my opinion sometimes he chose a certain narrative, a version of the reality around him to suit his art and to paint him in a certain light. Again nothing unusual.

[@robbedontuesday]

@@antoinettewitt2098 he evolved... not "changed his mind". He says himself here in this interview, that Martin was more a producer for Paul's kind of music. Paul was an amazing composer and musician, but John was an artist. He always involved himself in his songs ... There is no way Martin could catch up with him.

[@TheBigMclargehuge]

It's because he's full of shit. He's a space case with nothing to say. His quotes make good bumper stickers but anyone who's ever stopped at a truck stop knows that doesn't take a genius.

[@sublime0126]

Thank you for posting this!!!! I was so bummed when they took the podcast down. :)

[@jonesy2111]

One of the best interviews ever and I can't think of anyone who was or is as honest and straightforward despite the fact that there is always more to the story

[@babyirene3188]

You have got to be kidding. Do some digging. Find out the truth. Because it ain't here.

[@jonesy2111]

@@babyirene3188 I was kidding, isn't it obvious?

[@andrewdavy9921]

@@jonesy2111 you were right the first time don't back track

[@cynthiasoroka1838]

DITTO Rick Jon .... LOL John Lennon was NOT A GROUPY___ Remember when Lennon TOLD The Upper Class “Yah Don’t Need to applause just SHAKE YOUR JEWELRY”! ! 🌈❤️

[@musashielmaldito6848]

I dont. Know lover I dont know

[@TomHodges995959]

Absolutely an inner talent that reshaped most of the world. Did he have issues, Sure, but that doesn’t take away his incredible gift.

[@laco4275]

Tom Hodges he had a great gift in the 60s, started tailing off in 66'. And it just got worse for him as his writing, singing and performing crashed. You could say he was one of the biggest chokers of all time after 66'. Certainly the 70s were almost nothing for him and the world quit laughing with him, but at him.

[@laco4275]

His inner talent and gift is a whole Tier down from McCartney's. *Don't forget what Dylan said: "Paul is a creative genius. He surpassed John and I. He did everything and everything better."* One couldn't get more real, honest and learned praise. John was great, truly awesome. But not in Paul's league. Paul is Tier One genius, talent, The Greatest singer-songwriter to ever live. John is Tier Two. And that's a fact, not opinion.

[@laco4275]

Did you actually say, "reshaped most of the world" referring to Lennon? You don't think that's a bit grandiose and over the top do you Johnboy? ??

[@TomHodges995959]

La Co No! I wrote it...

[@Uncannyguitar]

La Co plastic ono Band is as good as anything the Beatles ever did

[@elizabethburke637]

Such an honest man. He says what he thinks and what many are afraid to say or be honest enough to say.

[@justinmoore3121]

I think John’s memory only focuses on the bad days. After watching the new Get Back it appears to me there were WAAAAY more good days making music together, laughing, working during the Let It Be sessions than John is conveying.

[@ScreamingMimi]

I don’t think he focused on the bad days, but they weren’t that far in the rear view mirror at this point. This is just December of 1970 and the breakup and all its attendant disagreements and emotions are still raw. Listen to his December 1980 interview and you’ll hear a different man with regard to his time with The Beatles.

[@maurocoimbra9624]

Great comment!

[@sexobscura]

that's also the magic of editing

[@walt686868]

During the session from the Get Back doc, he was on heroin most of the time hence his mood was better.

[@ExcitedAnacondaSnake-hg8ec]

A movie isn’t reality. Even ten hours is nothing compared to the hundreds of hours they lived it

[@gary6514]

It is obvious Lennon was in a dark place in 1970. Angry and bitter with pent up resentment against almost everyone. Yet he failed to see the incalculable joy he gave the world through his music he made with the Beatles. He obviously mellowed as the 70s progressed and become more content with what he had achieved.

[@SenorZorrozzz]

Right

[@billy6pack887]

Definitely, he was just growing into his comfort zone when he was taken way too early. He still had so much to give it truly was a tragedy. It's easy for people to diss any dead person in retrospect, but I find that a cheap shot, because for a star of his status I'll always think that he was super talented and just a cool person, who was still evolving and maybe hadn't even reached his peak yet. Sadly we'll never get to know. RIP John.

[@dane21dc]

Listen to the interview 2 days before he died. He was in awesome place.

[@billy6pack887]

@@dane21dc Absolutely...Merry Xmas.

[@imagine1004]

I love John. Don’t get me wrong. However he is so critical of everyone even himself. I’m sure there were many good times but they are never mentioned. He was very angry and bitter. He was still young at the time. I’m sure had he lived he would have been able to resolve the breakup and childhood issues. It was like a divorce. The only two people he liked was Yoko and Phil Spector . So sad he didn’t realize his own genius.

[@cynthiasoroka1838]

I still think about John Lennon ...💜💜💜💜 Those were the DAYS WE ALL THOUGHT THAT WOULD NEVER END ! 💜💜💜💜🌈🙏🇺🇸👍🙏

[@Gus-r4g]

50:12 Thank you, Paul, for keeping the Beatles going as long as possible. If it wasn't for him, they would have maybe disintegrated in 1968. That means no White Album, no Let It Be, no Abbey Road. Arguably one of the best works the Beatles ever did.

[@candelise]

Well said, in fact they probably would've folded earlier, possibly after the '66 tour. Even Ringo said in the Scorsese made Harrison documentary that they had to thank Paul for the amount of work they put out.

[@georgestetson5572]

Wish John and george we’re still around we’ve had Paul’s revisionism of history for the last 30 years his jealousy of Johns legacy I liken to the envious satriali to Mozart

[@ewest14]

@@georgestetson5572 Paul was the Mozart and John was Salieri. Also Paul doesn't do revisionism. Show proof that Paul is a revisionist to serious degree. I'm waiting

[@georgestetson5572]

@@ewest14 😂 penny lane vs strawberry field

[@ewest14]

@@georgestetson5572 Ok.... I'm still waiting for your proof of major revisionism.

[@happyjack1598]

Cheers for posting this up.Fantabulous!❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@maureenobrien7895]

I could listen to John speak all day

[@blankpool]

Thank you for no ads

[@radiobalita]

Thanks for uploadin this. John was a sad, angry and bitter person who was a genius at expressing it through music rather than crying, hanging himself; or shooting innocent people. Overall, he's a great person with flaws.

[@kelman727]

Marc Bell He was stinking rich and nearly fried his brain with fucking acid. Boo hoo.

[@medeconstructed1581]

@@Kosmic_Mike kelman has no point. He is just an aggressive idiot who targets anybody (this time it is John) to continue living his miserable life.

[@bhbm47]

Marc Bell kelman the “nowhere man”

[@kellyb0279]

If you listen to his last interview hes like a different person. He was pretty angry at this point in his life.

[@TheFossie12]

@radio balita - loves the weirdest thing. How can you love the bad and the ugly along with the good? But with John Lennon you just do. While he was busy helping make some of the best music of the 20th century, we were watching his life happen. Pencil a couple of dark penny’s side by side with a long line down to a slight grin and you just know it’s Lennon. If I hear the Beatles on the radio I stop and sing along. No John no Beatles....

[@warwick802]

I wish we still had him and George with us. I wanted to hear them drop more songs and interviews...

[@shotglassanhero]

Isn’t it a pity? Isn’t it a shame?

[@Blitz-dm3kv]

How we break each other's hearts and cause each other pain

[@PurpleWatchtower]

He had such an amazing voice

[@lisaparsons4124]

Yes I agree 💯 John Lennon a awesome singer and song writer

[@harold3165]

And yet he hated it

[@jeffreywunderlich4161]

Thank you for posting this! I will Always Love & Miss, Dear John.💜✌️

[@mrssweetheartmrscute5608]

I miss you john lennon

[@r7carlsn24]

I hate the bitterness that was taking place during this interview, but being a 35 year old man myself, I can't even imagine trying to manage this at the age of 30/31 like Lennon and the others were. Being in the biggest rock group of all-time and the fame that goes with it is incomprehensible to me. It's hard not to wish that they all could have had the benefit of hindsight to truly understand their importance to millions of people and to get past all of the bickering.

[@brianlane9534]

That's like parents staying married "for the sake of the children."

[@farrellmcnulty909]

​@@brianlane9534 but there might've been the chance of reconciliation....we can work it out.

[@MaryBywaters]

@@farrellmcnulty909 They were working it out. During his time with May I think Paul and John got together. And there were different collaborations. So who knows.

[@johnobrien7860]

Interesting to hear about Dick James and Northern Songs. I wonder how John would have handled the Maniac Michael Jackson and his pimping of The catalogue... John would have been furious.

[@agneswoiley2978]

I love the way he says "I don't know what you mean."

[@c.a.t.732]

It's interesting that John often repeated the "I only really like rock 'n roll" line like a mantra over the years. Yet many of his most famous and beloved songs, from In My Life to Strawberry Fields (which he cited as one of his favorites) to Julia to Imagine to Watching the Wheels, were anything but.

[@lenalennon8746]

John: "AGREED. I BECAME HEAVILY INTO CREATING CONFESSIONAL MUSIC. BuT ROCK IS ALWAYS WHAT I LOVED TO LISTEN TO. IT'S WHAT SPOKE TO ME." - Channeled 2:22 🙏🔥🔥💓

[@c.a.t.732]

@@thehunter3387 It's clear from the context of Lennon's pronouncement about "rock and roll" what he meant... he often cites "Be Bop A Lula" as an example, for instance. He's not talking about soft rock or psychedelic rock or folk rock of whatever other sub-genre of rock music. (And please don't tell me what I "must understand".) At one point in the interview he's asked what his favorite song is, and he mentions "Stardust", which is hardly rock of any sort. It seems obvious that John sometimes wanted to project an image of himself that didn't tell the whole story, which is something we probably all do from time to time.

[@robbedontuesday]

I am just gonna say "Yer blues", "Meat City", "Cold Turkey", "Come together", "I want you (She's so heavy)"... well I admit they are not popular, but they are some of the greatest gems of RnR...

[@c.a.t.732]

@@thehunter3387 "Different styles of rock" would include rock and roll certainly, although I don't exactly hear that particular sub-genre in "Happiness Is A Warm Gun"... I should probably go back and listen to it again. I can see "Starting Over" being thought of as rock and roll though. As far as "Don't Worry Kyoko" being, in John's opinion, the best rock and roll song ever... they say love is blind, and in John's case it appears to have been deaf as well. (P.S. I just went back and listened to "Happiness Is A Warm Gun", and there is indeed a bit of a slow-grind R&R section near the end where the title is being sung. But my point still stands... so many of his best songs were in other genres altogether.)

[@muziktrkr]

John enjoyed rock n' roll, loud guitars, and all that, but he was writing ballads from the beginning and end of his career and even his covers album had ballads on it.

[@dr.buzzvonjellar8862]

I’ve said this many times to Friends in conversation. Every sentence is a musical movement. The words work, but ignore the words and listen to the sound of his voice. Each sentence is musical. That’s how deep it was in him. I love it.

[@lisaparsons4124]

Yes I agree John Lennon was talented a great singer and song writer

[@sarahcecil5773]

John Lennon had wit, great humor, and courage a man who led his band The Beatles to the top.He had heart and soul and a true friendship with Paul.He fell hard for Yoko but as a teenage boy from Liverpool -He worked hard w'the Beatles &the plastic ono band -I'll always Love his song Imagine ! He was One of a kind, who died way to young in the cruelest way-I miss you John Lennon.

[@quillber]

Id read this interview once or twice and always imagined he was more angry or urgent than this, he sounds fairly chill tbh

[@AffectedCollective]

Thank you for this post-the complete interview is nice to hear in sequence 🙏🏻😎❤️ *SUBSCRIBED* Much Love to you, my friend ❤️

[@markprovance8995]

Complete interview? I think not. With the exception of the original publishing of this interview in Rolling Stones, John's comments about Linda Eastman's family being "WASP Jews" (his words) has been deleted, and I suppose also deleted from this recording.

[@jnagarya519]

@@markprovance8995 Brian Epstein and Allen Klein were Jews.

[@lokiop345]

👍great. Love his accent. Great song writer. Very deep. He's still my favourite composer ever

[@turtleflegel6816]

Agree

[@maureenobrien7895]

Always! Love John Lennon forever ❤

[@nervo6321]

The main reason for my love of Lennon is obviously his wit and humour, but most of all his absolute honesty of telling it like it is, regardless of the flak he may have recieved, not many people in the public eye have this attribute. He has to be admired for this reason alone....

[@AmberAmber]

I agree. He said he was an angry violent man who spent every day trying to be peaceful. I'm naturally peaceful, so I can't imagine how hard it must be to fight your own nature... All cos you're self·awareness tells you it's correct. Openly admitting ones flaws & battling them · to me · is very noble.

[@AmberAmber]

@slip satch Finding others nowadays who can appreciate the (albeit mildly braggadocio-tainted & often a wee selfish) wonder of the talent of John Lennon is kinda hard these days. These comments gave me goosebumps of happiness. TY💗 #warisoverifyouwantit #blm #ENDICEConcentrationCAMPS #onelove

[@AmberAmber]

@slip satch Agreed 100%. I was 6(nearly 7) when I heard he'd been killed. Our teacher had us spend the day before holidays - & the entire week after - writing & drawing • letters, diorama, some pantomimes, etc... and so much music -listening • ALL about love, peace, activism, the arts, & how we could needed to vow to leave the planet more loving than it was upon our birth-days. She was sobbing. My parents were sobbing. It felt like an innocence had been stolen from the human cultural collective. I think about that week a lot... It never fails to hurt me to my core, & it affected me so deeply that I AM an activist - 45yo & still making numerous - & occasionally successful attempts at unity. I hope I don't fail my teacher. And I hope Lennon's legacy is allowed to continue in such a - sometimes - angry & hateful world filled with mostly good people but with foolish notions. 🦋💗🐾🐸🎶☮✌

[@tysonrinker5958]

I see it to

[@lynnsmithershubbard1896]

@@AmberAmber drugs and alcohol

[@briandoherty3364]

This is a treasure trove. Thank you!

[@davidh.8798]

Writer Ian Leslie recently wrote that people confuse Lennon's emotional honesty with truthfulness. I thought that was an insightful remark.

[@Zoologic21]

Is that to say that while he wasn’t being insincere about the way he felt, he was more or less undependable when I came to his personal recollection of the things that bothered him? I ask because I’ve seen people discuss him “reversing” his stance on many things he slighted just fresh of the group’s breakup, but you’re among the first I’ve seen to actually consider him having a level of genuine release that might not have reflected how he felt about the things he dismissed in the bigger picture.

[@davidh.8798]

@@Zoologic21 Yes, that's exactly what he meant I think.

[@annoyingjake]

I'm not sure about emotional honesty or truthfulness. He clearly relishes piercing myths and taking shots, all the time emphasizing how little he cares (or even remembers) about anything having to do with The Beatles. It's interesting. It's understandable too. But all of this talk about honesty is very peculiar to me. He's no more or less honest than most. His hostility and insecurities are bubbling up all over the place and I suppose some will find that refreshing. The one theme that runs throughout all of these early 1970s interviews is Johns persistent attacks on and dismissal of all things Beatles. 10 years later, he could speak about that period without agenda.

[@jnagarya519]

Yoko calls it "instinct," which puts everything beyond reason and free will -- which is unintelligent gibberish.

[@humanmodeproductions]

I’ve never been heard of Ian Leslie

[@666brandohill1]

One of the greatest interviews of all time!!!!!!

[@raymondporter]

John is on top form here after going through a period of trauma. Along with the other Beatles they burned them selves out in 1969 with a ridiculous workload. They produced great music but at a terrible cost. In this interview John seems to mentally stronger and less dependent on substances. The therapy and reduction of pressure have healed him. Thank goodness that the Beatles split up because John has found himself and seems at peace. His brain is sharp and clear. To listen to him in any form of communication is simply inspiring. Thank you John for helping make imperfect people feel normal. God bless John and Yoko.

[@wilmtigers]

I love The Beatles and of the four, I love John the most. But, I'm a dissenter on this myth that has been constructed about the incredible pressure The Beatles were under (as a group and individually). The days of the most pressure came in the '64 to '66 period, when they were delivering 2 albums a year, 2 or 3 standalone singles on top of that, and a full-length feature film (in two of those years). And wedged in among all that was a ridiculous touring schedule. BUT, and this is important, when they ceased touring, they also began to pull back their recording schedule. As they owned the new label they were recording for, and as Brian Epstein was gone, the group suddenly had a much more relaxed workload. So much free time was available that Paul & George (and to a lesser extent, John) began writing for other artists again -- something they hadn't done in earnest since 1963. And they began producing other artists records. They worked when they wanted to. And they were loaded (financially). Paul and Ringo seemed to be fairly happy in the band's later years, but John and George not so much. It's a shame. Was Paul really that hard to get along with? The Beach Boys, The Who, The Rolling Stones, and The Kinks all managed to stay together far, far longer than The Beatles, and these groups continued to make great music. The Beatles could've chosen that path too. AND released solo albums too. Have both formats. Group AND solo projects. Oh well. It is what it is. I just think the "pressure" story is overblown. The real issue seems to be the inability of George and John to get along with Paul.

[@raymondporter]

@@wilmtigers Well i regard making the Let it be album in January and the Abbey road album in August as well as the movie pretty hard work

[@포슈텔른]

@@wilmtigers but rolling stones and the who , Beach boys didn't have much sales and impact compared to Beatles.

[@wilmtigers]

@@포슈텔른 I'm not sure what their sales figures have to do with the discussion, but The Beatles were unsurpassed in that area. Ken Mansfield in his book, "The Roof", quotes Capitol Records execs as saying that The Beatles accounted for 50% of all sales at the label during the sixties. And Capitol at that time had The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, The Band, Glen Campbell, Dean Martin, Buck Owens, and Pink Floyd. So, yes. Nobody sold records in the 60s like The Beatles. One might say that that added to the pressures on the group. I think just the opposite. BECAUSE they put out product that was so "hot" (sales-wise), labels (EMI, Capitol, Apple) could be patient with them. The group could always threaten to walk, to go to another label. The idea was to keep The Beatles happy. Give them what they want.

[@포슈텔른]

@@wilmtigers oh it has something to do with discussion because you said Beatles could have went on just like other rock bands such as rollong stones, the who or Beach boys. But no other band sold or reached a limit like Beatles, and in capital society sales does accout for how much one has excelled in certain area, and it is proven in numerous interviews of Beatles (especially john & Paul), they said band broke up because it had enough accomplishments and got bored with it. Even john Lennon made a remark on rolling stones interview & Tomorrow show that they knew every move of each band member and that there was not much they can do to in terms of making music together. So having achieved a lot bigger than his colleagues in 60s, or dealt with each other enough, there was not a much substantial reason to demand or insist on Beatles to continue on.

[@alias3660]

44:40 is the most interesting bits to me, honestly. When he starts talking about Brian's death and all.

[@67Parsifal]

This is the best rock interview ever. Nothing else even comes close.

[@christineterry3079]

Interesting interview !Very open person love his honesty even makes me smile at times listening to him telling his story ,lot going on in side . thanking you for sharing the videos to be honest I would never of thought to listen too these interviews on types why I don't know why but I am glad I did ! ❤🙏

[@MM-is5nk]

John changed his mind about things because he was intelligent and willing to "learn more" and in so doing changed his opinion on things as we all should do.

[@oinkooink]

And yet he fell for the whole avant-garde "art" movement so he was asleep at the wheel.

[@Blitz-dm3kv]

...or just because he was initially bitter as fuck and later calmed down

[@ExcitedAnacondaSnake-hg8ec]

@@oinkooinkand yet that movement continues to be influential and relevant today

[@oinkooink]

@@ExcitedAnacondaSnake-hg8ec I'm sure it does. Just another promoted perversion. Look into it.

[@matthewrichardson2526]

Let's not forget that it was Jann Wenner who kept bands like "Rush" out of the R & R Hall of Fame for decades, simply because he didn't like them (he also started every question with "Um," but that's of course beside the point). He was also one of those awful, clueless 1970s reviewers who always trashed bands like "Wings," "Yes" and "Black Sabbath," while praising Lennon's for the most part forgettable (or best forgotten) post-Beatles output to the skies. Let us never forget that Lennon gave the world 'The Beatles." It was his band, and for that we must forever be grateful. He was an extraordinary talent. Not a great or even a good person, but certainly one of the greatest songwriters of all time. His voice can give you chills. Owing, no doubt, to childhood issues, he had the misfortune to come under the control of that horrible, shrill, hypocritical, no-talent witch Yoko. But in the end, McCartney is now generally recognized, by anyone with a brain or a soul, as the real genius of that band. Lennon, with his gift for brutal honesty, would be the first to admit it now, I think. That was HIS genius. The real tragedy of his death was that he never had the opportunity to become what he might have been, or to divorce that bitch. Instead, to this day, his ashes are sitting in an urn under her bed. His life was stolen from him, and from us. Imagine.

[@bobbytropo2314]

This is absolutely the greatest interview of all time. Not just the greatest Lennon interview, the greatest interview ever.

[@james5460]

"We're leaving." "Why are you leaving?" "Well, you're so cosmic, you should know why we're leaving."

[@jackd.ripper3139]

Yes....pure John having the balls to tell off a phoney con man.

[@blankpool]

Timestamp?

[@MilesColtrane.]

@@blankpool 54:16

[@sannimcable]

Total respect to John

[@acmegd]

Fascinating that John was always so reluctant to give George Martin credit. Aside from his immense contributions to their "sound", he was responsible for giving the Beatles a chance early on when no other recording company would touch them. I can understand his aversion to Martin's orchestral inclinations, particularly post-Pepper but to ignore his obvious contributions is just arrogant and silly, really.

[@outschoolwithmisslibby4713]

agreed

[@theo1001]

John Carrier a chip on his shoulder that was bigger than his feet.

[@ExcitedAnacondaSnake-hg8ec]

As if you know better than John . What did George Martin do exactly besides do what anyone else could? Write a piano solo?

[@markuspboeddeker5930]

@@ExcitedAnacondaSnake-hg8ec what a remarkably ignorant comment.

[@karencontino5220]

I love listening to John talk! My first love was George and then later on as I got older I fell in love with John. He was very intelligent, soo talented had a good sense of humor and wanted love and peace in the world which would be basically having heaven on earth the way I think God meant for it to be! 💙

[@w-e-7963]

@Mellissa Boomer of the Night All Things Must Pass was a three- disc set! But maybe few played much of the third.

[@SuperStrik9]

Plastic Ono Band is such an amazing album. John's best solo work with Imagine being a very close second.

[@oldaccount5217]

Me? Well, I would be truly honored and would hope to be an immortal LP.

[@nospoon17]

“And my friends have lost their way” -George Harrison

[@jnagarya519]

George's "religious" condescension: "I'm enlightened, and if you disagree with me you're not."

[@kittenfuud]

Actually that was a song about some friends that couldn't find George's place on Blue Jay Way! No double meaning, except maybe "don't belong"

[@seanstipsky9473]

@@kittenfuud You're right

[@michaelsantangelo2831]

I grew up with the Beatles and John was my favorite

[@villll]

Dec 24, 2019 was when I last watched this, I was watching a lot of JL and pete townshend interviews around this time and it truly shaped who I became. Their "no bs" mentalities that they held against themselves was so admirable to me, ruthless honesty against yourself is so rare.

[@jonescrusher1]

Thing is, he was talking a lot of bullshit in this interview, even by his own admission.

[@villll]

@@jonescrusher1 yeah it's true, and that's exactly what I'm talking about. He later cuts into himself about his bs. hope u have a good day :)

[@dane21dc]

Townsend is a pretentious moron

[@jeffmiller-s6b]

Wow, this is a gem! It really let's you see the man who was the driving genius behind the Beatles. But what made John so special always was his honest, down to earth way of expressing himself. He was a big kid, really, who was always looking for the love he missed in childhood. That's what gave him his hard edge at times, but it's also what made him so devinely sensitive and wonderful! This is just a guy who took an amazing trip across the sky with a rock band. He is fully human and so much more loveable for that reason. Hearing him now again makes me feel so light and hopeful. We'll aways have you, John, and your witty and thoughtful mind will always make us smile!

[@justlookingaround9834]

What makes you think he was the driving genius behind the Beatles from this? I love the interview but John was always a bastard as he said and like all people had times people wouldn’t want remembered. He left Yoko and came back, his output after wasn’t great. The main force behind the Beatles was always Mac, he changed to bass where no one wanted, pushed them to make records and stay together. He could see Alan Kline for who he was. They were a greater than the sum of their parts. I do like his straight talking here and I think he comes across well actually. But let’s be fair being a musician is a selfish profession and people are lucky as they probably have few other skills. Still my favourite band though.

[@drutgat2]

Thanks very much for posting this.

[@garfieldharrison510]

Love and appreciate John's honesty. He knew that there were people in the Band who wasn't with expanding. I'm sure he knew that they could've expanded their work. I like that he admits the ego which was involved in growing the BAND:

[@ncwayneeric]

In 69 The Beatles as a creative force had hit a dead end. They had reached their Mount Everest of musical success as a group. They each wanted back their individuality. They didn't want to tour anymore and end up a nostalgia band. Plus, there was the financial and legal issues. As well, at their height it was so intense and historic. Hit after hit. The throngs of fans. And that they spent so much time together. They each wanted their own lives. Especially John and George who each needed to express what in the world meant the most to them: about spirituality, about the condition of the world. While we all wish they were still all alive thank goodness they never ended up as a bunch of old guys singing to an elderly audience "She loves you yeah, yeah, yeah." It would have been awesome to see them do one last farewell concert in the 1970s. There are so many legendary songs they never did together as a group. The great nugget I took from this interview with Lennon is how desperately he needed to be true to himself as a songwriter. He detested looking or feeling like a phony or seeming shallow. You know he could have had a zillion physically attractive women. But he truly sought a soul mate without regards to what anyone else thought of her looks. I cannot see John with anyone else BUT Yoko. I was reading a blog of a person talking about dating. The blogger said she wanted a man with money and "all his teeth." Nothing about character or a deep soul and being a caring humanitarian. People can be so shallow. John Lennon wanted deep waters in a person; deep waters in his career. He even laid down his music and became a house husband and a stay-at-home Dad. He was a good guy. Someone who tried to be a decent person. And of course, a musical genius.

[@ClassicRock1973]

Bullshit. They would've continued making great albums. They all had good songs after

[@tulayamalavenapi4028]

I wonder why there is no mention of the rise of fame of young Michael Jackson or the Jackson 5. Actually MJ began to break records of the Beatles. Also astounding is the fact that John & Yoko hosted the Hare Krishna devotees at Tittenhurst for a few months, including Śrīla Prabhupada, the founder. Of course, from my own personal life, I can say that due to my parents extreme censorship of TV in my own home, I did not know the Jackson 5 or Michael Jackson. We were not allowed to watch just any TV shows we wanted to. They controlled the TV, so it was only and exclusively news channel. NBC, BBC or PBS, and pretty horrific in the 60's... Vietnam, napalm, race riots, assassination of JFK, and MLK etc.

[@justlina2769]

@@ClassicRock1973 Apparently after the breakup was public (and Paul et al were holed up at his farm in Scotland completely depressed) Jimi Hendrix called Apple records looking for Paul, asking if he would be interested in making a record with Hendrix, Miles Davis, and Tommy Wilson. Hendrix was told that Paul was out of the office and nothing more. THAT is the woulda coulda shoulda album I would have wished had been real... well that, and I wish Paul and Prince would have collaborated sometime in the 1990's.

[@thesilvershining]

@@justlina2769 Paul and Hendrix would have been LIFECHANGING!!! Jimi might not have died even-circumstances could have totally changed!

[@live2thefullest617]

John is 30 here and had experienced more in the last 10 years of life than 100 lifetimes of the most powerful men to have ever lived; and now he's trying to talk about it. I'm not trying to make sense of it, just enjoying the perspective. He sounds a little like King Solomon from Ecclesiastes in the Bible, the richest, wisest, most sexually indulgent man to have ever lived: "meaningless, meaningless, all is meaningless...." At 1:57:20 basically comes to the realization of "All You Need is Love".

[@sodiumlights]

experienced more in the last 10 years of life than 100 lifetimes of the most powerful men to have ever lived?? lol

[@williamshannon1763]

Really fun to listen to.i appreciate the Beatles even more now rhat I understand what was really happening. The great memories will always be there but now in a different way. Thanks.

[@patearly9492]

It is beautiful when we see how unique and gifted people that God has given us can be respected

[@jnagarya519]

It can't be proven that there's a "God".

[@g00se72]

@@jnagarya519 i mean, it's hard to prove God or the big bang or anything especially when both can help each other.

[@jk4675]

@@jnagarya519 it can't not be proven either

[@jnagarya519]

@Jared Jams Pain inflicted at least some of the time by "God," for which the weird thank, praise, and worship "Him".

[@lorrainespagnuolo4149]

I loved John Lennon. He was the best 😢

[@lisaparsons4124]

Yes, I loved John Lennon to,a awesome singer and song writer

[@webexpertcharlie]

I just finished watching the new “Get Back” documentary. The film shows Paul being incredibly controlling (Paul talks more than the other 3 Beatles combined). But it also shows the true friendship John and Paul shared and great moments of joy together. I think if Paul wasn’t there to keep things going, there wouldn’t have been any more albums after Brian Epstein died. But it also seems like those albums were Paul’s vision, so I can see why the others became frustrated and wanted to have solo careers.

[@1trumantucker1]

I felt that way too after watching it...but then, if Paul wasn't taking charge and keeping things moving, nothing would've been accomplished, because the others definitely weren't taking the lead.

[@thruend2496]

I think Wings versus everyone else's career is evidence of where the genius in how things ran and genius in music was.

[@lynnsmithershubbard1896]

sex, drugs, and alcohol

[@anthonyodonnell6105]

McCartney wasn't "incredibly controlling" in Get Back; he was just stepping up to make sure what needed getting done got done. He spoke more because Lennon was so passive. Lennon could have been far more active, had he chosen to, had he simply been as engaged as he was at other times. Harrison could have stepped up too. George didn't like McCartney telling him what to do, but he could have asserted himself without being resentful about it.

[@thesilvershining]

I didn’t think he was controlling. He was pushing them to get work done, he was the only adult in the room half the time and without his crazy work ethic we wouldn’t have any albums after Sgt. Pepper’s

[@lexiblackwood]

what this man gave to the world. and we can't come together and thank someone who did his best to make a positive difference. perhaps john wasn't so jealous of paul. perhaps it's us who are jealous of john's spirit. love you John - you're a light worker - to this day x

[@JaneKellie-i9y]

This Is An Honest & and a raw interview . I love the Beatle's I Still Love & Miss John Lennon . Hearing these rare live interviews warms my soul. As a UK Liverpool Woman, I love the Scouser John & the New York American John Lennon. It Makes Me Prouder To Being A Scouser ! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@clash5j]

I believe John later recanted this entire interview. He basically said it was just full of bitterness, shortly after the Beatles breakup, and I think he even said he was out of his mind and it should be ignored. That doesn't stop it from being an interesting listen

[@tigerlille1]

You are correct, he later disparaged this interview, thank God. In many ways, John, the real John Lennon, was not a particularly likable guy.

[@justlina2769]

@@tigerlille1 Putting it mildly.

[@alicat7281]

The album he did that he’s discussing here is the best of his solo work. Every song on it is searing.

[@Blugharm]

Which one is it?

[@disneyfamily5158]

if only there was video of this.....

[@yardarm5]

Disneyfamily515 bagism ✌️

[@abelmcguire6252]

If you ever saw the john Lennon art exhibit on Tour, you most likely saw the doodling he did during this interview. I massaged the manager of the tour in Monterey Cal and got tickets comped.

[@55vermeer]

"I used to smile a lot and laugh a lot; and I really got shouted at heavily for enjoying life. Subconsciously it was in there that if I tried to enjoy life and have a good time, that I would be told off. It annoyed him that I was enjoying myself. I don't know why." - Julian Lennon

[@55vermeer]

@@Kosmic_Mike Half of Lennon's career was public whining. Julian deserves his shot for putting up with Yoko and his father. You're very empathetic.

[@55vermeer]

Mojo Magazine: Did you apply any artistic sensibility to running the business? Yoko Ono: "Yes, yes, yes. I had this meditation and said, I don't mind having all these beautiful things come to me. Silver, gold, diamonds, precious stones - things I had no desire for before that. I had to change myself into a person who appreciates those things, those worldly things I despise so much."

[@55vermeer]

@@Kosmic_Mike You're a very sensitive guy.

[@55vermeer]

@@Kosmic_Mike I was not being sarcastic. Instead of Primal Therapy you could do Prime Rate © Therapy. $weet!!!

[@Kosmic_Mike]

@@55vermeer You're a weirdo.

[@ModerateObserver]

Perhaps the most important interview in Beatles history. Lennon used this to project his own narrative of many aspects of the Beatles' story. It sounds raw and truthful; but often this interview puts forward untruths/half-truths. For a detailed analysis, I recommend Erin Torkelson's book _The Beatles and the Historians_

[@JustMe-nf1mf]

Thank you for this!

[@FleagleSangria]

Boy Yoko really shows how clueless she was at times in this interview. John sounds like a spoiled brat at times; but she is so far off in her mumbo jumbo answers trying to explain what John means or how he feels that even he basically tells her to stfu lol.

[@struthersboyz4990]

John once met with frank zappa and yoko was with him, frank explained what he was trying to achieve on a certain song …. His avant-garde approach and yoko said” I invented that five years ago” eyes are still rolling….

[@FleagleSangria]

@@struthersboyz4990 Yeah, Im not a hate yoko kind of guy and I think she has made some contributions with some interesting albums. However, I can imagine Frank wasnt exactly impressed by that comment. Smart woman though.

[@paulhattersley2239]

I agree totally.

[@EmileJoulbert]

The subtitle of the interview should be “Lennon Remembers: Everyone sucks but me and Yoko."

[@ArmanBaig]

lol he was so pissed off and depressed during this interview. Off heroin too. He really was pissed at everybody

[@tomaxxamot4906]

@Zdiddy7 Hey stop with foolishness. You have no idea what that lady was up to, Lennon was happy with her and that's all that mattered

[@tomaxxamot4906]

@Zdiddy7 Nobody said Yoko Ono was a saint but John Lennon was far from one. He was heavy drug user, was planning embarrassing his wife by bringing along Yoko to India, and made a mockery of Christianity but ultimately his mortality was realized on that night outside of the Dakota. For you to say Yoko Ono should've been shot is disgusting and a total contradiction of what John Lennon and The Beatles music was about. You're exactly who John spoke about when he'd speak with disdain about people who were way too invested in the myth and fantasy of The Beatles.

[@jjs490]

@Zdiddy7 The day after John was murdered, she moved one of her lovers in the Dakota with her , the Bitch. I used to respect her but the more I read in the past two or three years The more I've come to really despise her .

[@jjs490]

@@tomaxxamot4906 you'r dreaming , and you don't know what you're writing about !

[@e.l.s.3048]

It's ironic that this was recorded on December 8, 1970, EXACTLY 10 years before John was shot.

[@Vingul]

I don't think it's ironic (if so, how?), but it's an interesting observation.

[@MobiusVideo]

Yeah, irony doesn’t come into it. Wrong word. Coincidental maybe.

[@jme6256]

its ironic because he killed the myth he was in this interview and 10 years later hes really killed in the middle of some other myth hes created. i see where it can be seen as ironic but as a guy who really thought highly of the cosmos and numerology i think john wouldve laughed at it too

[@jnagarya519]

@@jme6256 I don't know why, but some musicians -- John and Dylan -- get caught up in superstitious nonsense, such as astrology, tarot, and numerology.

[@justlina2769]

Even more interesting is the fact (according to Cynthia Powell's audiobook) that after the controversy caused by John's comments about how the Beatles were more popular than Jesus, that they were all on edge for their upcoming Beatle's U.S. tour, and then the tension ramped up for John because he went to a psychic who told him it he would be shot in the U.S. So they were all really concerned about the tour and security. (Mind you this was in 1966.) And then when the Beatles were playing in Memphis, someone ignited a cherry bomb near the stage and both Paul and John jumped back and looked to see if the other was alright, then just kept playing. I'm sure after that, John totally forgot about that psychic's words.

[@davidwood8363]

I liked John Lennon in the earlier days when he had McCartney & Harrison to keep him real. Equal genius. Getting flattered all the time is bound to go to your head eventually look what happened to Elvis. As DH Lawrence put it 'You've no more use for the solid earth and the lad you used to be'

[@pts5217]

Well said. I think the Beatles solo work post 1973 shows that lack of honest feedback equaled lack of quality control. Lennon, and to a larger extent Harrison and McCartney all started to release garbage that would likely never have made the cut if they had honest feedback telling them to do better. Harrison rebounded once he brought Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, and Dylan around.

[@jnagarya519]

Lennon said of meeting Elvis: "Don't look too closely at your heroes, they all have clay feet." He was including himself in that.

[@thesilvershining]

Pre-Yoko John was the best John.

[@ginisahu5274]

Are many of the people commenting here that shallow and unaware emotionally? Repeatedly you say how disturbed or self-centred or lost John is... why, because he is being honest? Your myths and falsehoods regarding who he was or his image is sad 40 years after his death. John is speaking from his truth in the moment. And quite frankly he sounds very much in touch with his feelings. He may show moments of bitterness true, and yet he does so with clarity and observation skill. The traits that made him a musical genius, an intellect and someone who literally changed the world at the time. Give the man a break and wake up to reality. Something that many don't with to face or do regarding The Beatles .

[@jnagarya519]

Lennon was human. He wasn't perfect. And wounded, like many: "I couldn't walk/And I tried to run".

[@justlina2769]

Because he was bitter and jealous and deluded? Many of us have watched a boatload of documentaries with footage and words of the Beatles and those who lived this period with them. John's perspective isn't the be all and end all.

[@johndoine284]

Very down to earth & just being real of how John feels about his life & situations. It's great to hear John's voice . First time hearing this. 3-11-2022

[@thejasonknightfiascoband5099]

It's a great interview huh

[@mikem3875]

This interview sucked

[@deborahgalvan5367]

4-22-2022. 1st time for me.

[@INTJ91]

Love Lennon to bits, but he was so contradictory it's beyond belief. He touted peace and love but was so angry and bitter.

[@ebonym9902]

INTJ1348 it’s weird the way he preached peace and love but then went home to beat his wife and cheat on her. Poor Julian too, he abandoned him until Yoko told him not to :(

[@kaizen5321]

He can still advocate for peace even tho he did some messed up things

[@jrh11254]

Ebony M - Cynthia Lennon has written/said that John slapped her one time and it never happened again.

[@alastairmackay4861]

INTJ1348 very true, although I think he recognised this flaw in himself

[@logonazo]

that was cos he was leaving Heroine at the time,...years later he rectified in many of those arguments,...but i still agree in many things he said in that interview (about the Rolling stones for instance)

[@tmo-y5b]

Listening to Lennon at that period in his life was exhausting. Like sucking oxygen out of a room. An honest but troubled man.

[@tomkent4656]

And a very bitter man at that time.

[@jnagarya519]

Who isn't troubled?

[@deborahgalvan5367]

he changed the world.

[@anthonylarusso9676]

@@deborahgalvan5367 not the point \

[@lisaparsons4124]

John Lennon a awesome singer and song writer, very talented and intelligent.From England, my granddad was from England.❣️

[@maureenobrien7895]

Lisa Parsons My Grandpa was also from England! Came through Ellis Island. Then was a fancy Chauffeur for a limo co. In NYC in the early 60's and drove the Beatles & the Stones around among the famous!!

[@lisaparsons4124]

@@maureenobrien7895 That's good,your granddad got to meet the Beatles and stones.I got to meet Paul McCartney and Julian Lennon, John Lennon's son.They are very nice,I actually put a mother day comment in on my mom Joyce Parsons,I wrote happy mother's day to my beautiful mother in heaven and Paul McCartney liked the comment.😁

[@maureenobrien7895]

@@lisaparsons4124 Wow Lisa that is too cool!! Thanks! 💝 & ✌

[@jamescampbell6737]

I've never given such feedback on any subject,,but this interview well worth them,,jcvw

[@marybarnes8423]

JOHN LENNON MUSIC WAS THE BEST ❤

[@gastonmonescu9040]

Strange...He was angry with George about Yoko, but they recorded "How do You Sleep" against Paul together (John, George and Yoko) and they seemed sincere enjoying it .

[@EmileJoulbert]

Paul's lawsuit was filed 3-4 weeks after this interview, and about six months before 'How Do You Sleep?'[was recorded] The three-against-one situation was probably intensified when they found themselves being sued, and all three of them - John, George and Ringo - were of course under the guiding hand of Allen Klein, and would be for a further two years until even they thought it a good idea to get rid of him.

[@Dude0000]

Gaston Monescu watch the video of the recording. John’s laughing at the line “only thing you did was yesterday and George didn’t laugh with him. He just asked forvthe chords. It was personal for John but not George (or Ringo). They were victims of the circumstances.

[@heyday179]

they were all having trouble getting along.

[@heyday179]

ringo said it the best. someone asked him once who his favorite other beatle was and he said something like 'they were all like brothers to me. mm at different times, i hated them all the same amount." it is funny cuz it is true.

[@joshportnoy8102]

@@Dude0000 The only thing you've done was 'yesterday' and since you're gone you're just 'another day'. The track is actually a response to McCartney's Too Many People

[@rebeccao8895]

Nowadays an interview like this would never happen. A public relations firm wouldn’t let it happen.

[@ashemarsh699]

After watching countless Lennon interviews I walk around saying the nitty gritty everywhere I go not realizing we’re I got it from

[@kbchaffin53]

In the fall of 1980 he gave an Interview to Playboy and admitted a lot of what he said about the Beatles in this interview wasn't true. It's available online.

[@scouseronthewirral]

That’s kinda counteracts his 1980 quote tho doesn’t it

[@BassManDan1018]

Sad to hear him so bitter about his Beatles tenure. I don’t blame Yoko for the split of the Beatles, but I imagine she did nothing to discourage the negative spin John was putting on it. She was vocal about how she ‘didn’t know who they were’ and didn’t care much for their artistry. You can hear hear her influence bleed into John’s mindset. I’m glad by the end he started to take some pride in his involvement.

[@sharkfintech5893]

If we're being 💯 honest though, Linda had absolutely zero business being on the recording of "Let It Be" -- even if it was only the chorus. She was a photographer by trade, not a singer. So just like Yoko, her privilege was quite literally her intimate access to a Beatle. What's good for the goose HAS to be for the whole dayum gander ! 🪿

[@rca6576]

@@sharkfintech5893 Linda was ASKED to fill in a part on that song. Yoko inserted herself without being asked. That's the difference.

[@dane21dc]

You need to take him with a grain of salt here, as he mellowed a hell of a lot after he and Yoko had Sean. Listen to his interviews two days before he died, and the day he died, he was relaxed as hell and loving life. Even empathised with the other 3 about how they reacted to he and Yoko. Said he would have done the same if it was one of the other 3. One of the biggest tragedies of his death was he was robbed of really cementing the relaxed state of mind he obtained into the public’s consciousness, so it’s kind of glossed over, and interviews like this a decade earlier before he matured really seem to dominate people’s perception of his attitude, as if he was like this when he died. He wasn’t and that’s sad. He was taken away at the happiest point of his life. Such a tragedy.

[@natalieps2387]

John talks of paul even til his death about paul like an ex wife lol. He also was not on good terms with George either . He was upset that George wrote a book & thanked " every two bit guitar player he ever met but I'm completely omitted " yoko was a terrible influence on john bringing out the anger in him. I think she is a bad person bc she told john he was not allowed to talk to julian anymore bc she didnt have her daughter. If u love someone u dont actively seperate them from their only child who is still a 7 year old child. Its upsetting that john agreed esp bc john knew the pain of not having his dad. Also yoko is like that abusive spouse who seperated u from all ur family & friends that loved u before u met them. She also had a lover the last 5 years of John's life sam green. She wanted to divorce john & marry sam , but sam wasn't into her to that degree. That's why she wanted sean to always have that tie to him in the press but wanted out & to marry sam. She got with another sam & moved him in when John was killed. She never loved john just the fame & money. She hit on paul first. Then bc he has a brain & eyes he told her to eff off. John before drugs took him over also told her to leave him alone but she was determined. She must have seen vulnerability in him like any good con does. Paul is a very stable grounded person. John was a mess. This is who yoko is. I know people today love her for some reason but if u really do any kind of research it's clear to see she is a gold digger fame whore & mean person. Julian alone is the best example. John should be the main one to blame but yoko intercepting calls from his son & not telling john he called is disgusting. So yoko fans please defend that one. Or watch what she did when john was performing with his idol chuck berry. Can u be more selfish? Or john writing how do u sleep & yoko would run over with really viscious insults on paul & john giggling & with her until Ringo who was there said " enough john" he got really upset how john was just hammering him. He also told him he was acting like a child . He made him.take a lot out. George was sorta 2 faced. He bashed paul in imagine & all bc of allen Klein who paul was right about. In truth John's diary is online & he admits he would run out for every paul album & def had this weird love hate obsession with paul. I think it was like the little brother overtaking the big brother. It was John's band & john was older & was writing at a higher level than paul started writing better than john & being more stable & secure bugged john. I mean after sgt peppers paul wrote the best songs. Let it be, the long & winding road. Hey jude ( which was inspired about paul comforting John's son who caused him the pain in the first place ) so paul cared more about julian than john did. It's really sad bc the biggest victim was julian. Their is no excuse for stopping all contact with ur only child for 4 years than 3 years. He wasnt the super dad to sean either. Julian on a month visit in the summer said john just hid in his room. Yoko was in another apt all day cat napping & doing her boyfriend & they did not even sleep together at night bc she was an insomniac on the phone til dawn. Who she was talking to all night no clue. Also paul had a loving marriage & loved his kids & payed attention to them & was still creating music. John is dripping with bitterness in the playboy interview saying " paul has a 1000 kids & a 1000 records " to me that's John's guilt really how horrible he treated his first wife who loved him when he was a nobody & the years he was a horrible father to julian & he knows he doesnt pay much attention to sean either on a day to day mundane basis. Plus he knows he us hiding behind sean as Jagger said about hiding out bc he isnt taking care of sean & baking bread. He knew yoko had a lover & showed him no affection. So I think he looked at paul & he had the life john could not have. & before people blame John's childhood paul lost his beloved mom at 13. So his childhood wasnt Rose's either. I'm sure john heard that yoko went after paul first. Imagine how that must feel. U werent a gold diggers first choice & she picked paul bc she probably was more attracted to him than john . I just cant believe a musical genius was so blind when it came to yoko. He was so much better off with his first family. Every person including John's sister said cynthia was a doll & how gentle & sweet julian is. After cynthia found john & yoko. She went away & when she came back john told her he loved her so much & wanted to work it out & yoko was nothing to him. Then yoko somehow got him to go the complete other way. John talked to cynthia of having a few more children & starting over. But yoko was like the terminator she was not going to be stopped once she got her foot in the door which took like a year.

[@heyday179]

reading moronic gossip and believing it is not doing 'research'. that is just being an idiot. how stupid do you have to be to believe an obvious lie that yoko would keep john from seeing his child or his friends. how stupid do you have to be to believe an obvious lie which is clearly character assassination. right away you prove you are an idiot and it is impossible to continue to read your moronic babble. john was a bad father and that was no one else's fault no matter how big of a woman hating racist you are.

[@joegordon2915]

On several occasions John admitted that he lied in interviews so I’ve never understood the whole “ he’s so honest” thing.

[@julianbates2040]

that is very honest in itself. love john. & george and the other two

[@samhailess]

a liar wouldn’t admit that

[@Dude0000]

Conflicted. Never heard someone so conflicted articulate it so well.

[@ArmanBaig]

What do you personally think he was conflicted over

[@jnagarya519]

Amazing how all the rest of us are unconflicted and superior to those who are.

[@JoanneDunham]

@@ArmanBaig not being loved enough as a child....by his mother.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

His ‘Blues is a Chair’ bit perversely makes PERFECT Sense! 🎶💙🪑

[@CevinSoling]

Does anyone know how to find the complete unedited interview? This one has an edit at 3:06:33. About 5 minutes have been chopped out where Lennon discusses his dislike for Christianity.

[@BioFactory1]

Actually, the complete unedited interview is over 4 hours long.

[@CevinSoling]

@@BioFactory1 Do you know where that can be found?

[@BioFactory1]

@@CevinSoling I know I have the full copy and several others do.

[@BioFactory1]

We outside of England have to realize the problems with british and romanized christianity. If you actually READ your Bibles, you find that what they teach you in churches is 70% not accurate or even there in scriptures and preachers are taught in bible colleges the same ol 3rd or 4th century Constantine paganized sermons that allowed Christianity to be a legalized contained in church religion, identical to the pharasies that Jesus preached against for replacing Torah laws with man made rules to fit romanized customs. Then they sent Paul to revert everything back to contained roman control. So when John said Jesus was alright but his apostles or whatever got it all wrong, you need not look further than the Pope's sideways fish hat of the god Daegon who's birthday was Good Friday. Or Easter celebrating the laying of the eggs of Ishtar on Sunday, but Jesus died on the Cross on the Saturday slaughter of the lambs for Passover, if you READ your Bibles. the Last Supper was not Passover as they claim cos Jesus even says to his apostles before hand that it saddens him that he will not get to take part in the feast with them this time, to show that they are doing their own version early. If you read events taking place before and after and compare them to the week before Passover in Hebrew calendars this makes perfect sense to jews. The meanings are lost in romanized sermons splashed with dogma.

[@jnagarya519]

@@BioFactory1 Gibberish. The problem with Christianity is that it has yet to get over the politics-of-"God"-as-terrorizing-bully that is the "Old Testament". "God" created man as IMPRFECT, thus bound to screw up. Then, when imperfect man screws up, "God" punishes man for being imperfect.

[@keithm9337]

A genius impatient with people who are unable to "see" what he sees.

[@Vibeagain]

It's easy to get there. It's called being a curmudgeon

[@derekroberts6654]

This is so surreal to me personally, this man was so much like my dad. If I was ever asked to describe my dad I would say he’s a combination of John Lennon and Waylon Jennings. But in my case, that’s not always a good thing.

[@bigboyblue88]

So are you a singer, songwriter or musician yourself, just curious?

[@jenniferrock1585]

No offense but who was talking about your dad ? Who gives a fuck ? No-one but you idiot

[@heyday179]

@@jenniferrock1585 he is talking about his dad. are you some sort of comment nazi. letem say what he wants.

[@1trumantucker1]

I love John and his music, but he contradicted himself constantly, and is so bitter after the breakup. Paul could create a masterpiece, and John would still call it rubbish at this point in time.

[@D97Music]

"Maybe I'm Amazed" comes to mind.

[@barblessable]

George was the same, he slagged off Pauls first solo album.

[@jackscott5561]

He's all over the place........ lying and being honest in the same breath. Over the years I've felt many ways about this interview. It was too much and not enough...???

[@erickmaganja]

What exactly did he lie about?

[@pleaserewind295]

Doesn't everybody lie? It's just part of living in society. Sometimes the truth isn't good enough.

[@EmileJoulbert]

@@erickmaganja More of an inaccuracy than a downright lie, but during his and Paul's Apple press conference in New York in May 1968 he claimed that he and George had stayed in India four months. In reality the two of them stayed in Rishikesh eight weeks, just shy of two months. (Paul stayed for five weeks, Ringo barely two.) And the press conference was only a month after him returning to England. From *this* interview: The Lennon/McCartney songwriting partnership ending in 1962 *was* a downright lie. Paul has pointed out that their early songs[late 50s]were mostly written separately. If anything, they *started* writing together, for real, in 1962. Playboy[1980]: But you didn't compose your stuff separately, as other accounts have said? John: No, no, no. I said that, but I was lying. By the time I said that, we were so sick of this idea of writing and singing together, especially me, that I started this thing about 'We never wrote together, we were never in the same room.' Which wasn't true. We wrote a *lot* of stuff together, one-on-one, eyeball to eyeball. In 1980 John also said Let It Be was inspired by Bridge Over Troubled Waters. "I know that he wanted to write a Bridge Over Troubled Waters." Which it can't have been, as Let It Be was first recorded in January 1969, about ten months before Simon and Garfunkel played it live/recorded it, and almost exactly a year before they released it. Let It Be was released a few weeks after, sure, but that's neither here nor there.

[@EmileJoulbert]

55:24 JOHN: We all say a lot of things that we don’t know what we’re talking about. I’m probably doing it now, I don’t know what I said. See, everybody takes you up on the words you said in 19- I’m just a guy who people ask what about things. I blab off, and some of it makes sense, some of it’s bullshit, some of it’s lies and some of it’s… God knows what I’m saying, you know? I felt it, you see. So when I felt it, it was like I was crucified. So I know what they’re talking about now.

[@couriertx]

When I hear these Interviews (especially Johns) I take him how they are, behind tinted glasses of their emotions. Whether it be nostalgia, resentment, or true happiness. With interviews like these, I take them with a pinch of salt. Information is definitely there, but it’s behind those tinted glasses.

[@Brock-mi4no]

'I'm so tired' is such an amazing song. Lennon in '68 was untouchable.

[@jjs490]

I don't agree so much, tell me which 68 songs are u referring to ?

[@Brock-mi4no]

@@jjs490 Hahaha okay... Everybody's got something to hide except for me and my monkey, Happiness is a warm gun, Sexy Sadie, Dear Prudence, Julia, Yer blues, Revolution 1, Glass Onion, Bungalow Bill... not to mention what he had in the works for the next two albums. The man was on the edge of his sanity just pumping out classics

[@martinhasson4942]

Lol🍺🍺🍺

[@hw343434]

@@Brock-mi4no don't forget "Revolution 9"!!!!

[@nicholasmaxwell9899]

@@Brock-mi4no Damn right! Totally agree.

[@thinkforyourself828]

A snapshot in time, barely post Beatles. His bitterness is to be expected. To judge him by this interview, is not to understand him at all.

[@debrabugay6575]

John you were loved then and you are loved now and forever

[@jduff59]

I wondered how accurate the line about Lennon in the film "The Departed" about "I'm an artist - and if you give me a Tuba and I'll bring you something out of it". It was a quote, and I watched the film "Get Back" and The Beatles picked up all kinds of instruments (all four played some drums, too). They were all very talented. I thought John was a very expressive guitarist and his leads were very inspired.

[@cnat1801]

Your right... idk if it is a true quote , but you can definitely hear Lennon, saying that. Especially listening to this interview...

[@jonescrusher1]

@Monsieur Tarzan Why would he say tuber?

[@sharkfintech5893]

​@@jonescrusher1 John was THE earliest of all KZbinrs ! 😁