This Letter From John Lennon Shows His Real Feelings About Paul McCartney
The nasty 1971 message makes it obvious why The Beatles didn't last.
BY MATT MILLER
NOV 14, 2016
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The early 1970s were a tough time in the lives of The Beatles. The band had dissolved among growing tensions between the musicians, and in 1970 they decided to go their separate ways and officially disbanded the most important group in modern music. By 1971, Paul McCartney found himself in one of the worst spots in his life, one that "he would look back on ... and tell everyone that he'd almost had a nervous breakdown."
It was during this time that relations between The Beatles were at the most volatile, and in 1971, John Lennon sent a scathing letter to his former bandmate and then-wife Linda McCartney. "I was reading your letter and wondering what middle aged cranky Beatle fan wrote it," Lennon's typed and hand-annotated message to McCartney reads.
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"Do you really think most of today's art came about because of the Beatles?" Lennon wrote. "I don't believe you're that insane—Paul—do you believe that? When you stop believing it you might wake up! Didn't we always say we were part of the movement—not all of it?—Of course, we changed the world—but try and follow it through—GET OFF YOUR GOLD DISC AND FLY!"
It's hard to say exactly what Lennon is referring to, as the letter is undated but believed to be from 1971, but it's pretty obvious that the former Beatle is pissed off. As he continues:
Finally, about not telling anyone that I left the Beatles—PAUL and Klein both spent the day persuading me it was better not to say anything—asking me not to say anything because it would 'hurt the Beatles'—and 'let's just let it petre out'—remember? So get that into your petty little perversion of a mind, Mrs. McCartney—the cunts asked me to keep quiet about it. Of course, the money angle is important—to all of us—especially after all the petty shit that came from your insane family/in laws—and GOD HELP YOU OUT, PAUL—see you in two years—I reckon you'll be out then—inspite of it all, love to you both, from us two.
It's possibly among the most depressing pieces of Beatles memorabilia, and it's up for bid now from RR Auction in Boston. This charming correspondence is expected to sell for at least $20,000.
www.rrauction.com
#7015 - John Lennon Typed and Hand-Annotated Letter
| Item | Title | MB | Now at | Next bid | Bids | New bid | Max bid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7015 | John Lennon Typed and Hand-Annotated Letter | $2500 | $4431 | $4875 | 7 |
In the wake of the Beatles breakup, Lennon drafts a scathing letter to Paul and Linda: “About not telling anyone that I left the Beatles—PAUL and Klein both spent the day persuading me it was better not to say anything”
Description Estimate: $20,000+
Typed and hand-annotated letter, unsigned, two pages, 8.25 x 11.75, Bag Productions Inc. letterhead, no date but circa 1971. Draft letter to Paul and Linda McCartney, with Lennon making several corrections in his own hand, in full: “I was reading your letter and wondering what middle aged cranky Beatle fan wrote it. I resisted looking at the last page to find out—I kept thinking who is it—Queenie? Stuart's mother?—Clive Epstein's wife?—Alan Williams?—What the hell—it's Linda!
You really think the press are beneath me/you? Do you think that? Who do you think we/you are? The ‘self-indulgent doesn't realize who he is hurting’ bit—I hope you realize what shit you and the rest of my 'kind and unselfish' friends laid on Yoko and me, since we've been together. It might have sometimes been a bit more subtle or should I say ‘middle class’—but not often. We both ‘rose above it’ quite a few times—& forgave you two—so it's the least you can do for us—you noble people.—Linda—if you don't care what I say—shut up!—let Paul write—or whatever.
When asked about what I thought originally concerning MBE, etc.—I told them as best as I can remember—and I do remember squirming a little—don't you, Paul?—or do you—as I suspect—still believe it all? I'll forgive Paul for encouraging the Beatles—if he forgives me for the same—for being—‘honest with me and caring too much’! Fucking hell, Linda, you're not writing for Beatle book!!!
I'm not ashamed of the Beatles—(I did start it all)—but of some of the shit we took to make them so big—I thought we all felt that way in varying degrees—obviously not.
Do you really think most of today's art came about because of the Beatles?—I don't believe you're that insane—Paul—do you believe that? When you stop believing it you might wake up! Didn't we always say we were part of the movement—not all of it?—Of course, we changed the world—but try and follow it through—GET OFF YOUR GOLD DISC AND FLY!
Don't give me that Aunty Gin shit about ‘in five years I'll look back as a different person’—don't you see that's what's happening NOW!—If I only knew THEN what I know NOW—you seemed to have missed that point….
Excuse me if I use ‘Beatle Space’ to talk about whatever I want—obviously if they keep asking Beatle questions—I'll answer them—and get as much John and Yoko Space as I can—they ask me about Paul and I answer—I know some of it gets personal—but whether you believe it or not I try and answer straight—and the bits they use are obviously the juicy bits—I don't resent your husband—I'm sorry for him. I know the Beatles are ‘quite nice people’—I'm one of them—they're also just as big bastards as anyone else—so get off your high horse!—by the way—we've had more intelligent interest in our new activities in one year than we had throughout the Beatle era.
Finally, about not telling anyone that I left the Beatles—PAUL and Klein both spent the day persuading me it was better not to say anything—asking me not to say anything because it would 'hurt the Beatles'—and ‘let's just let it petre out’—remember? So get that into your petty little perversion of a mind, Mrs. McCartney—the cunts asked me to keep quiet about it. Of course, the money angle is important—to all of us—especially after all the petty shit that came from your insane family/in laws—and GOD HELP YOU OUT, PAUL—see you in two years—I reckon you'll be out then—inspite of it all, love to you both, from us two.” Lennon adds a brief handwritten postscript, “P.S. about addressing your letter just to me—STILL….!!!” In fine condition, with center crease and a few small stains.
Referenced in the 2012 book The John Lennon Letters, this biting missive is in response to a letter from Linda in which she had chided Lennon for, among other things, not openly announcing his departure from The Beatles. Triggered by the death of manager Brian Epstein, the dissolution of the Fab Four and, in particular, the relationship between McCartney and Lennon, escalated over the subsequent control of Apple Corps., and the introduction of both Linda and Yoko Ono into the Beatles circle. Lennon, who was prepared to leave the band and formally announce the end to the Beatles era, shares his side of the story, explaining that McCartney’s interference ultimately stayed him from reaching out to the media. McCartney’s eventual ‘break-up’ announcement, given in a public relations coup with his debut solo album, was viewed by a Lennon as a ‘preemptive strike.’ Likely written shortly before Lennon and Ono’s departure for America, this draft captures the intense rivalry between the two men in the months, and even years, surrounding the breakup of the Beatles. Pre-certified REAL.
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