What are being called previously unheard interviews with an angry John Lennon have surfaced, offering insight into what may have caused the Beatles to split. But, I remember there being a whole book put out of the Lennon Rolling Stone interview tapes. So, while they may be “unheard” by the general public, many Beatles fans, like me, have probably read the transcripts from the interview tapes.

John and Yoko

The ex-Beatle sat down with Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner shortly after the Fab Four broke up and revealed a few home truths about the real reasons behind the split – something the four former Beatles have rarely spoken about. Wenner released the tapes for celebrated rock journalist Mikal Gilmore’s study on what tore the band apart, which appears in the upcoming issue of the publication.

In the interview, John comments on feeling “sick” over selling out as a band as well as being “fed up” playing sidekick to Paul, a feeling that Lennon says was mutual for Ringo and George.

The musician also spoke about the band’s disrespect towards his wife Yoko Ono, saying that the other Beatles despised her and that It seemed he had to be happily married to them or Yoko and he chose Yoko. He added that George insulted her right to her face and he didn’t hit him, he wonders why. Lennon says that Ringo was alright but the other two really gave it to John and Yoko. He said he’d never forgive them.

But ultimately, Lennon suggests the Beatles break-up was a long time coming. By the time they made it big in the early 1960s, Lennon said that the music died and that they never improved from that point forward.

Lennon is definitely at his most bitter in the Rolling Stone interview tapes. I believe his feelings changed as a little time was put between the bitter breakup. I also believe Lennon was trying to distance himself from the huge shadow of the Beatles in an effort to forge a new solo career.

The Why The Beatles Broke Up article appears in the upcoming issue of Rolling Stone.

- Beatles Geek Pete

Visit my blog for more Beatles News and Beatles Gifts



Tagged with:

Filed under: Beatle News

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!