John Lennon Interviews
Being a Short Diversion on the Dubious Origins of Beatles
This was taken from a fan club magazine some time in the early 60's. Translated from John Lennon.
Once upon a time there were three little boys calles John, George and Paul, by name christined. They decided to get together because they were the getting together type. When they were together they wondered what for after all, what for? So all of a sudden they all grew guitars and learned a noise. Funnily enough, no one was interested, least of all the three little men. So-o-o-o on discovering a fourth little even littler man called Stuart Sutcliffe running about them they siad, quote 'Sonny get a bass guitar and you will be allright' and he did--but he wasn't allright because he couldn't play it. So they sat on him with comfort 'til he could play. Still there was no beat, and a kindly old aged man siad, quote 'Thou hast no drums!' We had no drums! they coffed. So a series of drums came and went and came.
Suddenly, in Scotland, touring with Johnny Gentle, the group (called the Beatles called) discovered they had not a very nice sound--because they had no amplifiers. They got some. Many people ask what are Beatles? Why Beatles? Ugh., Beatles, how did the name arrive? So we will tell you. It came in a vision--a man appeared in a flaming pie and siad unto them 'From this day on you are Beatles with an A'. Thank you Mister Man, they siad, thanking him.
And then a man with a beard cut off siad 'Will you go to Germany (Hamburg) and play mighty rock for the peasants for money?' And we siad we would play mighty anything for money.
But before we could go we had to grow a drummer, so we grew one in West Derby in a club called Some Casbah and his trouble was Pete Best. We called 'Hello, Pete, come off to Germany!' 'Yes!' Zooooom. After a few months, Peter and Paul (who is called McArtrey, son of Jim McArtrey, his father) lit a Kino (cinema) and the German police siad 'Bad Beatles, you must go home and light your English cinemas.' Zooooom, half a group. But even before this the Gestapo had taken my little friend George Harrison (of Speke) away because he was only twelve and too young to vote in Germany, but after two months in England he grew eighteen, and the Gastapoes siad 'You can come.' So suddenly all back in Liverpool Village were many groups playing in grey suits and Jim siad 'Why have you no grey suits?' 'We don't like them, Jim' we siad speaking to Jim. After playing in the clubs a bit, everyone siad 'Go to Germany!' So we are. Zooooom. Stuart gone. Zoom zoom John (of Woolton) George (of Speke) Peter and Paul zoom zoom. All of them gone.
Thank you club members, from John and George (what are friends).
John Lennon Questionnaire
From a British teen magazine in the 60's when john was still a Beatle. John filled in the answers by hand, but unfortunately I don't have that copy.
MARRIAGE: "Just a name."
'IN' CROWDS: "Do me a favor!"
WAR: "Terrible. No excuse for it."
POWER: "I haven't used mine fully yet."
CLOTHES: "Usefull for taking off."
TELEVISION: "Love it. Sometimes great, sometimes a joke, but I like it."
DEATH: "The end, daddy-o."
PAUL McCARTNEY: "Just Paul. Just our Paul."
ANIMALS: "I love."
SWIMMING: "Keeps you clean."
SKY: "That's where I belong, baby."
JOURNALISTS: "Fruitcake."
FANS: "Harmless."
CIGARETTES: "Cancer."
VEGETARIANISM: "I've not come across it. If people want to eat nuts that's okay with me. I wish I could do it, the way I feel about animals."
THE BOMB: "Should be bombed.'
JAGGER: "A good nut."
AMERICA: "Great possibilities."
LIFE & DEATH: "Time I was on stage."
John Lennon Word Association
Eliot Mintz: John, I want to do a quick word-association experiment with you.
John Lennon: Allright, everybody tries to do that thing on me - go on -
EM: Really?
JL: Trying to prove I'm cracked.
EM: No, no, no! I've got about ten words and as soon as I say the word, I want you to say the first word or impresion that pops into your mind, okay?
JL: Yes.
EM: Tomorrow.
JL: Yesterday.
EM: Animal.
JL: Food.
EM: Music.
JL: Sound.
EM: Yoko.
JL; Love.
EM: Madness.
JL: Yesterday.
EM: Fear.
JL: All Time.
EM: Knightsbridge.
JL: Knightsbridge? - Ah, white railings.
EM: Newspapers.
JL: Print.
EM: Children.
JL: Kyoko.
EM: Age.
JL: Anytime.
EM: Maharishi.
JL: What?
EM: Vacation.
JL: Ah yes, it's about time to take one.
EM: and Mother.
JL: Dead.
Here are some writings of John's that don't qualify as interviews, but are as fitting here as anywhere.
I Sat Belonely
I sat belonely down a tree,
humbled fat and small.
A little lady sing to me,
I couldn't see at all.
I'm looking up and at the sky,
to find such wonderous voice.
Puzzle, puzzle, wonder why,
I hear but have I no choice.
'Speak up, come forth, you ravel me',
I potty menthol shout.
'I know you hiddy by this tree',
but still she won't come out.
Such softly singing lulled me sleep,
an hour or two or so.
I wakeny slow and took a peep,
and still no lady show.
Then suddy on a little twig,
I thought I see a sight.
A tiny little tiny pig,
that sing with all it's might.
'I thought you were a lady',
I giggle, - well I may.
To my surprise the lady,
got up and flew away.