John Lennon's 1971 Rolling Stone Interview (MP3s)

Here is the 1971 John Lennon interview for Rolling Stone magazine: download MP3 (19 megs)

This is the famous interview in which Lennon utters the famous words "I can make a guitar speak," makes fun of Mick Jagger for "wiggling his ass," calls Paul's music "rubbish," and declares his dislike for Blood Sweat and Tears as well as "flutey Judy Collins music." It was this interview that inspired the great National lampoon parody Magical Misery Tour: download  MP3

UPDATE: Here is the entire interview, as presented in podcast form last year by the BBC:

Part 1   |   Part 2   |   Part 3   |   Part 4   |   Part 5

(Thanks to Colin and Belubettlo for these podcasts!)

Jann Wenner conducted this interview shortly after the album Plastic Ono Band had been released. Lennon spends the first part of the interview talking about the album and Arthur Janov's primal scream therapy that inspired it, before moving into the juicier subjects, including his view on The Beatles' sell-out (when Brian Epstein made them wear suits). Although the interview says "Part One," I'm not sure how much more of this interview is out there. Last year, BBC radio aired all or part of this.

Another interesting tidbit to come out of this interview is that The Beatles' Apple Store came very close to being a shop called "The White House" which would sell only white items.

Since we're on the eve of the anniversary of Lennon's murder 26 years ago, here once again are the MP3s of the dial scan of New York City's FM dial from that night, and The Professor's definitive post about that controversial recording: download broadband MP3   |   download dialup MP3   |   article

Thanks to The Professor and Douglas!

Comments

[bartelby]

So then this was after the Beatles invented Musique Concrete but before they ended the Vietnam war, no?

[Brakhage]

There was indeed about three more hours to this interview, in which he slags just about everyone – but it's fascinating because he has some objectivity on the Beatles phenomenon and has the freedom to call it as he sees it. I'm not sure what the legality is of me handing off copies to you, since the BBC originally provided the files (my copies are marked as BBC podcasts), but it's worth tracking down the whole thing if you can.

[Jeffersonic]

Say bartelby, would you explain your comment with further depth?

[bartelby]

I've heard claims from Beatles fans that Revolution 9 was the first music of its kind. Further I think peopple who credit the Beatles or rock music of the era in general with being the immpetus behind the end of the Vietnam war have their analysis backard. The Civil Rights Movement and anti-colonial struggles of the time were what motivated rock musicians and their audience to more eclectic and egalitarian approaches to society.

[Jeffersonic]

Thanks, bartleby!

[Jeffersonic]

Hi bartleby,
It seems to me, large and small revolutions were occuring throughout society in this period as never before, and music played a part as a revolutionary force in this time. At the very least, an amazingly influential, unifying and exciting uncharted new art form. Or non-art form. Or whatever. I think that along with the facets you mentioned, a large homogenous group coming of age, coupled with global cultural communications occurring at an unprecedented rate played a significant role in people waking up to the world's possibilities in the 60's.

[bartelby]

I think what you are saying is true about certain parts of the population in places like the US and UK. But I think fof the most part art is a mirror and not a hammer.

[Jeffersonic]

I think the Beatles were an undeniable revolutionary force. Like them or not, consider how many of the smallest shards of "rock and roll" that exist today still can't escape significant aspects of the Beatles original blueprint. I think this occurred somewhat beyond their individual and collective talents, and the times and places in which they developed factor heavily in the reach of their influence, but these things couldn't have occurred without the skills they did possess. I think art is always a mirror, but it can also be a hammer. (you've heard Kenny G's show, right?) Think of the forces you can release just by placing a crucifix into a jar of piss or setting two X- shaped gasoline soaked timbers on fire, in the middle of the road, at night.(ala Chris Burden) Whether it's effective or not, art is always a communication, and it's been known to ignite incendiary forces.(Right now, as I
write this, I would love to be putting Halloween decorations in my windows, but
I won't because considering the extent to which religion possesses people in my
community, I estimate that it could cause me to lose my apartment.
I've always been amazed by the visceral power of the electric guitar as an attractive cultural force. Over the years, due to its constant exposure, and its use
as a thoroughly disseminated product, its power has dimmed a bit, but it is still present. I think the electric guitar was a very powerful tool of artists in the sixties
which had significant cultural effects worldwide even if only because of the sonic
frontiers it opened up worldwide.

[bob dylan]

I'm pretty sure the whole interview used to be somewhere on this website: http://www.clickcaster.com/podcast/view/23786

His comment on Bob Dylan's "New Morning" period are hilarious to me. If I recall correctly, he was making fun of the seemingly "family man" Dylan. He knocked, "Bob thinks he's having a New Morning with his family and the bit"...didn't John end up having a "new morning" himself a few years later?

[Ny Artists Unlimited]

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