LENNON JOHN: (1940-1980) English singer, songwriter and musician, founder of the Beatles. A remarkable and lengthy A.L.S., John & Yoko (also signing on behalf of Yoko Ono), eight pages (separate leaves), 4to, n.p. (New York), n.d. (29th September 1971), to Eric [Clapton] (´Dear Eric and´). The letter is a draft copy, with a number of deletions, retained by Lennon (the contents of the final version sent to Clapton are unknown). The former Beatle begins his letter by stating that he has been meaning to contact Clapton for several weeks, and continues to invite the guitarist to join a band, for which Lennon also outlines his vision and ´revolutionary´ plans, ´You must know by now that Yoko and I rate your music and yourself very highly, always have. You also know the kind of music we´ve been making and hope to make. Anyway the point is, after missing the Bangla-desh concert, we began to feel more and more like going on the road, but not the way I used to with the Beatles - night after night of torture. We mean to enjoy ourselves, take it easy, and maybe even see some of the places we go to! We have many ´revolutionary´ ideas for presenting shows that completely involve the audience - not just us ´superstars´ up there - blessing the people - but that´s another letter really. I´ll get more to the point- We´ve asked Klaus [Voormann], Jim Keltner, Nicky Hopkins - Phil Spector even! to form a ´nucleus´ group (Plastic Ono Band) - and between us all would decide what - if any - augmentation to the group we´d like - eg saxs, vocal group whatever we like they all seem to [have] agreed so far - and of course we had YOU !!! in mind as soon as we decided. In the past when Nicky was working around (Stones etc.) bringing your girl/woman/wife was frowned on - with us its the opposite, Nicky´s missus - will also come with us - on stage if she wants (Yoko has ideas for her!) - or backstage. Our uppermost concern is to have a happy group in body & mind. Nobody will be asked to do anything that they don´t want to, no-one will be held to any contract of any sort (unless they wanted to of course!). Back to music. I´ve/we´ve long admired your music - and always kept an eye open to see what your (sic) up to of late [corrected to lately in another hand, possibly that of Yoko Ono] I really feel that I/we can bring out the best in you - (some kind of security financial or otherwise will help) but the main thing is the music. I consider Klaus, Jim, Nicky, Phil, Yoko, you could make the kind of sound that could bring back the Balls in rock ´n´ roll. Both of us have been thru the same kind of shit/pain that I know you´ve had - and I know we could help each other in that area - but mainly Eric - I know I can bring out something great - in fact greater in you that has been so far evident in your music, I hope to bring out the same kind of greatness in all of us - which I know will happen if/when we get together. I´m not trying to pressure you in anyway and would quite understand if you decide against joining us, we would still love and respect you. We´re not asking for your ´name´, I´m sure you know this - it´s your mind we want! Yoko and I are not interested in earning bread from public appearances, but neither do we expect the rest of the band (who mostly have familys (sic)) to work for free - they/you must all be happy money wise as well - otherwise what´s the use for them to join us. We don´t ask you/them to ratify everything we believe politically - but we´re certainly interested in ´revolutionising´ the world thru music. We´d love to ´do´ Russia, China, Hungary, Poland etc. A friend of ours just got back from Moscow, and the kids over there are really hip - they have all the latest sounds on tape from giant radios they have. "Don´t come without your guitar" was the message they sent us, there are millions of people in the East - who need to be exposed to our kind of freedom/music. We can change the world - and have a ball at the same time. We don´t want to work under such pressure that we feel dead on stage or have to pep ourselves up to live, maybe we could do 2 shows a week even, it would be entirely up to us. One idea that I had which we´ve discussed tentively (sic) (nothing definite) goes like this. I know we have to rehearse sometime or other, I´m sick of going on and jamming every live session, I´ve always wanted to go across the Pacific from the U.S. thru all those beautiful islands . across to Australia, New Zealand, Japan - wherever, you know - Tahiti - Tonga - etc., so I came up with this. How about a kind of "Easy Rider" at sea. I mean we get EMI or a sane film co, to finance a big ship with 30 people aboard (including crew) - we take 8 track recording equipment with us (mine probably) movie equipment - and we rehearse on the way over - record if we want, play anywhere we fancy. Say we film from L.A. to Tahiti, we stop there if we want - maybe have the film developed there - stay a week or as long as we want - collect the film, (of course we´ll might probably film wherever we stop (if we want) and edit it on board etc. (Having just finished a movie we made around our albums "Imagine" "Fly" - it´s a beautiful surreal film, very surreal, all music, only about two words spoken in the whole thing! We know we are ready to make a major movie). Anyway it´s just a thought, we´d always stay as near to land as possible, and of course we´d take Doctors etc, in case of any kind of bother. We´d always be able to get to a place where someone could fly off if they´ve had enough- The whole trip could take 3-4-5-6 months, depending how we all felt - all familys (sic) children whatever are welcome etc. Please don´t think you have to go along with the boat trip, to be in the band. I just wanted to let you know everything we´ve been talking about. (I thought we´d really be ready to hit the road after such a healthy restful rehearsal). Anyway there it is, if you want to talk more please call us, or even come over here to N. York. We´re at the St. Regis here til Nov 30 at least (753-4500 ext/room 1701) all expenses paid of course! Or write. At least think about it, please don´t be frightened, I understand paranoia, only too well, I think it could only do good for you, and would bring to work with people who love and respect you, and that´s from all of us´. A highly desirable autograph letter with superb musical content, further enhanced by the remarkable association. EX

Eric Clapton (1945- ) English rock and blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music.

The present letter was written to Clapton at a significant time in his troubled personal life, which Lennon gently and sympathetically alludes to in his letter. From 1969-70 Clapton was briefly in a relationship with the British actress Paula Boyd, the younger sister of Pattie Boyd. At the time, Pattie was married to George Harrison, Clapton´s close friend and collaborator. It was, however, Pattie Boyd and not her sister whom Clapton was infatuated with and the love affair, one of rock´s greatest soap operas, became painful for everyone concerned. It is therefore interesting that Lennon addresses the letter to ´Dear Eric and´, although does not specify the name of Clapton´s partner.

Clapton´s as yet unrequited love affair with Pattie Boyd, his strong emotions for her, and at the same time feeling torn by his friendship with Harrison, resulted in Clapton withdrawing from recording and touring to live in isolation in Surrey. At the time Clapton was also nursing a heroin addiction which led to a lengthy career hiatus interrupted only by performing at Harrison´s Concert for Bangladesh benefit shows (referred to by Lennon in the present letter) in New York in August 1971. During the concert Clapton passed out on stage, was revived, and managed to finish his performance. Lennon shows that he was acutely aware of Clapton´s situation (´We don´t want to work under such pressure that we feel dead on stage or have to pep ourselves up to live´), also explaining in the letter that doctors will travel with the proposed new band ´in case of any kind of bother´. Perhaps more significantly Lennon attempts to lure Clapton from his hiatus and drug problems, ´Both of us have been thru the same kind of shit/pain that I know you´ve had - and I know we could help each other in that area - but mainly Eric - I know I can bring out something great - in fact greater in you that has been so far evident in your music´.