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Interview/Interview With By/On John Lennon And/Or Dr. Winston O'Boogie
By John Lennon
Unknown
October 1974
Q: Well, er, John, it's been a long time no, speak.
A: Has it been that long?
Q: Probably, anyway, what have you been doing since we last talked?
A: Oh, the usual
Q: I see. Well, weren't you supposed to be making an oldies album with Phil (for it is he) Spector?
A: Yes, it started in '73 but it never ended, even Alex beeinhisbonnet Bennett noticed that.
Q: Then suddenly, as it were, you were working with that great radio star, Harry (Buckminster) Nilsson.
A: quite right. I produced his album, Pussycats-- out now at a reasonable discount. Then went on to make my own reasonably wonderful album, Walls and Bridges -- out now, which includes the fast-rising single, "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night", featuring my close friend and fiancé, Elton John, on piano and vocal harmony.
Q: Do you feel that your new album, Walls and Bridges, is a step forward in your never-ending search for artistic fulfillment, the struggle of the lonely...
A: I went to a party in LA just to look at Liz Taylor. Was I thrilled to meet her -- And on top of everything, who but who do you think was all over her armpit? None other than the great, great show David the Bowie! Wow! Was I thrilled to see that they were both smaller than me!
Q: The track I like best was that miserable one about "Nobody loves you when you..."
A: And Brian Wilson was there too, and Ringo and Elton, and it was somebody's 21st...
Q: Do you mean smaller physically?
A: I feel quite happy about the album, Walls and Bridges --out now. The title of which was sent from above in the guise of a public service announcement.
Q: How wow! I was meaning to ask you, John, what you thought of the Beatlefest and why you didn't go and are you getting back together again? How's your immigration and is it true about you and....
A: Great. Nervous. You never know. Very appealing. If you want to help, write your congress person or some such similar...
Q: About those dreadful stories that came out of LA with you and Harry, etc...
A: Mostly fiction with a grain of alcohol.
Q: I mean, you don't have to answer, but did you rape a waitress in the Rainbow?
A: I never actually laid a hand on anyone. In fact, it was impossible. I was carried out.
Q: But... but... Todd Rudgren said that you....
A: That's what you get reading fanzines.
Q: Do you like glitter?
A: Yes.
Q: Talking of the Beatlefest. Didn't you find it strange that David Peel and Alex Beeinhisbennett were both there playing fifth Beatle?
A: Yes, considering that the day before, I'd seen Peel on cable TV screaming about the Beatles ripping people off, etc, etc. Alex, well, he's so controversial. He's just getting into Andy Warhol, you know, he's very deep.
Q: Didn't you produce an album of Peel's for Apple?
A: Yes, one of the highlights of my career.
Q: Who else have you produced records for in your astonishing but sometimes perfectly ordinary life?
A: Elephant's Memory, Yoko, Harry, myself.
Q: Now that you've been living in NY three years, do you still...
A: If you look closely at the wonderful Walls and Bridges --out now --album package, you'll notice a little noticing "I saw a UFO." Why don't you ask me about that?
Q: Oh, I hadn't noticed. Did you really? Were you drunk? High? Having a primal?
A: No, actually, I was very straight. I was laying naked to my bed when I had this urge.
Q: Don't we all?
A: So I went to the window-- just dreaming around in my usual poetic frame of mind to cut a long, short story, there, as I turned my head, hovering over the next building, no more than 100 feet away, was this thing with ordinary electric light bulbs flashing on and off round the bottom, one, non blinking red light on top. 'What the Nixon is that!' I says to myself, (for no one else was there). Is it a helicopter? No, it makes no noise. Ah, then it must be a balloon, (practically trying to rationalize it in all my too human ways.) But no balloon. Balloons don't look like that, nor do they fly so low. (Yes, folks, it was flying very slow, about 30 mph) Below, I repeat, below most rooftops. (I.e., higher than the old building, lower than the new) All the time, it was there. I never took my eyes off it, but I did scream to a friend in the other room, "Come and look at this, etc., etc." My friend came running and bore witness with me. Nobody else was around. We tried to take pictures. (Shit on my Polaroid. It was bust.) With a straight camera. We gave the film to Bob Gruen to develop. He brought back a blank film said it looked like it had been through the radar at customs. Well, it stayed round for a bit, then sailed off.
Q: Did you check to see...
A: Yeah, yeah. The next day, Bob (is it in focus) Gruen rang the Daily News Times plae to see if anyone else reported anything. Two other people and or groups said they too saw something, anyway. I know what I saw.
Q: Aren't you afraid people won't believe you? Crazy Lennon---- Maharishi, etc,
A: That's just one of the many burdens I will have to bear in this day of of waterbabies, inflation, generation crap, highly influential, but not untidy...
Q: . That's very brave of you. John, talking of Maharishi, what is the concept behind your new album? Walls and Bridges ---out now.
A: It's an unconcept album.
Q But it has to have one.
A No, it doesn't.
Q: Yes, it does. Take the first track, for instance, "Going Down on Love" that seems to be saying something...
A: Next you'll be asking me, who's "Steal and Glass" is about (third track, side two). I can tell you who it isn't about. For instance, it's not about Jackie Kennedy, Mort Sahl, Sammy Davis, Bette Midler, Eartha Kitt, it's not about her either.
Q: It's not about Paul again, is it? I mean, you two are like-- I mean, grow up.
A: Wrong again.
Q: Everyone's saying this is your best album since Imagine, how do you feel?
A: I prefer the "Mother/ Working Class Hero" than "Imagine" album myself. However, I suppose anything you do is either better or worse than something or other. I mean, that's how we seem to categorize things. It's probably the way we remember. It helps us remember 'this fish tastes as good as the fish we had in St Tropez, but not as nice as the one Arthur caught off Long Island. On the other hand, do you remember that fish and chip shop in Blackpool?'
Q, I'm supposed to keep this up for a few more pages when actually I'd finish the whole thing on 'do you like glitter?'
A: Yes.
Q: It's so hard to think of questions to ask you. I mean, you must have been asked nearly everything over the last few years. Is there anything you'd like to say? You know, instead of just answering these dumb--- I mean, you can say anything you want. I'm sure you must have something to say that you haven't said already
A: Not really.
Q: Oh.
A: I'll ask you one -- why does Rowan Polanski always wear the same suit?
Q: I'm stumped.
A: To get to the other side, silly!
Q: My turn. What happened between you and Klein?
A: He was unfaithful.
Q: I mean-- you always seem to get in so deep with things, then the next minute...
A: To get to the other side, silly!
Q: That's deep. Do you see much of the other ex-Beatles? Or is it a sore point?
A: I love my little Beatles. I've seen a lot of Ringo because he comes to America a lot. As you know, I can't leave here, or they'll do a Charlie Chaplin on me, and I don't want an award at 60 telling me how wonderful I used to be, but not quite wonderful enough to be allowed to live here now. Paul, Ringo and I spent some nice afternoons at LA. Paul and Linda also came to visit in New York recently, and we had a great evening reminiscing. In fact, it was two great evenings, which reminds me only yesterday to coin a phrase, he and lovely Linda sent me a heartwarming telegram about my new album, Walls and Bridges-- out now.
Q: Don't you ever stop name dropping and plugging your album Walls and Bridges --out now.?
A: Not, if I can help it.
Q: It's rather gross, John.
A: 20% in fact.
Q: How cute! I see you never mentioned. George, is there something.....
A: No, it's just he hasn't been here in such a long time.
Q: Is it true you and Ringo are going to appear with him on his upcoming tour?
A: Not on your nelly, just another rumor, Dr.
Q: Why not? It sounds like fun.
A: No one ever asked, and he probably wants all the loot for himself.
Q: That's a bit bitter sounding, John. People might get the wrong idea.
A: No, it's just a pleasant reality, my dear. Nothing more, nothing less.
A: Todd Rudgran said you were a 'fucking idiot' in an English rock paper. What do you have to say to that?
A: I appreciate his concern.
Q: Is that all you're going to say? I mean, aren't you going to be bitingly witty or something?
A: Well, I did write a little something. I sent it to the Melody Maker. The trouble is, I like the little rabbit.
Q: Have you any plans to go tour? Like it's a long time since? What was it? Geraldo?
A: I haven't got a band. It's not that easy without a band. I mean, you've got to start from scratch. I get a lot of offers to do benefits. It makes me guilty to refuse. The trouble is-- the people that ask don't understand the business.
Q: That sounds like a cop out, John, if you don't mind me saying so.
A: Well, you're entitled to your opinion. I also get big money offers too, but that doesn't make the job easier, slightly more interesting. But ....
Q: I hear you've been doing a lot of radio.
A: In connection with my new album, Walls and Bridges-- out now.
Q: How do you like being a DJ?
A: Actually, I really enjoy it. I was brought up on it ---radio. I mean, I've been thinking of doing something regular for a few years now. I don't mean just playing records, but like making tapes, and I wouldn't like to get stuck in there, you know, with formats and such. I thought the best thing to do would be to, you know, just make tapes and put them on at WBAI, Pacifica or whatever. They could have any money, etc, and I'd have fun. Maybe I will. I just never seem to get to it. Though, I was talking to an old ex radio friend Elliot (after dinner) Mintz, on the west coast, he said, he said he'd love to help. You know, well, who knows?
Q: I'm sure a lot of people would love to.
A: Yes. Yes. Quite
Q: Talking of radio, I heard that you and, of all people, Howard Cosell, are going to do something together.
A On radi -- Yes, I only heard about it today myself. Hmm, interesting.
Q: It's your birthday soon, and you'll be 34. Doesn't that worry you? You know, aging pacifist rock star crinkles before our eyes, that kind of thing.
A: Ninth of October, send presents to Lennon Music, 1370 Avenue of the Americas, sixth floor. I caught like feeling the way I do since 30 etc. --Is, in fact, it feels better than saying 24. It's the sound of it. It sounds sort of scary. You know --life simply flashes by, and me still trying to get in the top 10 and all, but it feels okay.
Q: Do you think you'll make any more movies? I mean, appear in them, like that Dick Lester thing, How I Won the War?
A: The main thing that I learned from that when-- when was it? 66/67? Was that it was boring-- sitting around waiting for the director. He has all the fun -- not that I'm actually inundated with... but the things that do come my way are sort of--- I think 'shit' is the word I'm looking for.
Q: How about writing music for movies?
A: Well, obviously, I get offered more of that kind of thing, but it would have to really interest me.
Q: Why are you typing this as if someone was here with you, asking you these things?
Q: It makes a change...anyway, I enjoy typing. I only learned it last year, but my neck is beginning to hurt, and it's getting a bit boring.
Q: I'm sorry, just a few more questions, Mr. Lennon. I'm sure you understand, I have a deadline-- my editor, etc.
A: All right, then --GET ON WITH IT
Q: Have you ever fucked a guy?
A: Not yet. I thought I'd save it till I was 40. Life begins at 40, you know, though I never noticed it.
Q: It is treny to be bisexual, and you're usually "keeping up with the Joneses" haven't you ever? There was talk about you and PAUL.
A: Oh, I thought it was about me and Brian. Epstein, anyway, I'm saving all the juice from my own version of THE REAL FAB FOUR STORY etc, etc.
Q: It seems like you're saving quite a lot for when you're 40.
A: Yes, there might be nothing better to do, though I don't believe it.
Q: Your life must be so glamorous being a superstar and meeting people like Howard Cosell and Mayor Beame.
A: I haven't met either of them.
Q: Well, you know what I mean, because of my association with you, people are always asking me, 'What's he really like?' How can I tell them you're just a beautiful, shy, modest, amazingly creative, paranoid pop star.
A: Shucks, you don't have to do that. Just listen to my new album, Walls and Bridges-- out now.
Q: Of course, on the other hand, you're a fucking ego maniac.
A: Of course, but who is it?
Q: Offhand, I can't name one.
A: Well, if you find one, let's go and interview him/her/it.
Q: What a jolly idea. Perhaps we could get a commission, you know, a sort of wandering Jill Johnston.
A: I bought her a pair of shoes once-- she's never forgiven me. Didn't somebody buy the Village Voice? It seems to have changed a little, mainly in the way they squash the front page up. Does Jann Wenner own it or what?
Q: No, it's just keeping up...
A: With the times-- we all know that one. I don't care what Lori Sebastian says. I had enough of this anyway. It's not as if I'm on the cover or anything. I mean, geez, I love Andy and everything. But this is it.
With that, Mr. Lennon showed me the door, which was white. He was wearing jeans and a Mick Jagger t-shirt. I wore a certain look.
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