Lennon and Ono Chased by Fans (1971)

Lennon and Ono Chased by Fans

Wire Reports

July 16, 1971

    John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, were chased through Selfridge, London's largest department store, by a gang of screaming fans on Thursday. The couple had come to the store for Yoko to autograph copies of the paperback edition of her book Grapefruit.

     One thousand fans, most of whom seemed to be holding copies of the book, Beatles records, and photographs, set upon them as they sat in the book department. Fans followed them, screaming when they walked to the elevators for a luncheon party in the store. 

    At lunch, Mrs. Lennon said, "This is the first time I have been mobbed in Britain. Now I know what Beatlemania was like."

     The couple has a new record released this week, "God Save Us", and are working on a joint book.

     Lennon said, "I'm not at all personally sad that the Beatles broke up. I precipitated it before the public got tired of us. As individuals, we are now earning more than we did as Beatles. I have $24,000.00 in the bank. So has Paul McCartney. I hope Paul and I make friends again. It could happen when we are about 50, like Gilbert and Sullivan."