The 1980 Playboy Interview

 September 24, 1980 

John Plays for Time (1973)

 

A Day in the Life:  John Plays for Time

By Kenneth Gross

Newsday (Sulfolk Edition)

April 3, 1973\

New York 

    Once, everyone was "up" for the Beatles. The press conferences were glittering. High comedy were held in crystal ballrooms. 

     Yesterday, as indifferent technicians chatted in the background, John Lennon sat behind a sober conference table at the American Bar Association. And as he flayed ineffectually at his own deportation order, he wrote a note to himself. Instead of sheet music, John Lennon's lyric was scratched in four-inch block letters on a yellow legal pad. "I am up." 

     But there was no mistaking the gloom, the result of last week's decision by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Because of a 1968 conviction in England for possession of hashish, Lennon has been ordered to leave this country as an undesirable. Lennon's attorney, Leon Wildes, began the press conference by stating that he had filed an appeal that would stay the deportation.

     Lennon, 32, wearing a button from the National Surrealist People's Party, which declared him not insane, was biting his lip. His arm was folded protectively around his wife, Yoko Ono, 40.

     "We announced the birth of a conceptual country, Nutopia," Lennon said, reading from a prepared text in which the name was spelled in capital letters. The idle cameras came to life. "Citizenship of the country can be obtained by declaration of your awareness of Nutopia," he continued, "Nutopia has no land, no boundaries, no passports, only people."

     Yoko Ono read along with Lennon as John Hendrix, head of the National Committee for John and Yoko, passed out printed copies of the document. "As two ambassadors, we asked for diplomatic immunity," they continued. But the high-spirited intentions landed lifeless. Some reporters began to ask serious questions about it. How many people did they expect to live in Nutopia? Where would the citizens come from?

     And Lennon tried to revive the humor. He brought out two Kleenex tissues that he described as the flag of Nutopia. "This is the flag of our country," he said. "Now we surrender." Handed one Kleenex to Yoko. "It's a sign of surrender and submission, and you can blow your nose on it." He demonstrated.

     Her tiny voice, almost lost in the large room, Yoko Ono said the decision to deport her husband was cruel. It meant that she would have to choose between her husband and her daughter. The couple originally had come to the United States to search for her daughter by a previous marriage, Kyoko, age nine. They are still looking for her former husband, Anthony Cox and the child. 

    The immigration ruling would allow Yoko to stay, but John must leave. "It's a complicated situation," she said. "She's going to be 10 years old. I see children five and six years old, and they remind me of her. I haven't seen her since she was that age. I can't picture her 10 years old."

     She would not, she insisted, be separated from her husband. "We'll always be together," they agreed. The reporters persisted, asking why the government was pursuing the case. "It's very strange," Lennon said. "There doesn't seem to be any rational reason. I don't understand it."  Was it, he was asked, people who were out to get you for your anti-war stands? "I don't think it's anyone identifiable," he said, "It's just the way bureaucracies work. The government is probably not even aware of us. They just see someone who makes a noise and doesn't seem to fit. They figure they've got enough of them."

     Someone asked if Lennon regretted speaking out against the war, supporting the Indians at Wounded Knee, and doing all the things that possibly annoyed the government." That would mean being someone else," he said. "I couldn't do that."

     It was as a Beatle that John Lennon first came to New York. "I found," he said "that it's a place to be be, rather than somewhere you scoot in and leave with the loot. It's very inspiring artistically. There's no point being elsewhere. We love this place."

     When the press conference was over, they stood around for a few moments, then Lennon stroked Yoko Ono's hair and said it was time to go. 

If it has my name on it....

 

More photos from Paul's 1968 Cavern Stop

 

Look Just like Buddy Holly

 

September 24, 1990 

Paul and Linda attend a tribute dinner in London honoring Buddy Holly.   (This is different from the Buddy Holly party that Paul thew every year).   

Living is Easy

 

Walking the red carpet

 

Super Wings Competition (1975)

 Super Wings Competition 

No Writer Listed

September 25, 1975

Lennox Herald

 While the ovation from 1000s of fans was still ringing in their ears, Paul McCartney and Wings signed five photographs, which we are now offering in our latest free competition.

     The band had just given one of the best ever concerts, and over 20 minutes after they had finally quit the stage, a hard core of fans were still standing in the theater shouting for more. Wings played for two hours with Paul fronting the band on either bass guitar or piano. He sang all the well-known songs from his Wings period, plus "Long and Winding Road," "Yesterday," and "Lady Madonna" from the old days. The audience was on its feet for the last 45 minutes of the concert, but the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Paul's version of "Yesterday", which he sang alone on stage, accompanied himself on acoustic guitar.

     Afterwards, Paul told me about the pre-tour anxiety about the band had departed, and that Wings are now getting "a really good feeling at the theaters.

     "Just before we went on the road, people were getting a little uptight, and there was talk of us being over-rehearsed, but we are all enjoying the tour now," he said. The band and entourage are traveling around the country in a coach with an accompanying limousine for an extra touch of luxury. Paul has taken his children on the road with him, and they are taught by a private tutor. Within the crazy world of touring rock bands, he attempts to create a cocoon of sanity around his youngsters and emphasizes that "we are really a fairly normal family."

     He and Linda still go to their farm in Campbelltown when they want to escape from it all, but in case anyone is thinking of going to see him at his retreat, Paul points out that "visitors are not really welcome."

Paul on tour '75

 September 23, 1975 

George looks back