Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating, Painful Recollections of the Beatles' End
Review: In the "Forward" by Yoko Ono, she says, "There was no one like him and there never will be. And I miss him." If you are like me, I'm sure you will agree that these are the truest words in the book for each of us. All profits from this book go to gun control projects. Let me describe what this book is. It contains a fully retranscribed and corrected complete text of the interview that Jann Wenner did with John Lennon and Yoko Ono in early December 1970, parts of which later appeared in Rolling Stone. Much of this material you have never read before. There are also reproductions of Lennon's handwritten notes of song lyrics from the album "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" that are discussed in the interview. In the introduction to this new edition, Jann Wenner characterizes the material here as "a candid, often painful, running commentary on fresh and urgent matters . . . and a self-portrait . . . ." "[I]n 1970 the Beatles were the biggest phenomenon on earth . . . ." [This was] "the first time . . . any of the Beatles stepped outside of that protected beloved fairy tale and told the truth." John Lennon later said that he didn't really believe everything he divulged in this interview. But it sounds pretty real to me as I reread it now. This is a man in intense psychological pain, and who has been for some time. What, then, is revealed in the book? Aside from the usual stories about drugs and sex from touring, what struck me as most interesting was that Lennon considered what the Beatles had been a fraud artistically. "We were just a band who made it very, very big -- that's all." "But as soon as we made it, the edges were knocked off." "I'm not technically very good [on guitar]." ". . . I don't like many of the Beatles records either." "The only true songs I ever wrote were 'Help!' and 'Strawberry Fields.'" His other source of pain was the reaction that Paul McCartney and George Harrison had to Yoko Ono. "They despised her." "They insulted her and they still do." "Ringo was alright and so was Maureen [Ringo's wife then]." The commitment to peace is described often, and without the anger, pain, and regret that show up with all the other subjects. You feel like that was the only area where he could continually be himself. The interview is laced with constant references to his need "to be real." He expressed a lot of regrets about having been a Beatle. "If I could be a f . . . ing [offensive word shortened] fisherman, I would!" "One has to completely humiliate oneself to be what the Beatles were, and that's what I resent." The interview contains many stories about how the families of local politicians and police departments would invade their privacy in offensive ways to Lennon. The interview also goes into the details of the Beatles' breakup, contradicting the public story originally put out by Paul McCartney. Music fans will enjoy his candid comments about the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and other well-known recording artists. On the other hand, he is encouraged about the future. He describes his new album with Yoko Ono as "the best thing I've ever done." He also finds his relationship with her to be rewarding emotionally and artistically. She is open to new influences, and helps him to be also. We owe her a debt of gratitude for granting permission to release this new book. It must be painful for her now. His hopes for the future were the most poignant part of the book: "Do you have pictures of 'When I'm 64?'" "No, no. I hope we're a nice old couple . . . looking at a scrapbook of madness." After you have finished savoring this searing dialogue, I suggest that you ask yourself the kind of questions that John Lennon was asking. How real is your life? Are you doing what you think is important? How can you start doing better? If you do this, you will be honoring the best part of John Lennon's wonderful legacy to us all. Be real and be at peace!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating, Painful Recollections of the Beatles' End
Review: In the "Forward" by Yoko Ono, she says, "There was no one like him and there never will be. And I miss him." If you are like me, I'm sure you will agree that these are the truest words in the book for each of us. All profits from this book go to gun control projects. Let me describe what this book is. It contains a fully retranscribed and corrected complete text of the interview that Jann Wenner did with John Lennon and Yoko Ono in early December 1970, parts of which later appeared in Rolling Stone. Much of this material you have never read before. There are also reproductions of Lennon's handwritten notes of song lyrics from the album "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" that are discussed in the interview. In the introduction to this new edition, Jann Wenner characterizes the material here as "a candid, often painful, running commentary on fresh and urgent matters . . . and a self-portrait . . . ." "[I]n 1970 the Beatles were the biggest phenomenon on earth . . . ." [This was] "the first time . . . any of the Beatles stepped outside of that protected beloved fairy tale and told the truth." John Lennon later said that he didn't really believe everything he divulged in this interview. But it sounds pretty real to me as I reread it now. This is a man in intense psychological pain, and who has been for some time. What, then, is revealed in the book? Aside from the usual stories about drugs and sex from touring, what struck me as most interesting was that Lennon considered what the Beatles had been a fraud artistically. "We were just a band who made it very, very big -- that's all." "But as soon as we made it, the edges were knocked off." "I'm not technically very good [on guitar]." ". . . I don't like many of the Beatles records either." "The only true songs I ever wrote were 'Help!' and 'Strawberry Fields.'" His other source of pain was the reaction that Paul McCartney and George Harrison had to Yoko Ono. "They despised her." "They insulted her and they still do." "Ringo was alright and so was Maureen [Ringo's wife then]." The commitment to peace is described often, and without the anger, pain, and regret that show up with all the other subjects. You feel like that was the only area where he could continually be himself. The interview is laced with constant references to his need "to be real." He expressed a lot of regrets about having been a Beatle. "If I could be a f . . . ing [offensive word shortened] fisherman, I would!" "One has to completely humiliate oneself to be what the Beatles were, and that's what I resent." The interview contains many stories about how the families of local politicians and police departments would invade their privacy in offensive ways to Lennon. The interview also goes into the details of the Beatles' breakup, contradicting the public story originally put out by Paul McCartney. Music fans will enjoy his candid comments about the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and other well-known recording artists. On the other hand, he is encouraged about the future. He describes his new album with Yoko Ono as "the best thing I've ever done." He also finds his relationship with her to be rewarding emotionally and artistically. She is open to new influences, and helps him to be also. We owe her a debt of gratitude for granting permission to release this new book. It must be painful for her now. His hopes for the future were the most poignant part of the book: "Do you have pictures of 'When I'm 64?'" "No, no. I hope we're a nice old couple . . . looking at a scrapbook of madness." After you have finished savoring this searing dialogue, I suggest that you ask yourself the kind of questions that John Lennon was asking. How real is your life? Are you doing what you think is important? How can you start doing better? If you do this, you will be honoring the best part of John Lennon's wonderful legacy to us all. Be real and be at peace!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: It was fascinating; I couldn't put it down. It changed my opinion of John Lennon completely. I'm 15 and before I read this book, I tended to view Lennon in a negative light. Although I still disagree with a lot of the philosophy he espouses in the book, somehow reading it changed everything. Reading this book, one can see the good person that is at the core of Lennon's tormented being. John Lennon pours out his heart in this book. It's touching. The portait you get of him is remarkably intimate. It doesn't matter if all the info is right or not. The picture it gives you is John Lennon at the time of the interview: how he felt and thought. It's intriguing. Jann S. Wenner does an excellent job as interviewer. A truly satisfying read.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: It was fascinating; I couldn't put it down. It changed my opinion of John Lennon completely. I'm 15 and before I read this book, I tended to view Lennon in a negative light. Although I still disagree with a lot of the philosophy he espouses in the book, somehow reading it changed everything. Reading this book, one can see the good person that is at the core of Lennon's tormented being. John Lennon pours out his heart in this book. It's touching. The portait you get of him is remarkably intimate. It doesn't matter if all the info is right or not. The picture it gives you is John Lennon at the time of the interview: how he felt and thought. It's intriguing. Jann S. Wenner does an excellent job as interviewer. A truly satisfying read.
Rating:
Summary: Living with good and bad, I always looked up to you
Review: John Lennon gave only two lengthy, in-depth interviews in his life. The first was in 1970 to Rolling Stone magazine and his final interview was given in 1980 to Playboy. Both are instructive to read, especially when you contrast their tone and content. The Lennon in this book had just left the Beatles and was trying desperately to convince the interviewer and the public that it just didn't bloody matter. Though history has shown Lennon emerged from the Beatles break-up much more undamaged emotionally than McCartney, the dissolution of his band was bound to leave some scars. John puts up a bit of a front here and I fear he doth protest too much, especially when he says he can't remember much about the Beatles and didn't think they were that great of a band to begin with. In 1970, John was in the midst of his Arthur Janov primal scream therapy and he talks about this at great length. If you're primarily interested in the Beatles, then you might wish to skip over this section. The most interesting chapters of the interview are undoubtedly his thoughts about the Beatles and his individual bandmates. Read this with caution, however. This was the same year Lennon penned the visceral anti-Paul ode, How Do You Sleep? His caustic comments about Paul would soften a trifle by 1980, as he himself admitted in the 1980 Playboy piece. There is also some intentional untruths here, such as when John says Lennon and McCartney rarely collaborated on a song post-1964. He corrects this in his '80 recollections. He tells some wonderful stories about Ringo and how he helped George with the lyrics to Taxman in 1966. I first read this book at the age of 8, when it was published. It's remained an integral part of my Lennon collection and still makes for some excellent reading. Whether you've grown up on Lennon or are new to him, this is an indispensable tool in trying to understand his mindset at the critical juncture of his life.
Rating: 
Summary: Innaccurate portrayal of Lennon.
Review: John Lennon later stated to producer George Martin that he "was off his head in the seventies",so this interview should be taken as innacurate history.Given that this was the time that John Lennon spent time in a bag,had a bed-in and released an "album" which consisted of chanting and passing wind and had a photo of yoko and himself naked on the front,these were his crazy years.Paul and George didn't despise Yoko,they just resented her turning up for recording sessions and influencing John to do rubbish like "revolution number 9".
Rating:
Summary: LISTEN TO JOHN LENNON!
Review: John Lennon was many things. Artist including poet, writer, musician, composer, philosopher, author, revolutionary, father, husband, voice of the world...he was all of these things and more. "Lennon Remembers" is an especially poignant after Lennon's untimely death in 1980. In reading this book, one gets the feeling that Lennon is baring his soul. He calls 1965 his "fat Elvis period," 1965 being the year "Help!" was released. Lennon calls "Help!" one of his few "real songs," and admits that the entire "Help!" collection was done while he was under the infuence of marijuana. His confrontations with his fellow bandmates over Yoko Ono is painful; his hurt at their refusal to accept her comes through loud and clear. Lennon makes no pretense that to him the Beatles were a band, a concept, a period of time...in one memorable passage in the book, he declared he'd be a fisherman if the opportunity had so presented. Intelligence and creativity are a part of John Lennon's discourse; throughout the interview those characteristics are glaringly apparent. A brilliant, creative man, Lennon makes no apology for his perceptions. An outspoken, often blunt man, Lennon tells people exactly what he thinks and always has reasons to support his arguments. This book is really a treasure chest. It is sure to spark one's interest in this gifted, talented man and for veteran fans, it will be a bittersweet experience. Had John Lennon not died at such an early age, one wonders today how this interview would be conducted. There'll never be another John Lennon. He raised the bar and set new standards in music and his loss was a very painful one.
Rating:
Summary: LISTEN TO JOHN LENNON!
Review: John Lennon was many things. Artist including poet, writer, musician, composer, philosopher, author, revolutionary, father, husband, voice of the world...he was all of these things and more. "Lennon Remembers" is an especially poignant after Lennon's untimely death in 1980. In reading this book, one gets the feeling that Lennon is baring his soul. He calls 1965 his "fat Elvis period," 1965 being the year "Help!" was released. Lennon calls "Help!" one of his few "real songs," and admits that the entire "Help!" collection was done while he was under the infuence of marijuana. His confrontations with his fellow bandmates over Yoko Ono is painful; his hurt at their refusal to accept her comes through loud and clear. Lennon makes no pretense that to him the Beatles were a band, a concept, a period of time...in one memorable passage in the book, he declared he'd be a fisherman if the opportunity had so presented. Intelligence and creativity are a part of John Lennon's discourse; throughout the interview those characteristics are glaringly apparent. A brilliant, creative man, Lennon makes no apology for his perceptions. An outspoken, often blunt man, Lennon tells people exactly what he thinks and always has reasons to support his arguments. This book is really a treasure chest. It is sure to spark one's interest in this gifted, talented man and for veteran fans, it will be a bittersweet experience. Had John Lennon not died at such an early age, one wonders today how this interview would be conducted. There'll never be another John Lennon. He raised the bar and set new standards in music and his loss was a very painful one.
Rating:
Summary: LISTEN TO JOHN LENNON!
Review: John Lennon was many things. Artist including poet, writer, musician, composer, philosopher, author, revolutionary, father, husband, voice of the world...he was all of these things and more. "Lennon Remembers" is an especially poignant after Lennon's untimely death in 1980. In reading this book, one gets the feeling that Lennon is baring his soul. He calls 1965 his "fat Elvis period," 1965 being the year "Help!" was released. Lennon calls "Help!" one of his few "real songs," and admits that the entire "Help!" collection was done while he was under the infuence of marijuana. His confrontations with his fellow bandmates over Yoko Ono is painful; his hurt at their refusal to accept her comes through loud and clear. Lennon makes no pretense that to him the Beatles were a band, a concept, a period of time...in one memorable passage in the book, he declared he'd be a fisherman if the opportunity had so presented. Intelligence and creativity are a part of John Lennon's discourse; throughout the interview those characteristics are glaringly apparent. A brilliant, creative man, Lennon makes no apology for his perceptions. An outspoken, often blunt man, Lennon tells people exactly what he thinks and always has reasons to support his arguments. This book is really a treasure chest. It is sure to spark one's interest in this gifted, talented man and for veteran fans, it will be a bittersweet experience. Had John Lennon not died at such an early age, one wonders today how this interview would be conducted. There'll never be another John Lennon. He raised the bar and set new standards in music and his loss was a very painful one.
Rating:
Summary: And We All Shine On
Review: John Lennon wasn't a saint. He was a man who possessed just the right combination of luck and talent to catapult him to the top. Once there, he abruptly changed the direction of his life without asking permission from anyone. Millions of his fans didn't understand that they...okay WE, don't get a vote. What this book gives us is insight into why he made those life-altering decisions. It's our chance to hold a non-interactive conversation with the man who touched so many lives. We still don't get a vote, but at least this book helps us to imagine.
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