John Lennon and his pals

January 25, 2006 7:58 AM

Were you influenced by Thurber or James Joyce. (Real Media link) "Ah none of them. James Stewart. James Stewart and Betty Grable." An interview with a very young and brash John Lennon on Swedish Television from 1964. (English interview begins at ca. 2 min into the clip.) Media player link here.
posted by three blind mice (15 comments total)

That was awesome; thanks so much TBM! Betty Grable...*sigh*
posted by youarenothere at 8:16 AM on January 25, 2006

They really were assholes weren't they?
posted by Pollomacho at 8:23 AM on January 25, 2006

They really were assholes weren't they?

Particularly Lennon. I'd say he was more influenced by Jim Beam and heroin.
posted by spicynuts at 8:32 AM on January 25, 2006

He wasn't doing heroin in 1964. He was just hella stoned all the time.
posted by youarenothere at 8:43 AM on January 25, 2006

Yeah, bro, that would be the Jim Beam era. And you can blame the hella stoned part on Dylan.
posted by spicynuts at 8:47 AM on January 25, 2006

They really were assholes weren't they?

Infinitely preferable to any of the half-witted rappers, or "punk" bands of today.
posted by therealshell at 9:04 AM on January 25, 2006

slight derail - Liverpool airport is now called John Lennon Airport, its motto: Above Us Only Sky.
posted by johnny novak at 9:05 AM on January 25, 2006

Yeah, I suppose we're all pretty much assholes when were 24 and stoned and have thousands and thousands of Swedish women fawning over our every move. Ah, to be young and stoned and adored by thousands and thousands of Swedish women again (or at least once)...
posted by Pollomacho at 9:06 AM on January 25, 2006

Man, I wish he got to finish that poem, it's one of them I really loved of his.

Good Dog Nigel

Arf, Arf, he goes, a merry sight
Our little hairy friend
Arf, Arf, upon the lampost bright
Arfing round the bend.
Nice dog! Goo boy,
Waggie tail and beg,
Clever Nigel, jump for joy
Because we are putting you to sleep at three of the clock, Nigel.


God, John was a fucked up guy.
posted by piratebowling at 9:09 AM on January 25, 2006

One time when I was young and stoned I felt that I was really adored by the Swedish Chef. BORK BORK BORK.
posted by spicynuts at 9:19 AM on January 25, 2006

They really were assholes weren't they?

That would be bastards, actually:

John: ... Big bastards that's what the Beatles were. You have to be a bastard to make it, and that's a fact. The Beatles were the biggest bastards on Earth.

Yoko: How did you manage to keep that clean image?

John: Because everybody wants the image to carry on. The press around with you want to carry on because they want the free drinks and the free hoors and the fun. Everybody wants to keep on the bandwagon. We were the Caesar, shoomp. Nobodies gonna knock us when there's a million pounds to be made. All the handouts, the bribery, the ----, the hype, you know. Everybody wanted in, you know, that's why some of them are still trying to cling on to this. "Don't - don't take it away from us", you know. "Don't take Rome from us, not a portable Rome. Where we can all have our houses and our cars and our lovers and our wives and office girls and parties and drink and drugs. Don't take it from us", you know. "Otherwise you're mad, John, you're crazy. Silly John wants to take all this away."

You know, other people, all those - Dick James and the Derrick Tailors and all of them, they think they're the Beatles and Neil and all of them. Well, I say fuck'em. And you know they all, after working with genius for ten fifteen years begin to think they're it, you know. So, they're not!

posted by Chuckles at 9:22 AM on January 25, 2006

er....someone needs to have a word with the accordion player.
posted by sgt.serenity at 9:38 AM on January 25, 2006

Great clip, thanks TBM.
posted by the cuban at 9:39 AM on January 25, 2006

You know, other people, all those - Dick James and the Derrick Tailors and all of them, they think they're the Beatles and Neil and all of them. Well, I say fuck'em. And you know they all, after working with genius for ten fifteen years begin to think they're it, you know. So, they're not!

He must be rolling in his grave with the Beatles Anthology DVDs, executive produced by Neil Aspinall, in which they use archival footage of John in lieu of the live stuff they got out of George, Paul and Ringo. Good ole Neil, living the prophecy.

Of course, if you don't want hangers on milking you for all you are worth, you shouldn't open a company (Apple) with a prime directive of giving away money to anyone that shows up on your doorstep without a thought. A little less heroin and coke, John, and perhaps more minding the store back in 68ish might have reined in the leeches a bit.
posted by spicynuts at 10:01 AM on January 25, 2006

Hindsight, dude.

And Brian Epstein's death didnt help matters post '68 either.
posted by the cuban at 12:59 PM on January 25, 2006