An extraordinary, eight-page draft letter John Lennon wrote to Eric Clapton in 1971, pitching him on a brand new musical undertaking at one of the crucial tumultuous instances in Clapton’s existence, is headed to public sale.
This reproduction of the missive is dated Sept. 29, 1971 and it comprises quite a lot of deletions and corrections, together with some in a distinct hand, perhaps Yoko Ono’s. Lennon retained this reproduction of the letter and the precise contents of the overall model despatched to Clapton are unknown. (If all of this sounds vaguely acquainted, the similar letter used to be publish for public sale in Los Angeles in 2012.)
Lennon opens the letter raving about Clapton’s paintings, announcing, “You should know through now that Yoko and I fee your song and your self very extremely, at all times have.” He is going on to stipulate his and Ono’s percolating plans for a brand new band and method of traveling, with Lennon announcing they’ve already requested the likes of Klaus Voormann, Jim Keltner, Nicky Hopkins, and Phil Spector to shape a “’nucleus’ team (Plastic Ono Band)” sooner than including: “And naturally we had YOU!!! in thoughts once we made up our minds.”
A couple of traces later, Lennon tells Clapton: “I in reality really feel that I/we will convey out the most efficient in you — (some more or less safety monetary or differently will lend a hand) however the principle factor is the song. I imagine Klaus, Jim, Nicky, Phil, Yoko, that you must make the type of sound that might convey again the Balls in rock ´n´ roll. Either one of us had been via the similar more or less shit/ache that I do know you’ve had — and I do know shall we lend a hand each and every different in that space — however principally Eric — I do know I will be able to convey out one thing nice — in reality higher in you that has been thus far obvious on your song.”
In spite of Lennon’s vociferous pitch, it seems that Clapton in the end became down the be offering. Clapton had performed with the Plastic Ono Band in brief in 1969, whilst Voormann, Keltner, Spector, and Hopkins all loved stints of quite a lot of lengths as properly.
The letter is attention-grabbing for numerous causes, now not least Lennon’s grand plans for a imaginative and prescient of traveling and making song that assists in keeping everyone satisfied, well-paid, and artistically stimulated. He ruminates about traveling all over from at the back of the Iron Curtain to the islands of the South Pacific, or even floats “a type of Simple Rider at sea” scheme: “We get EMI or a sane movie co. to finance a large send with 30 other people aboard (together with staff) — we take 8 observe recording apparatus with us (mine almost definitely) film apparatus — and we rehearse at the far more than — report if we would like, play anyplace we fancy.”
Similarly intriguing despite the fact that is all of the context surrounding the letter, which Lennon in large part leaves unsaid, or handiest hints at. Lennon drafted this letter to Clapton over a month after George Harrison’s Live performance for Bangladesh get advantages display in New York the place Clapton made a unprecedented public look in the course of his deep heroin habit. Clapton’s retreat from the general public eye used to be additional exacerbated through his famously unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, the fashion and photographer who used to be then married to Harrison.
To the level that Lennon broaches those topics, it’s via reassuring Clapton that he’ll be cared for and supported in this musical adventure. “We don’t wish to paintings underneath such force that we really feel lifeless on degree or need to pep ourselves as much as reside,” he writes at one level, sooner than later assuring Clapton they’ll even convey docs at the highway with them “in case of any more or less hassle.”
Lennon closes his letter through encouraging Clapton to jot down him again or a minimum of consider his be offering: “Please don’t be apprehensive, I perceive paranoia, handiest too properly. I believe it would handiest do just right so that you can paintings with individuals who love and appreciate you, and that’s from all people.”
The drat letter recently has an estimated value of €100,000 – €150,000 (about $104,000 to $157,000). It’ll hit the public sale block on Dec. 5 by the use of Global Autograph Auctions Europe SL.
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