Lennon Remembers: The Full Rolling Stone Interviews from 1970 Paperback – 17 December 2001

You might not hold Lennon in such high esteem after reading this……fragile, unkind and drug addled were my takes…..but his music surpasses any faults he may have had, and his iconic status will endure for all the right reasons.

This book presents the transcripts of the series of interviews conducted by Jann Wenner for 'Rolling Stone' magazine with John Lennon, in 1970. The initial publication of these interviews was incomplete, edited so as to fit as a standard article within a magazine. Here the complete interviews are offered, providing previously unreleased insightful detail.What made this 'Rolling Stone' interview special was (1) the fact that the Beatles had only recently split-up, and there was definite animosity regarding this; and (2) that Lennon, who was by this point starting his solo career, spoke so openly about his life and thoughts. Combined, these factors make for a great book - and this edition is a high quality publication.It's obvious that Lennon's life had recently gone through (and was still suffering the effects of) a traumatic experience. The 'biggest and most successful band' on Earth had just broken-up, and this shook both fans and the music industry. It also greatly impacted upon Lennon - and he was, in many ways, bitter and angry about how things had gone. He was also suffering on a more personal level, recovering from use of drugs, as well as a divorce and a miscarriage.This is a comprehensive interview - Lennon talks about his friendships, about music, about his aspirations, about politics, and so much else. It is, perhaps, the most thorough interview he ever gave (or at least until the 1980 'Playboy' interview - see  "Playboy" Interviews with John Lennon and Yoko Ono ). It's a fascinating read - and I highly recommend it. It's best to read this book and, later, the 'Playboy' publication - as you get different perspectives offered by Lennon: two major interviews a decade apart. "Playboy" Interviews with John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Having the original Fawcett LibraryISBN:0-445-08191-0 paperback of 1971, I was disappointed to find the very many photos omitted. Further, parts of the interview had been edited out.Nevertheless it is a fascinating read and provides the names of the speakers, that is Yoko and John.Once again, as an octagenerian Liverpudlian, I can hear John talking as I play an LP from the old days😂

I like its honesty and its generosity.

Remember buying this in my teens and being fascinated by how controversial Lennon was, he doesn’t hold back. My old copy got tatty so I ordered this. A little disappointed that some of it has been cut. Suppose it’s due to the times we live in now. But you cannot change history and what was said was said but still a good read.