John Lennon’s series of interviews for Playboy magazine in September 1980, which also included Yoko Ono, are not only a fascinating and multi-layered study of a highly eccentric artist but also form an integral part of the official narrative of John and Yoko’s relationship in 1980 before his death and of the genesis of the songs for their joint album ‘Double Fantasy’.

This episode is the first of a 3-parter that picks out some interesting extracts from the book ‘All We Are Saying’, based on the transcripts of the interviews.

A lot of the narrative promoted by John & Yoko in these interviews has been reasonably debunked, including the obvious and provable point that John's songs for 'Double Fantasy' were worked on for years rather than being the product of pure inspiration. The overall contention over what the truth is has helped form the Coleman-Goldman continuum that has been a almost frequent topic of study on this podcast

Before the main topic, there is also a recommendation and critique of Madeline Bocaro’s epic new 500-page book on Yoko Ono, whose narrative fits neatly with the interviews being studied in this episode.

There are numerous audio clips to complement the conversation, including some of John from the interviews themselves.

 

Enjoy!

 

Feedback to [email protected]

Support the show at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno

OR

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno

Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/glassonionjlpod

Twitter handle https://www.twitter.com/OnionLennon

Antony's website (music, podcasts, blog, life coaching) https://www.antonyrotunno.com

Antony's 'Life And Life Only' podcast (on Psychology) https://www.lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com

Antony on Luke’s English Podcast talking about meditation

https://teacherluke.co.uk/2022/03/16/

 

episode links

The Playboy Interviews (more than 3 hours of audio clips)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRDfBGagFkU

link to Madeline Bocaro’s new book on Yoko Ono

https://madelinex.com/2021/12/19/my-new-book/

Madeline and Dan Richter on the ‘Things We Said Today’ podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=177VFkC1oC4

‘John Lennon’s Original Lost Weekend’ (episode of ‘The Beatles Naked’)

https://player.fm/series/the-beatles-naked/episode-19-hamburg-spring-62-lennons-original-lost-weekend

Double Fantasy Revisited (‘Something About The Beatles’ podcast)

https://somethingaboutthebeatles.com/243-double-fantasy-revisited-part-one/

https://somethingaboutthebeatles.com/244-double-fantasy-revisited-part-two/

Kirby Ferguson’s ‘Everything Is A Remix’ website, documentary and TED talk

https://www.everythingisaremix.info/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJPERZDfyWc

https://www.ted.com/talks/kirby_ferguson_embrace_the_remix

Huxley vs Orwell (dystopia and modern reality)

https://allthatsinteresting.com/amusing-ourselves-to-death-comic

‘Amusing Ourselves To Death’ audiobook

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX2_8NteDrQ

‘Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah’ by Richard Bach audiobook

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI1yf916CJQ