Beatlebugsandbowieknives - Lvl 5 Beatles Flare Up

John: Uh, this is John Lennon talking to you from the heart of the West Side of New York in an interview exclusive — full interview — with brand new New Yorker Sean Ono Lennon, spelled S-E-A-N. Okay? Now tell me Sean, what’s your first impression of New York? Sean: [Baby noises] John: I see. 

An interview John did with his son, Sean, circa 1976. The Lennon family had just gained permanent residency in New York. Sean had been born October of the year prior. I apologize for the background music - I didn’t add that. My favorite quotes/partial transcript:

John: I was wondering if the fiscal crisis of New York had any — 

Sean: [Baby noises]

John: Uh-huh, that’s the one I was talking about, yes.

Sean: [Baby noises]

John: Exactly!

[…]

John: I see you know which subjects to avoid and which not to. Very sensible. Must be running for office, is that what it is?

Sean: [Baby noises]

John: It is exciting, isn’t it? And such a strain on the - on the old ticker. [Laughs]

[…]

John: Oh, he’s smiling, folks. 

John: [Very softly] Perhaps you’d like to tell me your favorite color?

Sean: [Baby noises]   

John: That’s not good enough, I’m afraid.

Sean: [Baby noises]   

John: [Normal voice] No interesting color.

[…]

John: Will you be doing any concerts while you’re staying - while you’re here?

Sean: [Baby noises] 

John: Yes, I thought so. You haven’t got the group together. I understand completely. 

Sean: [Baby noises] 

John: Uh, I heard you were backstage at the [Bob] Dylan concert, or was that just a rumor?

Sean: [Baby noises] 

John: An outright lie? My goodness.

[…]

John: I was wondering what it’s like being the son of such astoundingly famous, beautiful, and talented parents as John and Yoko? I wonder what it’s like… 

Sean: [Baby noises]

John: Oh, I see. I mean, could you - could you give me — 

Sean: [Slight cry]

John: Ah, mhmm, yes - more full… background into that?

Sean: [Baby noises] 

John: I see you’re very fascinated by this - this black box that I’m interviewing you with - this tape recorder. In fact, it seems to inhibit you a little bit. I mean, are you conscious - or self-conscious about the tape recorder?

Sean: [Baby noises] 

John: Well, he’s turned his head away because he got very paranoid [laugh]. It’s alright, you know. Just think of it as a very dark relative.

[…]

John: Elton! What about Elton [John]? He’s your godfather!

Sean: [Fussy baby noises]

John: Do you want to tell me how it is to have such a famous godfather?

Sean: [Begins to cry]

John: Well, I know you haven’t been able to see him yet. That’s because he can’t come into the country until January!

Sean: [Continues to cry]

John: Well, let’s just get him on the phone. Get his ass over here.

Sean: [Fussy baby noises]

John: Well, I think at that point we’ve left the interviewee because he obviously was getting violent at the thought of not seeing Dean Martin and all those people in their prime, as it were.

John: [about his haircut] I've had it on and off for five years. Paul: Yeah. You should've seen it off.

JOHN & YOKO

JOHN READER FOR LIFE MAGAZINE, 1968.

John Lennon noticing fans waving at The Beatles during the Rooftop Concert on January 30th, 1969

Paul McCartney at the Astoria Ballroom in Middlesbrough, England | 25 June 1963 © Peter Hall

GEORGE HARRISON The Beatles: Get Back (2021) dir. Peter Jackson

The Beatles jamming during the Rooftop Concert (1969)

🥲 I love them so much

I am so sorry….

John Lennon at the Astor Tower Hotel in Chicago, IL | 11 August 1966 © Harry Benson

"I hadn't seen them in a while and we all had changed. They had lost some of their innocence and were more cynical. They were also getting a lot of negative publicity in the United States after John's comments about The Beatles being bigger than Jesus Christ. I joined them in Chicago and Lennon was getting a lot of flak from the press. He was in his hotel room in tears and saying: 'Harry, me and my big mouth.'"~ Harry Benson

"This morning he and Paul lamented: 'We forget we're Beatles. We shall have to be more guarded in the future.' Outside the hotel pro-Beatles teenagers demonstrated AGAINST the apology. One 15-year-old shrieked: 'John has sold out to the adults.'" ~ Daily Express