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The Last Lennon Tapes
- GenresMusic
179 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1982
9 people want to read
About the author
John Lennon
758 books1,976 followersJohn Winston Ono Lennon, MBE, was an English singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, and together with Paul McCartney formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 20th century.
Born and raised in Liverpool, Lennon became involved in the skiffle craze as a teenager, his first band, The Quarrymen, evolving into The Beatles in 1960. As the group began to undergo the disintegration that led to their break-up towards the end of that decade, Lennon launched a solo career that would span the next decade, punctuated by critically acclaimed albums, including John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Imagine, and iconic songs such as "Give Peace a Chance" and "Imagine".
Lennon revealed a rebellious nature and acerbic wit in his music, his writing, on film, and in interviews, and became controversial through his work as a peace activist. He moved to New York City in 1971, where his criticism of the Vietnam War resulted in a lengthy attempt by Richard Nixon's administration to deport him, while his songs were adapted as anthems by the anti-war movement. Disengaging himself from the music business in 1975 to devote time to his family, Lennon reemerged in October 1980 with a new single and a comeback album, Double Fantasy, but was murdered weeks after their release on the sidewalk outside his home in the Dakota. Ironically, "Imagine" (imagine all the people, living life in peace) was a featured cut from this album.
Lennon's album sales in the United States alone stand at 14 million units, and as performer, writer, or co-writer he is responsible for 27 number one singles on the US Hot 100 chart. In 2002, a BBC poll on the 100 Greatest Britons voted him eighth, and in 2008 Rolling Stone ranked him the fifth greatest singer of all time. He was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
--Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia --
Born and raised in Liverpool, Lennon became involved in the skiffle craze as a teenager, his first band, The Quarrymen, evolving into The Beatles in 1960. As the group began to undergo the disintegration that led to their break-up towards the end of that decade, Lennon launched a solo career that would span the next decade, punctuated by critically acclaimed albums, including John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Imagine, and iconic songs such as "Give Peace a Chance" and "Imagine".
Lennon revealed a rebellious nature and acerbic wit in his music, his writing, on film, and in interviews, and became controversial through his work as a peace activist. He moved to New York City in 1971, where his criticism of the Vietnam War resulted in a lengthy attempt by Richard Nixon's administration to deport him, while his songs were adapted as anthems by the anti-war movement. Disengaging himself from the music business in 1975 to devote time to his family, Lennon reemerged in October 1980 with a new single and a comeback album, Double Fantasy, but was murdered weeks after their release on the sidewalk outside his home in the Dakota. Ironically, "Imagine" (imagine all the people, living life in peace) was a featured cut from this album.
Lennon's album sales in the United States alone stand at 14 million units, and as performer, writer, or co-writer he is responsible for 27 number one singles on the US Hot 100 chart. In 2002, a BBC poll on the 100 Greatest Britons voted him eighth, and in 2008 Rolling Stone ranked him the fifth greatest singer of all time. He was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
--Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia --
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 25, 2021
This book is the transcript of John Lennon's final interview. In the introduction to the book, Andy Peebles describes John as "the finest interviewee it has ever been my privilege to face."
The interview mostly covers John's solo work and his life after the Beatles. Mr. Peebles asks Lennon about virtually every solo album John did. He also asks about various individual songs from those albums. John talks about the various concerts he played without the Beatles. And he discusses work he did with other musicians, such as Mick Jagger, Elton John and David Bowie.
In the interview John does refer to Paul, George and Ringo. He also speaks of the childhoods of Julian and Sean. John mentions his personal assistant and future author Fred Seaman in this book.
John describes his troubles with the record companies. They didn't want to release some of his work because of the lyrics or album covers. Then he'd get shorted on the royalties. And on top of that some of his songs weren't given radio play because of controversial lyrics.
John says he was set up by the police when he was busted for drugs in England. And his criminal record in England caused him trouble for the rest of his life.
Regarding the Double Fantasy album John says all the songs came to him while he was in Bermuda. On that album he mostly used musicians he'd never worked with before.
Ironically, Andy Peebles last question to John was about his personal security. John replies in effect that he feels safe and comfortable on the streets of New York.
This book shows that John Lennon in his final days was in good spirits. He was sharp, honest and insightful. He had numerous plans for the future. He was already planning and working on his next two albums when he died.
The interview mostly covers John's solo work and his life after the Beatles. Mr. Peebles asks Lennon about virtually every solo album John did. He also asks about various individual songs from those albums. John talks about the various concerts he played without the Beatles. And he discusses work he did with other musicians, such as Mick Jagger, Elton John and David Bowie.
In the interview John does refer to Paul, George and Ringo. He also speaks of the childhoods of Julian and Sean. John mentions his personal assistant and future author Fred Seaman in this book.
John describes his troubles with the record companies. They didn't want to release some of his work because of the lyrics or album covers. Then he'd get shorted on the royalties. And on top of that some of his songs weren't given radio play because of controversial lyrics.
John says he was set up by the police when he was busted for drugs in England. And his criminal record in England caused him trouble for the rest of his life.
Regarding the Double Fantasy album John says all the songs came to him while he was in Bermuda. On that album he mostly used musicians he'd never worked with before.
Ironically, Andy Peebles last question to John was about his personal security. John replies in effect that he feels safe and comfortable on the streets of New York.
This book shows that John Lennon in his final days was in good spirits. He was sharp, honest and insightful. He had numerous plans for the future. He was already planning and working on his next two albums when he died.
October 20, 2008
I remember the publicity surrounding Andy Peebles [then of Radio 1] going to New York to interview Lennon and then being told that the interview would be broadcast the following weekend...
What happened next shool the world...
Two days after the last interview he gave Lennon was dead... aged 40...
I was at that age where such things mean far more than they do when you have a job, a home, children and responsibilities. I was crushed.
The BBC used excerpts from the tapes over the coming days and the book of the interview was rushed out shortly after.
I read it once and will never revisit it.
What happened next shool the world...
Two days after the last interview he gave Lennon was dead... aged 40...
I was at that age where such things mean far more than they do when you have a job, a home, children and responsibilities. I was crushed.
The BBC used excerpts from the tapes over the coming days and the book of the interview was rushed out shortly after.
I read it once and will never revisit it.
October 13, 2025
It's great being able to read John Lennon's last big interview and also so sad when he speaks about the future. The book is transcribed from the whole interview so i loved the feeling of being in the same room in the Hit Factory studio in New York.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews