Post by Maacc on Dec 4, 2005 22:11:12 GMT
In commenoration of the 25th Anniversary of John Lennon's death, the BBC is carrying a really excellent season of Lennon related programmes on it's Radio 4 frequency. The programmes are available to listen to live, or can be downloaded after broadcast using the BBC's "Listen again" service.
Some of you will probably have heard of the Lennon/Wenner interviews which took place just after ol' JL just came out of Primal Scream Therapy in 1970. Jan Wenner was editor of Rolling Stone magazine at the time, and was a close friend. Probably because of this, lennon fairly bares his soul, and is in "loose cannon" mode. He criticises and praises Paul/Faul in equal measure, describing him as his equal, and totally writing him off in the next breath. He has a go at the other Beatles too.
It's a genuinely fascinating insight into Lennon's head in the immediate aftermath of the acrimonious break up of his band. He talks about Beatles music, their solo albums ("McCartney" and "Plastic Ono Band" had not long been released. Lennon's verdict on "McCartney": "it's rubbish"), the future, and just about everything you could think of. He slates Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones too.
I'd read them before - Wenner pissed Lennon right off by releasing a book of transcripts - but in listening to them, you get a far better reflection of where Lennon was coming from; all the agression and anger and the accompanying vulnerability and insecurity. Lennon comes across as an articulate, intelligent and quick witted character who is maddeningly contradictory at the same time, and you (I) can't help liking him.
The programme will be available for download from Monday 5th December, and I' really urge anyone with even a passing interest in John Lennon or the Beatles to give them a listen. Here's the link:
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/lennon.shtml
Look at the Listen Again column on the right of the page and click on "The Wenner Tapes". Happy listening, groovers!
Some of you will probably have heard of the Lennon/Wenner interviews which took place just after ol' JL just came out of Primal Scream Therapy in 1970. Jan Wenner was editor of Rolling Stone magazine at the time, and was a close friend. Probably because of this, lennon fairly bares his soul, and is in "loose cannon" mode. He criticises and praises Paul/Faul in equal measure, describing him as his equal, and totally writing him off in the next breath. He has a go at the other Beatles too.
It's a genuinely fascinating insight into Lennon's head in the immediate aftermath of the acrimonious break up of his band. He talks about Beatles music, their solo albums ("McCartney" and "Plastic Ono Band" had not long been released. Lennon's verdict on "McCartney": "it's rubbish"), the future, and just about everything you could think of. He slates Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones too.
I'd read them before - Wenner pissed Lennon right off by releasing a book of transcripts - but in listening to them, you get a far better reflection of where Lennon was coming from; all the agression and anger and the accompanying vulnerability and insecurity. Lennon comes across as an articulate, intelligent and quick witted character who is maddeningly contradictory at the same time, and you (I) can't help liking him.
The programme will be available for download from Monday 5th December, and I' really urge anyone with even a passing interest in John Lennon or the Beatles to give them a listen. Here's the link:
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/lennon.shtml
Look at the Listen Again column on the right of the page and click on "The Wenner Tapes". Happy listening, groovers!