Pattie Boyd Pictures

The Two Junkies Interview: John Lennon & Yoko Ono on Heroin (January 14, 1969)

In this candid and infamous January 14, 1969 interview, John Lennon and Yoko Ono sit down with a reporter from Canada's CBC-TV. As the camera rolls, Lennon's demeanor shifts noticeably, his pallor growing as he becomes increasingly restless—a telltale sign of his heroin use. Midway through, Lennon abruptly excuses himself, citing feeling unwell, prompting a brief pause in filming.

Returning with a renewed energy, the latter half of the interview sees Lennon engaging in animated discussions about live performances, sources of inspiration, and the couple's ambitious future plans. Despite the initial turbulence, the interview offers a raw glimpse into Lennon and Ono's world, capturing the complexities of their relationship amidst the backdrop of their artistic journey.

 

Did John Lennon Like "Hey Jude"?

John Lennon did like "Hey Jude," which was a song written by Paul McCartney for John's son, Julian Lennon, during the time of John's divorce from his first wife, Cynthia Lennon. John and Paul had a complex relationship, particularly during the later years of The Beatles, but there were still moments of mutual respect and admiration for each other's work. "Hey Jude" was a massive hit for The Beatles and remains one of their most beloved songs. While there may have been some professional and personal tensions between John and Paul, it's widely acknowledged that they both appreciated each other's musical talents.

‘Hey Jude’ is Paul’s. It’s one of his masterpieces...I don’t think I had anything to do with it. Ask him! [laughs] I don’t feel as though I had anything to do with it. He said it was written about Julian, my child. He knew I was splitting with Cyn and leaving Julian, then, and so he was driving towards [Kenwood] to visit me, or Julian. I think it was just to see Julian, to just sort of say hi to him, ’cause he’d been like an uncle, you know – he was always good with kids. And he’d come up with ‘Hey Jude’.

But I always heard it as a song to me. If you think about it, Yoko’s just come into the picture – he’s saying, “Hey Jude.” “Hey John.” I mean, so now I’m sounding like one of those fans who’s writing things into it, but you can work – you can hear it as a song to me. Although it’s also a song about him and [Francie] Schwartz at the time, too. Uh, but you hear “lies a chip on your shoulder” [sic] and all those things, [which] I always took personally, because I was the one with a chip on me shoulder. And “go out and get her,” you know, and forget everything else. So subconsciously I take it that he was saying, “Go ahead.” On a conscious level, he didn’t want me to go ahead. So subconsciously, he… The angel in him was saying, “Bless you.” The devil in him didn’t like it at all. Because he didn’t want to lose his partner.

-John Lennon, 1980

How Did the Beatles Meet?

 

The Beatles met in Liverpool, England, during the late 1950s. The core members of the band—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison—first crossed paths at various points in their youth before eventually forming the band.

John Lennon and Paul McCartney: John Lennon and Paul McCartney first met on July 6, 1957, at the Woolton Parish Church in Liverpool. McCartney was introduced to Lennon by a mutual friend, Ivan Vaughan, who knew that McCartney played guitar and thought he would be a good addition to Lennon's band, The Quarrymen. McCartney impressed Lennon with his ability to play and sing the song "Twenty Flight Rock" by Eddie Cochran, and they soon became friends and musical collaborators.

George Harrison: George Harrison joined The Quarrymen a bit later, in 1958, after impressing John Lennon with his guitar skills during a chance encounter. McCartney was also friends with Harrison, who was a few years younger, and he eventually joined The Quarrymen as their lead guitarist.

Ringo Starr: Ringo Starr (real name: Richard Starkey) did not join the band until later, replacing their original drummer, Pete Best, in 1962. Starr had been playing drums with another popular Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, before joining The Beatles, and occasionally filled in for Best before his replacement during their live shows.

 

What Is the Beatles' Song "Hey Jude" About?

"Hey Jude" is one of The Beatles' most iconic and enduring songs, written by Paul McCartney and released as a single in 1968. The song's lyrics are widely interpreted as a message of comfort and encouragement to a young boy named Julian Lennon, the son of McCartney's bandmate John Lennon, during his parents' divorce.

The story goes that McCartney wrote "Hey Jude" as a way to console Julian during a difficult time. Originally titled "Hey Jules," McCartney changed the name to "Jude" because he felt it sounded better. The song's lyrics offer reassurance to Jude (or Julian), urging him to take a sad song and make it better, and reminding him not to be afraid to let someone into his heart.

The song's uplifting melody and sing-along chorus have made it a timeless classic, beloved by generations of listeners. Its message of hope, resilience, and unconditional love resonates with people of all ages and backgrounds, making it one of The Beatles' most enduring and universally beloved songs.

 

John Lennon & Yoko Ono interview with Marshall McLuhan in Toronto (December 21, 1969)

On December 19th, 1969, when three iconic figures of the 20th century converged in snowy Toronto for an extraordinary meeting of minds. John Lennon and Yoko Ono, champions of peace and avant-garde expression, found themselves in conversation with none other than Marshall McLuhan, the renowned Canadian media theorist and author.

Organized by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, this inspired pairing brought together Lennon and Ono, fresh from their "War is Over" billboard and poster campaign, with McLuhan, whose groundbreaking works like "Understanding Media" had already left an indelible mark on global intellectual discourse.

In a captivating exchange captured on film, Lennon, Ono, and McLuhan delve into the genesis of their peace-promoting campaign, revealing the creative process behind its inception and the challenges of spreading its message worldwide. From the power of posters as a medium of expression to the complexities of organizing a global initiative, the conversation offers a rare glimpse into the minds of these influential figures.

 

John Lennon's BBC Radio 1 Interview with Michael Wale - Rock Speak (September 27, 1974)

Audio interview with Michael Wale on BBC Radio 1's "Rock Speak," aired on September 27, 1974. Lennon delves into the creative process behind his solo albums, including Mind Games and Walls and Bridges, and offers teasers about his upcoming album release, Rock 'n' Roll.