“You could make the kind of sound that could bring back the balls in rock ‘n’ roll”: John Lennon’s 1971 letter inviting Eric Clapton to join his new band is headed to auction
An eight-page letter written by John Lennon to Eric Clapton in 1971, proposing they form a new band “together”, is headed to auction next month.
This copy of the letter, dated 29 September 1971, was drafted by the Beatles star and contains several deletions and corrections. The final version that was sent to Clapton has not been revealed to the public.
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In the draft, Lennon writes of a new musical project he wants to start and invites Clapton to join, claiming his addition would “bring back the balls in rock ‘n’ roll”. The pair previously performed together, alongside Yoko Ono, in the Plastic Ono Band in 1969 prior to The Beatles’ official split.
“You must know by now that Yoko and I rate your music and yourself very highly, always have.” Lennon begins. He mentions that they have already reached out to several musicians, including Klaus Voormann, Jim Keltner, Nicky Hopkins, and Phil Spector, to create a “nucleus group”, adding: “They all agreed so far – and of course we had you in mind as soon as we decided.”
The letter, which arrived during a difficult time in Clapton’s life which saw him battling heroin addiction, continues: “Both of us have been thru the same kind of shit/pain that I know you’ve had – and I know we could help each other in that area – but mainly Eric – I know I can bring out something great – in fact greater in you that had been so far evident in your music. I hope to bring out the same kind of greatness in all of us – which I know will happen if/when we get together.”
“Please don’t be frightened, I understand paranoia, only too well, I think it could only do good for you, to work with people who love and respect you, and that’s from all of us,” Lennon concludes.
Clapton would, however, go on to say no to Lennon’s offer.
The eight-page document will be auctioned via International Autograph Auctions Europe SL on 5 December. It is estimated to fetch between €100,000 and €150,000.
The post “You could make the kind of sound that could bring back the balls in rock ‘n’ roll”: John Lennon’s 1971 letter inviting Eric Clapton to join his new band is headed to auction appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
Source: www.guitar-bass.net
