John Lennon’s 1971 letter to Eric Clapton goes to public sale
A draft copy of John Lennon‘s well-known 1971 letter to Eric Clapton suggesting they type a brand new band is heading to public sale quickly – discover out extra beneath.
The eight-page letter, dated September 29 1971, was drafted by Lennon and consists of a number of deletions and markings – the ultimate model that was despatched to Clapton has not been seen by the general public, and it’s presently unknown how a lot the ultimate differs from the draft.
The letter is about to go on auction via International Autograph Auctions Europe SL on December 5. Registration for bids at the moment are open, and bids are anticipated to €100,000 and €150,000.
The 1971 letter – which additionally went on public sale in 2012, although for a far much less €22,728 – comes after Clapton had carried out with Lennon and Yoko Ono for a brief stint within the Plastic Ono Band in 1969 previous to The Beatle‘s official break up. Shortly after that, Clapton entered a darkish interval in his life stemming from heroin habit retreated from the general public eye.
Within the letter, Lennon alluded to Clapton’s troubles however by no means addressed them instantly. He additionally pitched that Clapton and Lennon type a brand new band, writing: “Eric, I do know I can deliver out one thing nice, the truth is better in you that had been to this point evident in your music. I hope to deliver out the identical type of greatness in all of us, which I do know will occur if/after we get collectively.”
Different members of the pitched band would have included Klaus Voormann, Jim Keltner, Nicky Hopkins, and Phil Spector – all of whom had in some unspecified time in the future additionally carried out with the Plastic Ono Band.
Nevertheless, it was later revealed that Clapton had turned down Lennon’s supply to type a band.
In latest information, it was not too long ago reportedly claimed that Ono was warned that her late husband was “at risk” previous to his demise. Lennon was murdered by obsessed fan Mark David Chapman on December 8, 1980 – when he was shot whereas arriving at his condo at The Dakota in New York Metropolis.
In a brand new guide titled We All Shine On: John, Yoko and Me written by Elliot Mintz – the previous spokesperson and confidant of Lennon and Ono – Mintz opened up in regards to the aftermath of the musician’s demise and the way it affected his spouse and his two sons, Sean and Julian.
Final month, to have a good time what would have been Lennon’s 84th birthday, a field set was shared containing “meditation mixes” of his 1973 track ‘Thoughts Video games’.