Paul McCartney and John Lennon in 1964.Photo: William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty
A heated letter fromJohn LennontoPaul McCartneyis expected to fetch up to $40,000 at auction.
“John was so furious when he read the interview that he sent this three-page, signed and hand-annotated letter, addressed to Paul, toMelody Maker, for publication, asking them in his own handwriting for equal time,” the listing adds, noting that the typewritten letter was published in the Dec. 4, 1971 issue ofMelody Maker.
The letter is up for auction through 9 p.m. ET on Aug. 19, with the highest bid currently set at $33,000. The auction house estimates that the note will ultimately go for as much as $40,000.
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Paul McCartney and John Lennon.Cummings Archives/Redferns
The ups and downs of Lennon and McCartney’s relationship fromthe Beatles' formation in 1960 toLennon’s death in 1980have been chronicled throughout many interviews over the years.
Legal proceedings to dissolve the Beatles' partnership began a year before McCartney’sMelody Makerinterview and Lennon’s subsequent response, in December 1970. That same month, an embittered and emotionally raw Lennon released his first full-scale solo statement,John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.
Shortly after the album hit shelves,Lennon sat down withRolling Stoneeditor-in-chief Jann Wennerto give readers their first look at the beloved band’s dirtiest laundry. He fired shot after shot at McCartney for his alleged bossiness in the studio, apparent disrespect of his new wife Yoko Ono, and supposedly unadventurous solo debut, 1970’sMcCartney.
In his 2021Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, McCartney said Lennon “turned nasty” when the Beatles disbanded, adding, “I don’t really understand why. Maybe because we grew up in Liverpool, where it was always good to get in the first punch of a fight.”
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“John was firing missiles at me with his songs, and one or two of them were quite cruel. I don’t know what he hoped to gain, other than punching me in the face. The whole thing really annoyed me,” McCartney recalled inLyrics. “John would say things like, ‘It was rubbish. The Beatles were crap.’ Also, ‘I don’t believe in The Beatles, I don’t believe in Jesus, I don’t believe in God.’ Those were quite hurtful barbs to be flinging around and I was the person they were being flung at, and it hurt.
Despite previous volatility,the two were able to make peacebefore Lennon was shot and killed on Dec. 8, 1980, while entering his apartment building in New York City.
McCartney honored what would’vebeen Lennon’s 81st birthdayin October 2021, writing alongsidea throwback photoof the pair, “Happy Birthday thoughts for John.”
The previous year, McCartneypaid tribute to Lennonon the40th anniversary of his death, tweeting, “A sad sad day but remembering my friend John with the great joy he brought to the world. I will always be proud and happy to have known and worked with this incredible Scouser! X love Paul.”
source: people.com
