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Lot Essay
Following their first Bed-In event in Amsterdam after their marriage in Gibraltar, John and Yoko decided to capitalize on the wave of publicity and hold a second Bed-In. Having had their application for a U.S. visa rejected, they flew to the Bahamas on 16th May, but quickly realised the humid temperature of 86 degrees wasn't compatible with a week in bed. They flew to Canada and arrived in Montreal on 26th May.
Journalist Ken Seymour was based in Montreal at the time working as a freelance radio reporter. He was the first journalist to meet them in Montreal, and had exclusive access to them to conduct the interview. It was originally intended to be used for a Canadian radio show Something To Say, but shortly after the interview, Seymour's father was taken ill in England and he had to return home. The interview was never broadcast and has remained locked in a trunk for 36 years.
The intimate hour-long interview forms part of what Lennon referred to as ..."a continuous propaganda for peace campaign....a peace platform using our bed as a platform". He describes their aim: "Let's give peace as much airtime as war", saying that what he hopes to produce is ..."peace of mind, peace in the world, peace in Vietnam, peace in Biafra, peace in the streets".
Soon the subject switches away from the peace campaign to encompass a surprising variety of subjects. Lennon talks about his everyday life in London, revealing..."I lead a completely normal life, I wander the streets, I go shopping, I do everything that everybody else does"; on his marriage: "Yoko and I have fights...we all have violence in us"; his view of how the Beatles have changed: "We've matured, now we're middle-aged teenagers...George and Paul are complicated like me"; his opinion of Jesus Christ: "I'm one of Christ's biggest fans. If I can turn Beatles fans onto Christ's teachings, that's what I'm here to do"; his reminiscences of attending Sunday School as a child until he was banned from the church "for laughing"; his relationship with his son, Julian, and step-daughter, Kyoko: "Kyoko wants to marry Julian and Julian wants to marry Kyoko"; his memories of Paul McCartney's original audition for The Quarry Men in 1957, and his judgement of the contributions made to The Beatles business career by Brian Epstein and Allen Klein. He reveals that each of the Beatles "...takes fifty pounds a week" out of their collective earnings, and predicts that the four members of the group will always be together as friends, regardless of how long the Beatles survive as a working unit.
The interview is unusual for its time, for both its depth and wide range of topics. The interviewer's quickfire questioning and rapid response to Lennon's comments obviously ensured that both John and Yoko spoke to him in more detail and more openly than to the many other journalists they subsequently met during the Bed-In. The interview is a vivid portrayal of the couple's relationship and preoccupations during one of the most optimistic and productive periods of their marriage.
Journalist Ken Seymour was based in Montreal at the time working as a freelance radio reporter. He was the first journalist to meet them in Montreal, and had exclusive access to them to conduct the interview. It was originally intended to be used for a Canadian radio show Something To Say, but shortly after the interview, Seymour's father was taken ill in England and he had to return home. The interview was never broadcast and has remained locked in a trunk for 36 years.
The intimate hour-long interview forms part of what Lennon referred to as ..."a continuous propaganda for peace campaign....a peace platform using our bed as a platform". He describes their aim: "Let's give peace as much airtime as war", saying that what he hopes to produce is ..."peace of mind, peace in the world, peace in Vietnam, peace in Biafra, peace in the streets".
Soon the subject switches away from the peace campaign to encompass a surprising variety of subjects. Lennon talks about his everyday life in London, revealing..."I lead a completely normal life, I wander the streets, I go shopping, I do everything that everybody else does"; on his marriage: "Yoko and I have fights...we all have violence in us"; his view of how the Beatles have changed: "We've matured, now we're middle-aged teenagers...George and Paul are complicated like me"; his opinion of Jesus Christ: "I'm one of Christ's biggest fans. If I can turn Beatles fans onto Christ's teachings, that's what I'm here to do"; his reminiscences of attending Sunday School as a child until he was banned from the church "for laughing"; his relationship with his son, Julian, and step-daughter, Kyoko: "Kyoko wants to marry Julian and Julian wants to marry Kyoko"; his memories of Paul McCartney's original audition for The Quarry Men in 1957, and his judgement of the contributions made to The Beatles business career by Brian Epstein and Allen Klein. He reveals that each of the Beatles "...takes fifty pounds a week" out of their collective earnings, and predicts that the four members of the group will always be together as friends, regardless of how long the Beatles survive as a working unit.
The interview is unusual for its time, for both its depth and wide range of topics. The interviewer's quickfire questioning and rapid response to Lennon's comments obviously ensured that both John and Yoko spoke to him in more detail and more openly than to the many other journalists they subsequently met during the Bed-In. The interview is a vivid portrayal of the couple's relationship and preoccupations during one of the most optimistic and productive periods of their marriage.