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BBC INTERVIEW: THE JOHN LENNON STORY, PT. 3 (RADIO)

Summary

Part three of this five-part program in which host Andy Peebles interviews John Lennon and Yoko Ono at the Hit Factory recording studio in New York City on December 6, 1980, just two days before the ex-Beatle was killed by gunman Mark David Chapman. The program also includes a sampling of their musical recordings. Part three covers the period from early 1972 through November 1974. Highlights include the following: Lennon and Ono's creative collaboration with musician Frank Zappa; the composition "Woman Is the Nigger of the World"; Lennon's contention that only "honky whites" were offended by the use of the word "nigger" in the song's title; Lennon recalls Ono's concept that the "Plastic Ono Band" should be a group of musical robots; Lennon bristles at the idea that British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher may attempt to gut funding for the BBC World Service; Lennon's current radio listening habits; Ono's identification of Lennon as a "feminist"; the eighteen-month period in 1974 when Lennon and Ono separated, and he began to drink heavily and hang around with The Smothers Brothers; and his appearance with pop singer/pianist Elton John at New York's Madison Square Garden in 1974. Musical selections include the following: "Well Well Well" (John Lennon and Yoko Ono with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention); "Woman Is the Nigger of the World" (John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band with Elephant's Memory and the Invisible Strings); "Sister, Sister" (Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band with Elephant's Memory and the Invisible Strings); "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" (John Lennon and Yoko Ono); "Mind Games" and "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" (John Lennon); and "I Saw Her Standing There" (John Lennon with Elton John). Includes commercials.

(There are audio disturbances throughout this program; this copy represents the best recording currently available to the Museum.)

Details

  • NETWORK: WNEW-FM
  • DATE: 1981
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:53:07
  • COLOR/B&W: N/A
  • CATALOG ID: R89:0110
  • GENRE: Radio - Music; Radio - Talk/Interviews
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Rock music
  • SERIES RUN: WNEW (New York, NY) - Radio, 1981
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • Radio - Commercials - Bon Jour Fashions
    • Radio - Commercials - Honda vehicles
    • Radio - Commercials - Panasonic platinum stereo radio casettes

CREDITS

  • Paul Williams … Producer
  • The Beatles … Music Group
  • Mothers of Invention, The … Music Group
  • Elephant's Memory … Music Group
  • Plastic Ono Band, The … Music Group
  • John Lennon … Singer, Guest
  • Yoko Ono … Singer, Guest
  • Frank Zappa … Singer
  • Elton John … Singer, Instrumentalist, Pianist
  • Andy Peebles … Interviewer
  • Dennis Elsas … Announcer
  • Mark David Chapman
  • Margaret Thatcher