Part 3 (1/2)

JERRY: Near the end of ”Revolution 9” you hear a whole bunch of crowd sounds-”daa, daa, daa.” I can't understand what that is.

JOHN: I don't know what they're saying, either. I just got them from the sound effects thing. And they're going sort of ”ooh” and ”aah.” I don't know what they're saying, either. I just got them from the sound effects thing. And they're going sort of ”ooh” and ”aah.”

DEREK: Where's the key to the big box?

JOHN: Oh, the key to the big box? I don't know. I've no idea where it is. Oh, the key to the big box? I don't know. I've no idea where it is.

DEREK: In your white jacket, maybe, from last night.

JOHN: Oh okay, I just shoved that in the black hand case there. My hand luggage there. Last night's white jacket's there. Oh okay, I just shoved that in the black hand case there. My hand luggage there. Last night's white jacket's there.

JERRY: When you decided to give the film of you singing ”Get Back” to the Glen Campbell Show Glen Campbell Show...

JOHN: Did we? Did we?

JERRY: Yeah. Oh I'm glad, I thought you really thought about let's pick some nice American and so picked Glen Campbell.

DEREK: That's like the Smothers Brothers Smothers Brothers or the or the Tonight Show Tonight Show.

JOHN: What about it? What about it?

JERRY: Everyone knows I'm a Beatle fanatic and when it was on TV a friend called and said, ”The Beatles are on Glen Campbell Glen Campbell,” so I switched it on and they had his Ma and his Pa from Tennessee or wherever. And then all of a sudden at the very end I saw you guys. It seemed sort of freaky. Really gone. Don't you guys know where your films go to?

JOHN: We just tell them to get them on the biggest networks, or somebody like the We just tell them to get them on the biggest networks, or somebody like the Smothers Brothers Smothers Brothers 'cause we heard they were having a hard time. Otherwise we just put it on the maximum...the show that's going to be seen by the most people. Unless we particularly know and dislike the guy. I just heard Glen Campbell and he's on and everybody watches it so stick it on. It's like that. People will see it then. The Beatle people, like you, get informed that it's on. Whatever it's on. Even if it's on the news. Unless there's some specific show that we know about that we want it on we just tell them to put it on somewhere where it will get maximum exposure. 'cause we heard they were having a hard time. Otherwise we just put it on the maximum...the show that's going to be seen by the most people. Unless we particularly know and dislike the guy. I just heard Glen Campbell and he's on and everybody watches it so stick it on. It's like that. People will see it then. The Beatle people, like you, get informed that it's on. Whatever it's on. Even if it's on the news. Unless there's some specific show that we know about that we want it on we just tell them to put it on somewhere where it will get maximum exposure.

JERRY: I was just reading a book about Ed Sullivan and there was a picture...

YOKO: Here it is [the Life With the Lions Life With the Lions alb.u.m]. We'll sign it for you. alb.u.m]. We'll sign it for you.

JOHN: Oh yeah, what's your name? Oh yeah, what's your name?

JERRY: Jerry.

JOHN: Go ahead, carry on talking. Go ahead, carry on talking.

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The front and back cover of the Life With the Lions Life With the Lions alb.u.m. The front photo shows John sleeping by Yoko's side on the hospital floor after her miscarriage in 1968. alb.u.m. The front photo shows John sleeping by Yoko's side on the hospital floor after her miscarriage in 1968.

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The back is a photo from John's earlier marijuana bust.

JERRY: And he had his hands up and said, ”Let's hear it...the Beatles.” And I was wondering, did you like Ed Sullivan? Is he a good friend of yours?

JOHN: He's no friend. I mean a friend in as much as he's a contact. I can't describe the word for what the people are who you meet. He's not a friend or an enemy. He was just somebody who put us on his show and we were happy to be on it. When we heard about it we thought, ”Great, great.” You know. ”We're on that show and that's where Elvis was, and we're going to be on it,” and we were terrified and all that bit, and Ed Sullivan is Ed Sullivan. There's always going to be Ed Sullivans on TV. And the thing is I used to loathe him as a kid or younger. But now it's just a howl. We've got him in England. They're always there. You just mustn't let him get under your skin. He's no friend. I mean a friend in as much as he's a contact. I can't describe the word for what the people are who you meet. He's not a friend or an enemy. He was just somebody who put us on his show and we were happy to be on it. When we heard about it we thought, ”Great, great.” You know. ”We're on that show and that's where Elvis was, and we're going to be on it,” and we were terrified and all that bit, and Ed Sullivan is Ed Sullivan. There's always going to be Ed Sullivans on TV. And the thing is I used to loathe him as a kid or younger. But now it's just a howl. We've got him in England. They're always there. You just mustn't let him get under your skin.

JERRY: He's turned really hip. Probably some spiritualistic change has come over him.

JOHN: Oh, has he? Oh, has he?

JERRY: Yeah, he has sideburns now and he actually does more than just talk. He'll dance or something like that.

JOHN: Amazing. Maybe he's had some acid. 'Cause he used to just stand there and say, ”And...here...come...the Beatles...from...Miami Beach....” He was okay, he was never nasty or anything. A lot of them, when you haven't quite made it, treat you like scrum, and he was always kind and tried to make us feel easy. So that means he's okay as far as I'm concerned. He's not my cup of tea as far as entertainment is concerned but he was kind to us, you know, and so we respect that. Especially before you've made it. Amazing. Maybe he's had some acid. 'Cause he used to just stand there and say, ”And...here...come...the Beatles...from...Miami Beach....” He was okay, he was never nasty or anything. A lot of them, when you haven't quite made it, treat you like scrum, and he was always kind and tried to make us feel easy. So that means he's okay as far as I'm concerned. He's not my cup of tea as far as entertainment is concerned but he was kind to us, you know, and so we respect that. Especially before you've made it.

JERRY: Who's your all-time favorite singer or composer?

JOHN: I haven't got one...I've got many. Yoko [laughter]. I haven't got one...I've got many. Yoko [laughter].

JERRY: How about yourself?

JOHN: Yeah, me first then Yoko. Okay. Yeah, me first then Yoko. Okay.

JERRY: Just to finish this off, my number one on my list is the Beatles, number two is Pierre Trudeau, and number three is Jerry Lewis.

JOHN: Jerry Lee Lewis or the comedian? Jerry Lee Lewis or the comedian?

JERRY: No! Jerry Lewis the cool guy.

JOHN: Oh. Who's Pierre Trudeau? The prime minister? Oh. Who's Pierre Trudeau? The prime minister?

JERRY: The prime minister. His full name is Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau.

JOHN: I loved Jerry Lewis like mad when I was younger and going to the pictures in Liverpool. I used to see every film and howl about on the floor p.i.s.sing and crying with laughter. I loved Jerry Lewis like mad when I was younger and going to the pictures in Liverpool. I used to see every film and howl about on the floor p.i.s.sing and crying with laughter.

JERRY: That's fantastic. He's my number three guy. Anyway, thank you very much, John...

JOHN: It's a pleasure, man. It's a pleasure, man.

JERRY:...and thanks, Yoko.

JOHN: Bye-bye. Here's your alb.u.m. Bye-bye. Here's your alb.u.m.

YOKO: Good luck. And peace.

JOHN: Play that alb.u.m. And, oh yeah, peace. Play that alb.u.m. And, oh yeah, peace.

THE END OF THE INTERVIEW came about not because Derek or John stopped us, but because I realized I was taking too much of John's time. He probably would have let me go on for much longer, even though no one else got to interview John and Yoko that day as they immediately left for Montreal. came about not because Derek or John stopped us, but because I realized I was taking too much of John's time. He probably would have let me go on for much longer, even though no one else got to interview John and Yoko that day as they immediately left for Montreal.

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The interview was supposed to be about peace and that was his and Yoko's final words. Considerate and mature enough not to criticize the American people or its government, John did not even mention Vietnam. John and Yoko's campaign was directed at all countries and particularly the culture that promoted war. The messenger of love and peace wanted to conciliate and persuade, not to alienate or pontificate. He wanted a dialogue with fans, opinion makers, and the establishment. For the first time in pop history, a star took on the political responsibility of giving leaders.h.i.+p to his generation. This would not simply be a foray into politics and social commentary. Unlike his ”bigger than Jesus” statement, his comments were thoughtful, pointed, and deliberate but aimed at dialogue and persuasion. That John embraced my idea-have a kid conduct an interview aimed at kids-underscored the sincerity of his objective.