John Lennon's Personal Letters To Be Published

With love from me to you...

Perhaps the greatest song writer in history, John Lennon is set to have another set of his words published: his personal letters.

The Beatle legend's personal letters, prolific in words and numbers, are owned by his widow, Yoko Ono. With convincing from Beatles' official biographer, Hunter Davies, Ono agreed to sell the rights to publish them, the Guardian reports. The book will be released in October, 2012, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' first hit song, 'Love Me Do.'

Lennon was a talented writer beyond music. In his lifetime, he published two books of fiction and comedy short stories, 'Lennon In His Own Write' and 'A Spaniard in the Works.' He also contributed to Merseybeat newspaper, the local alternative magazine in his hometown of Liverpool that helped initially promote the band, with stories under pseudonyms.

In his 'About The Awful' note in 'In His Own Write,' Lennon wrote:

I

was bored on the 9th of Octover 1940 when, I believe, the Nasties were still booming us led by Madolf Heatlump (who only had one). Anyway they didn't get me. I attended to varicous schools in Liddypol. And still didn't pass -- much to my Aunties supplies. As a member of the most publified Beatles my (P, G, and R's) records might seem funnier to some of you than this book, but as far as I'm conceived this correction of short writty is the most wonderfoul larf I've every ready.

God help and breed you all.

According to the Guardian, the collection includes notes he wrote to newspapers, record companies and fans, and include many of his famous drawings and scribbles.

In 2005, a letter Lennon wrote in 1970, to an aspiring musician seeking guidance on his fear of fame and fortune, was finally seen by the intended recipient. Unfortunate for him -- it had Lennon's home phone number on it.

Comments

[GEagle90]

09:32 PM on 02/27/2011

I will be waiting for this.

[liberalOrgonian]

01:54 PM on 01/25/2011

Thanks Yoko.

[liberalOrgonian]

01:53 PM on 01/25/2011

I look forward to reading John's own writings.
Just loved that talented man.
Think of all the music he would have created had he not been killed.
The songs that would- have -been.

[Yoko Ono]

04:18 PM on 01/24/2011

Contrary to what has been written in the press, Yoko Ono has not sold the copyright of John Lennon’s letters. Reports appeared last week stating that she had done so and that the letters would be used in a book edited by Hunter Davies.

Hunter did approach Yoko with a proposal that he would like to publish a book of collected letters written by JohnLennon and obtained from the original recipients or current owners of the letters. As John Lennon’s wife she does hold the underlying copyright of the letters even if she is not in physical possession of the letters John has written to people other than herself. As she feels HunterDavies to be a trustworthy friend of long years and a good editor, she is granting permission for Hunter to publish such a book, subject to her approval of the letters.

Ono has not sold any copyrights regarding these letters and, as yet, no contract has been signed with any publisher for this project.

Hunter Davies said today: “I just got back from holiday to read that YokoOno has, quote, “sold her late husband’s letters”. She has done no such thing. This whole project is my idea and all YokoOno has done is agree to the idea and give me permission to reproduce them as, of course, she holds the copyright. She has not sold them to me or anyone else, and it is deeply offensive to suggest otherwise”.

For further info contact Murray Chalmers PR: 02072909590

[M Rosin]

04:45 PM on 01/24/2011

How can Yoko own the copyright to letters that weren't sent to her? Why wouldn't the recipient of the letter own the letter?

[M Rosin]

04:53 PM on 01/24/2011

And why not, on the 50th anniversary of Love Me Do, publish a book of letters written by all four Beatles?

I always thought Hunter Davies was refreshingly unbiased toward any one of the Beatles. So this disappoints me.

[Yoko Ono]

06:59 AM on 01/25/2011

YOKO ONO/JOHN LENNON LETTERS

Contrary to what has been written in the press, Yoko Ono has not sold the copyright of John Lennon’s letters. Reports appeared last week stating that she had done so and that the letters would be used in a book edited by Hunter Davies.

Hunter Davies did approach Yoko Ono with a proposal that Davies would like to publish a book of collected letters written by JohnLennon and obtained  from the original recipients or the current owners of the letters. As JohnLennon’s wife she does hold the underlying copyright of the letters even if she is  not in physical possession of the letters John has written to people other than herself.   As she feels HunterDavies to be a trustworthy friend of long years, and a good editor, she is granting permission for Hunter to publish such a book, subject to her approval of the letters. 

Ono has not sold any copyrights regarding these letters and, as yet, no contract has been signed with any publisher for this project.

HunterDavies said today: “ I just got back from holiday to read that YokoOno has, quote, “sold her late husband’s letters”. She has done no such thing. This whole project is my idea and all YokoOno has done is agree to the idea and give me permission to reproduce them as, of course, she holds the copyright. She has not sold them, to me or anyone else, and it is deeply offensive to suggest otherwise”.

[M Rosin]

04:48 PM on 01/24/2011

And why not, on the 50th anniversary of Love Me Do, publish a book with letters written by all FOUR Beatles?

I always thought Hunter Davies was refreshingly unbiased toward any one of the four, but this disproves that assumption. I'm disappointed.

[MerrieWay]

01:46 AM on 01/24/2011

Yoko is the caretaker of John's legacy...let it "Shine On".

[Treehuggindirtworshiper]

10:08 PM on 01/23/2011

Just like any other dead artist. If he were alive no one would care.

[WorkhelpWorkhelp]

02:42 AM on 01/24/2011

That's not true....

[liveinhope23]

04:11 PM on 01/27/2011

Yes. I mean, who had ever heard of John Lennon before he died?
Fail.

[Treehuggindirtworshiper]

10:40 PM on 01/27/2011

I'm 48 years old and I didn't know who he was until he died.

[cydRN]

09:10 PM on 01/23/2011

Yoko Ono will continue to exploit her late husband as long as she lives.

I find it distasteful.

[fredgladys]

01:59 PM on 01/24/2011

I am waiting with great anticipation for the grocery lists to be released.

[cydRN]

03:58 PM on 01/24/2011

To the tune of millions, no doubt. Fanned.

[Mr Universe]

03:35 PM on 01/23/2011

I make one negative comment about Yoko and I get pummeled. Look, releasing this stuff is a capitalist move that Lennon would probably not appreciated. You cannot talk about the history of the Beatles without including the effect Yoko had. I'm not saying she was a golddigga, I'm just saying she had her own agenda and it had an effect on the culture of the Beatles and the world. It is what it is.

[algomajoker]

02:50 PM on 01/24/2011

I'm with you, bro. She was, and has been, exploitative and manipulative. She leans on Rolling Stone magazine like a wrathful harpy.

[M Rosin]

03:35 PM on 01/23/2011

What's most obnoxious about this is that Yoko is linking this to the 50th anniv of Love Me Do, a song written by Lennon AND McCartney. Anything released on that anniversary should be about the band, which consisted of 4 people, not one. Without McCartney, Lennon never would have made it out of Liverpool (and no doubt the same for Paul). Lennon has been canonized enough.

[Dewts]

11:29 AM on 01/23/2011

am i the only one that finds lennon obnoxious?

[apv9]

11:55 AM on 01/23/2011

Yes

[erinker]

12:02 PM on 01/23/2011

Yes.

[WorkhelpWorkhelp]

02:43 AM on 01/24/2011

Yes x 2

[mymind]

10:25 AM on 01/23/2011

What an Inspirational person John, Paul, George and Ringo transformed into, they changed music and culture as we know it, for better or worse. That is the greatness of this group!

[misterbunko]

09:40 AM on 01/23/2011

I'm a huge Beatles fan, but to call Lennon "perhaps the greatest song writer in history" is a bit much even for me.

[M Rosin]

11:23 AM on 01/23/2011

Finally a bit of common sense here.

[aurora59]

12:07 PM on 01/23/2011

Lennon and McCartney were something to be reckoned with as a songwriting team (although not the greatest in history), but they lost me when they went their separate ways.

[misterbunko]

12:29 PM on 01/23/2011

Lennon's development as a man and a songwriter were severely compromised as his demons took hold. Somewhere around 1966 or so, once the din of one of the most whithering campaigns in entertainment history wound down, he was left with nothing but his insecurities. He handled them poorly. He was a brilliant man. Here. Read my newsletter.

http://porcinedrone.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/john-lennon-was-overrated/

[cydRN]

09:13 PM on 01/23/2011

Having fairly recently seen McCartney in concert and listened to LOTS of his post-Beatle music, I cannot agree. Lennon was a great writer, but in my opinion, he was eclipsed by Paul. Listen to his latest stuff with the Highwaymen. He continues to be awesome.

[trweste144]

09:20 AM on 01/23/2011

"The book will be released in October, 2012, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' first hit song, 'Love Me Do.'"

Do we really have to commemorate everything that happened during their 7 year recording career? It seems like a shameless ploy to sell stuff when we act like every date commemorates something. It could have been as easily said it commemorates their OBE, throwing away the OBE, Sgt. Peppers, the Rooftop concert. Blah. Look, the Beatles are my favorite band, and I was born 5 years after Lennon died. But why in the world is this worth commemoration? If the letters are personal, it feels more like a violation. It's not like Lennon would want to stand their naked for the whole world to see. Oh, wait.

[Behind the Tweed Curtain]

10:35 AM on 01/23/2011

As someone who lived through the Beatles phenomenon, I kind of enjoy the recognition of these anniversaries. They help to answer the question - Great Scott - how long ago was THAT?

[cityprole]

12:57 PM on 01/23/2011

Publishing the letters of the famous, political, and even the only mildly interesting has a great and respectable history..one of the most interesting books I ever read was the letters of Groucho Marx..there is nothing particularly odd or deviant about publishing John Lennon's letters- I for one, am looking forward to reading them..and I don't own a single Beatles track (any more)...

[trweste144]

07:21 PM on 01/28/2011

Blasphemy! Not even the deep cuts, Rain, something a little less typical? And, yeah, I get that. This is the guy who posed nude on the cover of an album so I can't really see the whole privacy thing being of great concern to him after a point. I can only imagine the horror of living your entire adult life like a man in a walking zoo cage.

[manumoka]

09:19 AM on 01/23/2011

People are ripping Yoko for releasing these. Personally, I'm interested in what John had to say at various times during his life (and these thoughts have not been seen publicly), and I think he will, as always, lead the way in creativity and insightful point of view.

In lieu of someone alive who consistently does that, I'll take John's old letters any day.

[Behind the Tweed Curtain]

10:37 AM on 01/23/2011

People rip Ono for anything and everything. If she found the cure for cancer, people would complain she was besmirching Lennon's legacy.

[JustJoy7]

09:16 AM on 01/23/2011

They are PERSONAL letters. There must have been a note with instructions to share them with the public. Otherwise, why would any media outlet choose to do so. Just wondering.

[Behind the Tweed Curtain]

10:38 AM on 01/23/2011

The letters of historic figures are routinely published.