John Lennon

Frank Zappa and John Lennon on stage in 1971. Note: Zappa isn't giving "the finger", but performing hand signals to conduct his band.

John Lennon (Liverpool, October 9, 1940 - New York City, December 8, 1980) was a British rock singer and guitarist, who became famous as a member of The Beatles and later had a succesful solo career. His music is praised for the creative lyrics, inventive musical experiments and deeply personal subject matter. Lennon was also a vocal activist for world peace and numerous social causes.

Frank Zappa

In 1970, Lennon wrote the foreword to Tony Palmer's book Born Under A Bad Sign, illustrated by Ralph Steadman. A year later, Palmer would direct Zappa's film 200 Motels (The Film) (with Ringo Starr). In 1997, a Steadman drawing from Born Under A Bad Sign was used as the cover of the album Have I Offended Someone?.

"Frank once described an encounter he'd had with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. I don't remember the occasion, but for some reason, they were about to go on stage together in New York. According to Frank, Yoko was talking incessantly in a high-pitched voice and John was getting more and more exasperated with her. Finally, John shouted at her: 'Shut up you little Jap!' And Yoko socked him in the face. Ah, those golden days of peace and love. Frank's reaction? 'From then on, John was okay in my book."

Lennon admired Frank Zappa as an artist who liked to take risks with rock 'n roll: "Wow, I always wanted to meet him. I really, really admire him. (...) He's at least trying to do something different with the form. (...) It's incredible how he has his band as tight as a real orchestra. (...) I'm very impressed by the kind of discipline he can bring to rock that nobody else can seem to bring to it."

Yoko Ono, Frank Zappa and John Lennon on stage in 1971.

John Lennon & Yoko Ono performed with Zappa at the Fillmore East in 1971 recordings of which can be heard on Lennon's album Some Time In New York City and on Zappa's Playground Psychotics. The Zappa/Lennon concert can be heard on the tracks Diphteria Blues, Well, Say Please, Aaawk, Scum Bag and A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono.

A tape of Lennon at home singing songs and making up stories was sold by Christie's in London, in 2002. There are claims that the tape includes Lennon singing Jelly Roll Gum Drop.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono are also mentioned and thanked in the liner notes of The MOFO Project/Object (2006) album.

Zappa owned a signed copy of the books The Penguin John Lennon by Lennon and of Grapefruit by Ono, and a signed postcard by Lennon. In 2016, when Zappa's house was sold, both books and the postcard were auctioned.

Frank Zappa about John Lennon

"Pop music is the real religion of young people today. John Lennon was right the first time when he said the Beatles were bigger than Jesus Christ, he should never have retracted the statement.", Frank Zappa, quoted by Hugh Nolan, Disc and Music Echo, 30 September 1967.

See Also

• Yoko Ono

External links

• Wikipedia article on John Lennon