Jann S. Wenner
John Lennon Ricorda

"Quite possibly the most legendary interview ever conducted with a pop star of this caliber" _{(Library Journal)}

This book, published in 1971 just a few months after the official breakup of the Fab4, is the work of then 24-year-old Jann S. Wenner, a reporter for Rolling Stones magazine, assigned for an informal interview (which lasted much longer than expected) at Lennon's house in Kenwood in 1970.

Today, that book has just been reissued (with a new bright red cover) by the Italian edition of Rolling Stones (available in newsstands these days for €. 6.90!) and through question and answer, gives us a fairly accurate picture of a John Lennon already out of the Beatles Machine, in no way "politically correct" in revealing embarrassing details of his relationship with the other three beetles but, in many cases, inconsistent, nervous, and not at all comfortable in front of a journalist, although young and inexperienced.

This is not a "quiet" read.

Here and there, between the lines, the book reveals to us a John quite subjugated by Yoko Ono (always present here, and who clarifies and provides a counterpoint to certain inaccuracies expressed by her husband... sometimes really unnecessary but faithfully reported in the translation of this edition). A careful and wary Yoko, the shadow of a companion who engages in existential musings or cosmic pessimism hard to digest, especially from a Legend who has made World Music History (willingly or unwillingly).

And it's interesting to hear, from the voice of one of the protagonists, how exactly the breakup of the Beatles occurred within the poisoned (artistic and financial) relationships with the Eternal Rival Paul McCartney, and certain "bizarre" revelations about Brian Epstein's hidden homosexuality or the state of perpetual confusion due to the abundant use of drugs and LSD during the production of certain records. To the point of discussing War, Art, Money, and a thousand other things.

In short, there's something for everyone in this book (for fans and non-fans alike), and it gives us back a loquacious, emotional, unstable, idealistic, irreverent, and nervous (at times) Lennon already in his 30s, but still positive and full of great designs and ideas for his future. As if "up to this point" (with the Beatles) "he had only rendered 20% of his potential" and "the best is yet to come" (!!).

"This book is a jolt to the nerves akin to that caused by a bitter and particularly strong coffee. Those with weak stomachs would do better to close the window before reading it. They might feel the desire to throw themselves out" _{(Yoko Ono)}