John Lennon, the late former band member of The Beatles, had written a letter to prolific singer and guitarist Eric Clapton within the hope of convincing him to type a brand new band with him. The eight-page letter, dated September 1971, is a draft of the ultimate model which was finally despatched to the 18-time Grammy Award winner by Lennon.
In response to Lennon, the proposed band would come with former Plastic Ono Band members Klaus Voorman, Jim Keltner, Nicky Hopkins and Phil Spector. Lennon and his spouse, Yoko Ono, shaped the Plastic Ono Band, and Clapton carried out with iterations of the band from September to December 1969. Lennon in all probability hoped that the familiarity of the artists would possibly show to be a catalyst in swaying Clapton.
“You should know by now that Yoko and I charge your music and your self very extremely, at all times have,” the letter begins. The letter then mentions the non-public hardships that Clapton was going by means of on the time. The ‘Layla’ singer had been out of the general public eye for fairly a while and was additionally battling a heroin dependancy. Medicine had turn into a coping mechanism to take care of fame and a focus. “Eric, I do know I can carry out one thing nice, in truth larger in you that had been to this point evident in your music. I hope to carry out the identical type of greatness in all of us, which I do know will occur if/once we get collectively.”
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Lennon added within the letter that he understood Clapton’s reservations and wished him to work with the individuals who beloved and revered each him and his music. Although Clapton had carried out with all of the band members earlier than, particularly Lennon, he would go on to refuse this provide.
The letter opens a path to in all probability one of many largest ‘what ifs’ in rock and roll historical past. Everybody remembers the electrical energy the 2 introduced at any time when they carried out collectively. The letter will go up for public sale for a sum of roughly greater than Rs 1.2 crore. It had additionally been up for public sale in 2012, however for round Rs 20 lakh.
