I was watching the above documentary recently (137 mins) and was surprised that Paul McCartney and John Lennon were writing material separate from their Beatles output as early as 1967. In fact, I found this fact surprising – but someone said to me that The Beatles rose to fame very quickly and became virtual millionaires overnight (perhaps 1961-1964 and beyond). If I remember rightly, they were flying around the world when very few working-class people could afford long journeys by train. If I remember rightly, each of The Beatles was purchasing expensive properties around the UK and abroad by 1966. Therefore, the idea that their individual wealth was freeing them not only from the usual working-class poverty – but also the artificial (business) structure that was The Beatles. Even today, on an average month, Paul McCartney earns around £10 million. During the heady days of the 1960s – The Beatles believed that whilst benefitting from the excesses and injustices of predatory capitalism – they could “sing” all the oppression away and free the masses before the needle lifted off of one of their albums.
I recently acquired a copy of Sean Lennon’s tribute to his father – the two-CD album entitled “Gimme Some Truth” – described on the Abbey Road website as ‘John Lennon’s 80th Birthday Celebrated On “Gimme Some Truth” Collection‘. I initially intended to examine the material John Lennon produced before The Beatles broke-up (much of it with Yoko Ono) – but settled on this offering in the first instance. If any of these tracks are prior to 1970 – I will find-out as I listen. This is a collection of John Lennon’s post-1970 solo work – which does not involve the concept albums – produced between 1967-1970. For that journey I will need to acquire a different seam of his work at a later date. nstead, Sean Lennon has chosen 36 of his father’s most iconic tracks – which have been remixed at Abbey Road – many of which I had not heard before. There is a mature and new depth to these tracks which were already “special”.
IIf sound could have a “texture” – this music certainly does. On the 6th track “God” – John Lennon lists all the things he no longer believes in – but Marx (or Mao, for that matter) is not one of them. I think he experimented with many avenues of endeavour – extracted what he needed – and moved on (which is the right of all individuals seeking truth). Although this might be mistaken for a “hedonistic-nihilism” – I do not think so. It is more of a “post-experience” theme. The workers may “experiment” – but in th end – we do not need these things (as enriching as they might be – or seem to be). Even the Buddha said that his teaching is like a raft that carries an individual across a river. When the task is completed – the raft is no longer needed and can be discarded. Do not forget that on “Revolver” – The Beatles very cleverly bleat-on about how – now they are very, very rich – they do not take kindly to paying tax. When they were poor working-class lads they were all quite happy to receive fee health and live-off the welfare system. Many lived in Council Housing.
All this was paid for by the not so rich ordinary workers who constitute the majority of the tax-payers (the very rich being only a small percentage of the population). This is why I admire the genius-structure of “Taxman” – but thoroughly reject the underlying selfishness that informed its production. As for ideology – The Beatles were all over the place. I think “money” was their god – and the transcending freedom this gave them from the cycle manual labour, paying bills, and being in debt – enabled them to take drugs, reads books and explore different realities – realities not normally open to the British workers of the day. John Lennon was did flirt with Maoism (and had an affair with his “Chinese” Secretary) – and they all wore Lenin-type hats from time to time (I do not think Lennon knew anything about Maoism). But this does not amount to Revolutionary action. According to the US government – Lennon was a “Trotskyite” – but I doubt his ideological development had progressed to him taking sides in the unfolding of the Soviet Revolution. He once said the the Socialist had messed-up the world as much as the capitalists – and this was to a group of UK students! Perhaps we expect too much from our millionaires as the game they play is designed to enrich and then move privilege away from the path of Revolution (keeping them firmly ensconced within reaction).
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 