On October 5^th, it’s 85 years since John Winston Lennon was born – the Winston, of course, derived from the about to be re-elected prime minister. John’s forty years on Earth were to deliver some of the World’s most memorable music.

On this anniversary, Boom’s Nicky Horne shares his memories of an unforgettable encounter.

 

"It was April 1975. I was 24 years old, on-air in my my busy Capital Radio studio in London when dear Kenny Everett burst in: “How would you like to go to New York and interview John, darling”.

“John Who?”, I asked, fearing some April Fool’s joke. “Lennon, silly billy”, responded Ken.

He told me the story that Lennon had been in touch with him seeking an exclusive interview to talk about “some heavy stuff”.  Kenny apparently had told John that such ‘heavy stuff’ was really not his thing, but that he knew a man who would love to do it.

A couple of days later, I found myself flying Pan Am first class to New York.  From then on, I've always wanted to turn left when I get onto an aircraft.

Clutching my hefty portable tape recorder, I arrived in the Big Apple and made for the Dakota where the recently reunited John and Yoko were living at the time.

I was terrified. This was Lennon. My favourite Beatle. And I’d no idea what he’d say.

The location didn’t help.  The Dakota was a very austere building with gothic features. I knocked timidly on the door. As I made to knock again with the necessary vigour, he opened it, mocking the fist which I’d been about to deploy.

“I've just made some cookies”, he said as he welcomed me in. “And it's not a Fannie May mix - I've done it all from scratch”. He told me that he’d baked some specifically for me – and, to this day, I can still smell those freshly-baked chocolate munchies.

We walked through to the surprisingly small galley kitchen – almost out of proportion to the scale of the rest of the residence with three or four bedrooms, two living rooms, a huge living room and dining room.

John and I had met only briefly once before, but this was a one-to-one on his turf - with even Yoko not present - a whole different ball game. I had difficulty speaking, let alone making sense.  John realised and generously tried to put me at ease.

We sat in his large - completely white – living room, with its thick white carpet. And that white piano.  The only contrast came from the brass telescope, tilted towards the Hudson.

Conversation started to flow as we sat cross-legged on the floor. We talked about London, Everett and music.

I realized that some of my chocolate crumbs had dared to drop on his pristine white carpet and tried surreptitiously to pick them up without John noticing. He did - but laughed and said, “don't worry”.

“Let's do the interview”, he eventually said.

He told of being followed by the CIA and having his phones bugged and all the angles which became such a big story which when I returned to London: “John Lennon claims he’s under surveillance of the American administration”. 

At the time, I was accused of being naieve in swallowing the stories: “John Lennon, he's just a bit of a paranoid dope head” and the like.

Years later, when the files were released under the American Freedom of Information Act, it's clear he harboured suspicions with good cause. His phones were being tapped, he was being followed – and they were looking for an excuse to kick him out.

Listening back now to the interview, it’s clear just how articulate and intelligent he was. One of the quickest brain-to-mouth ratios I've ever known.

My abiding memory of John is his kindness. His empathy in realizing immediately how I felt on that truly unforgettable day.  Thank you, John."

See Nicky Horne in person - opening up about 'Beatles, Bowie and Me' - on November 23rd at the Cryer Arts Centre in Carshalton in Surrey. Check out tickets here.