A rare letter from John Lennon to Eric Clapton, inviting him to join a band, has hit the auction block with a high estimate of more than $150,000.
In the letter, dated Sept. 29, 1971, Lennon begins by telling Clapton that he and Yoko Ono “rate [Clapton’s] music and [himself] very highly,” going on to express his desire for Clapton to join their new band, Plastic Ono Band, saying Clapton “could make the kind of sound that could bring back the Balls in rock 'n' roll.”
Previously sold in 2012 for $42,000, the letter outlines Lennon’s plans to tour around the world, pay musicians well and “change the world — and have a ball at the same time.”
The Plastic Ono Band was formed around 1968 by Lennon and Ono, while the Beatles were still active, as an outlet for the duo’s experimental music. Collaborators over the years included Clapton previously, as well as Billy Preston, Keith Moon and even Beatles members George Harrison and Ringo Starr.
The letter was written to Clapton during one of the most tumultuous times in his life. Clapton collapsed onstage in 1972 at Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh, reportedly due to drug and alcohol addiction.
Lennon apparently alludes to this with the line, “We don't want to work under such pressure that we feel dead on stage or have to pep ourselves up to live,” and noting doctors would be travel with the band. However, it appears this request was unsuccessful in convincing Clapton to join the band.
The letter closes, “Please don’t be frightened. I understand paranoia, only too well. I think it could only do good for you to work with people who love and respect you, and that’s from all of us.”
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.