John Lennon Was a Bad Guy, Says NFL's Chris Long
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Cynthia also said in her book she wished she'd never met him (not a quote, but a loose paraphrasing). That surprised me because she loved Julian so much. But, he must have been terribly unkind for her to have said that (and she gave some examples in her book, JOHN). May Pang gave examples of his unkindness toward herself and also toward Yoko.
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This football "star" looks surly himself, my first thought when seeing his pic was (sarcastically) "what a sweetheart"--why's he picking on John Lennon, was he there to personally witness him mistreat people? Was he a fly on the wall? What does he know? Cyn Lennon wrote John hit her "once," and once was too much, of course. To be honest I got a book off eBay once in which a fan wrote that Paul hit her several times when she was caught spying on him and Linda at their Scottish farm, kind of stalking them. If true, he has struck a female before, too. But he's said so many of the books written about him and the Fabs are "rubbish" and I believe him on that. I don't know whether to believe that fan's claims.
I feel that John was hurting subconsciously and sometimes consciously from his chldhood, what happened to his mother and his Dad leaving him. I think he took it out on others on occasion. He tried to change and worked on himself through primal scream therapy and other ways. He admitted he could be violent, and stated he sought to rid himself of so much anger. Also, they grew up in Liverpool where they saw so much fighting, so many fist fights and brawls and doubtless were drawn into the fights themselves even when they didn't want it, now and then. They weren't strangers to seeing physical blows. I read about the most horrendous street scuffles in Tony Barrow's book and others. It's not like Lennon was alone in that.
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"When somebody tried to challenge Long and say, "People aren't just good or bad" -- he shot back, "Shut the f*ck up."
That certainly says a lot about Long's character and credibility.
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I agree totally with SurSteven on Long's credibility. Why even listen to someone like that?
Any Beatles fan knows John Lennon had an acerbic side to his personality. He could be funny and charming, and he could be cruel. There was some violence in his character, but he wasn't much of a fighter. Let's not forget Paul got into scuffles too (including a big brawl with Stu Sutcliffe). They came from a rough background, after all (Ringo came from a very dangerous part of Liverpool, he was in a gang and often had to fight to survive).
John was nasty to Carole King the first time he met her (while Paul was charming, of course), and years later when they met on more friendly terms she asked him about it. He just said he found her intimidating and that was his natural defensive reaction. I think John did that a lot, particularly in his younger years.
And everyone knows he was a terrible drunk. Some people's characters change for the worse with booze and John was one of those people. That's why his carousing with Harry Nilsson, Phil Spector and others always had a nasty edge to it.
But when albums were getting out of control due to booze and drugs, like Rock and Roll (with Spector) and Pussycats (with Nilsson), John came to his senses, got sober and finished them in a professional manner. In both cases, he got away from LA and finished them in New York.
I think John's good side, great humour, campaigning for peace and incredible creativity easily outweighed his bad side, but he was human and had flaws like all of us.
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Jeffrey C wrote:
I agree totally with SurSteven on Long's credibility. Why even listen to someone like that?
Any Beatles fan knows John Lennon had an acerbic side to his personality. He could be funny and charming, and he could be cruel. There was some violence in his character, but he wasn't much of a fighter. Let's not forget Paul got into scuffles too (including a big brawl with Stu Sutcliffe). They came from a rough background, after all (Ringo came from a very dangerous part of Liverpool, he was in a gang and often had to fight to survive).
John was nasty to Carole King the first time he met her (while Paul was charming, of course), and years later when they met on more friendly terms she asked him about it. He just said he found her intimidating and that was his natural defensive reaction. I think John did that a lot, particularly in his younger years.
And everyone knows he was a terrible drunk. Some people's characters change for the worse with booze and John was one of those people. That's why his carousing with Harry Nilsson, Phil Spector and others always had a nasty edge to it.
But when albums were getting out of control due to booze and drugs, like Rock and Roll (with Spector) and Pussycats (with Nilsson), John came to his senses, got sober and finished them in a professional manner. In both cases, he got away from LA and finished them in New York.
I think John's good side, great humour, campaigning for peace and incredible creativity easily outweighed his bad side, but he was human and had flaws like all of us.
Well said! I would also add that John, even when sober, could be rude and crude, like the way he talked to Jane Asher when they all met her. (Cue chivalrous and charming Paul to “save” her from further inappropriate questions)
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SurSteven wrote:
"When somebody tried to challenge Long and say, "People aren't just good or bad" -- he shot back, "Shut the f*ck up."
That certainly says a lot about Long's character and credibility.
True. No one is all good or all bad. It seems Long shined a spotlight on his dark side. I think it's possible to appreciate John's music, writing, drawing, peace activism, and genius in many other areas and still acknowledge his treatment of women had some flaws. Does John's dark side bear discussing?
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I think we're all in general agreement on the subject. John was certainly dragged thru life sideways as a youth and had to deal with it all of his life.
"There Is Good And Bad (And Average) In Everyone" ~ Paul
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No one totally bad could have written the beautiful In My Life or Across The Universe. Yes, the younger John could be mean and nasty, but he also changed. He even said he regretted how he treated women when he was young. This person is only looking at one side of John. His entire life must be considered. He was an amazing human being!
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beatlesfanrandy wrote:
No one totally bad could have written the beautiful In My Life or Across The Universe. Yes, the younger John could be mean and nasty, but he also changed. He even said he regretted how he treated women when he was young. This person is only looking at one side of John. His entire life must be considered. He was an amazing human being!
I totally agree! People forget that Moses was a reformed murderer and St. Peter cut the ear of a Priest off with his sword. Long Live The Soul And Spirit Of Winston O Boogie!!!//oo\\///~~\\\
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John Lennon was a great songwriter.
Frank Sinatra was a great singer.
Miles Davis was a great musician.
Jim Gordon was a great drummer.
Gary Glitter, on the other hand, was always a horrible person.
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not the first to say this about Lennon
makes you wonder what type of guy he is if you were not working with him making an album
or partying boozing or taking drugs
probably a handful
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I'd have rather hung out with John on one of his bad days than with many of the people in the public's eye on one of their good days. Many people don't understand the pressure he endured for having the audacity to promote peace and love in the world's face.
The lyrics to ALL THOSE YEARS AGO explain it all.
I'm shouting all about love
While they treated you like a dog
When you were the one who had made it
So clear
All those years ago.I'm talking all about how to give
They don't act with much honesty
But you point the way to the truth when you say
All you need is love.Living with good and bad
I always look up to you
Now were left cold and sad
By someone the devils best friend
Someone who offended all.Were living in a bad dream
Theyve forgotten all about mankind
And you were the one they backed up to
The wall
All those years ago
You were the one who imagined it all
All those years ago.Deep in the darkest night
I send out a prayer to you
Now in the world of light
Where the spirit free of the lies
And all else that we despised.Theyve forgotten all about god
Hes the only reason we exist
Yet you were the one that they said was
So weird
All those years ago
You said it all though not many had ears
All those years ago
You had control of our smiles and our tears
All those years ago -
Great post Steven!
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Nancy R wrote:
Great post Steven!
AMEN
