A rare handwritten letter from John Lennon to Eric Clapton, proposing the creation of a revolutionary new supergroup, is set to go under the hammer on December 5. The eight-page letter, dated September 29, 1971, reflects Lennon’s deep admiration for Clapton and his music, offering a glimpse into a bold vision for a band that could reshape live performances.
In the letter, Lennon outlines plans for a “nucleus group” featuring music legends Klaus Voormann, Jim Keltner, Nicky Hopkins, and Phil Spector, alongside himself, Clapton, and Yoko Ono. He expressed hopes that the group would “bring back the balls in rock ‘n’ roll” and even suggested a world tour spanning as far as Russia and China.
Lennon, candidly referencing his own struggles and empathizing with Clapton’s battles with addiction and personal turmoil, wrote, “I know I can bring out something great — in fact greater in you than has been so far evident in your music.” While reassuring Clapton that there was no pressure, he emphasized that it was Clapton’s creative mind, not his celebrity, that he sought.
The draft, which Lennon never sent, is expected to fetch up to €150,000 ($158,000) in the online auction hosted by International Autograph Auctions Europe SL. It is being hailed as one of the rarest forms of Lennon’s personal correspondence, offering a poignant “what could have been” moment in rock history.
This extraordinary letter not only highlights Lennon’s enduring passion for music but also underlines the complex and collaborative relationships among the icons of the era. The auction follows the sale of an anonymous love letter from Clapton to Pattie Boyd, which fetched $135,000 earlier this year.
As Lennon’s untimely death in 1980 forever closed the chapter on this ambitious idea, the letter serves as a testament to his ceaseless creativity and drive to innovate in music.
