Lennon's Letter To Tilston

By Priya Devi

Monday, August 16, 2010, 15:40

A folk singer, Steve Tilston, has received a letter from the legend, John Lennon, after four decades it was sent to him. This letter was sent to him in response to his complaint that success was posing threat to his career.

In 1971 Lennon sent this letter to him after reading an interview with him in music magazine. Through that letter, he told Tilston not to worry about making money. Because money is not everything in life and it won't change his priorities and goals.

"Being rich doesn't change your experiences in the way you think," the letter read.

In the interview Tilston had said that becoming rich may ruin his talent to write good songs.

“The only difference, basically, is that you don''t have you worry about money - food - roof etc. But all other experiences - emotions - relationships - are the same as anybodies." Lennon added.

"I know, I have been rich and poor and so has Yoko, (rich - poor - rich). So, whadya think of that. Love John and Yoko," said Lennon.

Lennon had sent that letter to the music magazine's office but unfortunately it did not reach him. Later a collector contacted him five years ago to verify the letter. Yoko Ono, agreed that she recalls the time when he had written this letter.

"I didn't hear about it at all until out of the blue about five years ago, when an American chap got in touch with me and said; "Are you the Steve Tilston that John Lennon wrote to? That''s when I finally saw it - 34 years after it was written," Tilston said.

"I feel it was a rather brotherly letter really. Not antagonistic, just offering words of advice. If I had received it all those years ago my young self would definitely have rung him. I felt rather angry to start with to think that someone had just sold the letter rather than passing it on to me but you have to let these things go," he added.

Current estimated price of this letter is around 7000 Pounds and now it's with an American collector.

Vote this article