John Lennon

explaining that since the radical magazine Red Mole "can never have anything but a limited intellectual appeal to a few students, it would be a complete waste of money to cough up £15000 to print even more words", but that although his and Yoko's primary interest was to support revolutionary art they may nevertheless "allocate money to your group in the future", with a typically caustic post-script ("...Never talk in front of chauffers [sic] - it's a typical middle class mistake!..."), 1 page, folio, in black marker on lined stationery, probably a retained draft with three lines of cancelled text (including his concern that it "may be dangerous to write this"), additionally addressed to Ali's fellow editor Robin Blackburn, with Ali's name added again in another hand in red ink at the top of the page, [1971], sunned, nicks and tears at top edge not affecting text

Signed letter of authenticity by Edward Kosinski of "The Rock & Roll Trust"; Barrett Jackson, auction ("Rock on the Block"), 15-21 January 2007, lot 3309

The John Lennon Letters, ed. Davies (2012), pp.191-192; Norman, John Lennon (2008), pp.661-663

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"...our primary concern must inevitably be to revolution thru art..."

JOHN LENNON ADDRESSES A LEADING FIGURE OF THE RADICAL LEFT. In January 1971, at the height of his involvement with politics, Lennon gave a revealing interview to Red Mole, the publication of the Trotskyist International Marxist Group, in which he gave a forceful endorsement of revolutionary politics, Primal Scream Therapy, and Women's Liberation. Fired up by the interview, within 24 hours he had composed a new anthem that would echo from political demonstrations for decades to come - 'Power to the People'. Nevertheless, this letter, which probably follows that interview and was sent to both of the magazine's editors, shows the limits of his support for Marxist intellectuals. Ali recalls that Lennon personally contributed £3,000 to the cause and suspects that Lennon was persuaded by Apple's lawyers not to provide more substantial or more public support, however Lennon was too independent-minded to be comfortable supporting any political party and may not have needed much persuasion to limit his involvement with the Trotskyists.