Handwritten statement in pencil by John Lennon, signed twice in the third-person, “John” and “J,” annotated on the reverse of an off-white 11 x 8.5 recording sheet from the famed New York recording studio Record Plant, no date [circa May 1972]. The statement reads [spelling and grammar retained]: “At last weeks rehearsal of Elephants Memory + John/Yoko the man ‘Brian’ was not an I.R.A. man. he belongs to the Civil Rights Movement of Ireland – J + Y have no connection with I.R.A. Please retract the wrong statement especially because of our immigration ‘problem.’" In fine condition, with toning along the side edges. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Tracks. Originates from the estate of Rick Frank, Jr., drummer for Elephant's Memory.
Following the success of ‘Give Peace a Chance’ and ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over),’ John Lennon became a prominent figure in the American anti-war movement, drawing the attention of the Nixon administration. In 1972, amid rumors that Lennon might perform at an anti-war concert during the Republican National Convention, President Nixon and his allies viewed him as a political threat. Republican Senator Strom Thurmond even suggested deportation as a ‘strategic counter-measure,’ and the Immigration and Naturalization Service soon moved to expel Lennon, citing a 1968 British cannabis conviction. Lennon spent more than three-and-a-half years fighting deportation in court while continuing his activism, appearing at rallies, on television, and co-hosting The Mike Douglas Show with Yoko Ono. Support poured in from figures such as Bob Dylan, who wrote a passionate letter urging the government to let Lennon and Ono remain in the country.
In March 1973, Lennon was ordered to leave the U.S., prompting him and Ono to stage a satirical press conference announcing the creation of ‘Nutopia,’ a borderless, passport-free state, and requesting political asylum. Soon afterward, the Watergate scandal engulfed Nixon’s presidency, eventually leading to his resignation. Under Nixon’s successor, Gerald Ford, the government lost interest in pursuing Lennon’s case, and in 1975, a court formally barred the deportation attempt. Lennon received his green card in 1976, securing permanent residency, and the following year, he and Ono attended President Jimmy Carter’s inaugural celebrations.
Known around the Greenwich Village area as a politically active street band, Elephant's Memory backed John Lennon and Yoko Ono on their album Some Time in New York City during recording sessions in March 1972. Later in 1972, the group was billed as the Plastic Ono Elephant's Memory Band and performed with Lennon and Ono on various TV shows, albums, and concerts. In April and May 1972, the band recorded their second self-titled album, which was co-produced by Lennon and Ono, and released on the Beatles' Apple Records label.
This item is Pre-Certified by Real
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
(inquire for price)
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
Third-party authentication service applies only to signatures and handwriting, and does not cover the addition of sketches, artwork, musical quotations, etc.
