Four and a half fun minutes, found via Kathy Shaidle. Carolla asks what the pacifistic Lennon would have done about Hitler bombing England in WWII; perhaps a 1965 quote gives his thoughts on the topic.
When the Beatles were presented with their MBE awards (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 1965, John Lennon was quoted as saying, “Lots of people who complained about us receiving the MBE received theirs for heroism in the war — for killing people. We received ours for entertaining other people. I’d say we deserve ours more.”
Oh absolutely, John. Absolutely.
(Lennon would return his MBE in 1969, accompanied by a letter that stated, “I am returning this MBE in protest against Britain’s involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against ‘Cold Turkey’ slipping down the charts. With love. John Lennon, Bag Productions, 3 Savile Row, London W.I.”)
Update: From the comments, the London Daily Mail on “Girls, guns and why Tom Jones and Elvis BOTH wanted to beat up John Lennon.”
Weren’t they worried about Yoko siccing the PLO on them as revenge? Or heck, Yoko simply siccing Yoko on them?
Related: Speaking of conservative takes on exhausted music genres, don’t miss “The Fundamental Things,” our post quoting Mark Steyn on the nihilism of rap music, and how pop culture shapes the American culture at large.
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