Hours before the recording of ‘Give Peace A Chance’ at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Canada, John Lennon and Yoko Ono clashed with satirical cartoonist Al Capp.
If you watch some of the great footage in Imagine you see the cartoonist Al Capp. He comes into the bed-in and he’s really bitter. He’s a wicked old git, but John’s brilliant with him. John really wants to deck him but you can see he controls himself. I think John behaved very well there, because the guy is actually slagging off Yoko – and that’s one thing you don’t do. You don’t slag off someone’s missus – that’s tribal time, isn’t it? I think John was very good. It was: ‘Let’s not sink to his level.’
The exchange later appeared in the documentary film Imagine. Capp introduced himself with the words “I’m a dreadful Neanderthal fascist. How do you do?”, and later sarcastically congratulated Lennon and Ono on their Two Virgins album cover.
I think that everybody owes it to the world to prove they have pubic hair. You’ve done it, and I tell you that I applaud you for it.
Al Capp
Lennon referred to the incident in The Ballad Of John And Yoko, his account of his early years with Ono, written in 1978 and published posthumously in the Skywriting By Word Of Mouth collection.
Many big egos came to see us there: Al Crapp, Dick Gregory, Tim Leary and Rosemary, Tommy Smothers (all except Crapp sang on Give Peace A Chance).
Last updated: 19 May 2017
Also on this day...
- 2024: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Venetian Theatre, Las Vegas
- 2019: Paul McCartney live: Rupp Arena, Lexington
- 2018: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Music Box, Atlantic City
- 2008: Paul McCartney live: Liverpool Sound
- 2003: Paul McCartney live: King’s Dock, Liverpool
- 2000: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Horseshoe Casino Tunica, Robinsonville
- 1981: US album release: Somewhere In England by George Harrison
- 1976: Wings live: Chicago Stadium, Chicago
- 1973: UK single release: Live And Let Die by Wings
- 1969: John Lennon and Yoko Ono record Give Peace A Chance
- 1969: George and Pattie Harrison holiday in Sardinia
- 1967: Recording: Untitled
- 1967: UK album release: Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
- 1966: Recording: Yellow Submarine
- 1964: Recording: Matchbox, I’ll Cry Instead, Slow Down, I’ll Be Back
- 1963: The Beatles live: Granada Cinema, Tooting, London
- 1963: Radio: Pop Go The Beatles
- 1961: The Beatles live: Top Ten Club, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Is it a typo or is John insulting Al Capp by calling him Al Crapp. Being John, I’m assuming it’s the latter.
Yes, that’s it. He wouldn’t miss a chance to throw an insult at someone he disliked.
I just watched Imagine again last night…I love the Beatles and John Lennon but Capp makes some interesting points on the album artwork…
I remember Al Capp.
One day he drew the Beatles in his comic strip wearing colonial uniforms crossing the Delaware like George Washington and the Revolutionary army.
He got into trouble with an adultery charge brought forth by a University or College student and he subsequently pleaded no contest.
What a shame Al Capp turned into a reactionary in those last few years but there was severe public consequences to his adultery scandal.
After enduring his sermonizing attitude the public turned against him because of the scandal and he had to fold his column.
I was so saddened by his fall from grace as his column and wit was remarkable for years prior to his decline.
There is NO bigger John Lennon fan than myself. Why were the Beatles the best band of all time. A not particularly talented guitarist,who by sheer hard work transformed himself into an excellent session man/sideman? A barely adequate drummer? A hugely talented songwriter who wrote nostly sugary ballads? All these elements were present in many of the 60’s bands. So what was the gamebreaker. Why John’s razor edged wit, personality, and groundbreaking musical output. Now, having said that, as time went on John morphed from a likable rogue into a pretentions and hypocritical a*****e. It was rich when Apple was formed and he pompously informed the press that it was for people who just wanted to do something artistic, and Apple meant they “wouldn’t have to go on their knees in someones office”. Within a few years, the tune had changed somewhat, as he cried “Apple can’t go on, if it continues like this, we’ll be broke in 6 months”. A little dose of reality is a wonderful alarm clock. And respect for people…, ask Julian, Cynthia, May Pang and any number of others living and dead. His embrace of the “love mantra” seemed particulary sterile, a continuation of the Victorian charity impulse, which was a sort of disdainful, hands off approach, characterized more by a great deal of moral pronouncements and a minimum of concrete help. Capp was that stock American figure, the individual who finally made it and now wants to pull the ladder up behind him, but much as I abhor his philosophy, I can understand his contempt for what can only be called self indulgent showboating.
I watched this exchange recently, and a couple of things struck me. One is that John Lennon, while evidently sincere and well-meaning, sounds very cut off from what is actually going on. He’s trying to make a positive difference in his own way but can’t help sounding like an out-of-touch member of the aristocracy. Living in a fishbowl for your whole adult life will do that to you, I suppose. Al Capp, on the other hand, comes across as an embittered troll who seems to be trying to goad Lennon into decking him or throwing him out. Listening to that argument was an education in how people can turn out, I suppose.
I believe term “Ugly American” is aimed at jerks like Al Capp. As an American, Capp never represented me. LIL’ ABNER was a strip I always skipped when there was funny papers. Capp came to start a fight, but he got a pretty smart exchange for / with Lennon. He wasn’t prepared for that, so Capp got hung up on some of the lyrics for “The Ballad Of John & Yoko,” which John explained. Capp leaves as a defeated dinosaur here.
Al Capp made some great points and called out the inevitable leftist hypocrisy that goes on to this day. Lennon was great, but his political stance was naive at best.
Al Capp turns to Timothy Leary and says: “Nice of you to drop in.” I’ll bet most people do not appreciate his quick wit in that moment.