John Lennon expressed his deep admiration for Eric Clapton's music in a heartfelt message. Getty Images
A handwritten letter by John Lennon to Eric Clapton, inviting him to join a new supergroup, is set to be auctioned next month. The eight-page letter, dated September 29, 1971, showcases Lennon’s deep admiration for Clapton and reveals his vision for a groundbreaking musical project. Lennon hoped the group would make a revolutionary impact on live performances and bring a fresh energy to rock ‘n’ roll.
The draft, which contains several corrections and deletions, outlines Lennon’s idea for a “nucleus group” that would feature several notable musicians, including Klaus Voormann, Jim Keltner, Nicky Hopkins, and Phil Spector, all of whom had worked with The Beatles. Lennon also suggested that his wife, Yoko Ono, would be a part of the project. In the letter, Lennon expressed his belief that the group could revive the boldness of rock ‘n’ roll, saying it would “bring back the balls” in the genre.
The letter is expected to fetch up to €150,000 (approximately $158,000) at auction on December 5, and is being described as one of the rarest personal communications by Lennon to be available for sale. The auction is being held by International Autograph Auctions Europe SL, which praised the letter for capturing a significant moment in rock history.
John Lennon wrote a handwritten draft of an eight-page letter to Eric Clapton. CNN
In the letter, Lennon tells Clapton how much he and Yoko admire Clapton's music and expresses his desire to tour with him. He mentions the Bangladesh concert, a benefit event organized by George Harrison, in which Clapton played. Lennon notes that after missing the concert, he and Yoko began to feel a growing desire to perform on the road again, but not in the way they had during the grueling years with The Beatles.
Lennon was aware of Clapton’s personal struggles during this time. Clapton had retreated from the public eye due to his battles with heroin addiction and the controversy surrounding his relationship with Pattie Boyd, the wife of George Harrison, whom Clapton would later marry. Lennon empathized with Clapton's difficult circumstances and offered support, stating, “Both of us have been thru the same kind of shit/pain that I know you´ve had — and I know we could help each other in that area.”
He also expressed his belief that the group could help bring out a new level of greatness in Clapton’s music, stating that he hoped to unlock something greater in Clapton than what had been shown in his work so far. However, Lennon made it clear that there was no pressure, writing, “I’m not trying to pressure you in any way… but mainly Eric, I know I can bring out something great.”
The last page of the letter is signed by "John & Yoko." CNN
The letter closes with “John & Yoko,” signaling Lennon’s personal commitment to the idea, but also acknowledging that Clapton’s participation was not guaranteed. It remains unclear how much of this letter influenced Lennon’s final communication with Clapton.
The auction house highlights the rarity of such a personal and lengthy handwritten letter from Lennon, especially one directed toward Clapton. It serves as a reminder of the remarkable relationship between two of rock history’s most iconic figures. Tragically, John Lennon was murdered in 1980, and he never had the chance to see his vision for this musical collaboration come to fruition.
Earlier this year, an anonymous love letter from Clapton to Pattie Boyd sold for $135,000 at auction, further underlining the deep connection between these legendary musicians.
