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How much do we really know about John Lennon’s personality? In a recent episode of ‘The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan,’ longtime friend and confidant Elliot Mintz peeled back the layers of Lennon’s complex personality. Mintz revealed that the former Beatle wasn’t immune to envy—especially when it came to his peers in the music business.
Mintz recalled Lennon’s conflicted feelings toward Bob Dylan, describing their dynamic as a “love-hate relationship.” Lennon admired Dylan’s lyrical prowess but bristled at what he saw as an “artificial mystique.” Lennon once commented to Mintz, “I put everything out there. He [Dylan] just keeps this phony air of mystery around him.” Despite Mintz’s attempts to praise Dylan’s surrealist style, Lennon insisted, “The stuff that I write is from my heart.”
According to Mintz, Lennon also harbored jealousy toward his former bandmate Paul McCartney during the 1970s. While McCartney was filling stadiums and basking in public adoration, Lennon was focused on raising his son Sean with Yoko Ono. Mintz recalled Lennon’s frustration: “They’re not embracing me the way they are him.” When Mintz pointed out that Lennon wasn’t actively performing or releasing music, Lennon countered, “You miss the point. They’re embracing his genius, but have you ever heard Silly Love Songs?”
These revelations are included in Mintz’s new book, We All Shine On — John, Yoko & Me, which chronicles his decades-long friendship with the iconic couple.
[Source: Premiere]