Video: 'John Lennon - Weekend World, April 8, 1973'

(Friday, April 6, 1973) — Five days after it is announced publicly that three former members of the British rock music and The Beatles (John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr) have split with business manager Allen Klein, the Lennons dropped into a Los Angeles television studio today to videotape an interview on the subject with ITN’s John Fielding for London Weekend Television’s political and current affairs show Weekend World.

During the 10-minute feature, John, dressed in a matching light blue casual shirt and trousers and a pair of sandals, is first asked:

“Can you tell me what happened with Allen Klein? Why did you and the other two decide finally to get rid of him?”

John: “There are many reasons why we finally gave him the push, although I don’t want to go into the details of it. Let’s say possibly Paul’s suspicions were right… and the time was right.”

Fielding: “His contract was coming up for renewal anyway… wasn’t it?”

John: “The contract expired I think in February, and we were extending it at first on a monthly basis and then finally on a two-week basis, and then finally we pushed the boat out.”

Video: 'John Lennon talks about Allen Klein Rare footage from April 1973'

Fielding: “When did you personally decide that Klein probably wasn’t the man you thought he was?”

John: “Well, you’re concluding that I thought he was something. My position has always been a ‘Devil and the deep-blue sea’, and at that time I do whatever I feel is right. Although I haven’t been particularly happy personally for quite a long time with the situation, I didn’t want to make any quick moves and I wanted to see if maybe something would work out”

Lennon is naturally asked if, due to the present situation, the chance of The Beatles performing again as a group is enhanced.

Slightly agitated, he replies, “With or without the present situation, the chances are practically nil! Although I hate to say ‘definitely’ to anything, because, every time, I change my mind. But I don’t have a feeling about it and I don’t think any of the others really do. If any of you actually remember when we were together, everybody was talking about it as though it was wonderful all the time. All the press and all the people, all saying how great and how wonderful… but it wasn’t like that at all! And imagine if they did get together, what kind of scrutiny would they be under? Nothing could fit the dream people had of them. So forget it, you know, it’s ludicrous!”

Following the split from Klein, Lennon admits that a number of people have been calling him, coming out of the woodwork and asking, “Can I help you?” and going as far as to leave bottles of champagne in his hotel room.

The interview would be aired across certain ITV regions, two days later, on Sunday, April 8, 1973, between 11:31 a.m. and 12:28 p.m.