Handwritten Letter from John Lennon to Eric Clapton Heading to Auction

The eight-page draft letter features John Lennon urging Eric Clapton to join a new band he was putting together.

Charlie Watts, Brian Jones, Yoko Ono, Julian Lennon & Eric Clapton on the set of The Rolling Stones’ ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus’ in 1968.

Andrew Maclear/Redferns

A handwritten letter which sees John Lennon pitching a new band to Eric Clapton is going under the auctioneer’s hammer.

The eight-page letter, which is dated Sept. 29, 1971, is a draft of the final version which was sent to Clapton that same year. Helmed by International Autograph Auctions Europe SL, the missive will go to auction on Dec. 5 for an expected sale of €100,000 – €150,000 (approximately $104,000 – $157,000), with bidding registrations open now.

The contents of the letter show the beginnings of what could have been an interesting chapter in the story of rock music, with Lennon asking Clapton to form a new band.

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“You must know by now that Yoko and I rate your music and yourself very highly, always have,” the letter begins. As Lennon continues, he touches on Clapton’s then-current dark period, which was marred by heroin addiction and a retreat from public appearances.

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“Eric, I know I can bring out something great, in fact greater in you that had been so far evident in your music,” Lennon adds. “I hope to bring out the same kind of greatness in all of us, which I know will happen if/when we get together.”

The letter ultimately pitches the idea of Clapton performing as part of the prospective band, which would have included previous Plastic Ono Band members Klaus Voorman, Jim Keltner, Nicky Hopkins, and Phil Spector. “And of course we had YOU!!! in mind as soon as we decided,” it continues.

By the time of the letter’s writing, Clapton had previously performed as part of the Plastic Ono Band, appearing as part of the iterations of the group that existed between September and December 1969.

“Please don’t be frightened, I understand paranoia, only too well,” Lennon adds to the expectedly-hesitant at the close of his letter. “I think it could only do good for you to work with people who love and respect you, and that’s from all of us.”

Ultimately, Clapton would turn down Lennon’s offer of joining the nascent band of “superstars”.

The draft of the letter also includes numerous corrections and edits, though it’s unknown what the final version that was sent to Clapton looked like. This isn’t the first time the letter has gone up for sale, however, with a 2012 auction expecting the item to sell for a total of $30,000.

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