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Lot 1432

A John Lennon hand-written letter regarding John and Yoko’s band “The Elephants”

25 June 2006, 10:00 PDT
Los Angeles

US$15,000 - US$20,000

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A John Lennon hand-written letter regarding John and Yoko’s band “The Elephants”

Autograph Letter Signed (“John and Yoko”) no place or date, c. 1973, 1 page, quarto, in fine condition. Reading “Dear Elephants / It’s costing too much to keep you on a retainer – and I/we have no plans to tour on anything money making!” He then drops the bombshell “Apple will probably be split up soon,” before hastily but ineffectively crossing that out, and continuing “I hope you enjoyed yourselves (we did) – your name’s known enough now to keep you going. So we’ll give you till” he inserts a line as if to place an end date, but fails to add one. “Then your [sic] on your own. See you round. / Love / John and Yoko.” And then a ps which doubtless inspired urgency given his earlier throw away remark “Apple will deal with the equipment / royalties etc.” "Elephant's Memory" was founded in New York in the late 1960s by Stan Bronstein and Rick Frank. Their musical style leaned toward a strain of avant garde jazz. The dissolution of the "Elephants" marks this letter as extremely significant. On August 30, 1972 John and Yoko performed two benefit concerts at Madison Square Garden in company with "Elephant's Memory." They were to be the last full length concert appearances of his career. This letter, breaking up the band, basically closes the door and marks the end of his live concert career, a very significant milestone in his life.
25 x 23in

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