John Lennon stopped performing, writing, and recording professionally in 1975 to concentrate on raising his son, Sean. This hiatus from the music scene lasted until the summer of 1980, when he and wife Yoko Ono began writing and recording once again. This interview, conducted later in that year, took place as this comeback album, Double Fantasy, was being mixed in New York's Hit Factory.
Due to these circumstances, Lisa Robinson focuses her questions on Lennon as a father and what it's like to be back in the studio. But there are also more general discussions regarding his writing process and his need to express himself artistically.
We all know what happened outside his apartment building just over two months after this recording was made and, with that in mind, this interview is especially chilling. On the other hand, it's comforting to hear how content he was, both as a musician and as an individual.
00:00 - Introduction
00:28 - Thoughts he had during his 5-year hiatus
01:02 - Why it was harder to stop than continue
01:40 - Life as a stay-at-home dad
02:25 - 'The rewards of motherhood'
03:10 - Learning how to cook
03:52 - Relationship with his son Sean / Sean's thoughts on making Double Fantasy
06:30 - Pressures of the music business / not resting on his laurels
07:50 - Not wanting to see Elvis in Vegas
08:28 - How he became a professional musician / alternate outlets of expression
09:08 - Disinterest in acting / thoughts on How I Won the War
10:28 - Having the ability to walk away / writing music fun again
11:14 - Misery during his separation from Yoko
11:44 - Feeling lucky to be alive
13:08 - The song-writing process / the joy of being a medium
14:12 - The joy of creation / "Nowhere Man" as an example
15:29 - John's reaction to the criticism he received for being absent from the music scene
17:17 - Family more important than rock n' roll