Comments on: John Lennon and the International Marxist Group http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:49:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Anna http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/comment-page-1/#comment-5103 Anna Sun, 24 Dec 2006 13:25:07 +0000 http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/#comment-5103 Corrections and clarifications Friday December 22, 2006 The Guardian Yesterday's news report headlined Revealed at last - how FBI tried to nail Lennon, page 7, stated in error that the newly released files on the FBI's surveillance of John Lennon in the 1970s contained information that the agency had "recruited two 'prominent British leftists' - alas unnamed - to befriend him". In fact Tariq Ali and Robin Blackburn are named but are not described in any part of the documents as being agents or informers for the FBI. The agency simply reported their relationship to Lennon and the proposed financing of a London bookshop. Tariq Ali posted his recollections of this relationship on our Comment is free website yesterday. We wish to apologise for the misunderstanding. Corrections and clarifications

Friday December 22, 2006

The Guardian

Yesterday’s news report headlined Revealed at last – how FBI tried to nail Lennon, page 7, stated in error that the newly released files on the FBI’s surveillance of John Lennon in the 1970s contained information that the agency had “recruited two ‘prominent British leftists’ – alas unnamed – to befriend him”. In fact Tariq Ali and Robin Blackburn are named but are not described in any part of the documents as being agents or informers for the FBI. The agency simply reported their relationship to Lennon and the proposed financing of a London bookshop. Tariq Ali posted his recollections of this relationship on our Comment is free website yesterday. We wish to apologise for the misunderstanding.

]]> By: Anna http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/comment-page-1/#comment-5102 Anna Sun, 24 Dec 2006 13:06:04 +0000 http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/#comment-5102 So who were the FBI playthings, then? So who were the FBI playthings, then?

]]> By: Phil http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/comment-page-1/#comment-5101 Phil Sun, 24 Dec 2006 11:30:34 +0000 http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/#comment-5101 That was terser than it needed to be - it was late and I was tired. Luff's Obscene Publications Squad had had their eye on the scene for a while, & they went for Neville (and Richard Branson!) in June 1970. The point about arbitrary interventions in the legal process being a Bad Thing (which I agree with) isn't really relevant - my point is that Neville's own experiences at the hands of Luff & co give the lie to his apparent belief that Labour Britain was inherently more scene-friendly than Tory Britain. That was terser than it needed to be – it was late and I was tired. Luff’s Obscene Publications Squad had had their eye on the scene for a while, & they went for Neville (and Richard Branson!) in June 1970. The point about arbitrary interventions in the legal process being a Bad Thing (which I agree with) isn’t really relevant – my point is that Neville’s own experiences at the hands of Luff & co give the lie to his apparent belief that Labour Britain was inherently more scene-friendly than Tory Britain.

]]> By: Phil http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/comment-page-1/#comment-5100 Phil Sat, 23 Dec 2006 23:16:54 +0000 http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/#comment-5100 The trial took place in 1971, but the prosecution was brought under Labour. You could look it up. The trial took place in 1971, but the prosecution was brought under Labour. You could look it up.

]]> By: Last of the Wilsonians http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/comment-page-1/#comment-5099 Last of the Wilsonians Sat, 23 Dec 2006 11:03:00 +0000 http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/#comment-5099 As the trial was in 1971 I don't see how that can be blamed on Harold Wilson. Incidentally, it was the law that was wrong not the refusal of politicians to interfere with it. Arbitrary interventions by politicians in the legal process is something that ought to be avoided! As the trial was in 1971 I don’t see how that can be blamed on Harold Wilson. Incidentally, it was the law that was wrong not the refusal of politicians to interfere with it. Arbitrary interventions by politicians in the legal process is something that ought to be avoided!

]]> By: Phil http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/comment-page-1/#comment-5098 Phil Fri, 22 Dec 2006 20:10:30 +0000 http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/#comment-5098 <i>Lennon argued that it would make a difference, if the Tories got in they would be more repressive, it might only be marginally, but "we operate in that margin". (Sorry but maybe someone else will remember this exchange better than I do).</i> I remember Richard Neville coming out with an almost identical line - "there may be only an inch between Labour and the Tories, but in that inch we can live". (Which was pretty ironic, given that the Oz trial was brought under a Labour government.) I suspect the story may have migrated to the more famous Lennon, as these things do. Lennon argued that it would make a difference, if the Tories got in they would be more repressive, it might only be marginally, but “we operate in that margin”. (Sorry but maybe someone else will remember this exchange better than I do).

I remember Richard Neville coming out with an almost identical line – “there may be only an inch between Labour and the Tories, but in that inch we can live”. (Which was pretty ironic, given that the Oz trial was brought under a Labour government.) I suspect the story may have migrated to the more famous Lennon, as these things do.

]]> By: Chris Baldwin http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/comment-page-1/#comment-5097 Chris Baldwin Fri, 22 Dec 2006 19:14:58 +0000 http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/#comment-5097 I like Revolution 9. As for the other Revolutions, they contain the vital difference that Revolution rejects revolutionary violence ("you can count me out") and Revolution 1 is ambivalent about it ("you can count me out (in)"). Although Revolution 1 was released after Revolution, it was recorded before it, so Lennon actually hardened his non-violent stance (hat tip to Ian MacDonald's Revolution in the Head, a book far more useful and relevant to the modern world than all the writings of all the Euston Manifesto crowd put together). I like Revolution 9. As for the other Revolutions, they contain the vital difference that Revolution rejects revolutionary violence (“you can count me out”) and Revolution 1 is ambivalent about it (“you can count me out (in)”). Although Revolution 1 was released after Revolution, it was recorded before it, so Lennon actually hardened his non-violent stance (hat tip to Ian MacDonald’s Revolution in the Head, a book far more useful and relevant to the modern world than all the writings of all the Euston Manifesto crowd put together).

]]> By: Darren http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/comment-page-1/#comment-5096 Darren Fri, 22 Dec 2006 19:05:10 +0000 http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/#comment-5096 Last of the Bore'ites, Never knew that Townsend was a member of the YCL in his youth, but if that was the case it would only have been a few years after the events of '56. That would have made him a bit of an arsehole. Good tunes, though. Last of the Bore’ites,

Never knew that Townsend was a member of the YCL in his youth, but if that was the case it would only have been a few years after the events of ’56. That would have made him a bit of an arsehole.

Good tunes, though.

]]> By: Last of the Blairites http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/comment-page-1/#comment-5095 Last of the Blairites Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:54:07 +0000 http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/#comment-5095 Pete Townshend was certainly helping to fund the Labour Party in the mid/late 80s. Of course, he used to be in the YCL too. Which no doubt makes you all boo and hiss, which I suggests rtaher better taste in ultra leftism than the IMG and their "let it bleed" attack on Wilson Pete Townshend was certainly helping to fund the Labour Party in the mid/late 80s. Of course, he used to be in the YCL too. Which no doubt makes you all boo and hiss, which I suggests rtaher better taste in ultra leftism than the IMG and their “let it bleed” attack on Wilson

]]> By: Last of the Blairites http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/comment-page-1/#comment-5094 Last of the Blairites Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:49:16 +0000 http://www.davidosler.com/2006/12/john-lennon-and-the-international-marxist-group/#comment-5094 Sean Thompson: Revolution No 9? Did you object to the avant garde musical editing as a petit bourgeois deviation, or was it really Revoltion 1 (or 2, as I believe the single was called)? Which, as you say, has rather survived the course in terms of pricking the ultra left bubble? For those who don't understand my pedantry - "Revoluion 9" consists of 8 minutes of someone saying "Number 9" over various soundscapes - while the lower numbered versions contain the immortal line "but if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao/You ain't going to make it with anyone, anyhow" Sean Thompson:

Revolution No 9? Did you object to the avant garde musical editing as a petit bourgeois deviation, or was it really Revoltion 1 (or 2, as I believe the single was called)? Which, as you say, has rather survived the course in terms of pricking the ultra left bubble?

For those who don’t understand my pedantry – “Revoluion 9″ consists of 8 minutes of someone saying “Number 9″ over various soundscapes – while the lower numbered versions contain the immortal line “but if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao/You ain’t going to make it with anyone, anyhow”

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