John Lennon’s 1971 letter pitching a new band to Eric Clapton is going to auction

nme.com:

John Lennon‘s famous 1971 letter to Eric Clapton suggesting they form a new band is heading to auction soon – find out more below.The eight-page letter, dated September 29 1971, was drafted by Lennon and includes several deletions and markings – the final version that was sent to Clapton has not been seen by the public, and it is currently unknown how much the final differs from the draft.The letter is set to go on auction via International Autograph Auctions Europe SL on December 5.

Registration for bids are now open, and bids are expected to €100,000 and €150,000.The 1971 letter – which also went on auction in 2012, though for a far less €22,728 – comes after Clapton had performed with Lennon and Yoko Ono for a short stint in the Plastic Ono Band in 1969 prior to The Beatle‘s official split.

Shortly after that, Clapton entered a dark period in his life stemming from heroin addiction retreated from the public eye.In the letter, Lennon alluded to Clapton’s troubles but never addressed them directly.

He also pitched that Clapton and Lennon form a new band, writing: “Eric, I know I can bring out something great, in fact greater in you that had been so far evident in your music.