Kenwood: summer, 1967 - part 2, interview.

Here, as promised, is Swedish schoolboy (that's him in the above pics) Richard Mühlrad's interview with John, at Kenwood, in the summer of 1967. John's answers were apparently captured on a tape recorder (manned by Richard), and then transcribed and translated into Swedish. As far as I am aware, this is the first time the interview has appeared in English. (It should probably also be noted that this is a re-translation out of Swedish and back into English; luckily, most of the language is simple enough, and it is likely, therefore, to be a pretty accurate representation.) No revelations, or anything, but another little slice of time and place, all the same:

RM: Are you tired of pop music?
JL: No, why do you ask?

RM: Well, the Beatles have changed their style.
JL: It's still pop music.

RM: What will you do when you quit playing music?
JL: I don't know. Many people have asked me that question. I guess I'll just stop playing.

RM: What are the Beatles doing this autumn and winter?
JL: We're making a new film.

RM: Will you be travelling abroad?
JL: We haven't decided yet.

RM: Is it fun or tiresome being idolized?
JL: It's both fun and tiresome.

RM: Are the Beatles coming to Sweden this or next year?
JL: I don't think so. We've stopped touring. We might come as tourists on holiday.

RM: For how long will the Beatles keep on playing?
JL: I don't know, hopefully forever.

RM: But the papers keep writing that you're breaking up.
JL: You should never believe what the big papers say.

RM: Do you like the Monkees?
JL: Yes, in fact I met them last night. (John is referring to a big party at the Beatles favourite club which pop stars like the Rolling Stones, Monkees, Jimi Hendrix and others attended.)

RM: When will the new film be finished?
JL: November.

RM: When is the next album due?
JL: Soon I think. We have been writing and recording new songs continuously after finishing Sgt Pepper, so a new album should probably be out by September.

RM: Do you think you will release more records in 1968 compared to 1967?
JL: Oh, I really don't know you know. Everybody asks us about that.

RM: Do you like opera?
JL: No I think it's horrible! The music is alright, it's the singers I can't stand listening to.

RM: Have the Beatles managed to travel abroad much without the press finding out about it?
JL: Sometimes. They always know when any of us travel somewhere, but they don't always know where to.

RM: Do you think pop will last another five years, and if so, do you see yourselves topping the charts at that time?
JL: Yes, we hope so. Pop music will only become better and more like fine art over the next five years.

RM: Do you still enjoy playing before big crowds?
JL: No. It's too tiring.

RM: Is that why you stopped touring, unlike the Monkees who carry on?
JL: Well, we've already done that. What the Monkees are doing now is what we did for five years. You can't just repeat yourself over and over. We can't stand on stage and sing "She Loves You" anymore, that would just bore us. If we were to tour again we would need a full orchestra, and then no-one would listen.

RM: Do you prefer short or long hair?
JL: Well it's short at the moment, but I prefer long hair.

RM: Do you think having short hair has lost you any fans?
JL: I don't know.

And neither do I. Many thanks again go to Bruno for unearthing the Swedish fan mag from whence it came, and to Lonedrone for the re-translation.