John Lennon’s son recalls epic strop Beatles legend threw when his single flopped
John Lennon was reportedly not happy when his 1969 single, Cold Turkey, under performed on the music charts. His son, Sean Lennon, has recalled how John responded.
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John Lennon had an almighty tantrum when one of his solo singles failed to dent the music charts – prompting the ex-Beatle to complain to The Queen.
The late musician – who was murdered in December 1980, aged 40 – threw his toys out of the pram when his single, Cold Turkey, failed to set the music world ablaze.
The song – said to be a representation of his withdrawal from heroin addiction – was released in 1969 but peaked at number 14 on the UK charts.
According to the music legend’s 45-year-old son, Sean, John was so annoyed by the lack of success with the song, that he wrote to Her Majesty The Queen to complain – returning his MBE in the process.
Sean told DJ Strombo on Apple Music Hitst: “The single didn’t do well, and he hilariously wrote to the Queen returning his MBE.
“He says something like, ‘Your Majesty, I’m returning the MBE in protest against the Vietnam War.
“And in protest of Cold Turkey slipping down the charts’.”
John was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1965 along with the other members of the Beatles.
While the star reportedly tried to return the honour in 1969, MBE’s cannot be returned.
However, the letter he wrote to The Queen and his medal are held at the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman previously confirmed that it was holding the MBE after John sent it back to the Palace along with his grumpy letter.
The spokesman told The Telegraph in 2009: “The Central Chancery would, without question, return any Insignia to the original recipient if they request it during their lifetime.
“If a recipient had not asked for insignia back before they die then it is assumed that they did not wish it to be returned, and any request from any other person for its return at a later date would be going against the original recipient’s wishes.
MirrorCeleb