John Lennon and Yoko Ono are interviewed for CBC-TV

John Lennon and Yoko Ono gave an interview on this day to two reporters, Nick Steed and Ken Cavanaugh, from Canada’s state broadcaster CBC-TV.

Lennon and Ono wore all black for the recording, which was made at musician Ronnie Hawkins’ farm on Mississauga Road, Ontario, where the couple were staying during their Canadian peace campaign. The interview took place at a table in front of a ‘War is over’ poster, with another one positioned in front of the microphones.

The interview, unusually, was largely confined to the peace efforts. Lennon said he didn’t feel the need to cut his hair to get his message across, saying the long-haired Beatles never felt their success was diminished by their image.

Lennon said the Canadian prime minister, Pierre Trudeau, “does seem to be this side of the Stone age”, and said he had made a good impression during a recent state visit to England.

On the ongoing peace campaign, Lennon admitted he had no idea of how successful it would be, but added The Beatles were similarly naive about their prospects of fame when they played at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.