Part two of my interview with Lennon historian Jude Southerland Kessler
As mentioned earlier this month, Jude Southerland Kessler has just released her latest book, She Loves You. It's the third volume of her expanded biography of John Lennon—well-timed to take advantage of the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ first live appearance in the US. Jude’s project should keep her occupied for a while. She’s committed to six more Lennon books over the next twenty years.
Here’s the second half of my interview with Jude.
JOL: The goal of The Beatles, dating back at least to 1961, was to be "bigger than Elvis"—which was pretty outrageous for a band making chump change in small clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg. I know their manager, Brian Epstein, used those words a lot. That phrase was the band’s compass, wasn’t it?
JSK: Well, as you know, John had claimed he’d be “bigger’n Elvis” long before Brian picked up the mantra. John alternated it with his vow to “get to the toppermost of the poppermost.” And it was that yardstick which convinced John to choose Brian as their manager.