Wealth won't change you - John Lennon letter revealed

Published on 16/08/2010 15:25

A FOLK singer who once complained that success and wealth could ruin his songwriting has revealed a letter John Lennon sent him to calm his fears.

Steve Tilston was just 21 in 1971 when the star read the interview he had done with now defunct ZigZag magazine.

In the hand-written letter, now revealed for the first time, Lennon told the young musician not to worry about becoming wealthy because it would not change what he felt inside. Lennon wrote the letter just months after the Beatles split up in 1970.

He sent it to Mr Tilston at the magazine's offices, but the letter never reached the musician.

Astonishingly, the first time he saw it was in 2005 when an American collector contacted him for verification. The letter is written on a sheet of cruise liner paper with a pen self-portrait and a five-line sketch of Yoko.

The star wrote: "Being rich doesn't change your experience in the way you think. The only difference, basically, is that you don't have to worry about money - food - roof etc. But all other experiences - emotions - relationships - are the same as anybodies, I know, I've been rich and poor, so has Yoko (rich - poor - rich) so whadya think of that. Love John and Yoko."

Mr Tilston said of the letter, which is estimated to be worth about 7,000: "I felt rather angry to start with to think that someone had just sold the letter rather than passing it on to me, but you have to let these things go.

"It was so frustrating because Lennon even included his home phone number on the top of the letter," said the 60-year-old.

"I know it's silly but I wanted to ring him up across the ages. It was really poignant for me."