A Daty In Rock: September 30th, 1969: John Lennon Releases Second Solo Single
On this day fifty-five years ago… John Lennon recorded his blistering “Cold Turkey.” Offered to The Beatles, who passed on it, the song was credited to the Plastic Ono Band – which consisted of Lennon, Eric Clapton (guitar), fellow Beatle Ringo Starr (drums), and Manfred Mann’s Klaus Voorman (bass). Yoko Ono was in there as well.
Cold turkey refers to the abrupt cessation of substance use. Sudden withdrawal from drugs can be extremely dangerous, and incredibly painful. Lennon had gone through just that with heroin.
The song was banned on American radio,
“They were thinking I was promoting heroin, but instead… They’re so stupid about drugs,” stated Lennon. ” I’m not preaching about ‘em. I’m just saying a drug is a drug, you know. Why we take them is important, not who’s selling it to whom on the corner.”
