John Lennon rarely shied away from a strong statement. By the time he launched his solo career, Lennon was an activist and a change-maker. Most famously, his calling card, “Imagine,” sees him dream of a world that isn’t weighed down by poverty, war, and vanity. While many would consider that song the greatest statement of Lennon’s career, the songwriter himself saw things differently. Find out which album Lennon considered the most powerful statement of his career below.
One of John Lennon’s Most Infamous Post-Beatles Moments
Towards the end of Lennon’s time with the Beatles, he released a side project in collaboration with Yoko Ono, Two Virgins. The album proved to be controversial, not only because Lennon was creating outside of the Beatles’ sphere, but because the album cover was NSFW. Naked Lennon and Ono were splashed across the album’s sleeve, leading to one of the most infamous moments of the former Beatle’s career.
It was the cover that made Lennon consider Two Virgins the most significant statement of his career. It was shocking and provocative, two things activists tend to lean towards. Despite the criticism, Lennon stood behind this polarizing decision.
“I thought maybe somebody out there will say something, but I was making a statement,” Lennon once said. “It was as good as a song, it was better, you couldn’t say it better – pictures speak louder than words. There it was: beautiful statement.”
Cover Controversy
Since Lennon was still technically part of the Beatles at the time, his bandmates had many opinions on the cover. Even Ringo Starr, who was famously the most amiable of the group, had some things to say.
“The cover was the mind-blower – I remember to this day the moment when they came in and showed me,” Starr once said. “I don’t really remember the music, I’d have to play it now. But he showed me the cover and I pointed to the Times: ‘Oh, you’ve even got the Times in it…’ as if he didn’t have his di** hanging out.”
“I said, ‘Ah, come on, John,’” he continued. “You’re doing all this stuff and it may be cool for you, but you know we all have to answer.”
In the end, this controversial album cover didn’t sully the band’s career. It’s now a memorable stop off in the tenure of one of the most beloved groups of all time.
