Were the Beatles used as propaganda by Greece's military rulers?
In the summer of love, on a hot July day, John Lennon was sitting by a lake in central Greece. The Beatles were on their way to Delphi, via the mountain village of Arachova. Lennon, who was splayed across the grass next to his first wife, Cynthia, and their young son, Julian, appeared to be lost in thought.
The rest of the band were lapping up the rays, knocking back beers and splashing about in the lake. Labis Tsirigotakis, then a cub reporter on the Greek daily, To Vima, realised this was his big chance. Sensing a scoop, he moved closer. “John, can I ask you a few questions?” he asked.
“No problem, I’m happy to meet you,” came the response as Lennon, looking up from his Orwell novel, contemplated Tsirigotakis’ next question on his “impressions of Greece”.
What followed was an outburst so impassioned it took the reporter aback: “Unfortunately the social inequalities in England are so big it wounds me psychologically. Greece is a wonderful country, fantastic climate, great people … and that’s why we are seriously thinking of buying a small Greek island and setting up our own hippy commune where we could live undisturbed for half of the year.”
Source: Helena Smith/theguardian.com
