The audio cassette does not look like much but its yellowed label betrays its value: four words
"John Lenon
(sic)
- Skyrum Berge"
unveil an unreleased recording of the former Beatles, auctioned in Copenhagen on Tuesday, September 28.
Estimated between 27,000 and 40,000 euros, this recording of a total of 33 minutes is being sold by a group of Danish sixties who, more than 50 years ago, had met the musician, who had even sung for them.
Read alsoJohn Lennon, the immortal
It was the beginning of 1970, and four trendy boys, who wrote for their high school diary, braved a snowstorm in the hope of interviewing their idol, Lennon, and his wife, Yoko Ono, who had come to spend a game. winter in a remote corner of Jutland, mainland Denmark (west).
“
We went into the living room and saw John and Yoko (...) sitting on the sofa, it was fantastic.
We also sat down and were pretty close to each other, ”
recalls Karsten Højen, one of the owners of the precious souvenir, which was sold with photos of the famous day and a copy of the diary.
“I was sitting next to Yoko Ono and John Lennon was sitting next to Yoko and we talked, we had a good time.
He stretched his legs on the table in his woolen socks.
It was just cozy, ”
says this easygoing giant, now 68 years old.
It is very sincere.
It's very local, and I think that makes it unique because John Lennon talks to young high school kids.
"
lexa Bruun Rasmussen, head of the Bruun Rasmussen auction house
At the end of December 1969, in a hitherto forgotten episode, John Lennon arrives in the Scandinavian kingdom with Yoko Ono to get closer to Kyoko, the latter's daughter, who then lives with her father in northern Jutland. At first passed unnoticed, their visit, which will last only a few weeks, arouses the curiosity of the locals and the star organizes a press conference which falls ... on the day of the start of the school year, the seller still has fun. Never mind, he and his friends convince the headmaster to miss a day of lessons to go talk about peace and music with the singer, a few months before the Beatles' dissolution. Following a combination of incredible circumstances, because of the hateful weather, the four high school students find themselves interviewing him in a relaxed atmosphere.
If Karsten Højen and his friends decided to part with their treasure, which they did not digitize, it is above all because they did not really benefit from it any more and did not imagine sharing it among their numerous offspring. .
"We would be happy if a museum was interested or why not Yoko Ono herself"
, estimates this consultant in the cultural field. To listen to the recording, available nowhere else and of which an extract suggests that it is of decent quality, a good old cassette player is necessary.
“You have to sit down and take a little time to listen to it and hope that everything goes well,”
says Alexa Bruun Rasmussen, a manager of the Bruun Rasmussen auction house who is in charge of the sale.
Read also The disc dedicated by John Lennon to his killer on the day of his death, sold at auction
“They play
Give peace a chance,
but with different words and
(Lennon)
incorporates local Danish aspects, which is obviously a lot of fun for us, but also
Radio Peace
which has never been published,” she
explains. .
Listening to the recording is very moving, she says.
“It's very sincere.
It's very local, and I think that makes it unique because John Lennon speaks to young high school kids, they share the passion for the message of peace.
And you can clearly see that there is a connection between them
,
”
says Alexa Bruun Rasmussen.
Karsten Højen recounted the memory of this winter day to his children and grandchildren through the menu.
Soon there will be no proof left.