The Other Side of Lennon (recently reissued on the author’s sandrasheveybooks.wordpress.com website) is inspired by Sandra Shevey’s marathon 12-hour 1972 interview with the former Beatle in his Bank Street apartment in New York, much of which is quoted in the book.

Shevey was one of 3 journalists (the only woman) afforded an interview with Lennon at the time, the others being Barry Golson of Playboy and Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone.

The book is far from a fan’s testament to their favourite Beatle: The Other Side of Lennon is a forensic investigation into a darker side of Lennon overlooked by a widely adoring public – a side that was arguably hidden even further following his assassination.

Shevey’s background in journalism sees her leave no stone unturned in the search for a more balanced, less Beatle-centric picture of the person John Lennon really was. The approach is certainly not without controversy when put up against the “populist” view of Lennon but the resulting picture Shevey paints, however unexpected it may be, is difficult to argue with given the source material.

Lennon’s relationships come into sharp focus. At the time Shevey and Lennon spoke, he was married to Yoko Ono who had a profound affect on his life and music. Brian Epstein also features prominently and Lennon’s love/hate relationship with his manager is explored here, too. John’s time with the Fab Four certainly doesn’t escape mention either but The Other Side of Lennon shows there’s more to Lennon than a man who simply wants to “hold you hand”.

Although every day of Lennon’s life must have been documented in some way, shape or form, and no end of literature, articles and documentaries must exist on him, this book spills over with revelations and anecdotes, not only from those who knew Lennon but the man himself. While it challenges the accepted image of the peace-loving, witty frontman of the greatest pop band of all time, this only serves to make this an all the more essential tome for even the most casual of Beatles or Lennon fans and a hugely fascinating portrait of a megastar that many no doubt feel they know so well, when in fact they have much more to learn. ( )