Rock Report: Lennon Wanted To Work With Clapton

Imagine if after The Beatles unraveled, John Lennon had teamed up with Eric Clapton? That tantalizing suggestion is contained in a letter Lennon wrote to Clapton in 1971 -- that will go up for bids December 18th in L.A.

Reuters got a sneak peek at the handwritten page, which included this quote: "Eric, I know I can bring out something great, in fact greater in you that had been so far evident in your music. I hope to bring out the same kind of greatness in all of us, which I know will happen if/when we get together."

Clapton and Lennon were already friends at that point -- Eric had played in a 1969 edition of The Plastic Ono Band with John and Yoko. And while Clapton never acknowledged the letter, he certainly admired Lennon's talents and creative mind.

Eric Clapton played on a total of 12 solo Beatles albums -- including John's Lennon's Live Peace In Toronto and his hits compilation Shaved Fish; Paul McCartney's Driving Rain; George Harrison's Wonderwall Music, All Things Must Pass, The Concert For Bangladesh, George Harrison, Cloud Nine, and Live In Japan, Ringo Starr's Ringo's Rotogravure, Old Wave, and Ringo Rama.
Clapton, Elton John, Billy Preston, and bassist Klaus Voormann share the distinction of being the only musicians to have performed with all four of the Beatles live onstage following the breakup.