News | Entertainment
22 Nov 2025 3:57
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Never-before-heard interviews with Beatles legend John Lennon have been unearthed as a result of a cleaning spree during lockdown

    The family of late journalist Ken Zeilig were amazed to discover the tapes which contained recordings of conversations between him and the 'Imagine' songwriter - who was murdered outside The Dakota apartment building in New York City in 1980 at the age of 40


    His daughter Hannah Zeilig said: "We always knew from him that he’d hung out with John Lennon and that he’d interviewed John Lennon. But we never heard the interview. He didn’t mention he’d spent time with Yoko Ono as well, which he clearly had."

    The 12 reel-to-reel recordings comprise of three separate interviews thought to have taken place on separate occasions in 1969 and the early 1970s.

    Hannah told Global News: “My sister, who lives in LA, was clearing out her garage and she found a whole bunch of boxes. She wasn’t looking for anything in particular. She was looking to do one of those pandemic clear-outs that we all did"

    In one of the interviews, Lennon - who married Japanese artist Yoko in 1969 - admits to being "prejudiced" towards his own music when asked to name his favourite songs and goes on to discuss his creative process.

    Hannah added: “I found that absolutely extraordinary and so insightful. Like, forget all those self-help books. John Lennon, just, like, puts it really well.”

    The tapes are now up for auction under the guidance of Omega Auctions and are expected to fetch up to $50,000

    Staff at Omega Auctions were quick to share their excitement over the historic discovery.

    Paul Fairweather said: “Just reading the transcripts before we actually heard them was fascinating in itself. hen we actually heard them, it was amazing to hear John speaking because they’re such clear audio recordings that it feels that he’s actually sat in the room with you."

    The tapes will be auctioned off on September 28.

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     21 Nov: Katherine Schwarzenegger has taken inspiration from her father Arnold Schwarzenegger when it comes to her parenting approach
     21 Nov: Jane Fonda admits that it has been a "tough year" following the losses of her friends Gene Hackman, Robert Redford and Diane Keaton
     21 Nov: Whoopi Goldberg wants to be a US ambassador for an overseas country
     21 Nov: Taylor Swift's heartfelt letter to the late Liam Payne is expected to sell for thousands at auction
     21 Nov: Selena Gomez says the early months of her marriage to Benny Blanco have been a "dream"
     21 Nov: Marissa Bode has hit out at the "fan" who stormed past security and embraced Ariana Grande at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good
     21 Nov: Billie Eilish has raged at "pathetic coward" Elon Musk as he is set to become a trillionaire
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Warriors star and former All Black Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is looking less likely to join rugby's R360 competition More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Meat exports have reached a record high, despite Donald Trump's recently-scrapped tariffs More...



     Today's News

    Health & Safety:
    Calls for regulation for at-home medical tests 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Katherine Schwarzenegger has taken inspiration from her father Arnold Schwarzenegger when it comes to her parenting approach 21:55

    Entertainment:
    Jane Fonda admits that it has been a "tough year" following the losses of her friends Gene Hackman, Robert Redford and Diane Keaton 21:25

    Law and Order:
    A man has been arrested and charged following unexplained injuries to a baby in the Wellington region's Hutt Valley 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Whoopi Goldberg wants to be a US ambassador for an overseas country 20:55

    Entertainment:
    Taylor Swift's heartfelt letter to the late Liam Payne is expected to sell for thousands at auction 20:25

    Entertainment:
    Selena Gomez says the early months of her marriage to Benny Blanco have been a "dream" 19:55

    Entertainment:
    Marissa Bode has hit out at the "fan" who stormed past security and embraced Ariana Grande at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good 19:25

    Motoring:
    Practice for F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix stopped twice, drivers unable to show true pace 18:57

    Netball:
    Silver Ferns midcourter Kate Heffernan has lauded her twin sister's return to the international arena this season 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd