Three days before he was gunned down, John Lennon complained about his critics – saying they were just interested in “dead heroes”.
He also talked optimistically about his family and future, musing that he had “plenty of time” to accomplish some of his life goals.
He spoke in an interview released to the Associated Press by Rolling Stone on Wednesday, the 30th anniversary of the musician’s death.
The issue of Rolling Stone magazine containing Lennon’s final interview will be on US news stands today.
While brief excerpts of Jonathan Cott’s interview with Mr Lennon were released for a 1980 Rolling Stone cover story days after Mr Lennon’s death, this is the first time the entire interview has been published.
“His words are totally joyous and vibrant and hopeful and subversive and fearless,” said Mr Cott. “He didn’t mince words.”
John Lennon saves some of his harshest words for critics who were perennially disappointed with his path in both music and life after leaving the Beatles.
“These critics with the illusions they’ve created about artists – it’s like idol worship,” he said. “They only like people when they’re on their way up ... I cannot be on the way up again.
“What they want is dead heroes, like Sid Vicious and James Dean. I’m not interesting in being a dead (expletive) hero. So forget ‘em, forget ‘em.”
He also predicted that Bruce Springsteen, then hailed as rock’s bright future, would endure the same critical barbs: “And God help Bruce Springsteen when they decide he’s no longer God. They’ll turn on him, and I hope he survives it.”
But Mr Lennon also talked about trying to be a good father to his youngest son Sean, learning how to relate to a child (he admitted he wasn’t good at play) and spoke of his strong bond with wife Yoko Ono: “I’ve selected to work with ... only two people: Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono. That ain’t bad picking.”
At 40, he was also reflective of what he had accomplished in life and explored life’s themes, and remained committed to his goal of peace and love on earth.
“I’m not claiming divinity. I’ve never claimed purity of soul. I’ve never claimed to have the answers to life. I only put out songs and answer questions as honestly as I can ... but I still believe in peace, love and understanding.”
Mr Cott interviewed Mr Lennon at his apartment and at his record studio. The interview was originally planned for a cover story for Mr Lennon and Ms Ono’s upcoming album Double Fantasy, but in the rush to put out a story after Mr Lennon was shot dead outside his apartment building by Mark David Chapman, only snippets were used. Mr Cott said he never went back to the three hours of tapes until a few months ago when he was cleaning out his closet.
“On a strip of magnetic tape, it was sort of a miracle that first of all, the tape had not degraded after 30 years,” he said. “All of a sudden, this guy’s voice, totally alive ... just made me feel so inspired that I felt that I should really transcribe the whole thing.”
He said he was struck by how much Mr Lennon was thinking about his life and mortality.
“There were a lot of strange consideration of where he was and what he felt like sort of in the middle of his journey,” added Mr Cott. “I think it was like a mid-life meditation, I was struck by that.” The magazine also included an essay by Ono recalling her final days with her husband. Ono released a statement yesterday in tribute to Lennon.