That’s not what I’m saying.

That’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying he had very muddled politics much of which was based on feelings not science. I’m also saying that he was heavily influenced by some of pals who were Maoists and of course by the politics at the time the Vietnam war. If my post had been meant as an attack on John Lennon then believe me it would have been a lot more scathing. First would have been his time in India while still with the beatles and all the dappy religous stuff that he got up to, which he later renounced. On whether he was a socialist or not I’d probably say he was, much more so than some of his pals who called themselves socialists. If only for the fact that that he advocated a moneyless, classless, stateless society. Although he was not a Marxist and had no idea of how to reach socialism. Essentially what I’m saying is he had no defined politics he had much in common with the SPGB but he was also very wrong on certain issues, while he was at his most politically active.On Imagine I used to really dislike it when I was a kid, I’d always preferred the rolling stones. It was only when I got older that I finally got the song, it was a great feeling when I actually did understand it. I’ve now become a bit of a fan of Lennon’s work after leaving the Beatles, whose music I still dislike. My favourite is probably working class hero but bring on the Lucie, gimmie some truth, God, woman is the nigger of the world and there are plenty more that I like and a few I don’t. I also agree with you that a piece of art shouldn’t be judged on it’s creators politics. However, if you are using Lennon’s songs to comment on his politics then further  analysis is required.Anyway here’s a “lost” interview with Tariq Ali which gives some insight into his politics.http://www.counterpunch.org/2005/12/08/the-lost-john-lennon-interview/