1975 and 76 represent a pivotal moment for John Lennon, and his choices at this juncture determine his fate in his final years. Episode Three is a deep exploration of John’s ongoing inner conflicts: his lasting trauma over the Beatles breakup; his susceptibility to Yoko’s continuing mind games; his predilection for jealousy and insecurity. 

All this, plus the long shadow cast by the nightmarish Primal Scream Therapy John underwent at the hands of Arthur Janov. It’s a topic which usually slides under the radar of Beatles discourse—until now. AKOM’s hard, probing look at Janov reveals his therapy’s catastrophic effects on John’s psyche and on the Lennon-McCartney relationship. 

Ultimately, John chooses not to revive his partnership with Paul McCartney in New Orleans. How does this alter the course of their renewed relationship? And how does John's eventual descent into depression, paranoia and superstition alter both his feelings for and perception of Paul?

TW: Psychological abuse, homophobia

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SOURCES Loving John, MAY PANG (1983) John Lennon interview w/ Alan Freeman (January, 1975) May Pang, The Beatles’ Biggest Secrets BBC doc (2004) Linda McCartney: A Portrait DANNY FIELDS (2001) “Arthur Janov, 93, Dies; Psychologist Caught World’s Attention With ‘Primal Scream’” by Margalit Fox, NEW YORK TIMES (Oct 2, 2017) “On Homosexuality as a Normal Variant of Human Sexuality” (Sunday, January 8, 2012) “On Becoming Homosexual. Is it Becoming?” (Saturday, May 23, 2009) John & Yoko interview, w/ McCabe and Schonfeld (Sept 9, 1971)  John & Yoko Interview w/ Howard Smith, (January 23, 1972) Robert Christgau, Village Voice: Living without The Beatles. (September, 1971) Art Garfunkel, Beatles Stories doc (2011) Francis Schoenberger, SPIN MAGAZINE (1975) Letter 204 to Rick Sklar dated July 1975, The John Lennon Letters (2012) Home cassette, recorded for Vin Scelsa at WNEW-FM (Autumn, 1975) Interview w/ Elliot Mintz (January 1, 1976)  Klaus Voormann, c/o Memories of John Lennon. (2005) The Beatles (afterword) by Hunter Davies (re-issued version from 1985) John Lennon: The Life by Philip Norman (2008) Man on the Run TOM DOYLE (2013) John Lennon w/ Bob Harris for The Old Grey Whistle Test BBC, (April 18, 1975) Paul McCartney w/ Jay Cocks for Time: McCartney comes back. (May 31st, 1976) Lennon Remembers, Rolling Stone (1970) The Primal Center for Treatment, Training and Research “About John Lennon” (2008) Last Days of John Lennon, FRED SEAMAN (1990) John Lennon interview w/ Barbara Graustark, NEWSWEEK (September 1980) Dakota Days, JOHN GREEN (1983) Paul McCartney, The Adam Buxton Podcast, episode 144 (2020) The Love You Make, Peter Brown (1983) The Beatles Roundup Interview, Theatre Royal, Glasgow, (April 30, 1964)  Paul McCartney Reddit chat (December 2020) Jack Douglas to Ben Yakas, Gothamist (July 19, 2016) John Lennon, Interview for Playboy (1980) Jimmy Carter on The Late Show w/ Stephen Colbert (March 31, 2018)

PLAYLIST Helen Wheels WINGS Tennessee (demo) JOHN LENNON Letting Go WINGS Bridge on the River Suite WINGS San Ferry Ann WINGS Let Em In WINGS Love JOHN LENNON Beware My Love WINGS Call Me Back Again (live) WINGS