Hi Nimrod.
I would need more convincing of that. John seemed quite happy with fame all through the Beatle years, and from 68 to 73 he seemed to actively court it more than most. This was the man after all happy to have the world share his wedding bed for a week. Fame was fine when it suited him (like most celebs).
If there was a change it was after his fall out with Yoko and the american public after STINYC. And could there not be an arguement that fame fell out with Lennon, not the other way round.
I think we could come up with a list of a few reasons John "retired" in 1975, but gosh I would need some strong convincing that fame should be high on that list.
I don't imagine the experience he had in that diner was different to that experienced by a mulitude of A listers, and certainly doeasn't to me send a signal that he disliked fame, or found it any more wearisome, any more than any of them. It's a nice romantic view, John just wanting to be left alone, but I'm not sure the facts bare this out.
Yes your probably right Kevin, but the message coming all through Freds book is that John just wanted anonymity, as he told Andy Peebles in his last interview, he loved New York as he could 'walk down the street and go in a restaurant etc without being bugged...you wanna know how great that is ? '
I think he was very much in the spotlight during his early years with Yoko due to their peace campaign so publicity suited him greatly, I was more meaning his quiet years at the Dakota where he made no records for 5 years (Freds time with him) he seemed just to want to be left alone, seldom going out. Not wanting to jam with anyone.
His happiest time seemed to be on the Yacht The Megan Jane, away from the limelight
The episode in the restaurant could indeed have been described by several A listers but this is the first time Ive read a description of how people behave around a very famous person who is suddenly in their presence, thats why I mentioned it.
One thing is sure, John could change his views on anything, even being famous