Tom Jones apologises for 'stupidly' snubbing pop star he wanted to 'punch in the mouth'
Sir Tom Jones has expressed regret over his foolish actions that caused him to overlook the iconic John Lennon from The Beatles. This incident occurred years after he admitted to wanting to "punch him in the mouth."
In April 1975, the Welsh artist took the stage for a tribute called A Salute to Sir Lew Grade. This special show honoring the media giant marked Lennon’s final appearance on television.
After The Beatles disbanded, the star seldom played in front of big crowds. However, he shared the stage with prominent figures like comedian Peter Sellers and Dave Allen in an impressive lineup.
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Following their individual performances, Sir Tom and Lennon took their places alongside the other performers for the spectacular grand finale. After greeting Dame Julie Andrews and Sellers with a handshake, Sir Tom ended up next to Lennon on stage.
When the Scouse singer reached out to take Sir Tom's hand, the Delilah singer recoiled. In his book *Over The Top And Back*, he described the moment as feeling quite odd to him.
John Lennon referred to Sir Tom as a "poof." -Photo credit: Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
“Seeing men holding hands made me feel uncomfortable, so I quickly pulled away and let go of his hand. It was a foolish and tense reaction, and I regret it now.”
This wasn’t Sir Tom’s initial meeting with the iconic artist. In his book, he admitted that he felt like “punching the cheeky Scouser in the mouth” after the singer made jokes about his hit song, It’s Not Unusual, early on in Sir Tom’s career.
Lennon was practicing for ITV's Thank Your Lucky Stars, and Sir Tom was observing from the audience. At 84 years old, he recalls that Lennon noticed him and felt motivated to begin singing.
He went on to say, “What he performs is ‘It’s Not Unusual,’ but with his own twist. He changes the lyrics to say, ‘It’s not a unicorn, it’s an elephant.’”
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He then gives me a nod and says, "How's it going, you Welsh twink?" Wow, it felt like a double blow. John Lennon not only mocked my song but also threw an insult my way.
"I’m filled with a mix of emotions: feeling defeated yet ready to fight. Should I just sink into my chair or strike back at the cheeky Scouser?"
Sir Tom recalls that his former manager, Gordon Mills, helped him to relax by clarifying that it was simply John Lennon’s “sense of humor.” In hindsight, the singer admitted that he should have just gone along with it, but he was still inexperienced in the business at that point.
He mentioned, "I'm sensitive about things. I'm still new at this. I'm trying to figure out my place in all of this—if I even have a place."
Sir Tom is set to take the stage at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, starting at 9 PM this evening on BBC One.
He will share the stage with artists such as Jack Savoretti, Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, Samantha Barks, Alexandra Burke, and Jake Isaac.
