Letters
The Beatles' art
Sir: It is possible to abhor the 'youth culture' of the 1960s and yet find Colin Welch's Beatles pieces (10 and 17 December) dreadfully overstated. Those taking a close rather than sociological in- terest in the Beatles have long known of the sordid activities behind the cheery façade, a prime source being the four individuals concerned. Yet many critical listeners, im- mune to the illusory charm of the era when it was made, find their music chock full of that reserve which encourages and rewards repeated listening.
Great artists have often held foolish views or lived unattractive lives. Presumably Mr Welch finds such qualities damning in the Beatles because of their quasi-messianic status. The latter befell them because of their originality and huge success; flattered to be pressed for their views on Life, they wallowed in the oppor- tunity, as most young people would. Their excesses were those of servicemen and rugby players, increased to the power of ten by their wealth and opportunities.
The Beatles' music alone shows that they knew the value of craftsmanship and discipline. If the drug references etc had been overt rather than 'sly and hidden', Mr Welch would surely have complained still louder: mostly, the mood remained naïve rather than jaded. In any case, as ex- emplified by Oscar Wilde and Jeffrey Ber- nard, it is possible to appreciate the stars from a prone position in the gutter.
Harry Robinson
23 Cornwall Grove, London W4
Previous page
