Did you know that Erkin Koray, one of the legends of Anatolian Rock and famous John Lennon met in the 70s? The meeting of Erkin Koray who is an important figure for psychedelic rock movement that will spread to Anatolia and Lennon happened in the hotel Lennon started and it is stated that Lennon was impressed with Erkin Koray’s music. Let’s see the details!
John Lennon was staying in a hotel near Cannes, France in 1971 for the Cannes Film Festival. Erkin Koray who has been wandering across Europe for the development of the Turkish Music is in Cannes with young journalist Arda Uskan who wants to make an interview with John Lennon. Their purpose is to watch John Lennon’s short film “Fly” which will be screened for the first time and make an interview with him.
The movie screening is not as good as John Lennon’s expectations. The movie is not liked and protests against John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono are made. After the screening, Erkin Koray went near John Lennon, whispers something in his ear and got a ate to visit John Lennon in his hotel in Cannes. We still don’t know what he whispered but it is possible that he said he was a young musician from Turkey and we came to Europe for psychedelic rock and hippie movement.
Can You Play One of Your Songs to Me?
The due talks about world peace and hippie movement. Then, Erkin Koray says to John Lennon that he wants to combine Anatolian music with underground music. John Lennon gives him his guitar and says, “can you play one of your songs to me?” Erkin Koray plays “Mesafeler” (Distances) song which is not released yet to John Lennon. John Lennon who finds the eastern melodies of the psychedelic rock is amazed. He asks to translate the lyrics to English and release a record in Europe. He says to Erkin Koray that he will do necessary aid when he is in Europe to make music.
Since Erkin Koray’s aim was not to become a world-famous rock star, he releases “Mesafeler” record with Turkish lyrics two years after getting back to Turkey. When he releases the album, his purpose is to spread psychedelic rock movement in Turkey and he manages this.
