Sir Tom Jones has apologised for his “stupid” behaviour after snubbing one pop star during a 1975 TV show — years after confessing he once wanted to “punch” the legend in the mouth
Sir Tom admitted he snubbed one pop star during a 1975 TV show(Image: ITV)
Sir Tom Jones has spent decades rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in music. Among them was Elvis Presley, with Tom recalling the time the pair spent together during their Las Vegas years.
The two music legends became friends, with Tom later speaking fondly about his encounters with the King. Tom also crossed paths with another musical giant, Frank Sinatra, performing alongside the legendary crooner during his extraordinary career.
And some of Tom’s earliest musical heroes eventually became his peers. Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard both appeared on his hugely popular television series This Is Tom Jones, which ran from 1969 to 1971 and featured a dazzling line-up of international stars. However, it one iconic star that ended up rubbing Sir Tom the wrong way.
Since then, Sir Tom has publicly apologised for his “stupid” behaviour that resulted in him “snubbing” Beatles icon John Lennon – despite previously wanting to “punch him in the mouth”.
The legendary Welsh crooner was appearing on A Salute to Sir Lew Grade back in April 1975. The tribute show honouring the media mogul turned out to be Lennon’s final televised performance, reports Wales Online.
The rock icon had rarely graced large audiences following The Beatles’ break-up, yet he joined a glittering line-up that included comedian Peter Sellers and Dave Allen for the star-studded occasion.
After completing their individual sets, Sir Tom and Lennon joined their fellow performers on stage for the grand finale. Having exchanged handshakes with Dame Julie Andrews and Sellers, Sir Tom suddenly found himself standing alongside Lennon.
As the Liverpudlian reached out to shake Sir Tom’s hand, the Delilah singer recoiled. In his autobiography Over The Top And Back, he explained: “It felt strange to me.”
“Men holding hands with men…I was shy of that. So I shook it off – dropped his hand. Stupid, uptight reaction. I’m sorry now that I did that.”
This wasn’t Sir Tom’s first brush with the music legend, however. In his memoir, he also revealed he once wanted to “punch the lippy Scouser in the mouth” after Lennon mocked his hit It’s Not Unusual earlier in his career.
Lennon had been rehearsing for ITV’s Thank Your Lucky Stars while Sir Tom watched from the auditorium. The 86-year-old recalls that Lennon spotted him and was promptly moved to burst into song.
He added: “And what he sings is It’s Not Unusual, except with his own words. ‘It’s not a unicorn, it’s an elephant’.”
Tom then claimed Lennon gave him a homophobic slur. He continued”I’m thrown into confusion: crushed and bristling at the same time. Should I melt into my seat or punch the lippy Scouser in the mouth?”
Despite the mocking, “It’s Not Unusual”, which was released in January 1965, catapulted Tom to fame, shooting to No. 1 in the UK charts and spending 14 weeks on the chart.
The song also marked Tom’s first major success across the Atlantic, reaching No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and helping turn the Welsh singer into an international star.
Sir Tom also revealed that his manager at the time, Gordon Mills, eventually settled him down by clarifying it was simply Lennon’s “sense of humour”. Looking back, the singer admitted he ought to have just “rolled with it” in the moment, but was still finding his feet in showbusiness.
He added: “I’m touchy. I’m a novice. I’m working out where I belong here – if I belong here.”
Sir Tom is currently on our TV screens with The Voice UK, alongside judges Kelly Rowland, will.i.am, McFly’s Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher.
During last week’s episode, The Voice UK viewers were left emotional as Sir Tom performed a beautiful rendition of a classic song.
As another round of blind auditions commenced the Welsh singer wowed his fellow judges and audience members with a performance of In the Tower of Song which was famously sung by Leonard Cohen.
Following the moving rendition, which earned Sir Tom a standing ovation, will.i.am was spotted becoming tearful as he described Sir Tom as a “gift”.
He said: “I am trying to make sense of my emotions right now. We just felt, like, the most purest of hearts – 85 years of every experience you can think of in this man’s sponge of a soul and he rinsed it out for us. And we bathed in it.”
