John [Lennon] was my idol. I walked up to him and said, “I know a lot of people hassle you, but I just want to thank you for your music. You’ve helped me through a lot of bad times.” Outside Jimmy’s Bar, he said, “Why don’t you come inside for a drink?” After we ordered, John switched seats to sit next to me. He said to me, “Are you gay?” When I told him I wasn’t, he looked really disappointed. He could have been joking, but he wasn’t. My initial reaction was fear. And yet I wouldn’t leave because it was John Lennon. I said to him, “No, man, I don’t go that way.” “Are you sure?” he said, “give me head.” I remember Harry was “borrowing” $100 bills off him. At one stage I went out and when I came back, he was talking to this woman and he said, “Paulie.” I thought he meant Paul, meaning McCartney. So John turns around and says, “No, he’s not as pretty as Paulie, but he’s got a nicer mouth than McCartney. Paul’s got a small mouth..” Then he turned to me and said, “Let’s go out and get some chicks.” This man was giving me a dream to pay millions for. John almost admitted his gay tendencies. So anyway, we went out walking and he put his arm around me. He said, “It feels good to hold someone. You know what I mean?” Prior to that, he said, “There is nothing wrong in being gay. Two people exchanging feelings is not wrong. Did you ever try it?” People were following us. We were wasted, and he put his arm around one girl and said, “Suck my cock.” He stuck his tongue down her throat. We were loaded. Somebody stole the hat right off his head.
- Tony Manero (Meeting with John Lennon in 1974)