October 1st, 1969: "I was just about all through as a man" Johnny Cash talks to Richard Green of NME

Whilst visiting London recently, Johnny Cash and June Carter invited Richard Green from the NME to their hotel room for a chat and some tea. Later that evening, Cash performed at the U.S.A.F. base.

As he arrived at the show, Green reports that Cash was surprised by the audience size, saying "Well, look at this, I guess we're gonna have to give 'em a good show or they might draft us!" Read excerpts from the interview below.

On Cotton Picking:

"I was twenty years old and picking around three hundred and fifty pounds a day."

On his 1965 arrest and night in jail:

"I was just about all through as a man. It took a lot to get me going again and now I'd never get myself messed up like that again."

On religion:

"I went to the Holy Land last year with a tape recorder and recorded a lot of sounds for an album," he told me. "It was a very moving experience seeing all those people at peace."

On performing at prisons:

"I plan to do a whole series of prison concerts. I don't see why a man, just because he's behind bars, should be denied entertainment.

I can't see how the prison system is a good thing. It destroys a man's soul and often he comes out worse than when he went in."

Watch a clip below of Cash's performance at San Quentin prison from earlier this year.

Listen to Cash's recent album At San Quentin below via Spotify or Apple Music.

Quotes taken from article - Green, R. (1969) "Johnny Cash: Country Boy". New Musical Express. Johnny Cash.