trying to confirm a John Lennon story

[duckhead]

Hi everyone! I am new here and have been searching the web to no avail to answer a question I have about a story I heard. Any help would be appreciated... here it goes:

One of the most interesting things I heard about Lennon (and please correct me if I am wrong) was that he went to party hosted by Howard Hughes and at the party he was admiring a painting by Picasso (I think). John then placed his burning cigarette on the painting and continued to until a hole was burned all the way through. Guests at the party were appalled and thought what a jerk and how arrogant but when Hughes was asked about it he said it was very cool, now he had an original painting with another original artists contribution to it and that possibly doubled the value of the painting since it was such a one of a kind. Is this story true or just an urban legend??

[nowheregirl]

Hi, welcome to the forum. Did you mean Hugh Hefner rather than Howard Hughes? If so, it was a Matisse not a Picasso. This story was in the news last year:
david-holmes.blogspot.com/2007/03/lennon-stubbed-cigarette-out-on-hefners.html

As Hugh Hefner is actually quoted in the article, I think it's probably true.

I hope that helps!

[duckhead]

Thank you nowheregirl. Some friends of mine at work got talking and one guy told this story and everyone else said they never heard that. My friend said that it maybe was a story from Albert Goldmans book? He had the party and painting mixed up but the basic facts right. I retold your updated version at work today but now my friends want to see a picture of the painting. (what skeptics!) Thats up to them I did my part. anyway... have a great weekend and thanks again for your help! -aloha!

[onolennon]

I've heard that somewhere.