#yoko ono: music of the mind

[bconker]

YOKO ONO: MUSIC OF THE MIND, Tate Modern, London

[tearsofrefugees]

Yoko Ono’s ‘Refugee Boat’ Invites Visitors To Participate and Spreads a Powerful Message of Hope

“Add Colour (Refugee Boat),” concept 1960, installed in YOKO ONO: MUSIC OF THE MIND, Tate Modern, London, 2024.

(Photo: © Tate, Reece Straw)

[notesonfilm1]

In Conversation with Richard Layne on YOKO ONO: MUSIC OF THE MIND (Tate Modern)

[therealjohnlennon]

John Lennon what’s your opinion on the foot fetish accusations

false and unsubstantiated. they’re trying to play mind games with me. it won’t work.

[juno-thecreative]

Yoko Ono - Music of the Mind | Tate Modern London

It was such a an incredible experience to be able to view Ono’s extended collection. She really is a genius of arts and activism. This beautiful, thought provoking exhibit was an honour to take part in- even as an observer, it is easy to feel one with the art.

To truly experience it fully in person was unmatched to anything I’d ever seen. It adds a whole new context to what art can be, in its performative and conceptual nature.

I would love to be able to produce painting utilising Ono’s ‘instructions’. Maybe you’ll see this soon!

[torchlitinthedesert]

Up for auction: 1971 letter from John, inviting Eric Clapton to join the Plastic Ono Band. John sounds excited and enthusiastic, filling eight pages with ideas for new approaches to touring (including a bit about performing/recording on a boat that gave me Get Back QE2 flashbacks, especially since he wants EMI to pay for it all. And make an experimental film of it.). John suggests people bring partners (who might appear on stage) and their families - interesting given how negative the rock press would be about that. I'm also rolling my eyes at the macho phrasing of "you could make the kind of sound that could bring back the Balls in rock'n'roll" - very early 1970s rock world.

It's a real charm offensive. John is working hard for Clapton's favour: repeatedly assuring him that he admires him, discreetly sympathising with Clapton's recent health problems (heroin addiction), promising he wouldn't have to do anything he didn't like and John will still "love and respect" him if he says no. He mentions Yoko often, but writes as "I" rather than JohnandYoko. He noticeably doesn't mention George or the other Beatles.

What's up for auction is a draft copy, with crossings out and omissions (I'm amused by "Dear Eric and", John presumably not being completely sure who Eric's current girlfriend was).

More images and transcript below the cut.

Dear Eric and

I've been meaning to write or call you for a few weeks now. i think maybe writing will give you and yours more time to think.

You must know by now that Yoko and i rate your music and yourself very highly, always have. you also know the kind of music we've been making and hope to make. Anyway the point is, after missing the Bangla-Desh concert, we began to feel more and more like going on the road, but not the way I used to with the Beatles - night after night of torture. We mean to enjoy ourselves, take it easy, and maybe even see some of the places we go to! We have many 'revolutionary' ideas for presenting shows that completely involve teh audience - not just the 'superstars' 'up there' - blessing the people - but that's another letter really.

I'll get more to the point. We've asked Klaus Jim Keltner, Nicky Hopkins - Phil Spector even! to form a 'nucleus' group (Plastic Ono band) - and between us all would decide what - if any - augmentation to the group we'd like - eg saxs, vocal group whatever we like, they all seem to agreed so far - and of course we had YOU!!! in mind as soon as we decided.

in the past when Nicky was working around (Stones etc) bringing your girl/woman/wife was frowned on - with us it's the opposite, Nicky's missus - will also come with us - on stage if she wants (Yoko has ideas for her!) - or backstage. Our uppermost concern is to have a happy group in body & mind. Nobody will be asked to do anything that they don't want to, no-one will be held to any contract of any sort - (unless they wanted to of course!)

back to music. i've/we've long admired your music - and always kept an eye open to see what your up to of late. [lately] i really feel real I/we can bring out the best in you - (some kind of security financial or otherwise will help) but the main thing is the music. I consider, Klaus, Jim, Nicky, Phil, Yoko, you could make the kind of sound that could bring back the Balls in rock'n'roll.

Both of us have been thru the same kind of shit/pain that I know you've had - and i know we could help each other in that area - but mainly Eric - i know i can bring out something great - in fact greater in you that has been so far evident in your music, I hope to bring out the same kind of greatness in all of us - which i know will happen if/when we get together.

i'm not trying to pressure you in anyway and would quite understand if you decide against joining us, we would still love and respect you. We're not asking you for your 'name', i'm sure you know this - its your mind we want!

Yoko and i are not interested in earning bread from public appearances, but neither do we expect the rest of the band (who mostly have familys) to work for free - they/you must all be happy monewise as well - otherwise what's the use for them to join us. We don't ask you/them to ratify everything we believe politically - but we're certainly interested in 'revolutionising' the world thru music, we'd love to 'do' Russia, China, Hungary, Poland, etc. A friend of ours just got back from Moscow, and the kids over there are really hip - they have all the latest sounds on tape from giant radios they have. 'Don't come without your guitar' was the message they sent us, there are millions of people in the East - who need to be exposed to our kind of freedom/music/. We can change the world - and have a ball at the same time.

We don't want to work under such pressure that we feel dead on stage or have to pep ourselves up to live, maybe we could do 2 shows a week even, it would be entirely up to us. One idea that i had which we've discussed tentatively (nothing definite) is goes like this,

I know we have to rehearse sometime or other, i'm sick of going on and jamming every live session. i've also always wanted to go across the Pacific from the U.S. thru all those beautiful islands - across to Australia, New Zealand, Japan - wherever, you know - Tahiti, Tonga - etc, so I came up with this

How about a kind of 'Easy Rider' at sea. i mean we get Emi or a sane film co, to finance a big ship with 30 people aboard (including crew) - we take 8 track recording equipment with us (mine probably) more equipment - and we rehearse on the way over - record if we want, play anywhere we fancy - say we film from L.A. to Tahiti, we stop there if we want - maybe have the film developed there - stay a week or as long as we want - collect the film, (of course we'll might probably film wherever we stop (if we want) and edit it on board etc. (Having just finished a movie we made around our albums 'imagine' 'fly' - it's a beautiful surreal film, very surreal, all music, only about Two words spoken in the whole thing! We know we are ready to make a major movie). Anyway its just a thought, we'd always stay as near to land as possible, and of coruse we'd take Doctors etc, in case of any kind of bother. We'd always be able to get to a place where someone could fly off if they've had enough. The whole trip could take 3-4-5-6 months, depending how we all felt - all familys children whatever are welcome etc. Please don't think you have to go along with the boat trip, to be in the band. I just wanted to let you know everything we've been talking about. (I thought we'd really be ready to hit the road after such a healthy restful rehearsal.

Anyway there it is, if you want to talk more please call me us, or even come over here to N. York. We're at the St. Regis here til Nov 30 at least (753-4500- ext | room 1701) all expenses paid of course! or write. At least think about it, please don't be frightened, i understand paranoia, only to well, i think it could only do good for you, and would bring to work with people who love and respect you, and that's from all of us. anyway enough of that, lots of love to you both from

John + Yoko

[muzaktomyears]

messages from Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono on the 40th anniversary in 1997 of the Woolton church fête where John and Paul first met

John, Paul & Me Before the Beatles: The True Story of the Very Early Days, Len Garry (2014)

text under the cut

A MESSAGE TO WOOLTON FROM PAUL MCCARTNEY

Ah yes, I remember it well.

I do, actually. My memory of meeting John for the first time is very clear. My mate Ivan Vaughn took me along to Woolton here and there were The Quarry Men, playing on a little platform.

I can still see John now - checked shirt and slightly curly hair, singing Come Go With Me by The Del Vikings. He didn't know all the words, so he was putting in stuff about penitentiaries - and making a good job of it.

I remember thinking 'He looks good - I wouldn't mind being in a group with him'.

A bit later on we met up; I played him Twenty Flight Rock and he seemed pretty impressed - maybe because I did know all the words.

Then, as you know, he asked me to join the group, and so began our trip together. We wrote our first songs together, we grew up together and we lived our lives together.

And when we'd do it together, something special would happen. There'd be that little magic spark.

I still remember his beery old breath when I met him here that day. But I soon came to love that beery old breath. And I loved John. I always was and still am a great fan of John's. We had a lot of fun together and I treasure all those beautiful memories.

So I sent you all in Woolton and Liddipool my best wishes today.

And thanks for remembering - there's no way that when we met here we had any idea of what we'd be starting. But I'm very proud of what we did. And I'm very glad that I did it with John.

I hope you all have a wonderful day and God bless all who sail in you.

PAUL MCCARTNEY

MESSAGE FROM YOKO ONO

What a sweet celebration!

Yes, the meeting of John and Paul was an important event not only for those of us who loved their songs, but for the whole world which went through a social change for the better as a result of their words and music.

John's first thought as Paul showed him what he could do was: "Okay - this guy is good and already the girls are flocking around him - not around me! So if I let him in, he'd going to be a tough one to handle - but I'll have a strong band."

So John took Paul in. I think this story is important in that it shows as a creator and a leader of the band, John went for getting a strong band rather than having an easy time. And John was only a teenager. What a brain! What a guy!

By the way, it's interesting that the meeting took place at a church. Also, the main bulk of their songs were recorded in Abbey Road Studios, in London. Am I the only one who thinks of these coincidences as interesting?

John and Paul were traveling minstrels, who spread the word of love throughout the world. Through their songs, they brought the energy of love to the then gray world, which was still coping with the aftermath of the second world war.

With their words and music, John and Paul showed the world that law and order was not necessarily the most important force in the world. Love was the power and the energy that could change the world. And it did.

But it all started at the Woolton Fete forty years ago. As you celebrate this day, the world joins you in your celebration. Those who cannot come physically to Liverpool join you in spirit. It's a nice day to celebrate and I thank you for doing it. Peace.

[soobuneary]

Love You Still - Choi Soobin x Reader

Warning: Recreational Drug Use, please be responsible!

Just a soft, chill evening with your boyfriend Soobin.

Word Count: 2,060

“Do you trust me?”

It seemed maybe a little manipulative, but you had to admit it. “Yes.”

Soobin smiled brightly, and he looked just like a rabbit. You could see his metaphorical ears stick up at your agreement. “Good, ‘cause this was your idea.”

You let out a nervous laugh. “Still, I don’t know. What if I have a bad time?”

“I’ll be right here, and I’m experienced enough to help even under the influence.” He placed one hand on your knee. “Besides, edibles are much nicer, in my opinion.” The devil on your right shoulder said everything was fine as long as Soobin was here, but the angel on your left held a lot of fear and guilt. What if you get paranoid? What if you get sick? What if-

“Y/N? I can see your mind running laps. You don’t have to, there’s no pressure.”

You took a deep breath and awkwardly exhaled. “I want to! You enjoy this, so I want to try it too!”

He laughed at how worked up you appeared to be. You had only been dating for four months, and you had never seen Soobin high. The idea of how different he might be sent a pleasant shiver down your spine. Finally, he opened the pack of gummies and placed them gingerly on the living room table. He patted the cushion next to him, beckoning you to sit on the floor with him. You obliged and began to gather your courage.

“These are only 25mg a gummy, but I suggest starting with just one. It’ll take about 30 minutes to kick in, and then you can decide if you want another one.”

“How many are you taking?”

“Probably three, but I have a much higher tolerance. This is your first time, so it’s best to start small.” He handed you a gummy, and your insides felt like jelly. Soobin could sense your anxiety and reminded you, “There’s absolutely no pressure, Y/N. We can do something else.”

You put the gummy in your mouth and began to chew. It tasted like strawberry at first, but then it took on a weird and unpleasant taste. It must have shown on your face because he giggled at you. You watched him take three, just as he had said. “What now?”

“We can do whatever you want,” he said. “Watch a movie, play video games, or just talk.”

“We can talk.”

He connected his phone to his speaker on the table and then stood. Yoko Ono by Mob Rich began to play softly. Was this a cheeky attempt at setting the mood? You didn’t care, if anything, it just made him seem more endearing. He offered his hand. You took it, and he led you to the couch.

And that’s where the two of you laid in silence for a while, just listening to music. Your head was on his chest, and his arms wrapped around you tightly. Soobin’s heartbeat seemed dangerously slow, but you figured if you mentioned it, he would laugh at you. Not maliciously, of course. You had to admit that he was the nicest guy you had ever dated. At first, the lure of a bad boy who frequents parties and smokes was incredibly hot. After getting to know him, you realized he was quite the opposite. Soobin was a perfect gentleman who was soft-spoken and gentle. He fed stray cats and helped old ladies carry their groceries. He wore sweaters and his heart on his sleeve. His dimples popped out whenever he laughed, which was often. He had the most gentle laugh and warm heart.

You were falling for him fast.

“You’re awfully quiet for someone who wanted to talk.”

It was your turn to laugh at him. “You can also start a conversation.”

“Are you feeling okay? It’s been around 30 minutes.”

“Yeah, I don’t feel any different. Should I take another one?”

He shook his head. “Give it a little bit more time.”

You had said you felt fine, but just then, you felt a weird tingling in your mouth. The tingle seemed to travel all around your face and eventually slowly trickled down your body. Your whole body felt like it had fallen asleep, but it wasn’t a normal, painful numb. It felt as if your bones were melting and your skin was vibrating. “My body is weird.”

“It’s weird?”

“It feels weird.”

You looked up at him. His eyes were slightly squinted, and his lazy smile made him look so relaxed. Was his body also feeling like yours? His lips parted, and you wondered if you’d ever seen something so pretty. “It’s okay, that’s normal, Y/N.”

“It doesn’t feel normal. It feels weird.”

Suddenly his face seemed serious; he was unable to hide his concern. “Do you feel okay?”

You felt a smile stretch on your face, but it felt like your mouth did it on its own. The loss of control wasn’t unwelcome. You weren’t sure if you’d ever felt more relaxed. “Better than okay, I think.”

A song you knew and loved came on, so you put your head back on his chest and simply hummed along. The lack of conversation wasn’t awkward. Your bodies seemed to mesh together, and you didn’t know where yours ended and his began. It was like sinking into water but floating at the same time. The hum of your lips tickled. Actually, all of your body felt as if invisible fingers were tickling you. Soft giggles escaped your lips.

“What’s funny, love?”

You gasped and pulled your upper body away from him. You rested your weight on your palms, but you were wobbly. “Love? Did you say love?”

It was faint, but you could see it. He blushed. “It’s-”

“It’s okay. I’m teasing you. I love you, Soobin.”

He placed his large palms on your cheeks. His lips pursed, and you assumed it was for a kiss. You closed your eyes and leaned in, but instead, one long finger met your mouth. “You’re high, Y/N.”

You huffed and tried to stand up, but his hands caught your elbows. “I still mean it.”

He smirked, “Then tell me again tomorrow when you’re sober.”

“I am sober!” Your cry came out awkwardly as your tongue suddenly felt too big for your mouth. And dry. So fucking dry, ugh-

Soobin seemed to read your mind. He slid out from under you and helped you get back on the couch. “I’ll get us some water.”

He left you on the couch to get two water bottles. The cushion underneath you seemed to move up toward you, and it tickled so much. You couldn’t stop the laughter spilling out of your mouth. It was honestly a little painful. Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes. “Soobin!”

“What is it?” He placed the water on the table and bent down in front of the couch. “Are you still feeling okay?”

“Am I gonna die?”

He let out a small huff of a laugh before he could stop himself. “No, Y/N, you’re not going to die.”

“It feels so good it hurts. It feels like the couch is tickling me.”

“The couch is tickling you? Should I have a word with the couch?”

That made you laugh even more. Talking to a couch? Who did he think he was fooling, couches can’t talk! But apparently, they can tickle. “I think the couch feels too much. I’m gonna sit on the floor.”

You did just as you said, and he sat on the floor next to you. “Y/N, do you want to watch TV? Sometimes when I feel too much, videos take my mind off of it.”

That sounded nice because your body felt as if it were blending in with the floor. Every molecule of your skin was vibrating with an uncomfortable intensity. It didn’t tickle anymore, but it was too much. You nodded, “Yeah, let's watch something.” He reached across the coffee table for the remote, his arm reaching across your body in the process. You could feel the individual heat waves radiating from his hoodie sleeve. He seemed to move in slow motion. Actually, everything was. What time was it? You looked at your phone where it sat on the table in front of you, 10:53. Wasn’t it 10, like, three hours ago? It was frustrating you even more. Why was time moving so slowly? Was everything okay?

Soobin, too busy scrolling through different apps on the smart TV, didn’t notice your inner panic. Instead, he settled on YouTube and said, “Music videos can be fun. Especially with the lights off, it makes you feel like you’re in it.” He finally looked over at you because of your lack of response. Confusion painted your face, so he wrapped an arm around you. “Y/N, are you feeling alright?”

You took a sip of water, and nodded again. “I think so. I’m just feeling irritated.”

“Irritated?”

“There’s a lot going on I just don’t understand. At first, it was nice, but now I’m just overwhelmed I think.”

He used his other arm to hug you completely. “Do you want to go to sleep? It’ll wear off by the time you wake up, and I bet you’ll sleep really good.”

“No, I want to keep hanging out. I think I’ll feel better if I focus on something.” Why did you suddenly start feeling better? It probably had to do with your focus on his long arms wrapped around you so securely. You felt safe in his embrace, and you didn’t want him to let go.

So when he did to grab the remote again you groaned. He laughed, “I’ll hug you again, honey. Just let me put something on.”

Your blush felt much hotter than it ever had before, but you didn’t mind it. You decided you liked that nickname, “Honey.”

“Yes, honey, because you’re so sweet.”

You giggled for what was probably the hundredth time that night, the gummies were working overtime. Soobin had put on a music video for a song you didn’t know, but the colors were bright and the music itself was… what was it? “Vibe-y?”

He put the remote down and looked at you, “What’s vibe-y? The song?”

“Yeah, it’s chill.”

He laughed and wrapped his arms around you once again. “I’m glad, it’ll help mellow you out.”

The warmth from his hold made you feel beyond safe. You could feel yourself sinking into deep relaxation. “I think I know something that’ll mellow me out more.”

“And what’s that?”

You held out one finger. “Just one.”

“Just one what?”

“Kiss me.”

He smiled, “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m more than sure.”

His lips parted and his face slowly crept toward yours. His pretty eyelashes seemed to flutter as he shut his eyes, and if you hadn’t wanted him so badly you wouldn’t have kissed him. You would’ve just kept gazing upon who must’ve been the most attractive person you’d ever seen.

But you did want him, and you knew that this kiss was going to be beyond anything you’d ever felt before. So you met his lips with your own, and it wasn’t your first kiss, but it felt brand new. What did it feel like? Pillows, clouds, anything soft. He used the softest force, like the force a butterfly uses to flap its delicate wings. It tickled, but not a tickle that causes laughter. A tickle that made your joints feel like jelly. His hands left your sides to tangle his fingers in your hair. You deepened the kiss with your tongue, and he groaned lightly. You kissed him as if you’d never kiss him again.

And when you both needed to breathe you slowly pulled apart. “That was…”

He laughed his pretty laugh. “Was what?”

“I’ve never felt anything like that before.”

He kissed you again, this time just a chaste kiss before he stood. He pulled you onto the couch with him, and after a few more kisses, the two of you drifted to sleep. And he was right, it was the best sleep you ever had.

When you woke up the next morning Soobin was already awake. He looked down at where your head rested on his chest. “Good morning, Y/N.”

“I’m sober now.”

“Yeah?”

“And I love you still.”

[juvenilefrogg]

HOT TAKE!!

I don't expect everyone to understand me or relate to this but just because someone likes Harry Potter doesn't mean they're not allies. It's not a facade if someone is a Potterhead and still claims to be an ally.

A lot of people believe in "separate art from the artist". The famous painter Pablo Picasso was such a great artist, widely known for the cubist movement. You may also know about his blue period and might pity him. But then again Picasso as a person has done very questionable things. He is known to have treated women poorly and had many affairs throughout his life.

Now just because he was a great artist doesn't mean he is not accountable for his poor actions and choices but his actions surely do not make him a bad artist. I can accept that he is a bad person and yet still admit that he was a great artist.

Legendary singer, songwriter and lyrical genius John Lennon is well known in the music industry. Surely we all have listened to his songs at least once. The legendary rock band The Beatles gave us so many bangers.

Beautiful Boy by John Lennon is one of the songs that I adore so much. I just love the showcase of the fraternal love in that song. But when you dig up the history of that song you find that it was written for Sean Lennon (child of John Lennon and Yoko Ono). It is not about Julian Lennon (child of John Lennon from his first wife, Cynthia Lennon). Now it just breaks my heart to think about this from Julian's pov. To have a dad who left your mom and then goes ahead to write a song about his other child with his 2nd wife. Don't get me wrong I'd be furious I'd be going crazy.

But oh to have a dad who'd love me enough to write such a song for me ahhhh I'd give up anything just to have that experience. From Sean's pov I'd be so in love with this song.

Now I am not justifying and romanticising what he did but how do I close my ears, shut my eyes, and turn my back on such a beautiful art? To say that there are plenty of other and far better songs and things to admire why do I have to stick to this particular song or thing is not fair. It is not fair to me as an admirer. You can't quantify my love. I can't transfer my love from one thing to another in an instant. Though it may die or fade away with time until then you'd just have to let me be. The heart wants what it wants.

Recently, Ariana Grande released her latest album, Eternal Sunshine, I am sure most of you already know about it and have listened to it. It's a hit you can't deny that. But when you get to know the story behind that album, the songs and whom they're written about and what they mean, you might want to cancel Ariana. And sure if you want to do that go ahead you're free to do that. But that doesn't mean everyone will. One can still like her songs and not be a supporter of cheating in a marriage. Fans who literally grew up listening to her songs can't just one day stop listening to her songs and thinking about her (at least not in my view). They might start to feel conflicted about her as a person tho but I am sure they'll still have some love left for her old hit songs.

We talk about not being judgemental, being liberal, and being open-minded so why are we still so constricted at the same time? Life and its choices aren't black and white most often you find yourself in the grey areas. Who are we to judge so easily? We as a queer community would get offended if someone judged us just for putting a pride flag on our profiles. So why are we judging just because someone has their Hogwarts house mentioned in their profile? One might say the first is homophobic but isn't the latter prejudice?

Mind you I am talking about the people, the allies who have nothing to do with the writer, who just enjoy the books, and the movies, who find comfort in that story, relate to characters and have loved them for years. What's their fault? All this hate just because they fell in love with the wrong franchise? Which had nothing to do with the trans community when they were created and enjoyed by the fans. One can take a stand and still love Harry Potter.

I am sure many people from the queer community itself are part of the fandom. Wolfstar shippers flood Tumblr with love and how most of them are queer. You can't say that they're transphobic.

Criticism is necessary I am not saying don't criticise the wrongs. If there's no criticism one might never know what they did wrong. Wrongs should never go unchecked.

Criticise the artist for their choices and actions. Don't hate someone who just fell in love with the art.

Don't turn a blind eye to the wrongs. Don't follow the artist blindly. Be mindful of your own choices. That's all you could do.

I don't have Hogwarts house mentioned in my profile. I dont even own the books. Sure I've read the books and watched the movies. But I sure as am not even gonna judge someone blindly if they've mentioned their Hogwarts house.

I respect all your views you might not agree with me and you don't even have to but I believe that you'd at least be respectful of my views. I most often don't even comment on controversial things out of fear of judgement and rejection but this is something that I need to get off my chest. I am not transphobic, I have never been. I respect everyone regardless of who they love. So here I am just keeping my views and hoping that you guys would at least be respectful enough and correct me if I said something wrong.

At the end of the day, I am just trying to find a place in this world.

[aneptuniana]

SELF [spotify]

"I am made of — junk, I’m just junk."

inspired by "money" by martin amis (1984)

"the plastic age" - the buggles :: "the last film" - kissing the pink :: "no more heroes" - the stranglers :: "both ends burning" - roxy music :: "modern love is automatic" - a flock of seagulls :: "the black hit of space" - the human league :: "dog eat dog" - adam & the ants :: "hit that perfect beat" - bronski beat :: "edge of seventeen" - stevie knicks :: "girls on film" - duran duran :: "legs" - the art of noise :: "the telephone always rings" - fun boy three :: "dead pop stars" - altered images :: "cars" - gary numan :: "get the balance right!" - depeche mode :: "plaza" - john foxx :: "showroom dummies" - kraftwerk :: "acceleration" - bill nelson :: "1981 - 2011" - public image ltd :: "ghost town" - the specials :: "up all night" - the boomtown rats :: "the damned don’t cry" - visage :: "the last of the international playboys" - morrissey :: "secret life" - soft cell :: "just give ‘em whiskey" - colourbox :: "sweetheart contract" - magazine :: "to cut a long story short" - spandau ballet :: "every 1's a winner" - hot chocolate :: "shoulder pads 1#" - the fall :: "the american" - simple minds :: "walking on thin ice (pet shop boys electro mix)" - yoko ono

[gapless playback and automix on - crossfade 5s]

[johns-prince]

I told him: “You know you love your own company. Even Cyn says you go days without speaking to her. She feels a million miles away from you.” John replied: “Ah, but she’s not, is she. She’s in the kitchen putting the kettle on.”

—Tony Barrow, Beatles Book Monthly Magazine, No. 149 (Sept. 1988) [×]

¶

There’s one line in the lyric I don’t really mean: “Well knowing you / You’d probably laugh and say / That we were worlds apart”. I’m playing to the more cynical side of John, but I don’t think it’s true that we were so distant. 

—Paul reads from his new book, The Lyrics (2021). [×]

¶

“I’m kind of expected to say, ‘[John] was a saint, he was always a saint, I remember him as a saint’, but it would be a lie. He was one great guy and part of his greatness was that he wasn’t a saint. He was a great guy but he was pretty sacrilegious. He was pretty up front about it. But it was half the fun.”

—Paul McCartney (c. 1984) in The Dream Is Over: Off The Record 2 by Keith Badman [×]

¶

“John is neither a saint, nor is he a sinner. He was just human, like the rest of us.”

—Cynthia Lennon, answering the question “John Lennon: saint or sinner?” The Independent, July 1999 [×]

¶

“Seeing Lennon focus on Ono rather than him[Paul] was as devastating as it would have been for Cynthia Lennon to witness the couple making love.”

—Peter Dogget, You Never Give Me Your Money. [×]

¶

“Then also we were like married, so you got the bitterness. It’s not a woman scorned this time, it’s two men scorned — probably even worse. And I had to make way for Yoko. My relationship with John could not have remained as it was and Yoko feel secure.”

— Paul McCartney, Interview by Duncan Fallowell in the Chicago Tribune, October 14th, 1984 [×]

¶

“Apart from giving me the courage to break out of my stockbroker belt... Yoko also gave me the inner strength to look more closely at my other marriage. My real marriage. To The Beatles, which was more stifling than my domestic life. Although I had thought of it often enough, I lacked the guts to make the break earlier.”

—Skywriting By Word Of Mouth by John Lennon (pg. 17) [x]

¶

“I still think at the back of John’s mind was this fascination of wanting to get back with the first girlfriend, if you like, and that was to get back with Paul, who he had so much history with.”

—Tony Barrow, The Beatles’ press officer, on the Lennon/McCartney reunion that was never to be [×]

¶

“I mean, I think really what it was, really all that happened was that John fell in love. With Yoko. And so, with such a powerful alliance like that, it was difficult for him to still be seeing me. It was as if I was another girlfriend, almost. Our relationship was a strong relationship. And if he was to start a new relationship, he had to put this other one away. And I understood that. I mean, I couldn’t stand in the way of someone who’d fallen in love. You can’t say, “Who’s this?” You can’t really do that. If I was a girl, maybe I could go out and…”

—April 3rd?, 1985 (Soho Square, London): Paul talks on German television show exclusive about the breakup of the Beatles and his personal breakup with John. [x]

¶

“But Paul was his own man and not afraid of John. In fact, musically and personally, the two were beginning to go in separate directions so perhaps Paul’s visit to me was also a statement to John.”

—Cynthia Lennon, John [×]

¶

“Paul, who believed strongly in the family and in family values, told me that he felt as if it was the Beatles themselves who were heading for divorce, not just John and Cynthia.”

—Tony Bramwell, Magical Mystery Tours [×]

I wanted to end this post with a quote from Cynthia, whether it was from a book or was an answer to a question, about how she simply misses lying in bed with John, and just the two of them talking. This quote from her book John [x] is relevant, but unfortunately I couldn't find the exact quote I wanted.

To accompany the sentiment from John's first wife though, is this quote:

“If John Lennon could come back for a day, how would you spend it with him?” “In bed.”

—Paul McCartney answers questions for Q magazine, 1998 [x]

[littlequeenies]

May Fung Yee Pang (龐鳳儀, 庞凤仪) (born October 24, 1950) is an American former music executive. She worked for John Lennon and Yoko Ono as a personal assistant and production coordinator. When Lennon and Ono separated in 1973, Pang and Lennon began a relationship that lasted more than 18 months. Lennon later referred to this time as his “Lost Weekend”.

Early Years and Education

Pang was born in Manhattan. She is the daughter of Chinese immigrants and grew up in the Spanish Harlem section of New York City with an elder sister and an adopted brother, both of whom were born in China. Pang’s mother owned and operated a laundry business in the area. The Pang family left Spanish Harlem when the tenements where they lived were scheduled to be razed, moving to an apartment near 97th Street and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan.

After graduating from Saint Michael Academy, Pang attended New York City Community College. She aspired to be a model, but modelling agencies reportedly told her she was too “ethnic”.

Pang’s early jobs included being a song-plugger, which meant encouraging artists to record songs written by songwriters. In 1970, she began work in New York as a receptionist at ABKCO Records, Allen Klein’s management office, which at that time represented Apple Records and three former Beatles: Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.

Relationship with John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Pang was asked to help Lennon and Ono with their avant-garde film projects, Up Your Legs Forever and Fly, in December 1970.

Pang was then asked to be Lennon and Ono’s secretary and factotum (domestic worker) and gofer (employee who specializes in the delivery of special items to their superior(s)) in New York City and Britain, which led to a permanent position as their personal assistant when the Lennons moved from London to Manhattan in 1971.

Pang coordinated an art exhibition in Syracuse, New York, on October 9, 1971, for Ono’s This Is Not Here art show at the Everson Museum. Ono’s show coincided with Lennon’s 31st birthday, and a party was held at the Hotel Syracuse, which was attended by Ringo Starr, Phil Spector, and Elliot Mintz.

“Lost Weekend”

In mid-1973, Pang was working on the recording of Lennon’s Mind Games album. Lennon and Ono were having marital problems, and Ono suggested to Pang that she become Lennon’s companion. Ono explained that she and Lennon were not getting along, they had been arguing and were growing apart, and that Lennon would start seeing other women. She pointed out that Lennon had said he found Pang sexually attractive. Pang replied that she could never start a relationship with Lennon as he was her employer and married. Ono ignored Pang’s protests and said that she would arrange everything. Ono later confirmed this conversation in an interview.

In October 1973, Lennon and Pang left New York for Los Angeles to promote Mind Games, and decided to stay for a while, living at lawyer Harold Seider’s apartment for a couple of days and then Lou Adler’s house. While there, Lennon was inspired to embark on two recording projects: to make an album of the old rock ‘n’ roll songs that inspired him to become a musician, and to produce another artist. In December 1973, Lennon collaborated with Phil Spector to record the oldies album Rock ‘n’ Roll. Lennon’s drinking and Spector’s erratic behavior (which included his firing a gun in the studio control room) caused the sessions to break down. Then Spector, who claimed to have been in a car accident, took the session tapes and became unreachable.

In March 1974, Lennon began producing Harry Nilsson’s Pussy Cats album, thus named to counter the “bad boy” image the pair had earned in the media with two drinking incidents at the Troubadour. The first was when Lennon placed a Kotex on his forehead and scuffled with a waitress at a concert given by Ann Peebles, who had released “I Can’t Stand the Rain”, one of Lennon’s current favorite records; and the second, two weeks later when Lennon and Nilsson were ejected from the same club after heckling the Smothers Brothers. Lennon thought it would be a good idea for the musicians to live under one roof to ensure they would get to the studio on time, so Pang rented a beach house in Santa Monica for her, Lennon, Nilsson, Ringo Starr and Keith Moon to live. At this time, Pang encouraged Lennon to reach out to family and friends. He and Paul McCartney mended fences and played together for the first and only time after the breakup of the Beatles. Pang also arranged for Julian Lennon to visit his father for the first time in almost four years.

Julian began to see his father more regularly. Lennon bought Julian a Gibson Les Paul copy guitar and a drum machine for Christmas in 1973, and encouraged Julian’s interest in music by showing him some chords. “Dad and I got on a great deal better then,” recalls Julian. “We had a lot of fun, laughed a lot and had a great time in general when he was with May Pang. My memories of that time with Dad and May are very clear—they were the happiest time I can remember with them” The cover of Julian’s seventh album, Jude, features a childhood photo of him taken by Pang.

In June 1974, Lennon and Pang returned to live in Manhattan. Lennon stopped drinking and concentrated on recording. Lennon previously had cats while he lived at his Aunt Mimi’s house in Liverpool; he and Pang adopted two cats that they named Major and Minor.

In the early summer, Lennon was working on his Walls and Bridges album when the couple moved into a penthouse apartment at 434 East 52nd Street. On August 23, Lennon and Pang claimed to have seen a UFO from their terrace, which had a panoramic view of Queens. To gain access to the deck, Lennon and Pang had to climb out of their kitchen window. On the night in question, a naked Lennon excitedly called Pang to join him on the deck outside and they both watched a circular object silently floating less than 100 feet away. Lennon called Bob Gruen—Lennon’s “official” photographer—and told him what had happened. Gruen suggested Lennon should call the police, but Lennon laughed it off, saying, “I’m not going to call up the newspaper and say ‘This is John Lennon and I saw a flying saucer last night.’” Gruen called the local police precinct which confirmed that three other people had reported a sighting, and the Daily News wrote that five people had reported a sighting in the same area of New York where Lennon and Pang lived. Lennon references the incident in the song “Nobody Told Me”.

Walls and Bridges rose to the top spot on the album charts. Lennon achieved his only number-one solo US single in his lifetime with “Whatever Gets You thru the Night”. Pang’s is the voice whispering Lennon’s name on “#9 Dream”. “Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)” was written about her. Julian played drums on the album’s last track, “Ya Ya”. While recording Walls and Bridges, Al Coury, vice president of promotion for Capitol Records, got possession of the chaotic Spector session tapes and brought them to New York. Lennon completed his oldies album, which was titled Rock 'n’ Roll, with the same musicians he used on Walls and Bridges. Pang received an RIAA gold record award for her work on Walls and Bridges and continued her work as production coordinator of Lennon’s Rock 'n’ Roll album, where she was credited as “Mother Superior”. Pang also worked on albums by Nilsson, Starr, Elton John and David Bowie.

While visiting Mick Jagger at Andy Warhol’s compound in Montauk, New York, Lennon and Pang saw a Scottish-style cottage for sale close to the Montauk Point Lighthouse. Lennon asked a real estate broker to put in an offer for it in February 1975.

In the same month, Lennon and Pang were also planning on visiting Paul and Linda McCartney in New Orleans, where their band Wings were recording the Venus and Mars album, but Lennon reconciled with Ono the day before the planned visit, after Ono said she had a new cure for Lennon’s smoking habit. After the meeting, he failed to return home or call Pang. When Pang telephoned the next day, Ono told her that Lennon was unavailable because he was exhausted after a hypnotherapy session. Two days later, Lennon reappeared at a joint dental appointment; he was stupefied and confused to such an extent that Pang believed he had been brainwashed. Lennon told Pang he had reconciled with Ono and their relationship was over. Over the coming years, Pang quietly met Lennon a few times but their relationship was never rekindled.

Lennon lamented this period publicly but not in private. Journalist Larry Kane, who befriended Lennon in 1964, wrote a comprehensive biography of Lennon which detailed the “Lost Weekend” period. In the interview with Kane, Lennon explained his feelings about his time with Pang; “You know Larry, I may have been the happiest I’ve ever been… I loved this woman (Pang), I made some beautiful music and I got so fucked up with booze and shit and whatever.”

At the time Lennon had his 18-month relationship with Pang, he was in a period of his life that he later referred to as his “Lost Weekend”, in reference to Charles R. Jackson’s 1944 novel with the same title.

The 1980s and Beyond

After Lennon returned to Ono, Pang started working for United Artists Records and Island Records as a public relations manager, working on albums by Bob Marley and Robert Palmer.

Pang published her memoir Loving John in 1983. The original 500-page book focused mainly on Pang’s role on Lennon’s albums and sessions. It was updated and renamed John Lennon: The Lost Weekend and was edited down to 300 pages, concentrating mostly on the sensational aspects of their relationship. It also included postcards that Lennon had written to Pang during his travels throughout the world in the late 1970s. Pang claims that she and Lennon remained lovers until 1977, and stayed in contact until his death.

Pang married record producer Tony Visconti in 1989; the couple divorced in 2000. They had two children, Sebastian and Lara.

Pang remains in touch with some of the people from her time with Lennon, and Paul McCartney invited her to Linda McCartney’s memorial service after she died in 1998. She was an invited guest at The Concert for George in 2002 and remained close to Cynthia Lennon and Lennon’s first son, Julian.

Although having had no contact for 30 years, on October 9, 2006, Pang accidentally met Ono in Iceland, on what would have been Lennon’s 66th birthday. Ono was in Iceland to unveil a sculpture in Reykjavík and was staying in the same hotel.

Pang’s book of photographs Instamatic Karma was published in 2008. Besides the candid personal portraits, the book contains some historically important photographs, such as Lennon signing the official dissolution of the Beatles’ partnership, and one of the last known photographs of Lennon and Paul McCartney together. John’s first wife Cynthia Lennon also provided a back cover endorsement, acknowledging Pang’s role in reuniting Lennon with his estranged first son, Julian.

Around 2010, Pang started her own jewelry business. She designs stainless-steel feng shui jewelry.

Recent Years

Around 2020, Pang started her own jewelry business. She designs stainless-steel feng shui jewelry.

The Tribeca Film Festival announced the 2022 premiere of The Lost Weekend: A Love Story, a 97-minute documentary about Pang’s life and relationship with Lennon, on June 10 via virtual home viewing. The film was produced and directed by Eve Brandstein, Richard Kaufman and Stuart Samuels. The Lost Weekend appeared in theaters internationally for a limited run April 13th and 14th 2023 and became available via streaming and on BluRay in October 2023.

Coinciding with the release of the 2022 documentary, Pang published a collection of her photographs of Lennon which were made available for sale in an touring exhibition called The Lost Weekend: The Photography of May Pang.

Pang still resides in New York City. She volunteers with an animal shelter called Animal Haven in New York and owned a dog that was rescued after Hurricane Katrina. She also co-hosts an Internet talk radio show, Dinner Specials with Cynthia and May Pang, at blogtalkradio.com, with on-air partner Cynthia Neilson.

*CHECK OUR MAY PANG PHOTO ALBUM HOSTED AT GOOGLE PHOTOS*

[ludmilachaibemachado]

John Lennon and May Pang had an important relationship during a turbulent period in Lennon's life. Between 1973 and 1975, while he was separated from Yoko Ono, May Pang worked as Lennon's personal assistant and the two developed a romantic relationship. This period became known as "The Lost Weekend". Lennon was estranged from Ono and became involved in various creative and personal activities with Pang. During this time, Lennon released the album "Mind Games" and worked on various musical projects. The relationship between Lennon and Pang ended when he reconciled with Yoko Ono in 1975. Although short, this period was significant in Lennon's personal and professional life, leaving a mark on the history of music and pop culture🎍🎍🎍

Via @soulmagicalbeatles on Instagram🎍

[progfanandradfem]

Music seems to be such male-dominated profession. I'm trying to form an all-female band, in the name of female separatism and all I fucking get in Poland are scrotes. The fact I happen to like progressive rock and heavy metal, makes things worse. I don't mind listening to all-male bands, making about of them inspiration for my music (for example I love Geddy Lee's singing, because it matches my own voice), but notice the patterns, they usually separate themselves from women and don't allow women into their spaces (see - Yoko Ono trope). How many times do I have to wait for a proper all-female band to come out?

[myplasticadversary]

Cooked up another Plastic Ono Band album concept last night! I don't know how long this project would realistically last, but the way I've figured it is John and Paul are apart in 1971 and have their icy bitter falling out but without Klein around to stoke the flames and they each release their own solo albums that year ("I Found Out" for John, "RAM" for Paul and "Fly" for Yoko). Now that Paul has an outlet making music with Linda so he's not going insane trying to make JohnAndYoko happy all the time, and he's also got some creative inspiration that he thinks jives with their anti-establishment artistic mission, they're able to get back together and put out "Imagine" in 1972.

It's still not the same though, with John's collaborative partnership being solely Lennon/Ono on that record. And as much as Paul doesn't enjoy being inserted into their marriage he'd rather go off and do Wings than try to steal John away. That is, until John famously cheats on Yoko at that presidential election party and her humiliation coupled with his growing disenchantment creates a rift between them. Ultimately the band stays together mostly because Yoko is afraid that no one will care about her work if it doesn't have a Beatle on it and also she really wants to prove herself to the critics and to Paul that she's an equal. Plus they're competing with George's new group that includes Ringo, Billy, Klaus, and maybe Bob Dylan/Ravi Shankar, and they're getting a ton of hype.

[kirbyluvr63]

Some Thoughts™

About control and other complicated things

As of late, my obsession with The Beatles and, specially, their inner lives and relationships has left me thinking...

We all know John Lennon was bisexual, or as Yoko put it, had 'desire' for other men, but, as she also put it, never acted on it. But I don't think that's quite true. I think the first thing that comes to mind when you're presented with this information is "Why would she say this?", why would she out a dead man that, from the looks of it, never wanted this part of his life to be public? Well.

We can all have varying opinions on Yoko, but I think we can all agree that she was a controlling force in Lennon's life, be it for better or for worse, it doesn't really matter. Just take a look at John's Spotify bio:

"But it was only after his marriage to artist Yoko Ono in 1969 that the figure the world now recognizes as 'John Lennon' truly came into being."

That's the important bit. She takes care of his estate, It'd be silly to think she wasn't involved in writing this. She's, also, telling the truth.

John Lennon was never just 'John Lennon'. He was first 'Lennon-McCartney' and later 'John & Yoko', and both times it was his own choice. He can say whatever he wants about being stifled by Paul, he wanted to be stifled, controlled, being told what to do, but at the same time he didn't. Control was how he showed love and how he received love, first from his aunt Mimi, then from Paul, and lastly from Yoko. He was also a deeply jealous and angry man, and what is jealousy if not the need to control?

It might seem paradoxal at first, his need to be controlled but also hating it. But it's actually quite simple. John was the type of person to believe he was worthless, that everyone that he loved was destined to leave him, that he would die alone. These types of thoughts make people, in general, lash out at their loved ones, test their limits, their loyalty "Do you really love me? Would you love me at my worst? Would you love me even if I hurt you? Why won't you believe that I'm a terrible person? I'll prove it to you." and so forth. We should also remember that he was a hopeless romantic, that believed in destiny and love at first sight. He was desperate.

I think Yoko fed him the exact type of control and liberty that he needed, wrapped around a veil of occultism and self improvement. And a very specific public image.

The first time John had his public image controlled was in the beginning of The Beatles by Brian Epstein, someone that John was also famously fond of and who's early death, in my opinion, was the beginning of the end for the band.

John and Eppie's Holiday in Spain is very well documented with some conflicting information on whether or not they actually had sex, but that doesn't matter in my opinion. John is also quoted as saying:

"I like playing a bit faggy, all that. It was enjoyable, but there were big rumours in Liverpool, it was terrible. Very embarrassing."

And I can imagine why being perceived as a 'homosexual' in the 60's in the UK would be terrible and embarrassing, even if he liked it. The problem in his mind was his image as a straight guy and not really what he was doing, whatever it is that he did while in Spain and away from everyone. Also, John was surrounded by a lot of gay men during his life, hence the picture that opened this post of John and Elton, one of his best friends, a godfather to Sean and the person that Yoko asked to complete John's music after he died, he refused and she later released them unfinished — you can find this tidbit on Elton's autobiography Me.

And so, why would Yoko say that his desires toward men were never consummated, and she cites specifically with Brian, if we have proof of the opposite?

It's about control. Not only control of John's image but control of her image as well. She knows more and more people are coming out and saying things about John's sexuality, things get a bit muddy and she has the opportunity to give a definitive answer, and she chooses the one narrative where she comes out as the good, free-spirited artist, the cool wife. He confided in her and she was supportive, but he also loved her too much to do anything. She could've said nothing. She could've said that this part of John's sexuality was none of our business, it was none of her business. But she chose to not only confirm it, but to say that he didn't to anything about it, not even with Brian.

If John had lived, I don't think he would've said anything about it, he was a ball of repressed feelings until the very end. Or maybe I'm wrong — I'll admit, he was getting better. But I doubt that their marriage would've lasted much longer anyway, who knows if she would still be on the Spotify bio.

John Lennon was a complicated man. That's all I'm saying I guess.