John & Yoko: Plastic Ono Band

The definitive exploration of John Lennon’s first major solo album after the break-up of the Beatles

Described by Lennon as ‘the best thing I’ve ever done’, and widely regarded by critics as his best solo album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band was released alongside the remarkable Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band on 11 December 1970. With first-hand commentary by John & Yoko, members of the Plastic Ono Band and other key figures in their lives, and packed with evocative and revealing letters, artworks and photographs, this incisive volume offers new insights into the raw emotions and open mindset of Lennon after marriage to Ono and the break-up of the Beatles.

Following their wedding in March 1969, Lennon and Ono decided that their future musical endeavours should be credited to a conceptual vehicle, the Plastic Ono Band. The band featured an ever-changing line-up of musicians, including Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann, Ringo Starr, Alan White, George Harrison, Billy Preston and Jim Keltner, all of whom played live with Lennon and Ono, and contributed to their recordings. The fearless honesty that John & Yoko inspired in one another in their search for truth, meaning and peace had a huge impact on Lennon’s song writing, resulting in the creation of tracks that are intensely personal and unlike anything previously heard in popular music, including ‘Mother’, ‘Working Class Hero’ and ‘God’. This book takes those lyrics as a starting point and explores Lennon’s life, relationships and world view during this transformative period.

Contents List:

YOKO ONO / PREFACE
WHO ARE THE PLASTIC ONO BAND?

Singles
Bed Peace / Montreal
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE
Derek Taylor / What Is The Plastic Ono Band?
Live Peace In Toronto
COLD TURKEY
Peace And Love For Christmas
INSTANT KARMA! (WE ALL SHINE ON)
Arthur Janov / Primal Scream Therapy

Back Stories
MOTHER
HOLD ON
I FOUND OUT
WORKING CLASS HERO
ISOLATION
REMEMBER
LOVE
WELL WELL WELL
LOOK AT ME
GOD
MY MUMMY’S DEAD

Recordings
JOHN LENNON / PLASTIC ONO BAND
Ringo Starr / Drums
Klaus Voormann / Bass
Billy Preston / Piano
YOKO ONO / PLASTIC ONO BAND
Album Artworks

Promotions
Jann S. Wenner / Founder and Editor, Rolling Stone
Annie Leibovitz / Photographer

About the Authors:

John Lennon (1940–1980) was an English singer, songwriter and peace activist who co-founded the Beatles, the most commercially successful band in the history of popular music. Yoko Ono is a globally renowned multimedia artist, singer, songwriter and activist. She married John Lennon in 1969 and became his creative partner and muse. She continues to work to preserve his legacy, funding, among other projects, Strawberry Fields in Manhattan’s Central Park, the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER in Iceland and the ‘Imagine There’s No Hunger’ campaign.