GIVE PEACE A CHANCE (Room 415)
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE (Room 415)
On September 12th 1969 rock promoter, John Brower, invited John and Yoko to play The Toronto Rock n Roll Festival the very next day. He offered them eight first class return tickets. The bill included Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard (all heroes of John’s). John retorted that if he was to go he wanted to play, which was quickly accepted by the astonished promoter. John now had a problem, he had no band. He rang drummer Alan White, bassist Klaus Voormann, and guitarist Eric Clapton. All agreed and met the next day to fly to Toronto. They amazingly rehearsed on the plane. John had been very impulsive and spontaneous in his decision, which was indicative of his attitude throughout that summer. He wanted things done immediately almost without planning or thinking things through. On the morning of the flight he had second thoughts but Eric convinced him it would be a great vehicle for his peace message. When they arrived at the airport it was like the old days as hundreds of fans welcomed them. The Plastic Ono Band, as Lennon called it, ran through standard rock numbers such as ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, ‘Money’, and ‘Dizzy Miss Lizzie’… accompanied by a Beatles song ‘Yer Blues’ and two new songs ‘Cold Turkey’ and ‘Give Peace A Chance’. If people thought that this was the end, they were in for a rude awakening as the band went into a 17 minute Yoko performance that left everybody bemused. The performance subsequently came out as ‘Live Peace In Toronto’ but what was significant about this gig was that John later recalled that it convinced him The Beatles were finished. He had been toying with the idea of quitting (George and Ringo had done so previously, but returned) and this gig confirmed his decision. He told Allen Klein and Paul upon his return that it was all over. They begged him to say nothing until the new album Abbey Road came out. Lennon reluctantly agreed and much to his anger and distaste 6 months later Paul announced that HE was leaving, thus gaining much publicity for his solo album. This deeply wounded John and the rift was never properly healed.
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE (Room 415)
On September 12th 1969 rock promoter, John Brower, invited John and Yoko to play The Toronto Rock n Roll Festival the very next day. He offered them eight first class return tickets. The bill included Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard (all heroes of John’s). John retorted that if he was to go he wanted to play, which was quickly accepted by the astonished promoter. John now had a problem, he had no band. He rang drummer Alan White, bassist Klaus Voormann, and guitarist Eric Clapton. All agreed and met the next day to fly to Toronto. They amazingly rehearsed on the plane. John had been very impulsive and spontaneous in his decision, which was indicative of his attitude throughout that summer. He wanted things done immediately almost without planning or thinking things through. On the morning of the flight he had second thoughts but Eric convinced him it would be a great vehicle for his peace message. When they arrived at the airport it was like the old days as hundreds of fans welcomed them. The Plastic Ono Band, as Lennon called it, ran through standard rock numbers such as ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, ‘Money’, and ‘Dizzy Miss Lizzie’… accompanied by a Beatles song ‘Yer Blues’ and two new songs ‘Cold Turkey’ and ‘Give Peace A Chance’. If people thought that this was the end, they were in for a rude awakening as the band went into a 17 minute Yoko performance that left everybody bemused. The performance subsequently came out as ‘Live Peace In Toronto’ but what was significant about this gig was that John later recalled that it convinced him The Beatles were finished. He had been toying with the idea of quitting (George and Ringo had done so previously, but returned) and this gig confirmed his decision. He told Allen Klein and Paul upon his return that it was all over. They begged him to say nothing until the new album Abbey Road came out. Lennon reluctantly agreed and much to his anger and distaste 6 months later Paul announced that HE was leaving, thus gaining much publicity for his solo album. This deeply wounded John and the rift was never properly healed.
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE (Room 415)
On September 12th 1969 rock promoter, John Brower, invited John and Yoko to play The Toronto Rock n Roll Festival the very next day. He offered them eight first class return tickets. The bill included Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard (all heroes of John’s). John retorted that if he was to go he wanted to play, which was quickly accepted by the astonished promoter. John now had a problem, he had no band. He rang drummer Alan White, bassist Klaus Voormann, and guitarist Eric Clapton. All agreed and met the next day to fly to Toronto. They amazingly rehearsed on the plane. John had been very impulsive and spontaneous in his decision, which was indicative of his attitude throughout that summer. He wanted things done immediately almost without planning or thinking things through. On the morning of the flight he had second thoughts but Eric convinced him it would be a great vehicle for his peace message. When they arrived at the airport it was like the old days as hundreds of fans welcomed them. The Plastic Ono Band, as Lennon called it, ran through standard rock numbers such as ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, ‘Money’, and ‘Dizzy Miss Lizzie’… accompanied by a Beatles song ‘Yer Blues’ and two new songs ‘Cold Turkey’ and ‘Give Peace A Chance’. If people thought that this was the end, they were in for a rude awakening as the band went into a 17 minute Yoko performance that left everybody bemused. The performance subsequently came out as ‘Live Peace In Toronto’ but what was significant about this gig was that John later recalled that it convinced him The Beatles were finished. He had been toying with the idea of quitting (George and Ringo had done so previously, but returned) and this gig confirmed his decision. He told Allen Klein and Paul upon his return that it was all over. They begged him to say nothing until the new album Abbey Road came out. Lennon reluctantly agreed and much to his anger and distaste 6 months later Paul announced that HE was leaving, thus gaining much publicity for his solo album. This deeply wounded John and the rift was never properly healed.
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON