<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>mxdwn.co.uk &#187; Yoko Ono</title>
	<atom:link href="https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/tag/yoko-ono/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk</link>
	<description>all that matters in music in the UK</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 19:40:27 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1</generator>
	<item>
		<title>&#8216;Power To The People&#039;: Box Set Exploring John Lennon And Yoko Ono&#8217;s Political Activism Announced</title>
		<link>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/power-to-the-people-box-set-exploring-john-lennon-and-yoko-onos-political-activism-announced/</link>
		<comments>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/power-to-the-people-box-set-exploring-john-lennon-and-yoko-onos-political-activism-announced/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Aug 2025 13:57:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jack Circuit]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Lennon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoko Ono]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=112235</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A new box set &#8211; titled ‘Power To The People (Super Deluxe Edition)’ &#8211; has been announced to celebrate the political activism of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The collection of nine CDs, three Blu-rays, and a 204-page book is due to be released on October 10 and will focus on a three-year spell, where [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A new box set &#8211; titled ‘<i>Power To The People (Super Deluxe Edition)</i>’ &#8211; has been announced to celebrate the political activism of John Lennon and Yoko Ono.</p>
<p>The collection of nine CDs, three Blu-rays, and a 204-page book is due to be released on October 10 and will focus on a three-year spell, where the married couple lived in New York City between 1969 and 1972.</p>
<p>Their son, Sean Ono Lennon, took on production duties for the project, which comprises of 123 songs, including 90 previously unreleased tracks.</p>
<p><iframe style="border-radius: 12px;" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/2PE714SnOmORDEynHdiEbg?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>In a statement released with the announcement of the new box set, Ono Lennon said: “I was completely floored putting this collection together and getting to remix the concerts and hearing all the unreleased material from my parents’ archive for the first time.</p>
<p>“People may not realise how special it is for me to hear my dad talking or to see him. I grew up with a set number of images and audio clips that everyone’s familiar with. So to come across things that I’ve never seen or heard is really deep for me, because it’s almost like getting more time with my dad.”</p>
<p>One specific performance which will be immortalised by the new project is the One To One concert in New York City &#8211; Lennon’s final full-length show.</p>
<p>Ono Lennon emotionally recalled this performance, saying: “When I was eleven, my mum put out the <i>Live in New York City </i>album and film. So I grew up listening to it. It was a concert that had a legendary status in my mind, because it was my dad’s last concert.”</p>
<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QvbwW9bxhZY?si=o2SOS9SBYggj1aQf" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>A team of five grammy-award winning producers worked with Sean Ono Lennon to comprise the full collection, with Ono Lennon explaining the process they went through: “For the concerts, Paul Hicks and Simon Hilton and I spent a lot of time finding the best possible balance to keep the feeling of a live show while refining the overall sound as much as possible.</p>
<p>“I won’t disclose all our techniques but there was some ‘movie magic’ required, and I think in the end, the shows sound better than ever.”</p>
<p>The box set not only includes the CDs, Blu-rays and book &#8211; as it will also feature a newsprint poster, two postcards, two sticker sheets, and two replica ticket stubs, VIP backstage passes and aftershow invitations.</p>
<p>The box set will be released on October 10 via Capitol/UMe and will be available as both a 12-disc box set and a digital version. The collection will cost £169.99 and is available to pre-order now from <a href="https://storeuk.johnlennon.com/products/power-to-the-people-9cd-3-blu-ray-boxset" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/power-to-the-people-box-set-exploring-john-lennon-and-yoko-onos-political-activism-announced/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Historic John Lennon and Yoko Ono Holiday Hotel to be Demolished</title>
		<link>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/historic-john-lennon-and-yoko-ono-holiday-hotel-to-be-demolished/</link>
		<comments>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/historic-john-lennon-and-yoko-ono-holiday-hotel-to-be-demolished/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 May 2025 10:57:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Asia Leadbitter]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Lennon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Beatles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoko Ono]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=109848</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A hotel where John Lennon and Yoko Ono went on holiday together is set to be demolished.  Legendary lead singer of the Beatles John Lennon, and his wife Yoko Ono, once spent a holiday as newlyweds at the Grade II listed Corbett Arms in the Welsh town of Tywyn, in the summer of 1969.  The Corbett [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><del></del><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2" data-ccp-charstyle-defn="{&quot;ObjectId&quot;:&quot;e1226361-75d1-550e-bed1-3306b7137d36|1&quot;,&quot;ClassId&quot;:1073872969,&quot;Properties&quot;:[201342446,&quot;1&quot;,201342447,&quot;5&quot;,201342448,&quot;3&quot;,201342449,&quot;1&quot;,469777841,&quot;UICTFontTextStyleBody&quot;,469777842,&quot;&quot;,469777843,&quot;&quot;,469777844,&quot;UICTFontTextStyleBody&quot;,201341986,&quot;1&quot;,469769226,&quot;UICTFontTextStyleBody&quot;,268442635,&quot;26&quot;,469775450,&quot;s2&quot;,201340122,&quot;1&quot;,134233614,&quot;true&quot;,469778129,&quot;s2&quot;,335572020,&quot;1&quot;,134224900,&quot;false&quot;,134224901,&quot;false&quot;,469778324,&quot;Default Paragraph Font&quot;]}">A hotel where John Lennon and Yoko Ono went on holiday together is set to be demolished.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">Legendary lead singer of the Beatles John Lennon, and his wife Yoko Ono, once spent a holiday as </span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">newlyweds</span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2"> at the Grade II listed Corbett Arms in the Welsh town of Tywyn, in the summer of 1969.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">The Corbett Arms has been shut for a decade, and after </span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">numerous</span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2"> failed attempts to contact the owner, the local council has applied to demolish the 19th-century Georgian building.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">In recent years, the hotel has been in a state of disarray, with parts of the rear and roof of the building crumbling. In the Welsh seaside town, the Corbett Arms was a local landmark, even before the likes of visitors such as Lennon and Ono. The couple, with their children </span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">Kyoko</span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2"> and Julian, first stayed there mere months after their marriage in 1969.</span></span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">Alan Finlay, who worked at the hotel when he was 13, was there to greet the family when they first arrived. He washed Lennon&#8217;s </span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">car, and</span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2"> took a photo of the couple with their children. His daughter Gaby shares his story with the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ylxjl74yzo" target="_blank">BBC</a>: &#8220;He was a huge music fan and was like &#8216;oh my god&#8217;, he </span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">couldn&#8217;t</span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2"> believe it.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">&#8220;John Lennon then asked dad to clean his car. </span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">So</span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2"> he did with pride and </span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">couldn&#8217;t</span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2"> believe it when John Lennon paid him, he said </span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">he&#8217;d</span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2"> have done it for free! But John paid dad quite a lot of money!&#8221;</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C3_0GqPvr4U?si=PxlmmhYULBwPCIgu" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The family&#8217;s visit to the Corbett Arms was between the recording of Lennon&#8217;s first solo record<em> &#8216;Give Peace A chance&#8217;</em>, recorded a few weeks earlier. The Beatles were on a break at this time, and this visit wasn&#8217;t long before the band would split for good.</p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">Despite the council&#8217;s claim that the building needs to be demolished due to structural instability, the people of Tywyn have been tirelessly pleading with them to prevent the iconic landmark&#8217;s demolition. <a href="https://www.savebritainsheritage.org/news/imagine-saves-structural-engineer-finds-no-justification-for-total-demolition-of-john-and-yoko-hotel" target="_blank">SAVE Britain&#8217;s Heritage</a>, an independent organisation &#8220;fighting against needless and wasteful demolition of historic buildings&#8221;, has been at the forefront of this campaign. They sent a specialist conservation engineer, Jon </span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">Avent</span><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">, and a team of structural engineers to investigate.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Breaking News // Save the Corbett Arms Hotel!</p>
<p>&#8220;No justification&#8221;: SAVE engineer refutes total demolition of Welsh hotel planned for this Friday!</p>
<p>Read our press release: <a href="https://t.co/g7LQ6Ssj5C">https://t.co/g7LQ6Ssj5C</a></p>
<p>Email the CEO of Gwynedd Council to object dafyddgibbard@gwynedd.llyw.cymru <a href="https://t.co/LogwLEdiHW">pic.twitter.com/LogwLEdiHW</a></p>
<p>— SAVE Britain&#8217;s Heritage (@SAVEtoReuse) <a href="https://twitter.com/SAVEtoReuse/status/1917183744806711745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">Avent says: “There is simply no justification for demolition.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto"><span data-ccp-charstyle="s2">“When asked to inspect this building due for demolition, I expected to see a building presenting widespread structural failures and beyond repair. What I saw was an impressive piece of history in need of some care and attention. A small area of collapse at the rear, but nothing to unduly challenge those with a willingness to see a sustainable future for this lovely building.&#8221;</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p>The building is continuously monitored, and the council has erected safety fencing and closed the road to ensure public safety. Gareth Jones, Gwynedd Council representative, states that &#8220;the condition of the building has deteriorated to a point where immediate action is now required to protect public health and safety, and sadly there is no other option.”</p>
<p>The demolition is set to take place over the next few months.</p>
<p>Click <a href="https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/john-lennons-plan-for-a-supergroup-with-eric-clapton-goes-under-the-hammer/" target="_blank">here </a>for more MXDWN coverage relating to John Lennon.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/historic-john-lennon-and-yoko-ono-holiday-hotel-to-be-demolished/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>&#8216;One to One: John &amp; Yoko&#8217; Documentary Trailer Released Ahead of Theatrical Run</title>
		<link>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/one-to-one-john-yoko-documentary-trailer-released-ahead-of-theatrical-run/</link>
		<comments>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/one-to-one-john-yoko-documentary-trailer-released-ahead-of-theatrical-run/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 Mar 2025 01:42:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Lewis Pinto]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beatles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[documentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Lennon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Music Documentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[One to One: John & Yoko]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sean ono lennon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Beatles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoko Ono]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=107751</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The trailer for upcoming documentary, One to One: John and Yoko, has been released, giving fans a first look at some of the never-before-seen footage from the couple’s time in New York’s Greenwich Village in the early 1970s. Releasing on 9 April, the documentary will also include footage from their 1972 benefit concert for Willowbrook [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The trailer for upcoming documentary, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">One to One: John and Yoko</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, has been released, giving fans a first look at some of the never-before-seen footage from the couple’s time in New York’s Greenwich Village in the early 1970s. Releasing on 9 April, the documentary will also include footage from their 1972 benefit concert for Willowbrook State School. The documentary will cover an 18-month period, centred around that concert.</span><strong><strong> </strong></strong></p>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHGbZF5M4W0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">
<div style="padding: 16px;"><a style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHGbZF5M4W0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"><br />
</a></p>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"></div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div>
<div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div>
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
</div>
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHGbZF5M4W0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by John Lennon (@johnlennon)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p><script src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js" async=""></script><a href="https://deadline.com/2025/01/sundance-one-to-one-john-yoko-1236262263/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Deadline</span></i></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, Sean Ono Lennon, the pair&#8217;s son, has overseen the audio remastering of the </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">One to One</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> concert, having <a href="https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/sean-ono-lennon-mind-games-is-my-dad-getting-back-on-track-146493/" target="_blank">fulfilled a similar role on various Lennon remasters</a> in recent years. The benefit concert was played twice, <a href="https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/john-lennon-and-yoko-ono/1972/madison-square-garden-new-york-ny-73d43e6d.html" target="_blank">with the afternoon show</a> featuring more songs than the evening show. Among the songs played across both shows are ‘Power to the People’, ‘Instant Karma!’, and ‘Give Peace a Chance’. The remastering of the audio suggests that an accompanying album could be released alongside the documentary, possibly a remaster of </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">‘Live in New York City’</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which was recorded at the concert.</span></p>
<p><strong><strong> </strong></strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Magnolia Pictures co-CEOs Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley saw<a href="https://deadline.com/2025/01/sundance-one-to-one-john-yoko-1236262263/" target="_blank"> the film as</a> “a revelation,” while director Kevin Macdonald <a href="https://deadline.com/2025/01/sundance-one-to-one-john-yoko-1236262263/" target="_blank">described the documentary as</a> “a movie about music and love and politics and about immersing yourself in the year of 1972—a period in time that feels uncannily like the world we are currently inhabiting.”</span></p>
<p><strong><strong> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gptCA3R9q9c?si=4RbQ1uiTrAZIDYGb" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> </strong></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The documentary focuses on Lennon and Yoko’s time living in Greenwich Village, which was the happening place on the US’s East Coast. It had become the centre of countercultural movements in the late 60s, and was the birthplace of Beat poetry. The pair were a natural fit for the artist’s haven, and were both involved in protesting through their bed-ins and their own form of  resistance, ‘bagism’.</span> <strong><strong> </strong></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Given the period that will be covered, fans should be expecting the documentary to explore Lennon’s relationship with the Nixon administration. His outspoken criticism of the US president and anti-war stance landed him in various deportation meetings, and it was revealed after his death that he had been closely monitored by the FBI, with the files eventually being released to the public.</span> </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Today in Rock History December 20, 2006 The FBI release documents related to their investigation of John Lennon in the early ‘70s. The Nixon administration thought Lennon, an anti-war (Vietnam) advocate, was aiding left wing causes and therefore an undesirable alien.… <a href="https://t.co/XWfxqx3jWy">pic.twitter.com/XWfxqx3jWy</a> — Rock History Live! (@KTrain939913) <a href="https://twitter.com/KTrain939913/status/1737365631152873603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The trailer, along with the earlier teaser, suggests candid moments between the couple will play a big role. It was the intimate, behind-the-scenes moments that made</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> ‘<a href="https://www.disneyplus.com/en-gb/series/the-beatles-get-back/7DcWEeWVqrkE" target="_blank">The Beatles: Get Back</a>’ </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">and </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">‘<a href="http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/the-beatles-64-new-documentary-chronicles-the-birth-of-beatlemania-in-the-us/" target="_blank">Beatles ‘64’</a></span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> as insightful as they were, and early reviews from the documentary suggest that viewers won’t be let down. </span></p>
<p><strong><strong> </strong></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">The reception to the film from its limited film festival last year was overwhelmingly positive, earning the film a <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/one-to-one-john-yoko/" target="_blank">Metacritic score of 82</a>. Reviewing the film for </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Guardian</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/aug/30/one-to-one-john-yoko-review-lennon-kevin-macdonald" target="_blank">Xan Brooks gave it four out of five stars and said</a>, “If only more nostalgic music documentaries could muster such a fun, fierce, and full-blooded take on old, familiar material. One to One, against the odds, makes Lennon feel somehow vital again.”</span></p>
<p><strong><strong> <iframe style="border-radius: 12px;" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/7qxMRSy8JOgt5m6del5NFb?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> </strong></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The documentary will receive a theatrical run in the UK. It will be released on IMAX on 9 April, before expanding to smaller theatres on 11 April. <a href="https://releasing.dogwoof.com/one-to-one-john-yoko" target="_blank">The full list is available here, along with dates</a>.</span></p>
<p><strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">With its mix of unseen footage, remastered concert audio, and political intrigue, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">One to One: John and Yoko</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> will appeal to fans of the ex-Beatle as much as those interested in the social and political history of the early 70s. </span></strong></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/one-to-one-john-yoko-documentary-trailer-released-ahead-of-theatrical-run/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Rare ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ Vinyl on Display at Strawberry Field to Support Charity Programme</title>
		<link>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/rare-happy-xmas-war-is-over-vinyl-on-display-at-strawberry-field-to-support-charity-programme/</link>
		<comments>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/rare-happy-xmas-war-is-over-vinyl-on-display-at-strawberry-field-to-support-charity-programme/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 15 Dec 2024 01:21:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Lewis Pinto]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christmas Song]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Lennon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liverpool]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[strawberry Field]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strawberry fields]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[the salvation army]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoko Ono]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=104109</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of 50 rare pressings of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” is now on display at Strawberry Field in Liverpool. The pressing has been loaned to the site by The Musical Box, a historic Liverpool record shop that Lennon and original Beatles drummer Pete Best frequented as teenagers. This special [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of 50 rare pressings of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “<a href="https://www.beatlesbible.com/people/john-lennon/songs/happy-xmas-war-is-over/" target="_blank">Happy Xmas (War Is Over)</a>” is now on display at Strawberry Field in Liverpool. The pressing has been loaned to the site by The Musical Box, a historic Liverpool record shop that Lennon and original Beatles drummer Pete Best frequented as teenagers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This special record will remain on display until the end of December, offering visitors a chance to view the rare piece of memorabilia as part of their visit to Strawberry Field. Admission is included in the standard ticket price, which helps fund the Salvation Army’s </span><a href="https://www.strawberryfield.salvationarmy.org.uk/steps-work#:~:text=The%20Steps%20to%20Work%20programme,to%20employment%20into%20paid%20work." target="_blank"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Steps to Work</span></i></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> programme, a charitable initiative designed to support young people with learning difficulties and other barriers to employment.</span></p>
<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g_kj60DIq2M?si=PRCpkj1vUK8kIPZ9" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These pressings, <a href="https://www.johnlennon.com/news/happy-xmas-war-is-over-50-acetates-for-the-50th-anniversary/" target="_blank">created in 2021 to mark the 50th anniversary of ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’</a>, were distributed by Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon to 25 music charities and grassroots organisations across the UK. Each acetate was intended to raise funds through auctions or sales. The remaining 25 were sent to select record shops, including The Musical Box, which chose to lend their pressing to Strawberry Field for public viewing.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Paula Quinn, owner of The Musical Box, <a href="https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/incredibly-rare-john-lennon-record-30561327" target="_blank">reflected on the honour</a> of receiving the record: “It was a brilliant surprise and privilege to receive the gift of the vinyl from Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon. What better place to show it than where John Lennon used to play as a child?”</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We are excited that a rare vinyl acetate of <a href="https://twitter.com/johnlennon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@johnlennon</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/yokoono?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@yokoono</a>’s single, ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’ is on display in our exhibition.</p>
<p>The vinyl is on loan from <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMusicalBoxRS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@themusicalboxrs</a>, who were gifted it by Yoko Ono &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/seanonolennon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@seanonolennon</a>.<a href="https://t.co/3d7z6Z34dE">https://t.co/3d7z6Z34dE</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyXmasVinyl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyXmasVinyl</a> <a href="https://t.co/RRWSoehbZs">pic.twitter.com/RRWSoehbZs</a></p>
<p>— Strawberry Field Liverpool (@strawberryfield) <a href="https://twitter.com/strawberryfield/status/1867283486786093100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Originally written as a <a href="https://www.beatlesbible.com/people/john-lennon/songs/happy-xmas-war-is-over/" target="_blank">protest song against the Vietnam War</a>, ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ was released in 1971 in the US and a year later in the UK. Lennon described his approach to the song’s political message as delivering it “with a little honey,” hoping to blend the message and the music as <a href="https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/john-lennon-imagine/" target="_blank">successfully as he did with his iconic album, ‘Imagine’.</a> Since its release, it has become a Christmas staple, <a href="https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/john-and-yoko-the-plastic-ono-band-with-the-harlem-community-choir-happy-xmas-war-is-over/" target="_blank">peaking in popularity</a> following Lennon’s tragic death in 1980.</span></p>
<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YkgkThdzX-8?si=elD-weTeRG_Tyi6b" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The song also serves as a culmination of Lennon and Ono’s activism in the late ’60s and early ’70s, including their famed “bed-ins for peace” and Bagism campaigns. The Salvation Army’s Kathy Versfeld, mission director at Strawberry Field, <a href="https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/incredibly-rare-john-lennon-record-30561327" target="_blank">highlighted this connection</a>: “With Strawberry Field’s deep symbolic and historical connection to John Lennon&#8230; it feels only right that this piece of history should find a home in our exhibition at a time when so many long for war to end and peace to prevail.”</span></p>
<p>Funds from Strawberry Field’s ticket sales go toward maintaining the site and its gardens and supporting the <a href="https://www.strawberryfield.salvationarmy.org.uk/steps-work#:~:text=The%20Steps%20to%20Work%20programme,to%20employment%20into%20paid%20work." target="_blank"><i>Steps to Work</i> programme</a>, which has been running since 2018. This initiative provides one-to-one support for young people with a strong desire to enter the workforce but who face barriers such as neurodiversity or a lack of prior employment experience. Trainees are paired with a dedicated work coach and guided through a year-long journey to build confidence, learn new skills, and achieve personal job goals.</p>
<p><iframe title="vimeo-player" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/861936568?h=91527cad85" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><strong><strong> </strong></strong></p>
<p>The exhibit at Strawberry Field reflects John Lennon’s enduring connection to Liverpool and his vision of a more peaceful world. Visitors can experience this piece of history while contributing to a programme that carries forward the spirit of optimism that defined Lennon’s later life.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Beatles fans and newcomers alike, the display offers a powerful reminder of how music can inspire change through simple actions. Tickets are on <a href="https://www.strawberryfield.salvationarmy.org.uk/tickets" target="_blank">sale here</a>.</span></p>
<p><br style="font-weight: 400;" /><br style="font-weight: 400;" /></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/rare-happy-xmas-war-is-over-vinyl-on-display-at-strawberry-field-to-support-charity-programme/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>John Lennon’s Plan for a Supergroup with Eric Clapton Goes Under The Hammer</title>
		<link>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/john-lennons-plan-for-a-supergroup-with-eric-clapton-goes-under-the-hammer/</link>
		<comments>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/john-lennons-plan-for-a-supergroup-with-eric-clapton-goes-under-the-hammer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 22:09:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Lewis Pinto]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Auction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[concert for bangladesh]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eric Clapton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Harrison]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Lennon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Memorabilia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supergroup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Beatles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[the dirty Mac]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoko Ono]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=103563</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A draft letter written by John Lennon to Eric Clapton in 1971 is set to go under the hammer at International Autograph Auctions Europe this Thursday. The letter reveals Lennon’s ambitions to form a supergroup with Clapton, alongside a dream lineup of musicians. Expected to fetch around £100,000, this artifact offers a glimpse into Lennon’s [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A draft letter written by John Lennon to Eric Clapton in 1971 is set to go under the hammer at <a href="https://www.autographauctions.eu/auction/lot/lot-1520---lennon-john-1940-1980/?lot=27937&amp;so=0&amp;st=John%20lennon&amp;sto=0&amp;au=&amp;ef=&amp;et=&amp;ic=False&amp;sd=0&amp;pp=96&amp;pn=1&amp;g=1" target="_blank">International Autograph Auctions Europe this Thursday</a>. The letter reveals Lennon’s ambitions to form a supergroup with Clapton, alongside a dream lineup of musicians. Expected to fetch around £100,000, this artifact offers a glimpse into Lennon’s post-Beatles ambitions and his desire to continue shaping rock music.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dated September 29, 1971, the letter was written during a pivotal moment in both artists’ lives. Clapton had recently disbanded Derek and the Dominos following the tragic death of Duane Allman and had just performed at the Concert for Bangladesh, organized by Lennon’s former bandmate, George Harrison. Lennon, meanwhile, had released </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Imagine</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> earlier that year and was preparing to release &#8220;Happy Xmas (War Is Over)&#8221; in December.</span></p>
<p>Each sheet of the eight page draft is listed here:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="pt">Você também conhece a música que temos feito e esperamos fazer. De qualquer jeito, depois de perder o show de Bangla-Desh começamos a sentir mais e mais vontade de ir para a estrada, mas não do mesmo jeito que era com os Beatles, noites após noites de tortura.&#8221;<br />
(2/3) <a href="https://t.co/ODoSephSgs">pic.twitter.com/ODoSephSgs</a></p>
<p>— The Beatle BR (@TheBeatleBR) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBeatleBR/status/1864031482924171748?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the letter, Lennon imagines a lineup featuring Klaus Voormann on bass, Jim Keltner on drums, Nicky Hopkins on piano, and Phil Spector as producer. He envisioned a group free from the constraints of traditional bands, stating: &#8220;Our uppermost concern is to have a happy group in body &amp; 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… and of course, we had YOU in mind as soon as we decided.&#8221; Lennon even included Yoko Ono as a creative force, noting that spouses were welcome on stage or behind the scenes, as was Hopkins’ wife.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Had the project materialised, it would have been a meeting of legends. Clapton, no stranger to supergroups—having been part of Cream, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominos—would have brought his bluesy guitar to a lineup brimming with talent. The letter hints at the collaborative freedom Lennon was searching for after the dissolution of The Beatles, a way to rekindle the energy he felt rock had lost.</span></p>
<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gXUHb_l-1HU?si=MmG5c6NCpe4mOi7R" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The draft, reportedly in near-mint condition, <a href="https://www.autographauctions.eu/auction/search/?sto=0&amp;au=43&amp;sf=%5B%5D&amp;w=False&amp;pp=96&amp;so=2&amp;pn=1" target="_blank">is part of an eclectic mixture</a> that also includes a lost letter from Mozart, a pair of Mahatma Gandhi’s sandals, and a photograph of Marie Curie. The sale will take place at 6pm, with Lennon’s letter expected to attract significant attention.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the £100,000 estimate is impressive, it pales in <a href="https://www.we-buy-beatles.com/blog/most-expensive-beatles-memorabilia-items" target="_blank">comparison to other Lennon memorabilia</a>, such as his psychedelic Rolls-Royce Phantom, which sold for $2.23 million in 1985, or the </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Imagine</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> piano, bought by George Michael for $2.1 million in 2000. These figures become even more astronomical when you account for inflation ($6.5 million and $3.85 million respectively).</span></p>
<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JeFwaWFTGYU?si=dI1h-uDrTiEwnxUL" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lennon and Clapton’s friendship and musical partnership were well established by 1971. Clapton famously played the iconic solo on the Beatles track ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ and had performed with Lennon in the Plastic Ono Band during their 1969 ‘Live Peace in Toronto&#8217; concert. The pair also played together as part of The Rolling Stones&#8217; &#8216;Rock and Roll Circus&#8217;, when they played under the name &#8216;The Dirty Mac&#8217;. This letter marked a new step in Lennon and Clapton’s relationship—a potential collaboration where both artists could continue to push musical boundaries.</span></p>
<p><iframe style="border-radius: 12px;" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/2yoH3zc9EyrA0HPr9rvZ61?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This letter serves as a testament to Lennon’s restless creativity, even after achieving monumental success with The Beatles. The dream supergroup never came to fruition, but the draft offers a tantalising &#8220;what if&#8221; for fans of both Lennon and Clapton.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With its mix of rock history, personal insight, and Lennon’s characteristic wit, this letter provides a unique snapshot of a moment when two of rock’s greatest icons nearly joined forces. Fans and collectors will be watching closely as the hammer drops on this unique piece of history.</span></p>
<p><br style="font-weight: 400;" /><br style="font-weight: 400;" /></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/john-lennons-plan-for-a-supergroup-with-eric-clapton-goes-under-the-hammer/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Lennon&#8217;s Letter to McCartney is Expected to Sell for £33,000</title>
		<link>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/lennons-letter-to-mccartney-is-expected-to-sell-for-33000/</link>
		<comments>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/lennons-letter-to-mccartney-is-expected-to-sell-for-33000/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Aug 2022 16:49:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Amy Worthington]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Harrison]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Imagine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Lennon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Melody Maker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[music memorabilia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paul McCartney]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ringo Starr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Beatles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoko Ono]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=57908</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A letter written by the late John Lennon to former bandmate Paul McCartney is on sale on the music memorabilia website, Gotta Have Rock and Roll where it is expected to sell for up to $40,000 (£33,000). The letter was penned by Lennon in response to Paul McCartney&#8217;s published interview in British music magazine, Melody Maker, on [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">A letter written by the late John Lennon to former bandmate Paul McCartney is on sale on the music memorabilia website, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.gottahaverockandroll.com/John_Lennon_Signed_and_Hand_Annotated_1971_Scathin-LOT44767.aspx" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Gotta Have Rock and Roll</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> where it is expected to sell for up to $40,000 (£33,000). The letter was penned by Lennon in response to Paul McCartney&#8217;s published interview in British music magazine, Melody Maker, on November 20 1971. After the interview was published, Lennon forwarded this letter to the editor of the magazine with a handwritten note requesting </span><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">“equal time”.</span></em></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The letter, dated November 24 1971, was published by Melody Maker on December 4 1971. It gives an insight into their deteriorating relationship with Lennon addressing Paul’s indecision over the band&#8217;s break-up, The Beatles’ money troubles and Paul&#8217;s remarks about Lennon’s song ‘</span><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Imagine’. </span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">During Paul’s interview with Melody Maker, he described the 1971 hit as </span><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">“not political,” </span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">which led Lennon to respond, writing, </span><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">“So you think ‘Imagine’ isn’t political, it’s ‘working class here’ [sic] with sugar on it for conservatives like yourself!! You obviously didn’t dig the words. Imagine! You took ‘How Do You Sleep’ so literally.”</span></em></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">See why EVERYONE is talking about our Summer auction, including Rolling Stone, TMZ, the New York Post, and more!<a href="https://t.co/TtiILzPb7i">https://t.co/TtiILzPb7i</a> <a href="https://t.co/q1mdzAZO4H">pic.twitter.com/q1mdzAZO4H</a></p>
<p>— Gotta Have Rock and Roll (@GHRRauctions) <a href="https://twitter.com/GHRRauctions/status/1556730096307896320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Lennon also addresses Paul’s invitation to meet and the ongoing issues regarding the break-up of the band: </span><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">&#8220;Now I was quite straight with you that day, and you tried to shoot me down with your emotional &#8216;logic&#8217;. If you&#8217;re not the aggressor (as you claim), who the hell took us to court and s***t all over us in public? &#8230; Who&#8217;s the guy threatening to &#8216;finish&#8217; Ringo and Maureen, who was warning me on the phone two weeks ago?&#8221;</span></em></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">He ends the letter with a P.S. addressing McCartney’s request to meet alone without their wives present, </span><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">“The bit that really puzzled us was asking to meet WITHOUT LINDA AND YOKO,” “I thought you’d have understood BY NOW that I’m JOHNANDYOKO.”</span></em></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The letter itself is three pages long and includes, John&#8217;s handwritten annotations and his signature. It is said to be in very good condition and it comes with a letter of authenticity from Beatles handwriting expert Frank Caiazzo, a forensics report from Karl Schaffenberger, a Roger Epperson Authenticated Ltd. (REAL) Certificate of Authenticity, as well as a Gotta Have Rock &amp; Roll Certificate of Authenticity.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Lennon and McCartney were one of the most successful musical collaborations ever, with The Beatles selling over 600 million records worldwide as of 2004. They wrote and published approximately 180 songs together between 1962 and 1969. The Beatles officially broke up in 1970.</span></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/lennons-letter-to-mccartney-is-expected-to-sell-for-33000/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Yoko Ono Announces &#8216;Warzone&#8217; Album</title>
		<link>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/yoko-ono-announces-warzone-album/</link>
		<comments>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/yoko-ono-announces-warzone-album/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jul 2018 10:00:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ed Prideaux]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Lennon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Album]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Single]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Beatles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoko Ono]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=7927</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yoko Ono, the avant-garde artist and widow of John Lennon, yesterday announced her forthcoming twenty-first studio album, Warzone. The record is set for release on October 19th through Chimera Music, the label run by her son Sean Lennon. You can pre-order the new album here. Billed as being &#8216;strikingly different from any record she has [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Yoko Ono, the avant-garde artist and widow of John Lennon, yesterday announced her forthcoming twenty-first studio album, <em>Warzone. </em>The record is set for release on October 19th through Chimera Music, the label run by her son Sean Lennon. You can pre-order the new album <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FSN4Y79/ref=as_li_ss_tl?tag=yes05-21&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1532442366&amp;sr=8-1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;linkId=27b91ba1f7574b2aadecccae8b997a5b&amp;language=en_US" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://yokoonowarzone.com/" target="_blank">Billed </a>as being &#8216;strikingly different from any record she has made previously&#8230; [and] any album that anyone is making&#8217;, <em>Warzone</em> will be a reimagining of thirteen of her previous releases, spanning from 1970 to 2009. Backed by  &#8216;stripped down&#8217; arrangements &#8216;with a particular emphasis on Yoko’s voice and lyrics&#8217;, the songs give &#8216;somber warnings [and] sometimes uplifting encouragement&#8217; about the political turmoil of the modern era. “The world is so messed up. Things are very difficult for everybody. It’s a warzone that we are living in…”, Yoko said. “I like to create things in a new way. Every day things change.”</p>
<p>Until the release date, Yoko will release a new track every Tuesday on her website and streaming platforms. Her first single, the title track, updates on the original from 1995. Hear the song below:</p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WwKmQ04lsgQ" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>A strange and somewhat disturbing reflection on war and materialism, the song is peppered with the sounds of vultures, elephants, gunfire and explosions. &#8216;Warzone, warzone, we are living in a warzone&#8230; It&#8217;s a warzone!&#8217;, Yoko sermonises with her characteristic squeal, backed by the sparse drone of bass and scratchy piano. &#8216;Help us, help us! If you hear me, please help us!&#8217;, she calls, before the track abruptly ends.</p>
<p>Yoko Ono is best known as the widow of the Beatles legend John Lennon, who was assassinated in 1980. Prior to their marriage, the 85-year-old was a recognised conceptual artist, grabbing attention in the underground scenes in London and New York with her bizarre films, stage shows and poems<em>. </em>One of her best-known pieces, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062510/" target="_blank"><em>Bottoms</em> </a>from 1966, (true to its title) consists of six minutes of close-ups of celebrities&#8217; behinds. Avant-garde indeed.</p>
<p>The final track on the new album will be a reworking of &#8216;Imagine&#8217;, the 1971 masterpiece for which she recently gained co-writing credit with Lennon.</p>
<div id="attachment_7929" style="width: 476px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/yoko-ono-warzone.png"><img class=" wp-image-7929" src="http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/yoko-ono-warzone-600x600.png" alt="Warzone - out October 19th" width="466" height="466" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text"><em>Warzone</em> &#8211; out October 19th</p></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/yoko-ono-announces-warzone-album/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
