John & Yoko Peace Campaign 1969
John & Yoko Peace Campaign 1969
John & Yoko at the Amsterdam Hilton, March 1969. Note the "Bed Peace" sign.
During the week of March 25 - 31, 1969, John Lennon and his new wife Yoko Ono decided to hold a "Bed-In" as part of their Peace Campaign. Laughed and mocked for it at the time, Lennon's "Bed-In" has since become one of the pivotal images and iconic moments in his activist endeavors that eventually elevated John Lennon from "Living Legend Rock Star" status to a timeless, historical figure who sought non-violent avenues to peace.
*Below: The same suite at the Amsterdam Hilton as it looks today. We are reminded that your humble correspondant was actually in this very room in August, 2006 as part of my Beatles Tour that month. Interesting Trivia: 1) The white bedframe is the original frame used by the Lennons in 1969. 2) "Hair Peace" and "Bed Peace" are now written directly on the windows instead of the signs used originally. They were copied in Lennon's exact script. 3) What you see here is obviously the bedroom, but the suite has a lounge area, a bathroom and a small kitchen thus it is much bigger than any of the still pictures ever suggest. 4) To this day, Yoko Ono Lennon is in charge of any decorating changes to the suite. 5) As this blog has repeatedly stated, the room is #702 NOT #902 that has been written in literally every book that bothers to talk about it. Interestingly, Wikipedia now says room #702. Trust me, I was there and it really is room 702.
March 1969: We must remember what it was like back then first, before we discuss the events. The Vietnam war was raging at perhaps it most violent pitch since the United States began sending troops over. Campus riots, sit-ins and general student unrest were commonplace, especially in the U.S. as discontent over the war was rampant at this point. This, to say nothing of the historical assassinations that had also taken place in the U.S. during the 1960's. People were speaking up and not being shy about the issues. John Lennon had made brief statements about Vietnam for years but had been generally shut down by Brian Epstein over "image" concerns. Yet another nail in the "Beatles" coffin as far as truth seeker Lennon was concerned; he couldn't even talk about relevant issues for fear (by others) of affecting the simple, moptop image they had created with the Beatles.
After Brian's death in August, 1967 there were mixed feelings for Lennon. Part of him was terrified as he had no illusions over the fact that the only thing he or the rest of the band could do was make music. They were far from the "otherwordly Avatars" that Timothy Leary had dubbed them. Without Epstein guiding them, who knows what was going to happen next?On the other hand, without Epstein there to tell them what to say and how to dress, there was liberation to an immense degree, especially for John.
Lennon had tepidly tip-toed into the protest situation with his song, "Revolution." He was immensely proud of it and if not for McCartney's timeless masterpiece "Hey Jude" having been written at the same time, "Revolution" would have been the "A" side of their single that August and probably would have been a #1 hit. Nevertheless, "Revolution" was released as the "B" side to "Hey Jude" and still got much airplay. Interestingly, the "left" felt Lennon did not go nearly far enough in his lyrics to fully express the frustration of people with the war and government in general. But John was just getting warmed up.
On November 29, 1968 Lennon released "Two Virgins." The notorious "album" (of nonsense) most famous for it's full frontal nude picture of John and Yoko (plus a full nude rear shot of the two on the back of the cover). This was John's way of protesting a lot of things but mostly, he was just protesting the Beatles at the time, as far as your humble correspondant is concerned. He was completely fed up with posing, vacuous image making, "pop" and everything the Beatles stood for. Here he was, unadorned, unembellished, undressed and definitely unashamed. He was John Lennon, not John Beatle, take it or leave it.
This CD pic shows the brown paper cover that was issued originally to cover the nudes. Here, it is partially covering the picture.
John finally married his muse on March 20, 1969. Correctly reasoning that no matter what he did or said was going to be a press frenzy like it always was as a Beatle, and inspired by Yoko's prodding to get more involved and get out of his "stupor" as a simple "pop" artist, Lennon was inspired to creat the now legendary "Bed- In" as part of his wide ranging Peace Campaign.
With his, at the time, increasingly zany behavior such as the nude album cover (*Think about it; a fully nude cover would be scandelous even now in 2009. Can you just imagine what a sensation it was then??), divorcing his wife, running around with the Japanese artist, letting his hair grow. The establishment was now running the other way and no longer covering, protecting and loving John as the cutie he used to be. As for John, it was just him and Yoko against the world.
Thus it came to pass, the fabled week at the Amsterdam Hilton where the world's press decended upon the hotel en masse. They all naturally expected to find John and Yoko copulating, given how "far out" he had become. In fact, the couple sat there in bed for a week answering any and all questions and turning their honeymoon into an "advertisement" for peace. The press was both amused and unimpressed. Lennon was laughed at and accused of just doing another stunt to make money. Lennon countered with the simple answer that if he wanted to make money, he could sit down, write a hit in about one hour and release it which would be far less work and bother than sitting in bed 24 hours a day answering questions for a week.
The Peace Campaign: Along with this Bed-In, the Lennons did a second and final Bed-In in Montreal about six weeks later. It was there that John wrote the Peace Anthem that still reasonates to this day, "Give Peace A Chance." They also mailed acorns to world leaders to plant as a symbol for peace ("50 Acorns Tied In a Sack!") They even got Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to give them a 50 minute audiance to discuss Peace. There was much more to the campaign but this gives you a brief summary of some of the major watershed moments in 1969.
The Richard Nixon Administration was so scared of Lennon that he was followed, eavedropped and a massively expensive government campaign was begun to deport him. Lennon finally got his green card in 1975. It was a long and tiring ordeal but Lennon would not stop talking about the issues, would not stop campaigning for peace and would no stop fighting the US Government.
John Lennon stood for many things and like all of us was far from perfect. But the Amsterdam "Bed-In" was the first salvo in John and Yoko's vigorous assault on the status-quo. He took on the United States Government, the press, the fans and critics alike who didn't understand him at the time. And for what? Well, for starters, the US pulled out the bulk of their forces in Vietnam by late 1974. As well, the United States Selective Service (military draft) had ceased in 1973. All allies basically got out of Vietnam by March, 1975. Say what you want but the war was over, for better or for worse.
John Lennon foresaw all of this; if enough people became united in the peace movement and stood up and took their part in the grand scheme of things, peace could be had. He was right. Do you see anyone laughing at him now?
By John Haberstroh (Bassist for BeatleTracks) Find us at www.beatletracksband.com
John & Yoko at the Amsterdam Hilton, March 1969. Note the "Bed Peace" sign.During the week of March 25 - 31, 1969, John Lennon and his new wife Yoko Ono decided to hold a "Bed-In" as part of their Peace Campaign. Laughed and mocked for it at the time, Lennon's "Bed-In" has since become one of the pivotal images and iconic moments in his activist endeavors that eventually elevated John Lennon from "Living Legend Rock Star" status to a timeless, historical figure who sought non-violent avenues to peace.
*Below: The same suite at the Amsterdam Hilton as it looks today. We are reminded that your humble correspondant was actually in this very room in August, 2006 as part of my Beatles Tour that month. Interesting Trivia: 1) The white bedframe is the original frame used by the Lennons in 1969. 2) "Hair Peace" and "Bed Peace" are now written directly on the windows instead of the signs used originally. They were copied in Lennon's exact script. 3) What you see here is obviously the bedroom, but the suite has a lounge area, a bathroom and a small kitchen thus it is much bigger than any of the still pictures ever suggest. 4) To this day, Yoko Ono Lennon is in charge of any decorating changes to the suite. 5) As this blog has repeatedly stated, the room is #702 NOT #902 that has been written in literally every book that bothers to talk about it. Interestingly, Wikipedia now says room #702. Trust me, I was there and it really is room 702.
March 1969: We must remember what it was like back then first, before we discuss the events. The Vietnam war was raging at perhaps it most violent pitch since the United States began sending troops over. Campus riots, sit-ins and general student unrest were commonplace, especially in the U.S. as discontent over the war was rampant at this point. This, to say nothing of the historical assassinations that had also taken place in the U.S. during the 1960's. People were speaking up and not being shy about the issues. John Lennon had made brief statements about Vietnam for years but had been generally shut down by Brian Epstein over "image" concerns. Yet another nail in the "Beatles" coffin as far as truth seeker Lennon was concerned; he couldn't even talk about relevant issues for fear (by others) of affecting the simple, moptop image they had created with the Beatles.
After Brian's death in August, 1967 there were mixed feelings for Lennon. Part of him was terrified as he had no illusions over the fact that the only thing he or the rest of the band could do was make music. They were far from the "otherwordly Avatars" that Timothy Leary had dubbed them. Without Epstein guiding them, who knows what was going to happen next?On the other hand, without Epstein there to tell them what to say and how to dress, there was liberation to an immense degree, especially for John.
Lennon had tepidly tip-toed into the protest situation with his song, "Revolution." He was immensely proud of it and if not for McCartney's timeless masterpiece "Hey Jude" having been written at the same time, "Revolution" would have been the "A" side of their single that August and probably would have been a #1 hit. Nevertheless, "Revolution" was released as the "B" side to "Hey Jude" and still got much airplay. Interestingly, the "left" felt Lennon did not go nearly far enough in his lyrics to fully express the frustration of people with the war and government in general. But John was just getting warmed up.
On November 29, 1968 Lennon released "Two Virgins." The notorious "album" (of nonsense) most famous for it's full frontal nude picture of John and Yoko (plus a full nude rear shot of the two on the back of the cover). This was John's way of protesting a lot of things but mostly, he was just protesting the Beatles at the time, as far as your humble correspondant is concerned. He was completely fed up with posing, vacuous image making, "pop" and everything the Beatles stood for. Here he was, unadorned, unembellished, undressed and definitely unashamed. He was John Lennon, not John Beatle, take it or leave it.
This CD pic shows the brown paper cover that was issued originally to cover the nudes. Here, it is partially covering the picture. John finally married his muse on March 20, 1969. Correctly reasoning that no matter what he did or said was going to be a press frenzy like it always was as a Beatle, and inspired by Yoko's prodding to get more involved and get out of his "stupor" as a simple "pop" artist, Lennon was inspired to creat the now legendary "Bed- In" as part of his wide ranging Peace Campaign.
With his, at the time, increasingly zany behavior such as the nude album cover (*Think about it; a fully nude cover would be scandelous even now in 2009. Can you just imagine what a sensation it was then??), divorcing his wife, running around with the Japanese artist, letting his hair grow. The establishment was now running the other way and no longer covering, protecting and loving John as the cutie he used to be. As for John, it was just him and Yoko against the world.
Thus it came to pass, the fabled week at the Amsterdam Hilton where the world's press decended upon the hotel en masse. They all naturally expected to find John and Yoko copulating, given how "far out" he had become. In fact, the couple sat there in bed for a week answering any and all questions and turning their honeymoon into an "advertisement" for peace. The press was both amused and unimpressed. Lennon was laughed at and accused of just doing another stunt to make money. Lennon countered with the simple answer that if he wanted to make money, he could sit down, write a hit in about one hour and release it which would be far less work and bother than sitting in bed 24 hours a day answering questions for a week.
The Peace Campaign: Along with this Bed-In, the Lennons did a second and final Bed-In in Montreal about six weeks later. It was there that John wrote the Peace Anthem that still reasonates to this day, "Give Peace A Chance." They also mailed acorns to world leaders to plant as a symbol for peace ("50 Acorns Tied In a Sack!") They even got Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to give them a 50 minute audiance to discuss Peace. There was much more to the campaign but this gives you a brief summary of some of the major watershed moments in 1969.
The Richard Nixon Administration was so scared of Lennon that he was followed, eavedropped and a massively expensive government campaign was begun to deport him. Lennon finally got his green card in 1975. It was a long and tiring ordeal but Lennon would not stop talking about the issues, would not stop campaigning for peace and would no stop fighting the US Government.
John Lennon stood for many things and like all of us was far from perfect. But the Amsterdam "Bed-In" was the first salvo in John and Yoko's vigorous assault on the status-quo. He took on the United States Government, the press, the fans and critics alike who didn't understand him at the time. And for what? Well, for starters, the US pulled out the bulk of their forces in Vietnam by late 1974. As well, the United States Selective Service (military draft) had ceased in 1973. All allies basically got out of Vietnam by March, 1975. Say what you want but the war was over, for better or for worse.
John Lennon foresaw all of this; if enough people became united in the peace movement and stood up and took their part in the grand scheme of things, peace could be had. He was right. Do you see anyone laughing at him now?
By John Haberstroh (Bassist for BeatleTracks) Find us at www.beatletracksband.com
Hey John, nice article!! A quick thought on room #702, perhaps the confusion with 902 comes from the evr-present number 9, 7+0+2...9
Reply to this