Yoko Ono: Last News

Ringo Starr has given the newly restored Let It Be documentary his seal of approval, despite previously claiming that there was “not a lot of joy” in it.Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Let It Be was first released in cinemas 54 years ago, and featured footage of The Beatles while they were working their 12th and final studio album of the same name in 1969.While the original film has been difficult to obtain over the past five decades, last month, NME exclusively announced that Disney+ were to release a restored version of the 1970 film.The film arrived on May 8, and was restored by renowned filmmaker Peter Jackson – who also worked on the 2022 docuseries Get Back. He used state-of-the-art digital technology to restore the 55-year-old film reels to crisp, modern quality.However, before the film was shared earlier this month, drummer Ringo Starr made headlines after revealing that he thought that the film didn’t have “a lot of joy in it”.Speaking with Associated Press, he said: “I think Peter Jackson has done an incredible job.

finally available to stream on Disney+ this week.Was it worth the 54-year wait?Well, yes — and no.Some context is needed here first: If you watched “The Beatles: Get Back” — the three-part, eight-hour docuseries directed by none other than Oscar-winning “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson that also premiered on Disney+ in 2021 — you’ve already seen a lot of this.And seen it in the kind of exhaustive detail — from the same footage that Jackson used from “Let It Be” director Michael Lindsay-Hogg — that you can probably break down the level of scruffiness in Paul McCartney’s faux-badass beard.But thankfully — whether or not you’ve already watched the tedious-at-times “Get Back” — this is only 80 minutes versus eight hours of your time.For anyone but the biggest of Beatlemaniacs, that math is math-ing.But here’s the real difference: Whereas “Get Back” captured every bit of Liverpudlian shade, side-eye and Yoko Ono rock-blocking, this “Let It Be” is all about the music that was made in the slow fade of the Fab Four.For most of this film — which documents The Beatles working out songs for what would turn out to be their final album, 1970’s “Let It Be,” in January 1969 — it’s just like being a little four-winged insect on the wall of those sessions at their Apple Corps headquarters in London.Rehearsing, working out songs and just jamming — even with all the mounting tension which is actually more between McCartney and George Harrison than Sir Paul and John Lennon (for all those who still blame Ono for the Beatles’ breakup) — it’s a magical mystery tour behind the scenes of what many consider to be the greatest band of all time.When McCartney and Lennon are in such easy harmony and camaraderie on “Two Of Us” — with the

Addie Morfoot Contributor Kino Lorber has acquired North American rights to “Daytime Revolution,” a documentary about the week that John Lennon and Yoko Ono co-hosted “The Mike Douglas Show” in early 1972. Directed by Erik Nelson, with creative consultation from Ono and her son, Sean Ono Lennon, the doc uses archival footage from each of the five 70-minute shows as well as interviews with six surviving guests, including Ralph Nader, to tell the behind-the-scenes story of theses shows.

John Lennon Estate has partnered with the Lumenate app for a series of meditation mixes, developed from the musician’s 1973 track ‘Mind Games’.Unveiled today (May 1), the project has been developed to help people reach a relaxed, meditative state, and “help guide your mind into deeper states of consciousness”.In the newly transformed mixes, various sound design techniques and processes have been applied to the original 1973 recordings by late Beatles member John Lennon and, in some instances, have been enhanced with additional instrumentation from producer Sean Ono Lennon – who is also the son of Lennon and Yoko Ono.The song was written by Lennon after reading the 1972 book Mind Games: The Guide to Inner Space, by Robert Masters and Jean Houston, which offered brain training exercises to help people take a more positive outlook. The song then came as the title track for the album of the same name and has gone on to become a cult classic.“John was trying to convey the message that we all play mind games.

All You Need Is Love: The Beatles in Their Own Words” (St. Martin’s Press), an illuminating page turner from former band aide Peter Brown and best-selling author Steven Gaines.The extensive oral history is made up of candid interviews with Gaines, captured in 1980-1981; a scheduled sit-down with Lennon never happened before his Dec.

The Beatles released their debut single in the UK, 1962’s “Love Me Do,” as the first of many classic songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, their offspring have come together to bring back their tune-making magic.“Primrose Hill,” the new single by James McCartney — Sir Paul’s only son, with his late wife Linda — was co-written by Sean Ono Lennon, John’s youngest son from his marriage to Yoko Ono.And the next generation does their papas proud on this wistful beauty of a ballad that recalls some of the nostalgic reverie of “Now and Then” — which was released to much fanfare in November as the last Beatles song (and their first new tune since 1996).Released on Friday, “Primrose Hill” — which is a public park north of Regent’s Park in London — is the first-ever collaboration between McCartney, 46, and Lennon, 48.And if any song could sound just like taking a bittersweet stroll in the park with nothing but your longing memories, then this one pretty much captures it.There’s instantly something familiar about it — both the dreamy moodiness and McCartney’s lilting delivery — but it never seems to fall into Beatles mimicry.Nor does it ever reach the reach the heights of Beatles transcendence — I mean, how could it?The lyrics almost border on lovesick cliche at one point: “Forever’s not long enough to be loving you/Forever and a day/I look into your eyes, it’s such a great surprise/You take my breath away.”But if you just lose yourself in the warm, woozy feeling, you’ll get over that.And the bluesy guitar that comes in at the end adds a nice bite to the bliss.“ ‘Primrose Hill’ is here!” McCartney wrote in a post on Instagram, alongside a photo of him and Lennon.

A Scot who was born without the ability to breathe naturally and underwent almost 100 operations into his teens has reached the final of a global songwriting contest, spearheaded by Yoko Ono.

The Beatles has revealed George Harrison‘s inspiration to pick up the guitar.Due for release this Thursday (April 11), All You Need Is Love is described as “a ground-breaking oral history of the Beatles and how it all came to an end”.It is comprised of interviews taken from the controversial book The Love You Make (1983), which was written by Steven Gaines and Peter Brown – the personal assistant to Beatles manager Brian Epstein.In one section, Harrison speaks about what first ignited his interest in becoming a musician.“I remember being a kid of about twelve, dreaming of big motorboats and tropical islands and things which had nothing to do with Liverpool, which was dark and cold,” he explained to Brown and Gaines in 1980 (via The Times).“I remember going to see Cliff Richard and thinking fuck it – I could do better than that.”As Guitar.COM notes, this rivalry would eventually encourage Harrison to perfect his guitar playing – with Richard going on to envy the Fab Four’s fame and success.In 1964, the singer responded to The Beatles’ performance on The Ed Sullivan Show by saying: “It’s ridiculous! Has everyone forgotten me? What’s going on?”Despite the competition between The Beatles and Richard, John Lennon reportedly once argued that British music would not have been the same if the ‘Devil Woman’ artist hadn’t come along.“Before Cliff Richard and ‘Move It’, there was nothing worth listening to in England,” he is said to have claimed (via Gold Radio UK).All You Need Is Love also includes the claim that Yoko Ono instructed John Lennon how to use heroin and details a Lennon encounter that made The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger feel “uncomfortable”.An official description reads: “Based on never-before-published or heard

The Beatles has claimed that Yoko Ono once instructed John Lennon on how to take heroin.Set for release this Thursday (April 11), All You Need Is Love includes a part in which Lennon’s ex-wife Ono denied she “put John on H”.“It was just a nice feeling [being on heroin]. So I told John that,” explained Ono, who reportedly first used the drug when she was in Paris (via People).She noted that Lennon “wouldn’t take anything unless he wanted to do it”, claiming: “[He] wanted to take it, that’s why he was asking [about her experiences with the drug].”Ono stated that she was keen to refute the claim that the Beatles icon’s dependence on heroin was entirely her fault. She said that the couple “never injected” it, but usually just snorted it instead.In 1970, Lennon opened up about taking the drug.

Paul McCartney for being “too unflattering” is now headed to auction.The artwork in question is a wooden sculpture created by Wilfrid Wood, which was originally set to be released as part of the 2024 ‘Secret 7’ vinyl project – in a bid to raise money for War Child.The project runs alongside the host of gigs that War Child puts on to raise money for the charity, and consists of various artists releasing a limited edition 7” record for a specific track, which are later auctioned off.Between 2012 and 2020, it has raised over £500,000 for good causes. Previous sleeve designers include the likes of Ai Weiwei, Sir Peter Blake, Yoko Ono, David Shrigley, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Martin Parr and more.This year, musicians including Celeste, Hozier, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Specials, The Chemical Brothers and Paul McCartney were all involved in the campaign, and all records were exhibited and free to view at the NOW Gallery between March 2 to 17.However, for the latter, the single was withdrawn after the Beatles bassist took issue with how he was depicted in the artwork.The wooden sculpture was banned from the exhibition after the rock veteran deemed it “too unflattering”, according to the artist.

forthcoming biopics about The Beatles.Lennon – the son of John and Yoko Ono – attended the Oscars on Sunday (March 10) and won the award for Best Animated Short for his project War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko. The film follows two soldiers on opposite sides playing chess while communicating with carrier pigeons.On the red carpet, Lennon spoke about the four biopics Mendes is set to direct about each member of the iconic band, telling Variety that four movies was “the minimum you need” to cover the “epic story” of the Liverpool-formed pop band.When asked who he’d want to see play his father, he joked: “I’m hoping that Emma Stone might consider it because she did such a good job in Poor Things.“I think if you’re gonna reach that as an actor, the next obvious step is to really go for it and be John Lennon.”Lennon also jokingly suggested that he could portray his mother Ono.The films will be released from 2027 and will intersect to “tell the story of the greatest band in history.”The project marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd.

Sean Lennon is showing love to his mom Yoko Ono from the stage at the 2024 Academy Awards.

War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film tonight, marking the first Oscar win for filmmakers Dave Mullins and Brad Booker.

John Lennon is set to go up for auction this week in Newcastle. The item was given to Northumbria Police officer Brian Taylor by the New York Police Department, after they allowed him to shoot the gun on a visit to the department. Taylor recently passed away, and now the bullet will be going under the hammer at Newcastle auctioneers Anderson & Garland on February 29.Taylor had kept the bullet in a frame for the rest of his life, with the auction house’s director describing it as “one of those slightly macabre lots you get now and again that draws everyone’s attention.” “There is a Beatles fanbase that is fanatical and a market for just about anything Beatles,” he continued (via BBC).

Attorney Leon Wildes, who stood next to John Lennon and Yoko Ono in court, in public and on TV during the early 1970s as the famous couple successfully fought unrelenting deportation attempts by the Nixon Administration, died Monday, January 8, at New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital. He was 90.

John Lennon from being deported from the US in the 1970s, had died aged 90.Wildes died last Monday (January 8) at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, his family said. He had fallen ill after suffering a series of strokes.His name became known in the music world in 1972 when he took on the case of helping Lennon and Yoko Ono to extend their visas.In a statement, his son Michael Wildes said: “Dad felt he effectively lived the American Dream for a kid from Olyphant, PA and spent his life facilitating the same experience for scores more.

Taylor Swift is no Yoko Ono, claims a prominent ESPN sportscaster.

Julian Lennon, the son of Beatles guitarist John Lennon, revealed Tuesday that he hates the song “Hey Jude” because it reminds him of his parents’ bitter divorce in 1968, when John left her for Yoko Ono.Julian, 60, remarked that Sir Paul McCartney penned the song to comfort both Cynthia Lennon and himself following the split. “It’s a beautiful sentiment, no question about that, and I’m very thankful — but I’ve also been driven up the wall by it,” the Beatles scion told Esquire.

Julian Lennon has once again discussed his relationship with The Beatles‘ ‘Hey Jude’, saying that he’s been “driven up the wall” by the classic song.During a new interview with Esquire, the musician and son of late Beatles icon John Lennon remembered how Paul McCartney wrote the 1968 non-album single about John’s break-up with Julian’s mother, Cynthia.The couple had separated and John began a relationship with Yoko Ono, whom he married in 1969.“It was ‘Hey Jules’ at first, but that didn’t quite sit well rhythmically,” Julian explained. ‘Hey Jude’ was a better interpretation.”He continued: “Paul wrote it to console Mum, and also to console me.

Damon Albarn has offered his thoughts on The Beatles‘ use of AI in their new single ‘Now And Then’, sharing that he could imagine it happening to his own material one day.The Beatles released their “final” song early last month, the last track to feature all the original members of the Fab Four. The song went on to top the charts six decades after their first Number One single.‘Now And Then’ stems from a demo tape recorded by late bandmate John Lennon.

Apple TV+ has shared a clip from the new documentary John Lennon: Murder Without A Trial – you can watch it above.Released on the streaming on Wednesday (December 6), Murder Without A Trial offers a deeply researched examination of John Lennon’s 1980 murder.The three-part three-part documentary series is narrated by Emmy Award winner Kiefer Sutherland and features exclusive eyewitness interviews and previously unseen crime scene photos. It also examines the investigation and conviction of Mark David Chapman, Lennon’s confessed killer.Other exclusive interviews in the series include Richard Peterson, a taxi driver who was witness to the shooting; Jay Hastings, a doorman at The Dakota who heard Lennon’s last words; David Suggs, Mark David Chapman’s defense lawyer; Elliot Mintz, a confidant to Lennon and Yoko Ono; and Dr Naomi Goldstein, the psychiatrist who first assessed Chapman.In the newly released clip, shared exclusively with NME, family friend Mintz reveals that Lennon’s wife Ono asked him to look into the numerous conspiracy theories surrounding her husband’s death.Elsewhere in the series, Richard Peterson, who witnessed the shooting, revealed Chapman’s unusual apology after killing The Beatles guitarist“‘He actually apologised to us,” said Peterson.