By Madeline Bocaro
https://linktr.ee/madelinerocks
https://linktr.ee/conceptualbooks
© Madeline Bocaro, 2017. No part of this site may be reproduced or reblogged in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner.
AN EXCERPT FROM:
The true story of the woman John Lennon loved.
Signed hard cover books exclusively available at:
Social Media: https://linktr.ee/conceptualbooks
Photo: Alec Byrne
My very first concert at age 14! John & Yoko at Madison Square Garden on August 30, 1972.
Eyewitness News reporter Geraldo Rivera had exposed the horrific conditions at the Willowbrook home for children with special needs in a documentary film. John and Yoko wanted to raise money by staging two concerts. Geraldo emceed the concerts.
I attended the rehearsal matinee in the afternoon. The evening performance quickly sold out. The matinee was announced at the last minute, so there were many empty seats. Emcee Geraldo Rivera told us all to come down and fill the seats up front! I never ran so fast in my life!
John and Yoko bought $59,000 worth of tickets to give away to fans. $1.5 million was raised for Willowbrook. They also arranged a special day out in Central Park for some of the patients, providing each child with a volunteer buddy (hence the title of the concert, One to One).
They alternated songs. I was in heaven. John did a bone-chilling version of ‘Mother,’ and other solo songs including ‘Instant Karma’, ‘Cold Turkey’ and ‘Imagine.’ I had not thought of John as a Beatle for two years – he was just John to me. But when he started singing ‘Come Together,’ his unmistakable “Beatle” voice resonated throughout the venue! The backing band was Plastic Ono Elephant’s Memory with many others joining in.
They also performed ‘Power to the People’ (chant), New York City,’ It’s So Hard,’ ‘Woman is the Nigger of the World,’ ‘Hound Dog,’ ‘Well, Well, Well,’ Yoko’s songs; ‘Move On Fast,’ ‘Sisters O Sisters,’ the chilling ‘Born in a Prison,’ ‘We’re All Water,’ ‘Open Your Box’ and ‘Don’t Worry Kyoko…’ (which was omitted from the evening performance. The evening’s encore included a long, rousing sing- along of ‘Give Peace a Chance’ with a reggae beat. Reggae was a relatively new form for American ears. John kept yelling out, “Reggae baby!”
The concert was released on VHS in 1985 as John Lennon Live in New York City. At the premier screening I sat behind Yoko and Sean, re- living my wonderful memories of the concert. Andy Warhol walked in late. He stood in the aisle next to me, just after Yoko sang ‘Born In A Prison.’ Feeling overwhelmed by the thrill of having seen this again after so long, I excitedly said, “Andy! You just missed Yoko’s best song!!!” He replied with a classic and sincere, “REALLLLYYY?!!! OH NO!!!”
The concert also featured Stevie Wonder and Sha Na Na (and Roberta Flack in the evening performance). Stevie performed ‘Superstition’ live, before the single was released. Five months later in January 1973, it hit No. 1.
John was doubly devastated and shocked when he read the scathing reviews of the Some Time in New York City album and of the concerts, all of which he was very proud. John had meant for these concerts to be the rehearsal for a world tour with Plastic Ono Elephant’s Memory band. Promoters were lined up and equipment was purchased.
Jerry Rubin told Jon Wiener in the early 1980s,
“… It was going to be called the Yes tour. John and Yoko always said you should never say no, everybody should only say ‘yes.’ The band was going to be called the Yes band, and the tour was going to be called the Yes tour because we were saying ‘yes’ to peace, ‘yes’ to the end of poverty, ‘yes’ to happiness, ‘yes to truth, ‘yes’ to honesty – in every city – and this was Yoko’s idea really… we would work with the local communities.”
However, the problem of John’s green card re-surfaced. He was denied once again, and threatened with deportation by the Nixon administration. This began a very depressing time for John and Yoko, which would last for several years and would eventually tear them apart.
ALSO SEE:
MY FILM REVIEW: One To One (2025)
AND: MY STORY about THE IMAX PREMIERE APRIL 2025
**
From my Yoko Ono biography
In Your Mind – The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono
The true story of the woman John Lennon loved.
Highly acclaimed by Ono’s colleagues and friends.
Now in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library & Archives
On several Best Books lists
Praised by MOJO & Goldmine
Recommended by Olivia Harrison
Honorable Mention in The Beatles Gift Guide
Spotlighted on The Beatles Channel, Sirius XM Radio
SIGNED HARD COVER books exclusively at…
Conceptual Books
Social Media:
https://linktr.ee/conceptualbooks
Contact: conceptualbooks@icloud.com
Also see:
Open Your Box – Yoko’s Box of Smile
By Madeline Bocaro ©
https://madelinex.com/2018/01/17/open-your-box-yokos-box-of-smile/
© Madeline Bocaro 2017. No part of this text may be copied, photocopied, reproduced, reblogged or translated, in whole or in part, without written consent. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. All text on this site is protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced without permission.
madelinex.com is a non-profit blog created for educational and research purposes. Any content that may violate copyright or free usage laws will be removed immediately upon request.
I still have Yoko’s Box of Smile from that day!
Plastic Ono/Elephant’s Memory Band:
John Ward, Gary Van Scyoc, Tex Gabriel, Jim Keltner, Rick Frank, Adam Ippolito & Stan Bronstein.
Phil Spector, John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Set Lists:
Matinee:
Power to the People (chant) /New York City / It’s So Hard
Move On Fast / Woman Is The Niger of the World / Sisters O’ Sisters
/ Well Well Well / Born In A Prison / Instant Karma / Mother/ We’re All Water / Come Together / Imagine / Open Your Box / Cold Turkey
Don’t Worry Kyoko (Mummys only Looking For Her Hand In The Snow) / Hound Dog
Evening:
Power to the People (chant)
/New York City
/ It’s So Hard
Sisters O Sisters
/ Woman Is The Niger of the World
/ Move On Fast
/Well Well Well
/ Instant Karma
/Mother /
We’re All Water / Born In A Prison / Come Together
Imagine
/ Open Your Box / Cold Turkey
/ Hound Dog
/ Give Peace A Chance
‘Open Your Box’ Rehearsal:
My blog post about the One To One concerts:
https://theamazingkornyfonelabel.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/battle-of-the-bootleg-labels-4-john-lennon-one-to-one-concerts-at-madison-square-garden-new-york/
Thank you! I have many of those bootlegs!
Rock on Maddy, Your posts should have been liked by thousands by now. Embarassed to be the 1st – peace…
Thanks for your kind words Nick. I wish I knew how to reach thousands of people!
Another one to cherish – your memories are a treasure chest, priceless. Thanks for sharing them with us. Great that you got to hear Don’t Worry Kyoko! On another note – I’ve noticed this about this and other Mad Garden shows, and seventies shows in general – didn’t they light them beautifully?
I had a friend who was at the afternoon show of the concert for Bangladesh. These shows were just historical events. I have seen Ringo and Paul and Linda, in concert but never got to see George or John. I’m sure this was the thrill of a lifetime. This is a terrific page! Thank you for sharing! Andy Warhol too WOW!
Thank you! Yes it was a thrill! I’m lucky to have grown up in such a wonderful time!