Memories of THE PLASTIC ONO BAND

Klaus Voormann and Alan White talk to Spencer Leigh

The album, Live Peace In Toronto 1969, by The Plastic Ono Band was released exactly 40 years ago. It was put onto CD in 1995, but maybe, like The Beatles’ albums, it should be given some sparkling new, digital remastering and issued in a special edition. On the other hand, maybe not. John Lennon never intended this to be a perfect live concert. His decision to appear was made in England the day before the performance and, in today’s world, it is unlikely that any major star would act so spontaneously, certainly in front of 25,000 people.

The organisers of the Toronto Rock’n’Roll Revival Concert had asked John for a message of support and were surprised when he decided to come along. No doubt he was intrigued by the bill – Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent and Bo Diddley.

The Plastic Ono Band featured John and Yoko with the UK’s premier blues guitarist, Eric Clapton, the bass player Klaus Voormann, whom John had first met in Hamburg, and a relatively new boy, Alan White, who, in 1972, joined Yes and has been with them ever since. The set consisted of Blue Suede Shoes, Money, Dizzy Miss Lizzie, Yer Blues, a new song, Cold Turkey (with Yoko holding up the lyrics), a snatch of Give Peace A Chance (John couldn’t remember the lyrics) and two showcases for Yoko, …

by Spencer Leigh
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