IK! NEWS ARCHIVE - APRIL 2000

(Entered April 29, 2000)

Yoko shared a special moment with Detroit residents Friday, when she appeared before a crowd of about 300 people at Detroit's Times Square-Robert Hurst Park to dedicate "Yoko Ono Wish Tree for Detroit." The ginko tree and accompanying stone sculpture with a plaque inviting visitors to "whisper your wish to the bark of the tree" is part of a continuing series of living art installations Yoko has presented around the world.

Detroit arts patron Gilbert Silverman paid for the event. Yoko told the gathered crowd that she hoped the new art work would bring "happiness, peace and joy" to all who stop by to see it.

The Photo at left accompanied an earlier report in the Detroit Free Press about Yoko coming to Detroit. In that "Names and Faces" column, the DFP said, "The Plastic Ono Band will not perform."

See color photo taken at event...online at Detroit Free Press (The Freep)

Previous Names and Faces Story...online at Detroit Free Press (The Freep)

(Entered April 26, 2000)

It was reported a month or so ago that the movie project that we've been hearing about off and on..is a definite on..with Yoko reading the script this month.

Mitchell Fink at the Daily News reported in his March 29th column that the script, which was written by Dana Stevens ("City of Angels" and "For Love of the Game"), is one of the "most sizzling projects" in the loop right now. Fink calls the script "dishy."

The J&Y bio-pic is being developed by Columbia Pictures, with Yoko acting as a producer.

"There's no film without Yoko's approval of the script," said Mintz. "If and when Yoko does approve it, all things are possible."

Full Story: http://www.nydailynews.com/2000-03-29/News_and_Views/Daily_Dish/a-61568.asp

(Entered April 19, 2000)

Daniel Durchholz at Wall of Sound was impressed with the job that was done remastering John Lennon's classic album, "Imagine."

"Listening to it again in its newly remixed and remastered form, the album has much more to offer than its hymnlike title track, which is still the definition of a classic."

Durchholz gives special mention to "the gorgeous" 'Jealous Guy,' 'Oh My Love,' and 'Oh Yoko!' and gives George Harrison and King Curtis a lot of credit.

"Among the unsung heroes of Imagine are George Harrison, who plays guitar on four tracks, and King Curtis, who adds saxophone to two. In the crisp and clear new mixes (which were supervised by Ono), their solos really pop. Historians may have a legitimate beef with those who would alter a classic recording in any fashion, but this reworking seems to have been done with thoughtfulness, precision, and love."

We know for certain that Yoko spent a great deal of time working on this project, and her love and respect for John, and her attention to detail shine through. Durchholz gave the remastered album a score of 90.

(Entered April 19, 2000)

Yoko was featured on both "Inside Edition" and "Entertainment Tonight" this week. We will have a report on the "Inside Edition" appearance later.

Leeza Gibbons interviewed Yoko for "Entertainment Tonight" and asked her about how she deals with John's loss. Yoko said that you just have to move on.

Asked about the parole situation for John's killer, Yoko reiterated that she is worried about the safety of John's two sons, Julian and Sean. She was enthusiastic about how well George and Olivia handled the attack on their lives recently. Yoko had been devastated when the police phoned her in the middle of the night to tell her about the home invasion and stabbing of George.

(Entered April 11, 2000)

(Thanks to Larry McGahey)

(Los Angeles) BILLBOARD reports that Yoko's lawyers are in talks with three collectors from the Boston area to settle music rights issues surrounding unreleased documentary footage of Yoko and John Lennon. In 1970, John and Yoko agreed to allow her ex-husband, Tony Cox, to film the couple during a four-day period for a proposed documentary. More than nine hours of footage was purchased from Cox for a seven-figure sum in January by Ray Thomas, John Fallon and a third partner. The trio hopes to complete the documentary, but no deal can be struck until Yoko agrees to license the music. The footage includes scenes of John washing and styling Yoko's hair and John sitting on a bed singing an early version of "Mind Games" while Yoko sleeps.

EARLIER STORY IN MARCH NEWS ARCHIVE-SEE BELOW

(Entered April 10, 2000)

(From Wall of Sound web site)

A British court has ordered the man accused of stabbing George Harrison to stand trial for the crime.

On December 30 of last year, Michael Abram, 33, broke into George's 34-acre Friar Park Estate in Henley-on-Thames, England. Abram allegedly attacked George, 56, who was stabbed once in the chest before he and his wife, Olivia, 51, overpowered Abram. George was hospitalized in stable condition at the time.

Abram, who has been held at a psychiatric clinic since the attack, attended the hearing Friday (April 7), held at Oxford Magistrates Court. He was remanded to the clinic after being ordered to appear at the trial, for which a date has yet to be set. There will be another hearing on May 12.

"Olivia and I are overwhelmed by the concern expressed by so many people," George said in a statement almost three weeks after the attack. "We thank everyone for their prayers and kindness."

(Entered April 9, 2000)

(Thanks to Paul Boyd)

Toronto filmmakers Marc de Guerre and Rachel Low have put together a new documentary examining John Lennon's death in December, 1980.

"The Murder of John Lennon" airs Monday, April 10, 2000 on the Canadian History Channel as part of their "Turning Points" documentary anthology.

The filmmakers compare John's life with that of his murderer, drawing parallels - in family backgrounds, Japanese wives, emotional states, etc.

Some of the documentary's on-screen experts are rock critic Robert Christgau, photographer Bob Gruen, author of "Come Together: John Lennon In His Time" and the man who sued to get the release of the F.B.I. files about John, Jon Wiener, and the author of the Chapman biography, "Let Me Take You Down," Jack Jones.

De Guerre says about John's death: "The world seems a grayer place without him, even 20 years later."

(Entered April 8, 2000)

Edna Gundersen reported for USA TODAY (April 7, 2000) that Yoko, feeling that her emotions about the times could "fog the facts," left control of the making of the documentary, "Gimme Some Truth" to director Andrew Solt.

"Gimme Some Truth" will air April 17 on the Bravo cable network. The 56-minute film was edited from 16mm footage Yoko and John shot during the 1971 recording sessions for "Imagine" at their home in Ascot in England.

"I decided I couldn't make the film because it's painful from beginning to end," Yoko says. "And if I'd had my way, I would have never used some embarrassing scenes. Besides, a widow's whitewash would be so uninteresting for fans."

The film, due in 63-minute DVD and video versions on Tuesday, along with an "Imagine" reissue, goes behind-the-scenes with an alternately witty and crabby John Lennon as well as co-producer Phil Spector, ex-Beatle George Harrison and Yoko.

"John and I were madly in love, which the world did not appreciate," Yoko laughingly told Gunderson. "But we also had a very strong working relationship. In fact, that was the easy part. We were both artists and musicians, yet we didn't compete or fight, not because we were saints but because John was so famous and established. He could afford to have a protective attitude toward me."

In contrast to photos of Yoko silently sitting beside John during The Beatles' sessions, "Gimme Some Truth" reveals her active role in shaping "Imagine." "But even then, I was careful not to be too outspoken or forward," says Yoko, who hopes to record a solo album later this year. "I usually just whispered my ideas to John."

Yoko told Gunderson why she digitally remixed and remastered "Imagine's" songs: "If I had left it alone, the album would start to sound dated," she says. "The sound is fuller, and John's voice is clearer and a bit louder."

Yoko is braced for predictable objections from purists.

"I know I'm the reason an ugly term like 'professional widow' was coined," she says wearily. "I do think many people understand that I'm preserving John's image and music and art. I think John would be glad I'm here for him."

(Entered April 8, 2000)

Ex-wives, ex-employees, ex-bodyguards, ex-friends, ex-this and that have all had their say in print. Now Paul, George and Ringo have written what they are calling the definitive account of the history of the Beatles.

Paul McCartney was quoted in The London Sunday Telegraph on April 2: "It will dispel some of the myths and put the record straight as every Tom, Dick and uncle of a friend has been writing books on the Beatles since 1963."

Called, "The Beatles Anthology," the book traces the Beatles' career from their early days in Liverpool until their breakup in 1970. The book is a glossy 360-page hardcover with 1,300 images, most said to be previously unpublished. It will sell for $60.

Already a controversy has cropped up over one of the stories in the book. Geoff Baker reveals that John is blamed for the Beatles break-up, leaving Paul to announce the group's demise months later. John told the story differently in interviews. He said he wanted to quit the group, but was asked to be quiet about it; then Paul made his announcement taking the others by surprise. Just one of the reasons John and Paul weren't such great friends through the post-Beatle years.

New York Daily News writer, David Hinckley told US Weekly (April 17, 2000), "If only three of them tell their story, even if they don't set out to blame John, they may do so unintentionally." With just the three Beatles giving their input - and reportedly, even Yoko did not participate in the writing of the book - the door is left open for doubts and speculation about the various stories being told.

Hinckley: "It always bothered Paul that John was thought of as the sharp one. And George didn't want to be the quiet one, or Ringo the guy who showed up and just did as he was told. They each have their own version of the story." And it's just three-quarters of the whole story.

Yoko will receive one-quarter share of the profits which one estimate put at $1-billion.

(Entered April 8, 2000)

Photo By Chuck Close

Yoko was one of six of JANE magazine's "Foxiest Women Alive" in their April, 2000 issue. Introduced as "Beautiful Women" the text reads: "They paved the way for many of the women you're listening to right now. And aren't they beautiful on the outside, too?"

Yoko's quote under her full-page color photo (see above): "I come from a generation that believes that it's nicer to be natural. But this is an age that's rapidly going into cloning and all sorts of things, so maybe all (these women getting plastic surgery) is just part of that. I want to have faith in the human race as they are, especially women. I'd like to see them feeling good about themselves without changing their bodies."

The other five women in the feature were singers, Deborah Harry, Judy Collins, Joan Jett and Carly Simon, and poet Exene Cervenka.

(Entered April 8, 2000)

Artwork by both John Lennon and Paul McCartney is featured in a new exhibition which opened Friday, April 7 at Liverpool's Tate Gallery.

The exhibition of collages has been put together by pop art pioneer Peter Blake, who designed the cover to the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" LP. That piece of photographic artwork will also be on display.

John's unnamed contribution dates from his days as an art student in Liverpool and was loaned to the Tate by a private collector. It features photos of two of John's favorite actresses, Brigitte Bardo and Julie Christie.

The exhibition will run for one year.

Info from music365.com

(Entered April 5, 2000)

Sean appeared with Cibo Matto on the cover of Pop Culture Press, #48, Spring 2000. The article inside featured an interview with amazing Cibo Matto singer, Miho Hatori. Interviewed for Pop Culture Press by Molly Gove.

Miho arrived for the interview wearing an orange t-shirt with a leopard printed slogan: "This is not Fashion. This is Free Tibet."

Miho's views on diversity in music: "I think we don't need to have one certain genre to be heard out here. People are using a lot of different music, classical music to Latin music to whatever in their music. Genres exist for making it easier to understand for people or easier for the record company. I think we should be more free, because it is not the natural way. Cibo Matto, we always try to make a good song, that is the main part of the music."

Asked about stereotypes, Miho said, "As a Japanese woman it is always there because there are not very many examples. One day on tour this guy came up and said, 'Hi, sushi' and then just left. I feel that it is insensitive. It is just the only word he knows in Japanese, but it is ignorant of the truth. It is not looking at the reality of what is going on in Japan, or with Japanese in other countries. It happens a lot."

A CD was packaged with the magazine which features the Cibo Matto song "Vamos a la Playa" from the "Working For Vacation" Japanese EP recorded in 1999. - Warner Brothers.

Visit Cibo Matto's Official Site