PHOTO CREDIT: TOM EWING More IK! Yoko OnoWeb Rykodisc Yoko Archives This Q&A Event Took Place in August and September 1999 |
Dear friends,
I am in the country for the summer. I wake up in the morning looking at the rolling hills
in various shades of green. The cottage is on the hill, so sometimes the clouds come down
in the morning over the whole place and you can't see anything out of the window except
the milky fog. I walk two and a half to three miles after my morning coffee, and another
three miles or so in the evening before dinner. I do that every day, unless it rains.
That's a major accomplishment for me. And it's good. I hope you are all having a nice
summer.
Here's the Q&A.
Yoko
During the White Album sessions, what was your opinion of the Beatles music and what did you think of each Beatle as a musician? 
You must understand that by then I was well exposed to their music and felt like I was
sitting with very familiar people in the studio. My first exposure to Beatles music was
Strawberry Fields, which was played to me in late '66 by a friend in London. In early 67, John showed me some lyrics for songs, most of which ended up on Sgt.
Pepper's Album and Yellow Submarine. I also sat in some of the sessions for Magical
Mystery Tour at the end of that year, invited by John. By the time White Album was in session, I was well aware of how talented all of them
were and how different they were from the musicians I had known in the past. In the
classical-avant-garde field, musicians tended to be very serious. You've heard of the
expression "serious music" for classical music, haven't you? I think the
attitude of creating with ease and fun was something the Beatles may have started....in
this century, anyway. I think of Mozart as being that sort of musician. Each of the Beatles had a great sense of humour. They were very relaxed and superbly
creative at the same time. 
I saw in a documentary that you and John lived with Paul and Francie Schwartz during the White Album sessions in l968, is this true and if so, what are your recollections? 
Yes, John and I stayed at Paul's place a couple of nights. We had fun.
I enjoyed your album, "Rising", how did you go about writing those songs?..... I know of your ability to play piano but most of these songs sound guitar driven, do you play guitar? did you write them on guitar? or on the piano? What was it like working with Sean?
I usually write on the piano. Never on the guitar, because I don't play the instrument. I wish I could. But piano has been sufficient for my needs up to now. If I'm on the plane or in the car when the music starts to ring in my head, I jot down the notations quickly so I won't forget. Sometimes, I don't jot it down, thinking that I'd remember, and then it doesn't come back to me! I had some terrible experiences with that. This is about music. Lyrics are different. When the song is born in my head, I know more or less what instruments should be used, where the chorus should be, where the solo should come in, etc. Sometimes I make a change in the studio... add or drop some instruments. But the initial rush of inspiration is usually the best. I happened to have worked with some of the greatest musicians of our time. But it was lovely to work with Sean. It was different...very special. Sean brought the best out of me and gave the music the needed spunk. 
From "Rising" CD - Yoko With IMA Photo Copyright Larry Bercow
What new and exciting projects do you have coming up?
It's the millennium. So people are approaching me with so many ideas. It's amazing!
There are some very special ones I said yes to. Lots of John stuff. Some John &Yoko
stuff. Lots of Yoko Art stuff. You will hear about them, one by one, as they come out.
But our stuff comes out, not in the end of this millennium, but in the beginning of the
next millennium. It worked out that way. And I think it's a blessing. I keep telling
myself that I want to finish the past stuff as soon as possible and concentrate on doing
new stuff. But the past is enormous!
When is your new album coming out?
I'm up to my neck with this millennium stuff. I'll do another album when I get around to it.
I'm a bit saddened that I can't just do it now, but that's how it is.
Many times in my life,
things have worked out in such a way, that I could not do my work for circumstantial
reasons. But I have never been seriously discouraged by it. A little sad, maybe but not
discouraged. I've always known that one day I would do it. That's how I've kept myself
going...by using the circumstances in the best way I could, going with the flow, taking
notes and filing ideas.
.
What are the chances that "Grow Old With Me" will ever be finished with a full orchestra?
You should listen to the one George Martin did. It's on Lennon Anthology. It's a beautiful rendition and I'm quite happy with it.  
Yoko and Sean at Bed-In Scene from Tokyo Lady Kong paper. 12-8-90.
I went to John Lennon Museum site in Saitama-Pref. on July 25th, under construction. When it is completed, do you think you will hire people even from Canada?
I gave permission to open a John Lennon Museum in Japan. The organizers seem to be responsible and good people. Let's hope it's a good one! You may ask, why not in United States or Britain? Well, we didn't get the call, that is, from reliable people! It's alright, my friends. This is the card that's been dealt to us now.
Are you planning to come to Toronto, Canada in the near future? If you do, could you give me the dates?
I don't have any immediate plans to go to Canada, but I'm sure I'll be there again!
.
What do you think of all those ugly comments about you by Julian?
Reading the stuff that Julian has been saying lately in interviews, it seems like he is very pained. Whether the pain is real or imaginary, it doesn't make any difference, you suffer anyway. I hope he will get over this period quickly for himself and others!
Do you see your daughter, Kyoko, often? I saw her joining you at Hiroshima concert in 1995 and my friends witnessed she was there with you.
Kyoko and I are doing fine. We are very good friends. We don't see each other that often because she lives far away in another State. But we communicate almost daily. She is a very private person. So I want to respect that.
So that's the Q&A! I decided not to choose the questions. So I did it
first come, first serve. I will get around to answering the rest of the
questions in one form or another. I may do it through IK again, or try to
answer them in future interviews.
Big hug to each and every one of you. Thank you for being there.
Yoko
ON YOKO'S BIRTHDAY, 2-18-87  Above Photo First Appeared Exclusively in the Paper IK! Issue #31, Spring 1987. On Loan from Studio One
JULIAN, SEAN AND YOKO
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