Happy Birthday John Lennon: Plastic Ono Band Live In Toronto In 1969
By Andy Kahn Oct 9, 2016 • 12:24 pm PDT
Born in Liverpool, England 76 years ago, today marks what would have been John Lennon’s birthday had the founding member of The Beatles not been senselessly murdered in December 1980. Only 40 at the time of his death, Lennon’s legacy as one of the Fab Four, acclaimed solo artist and noted political activist vaulted him among the all-time great influential global cultural icons.
Just last night his former band mate Paul McCartney covered Lennon’s “Give Peace A Chance” with Neil Young at Desert Trip, and in honor of John’s birthday today here’s a look at a live performance held by the Plastic Ono Band that featured that song and others from 1969.
The concert staged on September 13, 1969 at Varsity Stadium in Toronto featured a lineup of Lennon on guitar, Yoko Ono on vocal stylings, Eric Clapton playing guitar, Alan White on drums and Klaus Voormann playing bass. The hurriedly put together collective had barely rehearsed before taking the stage as part of the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival festival.
The set began with “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Money (That’s What I Want)” and “Dizzy Miss Lizzy.” The lone The Beatles song performed that night, “Yer Blues,” came ahead of the world debut of “Cold Turkey” during which Lennon read lyrics off a paper held by Ono. His “Give Peace a Chance” was also performed as was the avant-garde Ono-led “Don’t Worry Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow)” and experimental “John John (Let’s Hope for Peace).” Watch the performance in the videos below:
Setlist
- Blue Suede Shoes
- Money (That's What I Want)
- Dizzy, Miss Lizzy
- Yer Blues
- Cold Turkey
- Give Peace a Chance
- Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow)
- John John (Let's Hope for Peace)
