Watch John Lennon & Yoko Ono Demo ‘Give Peace A Chance’ In 1969
By Andy Kahn Apr 13, 2021 • 8:19 am PDT
Never-before-seen video of John Lennon and Yoko Ono demoing “Give Peace A Chance” has been released. The footage, considered to be the earliest known version of the anthem, was recorded in the Bahamas by cameraman Nic Knowland and sound recordist Mike Lax at the Sheraton Oceanus Hotel on May 25, 1969.
Days later, Lennon and Ono would perform “Give Peace A Chance” at their Bed-In For Peace at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal on May 31, 1969. The single was released in July 1969, becoming the first hit for Lennon as a solo artist. Though credited to Lennon and his longtime writing partner in The Beatles, Paul McCartney, it was later confirmed by Lennon that Ono was the true co-writer of the song.
The previously unseen video was released in conjunction with the upcoming box set, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band – The Ultimate Collection, which arrives on April 23. Watch John Lennon and Yoko Ono demoing “Give Peace A Chance” in the Bahamas in 1969 below:
