John Lennon: The Beatles Star's 'strange' First Meeting With Yoko Ono

Paul McCartney reflects on John Lennon meeting Yoko Ono

John Lennon and Yoko Ono said they first met in November 1966 when she was exhibiting at a gallery in London. The gallery’s co-owner John Dubar invited The Beatles star, a friend of his, to view the exhibition the day before it opened and the musician somehow got the erroneous impression the show would be sexual in nature, featuring a female artist in a bag. He later told the BBC: “I thought, this is a con. What the hell is this? Nothing’s happening in bags.

• John Lennon: Difference between The Beatles star's first wife and Yoko
• John Lennon's RAGE at Paul McCartney's wife Linda over Yoko Ono feud

“I’m expecting an orgy, you know… and it’s all quiet.”

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

Despite his initial lack of interest in Ono’s show, he later discovered a piece which consisted of a ladder which led to a canvas on the ceiling, on which was typed in minuscule letters: “Yes.”

His attention captivated, he and went on to ask the artist if he could have a go with a piece titled, Painting to Hammer a Nail in.

However, Ono, who was married to her second husband Anthony Cox at the time, although their relationship had broken down, wasn’t keen on the idea of the star ruining the work before the exhibition even opened, and asked him to pay five shillings per nail.

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: YOKO ONO ON WHAT JOHN LENNON SAID ABOUT SEX WITH MEN

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

John Lennon: The Beatles star first met Yoko Ono in 1966 (Image: GETTY)

John Lennon: The Beatles legend welcomed son Sean with Yoko Ono in 1975 (Image: GETTY)

• John Lennon: What Yoko Ono REALLY thought about affair with May Pang

Instead, they agreed Lennon could pay imaginary money to hammer an imaginary nail.

“That’s when we really met,” he later told Playboy of the moment. “That’s when we locked eyes and she got it and I got it.”

In her own words, Ono described the initial meeting between her and The Beatles star as “strange”.

“I was very attracted to him. It was a really strange situation,” she said, according to Darren Camp’s book The John Lennon Conspiracy.

Yoko Ono reveals medium predicted John Lennon's death

John Lennon: The Beatles star married Yoko Ono in 1969 (Image: GETTY)

Lennon and Ono’s romance didn’t start right away but the meeting spelled the end of his first marriage.

They continued to correspond until, in 1968, Cynthia Lennon returned from a holiday to find him in their home with Ono and they were divorced later that year.

A few years after they married, Lennon embarked on an affair with his and Ono’s assistant May Pang.

Starting in 1973, he had an 18-month affair with Pang, during which he moved out of his New York home and set up house with her in Los Angeles.

DON’T MISS…

Elvis Presley: TRUTH about 'awkward' meeting with John Lennon [INTERVIEW]

John Lennon death: The Beatles star’s words to his killer [UNCOVERED]

John Lennon: McCartney on what Beatles thought of 'INTRUSIVE' Ono [VIDEO]

• John Lennon: Yoko Ono says THIS decision wouldn't have saved him
• John Lennon: Yoko Ono reveals 'BAD' side effect of The Beatles' split

Ono was fully aware for the affair and, in a past interview with The Telegraph, she explained that it “wasn’t hurtful” to her.

“I needed a rest. I needed space,” she said, adding that the hatred she and Lennon faced from The Beatles fans over their relationship grew to affect her.

“Can you imagine every day getting this vibration from people of hate? You want to get out of that.”

In 1974, Lennon returned to Ono and the following year they welcomed their son Sean.

She later claimed her relationship had “ruined” her career, saying she had had to choose between art and love.

“In a way, both John and I ruined our careers by getting together, although we weren’t aware of it at the time,” she said.

“I was very aware that we where ruining each other’s careers and I was hated and John was hated because of me.

Love Glastonbury? From tickets to headliners, sign up for latest updates from Worthy Farm Subscribe Invalid email

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Get More of Our News on Google

Set Daily Express as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value.

“We did everything together and we did everything publicly together,” Ono continued.

“Many girls were upset with this. They were jealous. It was a very difficult time.”

John Lennon The Beatles Yoko Ono Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments Most Read Most Commented Latest videos Inside the tragic fate of Outlander’s Amy Higgins HMS Dragon still not in Cyprus after dithering in English Channel for three days BBC Death in Paradise confirms star's return and fans are delighted Taxi gang charged migrants £1,200 to be packed into lorries as 'kingpin' jailed Alan Davies reveals special gift to children after his 'difficult' childhood Last-minute ABBA Voyage tickets for Mother's Day ahead of show ending Staggering amount of time Brits lose queuing for concert tickets every year revealed The Pussycat Dolls return: Arena tour, tickets, new album, everything you need to know Alice Cooper announces autobiography with book tour - how to buy tickets Beatlemania: The Fab Four Conquer the World The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr launches new single ahead of latest album Laufey review: Jazz-infused star delivers storybook magic Harry Styles Netflix reviews call show 'special' and 'perfect' O2 and Virgin Media broadband customers offered FREE tickets Brian May unveils Queen ‘dream come true’ that’s 50 years in the making Sex Pistols return with new tour and former frontman comeback Science says this Venezuelan song can help your rum to taste better - here's why Paul McCartney named his favourite song – and it isn’t one of The Beatles best known hits Elvis 1977 final shows ‘horrifying to watch’ confessed ex Linda Thompson Metallica fans warned over final 1% of tour tickets for special shows Elvis Presley’s wild Las Vegas years: From hair dye on walls to moment it all went wrong Young people's enthusiasm for live music contrasts with declining school music education The Beatles: Paul McCartney and John Lennon estate celebrate George Harrison birthday Spiritbox tickets for first arena tour out now with presale access Morrissey’s love of Elvis: Watch his You’ll Be Gone live Graceland performance AC/DC’s 10 best songs ever — Back in Black is not number 1 Stadium artist tickets that are cheaper than Harry Styles

Daily Express uses notifications to keep you updated

Keep me updated No thanks