In the early 70s. John Lennon classics such as `Instant Karma`, `Power To The People` and `Give Peace A Chance` were credited as the Plastic Ono Band.
On June 14 in London, Yoko Ono will perform with the Plastic Ono Band although the line-up remains a mystery.The Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band was a conceptual supergroup. The members at the time included George Harrison and Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Alan White (Yes), Klaus Voormann and Phil Spector.
Without having to make any phone-calls, Undercover can confirm that Phil Spector will not be there. George and Billy may, in spirit.
“I am thrilled to be asked to perform at Meltdown and especially excited to play the first ever UK show as Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band. It will also be fantastic to work with Ornette again,” Yoko said in a posting at her website. à
In 1970, Yoko Ono released the album ‘Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band’, the companion album to ‘John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band’, John’s album featuring ‘Mother’ and ‘Working Class Hero’.
She then also released ‘Fly’ and ‘Feeling The Space’ with the Plastic Ono Band.
One track from the first album featured jazz great Ornette Coleman. Their track ‘AOS’ was recored two years earlier in 1968. He is now 79-years old. Yoko is 76.
Coleman is curator of Meltdown this year in London and has invited Yoko to get the old band back together (are at least a part of it).
Yoko is maintaining silence as to who will be in the 2009 version of the Plastic Ono Band. On the original ‘AOS’, Yoko and Coleman performed with Edward Blackwell on drums and Dave Izenzon and Charles Haden on bass. Her son Sean Lennon will be in the band.
Some of the Yoko and the Plastic Ono Band tracks were used as b-sides for John’s singles. ‘Why’ was the b-side of ‘Mother’. ‘Touch Me’ was the b-side of ‘Power To The People’ in the USA while ‘Open Your Box’ was the b-side of ‘Power To The People’ for the rest of the world.
Yoko and the Plastic Ono Band will perform at Meltdown on Sunday, June 14, 2009.
