Contrary to the widespread narrative that Yoko Ono had been the one pursuing reconciliation, the story reveals that it was actually John Lennon who implored Ono to reunite after his protracted episode of heavy drinking, aptly named “The Lost Weekend.” This period ensued following the couple’s breakup in 1973 – a separation initiated by Ono herself.
Yoko Ono’s Strategy and Their Path to Reconciliation
Ono remained the decisive authority when it came to their reunion in the early onset of 1975, extending an invitation to Lennon to come back home after his rowdy escapades in California with celebrities like Harry Nilsson and Keith Moon. In a twist that many find surprising, Ono had even encouraged a romance between Lennon and his assistant, May Pang. This affair, albeit brief, was a strategy she had devised.
Before delving into this unconventional ploy, it’s crucial to shed light on the backdrop of their split. In the throes of a fierce legal battle in the early 1970s, one that threatened their American residence, Lennon and Ono’s relationship began to fray, leading to frequent disagreements. In an assertive move, Ono cast Lennon out.
Then, in an unpredicted decision, she suggested Pang, who was serving as Lennon’s assistant, to seek a relationship with the musician. Reflecting on Ono’s intentions, Pang recounted in the 2023 documentary, “The Lost Weekend: A Love Story,” “She did not realize it was going to turn into such a big love affair. She thought it would be two weeks, gone, goodbye.”
John Lennon’s Reflections on Separation and Longing for Reunion
However, Lennon’s perspective on the time apart from Ono was starkly different. In a 1980 interview with Playboy, he voiced his feelings with raw clarity: “She kicked me out. I was on a raft alone in the middle of the universe.” He first reveled in the newfound freedom, exclaiming, “Whoopee, whoopee!” But this exuberance quickly dissipated, awakening a desire to return to familiar shores. “And then I woke up one day, and I thought, ‘What is this? I want to go home! But she wouldn’t let me come home. That’s why it was 18 months apart instead of six months. We were talking all the time on the phone, and I would say, ‘I don’t like this. I’m getting in trouble, and I’d like to come home, please.’ And she would say, ‘You’re not ready to come home.’ So, what do you say? Ok, back to the bottle.”
Ono’s decision to let Lennon return was not a hasty one. During their 1980 interview with Playboy, Ono detailed how the public’s perception of her as a “dragon lady,” a figure blamed for seducing Lennon away from The Beatles, took a toll on her. Ono, an established artist before her alliance with Lennon, felt her confidence impacted both in her personal life and artistic endeavors. While their relationship issues precipitated their split, Ono also recognized a need to reclaim her self-reliance.
A New Chapter in Their Relationship
Months into Lennon’s involvement with Pang, Pang recalled Ono indicating a shift in sentiment: “I’m thinking of taking John back. I said, ‘What?’ And she said, ‘I think it’s time.” Ono shared with journalist David Sheff, “It slowly started to dawn on me that John was not the trouble at all. John was a fine person. It was society that had become too much. We laugh about it now, but we started dating again. I wanted to be sure. He was intelligent enough to know this was the only way that we could save our marriage, not because we didn’t love each other but because it was getting too much for me. Nothing would have changed if I had come back as Mrs. Lennon.”
A new chapter began for the couple post-reconciliation and 1975 vow renewal, marked by a significant shift in their relational dynamics. With Ono taking the reins on most business engagements, Lennon devoted himself to home life and caring for their child. He explained to Sheff,
“We learned that it’s better for the family if we are both working for the family, she doing the business and me playing mother and wife. The number one priority is her and the family. Everything else revolves around that.”
My goodness, they were so hip and so cool.