In
time for its Lp release during the Christmas of 1969, John
Lennon introduced the world to his first major post Beatles musical
vision care of his headlining performance at the famous 13 hour Live
Peace In Toronto festival on September 13th, 1969. The show featured
Lennon with his wife Yoko Ono together on stage playing Cold
Turkey and a range of Beatles oldies backed up by future Yes
is the answer drummer Alan White, Eric Slowhand
Clapton, fresh out of Blind Faith and early Beatles confident,
and the designer of Revolver, German concept artist Klaus
Voorman on bass. Blazing away on lead guitar and occasional rhythm,
Claptons playing with Lennon in Toronto is still the stuff of
legend and he and White made the perfect backup for Lennon. Looking
back its a cryan' shame these guys didnt make a studio
album together! Like a musical vision from yesteryear, Lennons
performance with Plastic Ono Band is captured forever on the 2009
DVD release of John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band Live In
Toronto 69. The DVD was released at the start
of Summer 2009 in the U.S. on the Shout! Factory label with a simultaneous
release in England from DVD specialists Wienerworld. The whole
shebang is further lionized in the excellent 2009 DVD liner notes
by Richie Yorke, who was with Lennon at Apple in London when
he (Lennon) asked Yorke for advice regarding whether he should play
the show! The Plastic Ono Band concert event was one of Lennons
most triumphant solo shows ever. Decked out in the famous white suit
and long face hiding beard that he appeared with on the Abbey Road
Lp cover, Lennon didnt disappoint. He was a man possessed
on a set that encompassed 50s rock and roll classics, including
songs made famous on various Beatles albums like Beatles VI (Dizzy
Miss Lizzy) and the Beatles white album (Yer
Blues). Of course on the original album, the six rock
tracks that lead off the set as side A, were followed by two more
(side 2) obviously more avant garde tracks featuring Yoko Ono, who
also appears on the 50+ minute DVD in a bonus interview from 1988.
Lennon and Onos DVD also features several concert opening tracks
from Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard,
who also has his own Live At The Toronto Peace Festival 1969 DVD
just out on both Shout! Factory and Wienerworld. Fans of Lennon, Yoko
and Clapton are well advised to pick up on this essential moment in
rock and roll history that was so ably captured by noted filmmaker
D.A. Pennebaker. www.ShoutFactory.com
/ www.wienerworld.com