It was 40 years ago that newlyweds John Lennon and Yoko Ono ran their holiday message to the world in a full-page New York Times ad: GIVE PEACE A CHANCE. The couple also posted on billboards in 11 cities around the globe: WAR IS OVER! If You Want It.”
At the same time, an unseasonable war was escalating among the once harmonious Beatles.
In September 1969, Lennon had told the others that he was breaking the group up. McCartney begged him to delay a public announcement so as to not jeopardize sales of their imminent release, "Abbey Road." His songwriting partner begrudgingly agreed.
At the end of the month, John recorded what was to become his first solo holiday hit, “Cold Turkey,” about his heroin withdrawal. In explaining his and Yoko’s addiction, he later told an interviewer, “We took H because of what the Beatles and others were doing to us.”
Indeed, Paul and George in particular had never cottoned to Yoko, and made little effort to disguise their feelings, especially when she infiltrated Beatle recording sessions. Even so, John had married the pregnant Yoko in Gibraltar, only a week after Paul married the pregnant Linda Eastman.
Strengthening his holiday appeal for world – not Beatle – peace and goodwill, John returned his MBE medal days before Thanksgiving. "Your Majesty,” his note to Queen Elizabeth II read, “I am returning this in protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam, and against 'Cold Turkey' slipping down the charts. With love, John Lennon."
The stage for the Beatles’ estrangement had been set two years before in 1967 when their manager and buffer, Brian Epstein, died. The take-charge Paul outmaneuvered a passive John and got the Beatles aboard his Christmastime "Magical Mystery Tour" movie. Which bombed.
On Dec. 27, the Cute One addressed his critics on "The David Frost Show." "Was it really that bad compared to the rest of Christmas TV?” he asked. “You could hardly call the queen's [holiday] speech a gas."
In spite of Paul’s "Magical Mystery" crash, its launch party was an unexpected success. For John. It was here that, in the spirit of the season, he danced and got drunk with his father, Freddie, who had abandoned him at age 5. “From now on, I hope we’ll be in close contact all the time,” John told the Daily Mirror.
As for his band, during their five-month recording of "The White Album" in 1968, there was more disharmony. Ringo, usually the diplomat, threw down his sticks and quit for two weeks. Later, George did the same. And their producer, George Martin, nearly threw in the towel, too.
The historic double album was released the week before Thanksgiving. At the same time, Yoko had a miscarriage. And John was busted for pot, found guilty and fined 150 pounds.
Refusing to let this ruin his holiday, the Clever One did the Royal Albert Hall’s Underground Christmas Party.
