Unfinished Music An Interview With Yoko Ono

Rip It Up, Issue 240, 1 August 1997, Page 15

Unfinished Music An Interview With Yoko Ono

.dT T * George.” .Hi, Yoko. I talked to . JL XI you a few years ago when you re-released your solo stuff in the Ono Box. How did it go down? “What? What? Go down??” Ah, let’s rephrase that. How successful was the Ono Box? > “It was very successful, and now, as you know, I’ve put out the first four albums that John and I did and they’ve been very well received.” ~ The records in question are the lovingly packaged re-issues of the John and Yoko albums of the late 60s, namely. Unfinished Music No. 1, Two Virgins, Unfinished. Music N 0.2,.2, Life With The Lions, Wedding Album and 1970 s Yoko Ono:Plastic Ono. Band — the companion piece to Lennon’s primal scream album. So here’s another

chance to re-assess the orgasmic sighs, . heartbeats and silences, Yoko’s howling and Lennon’s tape loops, spontaneous, abstract avant garde extensions of their experimentation on ‘Revolution 9’ from the Beatles’ White Alburn. 30 years on and the accepted notion is that the albums were ahead of their time and influential — especially the jazz/rock foundations for Yoko’s vocal histrionics on Plastic Ono Band. But at the time the albums were crucified. Yoko was being vilified for* ■ breaking up the Beatles and leading Lennon from his true destiny in rock ‘n’ roll, so few critics were prepared to listen to the albums with patience or open minds. “They didn’t get much of a reception at the time,” Yoko agrees. “I was surprised at the venom about it all as I didn’t think it was the kind of music that would arouse so much hatred. There’s a lot of reasons for that — being an Oriental, being a woman, being with John and on top of that how dare she? It was also kind of avant garde.”

It’s ironic how time has vindicated some of that music. Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth and Courtney Love have often quoted Yoko as a major influence, and in fact her shadow has been cast across the whole female art/alternative rock scene from Throwing Muses to Veruca Salt. “I think that it’s very lucky but I didn’t know I had influenced other bands until I had put out my new album, Rising, last year and it was received pretty well. And people started talking about Sonic Youth and all that. It’s great, I love them all.” Why do you think those four albums have lasted so well?

“I don’t know, you’ll have to listen to them again and judge for yourself but I think there’s a lot of genuineness in the music. People are getting a bit tired of the phoney entertainment world and so they tend to like something that’s genuine. And the records are also unique.” How do you think the music scene has changed since the albums were first released?

“There’s an abundance of good music now and they don’t stick to one thing. People don’t say ‘l’m jazz so I’m not talking to you because you’re rock’. There’s a lot of mixing of different styles which is good.” The business was much more conservative back then. “Yes, it was so conservative, and the attitude was how would 1 know, right?” Yoko adds sarcastically, her feminist edge showing. The re-release of the four John and Yoko albums is, of course, part of the recent excavation of the Beatles’ treasures in the form of the video and CD anthologies. “I was closely involved in those,” explains Yoko. “I wanted to look after John’s end so I did my best. It was a very

good thing that they came out because it gave people some encouragement and an uplifting feeling.” Is there any more stuff of John’s to come out of the vaults?

“I’m sure that there will be more stuff coming out but I don’t want to rush anything. They should come out at the right moment and the right way etc; All this stuff, Beatles included, and’the stuff that John and I did, there’s a certain magic about it, y’know. At the moment the world is full of pessimistic people and so it’s good to give some magic.” John’s magic has also . survived in bands like Oasis. Have you heard of Oasis? “Yes, I’ve heard of it.” It?? Yoko continues. “It’s great that people have got some

inspiration from John and are still carrying on. It’s good.” So what do you think of Oasis? “Actually I don’t know their stuff,” Yoko replies apologetically. So they haven’t made an impact in America?. “Not as much as in other places in the world. I hear their name and everything and how they were inspired by John and I feel good about that. That’s all.”How is your own recording career - progressing? - “I’m constantly writing. I went on a concert tour last year, and during the tour I kept writing. It’s time that I did a second album but I want to relax this summer and

then start towards the end of the year. . Nothing is going to come out until the end of next year. I had offers to tour but I’m leaving space to do other things and I’m pushing everything to next year.” So what other things are occupying your day this year? Yoko laughs. “That’s like saying I understand you’re having a few babies but what else are you doing? I’m just busy doing my own stuff and I’m also responsible for John’s business and estate; And I’m a .. mother so I’m blessed with that. It seems like a lot, but most women are wearing many hats.”

GEORGE KAY