On June 1, 1969, in Room 1742 of Montreal?s Queen Elizabeth Hotel, musical history was made. On the final day of John Lennon and Yoko Ono?s legendary Bed-In for Peace, The couple gathered dozens of people together to record what has since become the world?s most enduring peace anthem, ?Give Peace A Chance?.
How the recording was made and who sang on it is a fascinating tale of 60?s culture, politics and music,
?John and Yoko: Give Peace A Song? will revisit that day in pictures and in the stories of those who were there, including Yoko Ono herself.
Directors Paul McGrath and Alan Lysaght tracked down most of the survivors from Room 1742, and interviewed more than two dozen of them Not one of them had any idea they were involved in something so enduring.
?John and Yoko: Give Peace A Song? features a staggering wealth of pictures that have never been seen before: film from the CBC Archives (a CBC film crew was at the Bed-In for four of the eight days); out-takes from John and Yoko?s own movie of the event; home movies taken by visitors, and the breathtaking photographs of Victoria photojournalist Gerry Deiter, the only photographer given unlimited access to the Bed-In. As one of the primary interviews, his memories of the event also feature prominently in the documentary.
It?s a special story for Canadians, because Canadians made it happen. Many of the most famous faces in the room, among them LSD guru Timothy Leary and anti-war comedian Tom Smothers, had been invited by the CBC. It was Canadians who found the money, the people and the equipment to record the song on a few hours? notice. The man who recorded it was an unknown Montrealer, Andre Perry, who became famous overnight because of it. And the chorus was, by and large, ordinary Canadians who had never before done something so extraordinary. And most of all, Canada was a place John and Yoko could talk peace without being laughed at. And they never forgot us for that.
?John and Yoko: Give Peace A Song?. Directed and written by Paul McGrath and Alan Lysaght. Narrated by Paul McGrath. Original music by Henry Kucharzyk. Edited by Liz Rosch. Executive Producer: Maria Mironowicz. Featuring Gerry Deiter?s words and images. Will air on Tuesday, 27 September on CBC-TV at 8 pm.
(For those whose sympathies are with the locked-out CBC employees, Gerry concurs but wishes to point out that this documentary was shot more than a year ago, and to view it today would not be to the detriment of the workers. For the latest on the job action, see www.cbcontheline.ca) Y
You may also see a special exhibit of some of these photographs at Bean Around the World on Fisgard Street
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