You’ve likely heard of John Lennon, one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century.
But have you heard of May Pang? She was Lennon’s assistant and lover during his “lost weekend”, a tumultuous 18-month period in his life.
Now, Pang is telling her side of the story in a new documentary, showcasing her unique perspective on the dynamic between Lennon, Ono, and herself.
This documentary sheds light on the events of this fascinating and complex period of Lennon’s life, and gives us a better understanding of the relationship between the three people involved.
May Pang’s Story
After spending 18 months as John Lennon’s lover during his ‘lost weekend’, May Pang is finally telling her side of the story in a new documentary.
Pang was initially a reluctant participant, chosen by Yoko Ono to become Lennon’s companion.
Pang initially had no fantasies about the Beatles’ frontman, and her favorite Beatle was Ringo.
However, Lennon eventually warmed to her, and they became lovers.
Pang helped Lennon reconnect with his life before Ono, encouraging him to reach out to his son Julian and his first wife, Cynthia.
Pang’s book, ‘Loving John’, published 30 years ago, asserted her relationship with Lennon was a deep and abiding love.
However, Lennon’s return to Ono was a surprise to her, and Ono’s response to his return was not warmly inviting.
Pang believes that Lennon knew how to make things work in the media, and she insists that the term ‘lost weekend’ was used because Lennon was tired of being asked about two high-profile incidents in 1974.
Pang is careful not to directly describe Ono as manipulative and controlling, though she admits that Ono endured a great degree of sexism and racism from the public.
Pang’s story dovetails with today’s sensitivity to the consequences of workplace sexual harassment, and the documentary provides a missing piece of the story.
Pang believes that people will see the story as it was, and that her current perspective on her relationship with Lennon and Ono will make some people less sympathetic to her today.
Despite this, Pang seems eager to give her account at this time in her life, and the documentary sheds new light on Pang’s time with Lennon and Ono.
Lennon’s Lost Weekend
During their 18-month separation, Yoko Ono appointed her assistant, May Pang, to be John’s lover, sparking a roller coaster of emotions between the three.
It was later termed ‘the lost weekend’, and Pang has recently opened up about her time with Lennon in the documentary ‘The Lost Weekend: A Love Story’.
At the time, Pang was the assistant to both Lennon and Ono. Pang was initially resistant to the idea of being Lennon’s lover, but eventually warmed to the idea and the two became close.
Pang helped Lennon reconnect with his life before Ono and encouraged him to reconnect with his son Julian and first wife Cynthia. He also drank to excess during this period, although Pang insists that he did not do drugs.
Ono grew jealous and called Pang a million times a day, with Lennon siding with Pang in defiance of Ono.
Pang admits that she and Lennon were going to buy a house together, and were living in their own apartment away from the Dakota. However, Lennon and Ono eventually reconciled, leaving Pang feeling surprised and betrayed.
Nevertheless, Pang continued to see and be intimate with Lennon until his death, and she believes that Lennon’s characterization of his last few years with Ono was a fabrication.
Pang is now 72 years old, and her story provides a missing piece of the puzzle which sheds new light on this period of Lennon’s life.
Dynamic with Ono
Yoko Ono’s jealousy and controlling behavior created a complex and tumultuous dynamic between her, John Lennon, and May Pang during their 18-month separation. Ono made it clear that she wanted Pang to become Lennon’s lover and Pang was initially resistant. However, Lennon eventually warmed to Pang and they became lovers.
Pang helped Lennon reconnect with his life before Ono, encouraging him to reconnect with his son Julian and his first wife, Cynthia. Ono grew jealous and called Pang a million times a day, and Lennon would side with Pang in defiance of Ono. Lennon found out about Ono’s alleged affair and was not jealous.
Ono’s response to Lennon’s return was not warmly inviting. Pang believes that Lennon knew how to make things work in the media, as they were going to buy a house together.
Pang is careful not to directly describe Ono as manipulative and controlling, but admits that Ono endured a great degree of sexism and racism from the public. She suggests that such sexist and racist views are what fueled negative views of Ono and her image has greatly improved in recent years.
Pang’s story may make some people less sympathetic to her today but the documentary sheds new light on Pang’s time with Lennon and Ono. She believes that her story provides a missing piece of the story and that her love of rock and roll led her to bluff her way into a job at Allen Klein’s office, which represented Apple Records and all the Beatles but Paul.
Pang’s Relationship
You can experience the intricate nuances of May Pang’s relationship with John Lennon during his ‘lost weekend’ in the new documentary, ‘The Lost Weekend: A Love Story’.
Pang, Lennon’s assistant and lover at the time, was chosen by Yoko Ono to be Lennon’s companion. This 18-month period was marked by Pang helping Lennon reconnect with his past, including his son Julian and ex-wife Cynthia.
Despite Ono’s initial resistance, the relationship between Pang and Lennon grew and the two moved to New York together in 1975. Pang’s story is an important one in understanding the dynamic between the three.
Pang was initially resistant to Ono’s request and her love of rock and roll was the impetus for her bluffing her way into a job at Allen Klein’s management office. Ono’s jealousy and constant calls to Pang were countered by Lennon siding with her, and despite the drinking and the difficulty of being in the public eye, Pang claims that her relationship with Lennon was one of deep and abiding love.
The documentary provides a valuable insight into Pang’s time with Lennon. While Ono has declined to comment on Pang’s version of events, it is clear that her image has improved in recent years.
Pang’s story sheds light on the sexism and racism Ono endured from the public, and Pang’s own perspective, although carefully guarded, is a welcome addition to the conversation. Pang believes that Lennon knew how to make things work in the media, and that ultimately, her story will be seen as it was.
Public Perception
With her story now in the public eye, it remains to be seen how May Pang’s account of her relationship with John Lennon and Yoko Ono will be received. Pang is careful to not directly describe Ono as manipulative and controlling, instead suggesting that Ono endured a great degree of sexism and racism from the public which fueled negative views of her.
Despite this, Pang’s story may still make some people less sympathetic to her today, as it sheds new light on her time with Lennon and Ono. Pang has been vocal about how Ono’s response to Lennon’s return was not warmly inviting, and how Lennon knew how to make things work in the media. She has also been open about how she and Lennon were going to buy a house together, and her current perspective on the relationship.
Despite this, Ono has declined to comment on Pang’s version of events. The documentary provides a missing piece of the story, and Pang is eager to give her account at this time in her life. Regardless of how her story is received, Pang believes that people will see the story as it was, and that her words will be heard.
Through her story, Pang is eager to show how her love for Lennon was a deep and abiding one, a sentiment that is echoed through her book Loving John, written 30 years ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
What led May Pang to bluff her way into a job at Allen Klein’s management office?
You may have heard of Allen Klein’s management office from its representation of Apple Records and all the Beatles, but Paul.
May Pang is the woman who bluffed her way into such a position. She was a huge rock and roll fan, and when the opportunity arose, she took it.
Pang was initially a personal assistant to John Lennon and Yoko Ono, but her knowledge and love of music, as well as her ambition to break into the industry, allowed her to land a job at Klein’s office.
She was the only one of her peers to take the plunge, and her story speaks to the importance of having the courage to pursue your dreams.
How did Lennon find out about Ono’s alleged affair?
It’s not known exactly how John Lennon found out about Yoko Ono’s alleged affair. However, May Pang, Lennon’s assistant and lover during his ‘lost weekend’, has revealed in a new documentary that Lennon sided with her in defiance of Ono when she called Pang a million times a day.
Pang believes that Lennon knew how to make things work in the media, and it may have been through this insight that he discovered the truth.
Pang’s story, as told in the documentary ‘The Lost Weekend: A Love Story’, provides a missing piece of the story that helps to explain what may have happened.
How did Lennon’s relationship with Pang help him reconnect with his past?
You may have heard of John Lennon’s ‘lost weekend’, an 18-month period of separation from Yoko Ono that was characterized by heavy drinking and a newfound relationship with May Pang.
Pang’s role in Lennon’s life during this period was more than just a lover – she helped him reconnect with his past, encouraging him to reach out to his son Julian and his first wife, Cynthia.
Pang’s presence in Lennon’s life allowed him to re-establish relationships that had been put on hold during his time with Ono, and provided him with a much-needed outlet for his emotions.
What was the reaction of Ono and the public to Lennon and Pang’s relationship?
When John Lennon and May Pang began their relationship, Yoko Ono’s reaction wasn’t warmly inviting.
The public’s perception of the couple was also quite negative due to the sexism and racism Ono endured.
Nevertheless, Lennon’s return to Ono was a surprise to Pang, who continued to be intimate with Lennon until his death.
Lennon, however, was able to effectively use the media to make the situation work for him.
What is Pang’s current opinion of Ono?
May Pang’s current opinion of Yoko Ono is complex. While Pang acknowledges the sexism and racism Ono endured from the public, she also believes that Ono was manipulative and controlling during her relationship with John Lennon.
Additionally, Pang believes that Lennon’s characterization of his last few years with Ono was a fabrication. Pang hasn’t directly described Ono as manipulative or controlling, but she does make it clear that Ono’s image has improved in recent years.
Conclusion
You’ve heard May Pang’s story of her relationship with John Lennon during his ‘lost weekend’. It sheds new light on the dynamic between her, Lennon, and Yoko Ono, and provides a missing piece of the story.
It’s clear that Pang played a significant role in helping Lennon reconnect with his past, and her story has helped to shape the public perception of their relationship.
With the rise of workplace sexual harassment in today’s society, Pang’s story is an important reminder of the need to treat people with respect, no matter the circumstances.