John Lennon’s lyrics for ‘Give Peace A Chance’ are to be auctioned at Christie’s in London on 10 July.
The lyrics were handed to Gail Renard, then 16, at Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Montreal bed-in for peace in 1969. They are to be sold with other memorabilia, expected to fetch up to £300,000.
Renard, then a Montreal student, sneaked into the Queen Elizabeth Hotel with a friend, knocked on the door and asked Lennon and Ono for an interview for their university magazine. She ended up spending the rest of the week with the couple and formed a life-long friendship.
During the bed-in Lennon decided to record Give Peace A Chance, after which he gave the lyrics to Renard. He reportedly told her: “one day they will be worth something”.
The lyrics spent a number of years on a wall in Renard’s study before being moved to a vault for safety.
Also on this day...
- 2017: Paul McCartney live: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo
- 2002: Paul McCartney live: Gund Arena, Cleveland
- 1997: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Cuthbert Amphitheater, Eugene
- 1993: Paul McCartney live: Busch Stadium, St Louis
- 1977: UK album release: Thrillington by Paul McCartney
- 1969: Recording, mixing: Octopus’s Garden
- 1967: John Lennon attends the 14 Hour Technicolour Dream
- 1966: Recording, mixing: Eleanor Rigby, I’m Only Sleeping
- 1965: Filming: Help!
- 1964: The Beatles live: ABC Cinema, Edinburgh
- 1964: The Beatles are photographed with their Madame Tussauds wax figures
- 1962: The Beatles live: Star-Club, Hamburg
- 1961: The Beatles live: Top Ten Club, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Have an album “give Peace a Chance” Plastic Ono Band autographed by both John and Yoko. Anyone have an idea the value?
It would depend on various things – if it’s genuine, when it was signed, what sort of condition it’s in etc. I’m not aware of an album called Give Peace A Chance. What country is it from?