Editing John Lennon (section)

==Solo career: 1970–1980==
===Initial solo success and activism: 1970–1972===
[[File:John Lennon Imagine 1971.jpg|thumb|left|Advertisement for "[[Imagine (song)|Imagine]]" from ''Billboard'', 18 September 1971]]
{{quote box|width=23em|When it gets down to having to use violence, then you are playing the system's game. The establishment will irritate you – pull your beard, flick your face – to make you fight. Because once they've got you violent, then they know how to handle you. The only thing they don't know how to handle is non-violence and humor.|salign=right|source=—John Lennon<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/playing-the-governments-g_b_8913516 |title=Playing the Government's Game: When It Comes to Violence, We All Lose |date=6 January 2016 |website=HuffPost}}</ref><ref name=goodreads>{{cite web |last1=Lennon |first1=John |title=Quote by John Lennon |url=https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7163202-when-it-gets-down-to-having-to-use-violence-then|access-date=10 October 2019|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112043203/https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7163202-when-it-gets-down-to-having-to-use-violence-then|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
Between 1 April and 15 September 1970, Lennon and Ono went through [[Primal therapy#John Lennon|primal therapy]] with [[Arthur Janov]] at Tittenhurst, in London and at Janov's clinic in Los Angeles, California. Designed to release emotional pain from early childhood, the therapy entailed two half-days a week with Janov for six months; he had wanted to treat the couple for longer, but their American visa ran out and they had to return to the UK.<ref name="auto">Madinger, Raille, Lennonology, Open Your Books 2015 {{ISBN|978-1-63110-175-5}}</ref> Lennon's debut solo album, ''[[John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band]]'' (1970), was received with praise by many music critics, but its highly personal lyrics and stark sound limited its commercial performance.{{sfn|Schaffner|1978|pp=144, 146}} The album featured the song "[[Mother (John Lennon song)|Mother]]", in which Lennon confronted his feelings of childhood rejection,{{sfn|Harry|2000b|pp=640–641}} and the Dylanesque "[[Working Class Hero]]", a bitter attack against the bourgeois social system which, due to the lyric "you're still fucking peasants", fell foul of broadcasters.{{sfn|Riley|2002|p=375}}{{sfn|Schechter|1997|p=106}}

In January 1971, [[Tariq Ali]] expressed his revolutionary political views when he interviewed Lennon, who immediately responded by writing "[[Power to the People (song)|Power to the People]]". In his lyrics to the song, Lennon reversed the non-confrontational approach he had espoused in "Revolution", although he later disowned "Power to the People", saying that it was borne out of guilt and a desire for approval from radicals such as Ali.{{sfn|Blaney|2005|pp=70–71}} Lennon became involved in a protest against the prosecution of ''[[Oz (magazine)|Oz]]'' magazine for alleged obscenity. Lennon denounced the proceedings as "disgusting fascism", and he and Ono (as Elastic Oz Band) released the single "God Save Us/Do the Oz" and joined marches in support of the magazine.{{sfn|Wiener|1990|p=157}}

{{Listen|type=music|filename=Imagine.ogg|title="Imagine"|description=Sample of "[[Imagine (song)|Imagine]]", Lennon's most widely known post-Beatles song.{{sfn|Harry|2000b|p=382}} Like "Give Peace a Chance", the song became an anti-war anthem, but its lyrics offended religious groups. Lennon's explanation was: "If you can imagine a world at peace, with no denominations of religion – not without religion, but without this 'my god is bigger than your god' thing – then it can be true."{{sfn|Harry|2000b|pp=382–383}} }}

Eager for a major commercial success, Lennon adopted a more accessible sound for his next album, ''[[Imagine (John Lennon album)|Imagine]]'' (1971).{{sfn|Schaffner|1978|p=146}} ''Rolling Stone'' reported that "it contains a substantial portion of good music" but warned of the possibility that "his posturings will soon seem not merely dull but irrelevant".{{sfn|Gerson|1971}} [[Imagine (song)|The album's title track]] later became an anthem for anti-war movements,{{sfn|Vigilla|2005}} while the song "[[How Do You Sleep? (John Lennon song)|How Do You Sleep?]]" was a musical attack on McCartney in response to lyrics on ''[[Ram (album)|Ram]]'' that Lennon felt, and McCartney later confirmed,{{sfn|Goodman|1984}} were directed at him and Ono.{{sfn|Harry|2000b|pp=354–356}}{{refn|group=nb|Lennon softened his stance in the mid-1970s, however, and said he had written "How Do You Sleep?" about himself.{{sfn|Harry|2000b|pp=354–356}} In 1980, he said that rather than the song representing a "terrible vicious horrible vendetta" against McCartney, "I used my resentment and withdrawing from Paul and the Beatles, and the relationship with Paul, to write 'How Do You Sleep'. I don't really go 'round with those thoughts in my head all the time."{{sfn|Peebles|1981|p=44}}}} In "[[Jealous Guy]]", Lennon addressed his demeaning treatment of women, acknowledging that his past behaviour was a result of long-held insecurity.{{sfn|Sheff|2000|p=210}}

In gratitude for his guitar contributions to ''Imagine'', Lennon initially agreed to perform at Harrison's [[Concert for Bangladesh]] benefit shows in New York.{{sfn|Rodriguez|2010|pp=48–49}} Harrison refused to allow Ono to participate at the concerts, however, which resulted in the couple having a heated argument and Lennon pulling out of the event.{{sfn|Badman|2001|p=44}}

Lennon and Ono moved to New York in August 1971 and immediately embraced US [[Far-left politics|radical left politics]]. The couple released their "[[Happy Xmas (War Is Over)]]" single in December.{{sfn|Allmusic|2010f}} During the new year, the [[Presidency of Richard Nixon|Nixon administration]] took what it called a "strategic counter-measure" against Lennon's anti-war and anti-Nixon propaganda. The administration embarked on what would be a [[#Deportation attempt|four-year attempt to deport him]].<ref name="DeMain">{{cite web |url=http://performingsongwriter.com/john-lennon-fbi-files/ |title=John Lennon and the FBI |work=Dangerous Liaisons: The FBI Files of Musicians |publisher=Performing Songwriter | access-date=19 January 2013 |first=Bill |last=DeMain | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117225323/http://performingsongwriter.com/john-lennon-fbi-files/ | archive-date=17 January 2013}}</ref>{{sfn|Glenn|2009}} Lennon was embroiled in a continuing legal battle with the immigration authorities, and he was denied [[Permanent residence (United States)|permanent residency in the US]]; the issue would not be resolved until 1976.{{sfn|Wiener|1990|p=204}}

''[[Some Time in New York City]]'' was recorded as a collaboration with Ono and was released in 1972 with backing from the New York band [[Elephant's Memory]]. A double LP, it contained songs about women's rights, race relations, Britain's role in Northern Ireland and Lennon's difficulties in obtaining a green card.{{sfn|BBC News|2006a}} The album was a commercial failure and was maligned by critics, who found its political sloganeering heavy-handed and relentless.{{sfn|Rodriguez|2010|pp=95, 180–82}} The ''[[NME]]''{{'}}s review took the form of an [[open letter]] in which [[Tony Tyler]] derided Lennon as a "pathetic, ageing revolutionary".<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Hunt|editor-first=Chris |title=NME Originals: Beatles – The Solo Years 1970–1980 |year=2005 |publisher=IPC Ignite! |location=London |page=65|title-link=NME}}</ref> In the US, "[[Woman Is the Nigger of the World]]" was released as a single from the album and was televised on 11 May, on ''[[The Dick Cavett Show]]''. Many radio stations refused to broadcast the song because of the word "[[nigger]]".{{sfn|Harry|2000b|pp=979–980}}

Lennon and Ono gave two benefit concerts with Elephant's Memory and guests in New York in aid of patients at the [[Willowbrook State School]] mental facility.{{sfn|Badman|2001|p=81}} Staged at [[Madison Square Garden]] on 30 August 1972, they were his last full-length concert appearances.{{sfn|Rodriguez|2010|pp=56–57}} After [[George McGovern]] lost the 1972 presidential election to Richard Nixon, Lennon and Ono attended a post-election wake held in the New York home of activist [[Jerry Rubin]].<ref name="DeMain" /> Lennon was depressed and got intoxicated; he left Ono embarrassed after he had sex with a female guest. Ono's song "[[Death of Samantha (song)|Death of Samantha]]" was inspired by the incident.<ref>''LennoNYC'', PBS Television 2010</ref>

==={{Anchor|Lost weekend}} "Lost weekend": 1973–1975===
[[File:John Lennon last television interview Tomorrow show 1975.JPG|thumb|Publicity photo of Lennon and host [[Tom Snyder]] from the television programme ''[[The Tomorrow Show|Tomorrow]]''. Aired in 1975, this was the last television interview Lennon gave before his death in 1980.]]
As Lennon was about to record ''[[Mind Games (John Lennon album)|Mind Games]]'' in 1973, he and Ono decided to separate. The ensuing 18-month period apart, which he later called his "lost weekend" in reference to the [[The Lost Weekend (film)|film of the same name]],{{sfn|Harry|2000b|pp=698–699}}<ref name="InterviewMayPang">{{cite web |first=Dave |last=White |url=http://classicrock.about.com/od/johnlennon/a/may_pang.htm |title=Lennon's "Lost Weekend" Lover |publisher=About, Classic Rock |access-date=9 June 2011 |archive-date=7 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207203838/http://classicrock.about.com/od/johnlennon/a/may_pang.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> was spent in Los Angeles and New York City in the company of [[May Pang]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Owen |last=Gleiberman |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/the-lost-weekend-review-may-pang-john-lennon-1235290486/ |title='The Lost Weekend: A Love Story' Review: May Pang Tells Her Story, and a Piece of John Lennon's, in a Compelling Documentary |date=11 June 2022 |work=Variety |access-date=11 June 2022}}</ref> ''Mind Games'', credited to the "Plastic U.F.Ono Band", was released in November 1973. Lennon also contributed "[[I'm the Greatest]]" to Starr's album ''[[Ringo (album)|Ringo]]'' (1973), released the same month. With Harrison joining Starr and Lennon at the recording session for the song, it marked the only occasion when three former Beatles recorded together between the band's break-up and Lennon's death.{{sfn|Jackson|2012|p=97}}{{refn|group=nb|An alternate take of "I'm the Greatest", with Lennon singing a guide vocal, appears on ''[[John Lennon Anthology]]''.{{sfn|Urish|Bielen|2007|p=47}}}}

In early 1974, Lennon was drinking heavily and his alcohol-fuelled antics with [[Harry Nilsson]] made headlines. In March, two widely publicised incidents occurred at [[Troubadour (West Hollywood, California)|The Troubadour]] club. In the first incident, Lennon stuck an unused [[menstrual pad]] on his forehead and scuffled with a waitress. The second incident occurred two weeks later, when Lennon and Nilsson were ejected from the same club after heckling the [[Smothers Brothers]].{{sfn|Harry|2000b|pp=927–929}} Lennon decided to produce Nilsson's album ''[[Pussy Cats]]'', and Pang rented a Los Angeles beach house for all the musicians.{{sfn|Harry|2000b|p=735}} After a month of further debauchery, the recording sessions were in chaos, and Lennon returned to New York with Pang to finish work on the album. In April, Lennon had produced the [[Mick Jagger]] song "Too Many Cooks (Spoil the Soup)" which was, for contractual reasons, to remain unreleased for more than 30 years. Pang supplied the recording for its eventual inclusion on ''[[The Very Best of Mick Jagger]]'' (2007).<ref>''[[The Very Best of Mick Jagger]]'' liner notes</ref>

Lennon had settled back in New York when he recorded the album ''[[Walls and Bridges]]''. Released in October 1974, it included "[[Whatever Gets You thru the Night]]", which featured [[Elton John]] on backing vocals and piano, and became Lennon's only single as a solo artist to top the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart during his lifetime.{{sfn|Badman|2001|loc=1974}}{{refn|group=nb|"Imagine" topped the US singles chart compiled by ''[[Record World]]'' magazine, however, in 1971.{{sfn|Spizer|2005|p=59}}}} A second single from the album, "[[Number 9 Dream|#9 Dream]]", followed before the end of the year. Starr's ''[[Goodnight Vienna]]'' (1974) again saw assistance from Lennon, who wrote the title track and played piano.{{sfn|Harry|2000b|p=284}} On 28 November, Lennon made a surprise guest appearance at Elton John's Thanksgiving concert at Madison Square Garden, in fulfilment of his promise to join the singer in a live show if "Whatever Gets You thru the Night", a song whose commercial potential Lennon had doubted, reached number one. Lennon performed the song along with "[[Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds]]" and "[[I Saw Her Standing There]]", which he introduced as "a song by an old estranged fiancé of mine called Paul".{{sfn|Harry|2000b|p=970}}

In the first two weeks of January 1975, Elton John topped the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] singles chart with his cover of "[[Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds]]", featuring Lennon on guitar and backing vocals - Lennon is credited on the single under the moniker of "Dr. Winston O'Boogie". As January became February, Lennon and Ono reunited as Lennon and Bowie completed recording of their co-composition "[[Fame (David Bowie song)|Fame]]",<ref name="auto"/><ref>Jones, David Bowie A Life, Windmill Books 2018 {{ISBN|978-1-78609-043-0}}</ref>{{sfn|Cherry|2022|p=137}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.johnlennon.com/music/collaborations/david-bowie-fame |title=Fame |website=John Lennon official website|access-date=5 July 2022|archive-date=28 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628234356/https://www.johnlennon.com/music/collaborations/david-bowie-fame/|url-status=live}}</ref> which became [[David Bowie]]'s first US number one, featuring guitar and backing vocals by Lennon. In February, Lennon released ''[[Rock 'n' Roll (John Lennon album)|Rock 'n' Roll]]'' (1975), an album of cover songs. "[[Stand by Me (Ben E. King song)|Stand by Me]]", taken from the album and a US and UK hit, became his last single for five years.{{sfn|Harry|2000b|pp=240, 563}} He made what would be his final stage appearance in the [[Associated TeleVision|ATV]] special ''A Salute to [[Lew Grade]]'', recorded on 18 April and televised in June.{{sfn|Harry|2000b|p=758}} Playing acoustic guitar and backed by an eight-piece band, Lennon performed two songs from ''Rock 'n' Roll'' ("Stand by Me", which was not broadcast, and "Slippin' and Slidin{{'"}}) followed by "Imagine".{{sfn|Harry|2000b|p=758}} The band, known as Etc., wore masks behind their heads, a dig by Lennon, who thought Grade was two-faced.<ref>Madinger, ''Eight Arms to Hold You'', 44.1 Publishing, 2000, {{ISBN|0-615-11724-4}}</ref>

===Hiatus and return: 1975–1980===
[[File:Lennon's Green Card.jpg|thumb|Lennon's [[green card]], which allowed him to live and work in the United States]]
Lennon began what would be a five-year hiatus from the music industry, during which time, he later said, he "baked bread" and "looked after the baby".{{sfn|Sheff|2000|p=4}} He devoted himself to Sean, rising at 6{{nbsp}}am daily to plan and prepare his meals and to spend time with him.{{sfn|Harry|2000b|p=553}} He wrote "Cookin' (In the Kitchen of Love)" for Starr's ''[[Ringo's Rotogravure]]'' (1976), performing on the track in June in what would be his last recording session until 1980.{{sfn|Harry|2000b|p=166}}

[[Sean Lennon]], Lennon's only child with Ono, was born on 9 October 1975 (Lennon's thirty-fifth birthday), after which Lennon took on the role of househusband.  He formally announced his break from music in Tokyo in 1977, saying, "we have basically decided, without any great decision, to be with our baby as much as we can until we feel we can take time off to indulge ourselves in creating things outside of the family."{{sfn|Bennahum|1991|p=87}} During his career break he created several series of drawings, and drafted a book containing a mix of autobiographical material and what he termed "mad stuff",{{sfn|Harry|2000b|p=814}} all of which would be published posthumously.

Lennon emerged from his hiatus in October 1980, when he released the single "[[(Just Like) Starting Over]]". In November, he and Ono released the album ''[[Double Fantasy]]'', which included songs Lennon had written in [[Bermuda]]. In June, Lennon chartered a 43-foot sailboat and embarked on a sailing trip to Bermuda. En route, he and the crew encountered a storm, rendering everyone on board seasick, except Lennon, who took control and sailed the boat through the storm. This experience re-invigorated him and his creative muse. He spent three weeks in Bermuda in a home called Fairylands writing and refining the tracks for the upcoming album.{{sfn|BBC News|2006b}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/lennon-article-circa-1980-double-fantasy.76587/ |title=Lennon article (circa 1980/ Double Fantasy) |website=Steve Hoffman Music Forums|access-date=29 August 2020|archive-date=2 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802170250/https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/lennon-article-circa-1980-double-fantasy.76587/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/john-lennon-and-sons-double-fantasy-trip-8629345.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/john-lennon-and-sons-double-fantasy-trip-8629345.html |archive-date=13 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=John Lennon and son's double-fantasy trip |date=24 May 2013 |website=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20120622/NEWS/706219892 |title=Yoko Ono thanks Bermuda for tribute to John Lennon &#124; The Royal Gazette:Bermuda News |first=Scott |last=Neil |website=The Royal Gazette |date=22 June 2012 |access-date=21 February 2020|archive-date=21 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221234123/http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20120622/NEWS/706219892|url-status=live}}</ref>

The music reflected Lennon's fulfilment in his new-found stable family life.{{sfn|Schinder|Schwartz|2007|p=178}} Sufficient additional material was recorded for a planned follow-up album ''[[Milk and Honey (album)|Milk and Honey]]'', which was issued posthumously, in 1984.{{sfn|Ginell|2009}} ''Double Fantasy'' was not well received initially and drew comments such as ''[[Melody Maker]]'''s "indulgent sterility{{nbsp}}... a godawful yawn".{{sfn|Badman|2001|p=268}}