May Pang, John Lennon's girlfriend during his infamous 'Lost Weekend' period, has shared intimate details about the former Beatle's life, including his favourite takeaway meal and how Yoko Ono herself initiated their relationship. Pang, now 75, also revealed that Lennon seriously considered reuniting with Paul McCartney in the mid-1970s, a move that could have changed music history.
The Lost Weekend Begins
Pang first encountered John Lennon while working as a production coordinator and assistant for ABKCO Industries, handling tasks for both Lennon and his then-partner Yoko Ono. In 1973, when John and Yoko's relationship faltered, Ono made an unusual proposal to Pang. 'Yoko Ono came into my office and said, "Listen, John and I are not getting along." And I said, "I'm so sorry to hear," thinking to myself, "Why are you telling me this?"' Pang recalled. Ono then asked, 'You don't have a boyfriend,' and Pang replied, 'Excuse me? I'm not interested.' Despite her initial reluctance, Pang eventually agreed to Yoko's request and began an 18-month relationship with Lennon, which Beatles fans now refer to as The Lost Weekend.
A Potential Beatles Reunion
During their time together, Lennon and McCartney remained in contact despite the Beatles' bitter split in 1970. Pang revealed a pivotal conversation at Lennon's New York apartment in January 1975. 'Paul and Linda McCartney used to visit us in New York quite frequently. I think their last visit was in January 1975, and this was after the dissolution of the Beatles had already been and gone,' she said. Lennon asked McCartney about his next project, and McCartney mentioned Wings' new album in New Orleans. Pang noted, 'I could see John’s eyes all lit up.' A few days later, Lennon strummed his guitar and asked Pang, 'What do you think if I started writing with Paul again?' She responded enthusiastically, 'I think it’d be fantastic.' Lennon then mused, 'Yeah. Oh yeah, yeah, you're right.' Pang added, 'I could see the wheels in his head turning.'
Life Beyond the Glamour
Despite rubbing shoulders with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and David Bowie, Pang cherished the quieter moments. She recalled an evening when Lennon was fascinated by the newly introduced cable TV: 'The moment that cable had just come into existence, we had the TV and it was like a toy, you just press a button and it was on another station. He was fascinated by all the different stations and the freedom in cable, because there was no regulation, it was freedom.' Their evenings often involved ordering Chinese takeaway, with Lennon's favourite being 'a Chinese beef curry and hot and sour soup.'
Reflections on Today's World
Pang, who later married producer Tony Visconti and had two children, believes Lennon would be disheartened by the current state of the world. 'He was always concerned about trying to achieve peace. He was always wondering, "why can't it be." I think he'd be very disappointed if he saw the world today. He'd probably think: has the world gone totally mad?'
