John & Yoko show celebrates Montreal bed-in

It’s hard not to be nostalgic when you see the show at the Montreal Museum celebrating the 40th anniversary of John and Yoko’s bed-in at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. But if you were alive at the time, you remember what a radical idea this was, how outrageous, what an affront, and yet so simple.

The show is spectacular. First off, and I believe this is Yoko’s doing, it’s free. That’s really nice especially for families with children. And secondly, it’s highly interactive. Many exhibits in the show were meant to be touched, played with, altered. There was of course “the bed”, well, a bed anyway that you could lay on, sprawl on, have your picture taken. There was a beautiful white Baldwin baby grand piano that you could play. Just like the picture on the wall of John playing. This one was hooked up to an electronic box with headphones so only the player could hear. Maybe that was a good thing. Sheet music for Imagine was open on the piano.

On the walls, lots of photos, lyrics, drawings.

Other highlights: a long white table with tall back chairs on each side and more than a dozen chess sets ready to play. All you grand masters have a seat…… and play a game where all the players are white.

The biggest emotional piece - the film of the recording of Give Peace A Chance. Amazing.

Worth the trip to Montreal. Thanks Yoko!