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Imagine - John and Yoko's Bed-In for Peace - Gerry Deiter photos of 1969 - Allison Crowe live video

Lennon's Dream of Peace Still Alive 40 Years Later
Allison Crowe Imagines With Gerry Deiter Photos From 1969

Forty years ago, John Lennon and Yoko Ono received international attention for their Bed In for Peace at Montreals now-famous Queen Elizabeth Hotel. The iconic couple staged the eight-day event - from May 25 to June 1, 1969 - to protest civil unrest and the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war. A new book of rarely-seen images has been published by John Wiley and Sons.

"We're going to sell peace the way other people sell soap", Lennon told a young photo-journalist Gerry Deiter. He was assigned by Life Magazine to document the happening in the hotel suite, and was the only photographer there the entire 8 days. Deiter captured hundreds of images of the couple singing, composing, visiting with friends and talking to the media. Lennon and Ono spoke to some 150 journalists during the press conferences they held daily from their bed. June 1 was the culmination - the recording of Give Peace A Chance.

Now... these images come together in the book "Give Peace a Chance: John & Yoko's Bed-In for Peace". Photography by Gerry Deiter. Compiled by Joan Athey. Edited by Paul McGrath.

This video displays some of those images, set to a live performance of "Imagine" by internationally-acclaimed Canadian musician Allison Crowe.

Book events are scheduled for May 12, Gershwin Hotel at 8 pm New York City generously sponsored by the Gershwin. May 26 Toronto at the Stephen Bulger Gallery.

Exhibitions open May 26 in Liverpool at the Beatles Story and June 12 at the Bethel Woods Arts Centre, (Woodstock Festival) New York. http://www.peaceworksnow.com

Give Peace A Chance

War is over if you want it

Imagine peace