John Lennon & Yoko Ono: Lightning Trip to Vienna – Press Conference & Chocolate Cake
John Lennon & Yoko Ono | Vienna, Austria
On 31 March 1969, just days after their Amsterdam Bed-In, John Lennon and Yoko Ono made a lightning visit to Vienna, Austria, where they held a press conference to promote their new film Rape and to continue their peace campaign.
The Vienna Press Conference
The press conference was held at the Hotel Sacher — one of Vienna’s most celebrated grand hotels. In a characteristically theatrical gesture, Lennon and Ono conducted the entire event from inside a large white bag, a concept they called “bagism” — the idea that if people could not see each other, they could not judge each other by appearance, race, or class.
The couple ate chocolate cake throughout the press conference, adding to the surreal atmosphere of the event.
Promoting ‘Rape’
The Vienna visit was partly intended to promote Rape, a short film directed by Lennon and Ono and broadcast on Austrian television. The film followed a young woman being pursued by a camera crew, exploring themes of media intrusion and the loss of privacy — themes directly relevant to Lennon and Ono’s own experience of celebrity.
Bagism and Peace Activism
Bagism was one of several conceptual protest strategies Lennon and Ono employed during this period, alongside the Bed-Ins and their ‘War Is Over!’ billboard campaign. The Vienna press conference demonstrated their commitment to using art and performance as vehicles for political messaging.
Location
Philharmoniker Straße 4, Vienna, Austria
FAQ
What was bagism?
A concept devised by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in which people communicated from inside a bag, removing visual judgements based on appearance.
Why did Lennon and Ono visit Vienna?
To promote their film Rape and to continue their peace activism following the Amsterdam Bed-In.
Where was the Vienna press conference held?
At the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, Austria.
Explore John Lennon’s full story: John Lennon: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
Explore more Beatles history: The Beatles Knowledge Hub | On This Day in Beatles History
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