John Lennon and Yoko Ono Travel from Nice to Barcelona – 17 May 1971
Monday 17 May 1971 | John Lennon, Travel
On 17 May 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono travelled from Nice in the south of France to Barcelona, Spain. They had been on the French Riviera for the premieres of their films Fly and Apotheosis at La Quinzaine des Réalisateurs alongside the Cannes Film Festival. The purpose of the Barcelona trip was to consult their Spanish lawyers regarding a potential custody case for Kyoko Chan Cox — Yoko Ono's seven-year-old daughter from her previous marriage to Anthony Cox. Lennon and Ono had been arrested on 23 April 1971 on suspicion of kidnapping Kyoko, but the charges had been dropped earlier in May.
The Cannes Context
Lennon and Ono had been in Cannes for the screening of their films Fly and Apotheosis at La Quinzaine des Réalisateurs — the independent directors' showcase running alongside the main Cannes Film Festival. The films had premiered on 15 May and been shown again on 16 May, when Lennon and Ono held a press conference in the sunshine, with Lennon wearing a white YOKO ONO t-shirt. They had also attended a screening of Fernando Arrabal's Viva la Muerte and dined at Felix on the Cannes promenade.
From Nice — the nearest major city to Cannes — they flew to Barcelona on 17 May to address the more pressing matter of the Kyoko custody dispute.
The Kyoko Custody Dispute
Kyoko Chan Cox was Yoko Ono's daughter from her marriage to American filmmaker Anthony Cox, whom she had divorced in 1969. Cox had been awarded custody of Kyoko, but Ono had been fighting to regain access to her daughter. The dispute had become increasingly fraught and international in scope, with Cox moving Kyoko between different countries to keep her from Ono.
On 23 April 1971, Lennon and Ono had been arrested in Majorca, Spain, on suspicion of kidnapping Kyoko. The charges were dropped earlier in May, but the legal situation remained unresolved. The Barcelona trip on 17 May was part of the ongoing effort to build a legal case for custody through the Spanish courts.
The Kyoko dispute would continue for years. Cox eventually disappeared with Kyoko into the Children of God religious movement, and Ono did not see her daughter again until the 1990s, when Kyoko — by then an adult — made contact of her own accord.
May 1971: Lennon and Ono Between Albums
The Barcelona trip took place during one of the most creatively productive periods of Lennon's post-Beatles career. Recording sessions for Imagine had taken place at Tittenhurst Park in May and June 1971, and the album — including the title track — was already largely recorded by this point. The Imagine film, a long-form promotional work co-directed by Lennon and Ono, was also in production.
The same day, Paul and Linda McCartney's album Ram was released in the United States — an album that Lennon had interpreted as containing personal attacks on him, and to which he would respond with 'How Do You Sleep?' on Imagine.
Key Facts: 17 May 1971
- Travel: Nice, France → Barcelona, Spain
- Purpose: Consult Spanish lawyers regarding Kyoko custody case
- Kyoko Chan Cox: Yoko Ono's daughter from marriage to Anthony Cox; aged seven in 1971
- Arrest: 23 April 1971, Majorca — suspicion of kidnapping Kyoko (charges dropped, May 1971)
- Previous location: Cannes — Fly and Apotheosis screenings, 15–16 May 1971
- Kyoko eventually found: 1990s (made contact as an adult)
- Imagine album: In production at this time; released September 1971
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did John Lennon and Yoko Ono go to Barcelona in May 1971?
To consult their Spanish lawyers regarding a potential custody case for Kyoko Chan Cox — Yoko Ono's daughter from her previous marriage to Anthony Cox. Lennon and Ono had been arrested in Majorca on 23 April 1971 on suspicion of kidnapping Kyoko, but the charges were dropped in May.
Who is Kyoko Chan Cox?
Kyoko is Yoko Ono's daughter from her marriage to American filmmaker Anthony Cox. Cox was awarded custody after their divorce in 1969 and subsequently moved Kyoko between countries to prevent Ono from gaining access. Kyoko eventually made contact with her mother in the 1990s as an adult.
Why were Lennon and Ono arrested in April 1971?
They were arrested in Majorca, Spain, on 23 April 1971 on suspicion of kidnapping Kyoko. The charges were dropped earlier in May 1971.
Where had Lennon and Ono been before travelling to Barcelona?
They had been in Cannes on the French Riviera for the screenings of their films Fly and Apotheosis at La Quinzaine des Réalisateurs alongside the Cannes Film Festival, including a press conference on 16 May.
What was John Lennon working on in May 1971?
Recording sessions for the Imagine album were taking place at Tittenhurst Park in May and June 1971. The album was released in September 1971.
→ 16 May 1971: Lennon & Ono Press Conference, Cannes
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