Wednesday 14 July 1971 | Travel | John Lennon & Yoko Ono
On 14 July 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono returned to London from New York City, concluding a six-week stay in the United States that had taken in political meetings, a memorable stage appearance, and ongoing legal proceedings. They returned to London to promote the reissue of Ono’s book Grapefruit and to continue work on a film with the working title Your Show.
Six Weeks in New York: June–July 1971
Lennon and Ono had arrived in the United States on 1 June 1971. The visit encompassed a wide range of activities that reflected the couple’s increasingly intertwined artistic and political lives in the early 1970s.
During their time in New York, they:
- Held meetings with artists and political activists, deepening their involvement in the counterculture and anti-war movements that would define Lennon’s public persona throughout the decade
- Performed with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention at the Fillmore East on 6 June 1971 — one of the most unexpected and celebrated live collaborations of the era
- Attended custody hearings for Yoko Ono’s daughter Kyoko, a legal battle that had been ongoing since 1969 and would continue to consume significant time and emotional energy for years to come
Frank Zappa and the Fillmore East
The performance with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention at the Fillmore East in New York on 6 June 1971 was one of the most spontaneous and memorable appearances of Lennon’s solo career. Lennon and Ono joined Zappa’s band on stage for an improvised set that included a version of ‘Well (Baby Please Don’t Go)’ and Yoko Ono’s extended vocal improvisation. The performance was later released on Zappa’s album Sometime in New York City (1972) — though Lennon and Ono’s version appeared on their own album of the same name.
The Kyoko Custody Battle
The custody hearings for Kyoko Chan Cox — Yoko Ono’s daughter from her marriage to Anthony Cox — were a source of profound distress for both Ono and Lennon throughout this period. Cox had taken Kyoko and effectively disappeared, and the legal proceedings in the US were part of a prolonged and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to secure custody. Lennon and Ono would not see Kyoko again for many years.
Returning to London: Grapefruit and Your Show
The return to London on 14 July 1971 was driven by two specific projects. The first was the promotion of the reissue of Yoko Ono’s book Grapefruit — originally published in a limited edition in 1964, the book collected Ono’s conceptual art instructions and had been reissued to wider acclaim in 1970. The second was the continuation of work on a film with the working title Your Show.
This return to London also preceded one of the most significant periods of Lennon’s solo career: the recording sessions for the Imagine album had taken place at Tittenhurst Park in May 1971, and the album would be released in September 1971 to become one of the best-selling records of his career.
Key Facts: 14 July 1971
| Date | Wednesday 14 July 1971 |
| Event | John Lennon & Yoko Ono return to London from New York City |
| US arrival date | 1 June 1971 |
| Key US activities | Fillmore East performance with Frank Zappa; political meetings; Kyoko custody hearings |
| Reason for return | Promote reissue of Yoko Ono’s Grapefruit; continue work on film Your Show |
| Context | Imagine album recorded May 1971; released September 1971 |
Tittenhurst Park, Ascot — John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s home in 1971, where the Imagine album was recorded in May of that year.
John Lennon: New York City
Officially licensed John Lennon merch celebrating his New York years.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did John Lennon return to London from New York in 1971?
John Lennon and Yoko Ono returned to London from New York City on 14 July 1971. They had arrived in the US on 1 June 1971 and spent six weeks there before returning to promote the reissue of Yoko Ono’s book Grapefruit and continue work on a film called Your Show.
Did John Lennon perform with Frank Zappa?
Yes. John Lennon and Yoko Ono performed with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention at the Fillmore East in New York on 6 June 1971. The performance was later released on the Sometime in New York City album (1972).
What was Yoko Ono’s book Grapefruit?
Grapefruit was a book of conceptual art instructions by Yoko Ono, originally published in a limited edition in 1964. It was reissued to wider acclaim in 1970, and Lennon and Ono returned to London in July 1971 partly to promote this reissue.
Who was Kyoko, and why were there custody hearings?
Kyoko Chan Cox was Yoko Ono’s daughter from her marriage to Anthony Cox. Cox had taken Kyoko and disappeared, and Lennon and Ono attended custody hearings in the US during their June–July 1971 visit as part of a prolonged legal battle to secure custody. They would not see Kyoko again for many years.
What was John Lennon working on in 1971?
In 1971, John Lennon recorded the Imagine album at Tittenhurst Park in May, which was released in September 1971. He and Yoko Ono were also working on a film with the working title Your Show, and were active in political and artistic circles in both New York and London.
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→ 14 July in Beatles History
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→ The Beatles Knowledge Hub
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