On Yoko Ono

Ann Magnuson (Bongwater, Anything But Love) ‘Yoko said it first, Yoko said it best – ‘Woman is the nigger of the world.’ She’s broken more sound barriers than Chuck Yeager. She’s a living haiku. She tells the truth. She rocks. Hey, there’s a reason the coolest guy in the world fell in love with her!’

David Bowie ‘Yoko’s work is very dangerous. If one is not careful it could get one thinking and may cause one to form an opinion. A subversive notion if there ever was one.’

Robert Palmer (from his liner notes to Onobox) ‘Here’s your homework’ John told me, mockstern but with a glimmer in his eyes. ‘Listen to Yoko’s first. We’ll be expecting a report. And…’ He went into a list of songs from Yoko’s albums which he knew I would find highly unconventional in sound and execution and as fresh sounding as 1980’s downtown New York post punk scene.’

Eric Clapton ‘John and I played some feedback guitar while Yoko was singing. I think she was amazing. Her style of singing requires a technique, like anything else. If you try it, after ten minutes your voice will break. She is doing something unique – it has never been done before.’

Jim Keltner (drummer) ‘I first worked with Yoko in the studio in 1971. She told the horn player next to me to throw away his mouthpiece and make his instrument sound like a wind that was sliding down a frog’s back… she then piled towels on top of my tom-toms and told me to hit them with a stick. I rolled my eyes because it all seemed so strange and ridiculous. When we were finished, the track sounded perfect. I realized Yoko knew exactly what sounds she wanted and how to get them.’

Paul Shaffer (The World’s Most Dangerous Band) ‘Working for Yoko was a terrific experience for me. I was brought in for the It’s Alright album when she asked for a “rock’n’roll pianist”. She was quick, knew exactly what she wanted, and was extremely knowledgable of studio and recording technique. Her sound was musical, and her influence so pervasive in the music of many of today’s so-called avant-garde artists.’

Ringo Starr (drummer on Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band) ‘It was fun.’

Nile Rogers ‘When ‘Walking On Thin Ice’ came out I played it nonstop. Whenever anyone would get in my car, I would blast the song and say, “This shit is incredible”. When I think of Yoko I think of ‘Thin Ice’ It’s a great piece of work, and to this day it remains one of my favorite songs.’

Mark Morris (choreographer) ‘The attraction of her work is its primal ferocity.’

Roberta Flack ‘Yoko is an honest musician. Everything that she writes comes from her heart as well as her mind.’

Ornette Coleman ‘I think Yoko’s music has the sounds of all the ethnic cultures of the present civilizations – a real global artist.’

John Lennon ‘Yoko is the most famous unknown artist in the world. Everyone knows who she is, but nobody knows what she does.’

Brian Hendel (editor, Yoko Only) ‘If you approach Yoko’s music with an open mind, it can reach into your soul, grab hold, and become part of your very own make-up… that’s what scared people in the past. and that’s what will captivate people today.’

Gillian Gaar (Goldmine) ‘One can see the roots of the new wave in such seminal recordings as Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band, and the assimilation of her avant-garde stance into the mainstream Top-40.’

Cyndi Lauper ‘When I left home at 17, I took 3 things with me in a paper bag: an art pad, a pair of socks, and Yoko Ono’s book Grapefruit. I also took my dog Sparkle, but she wasn’t in the bag. Sparkle died, but Grapefruit is still with me.’