As the co-soul of The Beatles,John Lennon’s visionary songwriting was a driving force in helping the band become an international cultural sensation. However, after a decade of unprecedented success - a level of success the world had never seen before, and has rarely seen since -the Beatles abruptly ceased to be a musical groupwhen, in April 1970, Paul McCartney announced his separation from the group.
While many factors contributed to the mega-group’s demise, including creative differences, business disputes, and the inevitable erosion of camaraderie that often occurs among friends after years of intense, close contact, one of the most cited reasons for the break-up has beenJohn Lennon’s relationship with Yoko Ono.
The perception that Ono was controlling Lennon and manipulating him into making creative and practical decisions that served her own interests rather than his or the band’s has persisted. Part of that also came from Lennon’s decision to withdraw from public life almost entirely, taking a five-year hiatus, but Lennon’s own assessment of that time reveals the truth of their relationship.
John Lennon “Retired” In 1975
Between the birth of his son, Sean, on 25 July 2025, and October 1980, when he released “(Just Like) Starting Over” as a single, John Lennon essentially disappeared. History says he he “baked bread” and “looked after the baby”, and his only musical activity was collaborating on “Cookin’ (In the Kitchen of Love)” for Rino Starr’sRingo’s Rotogravure(1976) as a writer and performer on the track. Looking back, it’s been hard for some to accept that this hiatus didn’t rob us of more of his work, but it was necessary for Lennon’s own wellbeing.
In a 1980 interview withPlayboy Magazine- reposted byThe Beatles Ultimate Experience- that was conducted just weeks afterending his five-year media blackout with Yoko Ono, John Lennon shared the motivations behind his decision to “go to ground.“He also credited Ono as essential to this transformative experience, which he believed rescued him from turmoil and propelled him into a more stable, healthy, and creatively vibrant state. This physical and spiritual journey rekindled a sense of freedom and empowerment Lennon hadn’t felt since before The Beatles' rise to fame.
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For Lennon, walking away from fame proved easier said than done. Having reached megastar status as a Beatle, Lennon found it nearly impossible to step away from the prestige and adulation. After living in the intense spotlight, disconnecting from it wasn’t easy for Lennon. Fortunately,Ono was a steady influence, preventing him from slipping back into a life that he felt was draining his positivity and creative energy- and, most importantly, stifling his music.
Most people don’t have a companion who will tell the truth and refuse to live with a bullsht artist, which I am pretty good at. I can bullsht myself and everybody around. Yoko: That’s my answer … She showed me the possibility of the alternative. ‘You don’t have to do this.
Moreover, as long as he remained within that environment - even in isolation - its influence lingered, continuing to affect his relationship with Ono and his sense of self. It was at this point that Ono insisted John break free from his Beatles past and rediscover the person he was before the band’s influence.
But I had lost the initial freedom of the artist by becoming enslaved to the image of what the artist is supposed to do. A lot of artists kill themselves because of it, whether it is through drink, like Dylan Thomas, or through insanity, like Van Gogh, or through V.D., like Gauguin.
Indeed, as reported inThe New York Times, in an earlier interview with Barbara Graustark - his first after emerging from self-imposed isolation - Lennon revealed that Ono’s insistence that he spend time alone to “reconnect with the non-god” led to an epiphany that ultimately enabled his return to public life stronger than ever. Following Ono’s suggestion, Lennon decamped in the Far East - namely Hong Kong and Singapore where he isolated himself while traveling as low-key as possible. It was during this time that Lennon reclaimed himself from the person he had become during the Beatles’ heyday - no thanks to Ono.
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The Yoko Ono “Conspiracy” Dies As Soon As You Hear Lennon Talk About Her
While Yoko Ono was certainly a factor in the tensions that soured the Beatles' relationships, as is often the case when a formerly tight-knit group must adjust to a member’s new significant other, she was not the sole cause of their discord. In the absence of context about the internal dynamics between John, Paul, George, and Ringo,the media and public chose the easiest target to blame: the supposedly unsmiling, unfriendly, and manipulative Ono, whose presence they viewed as intrusive and whose influence they claimed set Lennon on a path to ruin. However, by the time of Lennon’s death, Lennon had made it clear how wrong the media and public had been about Ono and her influence on him.
To truly understand Lennon’s journey and Ono’s crucial guidance, it’s essential to examine Lennon’s state of mind before his “withdrawal from public life.” After the Beatles’ breakup, Lennon appeared to focus on a few key priorities - Ono, music, and substance use - all of which were not necessarily compatible. Furthermore, his peace-loving stance had real consequences, including efforts by the U.S. government to deport him. The ultimate casualty of all this turmoil was Lennon and Ono’s relationship. By 1973, their relationship had deteriorated to the point of separation. Lennon moved out and quickly became romantically involved with Ono’s former assistant, May Pang.
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Despite their physical separation, John and Ono remained in close contact. After nearly a year and a half, they reconciled to the point where they were ready to give their marriage another try. Soon after, Yoko became pregnant, and John’s second son, Sean, was born. However, while John’s marital situation was on the path to recovery, he still struggled with issues related to drugs, alcohol, and music. It was at this point, in 1975, thatLennondecided to step away from public life to focus on one priority - his family.
