DVD: Lennon & Plastic Ono Band

The year 1969 saw the first appearance of solo Beatle John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Band. Seemingly on a lark Lennon along with Yoko Ono, and Klaus Voorman, Eric Clapton and Alan White boarded a plane from London to Toronto to play in a festival that revolved around 50s rock icons. Only then Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Chuck Berry weren’t legends so much as overlooked musicians having a second coming.
The resulting film, shot by D. A. Pennebaker, was the only footage of Lennon with this band. (Beatle acolytes know that Alan White was used by George Martin to replace Ringo Starr on an early Beatles single.) After brief segments featuring the revival bands Lennon and the Plastic Ono band take the stage with a raw intensity.
Lennon rips through songs like “Yer Blues” and debuts “Cold Turkey.” The band is tight even when Yoko emerges from a black bag and begins vocal chanting over the rock and roll. The stage is small and the coverage is in your face, which fits the electric mood precisely.
Lennon hadn’t played live in three years and was obviously ready to bust loose. John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band Live in Toronto ’69 on a single DVD released by Shout! Factory captures that magic and energy in its manic glory.