To conduct a comprehensive dialogue...

...with Yoko Ono would take months...and where would the story begin or end? Like one of her drawings, Yoko Ono's story evolves and morphs, seemingly reflecting the atmosphere it is surrounded by at any given time.

I am thankful that AIU has chosen to archive the transcripts of my interviews with Yoko Ono, a series of conversations that began in September of 1984.

Having grown up in New York City in the 1970s I was lucky enough to witness John & Yoko's political activism in my hometown, and sadly watched as the immigration fiasco tried to remove John Lennon from the U.S. and threatened their will to live happily in America. At least that part of the J&Y saga ended happily. Like most fans I had a million questions for Yoko Ono - and when I got the opportunity to begin asking them Yoko NEVER flinched from responding in a candid, completely honest fashion. In fact, although we did not meet until 1992, I saw Yoko's triumphant Beacon Theater concert in 1986, and, actually we were in the same room twelve years earlier on November 28, 1974: I attended Elton John's Madison Square Garden concert that John Lennon made a guest appearance at, an evening that to this day Yoko cites as a turning point in their relationship.

The first time we did actually meet at the Dakota's Studio One offices I gave Yoko my ticket stub for that fateful 1974 concert. She was taken aback and asked if I was sure I didn't want to keep it. When I insisted she said she would frame it and give it to Sean because without that night Sean might not exist. Yoko has never forgotten that ticket stub gesture...

And I will never forget my treasured moments with Yoko, one of the great visionaries of our time. I will not forget her concert at the Japan Society which provided some of the tracks for her album Blueprint For A Sunrise. I will not forget her appearance at the Houston opening of her touring retrospective Yes Yoko Ono - an appearance at which she wore a shirt I had designed for her with a Texas theme. And I will NEVER EVER forget my brief spin on the dancefloor with Yoko at her 70th birthday party. Thanks for the memories so far Yoko; I hope there are many more to come...

Jody Denberg
Austin, Texas

All of these interviews were aired on the radio. Most were also published in part for various publications. Three were issued by Capitol Records as promotional items.

1984

A phone conversation concerning the just released Yoko tribute album Every Man Has A Woman. Sean actually got on the phone and blurted out hello during this chat!

1992

An in person interview at the Dakota's Studio One offices to talk about the soon to be issued Onobox, a project that put Yoko's music on CD for the 1st time. An occasion to talk about all of Yoko's music to date.

1996

Rising tour interview in Yoko's hotel room in Seattle before her concert with Ima at the Crocodile Cafe. Members of R.E.M. and Soundgarden jammed on the Mindtrain encore that night. A hurried chat as Yoko's concert and dinner loomed...

1997

The Rykodisc reissue series interview at the Dakota. After this exhaustive chat Yoko invited me up to her apartment on the seventh floor of the Dakota and actually gave me a tour of all the rooms. Her graciousness that day was a gift I will always cherish....from the Imagine piano to the window reflected on the Season of Glass cover to the Egyptian room, Yoko shared all.

1998

Conducted in a studio in Manhattan, this interview served a dual purpose: it was recorded for a promotional CD called Howitis: The John Lennon Anthology Yoko Ono Interview and filmed to be used for a video press kit. The entire interview was transcribed in the CD's booklet.

We also filmed Yoko returning to the apartment she shared in Greenwich Village with John for the first time ever, as well as taking a walk in Strawberry Fields. An opportunity to talk about all facets of Yoko's relationship and recording with John Lennon.

2000

A phone interview conducted to discuss the Austin visit of The Artwork Of John Lennon.

2000

For the year of John Lennon's 60th Birthday (which was also the 20th Anniversary of his passing), and to coincide with the remastering and reissuing of three of Lennon's classic albums, Yoko and I spoke at length about John's solo career. This interview was issued by Capitol Records as a promotional CD which Yoko titled Starting Over. The entire transcript of this interview is printed in the CD's booklet as well, with amazing cover photos by Allan Tannenbaum.

2002

A conversation in the kitchen of the Dakota about the just issued Blueprint For A Sunrise, Yoko's burgeoning dance career and odds and ends...

2003

Another phone conversation about the touring Artwork of John Lennon show.

2004

Two Sides of Lennon: Yoko Ono interviewed by Jody in October 2004 about the John Lennon albums Acoustic and Rock and Roll (reissue).

2007

Listen to a phone interview Yoko Ono did with Jody Denberg in March 2007.

Photos of Yoko Ono and Jody Denberg
Jody Denberg himself interviewed in 2005

Jody Denberg with Sean Lennon in 2006

© Andy Taub 2002