| May Pang June 14, 2008 |
About May Pang
A native of New York's Spanish Harlem, May Pang grew up with
music all around her. From street-corner "do-wop" groups like
Dion & The Belmonts -- to the British Invasion of 1964, rock n' roll
became May's passion. It was no surprise that when she left
college in 1970, she was determined to land a job in the music
world.
Only a New York girl would try to start at the top, so she
marched into the New York offices of the Beatles' management
company, ABKCO Industries, and a career in music was born.
"While I was working at ABKCO, John and Yoko decided to
move to New York City...and chose me to be their personal
assistant. It was excitement beyond belief! Not only did I have a
key role in the records and films of John and Yoko, but I was
meeting everyone I'd read about in fanzines since I was a kid."
As exciting as this was, little did she know what fate had in
store... "One day in June 1973, Yoko approached me in my office
at the Dakota. She explained that she and John needed a break
from each other -- which was obvious to everyone around them.
She also decided that I would be his 'companion' -- effective
immediately. By now, nothing could really come as a shock in
the zany world of John and Yoko. But this...this was beyond the
pale, even for them."
So began an 18-month relationship that has become known
misleadingly as "Lennon's Lost Weekend." During this period,
John was actually the most productive and successful in his
post-Beatles career. He achieved his first #1 single, "Whatever
Gets You Thru The Night", his first #1 album, Walls And
Bridges, and was on the forefront of celebrity collaborations
working with Elton John, David Bowie, Harry Nilsson and Ringo
Starr. During their relationship, May continued as John's
production assistant & coordinator at John's request. Her efforts
were rewarded with an RIAA Gold Record Award for Walls And
Bridges.
In February of 1975, John and Yoko were reunited, so May
began the next phase of her life. She worked for Island Records,
and coordinated the release of albums by Bob Marley and The
Wailers, Robert Palmer and Third World. She then switched to
United Artists Music, where she worked with unknown
songwriters successfully having their songs recorded by Diana
Ross, Four Tops, Air Supply and Judas Priest.
After John Lennon's tragic death in 1980, a lot of myths and
misconceptions began surfacing about John and May's time
together. In 1983, she decided to set the record straight. Warner
Books published her memoir, Loving John, a very insightful
look into John's world and his complex relationships with Paul,
George, Ringo, his son Julian and, of course, Yoko.
May traveled extensively throughout the 80s, visiting Japan,
China and returning to old haunts like Los Angeles and London.
It was during one of her visits to London when she reconnected
with an old friend, producer Tony Visconti. Soon after, they were
married and had two children.
During this time, May tried her hand at acting -- and appeared in
several television shows, including The Equalizer and Law and
Order, in movies such as Heartburn and Fatal Attraction,
and music videos for The Firm and her old pal, David Bowie. She
also has been guest on many shows including Howard Stern,
Entertainment Tonight, Good Morning America and the BBC.
She also managed Tony's career...but as time went on, the
pressures of the business of rock 'n roll took a toll on May and
Tony's personal life. Today, May is a full-time single mom -- but
her heart's still in rock n' roll. Currently, she's developing a
retrospective radio program, tentatively titled May Remembers, is
putting together an exhibition of her photos and memories of
John Lennon, and has just launched a fashion jewelry line called
the May Pang Feng Shui Jewelry Collection.
Visit May's website at maypang.com.
A native of New York's Spanish Harlem, May Pang grew up with
music all around her. From street-corner "do-wop" groups like
Dion & The Belmonts -- to the British Invasion of 1964, rock n' roll
became May's passion. It was no surprise that when she left
college in 1970, she was determined to land a job in the music
world.
Only a New York girl would try to start at the top, so she
marched into the New York offices of the Beatles' management
company, ABKCO Industries, and a career in music was born.
"While I was working at ABKCO, John and Yoko decided to
move to New York City...and chose me to be their personal
assistant. It was excitement beyond belief! Not only did I have a
key role in the records and films of John and Yoko, but I was
meeting everyone I'd read about in fanzines since I was a kid."
As exciting as this was, little did she know what fate had in
store... "One day in June 1973, Yoko approached me in my office
at the Dakota. She explained that she and John needed a break
from each other -- which was obvious to everyone around them.
She also decided that I would be his 'companion' -- effective
immediately. By now, nothing could really come as a shock in
the zany world of John and Yoko. But this...this was beyond the
pale, even for them."
So began an 18-month relationship that has become known
misleadingly as "Lennon's Lost Weekend." During this period,
John was actually the most productive and successful in his
post-Beatles career. He achieved his first #1 single, "Whatever
Gets You Thru The Night", his first #1 album, Walls And
Bridges, and was on the forefront of celebrity collaborations
working with Elton John, David Bowie, Harry Nilsson and Ringo
Starr. During their relationship, May continued as John's
production assistant & coordinator at John's request. Her efforts
were rewarded with an RIAA Gold Record Award for Walls And
Bridges.
In February of 1975, John and Yoko were reunited, so May
began the next phase of her life. She worked for Island Records,
and coordinated the release of albums by Bob Marley and The
Wailers, Robert Palmer and Third World. She then switched to
United Artists Music, where she worked with unknown
songwriters successfully having their songs recorded by Diana
Ross, Four Tops, Air Supply and Judas Priest.
After John Lennon's tragic death in 1980, a lot of myths and
misconceptions began surfacing about John and May's time
together. In 1983, she decided to set the record straight. Warner
Books published her memoir, Loving John, a very insightful
look into John's world and his complex relationships with Paul,
George, Ringo, his son Julian and, of course, Yoko.
May traveled extensively throughout the 80s, visiting Japan,
China and returning to old haunts like Los Angeles and London.
It was during one of her visits to London when she reconnected
with an old friend, producer Tony Visconti. Soon after, they were
married and had two children.
During this time, May tried her hand at acting -- and appeared in
several television shows, including The Equalizer and Law and
Order, in movies such as Heartburn and Fatal Attraction,
and music videos for The Firm and her old pal, David Bowie. She
also has been guest on many shows including Howard Stern,
Entertainment Tonight, Good Morning America and the BBC.
She also managed Tony's career...but as time went on, the
pressures of the business of rock 'n roll took a toll on May and
Tony's personal life. Today, May is a full-time single mom -- but
her heart's still in rock n' roll. Currently, she's developing a
retrospective radio program, tentatively titled May Remembers, is
putting together an exhibition of her photos and memories of
John Lennon, and has just launched a fashion jewelry line called
the May Pang Feng Shui Jewelry Collection.
Visit May's website at maypang.com.
Post Meeting Write-up
Our originally scheduled guest, Jerry A. Rodriguez was
unfortunately unable to meet our group this past Saturday due
to an unforeseen family emergency. Remarkably in the 11th
hour, we were able to secure former John Lennon/Yoko Ono
personal assistant (and friend of mine), May Pang. Coincidently,
tying our That's Science Fiction! viewing of Help! to Face
The Fiction. Go us!
We will hopefully be able to reschedule Mr. Rodriguez very
soon.
Now back to May. I have known her on and off over the past
several years and recently reconnected with her upon the release
of her second book, Instamatic Karma, a photojournal of her
personal and professional life with John Lennon. Her first book,
Loving John, is May's first hand account of her 18-month
relationship with John which has inaccurately been dubbed "the
lost weekend". As a personal favor to me, May stepped in at the
last minute to meet the SFSNNJ, despite her busy itinerary and
her on going photographic exhibit at the June Kelly Gallery in
NYC. The exhibit is scheduled to run June 12th-June 17th.
When she found out we were a science fiction group, May
decided to begin her presentation to us by telling the story of the
UFO encounter she and John shared on the rooftop of her NYC
apartment building. They both saw an aircraft that didn't look like
anything either of them had ever seen, which also seemed to
mute all sound beneath it. She has since found descriptions of
similar sightings.
Many of our usual suspects were in attendance. Additionally,
May brought some of her own fans and friends to the event.
Every chair was in use, as well as the Borders' house PA. At one
point, I counted at least 45 people attentively listening to May's
stories about John, their friendships with Ringo, George, Harry
Nilsson and others, as well as her varied career, which never
included professional photography --that was always a hobby for
her.
Copies of her book Instamatic Karma sold out, including the
one purchased by one of the baristas at Borders, who in a very
Todd-like move, left her post at the cafe, pushed her way to the
front of the line to get May's autograph, and as she walked back
to work, clutched the book saying, "I got mine!"
The thunder and lightning more than the heavy rain prevented
us from taking May to dinner at the Suburban Diner, but she did
say she take a "raincheck" (no pun intended I'm sure!) on that.
Join us in July as we welcome guest, author Traci Slatton.
Traci's novel, Immortal has been optioned for film by Twinstar
Entertainment (www.twinstarentertainment.com/film.htm).
Our originally scheduled guest, Jerry A. Rodriguez was
unfortunately unable to meet our group this past Saturday due
to an unforeseen family emergency. Remarkably in the 11th
hour, we were able to secure former John Lennon/Yoko Ono
personal assistant (and friend of mine), May Pang. Coincidently,
tying our That's Science Fiction! viewing of Help! to Face
The Fiction. Go us!
We will hopefully be able to reschedule Mr. Rodriguez very
soon.
Now back to May. I have known her on and off over the past
several years and recently reconnected with her upon the release
of her second book, Instamatic Karma, a photojournal of her
personal and professional life with John Lennon. Her first book,
Loving John, is May's first hand account of her 18-month
relationship with John which has inaccurately been dubbed "the
lost weekend". As a personal favor to me, May stepped in at the
last minute to meet the SFSNNJ, despite her busy itinerary and
her on going photographic exhibit at the June Kelly Gallery in
NYC. The exhibit is scheduled to run June 12th-June 17th.
When she found out we were a science fiction group, May
decided to begin her presentation to us by telling the story of the
UFO encounter she and John shared on the rooftop of her NYC
apartment building. They both saw an aircraft that didn't look like
anything either of them had ever seen, which also seemed to
mute all sound beneath it. She has since found descriptions of
similar sightings.
Many of our usual suspects were in attendance. Additionally,
May brought some of her own fans and friends to the event.
Every chair was in use, as well as the Borders' house PA. At one
point, I counted at least 45 people attentively listening to May's
stories about John, their friendships with Ringo, George, Harry
Nilsson and others, as well as her varied career, which never
included professional photography --that was always a hobby for
her.
Copies of her book Instamatic Karma sold out, including the
one purchased by one of the baristas at Borders, who in a very
Todd-like move, left her post at the cafe, pushed her way to the
front of the line to get May's autograph, and as she walked back
to work, clutched the book saying, "I got mine!"
The thunder and lightning more than the heavy rain prevented
us from taking May to dinner at the Suburban Diner, but she did
say she take a "raincheck" (no pun intended I'm sure!) on that.
Join us in July as we welcome guest, author Traci Slatton.
Traci's novel, Immortal has been optioned for film by Twinstar
Entertainment (www.twinstarentertainment.com/film.htm).
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