Meeting John, Yoko and Kyoko and how it cost me a friend

A few days back I posted a story about Gail Renard, author of the book Give me a Chance and how she spent time with John and Yoko in Montreal at the Bed-in.    She was not there alone, and so here is the other side of the story by her companion, Thomas Schurmacher.     

This story can be found in the Montreal Gazette.   I am posting it here for historical and educational purposes since things often disappear from online newspaper sites.   


(all photos from Thomas Schurmacher)

Meeting John, Yoko and Kyoko and how it cost me a friend
By Thomas Schurmacher
May 27, 2019

When the Beatles came to Montreal in 1964, the date they chose for their matinée and evening concerts at the Montreal Forum coincided with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Needless to say I did not even have to ask my father if I could go; I knew it was totally out of the question. Besides, tickets were selling for the outrageously high price of $5.50. Not being able to see them live was a huge disappointment as I was such a dedicated Beatles fan. (I was beside myself when the upstart Dave Clark Five momentarily pushed the Fab Four out of number one spot on the Top 40.)

But five years later, I saw another chance to see at least one Beatle in person. One sticky, hot afternoon in late May 1969, I heard CFOX radio deejay Charles P. Rodney Chandler mention that John Lennon and Yoko Ono and her six-year-old daughter Kyoko were holed up in town having a Bed-In for Peace at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. Wow! A Beatle in Montreal?  I never particularly liked Lennon’s long hair and I confess he was only my third favourite Beatle, but hey, he was a Beatle nonetheless. It would be fun to go downtown even to catch a glimpse of him, so I called my good friend Lilian to join me. She turned me down because she was too busy doing biology homework. Then I called my Northmount High classmate Gail. I was impressed with her because she used to write letters to the TV studios in California asking for the autographs of people like Carol Burnett and Tommy Smothers. We had worked together writing and even sold a couple of comedy scripts to the CBC radio show Funny You Should Say That.

Gail patiently explained to me there was no point in going downtown as we would never get anywhere near the guy. She predicted a scene with thousands of crazed fans held back by dozens of well-armed security guards. Undaunted, I insisted we give it a shot. I told her I had already gone to the trouble of forging a fake press pass and I even had a set of coloured crayons for Yoko’s daughter Kyoko.

“What do we do if we can’t get in?” Gail was still not convinced.

“We come home, but at least we can say we tried.”

It took me a full 15 minutes of waxing enthusiastic about what a magnificent addition a John Lennon autograph would be to her collection before Gail finally relented and agreed to come along.

We met on the 124 bus heading south on Victoria Ave. We transferred to the now-defunct 65 bus on Queen Mary Rd. and then it was just a brisk five-block walk to the Queen E.

Gail’s power to peer into the future was nil; I was the one who had it pegged. Not a single teenager in front of the hotel. Not one! Gail had been convinced that the lobby would be mobbed. Wrong again … not a single kid there either.

We made it to the bank of elevators and still not a teenybopper in sight.  No security guards. No one so much as gave us a second glance. Since we had heard on the radio that our prey was on the 17th floor, Gail — the amateur — wanted to push the 17 button. I   brushed her hand aside and pushed 18.  I am no fool. Two kids getting off on the bed-in floor? That would be too obvious even to the most dim-witted security guard.

Gail, Kyoko and  Thomas 

The two of us got off on the 18th floor and took the stairs down to the 17th. We peered to the left. Nothing. We peered to the right and noticed some commotion near Room 1742 which had some empty room service trays outside.

We rushed over and knocked on the door; two things happened simultaneously. One — a tall lumbering security guard appeared out of nowhere and had his hand on the back of my collar; and two — the door opened. Standing in the doorway were Yoko and her daughter, who looked like her “mini-me.”

“I am so sorry, madame, I don’t know how these two managed to get up here, but not to worry. I will throw them out right now.”

While this exchange was taking place, little Kyoko was eyeing the shiny box of crayons I had in my hand. She took the bait just in time.

“Can I have the crayons?”

“Not if we are being thrown out!” I said. Gail looked sheepish and said nothing.

Yoko — ever the peace lover — decided to chime in.

“No one will be thrown out. These are our friends. Please come in.”

We were not in the suite 30 seconds when she invited us to meet her husband. “Would you like to meet John? He is in the next room.”

We remained glued to the spot. Meet John? Meet a Beatle? A real Beatle? Did this woman know what she was saying? We both nodded and said yes at the same time. We met John Lennon, we talked to him — no one asked us to leave so we stayed. Not just for the day. For the entire week, they were here. I ordered Pouilly Fuissé white wine for Tommy Smothers; I saw visitors like Petula Clark, Timothy Leary, Dick Gregory and Li’l Abner cartoonist Al Capp.

It was great fun hanging out with all these notables, but the reason we were invited to stay was because I started to feel sorry for little Kyoko cooped up in a hotel room. She looked so sad. I knew she was the exact same age as my kid sister, Cynthia, and I mentioned this to Yoko.

“Perhaps we can take her to my house so she could play with my sister.”

Yoko thought this was a capital idea and off we went with Kyoko in hand. They did not ask us for ID; they did not take our phone numbers. They did not even know our names.

We stayed for an entire week as her unofficial babysitters. Gail and I would go to the hotel room to pick up Kyoko in the morning and bring her back in the evening. We went for lunch at my house. Mom served us chocolate milk and we played in the park across the street. No security … nothing. One afternoon, we took her on a calèche ride at Beaver Lake and I asked Kyoko to tell us about Uncle Paul. Gail told me to shut up or Kyoko would tell her mom about us asking personal questions and we would be turfed as babysitters.

When John and Yoko left town, one of their minions paid us $150 for babysitting and we were given an autographed album each; I was given an autographed picture. Gail departed with the handwritten lyrics to Give Peace a Chance, which had been left on the wineglass-strewn table after John, Yoko and a few dozen hangers-on had recorded the song in the hotel suite.

We left and that was that.  Gail moved to England where she carved out an impressive career writing for British television, writing some film scripts and winning a few BAFTA awards.

The two of us would keep in touch and meet whenever she came home to Montreal to see her parents. When I was in London, I stayed at her beautiful home in Putney.  One evening, we had dinner with her guests who just happened to be Mr. and Mrs. John Cleese. I have no recollection of our conversation. I only recall Gail telling me to behave myself and refrain from making any jokes about her.

Fast forward to 39 years later when something happened that ended our friendship …

In the spring of 2008, the kicker item on the CJAD noon hour radio newscast was the announcement that the handwritten lyrics to Give Peace a Chance were about to be sold at auction in London. I chatted about the sale with my program director.

“My luck. Gail and I spent an entire week together with John and Yoko at the Montreal Bed-In. She has the lyrics in Lennon’s handwriting and I have a glossy photo with a faded autograph. Oh well.”

“You know what? You are a sucker. You should sue her.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“You are a radio talk-show host. If you are not going to sue her, you should at least do a show on the subject and ask callers if you deserve a share of the proceeds. I guarantee you most of them will say yes. For heaven’s sake, if not for you, she would never have met the man.”

I did do a show about it and my boss was right about the caller reaction.

Later that afternoon, Gail and I chatted live on air. She said that after the lyrics were sold, not only would she treat me to a cappuccino, but she would even buy me a piece of cake as well. That was just fine with me. That is, until I made the mistake of having dinner with my friend Richard, a hard-nosed lawyer in the music industry.

“You should sue her, you know.”

“I don’t want to sue her. I got a photo — she got the lyrics. That’s life.”

“You don’t think you’re going to regret this later on? This whole amazing adventure was your idea in the first place and you are the one left out in the cold.”

“I will not regret it, Richard. Had I been meant to be the owner of the lyrics, I would have them. I don’t. Gail does. End of story.”

And so it went for the entire duration of the meal … until we got to the sorbet.

“This is such an obvious case of unjust enrichment. Both of you were babysitting Kyoko, right? Do you think that John and Yoko would have wanted her reward to be so much more valuable than yours? Of course not … I feel strongly about this; I am ready to handle this case for you pro bono. You don’t have to pay me a cent. I just think it is so grossly unfair.”

Against my better judgment, and owing in part to a double dry vodka martini with olives, I reluctantly agreed to have him look into it further.

Richard called officials at Christie’s auction house and told them the story. They listened intently and asked if I had any plans to contest the sale.

“Absolutely not. I will not claim the lyrics belong to me. While it is possible I may have some moral claim to part of the proceeds, I certainly have no legal claim. I also have no intention of preventing Gail from selling what belongs to her.”

Richard did not give up. After the lyrics were sold at auction to an unknown buyer for some 420,000 pounds or more than $800,000 Canadian, Richard wanted to ask the auction house to put a lien on the proceeds until we came to some kind of compromise. He was absolutely convinced that I was being ripped off.

“Richard, I am sure Gail is convinced she is entitled to 100 percent of the proceeds.”

“Why? I mean you were partners in the entire escapade. I did some research and saw both your names listed as the writers of the Beatles Monthly magazine bed-In article, Eight Days with John and Yoko.”

“Nonetheless, Richard, I am telling you to let it go. Leave it alone.”

After Gail sold the lyrics, she turned the whole incident into a second career. She wrote an entire book on our special week with not a single mention of me. Is that fair? That is for her to figure out.

There was a very important lesson for me to learn from all this — I made a mistake because I did not follow my original instincts to let it be. As a result, I have lost a longtime good pal. Gail even unfriended me on Facebook. But I do own a signed glossy photo with a small doodle by John Lennon. I also have the satisfaction that I managed to avoid a war over Give Peace a Chance.

Eight Days in Montreal with John and Yoko

Gail Renard ended up writing a very good book about her experience with John and Yoko at the Montreal Bed-in (see link below).  Prior to the book, Gail wrote about her experience for Beatles Book Monthly.     For the 50th anniversary of the Montreal Bed-in, I thought I'd share the BBM version with you. 


Eight Days in Montreal with John and Yoko
By Gail Renard and Thomas Schnurmacher
Beatle Book Monthly #73


From the minute that John and Yoko's plane touched down in Montreal, we were looking forward to seeing them on local TV and radio shows.  We were absolutely certain there was no chance of even meeting them in person.  But, that same evening, by the divine intervention of one university press card, and one little Kyoko, we obtained entrance into room 1742, official Beatle room at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel.

We thanked Kyoko for her influence with the right people and nervously waited to meet her famous mother and step-father.  Yoko, clad all in white, came in to greet us.

We made an appointment for an interview for the following day.  As we were leaving, we were surrounded by several frantic disc jockeys who asked us if we would mind doing a 10-minute interview with John and Yoko on the air.  Trying to appear nonchalant, we jumped at the chance.

We made our way into the Bed-In room and equally nonchalant, we tripped.  Looking up at John, spiritually and otherwise, we introduced ourselves.  Having been Beatle fans since the "Love me Do" days, we were so excited that we were completely at a loss for words.

 John realised what was the matter and went out of his way to put us at ease.

As there was a three-hour delay till the radio show, we had a long chat and got to know John and Yoko quite well.

After the broadcast, we were asked to return the next day and to join the Montreal entourage.  We thanked John and told him that we had missed a great movie to be with him that evening... "Hard Day's Night."  Neither he nor Yoko had any idea that it was on telly, and John was very disappointed because he said that he would really have liked to see it again.

We left to the strains of "Can't Buy Me Love."  Early the next morning, we collected Kyoko to take her out for a walk.  Kyoko is Yoko's daughter by her first marriage.  During the next seven days, we really got to know and love Kyoko.  She's a vivacious, high-spirited five-year-old with a vivid imagination.

Returning to the hotel, we arrived in time to see John doing an American TV broadcast.  When quizzed about the peace intentions of the other Beatles.  John said that "George is also an active pacifist, but is not as big a show-off as I am.  He has to do his own thing for peace."  Paul, on the other hand is "an intellectual pacifist.  He talks about it."   "Ringo," said John, smiling, "lives peace."

Speaking of living peace, John and Yoko are perfect examples.  They have a really tremendous mutual understanding and love that is almost unique.  John told us that he's "very possessive and jealous of Yoko.  I am even angry that she was born in her mother's womb instead of mine."

On a lighter note, John quipped that they both married foreigners.  Yoko agreed with us that we are living in a global village -- a la McLuhan.

The seven phones in the suite were perpetually ringing. Thomas and I helped to answer them.  Have you ever spoken to eight different Paul McCartneys and six assorted Ringo Starrs in one afternoon?  When we realised what people will do to get in to see John, we were truly grateful for our golden opportunity.

Many of the "beautiful people" paid homage to the Beatle bed-in.  Tommy Smothers of the Smothers Brothers, came up to visit, and after hours of peace chitchat joined songstress Petula Clark to exchange the latest entertainment gossip.

By now, it was nearing midnight and John decided that he wanted to record his newly written song "Give Peace a Chance."  Tambourines were needed, and naturally, we turned to the Salvation Army for help.  They were fresh out of tambourines, so we turned to the Consciousness-Expanding Hare Krisna Society who obliged.

Then, after one rollicking jam session, "Give Peace A Chance" was born.  Amongst the guest artists on his cut were  Tom Smothers, Petula Clark, Dick Gregory, Rabbi Geinburg and varied members of the hotel staff.

After the tiring recording session, we called to get some rest.  A good thing, too, because the following day roved to the most hectic.  One thousand youthful peace marchers gathered in the hotel corridor for a view of the famous Beatle, John promised that he would address them on the radio if they dispersed.  Both sides kept their word, and relative calm was restored.  Another example of John's concrete contribution to peace occurred several hours later.  By long distance, telephone hook up to California Radio.  John counseled Berkley marches to avoid violence.  They agreed and as what could have been a serious situation was averted.

Let us clear up any misconception you might have about John and his peace mission.  John knows that his Bed-In won't end the Vietnam war overnight.  But he is trying to change people's heads so there won't be another Vietnam-type confrontation sometime in the future.

The week seemed to go in a flash.  Looking back, it was hectic and tiring seven days, but it was a week that we'll never forget.  To show his gratitude, John gave us various gifts.  As Kyoko told John when he was tucking her in for the night, "It's great living with a star.  You never get bored."

Give me a Chance: Book Review

Some stories of meeting one or more of the Beatles take more than just a magazine article to write, and such is the story of when Gail Renard met John and Yoko during the Montreal bed-in in 1969. Her story spans 8 wonderful days, and she has written a fabulous book about her days with the couple called Give me a Chance. I had the pleasure of just reading this book and I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to share the information about this book with all of you.

In 1969, Gail was a typical 17-year-old Beatle fan living in Montreal, Quebec. She was a member of the fan club, bought all the records, watched them on TV, etc etc. John was her favorite member of the band, and so when she heard that John and his new wife, Yoko, were going to be arriving in her town, she HAD TO see him! Never did she dream that she would find herself in his suite! At first, she had just planned on interviewing him for her school paper, which would have been awesome enough, but after the interview, John asked her to come back for the rest of the Bed In! Her job was to watch Kyoko, help Derek Taylor answer the telephones and help organize radio interviews (because she was familiar with the local radio and television stations). But she also was able to spend time just hanging out with John and Yoko and talking to them.

One of the highlights for me in this book was when she talked about watching the movie, A Hard Day's Night with John! What a surreal experience that had to have been! Gail was also present for the writing and recording of the peace anthem, "Give Peace a Chance."

Those of you who have read Beatle Book Monthly issues may remember reading her story in one of the later 1969 issues. (I did.) In the book, she tells the story about how John set it all up for her to write that story for the magazine. It is really amazing!

This book was a quick read and just a story that is so amazing that, as a Beatles fan, you have to read it! Gail also took some really rare photos of the Bed-in that are worth getting the book as well. 

Oh, when I contacted Gail and told her that I wanted to post on this blog about her book, she gave me permission to use the photograph of her and John as well as the cover of her book. She asked that it only be used on this blog. Please respect her wishes and do not post the photo elsewhere.

The link below is the affiliate link to Amazon, where you can purchase this book.  I get a small percentage of anything purchased through this link.  Money made from the Amazon Afflication is used to pay the annual fee to keep this site online.  Thank you for your support.  Sara

https://amzn.to/3wIk5UC