Photographic Memories of John: May Pang Remembers

by Lakendra Lewis, Apr 6, 2008

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“John still had his issues,” May admitted, “But he didn't have that rage in him anymore. He'd gotten a lot of that out by the time I got him.”

The photos show John at home, at play, at work and away. They depict his creativity during this period as he worked on his critically acclaimed 1974 album, Walls and Bridges, which includes the song “Surprise Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox),” written for May; produced an album for his friend and cohort Harry Nilsson; signed an agreement formally dissolving the biggest Rock band in history; hung out with some recognizable old friends; and reconnected with his then 10-year-old son, Julian, whom he hadn't seen at that point in nearly four years.

“I remember when we went to pick Julian up at the airport,” May said. “John was so nervous because he hadn't seen Julian in so long but when Julian saw him, he threw out his arms, ran to his dad and John just scooped him up.”

The pictures also display a seemingly ordinary guy doing the mundane, like eating-something May points out in the book John loved to do-lying around or just going for a swim.

“John didn't see himself as a legend,” May said. “He was able to put down and pick up the whole rock star image whenever he needed to but in private, he wasn't like that.”

Since being in a relationship can be a bit surreal even when you're not dating someone famous, I asked May if she ever looked at John, did a mental double take and wanted to pinch herself.

“Yeah, I had a couple of moments like that,” she laughed. “We were watching Help! once on television with Julian and I remember looking at John in the movie and then back at the John sitting next to me and thinking, "Oh, my God," but it only lasted a second. The person on television was my idol. It was an image. The man sitting next to me was my boyfriend.”

These days, May has been appearing at book signings and doing press to promote “Instamatic Karma,” which is among the top-selling books on her publishing company's website. She also designs feng shui jewelry and furniture and is a mother of two teenagers, Sebastian, 18 and Lara, 16. Along with her work as a designer, May says she hopes to begin work on another book that will hopefully dispel more lingering myths about her time with John.

“I had an amazing time with John that no one can take away,” she said. “The pictures say a thousand words.”

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#1 by Pat Matthews, Apr 7, 2008

Very nice! The read was exactly like watching a news feature on TV! Loved it!

#2 by Rochelle, Apr 7, 2008

Very well written and informative!

#3 by belinda mendl, Apr 8, 2008

You have a great talent... expressing yourself thru words! Enjoyed it! Congratulations Lakendra!

#4 by DEBRA SCOTT, Apr 8, 2008

Always such a gift to read your articles ect...! You my dear friend have the magic touch!! Great job on this one!!! I love ya girl!

#5 by Apple Scruff , Apr 8, 2008

Very good article!

#6 by Barbara E, Apr 12, 2008

Great interview!! I like the way you write, Lakendra...

p.s. who's apple scruff? Just wondering... :--)

#7 by Lakendra, Apr 12, 2008

Thanks, Barb, there are a lot of "Apple Scruffs" out there... :)

#8 by Harry, Apr 13, 2008

Great article.Because of it,I plan to go right out and get the book,
Thanks

#9 by Harry, Apr 13, 2008

Great article.Because of it,I plan to go right out and get the book,
Thanks

#10 by Stacie F, Apr 14, 2008

Great interview, Lakendra!

#11 by Lucy, Apr 14, 2008

Also, May herself confirms how unhappy John was with her in her first book "Loving John". She states over and over how John was drunk, in fact she gave John being drunk MORE publicity then the two Troubador incidents. In her book she states six examples of John going on a drunken rampage. May also states several times in detail how John beat her and wanted to end the relationship more then once. How can she carry on now like it was some great love affair when she in her own words described how terrible this relationship was?
Sorry, once you put something in print you can't take it back like it never happened.

#12 by Dotty, Apr 15, 2008

Thank you for writing this for us. Very informative.

#13 by Lakendra, Apr 16, 2008

Thank you to everyone who has so far read the article and liked it. Lucy, I read \"Loving John\" and did not get the impression John was unhappy with May. In fact, to me, it was the opposite. If you remember, the only time John seemed \"depressed\" or angry, etc. during this period is when he drank. If you know anything about John, than you know (as most anyone who knew him has said) that he was not good at holding his liquor and would become angry and violent with ANYONE when he\'d had too much to drink. This is a well-documented fact. John himself admitted he got out of control when he drank. So to say that he was unhappy with May, in my opinion, is not accurate. If you have seen the photos in this book, they don\'t lie. Every relationship has its ups and downs but *I* feel...and this is just me, that John seemed to be at his most relaxed and REAL when he was with May. You can see it in his expression and his body language. If John had truly been as unhappy and depressed as some have said he was, I don\'t see how he could have gotten as much as he did done--making and producing albums, going to parties, socializing with friends. This period was by far, the most productive in John\'s entire solo career. Not exactly the actions of an unhappy and depressed person. That\'s my take on it, anyway.

#14 by lucy, Apr 18, 2008

well the new book is pretty hyped up, but when you look through it (yes I bought it) the only pictures John is smiling in are the ones where he is with Julian. Perhaps I should clarify, John was unhappy being apart from Yoko. He made the best of it with May, as he would have with anyone Yoko would have assigned him to be with, and yes Yoko did assign May to be with John she has stated this everywhere. So John in his own words was miserable during the lost weekend which may not have been so lost in terms of his accomplishements but was lost nonetheless in terms of his own personal misery being away from his wife. Why do you think he drank so much? to kill the pain. He said as much.

#15 by Lakendra, Apr 18, 2008

John drank before he met Yoko. As for the photos, I'm seeing pictures where he's smiling that are not with Julian. I guess it's really all in a person's perspective. We see what we want to see.

#16 by Lucy, Apr 23, 2008

I guess so, especially if one wears rose colored glasses. John did not make things up. He said he was unhappy during the lost weekend and a few pictures where he had a day or two that was not as bad as the others do not change that HE said he was not happy.

#17 by Pete, May 28, 2008

Lucy,Lucy good think he was not with you. He would have drank himself to death.
Lucy you are so right about everything. My mate and I were sitting in a pub in 1978 in New York City. John Lennon was sitting next to us with a man by the name of Richard. I know this because Richard bought us drinks and we were all talking about the ladies. My friend jokingly made a negative remark to Mr. Lennon about his past lady friend May Pang. Mr.Lennon got up stuck his finger in my friends chest and said she was the best woman and I loved her. This gentleman Richard put his hand on Mr. Lennons shoulder and told him to sit down. My friend apologized to Mr. Lennon. He was not forgiving. This man stated it was a sore subject and turned away from us. We felt very uncomfortable afterwards. We got up and left. I will never forget that day. What a remark for John Lennon to make if he did not love her. I wish I could meet her to tell her this. So Lucy maybe you are right about certain things but I heard it straight from the horses mouth. Good day.

#18 by Lucy, Jun 5, 2008

Maybe he thought you were from the press. Fact is if John felt so strongly about May Pang he would have stayed with her. He did not so he must not have wanted to. Period. John left Cyn in a heartbeat for Yoko because he was convinced she was the best woman for him. Since he had done this once, he could have done it again and left Yoko for May, but he DID NOT. So, maybe he was in a mood that day, but the fact is he did not stay with May and he could have if he really wanted to. Yoko is not all powerful and John could have dumped her too. John was nobody's fool.

#19 by Angie, Jun 5, 2008

or John could have simply been reacting to people speaking negatively about women he was involved with. Remember he had to hear a lot of crap about Yoko when he took up with her, so this might have been a sore spot with him.

#20 by Bob, Jun 5, 2008

Maybe he got upset cause he was still sneaking around sleeping with her. May said the last time they got together was in 1978.

#21 by Joyce, Jun 5, 2008

I think this is a made up story. I think "Pete" is just trying to stir up Lucy.

#22 by Paige, Jun 8, 2008

Hi my name is Paige.
I am 15 years old. I am not a fan of the beatles. I listend to the music once in a while. My grandfather used to work in the as a janitor in the building thay lived in and he new John lennon and Yoko Ono.
My Pop said both of them were very nice people. John Lennon would always give him money around the holidays. Once my pop lost his wallet and he thinked he lost it taking out the garbage.
John lennon was walking in the door and tapped my pop on the shoulder and said what are you looking for? Pop said I am looking in all the garbage trying to find my wallet cause I lost it.
John Lennon said how much money was in it? Pop said $12.00.
John Lennon said here Jimmy and gave my pop a $100.00 bill and told him to stop going through the garbage.
About 2 weeks later pop said he saw John Lennon and he looked sick. My pop did not want to ask him what was wrong cause it was not his business.
John Lennon saw my pop looking at him and said come here Jimmy I want to tell somebody. Pop said tell somebody what?
He said I miss her. Pop said miss who? He said I can\'t tell her. I do not understand my pop said.
John Lennon said if I go back to May I will never see my baby.I already did not see Julian for years until recently.
Pop said I did not know you have a baby. He said I don\'t yet but I just found out Yokos pregnant.
Please... he said ,you are normal people I can\'t trust anyone. Yoko has people follow me. I can\'t see May now.
My pop could not believe what he was hearing.
All I know is my pop had no reason to lie about this.
I looked up on the computer that Sean Lennon was born on October 9, 1975. John was with that woman May from 1973 to sometime in 1974 I think.
So if that is true it is possible he did not go back to that woman because he loved his wife more but maybe it\'s cause he was afraid of losing his baby forever.
My pop died 2 weeks ago. My pop never lied and was a good man. When John lennon was killed my father told me pop cried for weeks.
Pop wanted to tell that woman May Pang afterwards what John Lennon had told him but thought he would be betraying him even after he died.
I guess my pop really was normal people,and a great one to boot.
I miss you pop! In three months I get my permit.

#23 by Lucy, Jun 8, 2008

Maybe he thought you were from the press. Fact is if John felt himself up so strongly about May Pang he would have stayed with her. He did not so he must not have wanted to. Period. I have mine, and it is a reaaly a heavy flow. John left Cyn in a heartbeat for Yoko and a liver shake because he was convinced she was the best woman for him. Since he had done this once,twice three times a lady he could have done it again and left Yoko for May, but he DID NOT. So, maybe he was in a mood that day,maybe even a moody blues but the fact is he did not stay with May and he could have if he really wanted to. Yoko is not all powerfulshe is stronger and faster like the six million dollar man and John could have dumped her too. John was nobody's fool.

#24 by Janet, Jun 13, 2008

There are some interesting posts here. Pete could be making this up Lucy. You probably are right.
Paige sounds sincere though. Yoko did have Sean in October so the timing is right.
Was he sleeping with both May and Yoko? Maybe this is why he went back to his wife.
Maybe Yoko felt this was the only way to keep John.
Who the hell really knows.
I also heard he was sleeping with this woman Angel Godiva.
I also compared pictures on the internet of John and Yoko with John and May and in many he has the same blank expression in all. I do honestly have to say though that he looks more relaxed with May.
In the pictures with Yoko they almost seem rehearsed except for a few. Album covers and professional photos were sure to look natural. Yoko always looked miserable.
I had a very abusive husband. When he was sober he was the man I always dreamed of. The man I was so lucky to have. When he drank he would throw things at me. Hit me,slap me and even worse call me such terrible names. He would do anything for me. Give me everything. He could not protect me from himself though. Needless to say I finally got out and divorced him.
Ten years later he is sober now. I remarried and have 2 children. Every so often he will call me and tell me what a horrible mistake he had made. He has a girlfriend now for almost two years.They plan to marry. He made a promise to me that he will never treat her like the way he treated me. Yes it makes me feel a little jealous but I have the happiness I deserve now and I hope he will have the happiness he deserves as well.
The point I am trying to make here is that even though he did awful things to me I know he really truly did love me. He still does and regrets what he had done. Drugs and alcohol have a mind of there own and it was not John who really abused May but the drugs and alcohol in John.
Let May remember the John she loved and not the man under the influence. When somebody gets sick before they die is that how you want to remember them? I do not think so.

#25 by Nancy, Jun 14, 2008

It is so obvious how jealous Lucy is of May Pang. It is incredibly disturbing and frightening that she goes to such great lengths to try to
make up her own version of someone elses life because she does not have a life of her own. Lucy can say and feel what she wants but she can’t change the truth. No matter how you slice or dice it people, there was a loving relationship between May Pang and John Lennon. Just because Yoko Ono asked May Pang to be with him,May did not lock him in a room for almost two years. He could have left anytime he wanted if he was so unhappy with her. He had money,he had friends and he could have had any woman that he wanted

#26 by Angie, Jun 16, 2008

Actually Nancy, John did not have money, his assets were tied up due to his immigration status and various lawsuits (Morris Levy) going on at the time. This info came from May's book. She said they had to live off of a 10,000.00 advance from capital records. So 18 months on 10 grand put them in poverty. Hence they ate at Ihop and burger king. John could have left anytime, but everyone seems to forget that he went along with Yoko's "go with your mistress and leave me alone for awhile" stint because he had cheated on Yoko with the girl in the coat room during the 1972 elections, and like any guilty adulterous male wanted to win back his wife by taking any punishment she doled out. I think Yoko was nuts to do this in the first place

#27 by lucy, Jul 2, 2008

well the new book is pretty hyped up, I started jumping up and down as soon as I saw it. I went woowee! but when you look through it (yes I bought it)because I needed to masturbate while looking at Johns pictures. The only pictures John is smiling in are the ones where he is with Julian.Because that is how my warped mind sees it. Perhaps I should clarify, John was unhappy being apart from Yoko. Of course if it were me I would not be saying this because I am just so damn jealous of May Pang. He made the best of it with May, as he would have with anyone Yoko would have assigned him to be with, and yes it could not have been with me because I am a psycho and John would have seen right through me. Yoko did assign May to be with John she has stated this everywhere. She has written it on buildings, on the side of trucks and even had a banner made which she hired a plane to fly accross the sky with. Plus I forgot to mention bumper stickers. So John in his own words was miserable during the lost weekend which may not have been so lost in terms of his accomplishements but was lost nonetheless in terms of his own personal misery being away from his wife. Why do you think he drank so much? to kill the pain. He said as much. And he said that as well while he was drunk so he really didn't know what he was saying.

#28 by lucy, Jul 2, 2008

that was not the real lucy. I would never write like that.
Maybe I would. No, I don't think so. Someone just copied my
previous post and added things. Wait, was that me? I can't
remember. What is going on here? I forgot to take my pills.
I really hate May Pang? Oh yeah I do. This is not really me.
I wish I could have been Yoko or May. Why them and not me.
It's just not fair.

#29 by May Pang, Jul 3, 2008

I love LUCY!!!!!

#30 by pam, Jul 3, 2008

Hi!

#31 by pam, Jul 3, 2008

That was hysterical!

#32 by Joey, Jul 3, 2008

I'm here now with Pam. That whole Lucy thing was incredible.

#33 by Lucy, Jul 4, 2008

Your all su stupid.

#34 by Lucy, Jul 4, 2008

Oh my gosh May loves me. Now I feel special. I have to admit I wrote that though. Pretty funny hey? I'm not sick people. I got help and the doctor said I was fine. He put me on zyprexa and risperdal. I am supposed to take it three times a day. So you can all go to hell.

#35 by Trisha, Jul 14, 2008

Lucy you wanna come out and play? Or are you still locked up in your padded rubber room?

#36 by Angelo, Jul 18, 2008

We have all confirmed just how mentally unstable Lucy lennon is. She states over and over again the same bull. She is trying to make a name for herself by hiding behind a computer and posting nothing but lies. She will never admit to who he/she is because of the lies that have been created. I know that if I new something true to the fact I would stand up and show myself to prove that I am correct. John did love May. Learn to deal with it Lucy and get over it. Find a person to love you and you will then understand. Of course it won't be John Lennon but that's o.k.! Maybe go to the nearest animal shelter and get yourself a pet. You can even name it John if it will make you feel better. Take baby steps.

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