Candid photographs of George, John and Yoko Ono at landmark Bangladesh benefit gig to fetch thousands
- Photographs show the two former Beatles relaxing and chatting during rehearsals for the Concert for Bangladesh a year after the band split up
- Soon to be exhibited at Sotheby's in New York, the candid photos are expected to go for thousands when put under the hammer
- Concert for Bangladesh is estimated to have raised about $12 million for UNICEF, despite Lennon never taking the stage after a row with Ono
A set of
candid photographs featuring George, John and Yoko Ono
ahead of the Concert for Bangladesh have emerged for sale and are
expected to sell for thousands at auction.
In
the photographs, the former Beatles appear to be on good terms despite
the Fab Four splitting up a year before the landmark benefit gig in
1971.
Sotheby's
are placing the set of photographs, soon to be exhibited in New York,
under the hammer at the A Rock N Roll History: From Presley to Punk
auction on June 24.
George, John and Yoko Ono
pictured in 1971, before the Concert for Bangladesh gig which netted
about $12 million for UNICEF. The two Beatles' friendship waned just
days before the concert
John, centre, accepted George's demand that
Yoko Ono was not allowed to perform. But the couple had an argument days
before the gig and John left New York so he did not appear on stage
The photographs show John smiling and joking around and Yoko Ono engaged in conversation with a frosty looking Harrison.
The
late John asked all his former bandmates to perform and it would
have been the first time the group would have appeared on stage together
in the U.S. since 1966.
Ringo and John agreed but Paul refused due to a rift over the legal problems the Beatles split had caused.
But just days before the Concert for
Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden in New York George and John´s
friendship waned because of a row over Yoko Ono performing on the bill
with Lennon.
Lennon, who
was shot dead in New York by deranged fan Mark Chapman in 1980,
accepted George’s demand that Yoko Ono was not allowed to perform.
But Lennon and Ono had an argument days before the gig and Lennon left New York so he did not appear on stage.
It
is believed the photographs were taken during rehearsals for the
concert, which featured an all-star line-up including Bob Dylan, Eric
Clapton and Badfinger.
John seen clowning around for the camera ahead of the gig.
Concert for
Bangladesh was organised by George after his friend and mentor Ravi
Shankar asked him to help raise money for the poverty-stricken country.
It
is estimated that George’s brainchild raised around $12million for
UNICEF in total and 40,000 people attended the live show.
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