John Lennon and his 19-month old son Sean travelled from New York to Hong Kong on 6 May 1977.
Lennon and Yoko Ono had not visited Japan together since 1971, and were keen for Ono’s family to meet Sean. With them on the trip were their personal assistant Nishi Saimaru and Sean’s nanny Masako.
They initially stayed at the Mandarin hotel in Hong Kong. While there Lennon met David Bowie and Iggy Pop.
I met John in Hong Kong in 1977. He was travelling with Sean, who was about two years old, and was on his way to meet Yoko in Japan. I was with David Bowie and Coco Schwab, his friend and PA, on our way back to Europe from Japan, after a rock tour of my stuff.David and John were friends, and we learned en route to Hong Kong that he would be there, in our hotel, for the same few days that we were.
A pair of elevator doors opened, and he stood in the hotel hall foyer, wearing a basketball jersey which was WAY too big, and he gave David a very big hug, and a kind of laughing, greeting smile. I was surprised to see an English industry giant exhibit such warmth. Also to see him in a basketball jersey, was super-cool (pardon my fandom).
We went to dinner a couple of times, the four of us, after Sean was in bed for the night. Also to a topless bar once, and once to tea at a snooty country club. He really knew how to sound off when he wanted to, and at each of the latter two destinations rose to his feet to half-yell, half-chortle, ‘Have You Ever Heard of The Beatles??!!’ when service was not forthcoming. I think he enjoyed this. I know I did.
Once we were informed that a restaurant of our choice had a dress code. John would have to wear a shirt. After dinner, which was chicken, he blurted, ‘Great! You’ve got to put on a white shirt to eat a dead pigeon!’
He spoke to me directly really only once, to say, ‘I saw your show in New York. That was pretty good.’ So he gave me a great gift, casually.
I remember him strolling a half-lit street on the Hong Kong waterfront around midnight, hair in a crewcut, toothpick in mouth, in blue jean pants and jacket, with a lot of space around him in the street, and I think he was enjoying that space. It’s a very enduring image in my mind.
Memories Of John Lennon
John and Sean left Hong Kong for Japan on 11 May. Lennon remained in the country until 7 October 1977.