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May Pang

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May Pang
May Fung Yee Pang
Born (1950-10-24) October 24, 1950 (age 73)
Manhattan, New York
Occupation(s)Personal assistant, production coordinator, jewellery designer and author
SpouseTony Visconti (1989 to 2000)
ChildrenSebastian, Lara

May Fung Yee Pang (born October 24, 1950), or Mai Pang, is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. She grew up in New York, and was hired as a personal assistant and production coordinator for John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1970. Her middle names, Fung Yee, mean "Phoenix bird".

In 1973, Lennon and Ono separated and Lennon and Pang had a relationship that lasted over 18 months, which Lennon later referred to as his "Lost Weekend", but which lasted until 1975. Pang published a book called, Loving John, which was written about her time with Lennon in 1983, and in 2008, she will release a book of photographs she took of Lennon during their time together.

Pang was married to producer Tony Visconti from 1989 to 2000, and had two children, Sebastian and Lara, who live with Pang in upstate New York. Pang has a line of stainless steel Feng Shui jewelry that is sold on the internet, and is a volunteer for an Animal shelter called Animal Haven in New York.

Early years

May Fung Yee Pang is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Her middle names, Fung Yee, mean Phoenix bird.[1] Pang was born and grew up in New York's Spanish Harlem area with an older sister and an adopted brother (both of whom were born in China).[2] Pang's mother had a laundry business in the area, but the Pang family left when the tenements were scheduled to be pulled down, and moved to a house between the 97th and 3rd streets of Manhattan.[2] After graduating from high school, Pang attended the New York City Community College, and later wanted to be a model, but was told she was too ethnic by the modeling agencies at the time.[3] Pang's early jobs included being a song-plugger, which meant encouraging artists to record them.[2] She later started work as a receptionist at ABKCO Records in New York in 1970, which was Allen Klein's management office, and which then represented Apple Records and three former Beatles: Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.[4][5]

Pang was asked to help Lennon and Ono with the avant-garde Up Your Legs Forever and Fly film projects in December 1970, which entailed phoning hundreds of artists and asking if they would allow their naked legs to be filmed, and finding a woman willing to be filmed for days while flies crawled across her naked body.[3] Pang was then asked to be Lennon and Ono's secretary and factotum/gofer whenever they needed her in New York or England. This led to a permanent position as their personal assistant when the Lennons moved from London to New York in 1971.[6] Pang coordinated Ono's art exhibition in Syracuse, New York, on 9 October 1971, for Ono's This Is Not Here art show, which was at the Everson Museum.[7] Ono's show coincided with Lennon's 31st birthday, and a party was held at the Hotel Syracuse, which was attended by Starr, Phil Spector, and Elliot Mintz, amongst others.[7]

The Lost Weekend

The poster advertising The Lost Weekend film.

Although Lennon called his time with Pang his "Lost Weekend", it was not a reference to a weekend—which lasted 18 months with Lennon—but referred to the The Lost Weekend film, which starred Ray Milland, Jane Wyman and Phillip Terry. The film was based on a novel of the same title by Charles R. Jackson, about a writer who drinks heavily because of the accusation that he had had an affair with one of his male friends while in college. The reference to the gay affair was removed in the film, and the main character's descent into an alcoholic binge is blamed on writer's block.[8]

In the summer of 1973, Pang was working on the recording of Lennon's Mind Games album. Lennon and Ono started having marital problems and decided to separate, and Ono suggested to Pang that she become Lennon's companion.[5][9] Ono explained that she and Lennon were not getting along, had been arguing and were growing apart, and said that Lennon would start seeing other women, but pointed out that Lennon had said he found Pang sexually attractive. Pang replied that she could never start a relationship with Lennon as he was her employer and married. Ono ignored Pang's protestations and said that she would arrange everything.[10] Ono later confirmed this conversation in an interview.[11] In October 1973, Lennon and Pang left New York for Los Angeles, living firstly at the homes of friends, such as an apartment owned by Lennon's lawyer, Harold Seider, and a house in Stone Canyon Road, Bel Air, which was lent to them by producer Lou Adler.[3]

When Lennon was producing Nilsson's Pussy Cats album, he thought it would be a good idea for the musicians to live under one roof to ensure they would get to the studio on time, so Pang rented a beach house in Santa Monica in March 1974, for Starr, Harry Nilsson, and Keith Moon to live in.[12] During the recording, Lennon and Nilsson were involved in two drinking incidents at The Troubadour after starting work: The first was when the Lennon placed a Kotex on his forehead and scuffled with a waitress, and two weeks later when Lennon and Nilsson were ejected from the same club after heckling the Smothers Brothers.[13] Lennon then collaborated with Spector in December 1973, to record an album of Lennon's favourite oldies, but the alcohol-fuelled recording sessions were not successful. It was reported that Spector fired a loaded gun in the studio control room, and Lennon had to finish the album in New York's Record Plant, in the autumn of 1974.[14][15] Pang was credited on the finished album as "Production Coordinator and Mother Superior", in recognition of the difficult time she had organising the production schedule and musicians.[16]

File:435931.jpg
The cover of Walls and Bridges which Pang worked on (photo by Bob Gruen).

In May 1974, Lennon and Pang returned to live in New York City, where Lennon stopped drinking and concentrated on recording. As Lennon had previously had cats in Liverpool—while living at his aunt Mimi's house—he and Pang had two cats in New York called Major and Minor.[17][18] In the early summer of 1974, while Lennon was working on his Walls and Bridges album, the couple moved into a penthouse apartment on 52nd street, where Lennon and Pang claim to have seen a UFO on 23 August 1974, from a private observation deck adjoining their apartment, which had a panoramic view of east New York. To gain access to the deck Lennon and Pang had to climb out of a window.[19] On the night in question a naked Lennon excitedly called Pang to join him on the roof, and they both watched a circular object silently floating less than 100 feet away.[17] Lennon called Bob Gruen—Lennon's official photographer—and told him what had happened. Gruen suggested Lennon should call the police, but Lennon laughed it off, saying, "I’m not going to call up the newspaper and say, 'This is John Lennon and I saw a flying saucer last night'". Gruen called the local police precinct which confirmed that three other people had reported a sighting, and the Daily News said that five people had reported a sighting in the same area of New York where Lennon and Pang lived.[17]

Pang was recorded whispering Lennon's name on Walls and Bridges, and sang background vocals on #9 Dream. Pang claims that Lennon's song, "Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)", was written about her.[8] Lennon achieved his only #1 single (in his solo career) with Whatever Gets You Thru The Night, and Pang received an RIAA gold record award for her work on the album. Pang continued her work as production coordinator of Lennon's Rock 'n' Roll album. Pang also worked on albums by Nilsson, Starr, Elton John and David Bowie.[3]

While visiting Mick Jagger Lennon saw a Scottish-style cottage that was for sale in Montauk, New York—part of The Hamptons area—and was close to the Montauk Point Lighthouse. Lennon asked a real estate broker to put in an offer for it in February 1975.[20][21] Lennon and Pang were planning on visiting McCartney and Linda in New Orleans in in February 1975, where McCartney was recording the Venus and Mars album, but Lennon went back to Ono the day before the planned visit, after Ono said she had a new cure for Lennon's smoking habit.[22][23]

Although Lennon would publicly lament this period, he did not do so in private. Journalist Larry Kane, who befriended Lennon in 1964, wrote a comprehensive biography of Lennon which detailed the "Lost Weekend" period. In the interview with Kane, Lennon explained his feelings about his time with Pang: "You know Larry, I may have been the happiest I've ever been... I loved this woman, [Pang] I made some beautiful music and I got so fucked up with booze and shit and whatever."[24][25]

Later years

File:Loving John.jpg
The cover of Loving John; Pang's book about her time with Lennon.

After Lennon went back to Ono, Pang started working for United Artists Records and Island Records as a PR manager, working on albums by Bob Marley and Robert Palmer.[26] Tired of being "airbrushed out of the Lennon history", Pang published her memoir, Loving John, in 1983. It was later updated and re-named, "John Lennon: The Lost Weekend". Pang said that although she never kept a diary, she retained an excellent memory about the time because she never drank alcohol or took drugs. [8] The original 500-page Loving John book focused more on Pang's role on Lennon's albums and sessions. It was edited down to 300 pages, concentrating mostly on the sensational aspects of their relationship, but included postcards that Lennon had written to Pang during his travels throughout the world in the late 70s. Pang claims that she and Lennon remained lovers until 1977, and stayed in contact until his death.[27]

Pang has appeared on TV in Law & Order and The Equalizer, in the films Heartburn (1986) and Fatal Attraction (1987).[8][26] Pang married record producer Visconti in 1989, but was divorced in 2000.[2] They had two children, Sebastian and Lara. Her present partner is the saxophonist, Tom Scott.[2] Pang is currently living with her children in upstate New York, and has created a line of stainless steel Feng Shui jewelry that is available on her website.[28]

Pang remains in touch with some of the people from her time with Lennon, and was invited by Paul McCartney to the memorial service for Linda McCartney.[29] She was an invited guest at The Concert for George in 2002, and remains close to Cynthia Lennon, her husband Noel Charles, and Lennon's first son, Julian Lennon.[29][30]

Pang visited Liverpool in 2005, to look for a suitable place to exhibit photographs from a forthcoming book about her and Lennon.[5] During her time there, Pang arranged to meet Lennon's first wife, Cynthia, in The Cavern club, after Cynthia had signed copies of her own book about Lennon.[31] Although having had no contact for 20 years, on 9 October 2006 Pang accidentally met Ono in Iceland, on what would have been Lennon's 66th birthday. Ono was in Iceland to unveil a sculpture in Reykjavík, and was staying in the same hotel.[8] Pang is a volunteer for an animal shelter called Animal Haven in New York, and the owner of a dog rescued after hurricane Katrina.[32] On 4 March 2008, Pang will release Instamatic Karma, a book of photographs taken by her during her time with Lennon.[33][34]

Notes

  1. ^ "May Pang Biog". IMDb. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  2. ^ a b c d e "May Pang is a legend in the Rock n' Roll world". Asiancemagazine. 2003-09-01. Retrieved 2008-01-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d Harry “John Lennon Encyclopedia” 1990 Cite error: The named reference "HarryLennonEncyclopedia" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Abkco web page". Abkco. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  5. ^ a b c Grant, Peter (2005-04-04). "My love for 'lost' Lennon". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2008-01-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "1970s". The Liverpool Lennons. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  7. ^ a b James, Gary. "Gary James' Interview With John Lennon's Girlfriend, May Pang". Classic Bands. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  8. ^ a b c d e White, Dave. "Lennon's "Lost Weekend" Lover". About, Classic Rock. Retrieved 2008-01-10. Cite error: The named reference "InterviewMayPang" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  9. ^ Williams, Precious (2002-05-19). "Eternal flame". Scotland on Sunday. Retrieved 2008-01-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Brenda Giuliano, Geoffrey Giuliano. "Press Release Interview with May Pang". Google Books. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  11. ^ Kane "Lennon Revealed" p70
  12. ^ "Lennon Lives Forever". Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  13. ^ "The John Lennon Rolling Stone Interview". Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  14. ^ May Pang "Loving John" 1983
  15. ^ "Mono Maniacs Tearing Down The Wall of Sound". Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  16. ^ "May Pang Talks About John Lennon's Classic Album "Rock 'n' Roll"". Absolute Elsewhere/Only Punjab. 2004-09-23. Retrieved 2008-01-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ a b c Warren, Larry. "There's UFOs Over New York and John Lennon Wasn't Too Surprised". M.A.R.A. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  18. ^ "John Lennon and May Pang". kamasutra. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  19. ^ "A history of UFOs". Pilot online. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  20. ^ "Pang reveals her side of affair with John Lennon". Beatles Unlimited. 2007-11-21. Retrieved 2008-01-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "Pang reveals her side of affair with John Lennon". 2007-11-19. Retrieved 2008-01-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Friedman, Roger (2001-09-05). "Beatles: Lennon planned to meet McCartney in 1974". Fox News. Retrieved 2008-01-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ "Sweet Bird of Paradox". Angelfire. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  24. ^ "Lennon Revealed". Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  25. ^ Kane, Lennon Revealed pg 237
  26. ^ a b "May Pang Visit". The Beatles Story. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  27. ^ Cynthia Lennon “John” 2006 p379
  28. ^ "Feng Shui Jewelry by May Pang:". Retrieved 2007-08-28.
  29. ^ a b "Lennon Planned to Visit McCartney In 1974:". Retrieved 2007-08-16. Cite error: The named reference "fox news" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  30. ^ "Cynthia's New Bio Called "John"". Retrieved 2007-08-15.
  31. ^ "May Pang and Cynthia, two lovers of Lennon, meet at The Cavern". Liverpool Echo. 2005-09-30. Retrieved 2008-01-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ Haught, Lori (2006-12-15). "Volume 19, Issue 33, December 15 - 21, 2006: Getting Fifi to pay for abandoned mutts' care". Downtown Express. Retrieved 2008-01-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ Friedman, Roger (2007-08-07). "John Lennon: Pictures Without Music". Fox News. Retrieved 2008-01-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ "Instamatic Karma". Amazon. Retrieved 2008-01-11.

References

External links

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