John-Lennon’s-guitar

John Lennon’s 1964 Gibson J 160E acquired in 1964 to replace an identical one

that was stolen. He used it extensively throughout his career. It was prominently

seen in the film Help! In 1967, the guitar was painted psychedelic blue and red by

the Fool, the Dutch art cooperative that also painted Lennon’s Rolls-Royce. In

1968, Lennon had the guitar’s finish stripped to the natural wood. Lennon and

Yoko Ono held two “bed-ins” for peace in March and May 1969, which Lennon

commemorated by drawing caricatures of Yoko and himself on the guitar. It was

during the second bed-in, held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, that the

single “Give Peace a Chance” was recorded, using this guitar.