Montreal wasn't John & Yoko’s first choice for their North American Bed-In ... it wasn't even their second. They originally wanted to go to New York, but that was nixed due to John’s previous marijuana arrest. They then tried the Bahamas, but John couldn’t imagine staying in bed for a week with all the heat and humidity. So on May 26, 1969, the couple checked into Montreal's Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel for a Bed-In to protest the violence that was going on around the world.

During their week in Montreal, John & Yoko hosted many people, including American civil rights advocate Dick Gregory, comedian Tommy Smothers and Lil Abner cartoonist Al Capp. According to legend while chatting with John on May 30th, Toronto Rabbi Abraham Feinberg said, "John, you've got to give peace chance," words which caught fire in Lennon’s imagination. The next day the call went out for recording gear. Oversized lyrics were stuck on the walls and an immortal peace anthem was born.



Tune in Monday June 1st, join Classic Rock 101 and the Bro Jake Show as we look back 40 years to the Bed-In for Peace and this defining moment in Classic Rock History.

You can book your very own Imagine Package. Click HERE for more info or go to Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel.

The only photographer to be present the entire eight days, Life photographer Gerry Deiter captured the powerful images, many never seen before, of the Montreal Bed-In For Peace, May 26 to June 1, 1969.

Click here for more information on this book, "Give Peace a Chance: John and Yoko's Bed-in for Peace"