Pop Quiz: Yoko Ono

Pop Quiz: Yoko Ono

Aidin Vaziri | Last year, Yoko Ono revived the Plastic Ono Band for its first studio album in decades, "Between My Head and the Sky." It's hard to blame her for the delay; her time has been occupied by making art, campaigning for peace and handling the affairs of her late husband, John Lennon. Ono, 76, tells us it was their son, Sean, who suggested bringing back the group - which at points counted Eric Clapton, Keith Moon and Frank Zappa as members - with a new lineup that includes Japanese indie-rockers Cornelius and Yuka Honda. The Plastic Ono Band kicks off this year's Noise Pop Festival with a performance Tuesday at Oakland's Fox Theater.


Yoko Ono
Q: In New York you performed with original band members Eric Clapton and Klaus Voorman, plus guests including Bette Midler, Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon and Paul Simon. Not bad.
A: I know. I wasn't expecting that. I think Sean created this concert as a tribute to me or something. I know what it is; my birthday is Feb. 18 and it's a birthday present. I'm not going to ask him because birthday presents are supposed to be a secret, right?
Q: It's not a very good secret.
A: No, it's a very public surprise.
Q: To his credit, you're probably not the easiest person to shop for.
A: Isn't that funny? He could have given me a pebble or something and it would be easier. Read more.