Yoko Ono: ‘Thankful’ For McCartney’s Comments

McCartney, in a recent Rolling Stone interview, said he’s getting along fine with the widow of John Lennon, his old songwriting partner. The bad feelings had gone back decades, to when the Beatles were falling apart and other group members resented the appearance of Lennon’s new girlfriend in the recording studio.

McCartney said that time was a great healer and thought that “if John loved her, there’s got to be something. He’s not stupid.” He said once he decided to let go of his grudge that they’ve been getting along fine.

Ono, in an interview with The Associated Press, said Wednesday it was good to hear those words from McCartney and “I’m very thankful.”

“I never felt too bad about Paul,” she said. “He was my husband’s partner and they did a great job and all that. They seemed to have a lot of fun, and I respected that.”

Some of the bad feelings had persisted in the post-Beatles years, as Ono was a regular partner in business affairs surrounding the group after Lennon’s death in 1980 – perhaps most notably when McCartney expressed a desire to change songwriting credits to “McCartney-Lennon” instead of “Lennon-McCartney” for some of the songs most associated with him.

McCartney told Rolling Stone he admires Ono’s work. She’s still making and releasing new music at age 80, like McCartney is at age 71.

Said McCartney: “She’s badass.”

“Well, he’s a rocker,” Ono said.