Paul McCartney helped John Lennon win back Yoko Ono after Lennon cheated with another woman: friend

Their union was not always characterized by tranquility and harmony.

In 1973 and 1974, Lennon spent his "Lost Weekend" in Los Angeles while separated from his wife. After having "loud, raucous sex" with another woman at a party, Ono had banished the singer/songwriter from their home.

Lennon was eager to return to Ono, but she was wary about him coming home. That's when she got by with a little help from an unlikely Beatle.

"Elliot Mintz, the couple's pal, revealed that Sir Paul McCartney once offered to speak to John Lennon about their separation in Los Angeles. Yoko Ono was reportedly grateful for the invitation."

The former radio and TV announcer, who met the couple in the early '70s, has released a new memoir titled "We All Shine On: John, Yoko, & Me," with the approval of their son, Sean Lennon. In the book, he recounts how McCartney offered Lennon valuable advice on winning back his love.

"Mintz stated that Paul had a meeting with John, and John advised him that in order to prove his change, he must demonstrate it through actions. He compared it to dating again and emphasized the need to bring flowers, take out for dinners, and show the importance of the person in his world."

"There was a time when Sir Paul McCartney offered Yoko his willingness to speak to John in Los Angeles about the separation. She seemed grateful for that invitation." — Elliot Mintz

Lennon took McCartney's advice to heart and it worked.

"Yoko welcomed John back into their home and rekindled their relationship, despite the difficulties they faced during the lost weekend. John, who had always been married, used this time to explore new experiences and sow wild oats. Yoko sent him to Los Angeles to find himself while they worked through their marital problems."

Mintz mused that he had become disoriented during the weekend and managed to regain her affection by climbing back up the ladder.

May Pang, the couple's assistant, revealed that Ono asked her to date Lennon during their separation in an attempt to keep him company. Lennon and Pang's whirlwind 18-month affair began.

"Mintz stated that he had met Pang on multiple occasions and described her as an articulate woman who was the perfect companion for John in Los Angeles. He added that she did not smoke or drink and had John's interests at heart. Mintz expressed his belief in her sincerity and had positive feelings towards her."

"Mintz stated that she saw the lost weekend as a time of great creativity for John and intense love between the two of them. However, she saw the timeframe differently than Mintz did. She acknowledged that May fell in love with John for all the right reasons and would never question or second-guess a woman's passions in that area. She also emphasized that what they shared would remain between the two of them."

John Lennon's ex-wife may have felt pangs of jealousy when Yoko Ono encouraged her to have an affair with a married Beatle, causing tears to form.

John experienced the most depressing two years or so of his life during the lost weekend, a reference to the 1945 Billy Wilder film.

"According to Mintz, John became completely derailed in LA, spending most of his time under the influence of substances, staying up all night, and not producing much. When Mintz spoke with him, John sounded more depressed than happy."

Lennon pleaded to return to Ono during their conversations, Mintz claimed.

"Mintz stated that they discussed how the individual referred to Yoko as "Mother" and expressed his desire to return to her. Yoko would inquire about his well-being at the end of each day, and Mintz would inform her that he felt ready to come home after cleaning up his act. For a prolonged period, Yoko responded with "No, he isn't.""

In 1972, Lennon became intoxicated while observing the presidential election outcomes between Nixon and McGovern at anti-war activist Jerry Rubin's apartment in New York City, where Lennon and Ono were present as guests during the party.

As Lennon's alcohol consumption increased, he engaged in sexual activity with another woman. Mintz claimed that Ono could distinctly hear them having sex.

A Bob Dylan ballad was played by one party guest in an attempt to muffle the noise, but it was unsuccessful.

Yoko remained silent and mortified on the sofa as other guests began to awkwardly get up and leave. It wasn't until they realized their coats were in the bedroom where John was having sex that they stopped.

Lennon, who had slept on the sofa the previous night, called Mintz the next morning with a hangover.

""If I weren't famous, nobody would care about a bloke cheating on his wife," Lennon contended."

Mintz wrote that Ono felt differently.

"She told him that she could forgive him, but she wasn't sure if she could forget what happened and if things would ever be the same."

In 1975, Lennon and Ono renewed their vows and later that year welcomed their son, Sean Lennon.

"According to Mintz, one of the most widely held beliefs is that from 1975 to 1980, John became a recluse and was locked away in the bedroom by Yoko. As a result, he became almost like Howard Hughes, constantly under the influence. However, it's important to note that John was actually focused on raising his son during this time."

"Mintz revealed that they made a joke about it. Despite not creating music for five years, he remained creative. The myth that Yoko hired a hypnotist to influence John to return to their apartment building, The Dakota, after their separation is not true. John was aware that Mintz had seen a hypnotist and remembered their experience. He asked if the hypnotist could help him quit smoking, saying, "I've tried everything, but I can't quit cigarettes. Do you think that hypnotist guy could do it?""

"Mintz stated that she hired a hypnotist to travel from Los Angeles to New York. Following the session's conclusion, John contacted her. She inquired about the experience, and John replied that he found the hypnotist likable but didn't feel hypnotized. He didn't feel under. . . . John continued smoking until his death."

In December 1980, Lennon was assassinated outside his New York City apartment at the age of 40, just a month after releasing his final album, "Double Fantasy."

"Mintz stated that John Lennon was both centered and articulate in their friendship. However, as they got to know each other better, Mintz recognized Lennon's vulnerabilities, jealousies, and propensity for anger. While Lennon embraced the concepts of love and peace, he didn't always practice them. Mintz became aware of Lennon's humanity."

"Mintz stated that Yoko had a reputation for being stoic and humorless, which was untrue. She recognized Yoko's vulnerabilities and found it understandable that she and John had connected."