John Lennon en zijn echtgenote Yoko Ono op huwelijksreis

The hippie subculture emerged in the United States and other Western countries during the mid-1960s, at a time of social and political upheaval. It was characterized by a rejection of mainstream values, a countercultural approach to life, and a focus on peace, love, and personal freedom. Hippies were known for their liberal attitudes toward sex, drugs, and social issues. They often embraced alternative lifestyles and practiced non-traditional forms of spirituality, such as Buddhism and Hinduism. They also rejected consumer culture and advocated for environmental and social justice causes. The name derived from “hip,” a term applied to the Beats of the 1950s, such as Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, who were generally considered to be the precursors of hippies. Although the movement arose in part as opposition to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War (1955–75), hippies were often not directly engaged in politics, as opposed to their activist counterparts known as “Yippies” (Youth International Party). The hippie movement was influenced by a number of factors, including the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, and the counterculture of the Beat Generation. It was also influenced by the psychedelic music scene, which included bands like The Grateful Dead and The Doors. The hippie movement reached its peak in the late 1960s, but its influence can still be seen today in contemporary counterculture and alternative lifestyles.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono were influential figures in the countercultural and anti-war movements of the 1960s and 1970s. Lennon was a member of the Beatles, one of the most popular and influential bands in the history of rock music. Yoko Ono was born in Tokyo, Japan on February 18, 1933, and moved to New York City in 1953 to study art. In the 1960s, Ono became involved in the Fluxus movement, a loose-knit group of artists and performers who sought to challenge traditional art forms and create new, experimental works. Ono's early works often involved audience participation and were intended to inspire people to think about social and political issues in new ways. Lennon and Ono met in 1966 and were married in 1969. This album is made of their honeymoon-held press conference photographs in bed at Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam. They became known for their public displays of affection and their vocal opposition to the Vietnam War and other social and political issues of the time. They also embraced a number of alternative lifestyles and practices, including vegetarianism, meditation, and yoga. In the 1970s, Lennon and Ono became increasingly involved in activism, collaborating with various organizations and participating in protests and other public events. They also released several albums together, including "Two Virgins," "Life with the Lions," and "Wedding Album." Lennon was assassinated in 1980, but Ono continues to be active as an artist and activist. Their influence on popular culture and their enduring legacy as symbols of peace and love have made them iconic figures of the counterculture movement.