Two intriguing legends emerged surrounding John Lennon’s memorable performance on November 28, 1974, alongside Elton John at Madison Square Garden: one suggested that he took the stage only after losing a bet, while the other claimed it marked his heartfelt reunion with Yoko Ono following his so-called “Lost Weekend.” As it turns out, one of these stories holds true, while the other is a mere myth. Regardless, this night would be forever etched in history, not only for its joyous celebration but also for the tragic shadow cast by Lennon’s assassination just over six years later. The unexpected nature of this performance—unannounced until shortly before he took the stage—would mark the final live appearance of the legendary former Beatles member.

It all started with a friendly wager. Elton John contributed his vocal and piano talents to two tracks on Lennon’s 1974 album Walls and Bridges: “Surprise Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)” and “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night.” Until then, Lennon was the only former member of The Beatles who had not achieved a solo No. 1 single, a streak that he jokingly suggested would end with “Whatever.” Confident in his prediction, Elton proposed a little bet to spur Lennon on.

“He sang harmony on it and he really did a damn good job,” Lennon later recalled in an interview with David Sheff in 1980. “So, I sort of halfheartedly promised that if ‘Whatever Gets You Thru the Night’ became No. 1, which I had no reason to expect, I’d perform at Madison Square Garden with him. One day, Elton called and said, ‘Remember when you promised…’” The single indeed climbed the charts, surpassing Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” that November to reach the top of the Billboard singles chart.

Lennon’s last full concert performance prior to this event was the One to One concert in 1972, which also took place at Madison Square Garden. To calm his nerves before this high-stakes performance, he discreetly attended an earlier Elton John show in Boston. “I was thinking ‘Thank God it isn’t me,’ as he was getting dressed to go on,” Lennon admitted to Scheff. “I went through my stage fright at Boston, so by the time I got to Madison Square, I had a good time – and when I walked on, they were all screaming and shouting. It was like Beatlemania. I was thinking ‘What is this?’ because I hadn’t heard it since the Beatles.”

With a black Fender Telecaster in hand, Lennon kicked off the performance with the hit “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,” followed by “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” which Elton had recently covered alongside Lennon, releasing it just ten days prior to this concert. The setlist also included a delightful surprise from the Beatles’ catalog, showcasing the duo’s musical chemistry and deep-rooted friendship.

Listen to John Lennon and Elton John Perform ‘I Saw Her Standing There’

“He suggested ‘I Saw Her Standing There,’” Lennon recounted. “I thought ‘great,’ because I never sang the original of that. Paul [McCartney] sang it, and I did the harmony.” During their performance, Lennon introduced the classic with a playful comment: “We tried to think of a number to finish off with so I can get out of here and be sick, and we thought we’d do a number of an old, estranged fiancé of mine, called Paul. This is one I never sang. It’s an old Beatle number, and we just about know it.”

Lennon later revealed that the emotional connection between him and Elton John was palpable that night. “I just went up and did a few numbers, but the emotional thing was me and Elton together,” Lennon shared with Pete Hamill in 1975. “Elton had been working in [early Beatles music publisher] Dick James’ office when we used to send our demos in, and there’s a long sort of relationship musically with Elton that people don’t really know about. He has this sort of Beatle thing from way back… Well, it meant a lot to me and it meant a hell of a lot to Elton.”

The choice of songs for the setlist became a topic of discussion, as Elton initially pushed for Lennon to perform his iconic 1971 anthem “Imagine.” However, Lennon preferred to keep the performance lighthearted, expressing to Sheff that he “didn’t want to come on like Dean Martin doing my classic hits. I wanted to have some fun and play some rock and roll – and I didn’t want to do more than three, because it was Elton’s show after all.” Their live rendition of “I Saw Her Standing There” would later appear as the B-side to Elton John’s single “Philadelphia Freedom” in February 1975.

By this time, John Lennon and Yoko Ono had begun to reconcile after a turbulent separation that had started in the summer of 1973. This concert marked only the first signs of their renewed relationship following a prolonged period apart, often referred to by Lennon as his “Lost Weekend.” This era was not just filled with personal upheaval but also creative exploration, as Lennon produced several hits during this time.

In addition to the success of “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,” this 16-month period of indulgent bachelorhood saw him scoring a Top 10 hit with “#9 Dream” and a Top 20 hit with his rendition of “Stand By Me.” He also contributed to two other No. 1 hits: David Bowie’s “Fame” and Elton John’s updated version of “Lucy.” Lennon even gifted notable tracks to Ringo Starr, Johnny Winter, and Keith Moon, while producing Harry Nilsson’s acclaimed album Pussy Cats during this prolific phase.

Unfortunately, much of this artistic achievement was overshadowed by a lifestyle marked by excessive partying and substance abuse. “Suddenly, I was out on me own,” Lennon told Hamill. “Next thing, I’d be waking up, drunk, in strange places or reading about meself in the paper, doin’ extraordinary things – half of which I’d done and half of which I hadn’t done, but you know the game, anyway.”

Listen to John Lennon and Elton John Perform ‘Lucy in the Sky’

Lennon later claimed that he was unaware of Yoko Ono’s presence in the audience during this landmark concert at Madison Square Garden. However, he had actually arranged for her tickets, and Ono sent the orchids that both Lennon and Elton sported on stage. Regardless, the moments that followed the performance were undeniably significant. “She was backstage afterward, and there was just that moment when we saw each other and like, it’s like in the movies, you know, when time stands still?” Lennon reflected. “And there was silence. Everything went silent, y’know, and we were just sort of lookin’ at each other.”

After the concert, however, Lennon left with May Pang—his assistant and romantic partner during his time in Los Angeles—to attend a party at a nearby hotel. Rumors circulated that the couple was considering purchasing a home in one of New York’s boroughs before Lennon ultimately returned to Ono. During this time, Lennon reportedly wooed Yoko as if they were single again, taking her to art exhibitions and films, rekindling their bond.

Years later, Ono revealed that it was actually Paul McCartney who played a pivotal role in mending their marriage. She recounted how Paul and his wife Linda visited her in early 1974, discussing the prospect of reconciling with John. McCartney then traveled to Los Angeles, encouraging Lennon to return to New York and work on his relationship with Yoko. It seemed that McCartney understood intuition; he believed that Ono was the only one who could truly save his old friend. Unfortunately, a drug-fueled attempt at collaboration—also, tragically, Lennon and McCartney’s last together—had fizzled out.

Following the release of Lennon’s oldies compilation album Rock ‘n’ Roll in February 1975, he filmed a three-song television appearance honoring Sir Lew Grade, the publisher of latter-day Beatles music, which aired that summer. In the fall, Ono gave birth to their son, Sean, on John Lennon’s birthday, adding another layer of joy to their reunion. Afterward, Lennon took a five-year hiatus from the music scene, dedicating himself to fatherhood, followed by a brief comeback that was cut short by the tragic event of his assassination by a deranged fan in his beloved New York City.

This performance at Madison Square Garden would be John Lennon’s last on-stage appearance, and his reflections after the show took on an eerily prophetic tone. “When I came off stage,” Lennon told Sheff, “I said to the waiting journalists, ‘It was good fun, but I wouldn’t like to do it for a living.’

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