The Beatles may have disbanded, but the bond between John Lennon and his former bandmates remained. Despite their busy lives and separate careers, they managed to cross paths in the years leading up to Lennon’s untimely death on December 8, 1980. These rare encounters offered glimpses of their enduring connection.
Each meeting carried its own weight, occurring during a time when all four were carving out individual legacies. Yet, the spirit of friendship persisted, even as the world watched them from afar. Some meetings were brief, others more meaningful, but all were a testament to their shared history.
One encounter stands out above the rest—it happened just a month before Lennon’s life was tragically cut short. It marked the final time he saw any of his old bandmates, adding a bittersweet layer to an already poignant moment in music history.
The Encounter with Paul McCartney
On April 25, 1976, Lorne Michaels made a surprising offer to reunite The Beatles on Saturday Night Live, promising them $3,000. At the time, John Lennon and Paul McCartney were just a mile away from Rockefeller Plaza, staying at the Dakota Building.
The next day, McCartney visited Lennon’s apartment, hoping to reconnect. However, Lennon was too busy to meet with his old bandmate.
Though they never saw each other again, the two continued to stay in touch. Their friendship, despite the physical distance, remained intact until Lennon’s tragic passing.
Meeting George Harrison
The exact date of John Lennon’s last meeting with George Harrison is unclear, but Harrison revealed in a 1990 interview that it occurred about two years before Lennon’s death. It was one of the last moments the two spent together, catching up and reflecting on their past.
During their meeting, Harrison was surprised to discover that Lennon had kept hundreds of cassettes of Indian music. Lennon had been deeply influenced by the genre, bringing those exotic sounds into The Beatles’ recordings during the 1960s.
Harrison had always been a fan of Indian music, so learning that Lennon still held onto those tapes was a reminder of how they had shared that musical journey. It was a quiet moment of connection between two former bandmates, yet it would remain their final in-person exchange.
The Last Meeting with Ringo Starr
On November 15, 1980, Ringo Starr became the last former Beatle to see John Lennon alive. Ringo and his wife, Barbara Bach, had traveled to New York for a visit, just weeks before Lennon’s tragic death. The meeting took place at Lennon’s apartment, where the two exchanged friendly conversation.
Though the reunion was brief, it was filled with warmth and nostalgia. Ringo later reflected on how it was one of the last times they would see each other, with Lennon in good spirits.
The visit would remain one of the most poignant moments in Starr’s life, as Lennon was tragically murdered on December 8, 1980, leaving this encounter as their final goodbye.