Fifty years ago today, on Thanksgiving Day, November 28th, 1974, John Lennon made a surprise appearance at Madison Square Garden in New York, joining Elton John on stage for what would be his final public performance. The two legends performed "I Saw Her Standing There," "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," and "Whatever Gets You Through the Night." This memorable event was the result of a bet between the two musicians earlier that year when Lennon asked Elton to sing and play on "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night." Elton agreed on the condition that if the song hit number one, Lennon would join him on stage. The song did top the charts, leading to this historic performance.
Elton John recalls the moment with great emotion, describing the overwhelming ovation Lennon received from the New York crowd. "John came on stage to the biggest ovation I've ever heard at that time in my life. We all cried because it was just so wonderful to hear someone get that much love back from his adopted city," Elton shared. The performance was not only a musical triumph but also a deeply personal moment for Lennon, who had been away from the stage for some time. Longtime Elton John Band guitarist Davey Johnstone remembers Lennon's nerves before the show and the electric atmosphere when he finally walked on stage. "When Elton introduced John Lennon, the place went nuts. It was one of those moments you'll never forget," Johnstone said.
The night held another surprise for Lennon. After the show, Elton had arranged for Lennon's estranged wife, Yoko Ono, to be there. Yoko recalls the emotional scene, seeing John receive such an outpouring of love and support. "The whole house was shaking actually, like an earthquake. And I saw John bow like five, six times and I thought, 'That's not John that I know. He must be feeling so lonely.' And I felt so bad that I started to cry," she said. This heartfelt reunion led to their reconciliation, and less than a year later, their son Sean was born, with Elton John as his godfather.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]