Last Monday night marked the 45th year since that tragic incident in New York, USA, when a disturbed individual, whose name we should stop mentioning, shot music legend John Lennon. It was also a Monday evening, less than two hours before midnight, as the former Beatle went home from a recording session.
John sadly declined his wife, Yoko Ono’s suggestion that they should get something to eat first before heading home. He wanted to say good night to his son, Sean, so he was rushing to meet his assassin and eternity.
That brings me to the what-if question—what could have happened had John survived that attack, or if the deranged fan waiting for him had gotten tired and gone home instead?
A better world surely awaited. But what are the scenarios or possibilities for a powerful presence like Lennon making it to old age?
Here are some thrilling ideas from a true fan, yeah, me, in which we can imagine John Lennon being around, alive and well, because that infamous Monday in 1980 never happened
1. John Lennon would have toured promoting the album Double Fantasy. How cool to witness and hear the beloved literary Beatle sing songs from an album that contains strong compositions, including, of course, “Just Like Starting Over,” “Woman,” “I’m Losing You,” and “Watching the Wheels.”
2. Led Zeppelin and Paul McCartney—and not Queen—were technically the main acts for the historic Live Aid concert in the UK in July 1985. Had Lennon been on the roster, a complete Beatles reunion would have looked possible. Otherwise, the world should still salivate watching Lennon and McCartney on stage during the finale.
3. “Free as a Bird” and “Now and Then” could have become solo Lennon tracks in the ’80s, fitting into a much later album of his. In the real world, a solo Lennon take of “Real Love” (later to become a Beatles reunion track) was released on the soundtrack to the Imagine: John Lennon film in 1988, so it’s already a solo Lennon piece even before The Beatles Anthology.
4. On Jan. 20, 1988, in the city he had lived in since 1971, he should be attending in person the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction of The Beatles. We can only imagine the banter between him and Mick Jagger, who was assigned to induct them, as well as the joke he’d be telling the world regarding Paul skipping the ceremony, apparently because of business disputes involving them.
5. The Beatles Anthology project would appear more solid, perhaps including a reunion tour and more recordings featuring a complete Fab Four lineup. The idea of having them all in the studio for one final stretch is mesmerizing, to say the least. And even if this column piece isn’t covering George living beyond 2001, we’re looking at a good five years at least, where all four Beatles may be seen gathered. And on that note, George wouldn’t need to say that a Beatles reunion is impossible “as long as Lennon remains dead.”
6. Having witnessed the rise of Nirvana, John and Kurt Cobain could collaborate musically, being leaders of their respective generations.
7. How about seeing Lennon on Jan. 19, 1994, right in New York, accepting his induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist by who else but Paul? And maybe five years later, he’d induct Paul into the same pantheon himself.
8. The public may have seen Lennon at the forefront of 9/11, being arguably the most famous artist in New York.
9. John would have had more time to get closer to his first son, Julian, and who knows—he might have ended up convincing his two sons to form a duo.
10. On a sour note, his killer might have pursued another celebrity to carry out his diabolical plan.
