LENNON
IS LIVE
A collection of John Lennon's live performances
Intro
This is a small collection that seeks to gather all the moments when John Lennon performed publicly, whether in concerts, TV appearances, or activist events.
In the little more than 10 years he lived after the breakup of the greatest band of all time, John Lennon performed live only a handful of times. Like Paul (with Wings), John also sought support in a new band, the Plastic Ono Band. But unlike his former bandmate, John did not go on a world tour and, more importantly, spent nearly half of those 10 years on a sabbatical period dedicated to raising his son Sean.
1968
December 11, Intertel Television Studios, Wembley, England
Rolling Stones Rock 'N' Roll Circus
The first performance as a solo artist took place while the Beatles were still active, singing a band song at the Rolling Stones’ Rock ’N’ Roll Circus. He was accompanied by the supergroup Dirty Mac, with Eric Clapton on lead guitar, Keith Richard on bass, and Mitch Mitchell on drums. John performed “Yer Blues,” from the White Album, which had been released a month earlier. It also featured the performance of “Whole Lotta Yoko,” with Yoko Ono and violinist Ivry Gitlis.
The Dirty Mac - Yer Blues
1969
Semptember 13, Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Toronto Rock and Roll Revival
In September 1969, John Lennon was one of the last-minute guests at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival festival, which also featured Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard. With a Plastic Ono Band lineup consisting of Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann, and Alan White on drums, John performed “Yer Blues” once again, along with his new solo songs “Cold Turkey” and “Give Peace A Chance,” as well as rock and roll classics. The performance was released as the album John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band: Live Peace in Toronto 1969.
Plastic Ono Band - Sweet Toronto
1969
December 15, Lyceum Ballroom, London
Lyceum Ballroom
On December 15, 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono took the stage at the Lyceum Ballroom in London during a benefit concert organized by UNICEF. Performing as the Plastic Ono Supergroup, the band featured big names such as George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Keith Moon, Billy Preston, and Klaus Voormann. The setlist included versions of “Cold Turkey” and “Don’t Worry Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow),” marked by improvisation and a raw sound that reflected the couple’s experimental phase. The event, which brought together musicians from different styles and generations, became known as one of the rare occasions when Lennon and Harrison played together after the Beatles and was Lennon’s last performance in the United Kingdom.
Lyceum Ballroom
1971
June 6, Fillmore East, New York City
Fillmore East
On June 6, 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono joined Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention on stage at the Fillmore East in New York City. The unexpected collaboration blended Lennon’s raw rock energy with Zappa’s avant-garde improvisation, resulting in an experimental and often chaotic performance. The set included reworked versions of “Well (Baby Please Don’t Go),” “Scumbag,” and “King Kong,” where Yoko’s vocal improvisations met Zappa’s jazz-infused instrumentation. The concert was later partially released on the Mothers’ album Fillmore East – June 1971 and later in Lennon’s Some Time in New York City. The appearance became one of Lennon’s most unusual live outings, highlighting his willingness to merge rock, activism, and performance art with the boundary-pushing spirit of the early 1970s.
John & Yoko / Plastic Ono Band / The Mothers of Invention
1971
December 10 , Crisler Arena, Michigan University
John Sinclair Freedom Rally
On December 10, 1971, John and Yoko took part in the John Sinclair Freedom Rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the United States. It was organized in protest against the imprisonment of activist John Sinclair, who had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for possessing two marijuana joints. Especially for the occasion, John composed and performed the song “John Sinclair,” along with other numbers tied to the activism the couple was engaged in at the time, such as “Attica State,” “The Luck of the Irish,” and “Sisters, O Sisters.” Other notable participants included Stevie Wonder, Bob Seger, and poet Allen Ginsberg. Three days after the rally, John Sinclair was released on bail.
John Lennon - John Sinclair
1971
December 17, Apollo Theater, New York City
Attica State
On December 17, 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono took the stage at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, for a benefit concert that underscored their commitment to social activism. Backed by the Elephant’s Memory band, Lennon performed a mix of politically charged material such as “Attica State” and “The Luck of the Irish,” alongside his best-known anthems “Imagine” and “Give Peace a Chance.” The blend of protest songs and universally recognized calls for peace highlighted both his activist voice and his enduring appeal as a songwriter. The event remains one of Lennon’s most memorable performances in the United States, capturing the spirit of an artist willing to unite music and politics before a diverse and engaged audience.
John Lennon - Imagine (Apollo Theater)
The Dick Cavett Show
In May 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono hosted a week of episodes on The Dick Cavett Show, highlighted by Lennon’s meeting and performance with Chuck Berry. During the show, Lennon joined Berry on stage for a lively rendition of classic rock ’n’ roll, showcasing his admiration for one of his biggest musical influences. Alongside this historic collaboration, the couple performed songs like “Imagine” and “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” blending entertainment with their message of peace. The week’s episodes stood out for capturing Lennon in a rare moment of musical spontaneity and personal connection with a rock legend.
Chuck Berry & John Lennon - Johnny B. Goode
1972
August 30, Madison Square Garden, New York City
One to One
On August 30, 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono held the One to One benefit concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York City. These performances were organized to raise funds for the Willowbrook State School, a facility for children with intellectual disabilities. The concerts featured Lennon and Ono performing alongside the Plastic Ono Band and Elephant’s Memory. The afternoon and evening shows were recorded and later released as the album Live in New York City in 1986. This event marked Lennon’s final full-length concert performance.
Plastic Ono Band - Come Together
Jerry Lewis Telethon
In September 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono made an appearance on the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, during a critical period when the couple was facing deportation proceedings under the Nixon administration. President Nixon had been trying to deport them for almost a year, and they were desperate to stay in the USA. So to prove they were deserving of residency, they stopped hanging out with Jerry Rubin and instead embraced Jerry Lewis. Backed by Elephant's Memory, John Lennon and Yoko Ono performed "Imagine," "Now or Never," and a reggae arrangement of "Give Peace a Chance" for the charity fundraiser benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The performance was notable not only for its musical content but also for its political subtext, as the couple sought to demonstrate their commitment to American charitable causes during their immigration battle.
Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon
1974
November 28, Madison Square Garden, New York City
Elton John
In November 1974, John Lennon was the surprise guest at Elton John’s Thanksgiving concert at Madison Square Garden in New York, the payoff to a bet that John would appear if “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night” reached No. 1. With Elton’s band—Davey Johnstone on guitar, Dee Murray on bass, Nigel Olsson on drums, and Ray Cooper on percussion—Lennon performed “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,” then joined for “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “I Saw Her Standing There,” which he dedicated to Paul. The show, remembered as Lennon’s last major live performance, was later released on Elton John’s Here and There (expanded edition), with “I Saw Her Standing There” also issued as the B-side of “Philadelphia Freedom.”
Elton John & John Lennon - Whatever Gets You Thru The Night
A Salute to Sir Lew Grade
In April 1975, John Lennon made his final live appearance at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York for the TV special A Salute to Sir Lew Grade, a tribute to the media mogul with whom he had legal disputes, featuring stars like Julie Andrews, Tom Jones, and Peter Sellers. Backed by an eight-piece band called Etc., who wore two-faced masks as Lennon’s pointed jab at Grade’s business tactics, he performed covers from his Rock ‘n’ Roll album—“Slippin’ and Slidin’” and “Stand By Me” (the latter not broadcast)—followed by his signature hit “Imagine.” The show, taped on April 18 and aired in June, marked Lennon’s last stage performance and was later circulated in bootleg form, with a missing video segment of “Stand By Me” rediscovered in 2024.
John Lennon - Stand by me
1980-
A never-ending dream
On October 9, 1975, Sean Ono Lennon was born. The birth of his second child marked the beginning of a five-year period in which John decided it was time to be a better father than he had been to his first son, Julian. He stopped making music and releasing records, and his already sparse public performances ceased altogether, representing a moment of total dedication. Only at the end of 1980, with the production of Double Fantasy, did Lennon return to the music business and the public eye. Sadly, his comeback was followed by his tragic death in December 1980, just a few months after his 40th birthday. The world lost one of its greatest artists and a human being always eager to experiment and give his life fully to his art. We keep on dreaming.
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🎵 ... beatlemaniacs looked around...