In the annals of music history, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, along with George Harrison and Ringo Starr, collaborated to create timeless albums like Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, and Abbey Road.
The last meeting between John Lennon and Paul McCartney occurred in April 1976. While the world anticipated a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live (SNL), the duo was fatigued. Subsequently, they maintained contact through phone conversations but never crossed paths again.
By the mid-'70s, the once-heated controversies between John Lennon and Paul McCartney had considerably mellowed. The tumultuous separation of The Beatles and the acrimonious "How Do You Sleep?" episode were now in the past.
On the historic night of April 24, 1976, Lennon and McCartney, on their second-to-last meeting, came closest to reuniting publicly as a band. During that Saturday Night Live (SNL) episode, host Lorne Michaels addressed Beatles controversies, suggesting a reunion for a sum of money.
Unbeknownst to Michaels, John and Paul were watching the show together at the Dakota. While briefly considering a spontaneous appearance, they decided against it due to fatigue and a day off.
The final physical encounter took place on April 25, 1976, at the Dakota in New York, ending on a less-than-ideal note. In a subsequent Playboy interview, Lennon recounted the incident, noting McCartney's frequent unannounced visits with a guitar. Lennon expressed frustration, stating, "It's not 1956 anymore; just talk to me first."
Though their in-person interactions ceased, phone conversations persisted. McCartney, in a Rolling Stone interview, reflected on those "last calls," describing them as "very nice." He shared Lennon's inquiry about people trying to instigate conflicts between them and expressed gratitude for his friend's seemingly content final years. McCartney candidly remarked on the surreal nature of Lennon's passing, saying, "It's still weird to say 'before he died.' I still can't accept it. I still do not believe it."