DBWI: John Lennon doesn't survive assassination?

I've thought about this before, when the four Beatles reunited for the Anthology project. What if John hadn't survived?

Well firstly, obviously, no reunion, no new songs and album, no Wimbledon Stadium concert, maybe no Anthology at all.

Of course, if John dies, that probably means the shooter had better aim and didn't kill Yoko accidentally after all. No Yoko art/music revival, no Yoko merchandise, and John doesn't remarry - no second appearance of May Pang after all.

So John dies, and Paul, George and Ringo go into seclusion fearing assassination themselves. John's music is lionized (unlike OTL, where he became a bit of a light-rock joke after he shook off the shock of losing Yoko), his causes are revived, and some sort of John Lennon Professorship of Peace is established at Oxford or Berkeley, something like that.

Just like Yoko in OTL, John's art and poetry is merchandized, and the rush is on for John Lennon granny glasses. Paul is marginalized, George never writes again and Ringo just disappears.

People begin to prefer old Plastic Ono Band music. The four-disc Lennon Anthology-type "You Are Here" goes multiple platinum. Plastic Ono Band tribute bands spring up all over.

And maybe if John is killed, that "appeases the gods" and George isn't killed in 1999 by that nutjob that broke into his house and stabbed him. Too bad Olivia couldn't stop him.
 
Last edited:
Top