Lennon Lives: A John Lennon Survives Timeline

Toxic34

March 2, 1981-Lennon and Ono are interviewed by Mike Wallace for an episode of 60 Minutes. On the question of what Milk and Honey would be like, Lennon says, "It'll be much the same as the last one, but maybe somewhat more loose and rocking." On producer Jack Douglas and his work for Aerosmith and Cheap Trick, "Well, I figured he knew what it would take for me to get on the charts again. He has real rock and roll roots in him. However, he doesn't like Yoko very much, and he likes to tell those bands that she's imposing herself into these albums. I don't like that, but as long as the work is great, I can live with it." And on a Beatles reunion, "well, I guess I'll say never say never."

(The part about Douglas and his hatred of Yoko is based on his revisionist recollections of the sessions in many interviews, Tim Riley's lamentable Lennon book, and in the Aerosmith book Walk This Way.)
 

Toxic34

March 5, 1981-Lennon has a phone conversation with George Harrison, their first real contact in years. Lennon promises to keep in touch.
 

Toxic34

March 7, 1981-A new finished track from the Milk And Honey album, "Nobody Told Me", is released as a single and receives considerable radio play.
 

Toxic34

March 11, 1981-George Harrison begins work on a wistful ode to Beatlemania entitled "All Those Years Ago." Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr join on the track, doing the song live with minimal overdubs.
 

Toxic34

March 15, 1981-Lennon is asked in an interview with ABC about the ailing and near-death Bob Marley. "Well, I wasn't all that aware of him. I was trying to keep my ear out of the industry when I was taking care of Sean. But since I've been back on the road, I've listened to his stuff, and it really is quite remarkable. I think it's a shame I didn't get into him sooner, because there might have been something there.'
 

Toxic34

March 17, 1981-Frederic Seaman, an employee of the Lennons, is caught trying to steal personal diaries and various other items from their apartment. Lennon emphatically shoots down Seaman's defense of claiming to be his authorized biographer or being entrusted to deliver the diaries to his older son Julian.
 

Toxic34

March 20, 1981-Milk And Honey is officially fully recorded, and moves on to the mixing and mastering processes.
 

Toxic34

March 21, 1981-Lennon is interviewed by WNEW about the album. "It'll come out in a month or two, and Yoko and I will definitely be on the road again. This tour will be a lot longer. For example, we're getting offers to appear in Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Sydney. Those are definitely promising."
 

Toxic34

April 10, 1981-Milk And Honey is released. After the initial lukewarm reception to Double Fantasy prior to Lennon's attemped assassination, this album is a hit commercially and critically.
 

Toxic34

April 16, 1981-The promotional video for the song "I'm Stepping Out" premieres on the revived ABC In Concert (merging once again with Don Kirshner's Rock Concert) to help stir excitement for the planned tour.
 
Last edited:

Toxic34

April 18, 1981-When asked whether he will attend the trial for either his attempted killer or that of John Hinckley for his assassination attempt of President Reagan, Lennon demurs. "I don't want to turn it all into a fuckin' circus. I tend to think Lindbergh did himself no favors."
 

Toxic34

May 30, 1981-The Milk And Honey tour begins at the Hollywood Sportatorium in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Throughout the concert, Lennon makes quips about The Beatles' appearances in the Sunshine State, notably performing in Jacksonville during Hurricane Dora.
 

Toxic34

June 5, 1981-At the Omni Coliseum in Atlanta, Lennon and Ono personally meet Ted Turner backstage, and rumors of whether they will become investors or shareholders in Turner's burgeoning empire begin to fly.
 

Toxic34

June 10, 1981-A performance at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis is filmed and recorded for a potential concert film and album. Lennon quips about the "more popular than Jesus" kerfuffle, and also does renditions of "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Hound Dog" in tribute to Elvis Presley.
 

Toxic34

June 14, 1981-Ringo Starr joins Lennon onstage for a couple of songs at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. The crowd response is incredibly wild, and rumors of a full-fledged Beatles reunion reach full throttle.
 

Toxic34

June 16, 1981-Lennon visits Paul McCartney when he hears that his ex-bandmate is vacationing with his family in Nashville. The first time the two have been together in five years goes off quite happily, without a trace of animosity. They spend much of their time laughing and joking with each other. Lennon takes the moment to apologize to McCartney's wife, Linda, over some the vile comments he made about her in phone conversations with her husband a decade ago.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top
Top