Lennon Lives: A John Lennon Survives Timeline

June 17, 1981 - May Pang, the woman whom John Lennon had had a relationship with that he called 'the Lost Weekend', ended another phone call with "No Comment." Since John Lennon's brush with death and his return to the pop charts and tour, there had been several reporters attempting to contact her with requests for an interview about it. She had done her best to move on, working as a PR manager at United Artists Records, however what she hadn't told anyone was that she and John did still talk[1], though not to the extent that they used too. May Pang decided to ask John for advice first before doing anything.


[1] May Pang claimed that she and John Lennon were still lovers until 1977 and were in contact until his death. Most people assume that their relationship ended with the 'end' of the 'Lost Weekend' period of Lennon's life, but it's not outside the realm of possibility that they still talked on the phone every once and a while.
 
June 28th, 1981: Paul McCartney is interviewed by a journalist from ABC regarding the potential Beatles reunion. "Me and John just started talking again so I'm not sure, but it's definitely a possibility. Of course, George and Ringo would have to be on board with this as well, so we'll have to wait and see."
 
July 2, 1981-George Harrison is interviewed about the possibility of a Beatles reunion. Harrison, working on a new solo album, gives a puzzling response that no one can make heads or tails out of. "Well, I'm of the opinion that the Beatles are long since dead and buried. I think of it as something that happened a long time ago, and that it ended when it had to. But, John is starting to reach out to all of us, and that's really changing the equation."

July 5, 1981-Lennon, Ono and the band arrive in Mexico City for their tour stop there. The crowd resembles the height of Beatlemania, and Lennon is quite surprised. "If I'd known the crowd was going to be like this, I'd have come sooner." Before the concert, they are taken for a tour of Chapultepec Castle.
 
In a alternate universe Lennon undergoes a religious conversion imeadiatly after the shooting, announces he is dedicating his life to Jesus, and all his subsequent music appears only on Christian Rock radio & Christian youth concerts. Yoko & others are soon estranged.
 
July 6, 1981 - After struggling for two days to get in touch, May Pang managed to call John Lennon before he left Mexico for the next stop in his tour. While a bit ambivalent on Pang speaking to the media, Lennon conceded that their Lost Weekend had been a bit too public for her to avoid discussing it forever. Lennon's advice was that she should pick a media outlet that she trusted to be fair to them both if she felt comfortable speaking to the press.
 
July 7, 1981-An offer for an interview on both sides of the story by Jann Wenner is offered to both Pang and Lennon, as well as floated to Ono for her involvement and comments as well. The three parties agree to take it under consideration.
 
July 10, 1981-Lennon, Ono and Pang agree to Wenner's proposal and move to set up interviews when convenient.
 
July 14, 1981-The South American tour lands in Caracas, Venezuela for a performance as Polidero de Caracas.
 
July 25, 1981-During a break in the tour schedule, Lennon and Ono begin interviews for the Lost Weekend article.
 
August 1, 1981-Lennon is photographed with Paul McCartney on the streets of New York City amongst adoring fans.
 
Last edited:
August 2, 1981-The two former Beatles are said to have begun working on some material together, though this is never confirmed.
 
Last edited:
August 4, 1981-Lennon makes a surprise acoustic appearance at Central Park.
 
Last edited:
August 7, 1981-Lennon breaks his ankle during a show at Maple Leaf Gardens, forcing the cancellation of the next ten concerts.
 
August 9, 1981-A photo of Lennon emerging from a hospital in Toronto with a cast is shown on every newspaper and magazine in the world. A massive outpouring of fan letters surge through.
 
Top