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John Lennon’s Final Hours: A Glimpse into His “Open” and “Excited” Demeanor
New York City, NY – On December 8, 1980, just hours before his tragic death, music icon John Lennon was described as “open” and “excited” during his final radio interview. The Beatles legend, aged 40, was fatally shot outside the Dakota building, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate today.
Director Steven Soderbergh is shedding new light on Lennon’s last day in an upcoming documentary, revisiting a pivotal radio conversation with RKO Radio where Lennon appeared alongside his wife, Yoko Ono. Soderbergh revealed to Variety that both John and Yoko were “so free in their discussions,” covering a wide array of topics from politics and music to their future aspirations. “I was surprised at how open and excited they were to talk,” Soderbergh confessed.
The 62-year-old filmmaker quipped that their candidness made it seem as though they were new to the interview scene. He further emphasized the enduring relevance of their conversation, stating, “Everything that they said 45 years ago is not just relevant today. It’s even more relevant in terms of relationships, politics, how we treat each other,” as reported by the Mirror US.
The three-and-a-half-hour RKO Radio session, conducted at the Dakota, was their sole radio appearance to promote their recently released album, Double Fantasy. Interview hosts Dave Sholin and Laurie Kaye recalled Lennon’s buoyant mood. Sholin, speaking on 20/20, remembered Lennon arriving “somewhere around noon” and “literally jumping up, leaping into the room and extending his arms like, ‘Hey folks, I’m here!'”
Sholin added, “He had just turned 40. As he said, this was like he was opening up a new chapter.
That was the mood of the day, and he could not have been more upbeat.” Kaye echoed these sentiments, noting Lennon appeared “just happy,” expressing joy about his life with Yoko and his son, Sean, and his future in music.
Beyond the radio interview, Lennon’s final day included a photoshoot with Annie Leibovitz for Rolling Stone‘s cover and a recording session for what would become Yoko Ono’s 1981 hit, “Walking on Thin Ice.” Music producer Jack Douglas, who worked with Lennon that day, told People Magazine in 2023 that John and Yoko were “just so happy” in the studio.
Douglas recounted Lennon’s satisfaction with Double Fantasy, noting, “He didn’t think we were going to set the world on fire with [Double Fantasy]. But it didn’t matter to him.
He just wanted to tell the truth about where he was in his life at 40 years old. And he felt really good about it.”