November 28, 1974 marked a bittersweet milestone in rock history - John Lennon's final live concert performance at Madison Square Garden. The former Beatle took the stage that night as a surprise guest during Elton John's Thanksgiving concert, fulfilling a playful bet between the two music legends.
The unexpected appearance stemmed from a friendly wager made during the recording of Lennon's "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night." Elton John, who provided backing vocals on the track, was convinced it would become Lennon's first solo number-one hit. He challenged Lennon to join him on stage if the prediction came true.
"I sort of halfheartedly promised that if 'Whatever Gets You Thru the Night' became No. 1, which I had no reason to expect, I'd do Madison Square Garden with him," Lennon later recalled in a 1980 interview. When the song indeed topped the Billboard charts that November, Elton came calling to collect on the bet.
The unannounced performance electrified the Madison Square Garden crowd. What no one could know that night was that this impromptu appearance would be Lennon's last time performing for a concert audience. Just over six years later, in December 1980, Lennon's life was cut tragically short outside his New York City apartment.
While various myths have surrounded that November evening, including claims about it sparking Lennon's reunion with Yoko Ono, the night's true legacy lies in its music - a final glimpse of one of rock's most influential artists doing what he loved best, performing live for his fans.
The performance stands as both a celebration of an enduring musical friendship and a poignant farewell to a legendary performer, though no one realized it at the time. That autumn night in 1974, the Madison Square Garden audience witnessed what would become a precious piece of rock history - the last concert appearance of John Lennon.