On Thanksgiving night, November 28, 1974, Madison Square Garden erupted in euphoria when John Lennon, stepping out of three years of retreat, joined Elton John onstage—a surprise appearance fulfilling a legendary bet. The rock icon lent his voice and Fender Telecaster to a spirited performance of “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,” then followed with the Beatles classic “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” and closed with “I Saw Her Standing There.”
This intensified moment would become Lennon’s final major live performance—a historic convergence of two musical titans during a golden Thanksgiving broadcast. After yearlong skepticism, Lennon honored a pact: if the single topped the charts, he’d return to the stage. It did—and he delivered.
Their rendition of “I Saw Her Standing There” was especially iconic. Lennon quipped it was “a song by an old, estranged fiancé of mine called Paul,” before launching into the upbeat, youthful track he’d never performed live post-Beatles.
Released later as the B-side to “Philadelphia Freedom” and on live EPs, this performance is preserved in both Elton John’s “Here and There” and the Lennon box set, immortalizing that evening. Fans often describe the moment as surreal—Lennon stepping back into the limelight one final time, side by side with his chart-topping collaborator.
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That night, music history was made in real time—a clash of legacy and spontaneity that would never be repeated. The bond between Lennon and Elton played out in real-time for 20,000 fans under the Garden lights, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of rock & roll.
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