On the evening that Wings At The Speed Of Sound reached number one in the US charts, Paul McCartney paid a visit to John Lennon at the Dakota in New York City.
Lennon was watching the television show NBCās Saturday Night, the late-night comedy show which in 1977 became Saturday Night Live. It was shown on this evening on NBC from 11.30pm-1am Eastern Time; Lennon had tuned in to see appearances by actor Raquel Welch and The Lovinā Spoonfulās John Sebastian.
Co-creator and producer Lorne Michaels made occasional appearances on screen. During this particular episode he made a deliberately paltry on-air offer of $3,000 for The Beatles to reunite on the show.
Hi, Iām Lorne Michaels, the producer of Saturday Night. Right now, weāre being seen by approximately 22 million viewers, but please allow me, if I may, to address myself to four very special people. John, Paul, George and Ringo: The Beatles.Lately, there have been a lot of rumours to the effect that the four of you might be getting back together. That would be great. In my book, The Beatles are the best thing that ever happened to music. It goes even deeper than that, youāre not just a musical group. Youāre a part of us. We grew up with you.
Itās for this reason that Iām inviting you to come on our show. Now, weāve heard and read a lot about personality and legal conflicts that might prevent you guys from reuniting. Thatās something which is none of my business. You guys will have to handle that. But itās also been said that no one has yet come up with enough money to satisfy you. Well, if itās money you want, thereās no problem here. The National Broadcasting Company has authorised me to authorise you a certified cheque for $3,000. Here can you get a close-up of this?
Here it is. As you can see, verifiably, a cheque made out to you, The Beatles, for $3,000. All you have to do is sing three Beatle tunes. āShe Loves Youā, yeah, yeah, yeah ā thatās $1,000 right there. You know the words, and itāll be easy. Like I said, this cheque is made out to The Beatles. You divide it anyway you want: if you want to give Ringo less thatās up to you. Iād rather not get involved.
Iām sincere about this. If it helps you to reach a decision to reunite, well then, itās a worthwhile investment. You have agents, you know where I can be reached. Just think about it, OK? Thank you.
NBCās Saturday Night
Michaels was unaware that Lennon and McCartney were both watching NBC that night, and considered making the journey to the Rockefeller Center studio to claim the money.
Paul and I were together watching that show. He was visiting us at our place in the Dakota. We were watching it and almost went down to the studio, just as a gag. We nearly got into a cab, but we were actually too tiredā¦He and Linda walked in and he and I were just sitting there watching the show, and we went, Ha-ha, wouldnāt it be funny if we went down, but we didnāt.
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
Paul and Linda left the Dakota as Lennon and Yoko Ono began watching the 1960 science-fiction film The Time Machine. The following day, 25 April 1976, was the final occasion on which Lennon and McCartney saw each other.
The near-reunion later became the basis for the 2000 television drama Two Of Us. It was directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, who had filmed The Beatles for Let It Be and promo clips for the singles āPaperback Writerā and āHey Judeā, and starred Jared Harris as Lennon and Aidan Quinn as McCartney.
Also on this day...
- 1967: The Beatles watch Donovan perform in London
- 1965: Filming: Help!
- 1964: Filming: A Hard Dayās Night
- 1963: Live: Mersey Beat Showcase, London
- 1962: Live: Star-Club, Hamburg
- 1961: Live: Top Ten Club, Hamburg
- 1960: Live: Fox And Hounds, Caversham
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Its all a dream of futilityā¦āif John had never met Yokoā, āif John had been allowed to meet Paul in 1975 for a scheduled studio session in New Orleans arranged by Paul but was nixed by the bitchā, āif if ifā,ā¦the bottom line is.. if U could travel back in time, you would bar the little creature from EVER somehow penetrating the closed Beatles inner circle. One has to wonder how a totally unknown half backed Japanese, so called artist, was allowed access to elite, private social gatherings or parties that involved any Beatles. Normally only big celebs, or people with impressive connections were allowed access to events that included any of the Beatles. Something still stinks about the whole thingā¦..maybe she was a plant, tricky Dick Nixon already knew he was running for president as early as 1967 and hated the Beatles. & their influence, never say never:-)
For ātiredā substitute āstonedā.
Well, I have read where Ono had been showing up at the Lennonās residence back in the UK. How long that went on, well Iām not sure. But if I hadnāt heard it coming from Cynthia Lennon, I might not have believed it but she said it & I never heard of her having to lie about anything.
I grew up watching them on TV, lets see, Ed Sullivan 2 or 3 songs, On the BBC āAll You Need Is Loveā, āHey Judeā & went to the Theater & seen the Documentary āLet It Beā, [4 or 5 times.]
Pretty awesome time period. Glad I was born when I was so I could see them perform. I believe that I can safely say Iām speaking for everyone my age when I say that watching the Beatles during their start was an awesome part of Rock & Roll History.
I truly miss George Harrison. I always liked him & his music as well. He was a great song writer & I really did dig him when he helped start āThe Travailing Wilburys.ā They did have some great tunes, so with that said, Iām glad I stopped by, great website & to all you Beatles Fans, I miss them as much as anyone else. Have a great day everyone. Dan