Elton John “Imagine” At Central Park 1980

When we talk about John Lennon and Elton John, they were not just two of the greatest musicians of their time. They were also close friends. Their unique friendship was a bond of life and music. The two legends met in 1973 and from there, a friendship grew. Unfortunately, their friendship was cut short when Lennon was tragically murdered in December 1980. Lennon was shot by a fan named Mark David Chapman outside his New York apartment.

The Concert That Stood Out

John Lennon took a step back from the public eye during the late 1970s to focus on his family life. By August 1980, he was busy recording tracks for his upcoming album, Double Fantasy.

September 13 that year, Elton John hosted a free concert in Central Park, New York. The live concert drew a crowd of over 300,000. A concert highlight was Elton John performing his hit “Your Song” and singing to Lennon’s “Imagine” while dressed in a Donald Duck suit. During the show, Elton took a moment to announce:

“We are going to make a song composed by a friend of mine that I haven’t seen in a long time. He lives right there across the street.”

Remembering a Friend

Elton continued to honor Lennon by performing “Imagine” throughout his 1980 tour, but the performance after December 8th, the day Lennon was shot, held a special significance. The loss was painful which made it difficult for Elton to perform the song. So in 1981, he expressed that grief and wrote a song titled, “Empty Garden,” as a heartfelt tribute to Lennon.

This special bond between John and Elton just shows the impact these musical legends had on each other’s lives and the world. Theirs was a friendship that was built. And though cut short, continues to resonate through their music and the memories they created together.

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