John Lennon & Paul McCartney Meet in Santa Monica

Friday 29 March 1974 | John Lennon, Paul McCartney

On 29 March 1974, Paul and Linda McCartney visited John Lennon at his Santa Monica home at 625 Palisades Beach Road. The visit came the day after a jam session with Lennon, the McCartneys, Stevie Wonder, Harry Nilsson, Keith Moon, and other friends — and is one of the last known personal reunions between the two former Beatles.

The Santa Monica Gathering

Lennon and his partner May Pang were renting the house for $5,000 per month, originally built by Louis B. Mayer and leased from actor Peter Lawford. The McCartneys brought their daughters Heather, Mary, and Stella.

May Pang recalled:

“We showed Paul and Linda the house and then sat down in the living room to talk. While we talked Paul kept staring at the piano. He couldn’t stand it anymore and got up and headed for it. The minute John saw Paul go to the piano he ducked out of the room and Linda followed after him. Ringo also made a quick exit.”

“I remained in the living room while Paul began to sing and play a group of 1930s standards. While he was playing, his five-year-old, Mary, said, ‘Daddy, are you some sort of pop star or something?’ Everyone burst out laughing.”

“Later we all went for a walk on the beach and then sat in the sun while the girls went for a dip. The conversation remained casual, since John and Paul did not discuss any controversial issues; there was not much gossip, and the afternoon went by pleasantly.”

Historical Context & Yoko Ono Message

The visit also served a purpose: Paul was conveying a message from Yoko Ono, from whom Lennon was estranged. McCartney recalled:

“When they split up, Yoko came to London, looking like a widow, a little diminutive sad figure in black. She said, ‘Do you still love him? Do you want to get back with him?’ We said, ‘Yes.’ We said, ‘Well, what would it take then?’… I went out there and he was doing Pussy Cats with Nilsson, Keith Moon and Jesse Ed Davis… Three beautiful total alcohol nutters plus John, forget it! Even the location is perfect. We went round to a session and sat there for a bit. It was a little strange, John and I, seeing each other at that time. But then we dropped by their house the next day for a cup of tea or something.”

Atmosphere & Personal Moments

“Keith Moon was very sweet, we had a nice chat with Keith. He was very complimentary about Band on the Run, which was out recently. He asked, ‘Who drummed on that, man?’ And it happened to be me. So I said, ‘Me, man.’ Moonie is my second favourite drummer of all time. Ringo, Moonie, John Bonham would be my three main drummers.”

“I was having fun with the guys sitting round the pool, and eventually John got up. Linda and I had kids so we’d be up early. We wouldn’t be just lying in bed till three in the afternoon, which is what John was doing. He was a teenager again… He was just being his old Liverpool self, just a wild, wild boy.”

“But I took John in the back room of the house, sat down – ‘How you doing? Great. Lovely to see you…’ He was in quite a mellow mood. It was early morning for him, early morning in the afternoon. I said, ‘Yoko was through London and she said she wouldn’t mind getting back together. How about you? Would you be interested in that?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ That he still loved her and stuff. I said, ‘Here’s the deal. You’ve got to go back to New York. You’ve got to go get a flat, court her…’ And that’s just what he did. That’s how they got back together again.”

– Paul McCartney, Many Years From Now, Barry Miles

Location: 625 Palisades Beach Road, Santa Monica

FAQs

When did John Lennon and Paul McCartney last meet?

One of their last known personal meetings was on 29 March 1974 at Lennon’s rental home at 625 Palisades Beach Road, Santa Monica, California.

Why did Paul McCartney visit John Lennon in Santa Monica?

To deliver a message from Yoko Ono and to reconnect personally. McCartney helped facilitate Lennon and Ono’s reconciliation during the visit.

Who else was present at the Santa Monica reunion?

Linda McCartney, May Pang, Harry Nilsson, Keith Moon, and the McCartney children — Heather, Mary, and Stella.

Did Lennon and McCartney play music together at this meeting?

Not together — when Paul sat at the piano, John left the room. The previous day’s jam session (28 March) was the musical gathering, attended by Stevie Wonder, Harry Nilsson, and Keith Moon.

Did Lennon and McCartney reconcile their friendship?

Yes — by 1974 their relationship had warmed considerably. McCartney described the afternoon as pleasant and casual, with no controversial topics discussed.

Explore more Beatles history: The Beatles Knowledge Hub | On This Day in Beatles History | March in Beatles History

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