John Lennon’s final long-form interview took place on 5 December 1980 with Jonathan Cott of Rolling Stone. What emerged was a portrait of an artist rediscovering joy: Lennon discussed fatherhood, creative rebirth, meditation, and the healing effect of stepping away from fame.
The conversation was intimate and wide-ranging. Lennon spoke about the Double Fantasy sessions, calling them “a dialogue between lovers,” and reflected on his time in The Beatles with an unusual mixture of pride and distance.
Three days later, he was gone. The interview stands today as a final window into a brilliant mind returning to the world with a sense of optimism — abruptly silenced.