The Last Time John Lennon Spoke About Paul McCartney — And the Truth About Their Bond

Few musical partnerships have shaped history like John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Together, they built the creative foundation of The Beatles, crafting a catalogue of timeless songs that remain culturally relevant more than 60 years later. But behind the fame, the duo’s relationship went through highs, lows, and an emotional reconciliation before Lennon’s tragic death in 1980.

The last time Lennon spoke publicly about McCartney sheds light on the complex yet enduring bond they shared — one built on love, rivalry, and mutual respect.

From Chance Meeting to Global Icons

Although born just two years apart, Lennon and McCartney didn’t meet in school. Their paths crossed by chance — a conversation on a bus about music soon led to a songwriting partnership. That partnership evolved into the most successful band in history.

Their relationship was often described as brotherly. They could clash fiercely, sometimes publicly, but beneath the arguments, both men wished each other the best.

The Post-Beatles Rift

When The Beatles broke up in 1970, tensions escalated. McCartney’s song “Too Many People” from his Ram album contained a subtle jab at Lennon and Yoko Ono:

“Too many people preaching practices,” McCartney admitted later, “was a little dig at John and Yoko.”

Lennon responded with the biting “How Do You Sleep?”, a track that openly criticised McCartney. The musical sparring could have ended their friendship for good, but over time, the two reconciled — a fact McCartney has described as one of the few comforts after Lennon’s death.

A Quiet Reconnection

By the late 1970s, Lennon and McCartney were on speaking terms again. While they didn’t see each other often, their interactions had returned to a more ordinary rhythm. As McCartney told Jonathan Ross:

“I was very lucky before he got killed we were mates and we were ringing each other… we used to make bread. So we’d talk about, ‘What’s your recipe, man?’ It got very normal again.”

For two music legends, these conversations weren’t about grand artistic visions — they were about life’s simple pleasures.

Lennon’s Final Words About McCartney

Just days before his death in December 1980, Lennon gave an interview to the BBC’s Andy Peebles. In it, he reflected on life in New York, his love for England, and his feelings toward McCartney.

Lennon even recalled McCartney unexpectedly visiting the Dakota Building, only for Lennon to decline going out:

“I’m baking bread and looking after the baby! If you think I’m coming out clubbing, you’ve gone mad!”

According to Peebles, Lennon spoke of McCartney with affection, acknowledging their lifelong “sibling rivalry” but holding no resentment.

McCartney’s Need for Reassurance

After Lennon’s death, McCartney contacted Peebles, seeking to know more about what Lennon had said. Still grieving, McCartney needed to hear that his old friend had truly let go of their past disagreements.

Peebles reassured him:

“‘John talked about you in the interview. He was sarcastic, funny, irreverent — but there was no doubting his fondness for you.’ We both became very emotional… I felt awful for making him cry.”

A Bond That Never Broke

From losing their mothers as teenagers to conquering the world together, Lennon and McCartney shared an understanding few could match. While they had fierce disagreements, their final exchanges showed their friendship had endured.

Lennon’s last public remarks about McCartney weren’t filled with bitterness, but with humour, warmth, and the quiet love of two men who had once changed music forever.