John Lennon just imagine............................

[Brazoo]

Yeah, good point Jim. Off the top of my head I'm thinking McCartney and Lennon might have both become a lot more litigious in the 80s.

If they were suing each other then I don't think the reunion would have ever happened, but if they were joining forces to reclaim their publishing rights - then maybe that would have rekindled something. I'm actually not too clear on the details of the situation. Maybe someone who knows more about it can speculate on which way that might have gone.

In the late 80s when The Stones went from being a joke to becoming one of the biggest money making music acts in history - just from touring - it's hard to think that that wouldn't at least have added pressure for a Beatles reunion tour of some kind.

Lennon in the Traveling Wilburys is kind of a cool thing to think about. As always with very progressive people who died before hip-hop took off and electronic instruments got more sophisticated it's interesting to think about if that would have affected Lennon's music in any way. Also the resurgence of folk/rock in the early 90s.

There's always the possibility that Lennon already had all his great work behind him when he was taken, which is very sad to think about, but truthfully that's been the case with most of his peers.

[megoscott]

I don't know if Lennon would have been artistically relevant later on, and I don't know that he would have cared. Yoko is an investing genius, they never would have needed the money. And he may have mellowed, but I think he would have been very politically active in the 80s during the Reagan/Thatcher years and I think he'd have been very visible during the last Bush administration.

[Brazoo]

Not to get into a political debate at all - but given Lennon's political slant maybe it's possible the Reagan/Thatcher era would have unmellowed him - then again, most of his peers seemed kind of politically numb during that period for some reason. Or maybe their rebellion was disguised in irony more than anger at that point.

Seems to me in some ways Lennon was getting mellower, in some ways he was getting more reactionary, don't you think?

[Zemo]

In the late 80s when The Stones went from being a joke

lol ***

[ODBJBG]

Lennon would have done a song this year or last with Kanye West. It would have happened.

So, at least that didn't happen.

[Brazoo]

lol ***

I can't see what you wrote - it's been censored.

"joke" was maybe a little too strong - they're one of my favorite bands by the way - but from what I understand they were becoming less popular and less successful money-wise until (I guess) the Steel Wheels tour - which put them back on top again. Is that not correct?

I've heard a lot of people say the Stones' touring success influenced a lot of reunion tours and the way they were marketed.

[Brazoo]

Lennon would have done a song this year or last with Kanye West. It would have happened.

So, at least that didn't happen.

Lennon with autotune - GAAAAKK!!!!

[Mikey]

Even though they're almost complete opposites I could picture Lennon being buddies with Hank Williams Jr in the mid 90's and doing something together.

I think Lennon was always a bit of a closet country freak but the country-rock thing didn't start till well after he died.

[Brazoo]

Heh - interesting, but for some reason I picture Lennon hanging with Beck.

[megoscott]

Maybe he'd have left Yoko to hook up with Bjork.

[Brazoo]

Maybe he would have joined in with Jagger and Bowie for their weird 80s coke party era version of "Dancing In The Street"?

[cactus725]

Even though they're almost complete opposites I could picture Lennon being buddies with Hank Williams Jr in the mid 90's and doing something together.

I think Lennon was always a bit of a closet country freak but the country-rock thing didn't start till well after he died.

I believe Gram Parsons, The Byrds, the Eagles, the Band, Marshal Tucker, Charlie Daniels, Grinder Switch, Goose Creek Symphony, Lynard Skynyrd, and many more ...were all merging country with Rock way before Lennon was shot, Lennon was a legend. If he was alive today his music would be as relevent now as it ws then...He could do what ever he wanted to ...He was a Beatle, the rules are just different for those four lads from Liverpool! Long live the legacy of The Beatles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mikey]

John Lennon would of thought most of the music today was garbage.

I dunno,
Lennon might surprise you.
Back in the day he said ABBA's SOS was one of his most favorite pop songs of all time.
This makes me think he wasn't closed when a new sound came around.

[clemso]

Yeah John, what a great loss. I loved the track "Woman" I felt he was coming into some songwriting form. Very sad day.

[Mikey]

My favorite Lennon solo songs are #9 Dream and Mind Games

I can listen to them and they almost hypnotize me.

George Harrison's Isn't It A Pity is very hypnotic too.