Paul McCartney Reflects on Mending Friendship with John Lennon Before His Death

The former Beatles bandmates found common ground in domestic activities like baking bread.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 6:04pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a new documentary, Paul McCartney opened up about how he and John Lennon repaired their relationship in the years before Lennon's tragic death in 1980. McCartney revealed that simple activities like baking bread helped bridge the gap between the former Beatles, and their reconciliation extended to the other band members as well. McCartney expressed relief about mending their friendship before Lennon's untimely passing, stating he didn't know what he would have thought if they were still at odds.

Why it matters

The reconciliation between McCartney and Lennon marked a significant healing after years of tension following the Beatles' acrimonious breakup in 1970. Their renewed friendship in the final years of Lennon's life provided closure and allowed them to move past the creative disputes, contract issues, and personal arguments that had driven them apart.

The details

McCartney shared that he and Lennon had started bonding over domestic activities like bread-making, which helped them find common ground. Their relationship with the other Beatles members also improved, with McCartney noting they "weren't fighting anymore" and would visit each other. McCartney was grateful they were able to mend fences before Lennon's murder in 1980.

  • In the late 1970s, McCartney and Lennon had reconciled to some extent, including casual phone conversations about everyday topics like their kids and baking bread.
  • In March 1974, during Lennon's 'Lost Weekend' period in Los Angeles, McCartney made an unannounced visit to a recording session with Harry Nilsson, marking their only known post-Beatles musical collaboration before Lennon's 1980 death.

The players

Paul McCartney

A member of the iconic British rock band The Beatles, known for his songwriting, bass playing, and vocals.

John Lennon

A member of The Beatles, known for his songwriting, rhythm guitar playing, and vocals. He was tragically murdered in 1980.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I had started making bread and was getting pretty good, and I started talking to John, and he said, 'Oh yeah, I'm making bread!' So things that we had in common were just ordinary little domestic things. So somehow that was peaceful, and it was nice that we had that in common.”

— Paul McCartney

“And we weren't fighting anymore. I would go and visit him and we had quite a bit of interaction, and the same with George and Ringo. It was all getting much nicer.”

— Paul McCartney

“I thought, 'Thank God we got it back together'. I don't know what I would have thought if we hadn't and we were still warring.”

— Paul McCartney

The takeaway

The reconciliation between Paul McCartney and John Lennon in the final years of Lennon's life serves as a poignant reminder that even the most fractured relationships can be mended through simple acts of connection and shared experiences. Their renewed friendship provided closure and allowed the former bandmates to move past the tensions that had driven them apart after the breakup of the Beatles.