John Lennon Told His Close Friend 'I've Never Been Afraid of Death' (Exclusive)

For almost 10 years, John Lennon and Yoko Ono talked almost every night, sometimes for hours, with their close friend Elliot Mintz.

Mintz, a radio and TV host from Los Angeles, became close to the couple after first interviewing Yoko for her 1971 album. Flywhich led to a series of late-night conversations with Yoko – or John – and eventually, both. Over time, Mintz became one of their closest confidants. He is so trusted that Ono asked him to go through John’s belongings after he was killed on December 8, 1980.

Almost 44 years after the rock legend’s death, Mintz (79) wrote a book about their intimate friendship, We’re all shining: John, Yoko and me.

John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Elliot Mintz.

Courtesy of Elliot Mintz

It was a decision Mintz, who remains very close to Ono, 91, and her son Sean Lennon, 49, made carefully. “We all know where it’s going to end,” he says. “I was drawing from life experience, mostly happy and joyful, but I also knew we were going to be treading some very delicate waters.”

In the exclusive excerpt below, Mintz recalls visiting their apartment in the iconic Dakota Building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side following the murder of Mintz’s close friend, actor Sal Mineo, best known for his roles in such classics as A rebel without a cause, for which he was nominated for an Oscar, and Div.

After Mine was stabbed by a robber outside his West Hollywood apartment on February 12, 1976, Mintz accompanied his body on a flight to New York and attended his funeral. Afterwards, Lennon, who called Ono “mother”, invited him to their apartment.

Elliot Mintz, close friend of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, describes their life together in new book (Exclusive)

‘We All Shine On’ by Elliot Mintz.

Dutton

“Ellie, mother and I want to see you,” John said.

“John, I’m burnt out and completely exhausted. Can we visit tomorrow?”

“Mother and I would really like to see you now,” he repeated. I was too tired to argue, so I hung up and, without changing out of my funeral suit, grabbed a cab. A few minutes later, I was on the seventh floor of the Dakota, about to enter John and Yoko’s apartment. I noticed something new hanging from its brass knob: a small string of Tibetan bells and beads, which I recognized as mystical totems supposed to possess magical protective powers. I assumed they were added when Sean joined the family.

John gave me a bear hug as soon as he saw me, then led me into the kitchen, where Yoko was waiting. And she hugged me; it was one of the rare occasions when she voluntarily gave a physical hug. We were sitting at their kitchen table and I was surprised to see a bottle of Chardonnay waiting for me with one glass; for obvious reasons, Yoko usually kept her home an alcohol-free zone.

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We talked for hours, late into the night. I was still grieving, of course – devastated – but gradually I felt the despair slowly disappearing.

“Tell me how you feel,” Yoko asked softly. “Completely empty,” I replied. “But you’re not alone, Elliot. you are here WITH people who love you.”

John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Elliot Mintz.

Courtesy of Elliot Mintz

John smiled. But he seemed interested in Sal’s murder and couldn’t resist asking questions.

“Did Sal know this man, Ellie?”

“It appears to have been a random act of violence,” I said. “Sal doesn’t seem to have known the man.”

“It could happen to anyone or anyone,” John said. “Do you ever worry that it might happen to you?” I asked.

“If it can happen to anyone or everyone, why should I waste my time worrying about it happening to me?”

“But you never have bodyguards or security people around you. Why don’t you protect yourself?”

John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Relationship: A Look Back

“All my life I had guys around me who were supposed to protect me. When the group started the tour, there were hundreds of police officers around us. But if they want to get you, they will. Look at all the people Kennedy had around him. I don’t need bodyguards. I don’t want them. I’m just a rock ‘n’ roll singer.”

“But John,” I pressed, “don’t you think more people around you – or just one more – would make you at least a little safer?”

“No,” he replied. “Even the thought of it gives me goosebumps.”

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“I was never afraid of death,” he added after a pause. “For me, it’s like getting out of one car and getting into another.”

Yoko nodded in agreement. “Nothing can be prevented if it’s meant to happen,” she said. “Once we spoke to one of the best palm readers in Greece and she said that John was going to be killed on the island. Should we avoid all islands? If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”

As comforting as John and Yoko were, my exhaustion began to overwhelm me. I needed some sleep. So, as the sun began to rise over Manhattan Island, Yoko gave me another half-hug as John walked me to their door. When he opened them to let me out, we heard the tinkling of tiny Tibetan bells.

“This,” John said, pointing to the magical totems hanging from the doorknob, “This is all the protection we need.”

Adapted from WE ALL SHINE ON: John, Yoko, and Me by Elliot Mintz. It will be published on October 22, 2024 by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright © 2024 Elliot Mintz

We’re all shining: John, Yoko and me Elliot Mintz is out on October 22 and is available for pre-order now, wherever books are sold.

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