There’s always been an air of mystery around the tragic death of John Lennon. Before he was shot and killed in New York City, he received a chilling prophecy about his demise from what was considered one of the finest palm readers in Greece. This eerie prediction was shared with Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, according to their close friend Elliot Mintz.
The Los Angeles-based radio DJ, who was 79 at the time he spoke of this, recounted in an interview how the palm reader was insistent that John would meet his end on an island.
Mintz, being a New Yorker himself, said he associated islands with places surrounded by water and didn’t initially consider New York City, which is essentially an island, as the site of such a prediction.
Tragically, John Lennon was indeed murdered by Mark David Chapman outside his residence in NYC on December 8, 1980, at the age of 40.
Despite the dire warning, John and Yoko didn’t seem to worry for his safety. Yoko, as described by Mintz, often sought the counsel of psychics and astrologers. She would make few decisions without consulting this ‘paranormal world’ she was fond of.
Lennon himself was never keen on the idea of having bodyguards around him. He once stated, “I’m just a rock ‘n’ roll singer.” He was quoted saying that safety measures didn’t guarantee protection, as demonstrated by the unfortunate fate of public figures like Kennedy. Even Disneyland, he noted, couldn’t shield from attacks if someone was determined enough.
Speaking of death, Lennon metaphorically described it as transitioning from one car to another and exhibited no fear toward it.
Yoko herself wasn’t about to change their lifestyle over the palm reader’s ominous forecast. She believed, “If it’s meant to happen, nothing can prevent it,” reflecting a stoic acceptance of fate.
While John wasn’t concerned about his personal safety, he did confess a fear to Mintz: that he had to pass before Yoko because her absence was unimaginable to him.
Mintz disclosed the first moment he became worried for Lennon’s safety was after actor Sal Mineo’s murder, which made him question Lennon’s lack of personal security, recalling, “I don’t believe those people make any difference at all. I’m not scared of death.”
Serving as a spokesperson for the family following Lennon’s passing, Mintz maintains a strong connection with Yoko and their son, Sean Lennon, who supported Mintz’s decision to document his friendship with John in a memoir.
The tragic night of Lennon’s murder, Chapman had even approached him for an autograph on his “Double Fantasy” album just before committing the crime.
Currently serving a 20-years-to-life sentence, Chapman disclosed at a 2022 parole hearing that his motive was driven by a twisted pursuit of fame and an admission of harboring “evil in my heart.”
