John Lennon and the Psychic

On August 23, 1980, Lee Spiegel, who hosted an NBC radio show Unexplained Phenomena, was interviewing psychic Alex Tanous for a show that was to be broadcast later. The interview took place at the American Society for Psychical Research at West 73rd Street in New York, directly across the street from the Dakota Apartments. Spiegel asked Tanous to predict something that would occur in the next few months that would be of interest to the many rock fans in the audience.

Tanous replied: “The prediction that I will make is that a very famous rock star will have an untimely death and this can happen from this moment on. I say untimely because there is something strange about his death, but it will affect the consciousness of many people because of his fame.”

The taped interview was played on September 5, 1980. On December 8, John Lennon was shot at the door of the Dakota.

Since Tanous hadn’t given a specific name, Spiegel had made a list of possibilities. John Lennon was at the top of the list.
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I checked on this story and one source says the program aired on September 8, three months to the day before Lennon’s death.

Tanous was born to psychic parents. Even before they had met, writer Kahlil Gibran told Tanous’s father that he would have a son with “exceptional gifts, of great abilities” but that he would also know “great sorrow.”

There’s more information about Tanous at the Alex Tanous foundation website

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13 Responses to John Lennon and the Psychic

  1. Trish and Rob MacGregor says:

    Rob reminded me that we saw Doubt – the title just didn't stick with me.

  2. GYPSYWOMAN says:

    i have doubt in my basket at amazon – just haven't checked it out yet – i'd already heard a lot about it before it hit the racks – and julia i know is a hoot! can't wait for them both!

  3. Trish and Rob MacGregor says:

    Doubt? Haven't heard of that one. We've gotten two recommendations for the Julia movie, though.

  4. terripatrick says:

    Just saw DOUBT on Friday – Streep was amazing.

  5. Trish and Rob MacGregor says:

    Ditto for Streep!

  6. GYPSYWOMAN says:

    listen, it doesn't matter WHAT meryl streep plays – it will be absolutely TOP NOTCH – i have followed her career forEVER – one of my all time favorites of any film is the french lieutenants woman with her playing opposite jeremy irons – and then she was breathtaking also in sophie's choice and out of africa! the list goes on – and you're right about her having the depth to play a great doris duke – she would have made the character real and credible –

  7. Sansego says:

    Meryl Streep is great in any movie! I'm constantly amazed by each performance. Its high time she won another Oscar, I think. She's has the record, I believe, in having the most Oscar nominations. It wasn't until "The Devil Wears Prada" that I became a fan of hers. Now, I'll watch any movie she's in (I really loved "Doubt").

  8. Trish and Rob MacGregor says:

    Meryl Streep would've made a great Doris Duke.

  9. GYPSYWOMAN says:

    i totally totally agree about sarandon AND the script!!! thought i was the only one who thought that about the film – i've always followed sarandon's work but was disappointed this time – i probably would not have remembered it at all had it not been for that particular scene reminding me of my own story – and, that's another neat thing about synchronicities – you never know where you're gonna find them!

  10. Trish and Rob MacGregor says:

    B&D was a silly movie, tho, a waste of talent that left me wondering why I'd watched it. I don't recommend it. Sarandon was miscast.

    But it did provide me with that morning synchronicity.
    Rob

  11. GYPSYWOMAN says:

    oh, wow!!! i SO remember that scene from bernard and doris – i've never forgotten it because during the last few days of my mother's life, i had wanted to open her hospital window to let in the fresh air and so she could smell the spring daffodils already blooming outside – and when i mentioned it to my mother, she said, "i'm not worried about what's living outside – i'm worried about what's dying in here" – i did not open the window – she died the next day –

    anyway, still another wonderful post!

  12. Trish and Rob MacGregor says:

    Wow! Marc, I heard Susan Sarandon tell a version of that same story last night. It was in a movie called Bernard and Doris. Her character related how her mother killed her ill father by opening a window to bring in fresh air–something they did in the South. But the family was living in NYC and it was winter.

    In the morning, the Sarandon character walked into her father's room. She could see her breath. He'd frozen to death.

    When I first read your comment, I couldn't remember where I'd heard the story and actually thought that Kahil Gibran was involved in it.

    Rob

  13. marc aurel says:

    There was once a famous writer, a woman, who was very seriously ill. Kahil Gibran visited her. He threw open the windows in her room, saying that she must have plenty of air. She died later that night. I was repeatedly told this story as a child, I think to scare me away from modern prophets. It didn't quite work.

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