When artists today leverage their platforms for social causes—think Taylor Swift’s voter registration drives or Kendrick Lamar’s protest anthems—they’re following a playbook John Lennon wrote in 1972. The newly released video of Lennon, Yoko Ono, and the Plastic Ono Band performing “Instant Karma (We All Shine On)” at Madison Square Garden proves that point with startling clarity.
Released August 30th at exactly 2 p.m. EDT, precisely 53 years after the original afternoon show, this footage captures more than nostalgia. It documents the moment benefit concerts became essential artist territory.
Raw Energy Meets Intimate Power
Split-screen cinematography captures both the musicians’ chemistry and the crowd’s electric response.
You’ll notice immediately how intimate this performance feels despite the arena setting. Lennon commands his electric piano while Ono mirrors him on a matching instrument, backed by Elephant’s Memory and drummer Jim Keltner.
The split-screen footage alternates between close-ups of the musicians’ intense focus and wide shots of the participatory audience—a visual technique that feels revolutionary for 1972. These One to One Concerts represented Lennon’s only full-length solo performances after leaving The Beatles, organized specifically to raise money for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Beyond Nostalgia
The performance anchors a massive archival project remixed with today’s audio technology.
This footage serves as the centerpiece for the comprehensive Power to the People box set, launching October 10th—one day after what would have been Lennon’s 85th birthday. The 12-disc collection contains 123 tracks with 90 previously unreleased recordings, all remixed in stereo, 5.1 surround, and Dolby Atmos by Sean Ono Lennon and his Grammy-winning team at Abbey Road Studios.
Modern audio fidelity transforms Lennon’s most politically active period (1969-1972) into something that feels immediate rather than historical. For 1970s Stars willing to risk their careers for their beliefs, such archival treatments reveal the lasting impact of their courage.
The Karma Blueprint
A 2026 concert film will showcase how Lennon merged entertainment with activism decades before it became standard.
Lennon once explained “Instant Karma!” as being about immediate consequences—”the actual instant karma, the action reaction.” That philosophy permeates this performance, where music becomes a direct response to social need.
The footage will anchor an upcoming 2026 concert film, positioning these concerts within the broader story of how artists learned to balance entertainment value with activist messaging. For contemporary musicians navigating social responsibility, this archival footage offers a masterclass in making advocacy feel authentic rather than performative—demonstrating how transformative musical moments can reshape both songs and society.
