On this day in 1969, the UNICEF Peace & Love for Christmas Concert was held in London

Organised as a charity event, the cancer featured performances from the likes of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston and a brief appearance from Keith Moon. Tickets for this extraordinary line-up sold for £1 each and drew an impressive crowd.

The event marked Lennon and Harrison’s first scheduled performance since 1966 and they were joined by Eric Clapton, performing under a giant “War is over” banner previewing the idea of John and Yoko’s subsequent Christmas single. The group performed the Plastic Ono Band’s then current single “Cold Turkey” and its B-side “Don’t Worry Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking For Her Hand In The Snow)”, both with extended performances. 

The UNICEF Peace & Love for Christmas Concert was not only a memorable show for it’s performances, but also as John Lennon’s final UK live appearance as he moved to the United States shortly after.