On September 22nd 1980, John Lennon signed to David Geffen's new independent recording label, Geffen Records. John and Yoko's album Double Fantasy was released on the Geffen label through Warner Bros. in both the U.S. and the U.K. To this end, Warner Bros.' Head of Promotions, Bill Fowler, flew to New York to celebrate the album's release with John and Yoko. Andy Peebles flew to New York on 6th December to interview John and Yoko about their new album, and it was then that this historic photograph was taken, just two days before Lennon's death.

Bill Fowler recalls having dinner with John and Yoko at New York's famous Chinese restaurant, Mr Chow's. During dinner, John was full of enthusiasm for a return trip to the U.K. he was planning in the Spring of 1981, and his intention to appear on The Old Grey Whistle Test television show and be interviewed by Annie Nightingale. Bill returned to London on 8th December and arrived the following day to the news that John had been shot outside the Dakota building.

10 years later, George Harrison's band, The Traveling Wilburys, were releasing their second album, incongruously titled Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3, and on the day of the press conference at Warner Bros., George was using Bill's office. Seeing this photograph on the wall, George annotated it with his comments, however rang Bill the next day to apologise.