It was 27 years ago today.

[garybeck]

I write this post every year because I believe this person had such an impact on our world, and on me as a person. I admire him so much because when he was at the top, he used his fame to try to change the world. He could have just made money on his music, bought a yacht, and sat back and watched it all go by. But I think he realized, that when you're famous, and especially when you're very famous, every moment you are alive is an opporutity to change the world. Most others squander that opportunity.

I'll never forget the night, I was in junior high school, up late listening to the radio with headphones when my parents thought I was sleeping, and the radio station interrupted the broadcast to announce that he had been shot. They did not have more details at first. We had to listen to a few songs of "regular broadcast," wondering what happened, and then a while later they interrupted again and told us all that he was gone.

Over Thanksgiving I was at the inlaws. At dinner one night I was asked "that" trite question -- "if you could invite 7 people to dinner, dead or alive, anyone in the world, who would you invite?" I was caught off guard, hadn't been asked that question in a while, and didn't have a stock answer in my back pocket. I took a deep breath, and the first person that popped in my mind was John Lennon. He will always be a hero to me.

John, your life was short, but you did change the world.

from Chicago Tribune, Tuesday, December 9, 1980

EX-BEATLE LENNON SLAIN

NEW YORK--John Lennon, the driving force behind the legendary Beatles rock group, was shot to death late Monday as he entered his luxury apartment building on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

Lennon, 40, one of the most prolific songwriters of the century, was rushed in a police car to St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, where he died shortly after arrival.

Police said Lennon was shot outside the Dakota, the century-old apartment house where he and his wife, Yoko Ono, lived across the street from Central Park.

New York Chief of Detectives James D. Sullivan identified the alleged assailant as Mark David Chapman, 25, of 55 S. Kukui St., Hawaii.

Sullivan said Chapman arrived in New York City about a week ago and stayed at several YMCAs before checking into the Sheraton Center Hotel in midtown Manhattan. Chapman was seen at the Dakota on Saturday and Sunday, asking about Lennon, Sullivan said. Chapman was there again Monday afternoon when Lennon and Ono left their apartment about 5 p.m. to go to a recording session, Sullivan said. Chapman stopped Lennon and got an autograph on a record album, the chief said.

When Lennon and Ono returned shortly before 11 p.m. New York time, they left their limousine at the curb and walked up the driveway toward the courtyard. Chapman came up behind them and called out, "Mr. Lennon," Sullivan said.

As Lennon started to turn, Chapman went into a combat stance, and emptied a Charter Arms .38 revolver, which contained five bullets, Sullivan said.

Lennon staggered up six steps into the vestibule and said, "I'm shot," before collapsing on the floor, Sullivan said.

Here is a link to the actual CBS Radio announcement from that night. (real audio)
http://www.angelfire.com/music2/20yearsgone/multimedia/Lennoncbsn.ra
(if it doesn't work try copying the URL into your browser)

Video Coverage of the night:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YCYN0xf6lFM

Shot him in the back. The fucker. I am not a vengeful person but I hope that guy rots in jail.

But let's remember him not for his death but for his life and how he did change the world and his spirit lives on today, in so many ways.

Yoko's words to John, written TODAY:
http://imaginepeace.com/

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=I-NRriHlLUk

Peace Choir - Give Peace A Chance 1991
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_IWCq-b5m9s

Rare footage of John playing Imagine acoustic
http://youtube.com/watch?v=H7_6Vzj7Rng

All You Need is Love, one of the first worldwide TV broadcasts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLxTpsIVzzo

George Harrison's tribute
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7DUfjlFyqA

John in an inteview 1973, saying the Beatles "could" get back together
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bRzPqekpPw4

Paul McCartney, "If you were here today"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=78pBx7al8_A

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (from the film Yellow Submarine)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=A7F2X3rSSCU

John and Chuck Berry rockin'out
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wWqVpzXgZgY

Give Peace a Chance, LIVE!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1OnWAOqZj58

1969 Interview
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tZeQDNR5o7g

Imagine, the music video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jEOkxRLzBf0

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. ....

Thank you for this beautiful thread...

K&R

:cry:

[ClayZ]

2. .

:cry:

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. Always and forever in my heart, Johnny

http://imaginepeace.com/

[garybeck]

4. thanks for that link, i'm adding it to the OP

[stillrockin]

5. Still missing John.

:cry:

[goodgd_yall]

6. Gone but never forgotten

Nice tribute. Thanks, friend.

[saracat]

7. I admired John as an artist but cannot respect him as a man for his treatment of Julian and Cynthia.

A real "man" does not abandon his wife and child. A real man does not attempt to make it look like his wife is an adulteress while his mistress is pregnant with his baby And BTW, this is not gossip, it is an admission of John's. John attempted to frame Cynthia with Magic Alex and accuse her of infidelity so he would not have to pay alimony but he had to drop that idea when Yoko's first pregnancy was obvious. He never did pay Cynthia properly.He threatened her with taking Julian away. And he virtually disinherited Julian.John was an enormous talent but he inflicted a lot of pain on innocent people.

Never the less, RIP.John.You are missed.We all wonder what might have been.And his message of peace was beautiful.It is sad he could not find it in his own life.

[garybeck]

8. He was human, no doubt.

nobody's perfect. everyone has their fuckups. i don't think he claimed to be perfect

i'm remembering some famous quote, something like "he who is free of sin let him cast the first stone" where have I heard that? :)

nonetheless you are correct about that part of his life. it bothers me as well, but we all have done stupid things, and I hope that when I die people remember me for more of the good things I did than the stupid things. (my goal at this point is to try to give them more good things to remember and less stupid things to forget!)

peace on you

[saracat]

10. No He didn't claim to be perfect and he is missed. I often wonder what

would have happened if he had lived and how different things might have been.I celebrate John's talent and his desire for peace.But I am disturbed that aprobations sometimes seems to be given to the more negative aspects of his life.Yoko has been demmed by some as a heroine yet never has even a gesture of conciliation ever been made.It is all very sad.Yet I do honor him and wonder what might have been.

[shanine]

25. I used to struggle with this aspect also . .

And then I researched, studied his interviews, his videos, his songs, his wife, his parents, his childhood, his writings . . for me, I saw and heard his own pain, his own vulnerabilities, his imperfections . .
I believe he did the best he could for where he came from . . he did alot of good.
I also watched Cynthia and Julian doing interviews after she wrote her book . . . could've been just hopeful on my part, but I thought I witnessed some forgiveness and healing. Watch the video "Mother" on his website . . johnlennon.com I believe . . .
He had no role models . . basically no parents . .

[slackmaster]

29. He was emotionally immature in some ways

Absolutely brilliant in many others.

[Berry Cool]

34. I think that is about the best assessment anyone has ever made.

There was a lot missing in his early life that he could have dealt with better than he did, but it scarred him a lot and as a result he wasn't everything he could have been or should have been as a person. But for all that, he was a lot.

When I think of him, I try to focus on the "lot" part without forgetting the rest.

When he was killed, I was in college, and we were devastated because we listened to his music just as much as the generation before us did.

[femrap]

41. Why is it that so many men dump

their first families and somehow feel that it's OK because they are being a devoted husband and father with the 2nd or 3rd family?

As a wise person once told me....They do it because they can.

Let's hope our culture evolves...but it ain't looking so good out there today.

[digidigido]

69. get over it

That's such a misleading statement. First marriages fail for many reasons, and it's not just men
dumping women, it works both ways. Perhaps they are better in their second marriages because
they learned from the mistakes of their first, or they've found a more compatable partner

[femrap]

88. And that's why we hear so much about

trophy husbands. Get your tiny brain out of your dirty asshole. And why is it that 95% of deadbeats are fathers? buh bye dumbass.

[John Gauger]

82. My mother told me a few years back

that she saw an interview with Cynthia many years ago where they asked her, "John wrote so many beautiful songs about Yoko - did he ever write any about you?" She said the only one was "Girl" on Rubber Soul, which is not a flattering song. Basically it says he's in love but he doesn't like her. I always felt sorry for her when I heard the song after that.

I won't argue that he did right by her by any stretch of the imagination, but please - can you name somebody who hasn't "inflicted a lot of pain on innocent people?"

[Hoof Hearted]

9. I am ANCIENT. n/t

[Sal Minella]

13. Cheer up. I remember my mother crying when FDR died.

I remember when cigarettes were two dollars a carton.
I remember the neighbor woman dying of a botched illegal abortion.

I remember thinking being old was going to be terrible.
I didn't understand then how terrible being young was.

[canetoad]

84. Ha ha. cheer up

could be worse.

[Critters2]

19. I know. I was a senior in college.

Feels like yesterday...but it's 27 years?!!

That would explain the gray hair.


RIP, John. You are missed.

[Swamp Rat]

11. My Personal Jesus

O8) O8) O8)

[FatDave]

12. R.I.P. John

The world could really use you right now, but maybe it's better you didn't get to see just how bad it could get. Thanks for the music. You changed my life.

[dailykoff]

14. Just another "lone nut" whacking a thorn in the side of the MIC.

How tragic and "senseless."

[me b zola]

15. George Harrison's tribute

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7DUfjlFyqA

[garybeck]

16. nice i'll add that to the op

[defendandprotect]

17. Don't think Chapman did it --- certainly not without a lot of help ---

[defendandprotect]

18. --but agree that John Lennon changed many of us and the world --

and I wish he were still here doing it --- !!

From wherever he is, I'm sure he's still trying to communicate with us -- and help us !!!

Are we allowed to hear "Imagine" on the radio yet?

They banned that for a while after 9/11, didn't they?

[Berry Cool]

37. No, no songs were "banned" from the radio after 9/11.

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/radio.htm

[ConsAreLiars]

20. Thank you so very much for that set of links. If anyone can

can watch the video at http://imaginepeace.com/ without having their heart torn to shreds, well, I'm so sorry for you as well.

(edit to add as I browse) Or watch http://youtube.com/watch?v=I-NRriHlLUk without cheering, too bad, you really don't know what is missing in your life.

[garybeck]

33. i dont see a video at the imaginepeace site. where is it? n/t

[ConsAreLiars]

74. It's at the top left of the page above the typed message.

It is a quicktime movie, so if you see no image then you lack the appropriate player, but if you see just a still image then it is loading and will begin playing once enough data has been downloaded.

[ConsAreLiars]

21. The full 90 minutes of "The US vs. John Lennon" is at

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=777046699234389996&q=us+vs+john+lennon&total=377&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Apart from being a great tribute, it is also a warning. Give the FBI and CIA and such 1000 times the power and 1000 times the vindictiveness and and 1000 times the irrational cowardice. That's where we are now.

[Raine]

22. Sad day

I remember it well. :cry:

[unhappycamper]

23. RIP John.

I've always admired and liked Mr. Lennon.

War is over.
If you want it.

Indeed.

K&R #16

[Jeanette in FL]

24. RIP, John

Oh how we could use your outspoken voice in these times.

I remember the night he was murdered as if it were yesterday.

RIP.

[focusfan]

26. I was 9 when he died but I was a really big fan

I think John Lennon had a very powerful message in his song
IMAGINE. 

[OneBlueSky]

27. I remember that day all too well . . .

like many, I was watching Monday Night Football and learned the news from Howard Cosell, of all people . . . I remember thinking "Oh, God, not John!" . . . for some reason, Lennon's death affected me more than JFK, RFK, MLK, or anyone else . . .

I still miss him -- and the nation certainly misses an eloquent voice for peace and understanding . . .

[Patsy Stone]

28. Here's to John. RIP.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gLWTtlMwo4

[Le Taz Hot]

30. There was something about

the first Beatle dying I think that made us aware of our own mortality. I think John, with age, would have come to regret his treatment of his first son and wife. Tragically, he never got the chance to evolve to that point nor reconcile completely with his son.

R.I.P., John

[Highway61]

31. Miss him so much

If anyone hasn't watched the DVD "The U.S. vs John Lennon" should seriously consider seeing it. It was very very good. I watched it 3 weeks ago and was so touched. I can't believe it has been 25 years. :cry:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

32. Love is all you need

I miss you John :cry:

[H2O Man]

35. Thank you for this.

He was a wonderful, complicated person, who made the greatest music.

[H2O Man]

36. A great photo:

Lennon poses with a young fan named Karl Rove:

[garybeck]

38. he he

Karl never looked so good. he must have had some makeup on.

[spanone]

39. LOL Great Post H2O Man.....

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I was working in South Africa when John died. Didn't hear the news for a day, until I called home.'
In some ways for me, it's like it never happened....

i doubt rove even knew of Lennon, other than he was an enemy of the state.

[femrap]

40. His message of peace was too

much...I believe he was assassinated with the help of our gov't.

[Cybergata]

42. Twenty-Seven Years, and still painful today

[Perry Logan]

43. For me, it's between John and Bob Dylan as greatest songwriter ever.

[blues90]

44. I was 31 on that horrible day

I was in a daze , we went to a vigil in florida where we happened to be living at the time . He just came out with the new album after all those years .

Lennon affected my life in many ways , he was the reason I picked up a guitar .

I will never forget him or his life .

[RestoreGore]

45. I still Imagine every day

http://current.com/items/88498731_john_lennon_imagine_27_years_later
Love you, John.

[Faygo Kid]

46. Awful. Like JFK, MLK, Bobby, I remember - I heard it on Monday Night Football

I was one of many who first heard of it from Howard Cosell while watching Monday Night Football. The moment froze in time forever.

[Bozita]

61. Same here.

Howard, Dandy Don, and Frank.

[Beausoir]

63. Same here. Seems like only yesterday. What a shock.

[alfredo]

47. I just made this wallpapter

[balantz]

48. I love you, John........

[kestrel91316]

49. 40 seemed SO OLD at the time.............and now I am myself 50.......

[LeftishBrit]

50. RIP John Lennon

A tragic loss for the world.

[OzarkDem]

51. It still hurts so bad

I remember crying all the way as I drove to work the next morning.

He would have made a big difference in the world today, though his influence is still felt.

[Botany]

52. That day will live w/ me for the rest of my life.

It was surreal a friend and I took a drive and went to look at this crazy
headstone in a cemetery in Delaware, OH we were just kids and still in
College .... the headlights hit this massive headstone ... it was an oak tree
w/ frogs, snakes, birds, deer, and much more .... it started to snow ...
the car radio played Imagine and then the D.J. said, "John Lennon was
shot and killed in NYC less than 1 hour ago."

I cried like a baby and now I am older than John when he died.

Thanx John, Paul, George, and Ringo.






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLxTpsIVzzo

[matcom]

53. thank you.

[forsberg]

54. Can't believe it's been that long

I was only 5 when it happened, but do have some vague recollection

[WileEcoyote]

55. A Manchurian Candidate

No one becomes that possessed of delusion as to walk straight to a Superstar personality and empty a gun into him without remorse.

Clearly a from of programming. Some people more easily hypnotized than others. Just like the scribblings of Sirhan Sirhan shortly before RFK was killed.

These aren't natural nut cases. Takes CIA type programming and suitable test subjects.

It happens in the general public to a known degree. Part of the reason for the "success" of Limbaugh and other morally depraved devils.

[deutsey]

56. I suspect "some" in power felt they had a score to settle with Lennon

His anti-war activism, his "threat" to Nixon, the fact that he and Yoko bankrolled Paul Krassner's initial publication of what Watergate was all about (well before Woodward and Bernstein wrote a word on it).

I think once a lot of those in Nixon's dirty tricks circles regained power in the '80s, they wanted to have the last word with Lennon.

Just my opinion, but that's what my instinct tells me.

[WileEcoyote]

59. Only reasoning that makes sense actually..

Especially coming just before the attempts on Ronald Reagan's life.

The powers that be not only wanted to kill John Lennon but either to off Reagan or send him a message he wouldn't soon forget.

A good likelihood that "Squeekie Fromme" was a Manchurian candidate too. Send President Ford a "message" to keep his mouth shut not only on Watergate but the assassination of JFK.

Ford being on the moronic Warren Commission.

He "got the message". So did Ronald Reagan.

[garybeck]

75. spooky thought. nt

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

57. Imagine.

Thanks to you, John, I always will. :hug:

[WheelWalker]

58. And the Wheel turns

[Dukkha]

60. a great model in all his roles

As a musician, husband, father, and peace maker. Truly one of the greatest figures in modern history.

[Martin Eden]

62. I had just finished getting 8 stitches in my hand when I heard the news.

I was 23 years old, working the 2nd shift in a factory, and accidentally cut my hand about the same time John was shot (unbeknownst to me). The foreman who drove me to the clinic had been watching the TV in the waiting room, and the first thing he said to me when I came out was John Lennon is dead.

Immediately, I forgot about the inconsequential pain in my hand.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

64. I remember it well.

I was in the end of the first semester of grad school at night. I got home from class about 10 pm. We were in Central Time, an hour behind New York. My dad came out of his bedroom and said "John Lennon's been shot". My immediate reaction was "They can't do that! That's like shooting Santa Claus".

Sadly, it was true.

:cry: :cry:

[helderheid]

65. God bless, Uncle John

I didn't know the Beatles weren't my uncles until I was about 10.

[awoke_in_2003]

66. Just in case no one else posted it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY_xY_Q-kQE&feature=related

[MannyGoldstein]

67. Thank You For This

Such nice memories.

[MiaCulpa]

68. this is great!

sorry I didn't see it before I posted the imagine/peace link

[cureautismnow]

70. I read the news that next morning. Oh boy.

Didn't watch MNF that dreadful night. Played Plastic Ono Band on the old turntable and retired early. Woke up the next morning and opened the newspaper and incredulously read, "Ex-Beatle Lennon Shot to Death." :cry:

[mtnHov]

71. Thanx for the post and all the links.

twas the day I gave up on humanity.....
been a ski bum ever since

[sellitman]

72. I was in NYC's Central Park for his Memorial.

I was in NYC's Central Park for his Memorial. It was a day I will never forget.

Johns death ended forever my childhood.


Peace

[BrklynLiberal]

73. Great post. Thanks very much. I remember exactly where I was when I heard that news.

[dflprincess]

76. The few times I've been to NYC I've insisted on going to Strawberry Fields

The first time it was just to see it on the other trips, I just needed to go back there and sit for a little while. It's not a trip to New York unless I've been there. (I prefer it when I can ditch whatever friends I'm with and just go there myself and contemplate for as long as I want).

On 9/11, as I sat in suburban Minneapolis, I desperately wished I could be there - and a friend (also in Minnesota) called me that evening and told me she didn't quite understand it, but with all her being she wished she was in Central Park at the mosiac. Later that day, the news did show that New Yorkers were indeed gathering there. I'd bet that most people who have been there felt that pull. Somehow the memorial speaks to our better nature and draws us together.

[John Gauger]

77. I was just talking about John.

My friend and I talked about going to Strawberry Fields just an hour ago. We talked about the day but we had no idea it was today. My friend told me that every time she and her sister are in the city they intentionally pass the DakotaHere's the letter Yoko sent asking that Chapman be denied parole:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1004046yoko2.html

I love Yoko - I don't know why everybody hates her. She made John so happy. There's a recording in the Beatles Anthology of John in the studio between songs where he just starts singing Yoko's name. He croons "Yoko Ono-ono. Yoko Ono-no." I guess most people don't know what it's like to be so in love that just hearing her name is a joy that cannot be expressed. I do and I can't imagine John would appreciate the lot of us hating Yoko so much. I for one love her.

[garybeck]

78. You really have to watch this one all the way to the end

Give Peace a Chance
http://youtube.com/watch?v=I-NRriHlLUk

[Skittles]

79. I remember at work the Beatles songs on the radio

and a coworker asked why they kept playing Beatles song----I offhandedly said, "MAYBE ONE OF THEM IS DEAD." A gal said, OOH, don't say that! Alas, one of them WAS. :(

[sasquatch]

80. I was born less than 12 hours later

[garybeck]

92. happy birthday :)

[wisteria]

81. I am glad you remembered. I remembered too. His death hit me so hard.

He was unique. There will always only be one John Lennon. Peace!

[Maestro]

83. Great thread

Thank you.

[progressoid]

85. Damn hippie peacenik dreamer...

Miss you so much.



LOVE that live version of Imagine.

[tyedyeto]

86. Imagine..... RIP John

Got together with a bunch of friends the next evening for a Sierra Nevada style wake for John. Damn, we couldn't believe he was gone.

[Blue_In_AK]

87. All of my heroes get murdered. n/t

[blues90]

89. For me it's just to sad and difficult to look at these links

i tried , it brings me back to a time where we had some form of reality to hang onto . With all that's going on today it's really difficult to go back .

I remember it all very well since I was 31 when it happened and I remember when each album or TV show came on .

He had that last album Double Fantasy just come out and Reagan just came in about that time .

He was so young at 40 , the news was horrible , it seems impossible that it's been 27 years even though the calander tells me so .

[Dawggie]

90. Imagine he's still living....

It's easy if you try.

No guns or hatred.....

And he never had to die...


RIP, John.


Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

[onehandle]

91. Killed with a handgun. nt