On the evening of8 December of the 1980 the world of music, and not only that, he was shocked by one tragic news: John Lennon, one of the founding members of the Beatles, gets killed by a deranged person. The one who committed the murder with a revolver was one of his fans, Mark David Chapman a 25-year-old former security guard who was obsessed with the Beatles and Lennon in particular.
Lennon's assassination occurred in front of the dakota building in New York, where he lived with his wife Yoko Ono and prematurely ended the life of an extraordinary talent (he was born in 1940 in Liverpool).
The murder had a global impact, as Lennon had become an icon not only of music, but also of culture. In his final years, he abandoned his artistic career with the Beatles to focus on his private life and political activism, dedicating himself to human rights and the promotion of world peace.
4 bullets in his back while he was returning home
Chapman had spent the day of December 7 reading the book "The Butcher of Chicago", a novel about the life of an obsessed fan of a musician, and then waited for Lennon outside the Dakota Building. On the evening of December 8th singer was returning home from a recording session at the Record Plant Studio with his wife.
to 22,50 Chapman, hidden in the shadows next to the entrance door, he fired five shots in the back 38 caliber revolver. According to NYPD Detective James Sullivan's report, Chapman exclaimed “Mr. Lennon!” before shooting. The singer was hit by four bullets: twice in the back, once in the chest and once in the neck.
Severely injured, Lennon climbed five steps to the security guard, muttering: “They shot me, they shot me“. Then she collapsed to the ground. He was then rushed to Roosevelt Hospital but there was nothing that could be done. The doctors themselves stated that no one could have survived more than five minutes following their injuries.
Chapman stood outside the building motionless. He was caught and stopped by the Dakota's custodian who shouted at him: "Do you know what you just did?", a question to which Chapman replied with absolute calm: "Yes, I just shot John Lennon". The police arrived shortly afterwards and arrested Chapman sitting intently reading JD Salinger's Young Holden. Chapman admitted to the murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The announcement of Lennon's death
La news of Lennon's death was announced for the first time by the commentator Howard Cosell on ABC during a live American football game. Cosell broke the news live by interrupting the match commentary:
"Yes, we have to say it. Remember, it's just a football game, no matter who wins or loses. An indescribable tragedy that happened in New York was just confirmed to us by ABC News: John Lennon, outside his apartment on the Upper West Side of New York City, the most famous, perhaps, of all the Beatles, wounded by two shots gunshot wound to the back, rushed to Roosevelt Hospital, pronounced dead on arrival. It's difficult to return to the game after this news flash, but for professional reasons, we have to do it” were Cosell's words.
The news quickly went around the world. A crowd gathered both near Roosevelt Hospital and in front of the Dakota to commemorate the late artist.
No funeral but a vigil in Central Park
Two days after John Lennon's death, the his body was cremated at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale. The ashes were delivered to his wife Yoko Ono, who chose not to have a funeral but instead asked fans to gather in Central Park the following Sunday for about ten minutes of silent prayer: “There is no funeral for John. John loved and prayed for the human race. Please do the same for him. Love, Yoko and Sean” said Yoko Ono.
The 14 December 1980, millions of people around the world they responded to Yoko Ono's call to observe 10 minutes of silence in honor of John Lennon. TO Liverpool, 30.000 people gathered, while approx 225.000 gathered in Central Park, near the murder site. During these ten minutes, all radio stations in New York stopped broadcasting.
Out of deep grief at least three Beatles fans committed suicide, prompting Yoko Ono to make a public appeal asking fans not to give in to despair and to avoid extreme behavior in memory of John.
Lennon's legacy
The death of John Lennon has marked the end of an era and left a void in the hearts of millions of fans. His legacy, however, is immortal thanks to his music and his art.
He is ranked fifth on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest singers of all time, and ranks 55th on the list of the 100 greatest guitarists. From 1962 to 1970, he was the songwriter and lead singer of the Beatles, forming with Paul McCartney one of the most important musical partnerships of the twentieth century. After theexperience with the Beatles, Lennon became a solo musician, visual artist, poet and pacifist political activist. His political activity attracted the attention of the FBI, who spied on him and his wife Yōko Ono, considering them subversives and refusing them Green Cards.
Lennon is the singer-songwriter of greatest success in the history of the English charts and ranked eighth in the 100 most important British personalities of all time according to a BBC poll in 2002.
Yes is married twice: from first marriage with Cynthia Powell the son was born Julian, while from the second marriage with Yoko Ono the son was born Sean.
Every year, theLennon's death anniversary is commemorated by fans from all over the world, who come together to remember his extraordinary contribution to music and the promotion of peace.
