The Death of a Legend

John Lennon's death was a shock to the world. His death is shocking not only because he was an icon that was murdered, but John represented a dream and with his death many believed the dream had died. John, due to his involvement against the Vietnam War, became an icon for the hippie movement and the leader that might make it possible for peace to occur on earth. When a person that represents this idealism and hope is violently murdered it is ironic, chilling and very, very tragic. To make the murder even more sad is that John just returned to music after a five year absense and was offering some of the most promising songs of his career. The man that spent his whole life searching for happiness and family finally found it at age 40, only to have it taken away by an insane gunman.

Besides being deeply saddening, John's death was also very bizarre. Although I do not wish to put his name in the biography,because that will give him the notoreity that he wants, Mark David Chapman has to be mentioned. Chapman was an ordinary man, and at first a lover of the Beatles, especially John. He became involved with the church and began to take offense to some of what John says. His infamous "Christ Statement" and the opening line to his most well known song "Imagine" ("Imagine there's no heaven") infuriated Chapman. He made up his own line for that song, "Imagine John Lennon is dead". He moved to Hawaii where he failed at a suicide attempt. He then became obsessed with John and like Holden Caulfield, character in "Catcher in the Rye" which Chapman was holding when John was shot, Chapman began to hate John for is "phoniness". He also began to be very violent to his wife, Gloria, and once held a gun to her saying, "Anyone can kill anyone." In October of 1980 Chapman flew from Hawaii to New York City with the intention to kill John. He got scared, and called his wife who talked him out of it and he went home. He then told her again in December of 1980 that he was going to New York, and amazingly she let him. Chapman checked into a nice hotel, and bought his favorite book, The Catcher In The Rye, and John's new album Double Fantasty and then went outside the Dakota to see John Lennon. He sat outside for quite awhile and even met other fans who wait outside to see John. Early on December 8 Chapman met John's 5 year old son, Sean. He saw the beautiful boy, and felt he shouldn't kill John. Later in the evening John and Yoko left to go to the studio to work on a track of Yoko's. On the way out, John stopped to acknowledge his fans and Chapman asked him if he would autograph his Double Fantasy album, and John did (the copy of this signed copy was recently auctioned). John then asked Chapman, "Is that all? Is there anything else you would like?", to which Chapman replied no. Chapman was amazed at John's kindness and again rethought what he was going to do. But then everyone else left, and Chapman started to lose it, he believed the gargoyles were coaxing him and he reverted back to a little boy. Late that evening John returned home. Yoko got out of the car and walked a bit ahead of John. John got to the doorway where Chapman said "Mr. Lennon?". Before John could even turn around Chapman crouched and fired 5 shots into John's back and arm. What happened next is very gruesome and just too sad for me to describe. John was rushed to the hospital where the doctors did all they could to save him, but it was not possible, his injuries were too severe.

The world was stunned when John died and in the last 18 years there as been an astounding number of poems, pictures, music and memorials in his honor. Not only did fans provide material that shows their grief but John's former Beatle bandmates Paul and George each released a song that was a tribute to him. In 1984 Milk and Honey, the album John had been working on before he died was released. Like Double Fantasy the album had some of his best work yet. Also in 1984, a memorial park, "Strawberry Fields" was made in Central Park NYC for John. In 1988, Yoko had a documentary, Imagine, made that would show John's entire life, and John would narrate it himself. In the early 90s the remaining Beatles began working on an Anthology that explores all that surrounds the Beatles. This 10 hour tape has interviews which each Beatle and uses past interviews of John to show how each felt. The anthology was accompanied by two new Lennon songs, "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love". In 1998, Yoko released a four cd box set of unreleased material of John's called, The John Lennon Anthology. Finally this fall the Beatles will release an old song from the "Yellow Submarine" time period by John. All these new items prove the spirit of John Lennon still survives. He touches people everyday. His music will live on forever, and he will never be forgotton. Fans around the world mourn every year as December 8th rolls around and they are reminded of how they felt when they lost their icon. Also fans too young to remember cry for their lost hero. John Lennon was intriguing, clever, witty and extremely talented. A man with those virtues has to have a profound effect on the world and John did. Since his death there has been more crusades for gun control and peace, and even PLO leader Yasir Arafat quoted John in his movement for peace when he said "Give Peace a Chance". John also survives through his children. Julian the oldest and son of his first wife, Cynthia, has recently released a fantastic album, Photographic Smile, and he seems to carry the Lennon torch. Sean, John's son by Yoko also released a good album, Into the Sun, last year, which is very new wave, and was quite popular as well. Yoko continues to release music and release work of John's to carry the memory. John Lennon was a great man. He did nothing less than change the world. He ,along with his bandmates and later with his wife Yoko, tried, and did, make this world a better place to live. He will live on forever in the hearts of millions.

A very creepy picture that sends a chill down my spine whenever I see it. Shown here is John signing Mark David Chapman's copy of Double Fantasy, as Chapman watches. This is one of the last photos of John alive, and it is taken just before John leaves for the recording session. This man kills John a couple hours after this photo. The signed copy of the album has recently been auctioned off.