On December 8, 1980, John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono had just released a new album called Double Fantasy. Lennon spent the morning promoting the album before being shot on the steps of the Dakota apartments in New York City. The untimely death of John Lennon at the hands of Mark David Chapman shocked the music world, with fans continuing to mourn his loss. There are several conspiracy theories about John Lennon’s death, including the possibility that Mark Chapman was a CIA agent or that he wanted to live in peace.
In 1971, the FBI put John Lennon under surveillance due to his anti-war activities. The INS tried to deport him a year later. John Lennon was murdered outside the Dakota building on New York’s Upper West Side, where he lived with his wife, Yoko Ono. Over 40 years after the murder, many U.S. music fans question the Establishment media’s “official story” of how and why JFK was killed.
Eliot Mintz, a longtime friend of Lennon, said he saw the CIA. John Lennon had grown weary of being famous and had the title of being a “Beatle” hanging around his neck like an albatross. John Lennon dismissed conspiracy theories about the death of another musician.
The murder of John Lennon on December 8, 1980, was as devastating as it was shocking. Eyewitness News covered the murder like no other news. Mark David Chapman was psychotic and received little or no mental health care even when he was shot.
📹 Shocking Facts About John Lennon’s Death
The murder of John Lennon stands as one of the most significant events in music history. The death of the beloved songwriter and …
📹 John Lennon’s Death Story
December 8th, 1980, the death date of John Lennon. A former member of The Beatles, John Lennon was killed outside of the …
I’ve met a lot of famous people on my job in the 60’s. Some were stuck up. Others were amazingly kind and humble. The ones who took the time to sign an autograph, to ask my name so that they could make it personal, those were the famous people I will never forget. Lennon certainly took the time and was very kind to that jerk. How sad that such a famous well loved for real person who cared about his fans had his life taken by a crazy.
He’s a cold-blooded killer who took away the father of 2 sons and millions of fans who enjoyed his talents. I remember perusal the documentary/movie that he and Yoko did at their home in England and during filming, a strange young man was standing at the edge of their land. John was intrigued by him and invited him in for a meal. It was very touching.
I heard this news on a coach on the way to school. I had only just discovered the Beatles but didn’t really know anything about them but from that day on I wanted to know everything . John and the Beatles have got me through good and bad and I thank them all . This guy that killed John means nothing to me because he is nothing!
I will never forget that moment when Howard announced the news Of John’s death. John an David Bowie were the two most shocking deaths in the music industry for me. It’s sad when anyone in the music industry dies but these two were hard. I still have a deep hatred for Chapman. It makes me sick that he is still breathing more than 40 years after he snuffed out one of our greatest. I hope he burns in hell.
The most shocking fact is Mark not only killed John, but he tried to kill Paul too! This is horrible. Paul said later in an interview that after John’s death, he understood that his life was in danger too. And that is why he was scared to get out of his house until the police announced that Chapman had been safely prisionized and there was no chance for him to escape.
I was 23 and managing a Radio Shack store in Walnut Creek CA. I didn’t hear the news until Tuesday morning when I heard the news on one of the display stereos. I was very upset and went across the street to tell my girlfriend (at that time) who worked at the coffee shop what had happened. I was in total disbelief and my mind was numb. Why? Just why? Regardless of who he was as a person, this was and still is a sad day to remember.
John’s assassin just wanted the fame and notariety. He is truly a narcissist! Claiming no I’ll will towards John and to have “found Jesus”. At the end of the day, all the famous are truly like everyone else. They’re spouses, parents and folks just trying to earn a living. John’s assassin should never be released from prison!
My friend and I were sitting and perusal an episode of MASH when the network interrupted the show with the news and then went right back to the show. My friend and i sat in silence, and when we spoke it was to tell each other that, ok maybe John and been shot but he wasn’t dead, he definitely wasn’t dead – it was impossible for us to process and comprehend that John had actually died. They showed a photo of Yoko leaving the hospital, I think, and the pain she felt was expressed throughout her entire body and our hearts broke for her and their young son, Sean and Julian too. I had a final exam the next day and I remember the look of collective grief on all the student’s faces. We asked for an extension on the exam but were denied. It felt as though the whole world was connected by our mutual mourning and sorrow and rage – at the incredible waste that this egotistical idiot had caused. My anger toward him has not softened even after all these years.
I was 16 when John was shot. I was at a house party and everyone was talking about it. I was just getting into the Beatles at the time. Early the next morning a bunch of us left the party and took the train into the city. We stayed all day in Central Park in front of the Dakota, what’s now Strawberry Field. There were thousands of people. It was so sad and surreal 💙
I was actually at the Dakota the night he was assassinated. I was 20 years old. It was the night of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree lighting, and after it was over, my bf and I walked from Rockefeller to the 77th & Lexington subway station by way of 5th Avenue. Along the way, we stopped at the Dakota because I wanted to show him where “Rosemary’s Baby” was filmed. I vaguely remember people milling about and how creepy the Dakota looked.
One of my earliest memories my mum was on the edge of the chair glued to the tele. And my dad came back from work saying all that money and fame isn’t worth anything if this can happen. The Beatles were important to working class and lower middle class kids from the north of England they proved that you could do anything if you wanted. Before them our aspirations were very limited.
It’s not surprising that people do many (foolish) things for recognition. We are obsessed with movie stars. I think some form of loneliness and wanting to be somebody is a main thought and part of our daily lives. This “pet craze” we’re in has much to do with this.They make us feel loved by giving us attention. I’m proud to say that I don’t have that problem. I’ve become my own best friend and JESUS CHRIST is my emotional support–not some animal. He is real!
I was 12, in my parents bedroom perusal Monday Night Football alone when I heard the news. The Beatles had been my favorite group for about four years by that point. “Did Howard Cosell really say, John Lennon?” I said to myself. I just couldn’t believe it! Sometimes I still can’t. I will never forget that night or where I was……RIP John Lennon
I’m in tear’s after perusal this!! In the name of Peace Movement 11:11!Chapman will always be the one person who took Love & Peace and a Uniquely charasmatic moment with the situation to completely loose himself as a member of society AND in doing it for SELF turned it into instant horrific sadness for everyone may Ono have the strength and longevity to keep his parole board from EVER releasing Chapman.
Its strange… and maybe cathartic; in 1972 when I was 15 years old, my grandfather was stabbed to death while driving a cab in Wichita, Kansas. He was my favorite adult at the time and it destroyed me. It changed my life.. Music became even more of a driving force then it already was.. 8 years later and I was 23 and a new father of 7 months and the leader of the band that had made me want to play music when I saw them on Sullivan.. was taken in the most violent way… These 2 events alone.. drive me to play music every day… And not just play music but dont be the same as everyone else..
I was a junior in high school. Out of school and laid up, out of school for a while. I heard it and it laid me low. It was entirely surreal. The Beatles came on Ed Sullivan 9 months before my birth. They broke up when I was in Kindergarten. I understood at that time, why my mother reacted as she had in 1977, when Elvis died. That night, it made total sense.
I was working at a record shop in Henley Beach South Australia, the stored was named The Record Rack. Soon after the news broke about the murder of Lennon the store in Henley Beach Shopping Center was so full of people wanting records/cassettes with John Lennon, it was a busy week and very sad week….Long live John Lennon’s work
First time I seen my Dad cry was that morning, I was 7. There’s so much about Chapman being branwashed in the news from then on… love John and the music lives on. As for the Mrs.she should’ve reported the mutt, as for having sex and making pizza. What the !!! If that isn’t dodgy I don’t know what is.. not happy ✌😂😘
John Lennon is a martyr in the classic sense. Just like other famous or religious people his message of love was his priority despite his personal demons. He will be remembered and loved by millions of people despite the bullets of an assassin! Thank you John Lennon for contributing so much to humanity in such a short time. We love and miss you!
In June 1976, I was at a wedding dinner. One of the groomsmen was talking about future things. Some things were really incredible because they came true (like music would be on a laser disk, Jimmy Carter would be elected President in 1976 and Ronald Reagan after him). I think it all started with him joking around. The groom asked him if the Beatles would ever reunite . The groomsman said “No. A crazy fan will shoot John Lennon.” Everyone was initially shocked and thought the groomsman was just being silly or trying to be funny. December 8, 1980 was the shot heard round the world.
I believe with all my heart that everything happens for a reason, but damn, some things hurt so SO much that they just absolutely gut you. He died a few years before I was born but I still feel like I’m not over it. John Lennon was a Gift. Also, I’m so thankful that I never knew before this that this monster related his crime to Salinger. And fuck this guy for dragging him into his murder of an icon.
I just turned 13, two years before I found Van Halen, Ac/dc, aerosmith, I was putting my Elvis and Beatles albums away. December 8th 1980 change my life forever. My dad died in 77′ 4 days before Elvis did and just when my music was getting deep and true influenced by Bob Dylan, and John. He died. Life is precious, and short Live life, to it’s fullest without your I Phone.
How in the world could Mark David Chapman’s wife Gloria Hiroko after Chapman told her that he planned to travel to NYC in October 1980 to murder singer/songwriter John Lennon, fail at a minimum to contact Lennon and warn him about her husband’s intentions before Chapman traveled to NYC in October 1980 or contact the NYPD to advise them of what her husband was planning to do before he went to NYC in October of 1980? If she had warned Lennon or contacted the NYPD before Chapman traveled to NYC in October 1980, John Lennon might be still alive today!
This article is one of the worst articles on the assassination, it repeats old stale media stories at the time. Now we know the nurses and a doctor stated Lennon was shot from the front which mean there was another shooter. Also now we know several hypnotists were let into Chapman’s cell after the shooting. Now we know how fatal the shots were which could only be done by a professional marksman shooter not by a out of work janitor.
He only did it for his 15 minutes of fame. I remember the next morning. I was only 9. I shared a room with my older sister, 6 years my senior. She is a crazy Beatles fan, Paul being her favorite. That morning our mom came in to wake us up for school. She broke the news to my sister. She was devastated. My mom let her stay home from school that day. To top it all off, it was her birthday.
It puzzles me why people want to murder other people, what sorry psychos are these, & why didn’t his wife warn John Lennon. I was in Jr. High n was doing a candle vigilante for him with other fans. The psycho’s wife must have been sick as well, showing no emotion. What a world of idiots we need to be careful with our families at all times.
I was only 4yrs old when Lennon was killed but every single time I see or watch footage of his senseless murder I’m overcome with a deep sense of loss and sadness, its strange, I cannot watch without crying nomatter how much I watch, I still cry! I’m a huge huge fan of Lennon, but it goes deeper than that and I can’t explain it #RIPJohnLennon ☮✌
So, dude’s like: “I just wanted to be famous” …which makes him infamous, getting his azz beat all the time in the joint. Yeah-that makes a lot of sense, pal. Perhaps, FBI or CIA even wanted Lennon ☠ because they try to do that and we all know why they try to do that. I doubt it, but still. NOBODY’s safe from stupidity.
wow, I remember the announcement, I actually just cried again from memory. I felt the world was robbed a really nice guy. Lennon had faults, but he really had a caring way with people. Chapman got his fame. I can only describe it to people not familiar born with Lennon as like; a parent being taken away from you through an act of violence and you can never understand why they done it; except it was because they were just there at that time.
You know, this is the worst I’ve felt about someone’s death when it happened. I was in the early 9th grade and was devastated. However, people have gotten released on bail after viscous rapes and murders. This guy won’t reoffend, I am certain. Won’t bet my life, but who would for anything? This is unfair because we hate who he is for whom he killed. If John weren’t so beloved, this would have happened a long time ago. Are we really that cold? Wouldn’t John himself forgive this guy? He was taken on a broken down mental trip, that was caused by media and their insane world of creating Demi gods out of performers. This has long been a problem for the weak minded and criminal minds alike. Everyone is to blame for the set up, although ultimately the killer is responsible for the last click. Just an opinion, it means not in the scheme of things.
to hear what he gets when he is doing his time makes me sick, and I wish I never watched this, I will never forget how mad I got seeing John Lennon glasses with blood on them, and a stapled brown bag with his other belongings in it, at the rock n roll hall of fame. It said by it, this is all I had left of my husband. To think of what we missed out of
When John was shot.. The whole world started to fall apart.. The great seventies were gone for ever.. The horrible 80’s gave us HIV and Rock and roll music was substitued by machinę, rythm box and computers… The real and inner feelings of artists like John, Bon Scott, Pink Floyd with no Roger Waters was gone.
One of the strangest things about this was this. somewhere in those days i heard or read the guy who produced lennon’s last record, the one they were working on that night, said that Lennon had told him when they were alone, “I don’t want Yoko to know this but I have a strong feeling I’m not gonna’ be around much longer.” Later, the same guy said, “There were some strange things said up in the booth that last couple of days” meaning things Lennon had said to him. I’ve never heard anything more about this. I always wished the guy would elaborate but i never heard him say anything else about it. Possibly since most people don’t believe in premonitions and such things, he didn’t want to get into it. i don’t know. was his name jack douglas? something close to that, I think.
I cannot help to think what would have happened to John had he not been out that night; what he had become as a person / musician had he not moved to America . Chapman has allegedly claimed later in interviews that he had regretted what he did that day; not that I am defending or justifying what he did by any stretch. Glad to see that at least his son Julian has at least has grown into a wonderful human being too😢😢😢😢
I was a very, very, young man,i will never forget it not just because of who he was.. It just so happened, that my NFL team was playing that night.. The Miami dolphins.. I know that the night that it was broadcast it was a shock it’s a quiet and very somber and Erie moment going on and you just knew that it was serious you can feel it throughout the neighborhood being a young kid in and out of the house you know perusal the game but you know you got your friends come over after school whatever and we noticed that the neighborhood was quiet like this isn’t good… For me my folks moved us out of Riverside California when I was about four or five years old you know when you’re young kid you hear music you understand it to a point but there’s a point in which it’s not as clear as to what that noise is you know it’s probably music but you don’t know what the bands you don’t know you know who the bands are coming out of the desert me and my brother in the back in a car seats that’s how young we are and first songs I ever acknowledged was taken to the limits by the Eagles and the Beatles yellow submarine and Dad played on the radio course I love Lucy in the sky with diamonds and the song nowhere Man and became into the Beatles my stepfather was into the Beatles.. of course I like to be this quite a bit I could have brought on the end of the error where Elvis The Beatles The doors certain bands were members were passing away or dying or getting ready to or they would but yet the ’80s were starting it’s at all the way around and it always will be Yoko very brave and strong to hold on the way you have Amen to you kudos peace and love everyone rip John Lennon.
what pisses me off the most is this: she mentions she’s sad for the lennon family, but then she neglects to mention julian and cynthia? like, julian is his son too, it isn’t just sean. and cynthia is his ex wife but she’s still family 🙄 anyway, john is still my favorite member of the beatles, regardless. rest in peace, john lennon. can’t wait to meet you in the afterlife ✌🏻♥️
Chapman is a cover story for the military assassination of an innocent and law-abiding person. Their reasoning was he was too powerful and influential. Note his name Mark (as in target) and Chapman (as in Sh*tman) = Assinate the enemy. Note, also what Chapman says, ‘He was an album cover to me’. A typically military sick joke, as it was a ‘bum’ or poor cover story for a cold-blooded murder. This why MI7 are keen that Liam and Noel Gallagher would copy his look and music, helping to bring the crime, dark and fear to a new generation. Yoko Ono was also involved, as part of Mi7 (note also the connotations arising from her name), and remains free to this day. Also, Sean Lennon, who is also part of MI7.
Chapman is a cover story for the military assassination of an innocent and law-abiding person. Their reasoning was he was too powerful and influential. Note his name Mark (as in target) and Chapman (as in Sh*tman) = Assinate the enemy. Note, also what Chapman says, ‘He was an album cover to me’. A typically military sick joke, as it was a ‘bum’ or poor cover story for a cold-blooded murder. This why MI7 are keen that Liam and Noel Gallagher would copy his look and music, helping to bring the crime, dark and fear to a new generation. Yoko Ono was also involved, as part of Mi7 (note also the connotations arising from her name), and remains free to this day. Also, Sean Lennon and Paul McCartney, who are also part of MI7, are involved.
Lyrics As soon as you’re born they make you feel small By giving you no time instead of it all ‘Til the pain is so big you feel nothing at all A working class hero is something to be A working class hero is something to be They hurt you at home and they hit you at school They hate you if you’re clever and they despise a fool ‘Til you’re so fucking crazy you can’t follow their rules A working class hero is something to be A working class hero is something to be When they’ve tortured and scared you for twenty odd years Then they expect you to pick a career When you can’t really function you’re so full of fear A working class hero is something to be A working class hero is something to be Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV And you think you’re so clever and classless and free But you’re still fucking peasants as far as I can see A working class hero is something to be A working class hero is something to be There’s room at the top they are telling you still But first you must learn how to smile as you kill If you want to be like the folks on the hill A working class hero is something to be A working class hero is something to be If you want to be a hero, well, just follow me If you want to be a hero, well, just follow me Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: John Winston Lennon Working Class Hero lyrics © Lenono Music
When i heard the asasination of rock legend John Lennon, i was nineteen yrs old smoking canabis, unknown to me I was schizophrenic (dis-cordination of one’s thoughts, feelings and actions). I was shocked ! Immediately in my mind I reminisced all the songs that made him the legend he is, both with the Beatles, and also as a solo artist. I couldn’t imagine how a henios crime such as this could ever happen ? R.I.P. Lennon.
My mother transcribed Lennon’s Playboy interview in 1980, making several thousand dollars off this man. I was well aware of who he was when he was killed. NYC radio played nothing but Lennon and I was wishing Mom hadn’t sent the eighteen hours of tape back. She complained about how his accent and the audio quality slowed her down and that she had to do most of it herself because her freelancers were paid by the page.
Having ANOTHER Weird History snack! Having hot tea (Twinings Darjeeling) and toast (made from homemade bread)*†…while perusal this Weird History article! I have heard that tea and toast was one of his favorites! * From the Weird History articles about the Royal Family for the tea and for the bread “Dishes That Are Much Older Than We Realized” † I spreaded butter on the toast.
I’m not sure that I believe Chapman if he now distances himself from the “Catcher In The Rye” influence. Some years ago I tried to read that book, not unaware of its infamy, trying to get a psychological handle on Chapman. I couldn’t finish it, I found it to be a near constant stream of pitiful, inane teenage rambling and after a point, I just couldn’t listen to it anymore. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve all been that same angry teenager but then we grew up. And that’s the point, most of us grow up, Chapman didn’t. I believe that at that time he was still the angry teenager inside, frustrated at his inability to control his emotions, angry at others whom he saw as forging ahead in life, having goals and the talent and drive to realise them. Why Lennon? Well, probably because he represented everything that Chapman wished he could be, someone whom he could probably relate to during his angry young man period but whom he then despised for “selling out”, as he would see it, growing up, to the rest of us. I don’t doubt that he’s grown up a bit now, hence wanting to distance himself from “Holden Caulfield”, but it’s way too late once you’ve put someone in the ground!
Eating ANOTHER Weird History snack! Eating Tea & Toast*†…while perusal this Weird History article! Tea & Toast is reportedly a favorite of John Lennon * From the Weird History articles about the Royal Family and “What Did Ancient Egyptians Eat?” † The toast has butter on it and the tea is Twinings Darjeeling Tea.
I was listening to the radio when the news came through that Lennon had been shot. The initial reaction was, sort of,: “How exciting! Someone’s shot Lennon!” When the news came through that he was dead they began playing a few of his songs. They played them continuously throughout the day. All other news took a “back seat”. The voices of the commentators gradually changed .. from “being excited” to something akin to “grief”. Something similar happened when it was reported that Princess Diana had been in an accident. She was said to have only been injured … whilst Dodi was dead. For several hours all the news websites talked, in detail, about how the death of her “boyfriend” had solved the “problem” of him being a Muslim. If it had been Yoko who had been shot and killed some people might have similarly thought: “Problem solved!”
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JOIN LENNON WAS SHOT in THE BACK BY A CRAZY MAN WHO’S NAME is MARK CHAPMAN WHO WANTED FAME SO UNFORTUNATELY HE CHOSE JOHN LENNON AND HE WAS SHOT IN THE BACK OUTSIDE OF THE DAKOTA APARTMENTS AND HE OWNED ONE OF THESE APARTMENTS AND HE DIED FROM THE GUN SHOT WOUND ON DECEMBER THE 8th 1980 AND HE WROTE GREAT SONG’S SUCH AS WOMAN AND JEALOUS GUY AND IMAGINE AND COME TOGETHER AND HE WROTE THIS SONG AND IT’S ON THE ABBY ROAD CD AND I’VE GOT THIS CD AND IT’S A GREAT ONE 😁
The arty picture of John Lennon with Yoko is particularly sad, as he seems to be playing foetal (US – fetal). It’s as if he knew. Chapman made no effort to escape the scene. He must’ve known he’d be jailed for life, reviled, hated. A meaningless crime. A meaningless man. That’s why Paul Gambaccini refuses to utter the killer’s name. It’s a small gesture, but powerful. Chapman, there is nothing interesting about you or your life.
I have ZERO Empathy for her…As far as I’m concerned she’s an accessory after the fact…she could’ve prevented this and I’m angered at that I mean the guy said he threw the gun in the ocean but still wanted to go back to NY to figure things out!?! And to travel from Hawaii to get there?!? COME ON!!!
Oh—ok. That very day the photo of him naked next to Yoko was taken?? That very day? It was Rolling Stone magazine that, decades prior, insisted on creating a facticiuos meeting between yoko and John. This lie about meeting in an art gallery was told over and over and pushed on the public. The truth is she stalked him. For over a year, aggressively. I believe this was a hit.
I was going to the shop,for my mum,that day,and I could see the newsagents from right up the street,as I got closer,outside all I could see was a newspaper, saying John Lennon was shot dead,I’ll never forget that day .after that at Christmas my uncle Ivan asked me what I wanted for Christmas,I said I wanted the John Lennon cassette,that year I got the John Lennon cassette.there is definitely no justice,sutch a sad sad way,to be shot dead,by a mad man for nothing,and yest they let his murder,have congical,visits that should be definitely stoped,and he should never,ever, be aloud out of prison. FULL STOP.
Believe it or not, Chapman tried to commit suicide in a beach in Hawaii. Early one morning, he got in his car and parked on the beach. Chapman put a hose to his tailpipe and the other end inside his car window. An early morning jogger noticed and pulled out the hose. The jogger should have called 911 to have Chapman committed. Chapman was not only a danger to himself but others.
I think if the murderer (never mention his name ever) was sentenced to death and immediatrly executed it would have been much, much better for both Bettles and Lennon fans. Not to be violent or anything but I mean he got what he wanted by taking the life of such a great and peaceful figure and braking millions of hearts. I can barely imagine how Yoko Ono, Sean and Julian must be living these days knowing that the killer of their husband/father is still alive. Does anyone agree with me because I can not get over the fact that peaceful people, most notably Ganghi, Matin Luther King Jr. and John Lennon were victims of violence. Although it may sound like I am promoting violence by calling for an execution still does anyone agree with me?
I’m not American I’m actually from Liverpool like the Beatles but I’d love to hear your take on guy Fawkes I love this website but it’s mostly American history not much from this side of the pond I think you’re only doing Lennon because he was killed in new York lol still I love the website anyway 🙂🙂
I also heard that Mark Chapman was quite a John Lennon fan and actually learn how to play John Lennon songs on a guitar then all of a sudden when he found religion he said that John Lennon was a Spond of the devil and wanted to kill me you asked me he’s a Spond of the devil I just think 40 years old is just too young to die but he didn’t die he was murdered I remember when the Beatles came to America in 1963 toward the end of that year I love them all they inspired me to play guitar and so did a lot of other musicians so I’m just thankful for people like that May he rest in peace 🎸☮️☮️😢
Yoko no longer gets time with John, therefore he should never get time with his wife, but no. Instead he gets to make pizzas and have sex, and he got his ultimate wish for fame. This is how our system works; reward the murderers with pizza & sex. I wonder if he would have thought twice, if he knew for sure he would have been sentenced the death penalty, and put to death within 12 months and without ever seeing his wife again? In a consequence free environment, anything can/will happen.
In his own words….’a nobody’ An absolute waste of space…a complete nobody. What astonishes and appals me more than anything is why didn’t his wife tell anyone of his murderous intentions? She absolutely knew what he intended but failed to warn either the authorities or even Lennon himself. She’s as guilty as he is.
I read a few comments mentioning that John went back to the Dakota to tell his son goodnight and that’s why he got shot. It might have saved his life that night by going to dinner instead of tending to his son, but the killer seemed crazy determined and unfortunately would have killed John eventually. It would have took a miracle and some luck for John to have walked away from that psychopath. RIP John.
I see alot of cmments about how sad this is and he doesnt deserve fame. I think the main take away from this should be, If someone says something like “im going to murder someone” in serious manner and plans are made. His wife should have reported it and made him get help. Like why did you just sit there and play games? “oh my love will stop him” his wife should have done something. Clearly he had issues his wife knew about it but did nothing.
Why on earth would someone decide to murder someone who had been kind to them, simply because that person was famous and thought that this would make them famous? How ironic that John campaigned for peace but was murdered in such a violent way. Does Chapman now believe that spending the rest of his life behind bars was worth it? The entire thing never made any sense.
We always knew this to be true… any true John and/or Yoko music fans knew this idiot did not do it because of the Beatles or anything related to that; he wanted to kill a famous person; sadly it was John… too bad it wasn’t the real estate king of ny at that time; that would have saved us 4 yrs of agony… js #VegasStrong #StaySafe
John once said “I’m not afraid of death because I don’t believe in it. It’s just getting out of one car, and into another.” (I understand his vision, meaning something else is going on, another form of life after death maybe) but it’s creepy because that’s how things went on that night at the Dakota… He got out of the limo, shots were fired, policemen arrived promptly on the scene, among them Police officers Bill Gamble and Jim Moran took him immediately into their police car (John incredibly still had a pulse, no time to wait for ambulance) drove to the Roosvelt Hospital… and John probably had his last breath in this police car.
The thing is when John made the statement of “The Beatles is more popular than Jesus” he was actually on about how the number of christianity beliefs had been declining and at this point it felt as if The Beatles was more popular than Christianity, he was actually just sharing his concern on that. He even explained it too many times.
In my view, the thing that gets really overlooked about John’s death, specifically why it was so tragic, is because his life was truly just beginning. To explain what I mean, John’s father neglected him growing up and his mother died when he was just a child. He had a loving, yet authoritative, auntie that looked after him for the rest of his youth. You could imagine (no, really) that he really didn’t know how properly manage his emotions. His marriage to his first wife, Cynthia, was more so done out of spite and their son Julian (ironically, was neglected by him) wasn’t planned. With John’s underlying trauma, things got worse when he started taking drugs which led to his behaviour radically shifting to the point of him hitting her. It wasn’t until he met Yoko and the two shared a similar traumatic upbringing that lead to him finding somebody who could get him out of his comfort zone. After some soul searching during their brief separation in the early seventies and the birth of their son, Sean, John started to break the cycle by raising his child, reconciled with his past, and gained a sense of maturity in general. After many years of being lost, he finally found himself. He goes in-depth about this in his last interviews with the BBC and RKO, which you can find here on YouTube. The thing is, I think if Chapman knew about John’s upbringing and realized how similar it was to his own, I don’t think he would have done what he did. But we’ll never know for sure, and with all that said, this layer to the story makes the whole event more tragic than most realize.
Obviously, the fellow who put this together wasn’t around on December 8th, 1980. He twice states that it was a cold December night. It was anything but. It was an unseasonably warm night, almost balmy, which some have attributed to being another reason why Chapman was able to hang around outside The Dakota for untold hours.
Mark chapman, like many assassins had the same type of mental psychology like many assassins did. Had very poor relationships with their family and friends, emotionally disturbed, and lonely at it’s greatest. John Lennon had the whole world, Chapman had nothing. I can’t imagine what some of these guys were feeling when they were about to pull the trigger. R.I.P Lennon ❤️
Mark David Chapman is the one who shot and killed John Lennon 41 years ago today and I miss him dearly because he was part of the Beatles and he was only 40 years old and I’m not gonna to cry right now because it will hurt me so much and I remember I was with my parents 41 years ago this year and both of John Lennon and my parents are deceased and remembered by me and I think that I heard that he apologizes to Yoko Ono for killing John Lennon in 1980
Lennon made one, ONE, comment in response to a question in a press conference. He didn’t continue on with making the same or similar comments in the weeks and months ahead. In fact, he immediately apologized and tried to explain his comments…to no avail. Also, about the book: this was a famous book LONG before the events of 1980. Lastly, about the song ‘Imagine’: it was a damn pop song. It wasn’t a call to revolution. Far too much was made of these details.
hey this article is absolutely high class and artistic! I just would’ve really liked to see some more of what Lennon was up to around the time of his death, like how he wanted to go see his son before he ‘would’ go to dinner that night, how his life was getting a bit more hopeful and stuff like that. That’s what makes it so tragic too. But besides that this article pretty much captures it all!!!
John Lennon is a personal hero of mine. I like what he stood for and what he believed in, in peace and love, and equality, and wanting to make the world a better place. And Nixon (Whom I think is a bad president) saw Lennon as a threat, and so he threatened to have him exported, but was unsuccessful. What makes this story sad is that Lennon had nothing to do with Chapman’s life being terrible. Chapman was so evil and not a good person, and he basically let his ego and selfishness get the better of him. I get that he had problems, but he shouldn’t have blamed Lennon and others for his problems. I see a lot of people do that, when they get mad or their lives are miserable, they take it out on people who had nothing to do with it, and it really hurts. I should know because I was a worker at McDonald’s, and it was during COVID, and a lot of people were mad and took it out on me, even though I had nothing to do with it. Lennon did not deserve what happened to him. He deserved to live a nice life even after the Beatles. I hope Chapman rots in prison forever, cause what he did was unforgivable, killing one of the most talented, sweetest, musicians ever. Lennon was still young, he was only 40.
Another great article! but please state that you do extensive research on your topics, or maybe even leave links for further research. Just like Kurgasat, you read off all these statments as if they were quotes, and if they were… Im just going to take your word on it because I support the website… But I want you guys to keep your credibility
I wish I could go back in time and show this article to John before he died. I want to see what his reaction would be, and how it would change his outlook on life. I hope it would teach him to spend more time with his children, to realise some of his hypocrisy, and become the father he wished his father had been. If only…
Poor Yoko. I was really young when this happened and I didn’t remember she was there when the murder happened. How devastating. The death of Lennon was also the death of progressive politics. After that we got Reagan and shit’s been getting worse ever since. Now both parties are bought and paid for by corporate donors and the right wing is so crazy it’s terrifying. Lennon would be disgusted with how things have devolved.
Very underrated website mate, You have gotten a subcriber. The amount of research you do in these articles is just amazing, I loved the Michael Jackson one too because I have seen him and know his history a lot too. Also, The Beatles was not that kind of Beatles like it was when Lennon was alive. keep it up!
Really, dude? Nixon started the Vietnam war? Also, Chapman did not “get his gun past security”. It is legal, even today, for a registered gun owner to transport a firearm in the stowed luggage. For a so called “history” website, you do not seem to have even a rudimentary grasp on past, or present historical facts.
Quick question to the people in the US, why is Nickson remembered as the president who started the Vietnam war, when he was actually the one that ended the US’s involving in that conflict, while Lindon B Johnson is the one that expanded the involvement in the war, and Dwight D Eisenhauer was the one that started the Us involvement to begin with?
Please don’t use his name. He did this to become famous & it’s been reported he listens to the radio all day on Lennon’s birthday & the anniversary of his death specifically to hear his name on the radio. Always refer to him as “the guy who shot John Lennon”. Never say his name again on a public forum.
It’s sad yes but it’s time to let it go. He’s been dead for 40 years. Stop dwelling on the topic and move on. I’m tired of hearing how John Lennon died. Move on and drop the topic of his death. I’ve seen documentaries, I’ve heard stories, I saw John Lennon’s killer talk about it. People need to move on with their lives and stop worrying by about how John Lennon died. It’s not healthy.
I never want to read Catcher in the Rye or look at that book ever again! I don’t care if he had a hard life, that monster who took John Lennon and was thinking about killing Paul McCartney and Jackie Kennedy, should rot in jail! Heck, let his execution be broadcasted! If Lee Harvey Oswald’s execution was broadcasted after JFK was killed, let his be visible too! R.I.P. John Lennon 🎸💚👓🍏
Hey man big fan. I can’t believe that my hero was assassinated . I hate mark Chapman so much 😠😡. I love john so much he is always my favourite and always will be . I still have an album with the the Beatles called abbey road from 1969 but I bought the album in 1970 from the music hardware store from Texas 🇨🇱🇨🇱. I remember I listened to his song imagine in 1972 new year eve. When I heard the day he died I was so sad 😞😣😢. I was 20 when he died. I know the reason why did mark Chapman kill him is because he was jealous about John’s fame and fortune with the Beatles and making songs of imagine and peace . What Chapman did was very wrong 😤😠. I hope he will rot in hell someday . RIP JOHN LENNON OCTOBER 9TH 1940- DECEMBER 8TH 1980 💔😞💔😞. BTW GREAT article THOUGH. WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS article THAT MARK DAVID CHAPMAN NOT ONLY KILLED JOHN BECAUSE OF FAME AND FORTUNE. HE ALSO NEVER HAD A NORMAL CHILDHOOD. LOVE MAN KEEP IT UP 🤗🥰❤. IN YOUR NEXT article CAN YOU RECREATE ELVIS PRESLEY DEATH PLEASE 🙏🙏.
I was born exactly 21 years after this happened. I’m only a fan of John Lennon’s work with the Beatles and couldn’t care less for his solo career stuff. However, to think Mark Chapman decided to fly all the way from Hawaii just to shoot John is unthinkable. I understand thinking Lennon was a weird person, and being mad over him claiming the Beatles were ‘more popular than Jesus’, but that can’t justify murdering him. John also made it clear he didn’t make his ‘more popular than Jesus’ remark with blasphemous intent and repeatedly apologized for it. Mark David Chapman just got denied parole a thirteenth time as of this writing. I can only hope he realized the errors in his ways. This is a great analysis of what happened the night John Lennon was shot and killed. Your other articles are great too.
I read a different story. No time to wait for the police, he was placed in a cab. This was the driver giving the account. He didn’t know who his passenger was. John was still alive but crouched on the back seat facing down. Driver asked who he was and he was able to say “John Lennon”. Driver was surprised and said “The John Lennon?” But no answer ever came out. John was totally quiet from thereon. Upon reaching the 🏥, he was attempted to be revived like hell by the trauma team for 30 mins. The truth, he was actually DOA. Further investigation showed, John never had a chance. The very first bullet alone already blasted away the Right Aorta and other vital blood vessels which no one can survive from. It was actually amazing how he was able to take those bullets, remained upright & staggering, and even said “I got shot!” twice. Continued to stagger up to the footsteps of his condo bldg before collapsing. I wanted to believe this more because it would still take a few mins for cops to arrive. The cab was already there waiting for prospective passengers.
I’ll tell you how it really happened.. the beast killed him, the male beast. John told him straight to his face you are SHIT! Regardless if weather he is mommy queen’s little girl. I mean boy. Apparently, that didn’t sit well with him. And decided to kill him. I’ve decided to kill him in return. I got him John, him and mommy queen beast!
I never knew John Lennon, but like most of you, I was quite familiar with his music. I loved his songs, but didn’t particularly care for his humor or “wise guy” public image. I believe his possessions and money were well earned, and he had the right to use them accordingly. Perhaps JEALOUSY was Chapman’s real reasoning for his murdering of John Lennon. Regardless I am consoled by this thought: Imagine there’s no Mark Chapman. Good Day
Chapman bought the gun, flew to the U.S. visited his hometown in Georgia, and was given some 38 hollow point bullets from a friend who was a policeman. He then flew to New York to kill John. He changed his mind, and didn’t see John anyway. He returned to Hawaii confessed to his wife his intentions, and lied saying he had thrown the gun in the ocean. He made a second trip a few weeks later, flying straight to NYC in early December. He has been incarcerated in the state of New York for over 40 years, he remains married to his Japanese wife.
Spread the gospel before it’s too late because when the seven trumpets blow Jesus will come down to earth and ask if you spread the gospel and you can’t lie he knows when your lying so don’t lie! Love God Jesus and Holy Sprit spread the gospel repent for your sins and read the Bible before its to late Jesus died on the cross for your sins!….
The head of their hired security highly recommended to both of them that since they are back in the limelight (recording again), they really should have security with them at all times. Yoko said she didn’t think that would be necessary. With all her tarot card readers and numerology, etc. I guess all of them were just phonies wanting his money that she spent so freely.
This article is a waste of time because it just shows what was reported at the time. Does not show how Chapman had so much money on him when he was unemployed, who he saw in Chicago, what treatments were done to him at the Hawaii Medical facility, how did he know where Lennon lived when it was never reported in the media only the locals knew, where did he get thousands of dollars to travel around the world before going to New York.