John Lennon's death, 27 years later

by Kaitlin | December 10, 2007 at 11:01 am

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Twenty seven years ago this weekend (December 8, 1980), John Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman outside of his apartment building, The Dakota, in New York City. He was forty years old, which means that he's now been dead for more than half the time he was alive. And yet, with every year that passes, his death is mourned with a tenacity unmatched for any other contemporary figure.

Lennon's wife Yoko Ono, who still lives in the Dakota, tellingly memorialized her husband this weekend:

I miss you, John. 27 years later, I still wish I could turn back the clock to the Summer of 1980. I remember everything - sharing our morning coffee, walking in the park together on a beautiful day, and seeing your hand stretched to mine - holding it, reassuring me that I shouldn't worry about anything because our life was good.

I had no idea that life was about to teach me the toughest lesson of all. I learned the intense pain of losing a loved one suddenly, without warning, and without having the time for a final hug and the chance to say, "I love you," for the last time. The pain and shock of that sudden loss is with me every moment of every day. When I touched John's side of our bed on the night of December 8th, 1980, I realized that it was still warm. That moment has haunted me for the past 27 years - and will stay with me forever.

The immediacy with which Ono holds onto Lennon's life is universally felt. She "remembers everything," as she puts it, and so do we. Near the Dakota, off 72nd Street, is Strawberry Fields--an area of Central Park set aside in tribute of Lennon. Here, on December 8th every year, fans of Lennon's life and music meet in tribute to the man they lost just blocks away decades earlier. Not a year goes by that Strawberry Fields isn't full of dozens of people, whether it's snowing, freezing or--as it was the day Lennon died in 1980--"unseasonably warm."

There also isn't a year that passes without consideration of Lennon's legacy. Writers and cultural observers the world over marked this weekend by once again analyzing the impact of a complex and interesting musician and man. Of these, one of the most thought-provoking appeared in the Huffington Post:

It is certainly true that when John Lennon was shot he was immediately eulogized, mythologized and indeed canonized. And if you weren't a follower - or were too young to experience the Lennon impact in 'real time' - you could be forgiven for reacting suspiciously to all the hoopla on every anniversary of his death. "I mean he was just a pop singer right? Married to that kooky Japanese woman. I'm sorry he died - but why the fuss?"

Did we over-react to Lennon's death in 1980? Are we pining for a mythological cipher now?

Those are healthy questions. I don't begrudge them. The weight of 27 years of soliloquies hangs heavy on the uninitiated. So let the answers be given.

Meanwhile, a controversial film based on Lennon's death and starring Jonas Ball is about to see wide release. The Killing of John Lennon opened this weekend in the UK.

Because of my former mega-fan status, my younger sister was on the phone to me seconds after hearing of John's death on Dec. 8, 1980. I must admit that she was shocked – and I now feel guilty – that I took the news with such equanimity. By then, I was raising a child in downtown Toronto and had moved on. John was history, even before he died.

And now, I am faced with the possibility of seeing a re-enactment of that death, of getting up close and personal – not only with the bullets, but with the killer, Mark David Chapman. Andrew Piddington, the first-time director of The Killing of John Lennon, has said that he was inspired to make his film after reading a book titled Who Killed John Lennon? – a conspiracy theory about Chapman being a U.S. government agent programmed to wipe out the radical Lennon.

Mark Chapman is the snivelling fantasist who murdered John Lennon. By rights he should be no more than a fine-print footnote in pop history, so it's hard to see why he merits a two-hour biopic concentrating on the months before the assassination, especially as the film does nothing but confirm that he was a fame-hungry ego-maniac. "There has never been any choice for me," he mewls in a voiceover that quotes directly from Chapman's journals. "I don't think I ever hugged my father." Your heart bleeds, doesn't it?

Whatever your feeling about Chapman and the film, there's no denying that Lennon's legacy far outreaches that of his killer, who currently lives in isolation in Attica Prison, serving a life sentence.

Let the last word be about love, because that would be John's choice. And let it be with Lennon, who, after all, was extremely quotable--about love and otherwise:

"We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it." Amen.

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cynthia yoo

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at 11:20 on December 10th, 2007

Kaitlin, I didn't realize there's a movie coming out, and does it focus on Chapman, more than on Lennon? hmm.

jenna bo benna

at 14:33 on December 10th, 2007

i'd never been to strawberry fields before. when my group filed in and around the monument, it was just so eerie. everything was muted, everyone quiet with respect. i got tears in my eyes for a man i'd never even met. the level on which John has connected with so many people through his honest music is unbelievable. Strawberry Fields stands still in time, and when you enter that sanctuary, the wound is reopened. the noise from the street can't reach you there. the peace that eminates from all of John's work only adds to the grief that you couldn't have known such a true man, and the grief that his life was cut so tragically short.

Rob Peters

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at 14:56 on December 10th, 2007

Thanks Kaitlin.

DanielleRB

at 16:32 on December 10th, 2007

This year is the first year I've lived in NYC, and I took the
opprotunity to go to the Strawberry Fields and Imagine memorial site to
pay my respects to John Lennon. While I was there, I was stunned by all
of the people who arrived to recognize such an amazing musician and
person. It's amazing what people will do to remember someone special,
and how dedicated they are even after nearly 30 years.

John Lennon was such a talented musician and without him or The
Beatles, the world would be so different in every way. Not only was he
a pioneer in music, he was such an advocate for many other things in
this world; including his interest in stopping war, world hunger, etc.
And he used his power in music to express those types of things. With
"Give Peace a Chance" being a prime example of it. If he was still
alive today, he would've accomplished so much more and would have made
an even larger impact on the world than he already has. To talk about
his legacy would be never-ending, for he is one man who everyone will
ALWAYS recognize, know, and honor no matter what their age is. He will
never ever be forgotten, and will always be missed.

Kaitlin

at 08:30 on December 11th, 2007

Thanks for reposting your comment here, Danielle. Great stuff!

zoegatz

at 16:53 on December 10th, 2007

The John Lennon Memorial on December 8, 2007 was very inspirational. Just recently, i have started admiring, Lennon's worldwide cause and devotion for the many passionate things he believed in. Many people bloomed to Strawberry fields and paid tribute to his death by singing old Beatles songs on guitar and sharing the peace and love, by coming together and mourning for a great man with a compelling cause. This was my first time attending this event and it won't be my last. I plan to come every year because this event was so warm and loving, the atmosphere, kind and nurturing. It brought many people together and I'm sure John Lennon was looking down upon us with satisfied and gleaming eyes.

Dani W.

at 17:07 on December 10th, 2007

I've been to Strawberry Fields many times, but never for Lennon's anniversary. Lennon was, and always will be, a huge inspiration to me. I identify with him, because like John, I have found my heart lies in New York City. Now that I live here I can visit Strawberry Fields anytime I want and reflect on how he has affected our world. Lennon strove for a better, kinder world to raise his, and our, children in. I hope for the same, and he makes me want to work towards that every day.

Kaitlin

at 08:31 on December 11th, 2007

I feel the same way, Dani W. Thank you for posting your comment.

kaityv

at 18:17 on December 10th, 2007

It was a cold night in NYC, but that didn't stop John Lennon's loyal following. The diversity of the crowd that night was amazing- young, old, rich, poor- every type of person you could 'imagine' was present. It was incredible to experience the passion people have held for one person after 27 years.

dustnbonestk

at 21:00 on December 10th, 2007

I'm from Chile, and im a Biiiig Beatle Fan. I had the chance to go to Beatleweek in Liverpool in 2006 with my best friend.
It was amazing to see all the Beatles tributes bands from all over the world playing rock and roll...and to share it with all the beatles fans
Its amazing how one band can change the world, like The Beatles did ... Because there isnt another band in the world that their fans come together every year to share their love for them, and to honor them, in a week with many activities related to the Beatles...
The Beatles changed the world because from the day that they were born, the world has never been the same...

ifindtrends

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at 23:37 on December 10th, 2007

'Some may say he was a dreamer, but he's not the only one'!

He has been an inspiration to so many ( including myself) and his spirit lives on.

We can only dream that a day will come when his words of peace and love become reality.

MotownMassacre

at 07:43 on December 11th, 2007

This weekend for me was devoted to John Lennon. Saturday I went busking in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and busked all the Beatles songs i know. Like 'Hide your love away' and 'The ballad of John and Yoko', and Sunday i sat in the house lit a candle for John and listened to his music all day. Rest in Peace.

Kaitlin

at 08:34 on December 11th, 2007

Sounds like a perfect weekend to me. Thanks for commenting.

Julie Reeman

at 09:29 on December 17th, 2007

Like many people I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I heard about John Lennon's untimely death. I saw the words of his song "Imagine" on the walls of the airport named for him in Liverpool where this photo was taken, "above us only sky". I have just moved to France, realising a long-held dream and my feelings resonated somehow with the words and I took the photo!

Julie Reeman has contributed a photo to this story.