Rest in Peace
Posted Dec 8, 2010 03:59:03 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
On this day in 1980, John Lennon was shot to death outside his New York City apartment building as he and his wife, Yoko Ono, were returning from a recording session.
Mark David Chapman shot Lennon seven times, only hours after Lennon had autographed the album “Double Fantasy” for the 25-year-old drifter.
Chapman was later convicted of the killing and sentenced to 20-years-to-life.
In 1998, the album that Lennon autographed that day was offered for sale on the Internet by an anonymous man who found it at the crime scene.
The asking price — $1.8 million. Chapman said he stashed the album behind a watchman’s booth before firing five shots from a .38-calibre revolver into Lennon’s back.
Yoko Ono will light a candle but that’s about it for today.
Ono traditionally places a candle in the window of her New York apartment on the anniversary of John Lennon’s death.
It’s been 30 years since Lennon was gunned down outside the Dakota, and fans gather every December 8 in Strawberry Fields in Central Park to remember Lennon.
Ono generally prefers to celebrate Lennon’s birthday, and October 9 of this year was his 70th.
Meanwhile, in Liverpool, a concert will be held today in Lennon’s memory. It will feature Lennon’s first band, The Quarrymen, along with Plastic Ono Band drummer Alan White and Tony Sheridan, who sang lead on “My Bonnie.”
On a side note, Rolling Stone is releasing John Lennon’s final interview today.
Lennon talked to Rolling Stone on December 5th, 1980, just three days before being gunned down in front of his New York City apartment.
In the interview, Lennon slammed his critics, saying they want “dead heroes.”
He also talked about trying to be a good father to young Sean Lennon.
As for the future, Lennon said there was “plenty of time” to reach his goals.
