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John Lennon was shot outside his home in New York City on Dec. 8, 1980.
Thursday marks the 31-year anniversary of the death of John Lennon.
The legendary singer-songwriter was shot and killed Dec. 8, 1980, at age 40 in New York by Mark David Chapman at the entrance to the building where he lived. His death came just three weeks after the release of his album "Double Fantasy," which marked the first album for Lennon since the birth of his son in 1975.
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Lennon was born Oct. 9, 1940, in Liverpool, England. His first band, the Quarrymen, evolved into what became the Beatles in 1960. He and fellow band member Paul McCartney would go on to form one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 20th century, writing most of the group's hits.
Lennon's marriage to Japanese artist Yoko Ono in 1969 played a part in the disintegration of the Beatles a decade after the band's formation. He went on to have a successful solo career, with hits including "Mother," "Give Peace a Chance" and "Imagine."
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Here are five iconic moments from Lennon's career:
1. Beatles' First Appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show"
The U.K. had already been enthralled with Beatlemania when the group made its U.S. debut appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964, performing "All My Loving," "Till There Was You," "She Loves You" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand" to an audience full of mostly screaming females. As they performed "Till There Was You," the names of the group members were superimposed over close-ups, including the famous "Sorry girls, he's married" over Lennon. The appearance marked their breakthrough to international stardom.
2. "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band"
The Beatles' 1967 album was part of the group's experimental phase and spawned such singles as the title track, "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" and "A Day in the Life." It was named one of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" by Rolling Stone in 2003. The Bee Gees -- Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb -- starred in a 1978 film musical of the same name that featured new versions of songs from the album as well as 1969's "Abbey Road." "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" also was featured in the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" movie.
3. "Imagine"
After embarking on his solo career, Lennon had several hits, including this one, which endures today and is a staple on TV singing competitions like "American Idol" and "The Voice." Lennon and Ono performed the song -- which in 2004 was ranked No. 3 on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" -- together in Madison Square Garden in 1972.
4. "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"
Lennon would became an anti-war activist, reflected in songs like "Give Peace a Chance," his first solo single, and the holiday-themed "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," which still gets lots of play every December. To advertise the single, Lennon and Ono paid for billboards in 12 cities around the world that read in each country's native language: "WAR IS OVER -- IF YOU WANT IT." Watch the official video below.
5. Last Full Concert Performance
Lennon gave two benefit concerts in New York's Madison Square Garden in 1972 to aid patients at the Willowbrook State School mental facility. They were has last full-length concert appearances. In the clip below, he performs "Mother."
What do you remember best about John Lennon? Let us know in the comments below.
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Leave a Comment:
Who else remembers exactly where they were/what they were doing when they "heard the news"? Was never a big a fan of the Beatles, but broke down and cried anyway, due to the insane circumstances of his passing... Much love to Yoko, Julian, and Sean on this sad anniverary of madness.
I was pregnant with my son and decorating a Christmas tree. Clear as it was yesterday, and is just as sad. Brilliant, imperfect artist gone. Think how prolific that Mr. Lennon would have been over the last 31 years...
I remember exactly where I was and who I was with.. I had to pull off the freeway when I heard it.
I was working in my hotel room watching Monday night football with Howard Cosell.
I am the Walrus, coo-coo-ca-choo.
Are you sneezing?
Or just really bad at quoting lyrics?
The Beatles kept the World from being consumed in the fires of the 60's.
Now we get Bieber.
Dorme bene.
Oddly, Dimebag Darrell of Pantera was also shot on Dec 8th on stage.
There are very few people you can say this about, but, if John Lennon had not been killed, I honestly think we'd be a little bit different a people than we are today.....not sure exactly how or exactly why, but he just had this thing about him.
Maybe we just wouldnt be quite so damn mean as we are collectively these days.
I agree 100%
You know, I think you might be right. Maybe we would be better people. I never met John, but I always thought that maybe I am a better person because of him. He wasn't just a brilliant musician, but in his own way a world leader. The late 60's were a turbulent time, but he brought sense to it all for so many of us. When so many of our "leaders" and traitors were like Nixon and Kissinger he was a voice of reason.
I love the sentiment of your comments but it makes me a little sick that all this hullabaloo is over John Lennon, who, despite the touchy feely image he tried to portray(and Yoko loves to remind people of since his death) was kind of a douche bag rage-a-holic who treated his first son horribly. While he made good music and talked a good talk, let's put people up on a pedestal who actually deserve it, hmmmm?
He's remarkable -- and after 31 years since his passing, is still making a tremendous impact on musicians around the world. RIP, John.
I remember.
I was walking up to a newspaper vending machine and I remember seeing the headline and refusing to believe my eyes. So sad and pointless. Agree with Rob that the world would be a nicer place if John were still here. Miss you, John.
I was a week away from graduating from college. Ronald Reagan had been elected, and would become President in a month. We would start our new jobs the same week! It just seemed like too much change, going to a world without Lennon, but with Reagan.
I was at the Madison Square Garden Concert for Willowbrook 39 years ago and I can't believe it has been that long........does anyone out there remember the "Smile Box" gift that was given out to the audience that day? RIP John......you were an original.....
To this day, when I think about how ironically he died~by violence~and he was always for peace and harmony, I cry. This is a very sad day for us all that were a part of the Beatles' history and beyond. I send my thoughts and positive vibes to Julian and Sean...so sad! IMAGINE.......
The "Happy Xmas - War Is Over" video ALWAYS makes me cry, it's very touching!
Just can't believe it's been 31 years. I was 17 years old and just never imagined something like that could happen to such an incredible human being. After 31 years it still hurts like hell. Love you John, Paul, George and Ringo. Thanks for the greatest music ever made.
I was only few years older. John was (and still is) a huge influence on my life. I was very much like him, almost a revolutionary in my younger days but by the time of his death I was falling in love and becoming far more practical about the future.
It was as if his death wasn't supposed to happen. There was a whole second act we only saw a tiny piece of with Double Fantasy. The world has certainly not been a better place since that day. That incredible vision John had went blind.
I remember going to the R N'R Hall of Fame when they had a Lennon exhibit. The glasses he wore that night were displayed, smashed from when he had fallen. And in the rotunda upstairs there was a display of some of his original lyrics while his music played. Not a dry eye in the house. I stayed there for hours.
A night I will never, ever forget. To have heard this news from Howard Cosell on MNF only made it more memorable. I still listen to the song Empty Garden often. Bernie Taupin's lyrics really captured the moment especially the description of feeling "crippled" and "dazed".
"And what's it for
This little empty garden by the brownstone door
And in the cracks along the sidewalk nothing grows no more
Who lived here
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
And we are so amazed we're crippled and we're dazed
A gardener like that one no one can replace
And I've been knocking but no one answers
And I've been knocking most all the day
Oh and I've been calling oh hey hey Johnny
Can't you come out to play"
Was lying in bed with my girlfriend watching MNF (I wanna say it was Miami Vs Jets, but don't remember), she had just given me the Double Fantasy album as an early Xmas gift, and Howard Cosell gave the report. So yeah, I got to hear that my #1 hero, John Lennon, was just killed from Howard Cosell. At the moment, there seemed some added level of perversity to the situation by that fact alone. I didn't learn until several years later that Cosell and Lennon actually had an, if not a friendship, at least a respectful acquaintenceship (and considering Cosell was like the only professional sportswriter supporting Ali--who had a famous friendship with The Beatles [they hung out with Ali during one of their US tours, which was photographed in Life]--and his protests against US involvement in Vietnam, that kind of makes sense), and replaying Cosell's announcement, I could tell the hurt in his voice. I hadn't realized it's already been 31 years. I suddenly find myself getting weepy all over again. Haven't been able to read 'Catcher in the Rye' since.
I was in elementary school when the Beatles first came to the USA, and in one grade, we were supposed to make sock puppets. My other little girlfriends and I decided we would do the Beatles, and I just HAD to be John, and we rocked those puppets out to "Since I Saw Her Standing There."!!!
Every time I hear John's "Imagine," I cry, I just cannot help it. Imagine if John were still with us!!! I agree with the irony: someone wanting nothing but peace, cut down so young, so violently. RIP, John, you will ALWAYS be with us!! Love to Yoko, Julian, and Sean.
I had just relocated to New York from England and it was the day before my birthday. I was sitting on the couch and when I heard the news I felt so very sad and angry at the same time. I just could not believe what i was hearing. Every year on my birthday I remember that day. He died on the eight and my birthday is on the ninth of December. My brother also died on the 8th of December. Isn't that something two people I dearly loved. Sleep on John you will never be forgotten or your music.
I can just imagine how poor Yoko, Sean and Julian feel every year around this time. It is just awful. God bless them always.
I remember watching MNF and Howard Cosell saying Mr. Lennon had been shot and killed. I just remember being so stunned. Such a talented person and he died such a senseless death. RIP John, you are missed by many. Imagine what he could have done in those 31 years?
I loved his sweet voice and his profile when he tilted his chin up toward the microphone when he sang. I saw Julian sing on the Tonite Show a few years ago and started crying because it was so much like his dad. None of the young performers today are worthy of licking John Lennon's boots. He was a musical genius. I miss him.
Whenever I go to Strawberry Fields in NYC, I see so many people remembering John and it makes me think that maybe there is still some hope for us after all. Then I see the news and listen to ANY of those politicians, and I think that maybe we are totally screwed. Why can't there be somebody like John today? We need him/her so bad. Somebody that will stand up and say "enough is enough" and that the NRA is F'd up.
They would just attack him as a "socialist". There were alot of people who really did not like John. Those are the people I try to stay clear of in life.
I remember hearing he was dead on the morning show as I was getting ready for work & thinking, God, please not a drug overdose! When the announcer gave the details of his murder, I sat down on the floor and wept. I just couldn't believe it. WHen I got to work, my manager was also extremely upset and we shared our favorite John Lennon memories. Throughout the day as customers came & went, he was the main topic of conversation - we were all stunned and sorry. It seemed like the death of my childhood - Jimi, Janice and Jim Morrison were gone so far before they should have been, John's death just seemed like the final blow. There was so much he had left to give that we were deprived of by the little b@#$rd that shot him, I hope Chapman rots in hell forever!
i had a friend become very upset with me a few years back because i spoke the name of the man who murdered lennon. my buddy remarked that the assassin only did it to become well known, so why give him what he wanted. to this day i've never repeated his name, hope never to again. maybe if we all didn't....
"war is over" video is still so moving. suppose they give a war and nobody came? the day will come 200, 500, a thousand years from now, but it will happen only if you and i start today. imagine and believe! r.i.p., john., and to the family, may you find some comfort in the fact that so many remember.
Thank you, 2little...that name should be stricken from the rolls of Heaven and Earth. I'm happy that you understand.
Ten years ago on the 21st anniversary of John's death I was walking across the parking lot of a shopping center. Through the air came "Imagine"...being played by a kid in a little V.W. He was just sitting there, listening. I stopped to do the same thing and noticed that nearly everyone in the parking lot had done the same. The music swelled throughout the space and stopped us in our tracks.
When the song ended the kid turned off his radio and put his head on his steering wheel.
Then the world started to move again.
I'll never forget that moment. It felt like the time 21 years before when I had heard John had been killed.
He was a great writer- for all his troubles he could express things very well. He could be many things- an angry man, a thoughtful man, someone who thought of the human race as something to be compassionate about. We all miss him still.
I actually have tears in my eyes as I'm writing this. I was only a few years old, but I'm sure that everyone has at-least one memory from that early of an age. Mine was seeing my Dad hugging my Mom outside by the front porch steps, near her rose bush and weeping about the news. My Dad was a huge Beatles fan, as were most his age. Ever since then I've been one and the Beatles are still my number one band; I play them more then any other and out of my 18000plus song in my itunes, Imagine would be one of the most played.
I have a close friend who actually despises the Beatles, however, even she says that Imagine is a beautiful song and that John Lennon was talented. Everyone here commenting is right, the world would have been a better place if he was still here to share his music and wisdom. Whether you like the Beatles or John Lennon or not, you cannot say he made no impact for the better. There is a reason so many companies use Beatles music to get their message across.