As the date of December 8th approaches, so does the bullet that ended John Lennon’s life. Lennon had met a fan on the day of his death, and all seemed to be well. The traditional greeting and getting his famous signature commenced, and Lennon moved on with the evening. At around 10 pm that night, Lennon would meet that same fan again, but not anything like the first time. The ‘fan’ would soon be known as Lennon’s assassin.
Outside of Lennon’s apartment building in New York City, The Dakota Apartments, the assassin would shoot him five times and leave the scene with an eerily calm demeanor. Before long, police located the assassin on 72nd Street reading ‘Catcher in the Rye.’ Mark D. Chapman, the assassin, would plead guilty to the murder and be sentenced to 20 years in prison, yet he has not been released yet. Chapman attributed the assassination to things Lennon was speaking out about. Specifically, he didn’t like the comments Lennon made about God and the hypocrisy of it all. Not only did this factor into it but so did Salinger’s novel Catcher in the Rye. Chapman was inspired by how the main character criticizes ‘phonies.’ Lennon himself was rushed to the hospital following the shooting but died en route. Lennon had lost 80% of his blood and major vessels and arteries around his heart had been fatally damaged. His spouse, Yoko Ono, was devastated. Instead of a funeral, she had him cremated the day after his death and requested something special be done in place of a funeral. Ono requested that the world would take a silent 10 minutes out of their day to honor his memory. Not only was she devastated, but fans around the world mourned him. Friends and family spoke out about him and how amazing he was and the lasting impact he made. Fans showed their love by leaving tokens, candles, and flowers where he was killed. His memory continues to the present day, and his memory includes his ideas.
Lennon was born on October 9, 1940 in Liverpool, England. He was always known as the rebellious or trouble-maker child who was different from the others. He believed that this helped him stand out from others. He went to school at the Liverpool College of Art but was kicked out after failing a final exam. This is where he met his lifelong friend and bandmate, Paul McCartney, and his future wife, Cynthia. Lennon and Cynthia would only be married for two years due to Lennon having an affair with Yoko Ono. Lennon played with a music group in Hamburg, Germany. They lost one member and were left with four. This little band had no idea how much fame, popularity, and money they had ahead of them.
Lennon is most famously known for his role in the famous British band called the Beatles. He both helped to write songs and also sang them. He and fellow bandmate Paul McCartney were considered to be the brains behind the band. The Beatles sold millions of records and had hundreds of thousands of people attend their concerts. This also led to the British Invasion, which was a time when British artists and bands began to dominate America. Their songs would be at the top of the charts and their concerts sold out. The Beatles were heartthrobs for young American girls and became a household name in homes, communities, and the nation. Lennon became the leader of the Beatles and the most well-known member. The band is considered one of the greatest bands of the 21st century. Their music is still widely listened to today and is constantly remastered and made better. Eventually, the band split, leaving fans heartbroken around the world. They all had their own reasons, but Lennon’s primary reason was wanting to be with his wife, Yoko Ono. He loved her dearly, and always wanted her at his side. Fans blame Ono for the band’s breakup, but this isn’t the primary reason. Soon after the band split, Lennon and Ono had a child, named Sean Lennon.
Lennon was someone outside of just his musical role of the Beatles. He was a solo artist, a husband, a father, and so much more. Outside of the music industry, he fought valiantly for peace and social justice. Lennon openly expressed his distaste for the Vietnam War and wanted people to find love and peace as the solution. His ideas were received by many and helped build his legacy into what it is today. He expressed these through his songs, his celebrity fame, and however he could. Two famous songs he wrote helped to express these feelings, the songs are known as: ‘Give Peace a Chance’ and ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’. Lennon didn’t only speak through song, but he also participated in peace marches in New York City and let journalists interview him and his wife Ono about their beliefs. They continued to support and publicize their beliefs up until Lennon’s assassination.
Lennon made a huge impact on the world both musically and with his ideas of peace and love. There are monuments dedicated to him, and his music is still popularized and listened to. The Beatles’ legacy also remains so incredible due to Lennon. Even though his life was taken tragically, there is still so much good to him and his name. May his legacy continue to reign and he be remembered for his ideals and aspirations of love.
