25th Anniversary of John Lennon's passing

[moxham123]

It is hard to believe that today is the 25th anniversary of John Lennon being taken from us all. This is the story from the news today.

Thursday, December 8, 2005
NEW YORK - Fans brought flowers, candles and their own bittersweet memories Thursday as they gathered to mark the day 25 years ago when John Lennon was murdered.

"With the country at war, his work and philosophy seem more poignant and more desperately needed than ever," said Kim Polson, who said she fell in love with the Beatles when she saw them on television at age 8.

She was an early morning visitor to Strawberry Fields, the section of Central Park just outside the Dakota apartment building where Lennon was gunned down by a deranged fan on Dec. 8, 1980.

Several dozen people had gathered by midmorning, some local residents, some tourists. One woman sat with scrapbook she had assembled over the years. Among the floral offerings were a half-dozen white roses and a bough of holly.

On that night 25 years ago, Lennon - who had just turned 40 - was returning from a midtown Manhattan recording studio with his wife, Yoko Ono. In an instant, Mark David Chapman, a fan carrying a copy of J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye," opened fire on Lennon. Police officers put the mortally wounded singer in the back of a squad car, but shortly after arriving a hospital, Lennon was dead.

Tom Leighton, one of the organizers of an ad-hoc memorial committee, said people attend the vigil for different personal reasons, but "primarily it's to pay our respects and share our grief collectively."

Fans hold a moment of silence is held at 10:50 p.m. - the time he was shot - and again at 11:15 - the time he is believed to have died. Despite protests, city officials planned to close the park at 1 a.m., as they have for several years.

Polson, who lives a block from the Dakota, recalled seeing Lennon in a coffee shop four months before he was killed. She stuck around to listen to him talk to a colleague.

"I came to the office two hours late that morning and my boss was furious, so I said, 'Ask me why I'm late.' When I told him, he was no longer angry."

"I'll be late for work again today. John Lennon made me late again," she said.

Chapman remains in New York's Attica state prison, where his third request for parole was denied in October.

[byndrsn]

Chapman remains in New York's Attica state prison, where his third request for parole was denied in October.

This man deserves the death penalty!!!

[ToonaRockGuy]

I was glad that someone remembered...I loved Dimbag's playing, but I didn't want everyone to forget about John Lennon...

---------------------

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

---------------------

[bassist_25]

Chapman remains in New York's Attica state prison, where his third request for parole was denied in October.

This man deserves the death penalty!!!

Amen!!!!!

But RIP John Lennon.

[Jim Price]

Lennon's death was one of those situations where I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when the news broke (like 9-11, the space shuttle disasters, etc.). I was in the basement of my home, watching Monday Night Football on a little 7" black-and-white TV, when Howard Cosell broke the news of Lennon's murder in the middle of the game. Not long before that, Lennon had actually visited the broadcast booth during a previous Monday night game; Cosell was pretty somber as he recalled Lennon's visit and his impressions of Lennon.

[Banned]

JP, on ESPN last night they had a special about that Monday Night game and went over the decision of whether they had all the information correct before they made that fateful announcement. It is wierd to see how a part of history was made and you lived through it.

[Blain]

I am probably the odd man out here, but I think the news media is making WAY too big a deal out of this anniversary.

Obviously he was a talented and famous man, but when you watch the news stories on this, you would think he cured cancer or led the Israelites through the parted waters.

I too remember where I was when I found out that he had been killed. I just believe that I have put it in the proper context as it related to my life and worldview.

[YankeeRose]

October 09, 1940 - December 08, 1980



I also remember exactly were I was when I heard the news, I was sitting on the floor in my parents' living room, watching tv, but exactly what it was I was watching, I can't recall...my instant shock, saying "no!", as well as clasping my hands together without even thinking about it as I sat glued to the tv, fervently Praying, hoping and wishing that he'd be okay, all of that I do recall. I also recall the deep grief I felt at what I still feel was the entire World's loss, when I soon heard he was gone. For several days afterward, I walked around in a daze...I also recall a friend and a fellow male schoolmate and I were about the only ones in our class who felt the same about his death...or at least we were the only ones who admitted it and talked about it. My eyes got misty today, 25 long years later. The man that killed him is totally Insane...do you know that Chapman thought he was "receiving messages", not only from J.D. Salinger's book, but also from none other than Todd Rundgren's Lyrics and Album Covers? I just read about all of that a few days ago. I'd somehow gotten onto a link for a book for sale about Lennon's Murder, via a link on the RnRHoF site, possibly and it mentions all of this. To be honest Moxham123, your mentioning of Rundgren yesterday was a bit "oooeeeooo" for me. John Lennon and George Harrison are my favorite Beatles.
...and I say "are", for it's nice to Imagine them together in that beautiful place...

[generationgap]

The Night That Music's Heart Skipped A Beat..

ToonaRockGuy wrote...

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

In my opinion one of the best songs ever written, Lennon and his lyrics that he wrote have a huge impact on general life....
Without Lennon where would music be today and what direction would have you taken without his input???

Jim Price wrote...

Lennon's death was one of those situations where I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when the news broke (like 9-11, the space shuttle disasters, etc.). I was in the basement of my home, watching Monday Night Football on a little 7" black-and-white TV, when Howard Cosell broke the news of Lennon's murder in the middle of the game

J.P.
I also was watching Monday Night Football that sad night that Howard Cosell broke the news, I also remember how Howard was really shaken by the news.
It seemed on the previous visit to Monday Night Football that Lennon
had gained a huge amount of respect from Howard
Which we all know how Howard was ''you just don't get respect from Cosell"
That night I seen a side of Cosell that I never saw again...
Nor will we see another John Lennon

God Bless You John
http://www.johnlennon.com/site.html

[plumcrazy]

I am probably the odd man out here, but I think the news media is making WAY too big a deal out of this anniversary.

Obviously he was a talented and famous man, but when you watch the news stories on this, you would think he cured cancer or led the Israelites through the parted waters.

I too remember where I was when I found out that he had been killed. I just believe that I have put it in the proper context as it related to my life and worldview.

Obviously the man that John Lennon was and the true talent he had didn't impact you in the least. Sorry that you missed out on what the rest of us wouldn't trade for anything.

Let us know when you have impacted the music industry and have as many #1 hits as he had, then MAYBE, just maybe we will actually listen to what you have to say.

[Blain]

You do the same, plumcrazy, and maybe I'll listen to you. It's a shame that people can't have a civilized dialogue or debate without the "take my ball and go home" syndrome kicking in.

[Viva la Pelt]

think what he could of done the past 25 years,its so sad cause we prob. are missing out of the greatest song never written! R.I.P.

[plumcrazy]

You do the same, plumcrazy, and maybe I'll listen to you. It's a shame that people can't have a civilized dialogue or debate without the "take my ball and go home" syndrome kicking in.

I think this thread was meant to honor and remember Mr. Lennon in a positive way. Doesn't really matter who listens to me, stick to the thread please.

think what he could of done the past 25 years,its so sad cause we prob. are missing out of the greatest song never written! R.I.P.

I've heard some great ones, but I am sure he took that song with him.