December 8, 1980 – The darkest day in Beatles history, and one of the darkest ever in our society. John Lennon was assassinated by a crazy person who had no trouble purchasing a gun legally and using it that night. Yoko lost a husband, Sean and Julian lost a father, and the rest of us lost someone who moved and changed us in a most profound way. Beatles fans are all ages and no matter how old you are we all have that common love for the Beatles. But let’s go back to the beginning. In early 1964, it was the heart of the baby boomer generation that REALLY got hooked on John, Paul, George & Ringo – fans aged primarily 9-16. I was 16 at the time . It has occurred to me that, at 64, I can divide up my life so far, in 16 year increments.
1. 1948 – January 5, 1964 just a kid who grew up in a musical home and got hooked on rock and roll early.
2. January 6, 1964 – December 7, 1980 – I first heard I Want To Hold Your Hand by a new group out of England called The Beatles. I can still remember hearing it and getting so excited abut this totally new sounding song. It was like the song jumped out of the radio and into my being. It still has a hold on me. Those last years and high school and all of college seemed to be full of Beatles connections and events, but it always revolved around the music.
In June, 1969, I first met John outside Apple offices in London. I spoke with him, got a picture,autograph, shook his hand and walked around all evening looking at my hand, realizing I had just met a Beatle in person. Fast forward 5 years to 1974 when, after bumping into John at numerous Apple Records events in NYC , I sit down with him in his hotel suite (4/28/74) to tell him my idea of a Beatles Fans’ Celebration. He says, “I’m All For It. I’m A Beatles Fan, Too.” Yes, it was John who turned my dream into a reality. The night of December 8, 1980, Carol and I were at LAX waiting for the redeye back from another LA FEST. I was hand carrying a 4′ new poster of Double Fantasy that I didn’t want to have crushed, when I was paged and told the news that shook the world.
December 8, 1980 – today – 32 years in a world without John physically being with us. The excitement and possibilities of where John would take us after his first new music in 5 years are dashed forever. Any thoughts of a Beatles reunion (at such events as the one coming up this week (12/12/12) are also dashed. Of course, we were all forced to go on in a world without John, but it was so hard to get over it (if one can ever get over something like that). We feel so fortunate to have presented so many friends and family members (at our FESTS) who have shed new light on John (Paul, George and Ringo, too of course) shared stories and help us realize just what kind of a man he was and how totally unique a man he was. As Elton sang in his Empty Garden tribute (words by Bernie Taupin), “A gardener like that one, no on can replace”. All these years later we still have his music to listen to and cherish, and yes all those wonderful memories.
On a personal note, looking at this 16/32 year increments idea – my father, who was a band leader and my musical inspiration was 32 years old when I was born and 64 when John passed. Dad was also born on October 9th.
Listen to you favorite Beatles and Solo music today and remember why we have such strong emotional ties to them. John sent a message to our FEST in 1979. He said, “Tell the fans the music was the thing”. Only John could have summed it up so perfectly.
Peace and Love,
Mark
This newly uncovered photo was taken that night at about 6PM with Dave Sholin of RKO Radio who had just completed what would become John’s final interview.
such a loving tribute….thank you so much. There is a hole in my heart that always aches to think of John so sadly shot down. So glad you got to know him. I feel like I know him as well. Peace and love forever…
We will all forever miss john—the reunion that might have been, the music that might have been, all because of a senseless, selfish, tragic act. Yes, all of us”first generation”Beatle fans will never forget that time in our lives.
Was getting ready to come up to The United States from Venezuela, to go to school, when I heard the news over the radio. It was so saddened. I could not believe what I was hearing. It brought a very saddened emotion in my heart!!
We were very fortunate to have lived at the same time John did and hear the
Great music and wit that he provided. There will never be anyone close to his
Musical talent. Part of me died when I heard the tragic news in 1980. He will
Never be forgotten and hope he is resting in peace.
What a loss for the world. I can only imagine what he would think of the world today. I often wonder what words of wisdom he would have for us, what his music would be like today. I cry every time I get to thinking about what could have been. Peace and Love John!
DEAR LOVING JOHN.
I LOVE YOU MUCIK,ITS MEEN SO MUCH
TO ME MORE THAN,ANY ONE CAN BELIVE.
YOU ARE ALWAYS WHIT,ME ALWAYS ON MY MIND
I CANT BELIVE YOU,ARE GONE
AND WE FANS,DONT HAVE A REEL,PLACE TO GO TO.
WHY DID YOKO ONO,HAD TO GET YOU AWAY
SO QUIK,OK SHE OF CURSE,HOPE”T,YOU DONT WAS PAST
AWAY BUT EVEN AFTER,SHE NOW!! WHY WAS ALTINGS DONE IN
A HURRY??? HOW CAN SHE GO,ON LIVING IN THAT BULDING AFTER THAT.
I:HURT WHEN JULIAN!! ARE AFTER JOHN,SO MUCH LEVE HIM IN
PEACE,FOR GOOD SAKE.ISINT IT ?THAT HE.S FATHER IS DEAT.
I DONT NOW IF SEAN,HAVE SAY ANITHING,I HOPE NOT!!!!
THEY BOTH LOOK LIKE JOHN LENNON,MY LOVE
I WHIS YOKO ONO,WILL SAY SOMETING,TO THE 2 SOONS.
HOPE SEE WRITE A REAL,TRUE BOOK ABOUT.THERE LIVE,S TRIPS,PEACE TRAVEL,CHILDREN,HAV WAS JOHN LENNON,TO LEVE WHIT GOD OR BAD,I MEAN WE AL HAVE OPS AND DOWNS.DID SHE REALLY LOVE JOHN??I THINK SHE DID WHIT ALL OF HE HART.LOOK ALL THEY TINGS SE HAVE DONE FOR HIM JOHN!!!! BUT WHEN ARE THAKING OVER,WHEN SHE FEEL SHE WANT PEACE.I HOPE THAT IT WILL BE SEAN LENNON.
I LOVE YOU BOTH,ALWAYS IN MY HEART.DEAR JON AND YOKO PEACE.
I will remember this sad day, the saddest day on the beatles calendar my mom turned 20
She was laying in bed when she heard the news that John Lennon was shot outside his apartment home and dad was at work.
Before he he was shot, John Lennon appeared on Monday Night Football with Howard Cosell when the New England Patriots were playing Miami discussing a possible Beatles
reunion. I’m so glad you met him in 1974 and told him about your idea for Beatlefest as a way to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Beatles’ arrival in America then John responded “I’m all for it I’m a Beatles fan, too!”
This is absolutely beautiful. The way you described your reaction to hearing the beatles for the first time is exactly what happened to me. I’m fairly young, born July 2 2004, and I have lived my whole life without John and George in it. I’m so glad we still have Paul and Ringo with us, but I’m sad that I never got to experience a world with all four Beatles living. I love hearing first hand accounts of peoples’ experiences with the Beatles, like yours, with John. It makes me wonder what I would have asked him in that situation. My father used to be friends with the Fab Four, and often tells me his memories about going round their houses, being on the set of ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ and ‘Help!’ His fondest memory of John is sitting in their classic Rolls Royce, with Yoko, on the way to see Paul and Linda. It’s very upsetting that I will never get to experience a world with the Beatles all alive, but I am grateful that we still have Ringo and Paul. Their music means a lot to me, solo and with the Beatles. RIP JOHN LENNON AND GEORGE HARRISON, Peace and Love!