It is absolutely impossible to understand the events of that night 30 years ago, but we have had to learn to live with the grim details. Like Lincoln, John & Robert Kennedy, Ghandi, & Martin Luther King, John Lennon was a visionary looking for peace and was assassinated at an early age. But John was not a world leader but a musician, a singer, a songwriter, a Beatle, a peacenik, a poet, a husband, a father, and one of the most famous people to ever walk the face of this planet. For most first generation fans, it was te worst night of our lives. We will always treasure Yoko’s bravery in helping all of us through it in that first week, To imagine what the world would be like if that night never happened is an exercise in futility.We know it had to be better.
What we do have is his body of work to listen to , to read and to look at. We prefer to honor John on his birthday (October 9th) not today. Today is a day of personal reflection and how much he meant to us. So go ahead and listen to his music and remember exactly what it was that made him feel so close to us. We all shine on…We love you and miss you, John.
I hope for one day you’ll join us…
Thousands of fans have joined to spread his message of peace, love and music by changing their Facebook profile pictures in John’s honor.
Thank you to fan Elizabeth Andres for this wonderful idea. Please share this with your friends by sharing this blog post, and inviting friends to join: The Fest For Beatles Fans Facebook Page
Wonderfully written, Mark! I was 5 then, but I still remember it – even then, I was lucky enough to have the Beatles as important people in my life. And thanks again for the Fest, it remains the thing I look forward to the most each year!
Your comment made my quite misty. I went to the memorial at Capitol Records and it was there that I realized, (I am a longtime Beatles fan, although George was my crush and favorite for his offbeat humor, I respected John’s stance and refusal to compromise his ideals. Standing there, at the memorial listening to the music made me miss John and George all the more, and suddenly I realized how many things in my life are directly a result of the Beatles. I got up to speak when Jerry Rubin allowed some of us too, and noted all of the other musicians, actors (like myself) and artists in the crowd, who like the Beatles were longing for a taste of the limelight. But shockingly, I saw someone I acted with in a pilot called “Im In the Band” and realized the project wouldn’t have even existed without the Beatles (because there would be no rock band to satire) and one of the guys in the audience with long hair, I recognized from working with him on it! We owed our jobs to the Beatles. And, my stage name (when I was on Jimmy Kimmel, they asked me what my stage name would be and I responded after an ex-s last name (which was his stage name “Diamond” — why, Ill bet he had his last name after the song. There was another friend of mine, Paul McMichael, who was in a tribute band, who owed his job to the Beatles. And a sweet little girl wearing a John Lennon button. We all are still touched by the music. Let us be not just touched but inspired by John, George, Paul & Ringo to follow our hearts (and the sun), to inspire others and love (you too).
I stell remember John Lennon today I like his music and I love his song mother and inmagen to I listen to them more then any other song of his !