In the days after Mark David Chapman shot John Lennon on Dec. 8, 1980, the area around the gates of the Dakota, Lennon’s apartment building in New York City, quickly turned into a makeshift memorial. Flowers and signs from fans quoting Beatles lyrics were displayed alongside the more official remembrances, as world leaders made their way to honor an artist whose life had been ended too early.
The killing was shocking not only for its senselessness, but also because Lennon managed to escape many of other pitfalls of rock stardom. “He beat the rock-‘n’-roll life,” TIME’s remembrance quoted Steve Van Zandt saying the day after Lennon died. “Beat the drugs, beat the fame, beat the damage. He was the only guy who beat it all.”
So it makes sense that, as the story reported, flowers and signs were just the beginning of the aftershock:
Ringo Starr flew to New York to see Yoko. George Harrison, “shattered and stunned,” went into retreat at his home in Oxfordshire, England. Paul McCartney, whom Lennon plainly loved and just as plainly hated like the brother he never had, said, “I can’t tell you how much it hurts to lose him. His death is a bitter, cruel blow—I really loved the guy.” Having no wish to contribute to the hysteria that always follows the grief at such public mournings. McCartney, who has hired two bodyguards to protect himself and his family, said he would stay home in Sussex, England, even if there was a funeral. There was not. Lennon’s body was cremated in a suburban New York cemetery, and Ono issued a statement inviting everyone “to participate from wherever you are” in a ten-minute silent vigil on Sunday afternoon.
Before that, it had been a week of tributes. Radio stations from New Orleans to Boston cleared the air waves for Lennon and Beatles retrospectives. In Los Angeles, more than 2,000 people joined in a candlelight vigil at Century City; in Washington, D.C., several hundred crowded the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in a “silent tribute” that recalled the sit-ins of the ’60s. Record stores all over the country reported sellouts on the new Lennon-Ono album, Double Fantasy, their first record in five years, as well as the back stock of Lennon’s previous records.
Some reaction was tragic. A teenage girl in Florida and a man of 30 in Utah killed themselves, leaving notes that spoke of depression over Lennon’s death.
Portrait of John Lennon as a child, circa 1948.Pictorial Press—Getty Images John Lennon as a child, with his mother Julia Lennon, 1949. To date, this is the only known photograph of John with his mother. It was taken by John's cousin, Stanley Parkes. Mark and Colleen Hayward—Getty ImagesJohn Lennon at home in Liverpool during his schooldays, circa 1950.Gems/Redferns—Getty ImagesJohn Lennon, Pre-Beatles, circa 1960/1961.Michael Ochs Archives—Getty ImagesThe Beatles standing outside Paul's Liverpool home (left to right) George Harrison (1943 - 2001), John Lennon (1940 - 1980), Paul McCartney. Ringo Starr was not to join the band for another two years. Circa 1960.Keystone—Getty ImagesJohn Lennon playing guitar, circa 1960.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone—Getty ImagesJohn Lennon performing with The Beatles at the Star Club, Hamburg, April-May 1962. TS Productions—Getty ImagesJohn Lennon, of The Beatles, posed, on set, holding a cigarette at Alpha Television Studios, Aston, Birmingham David Farrell—Redferns/Getty ImagesThe Beatles posing in a small backyard in London with their instruments, 1963.Terry O'Neill—Getty ImagesJohn Lennon sitting on bed in sunglasses signing a book.GAB Archive—Redferns/Getty ImagesJohn Lennon playing a Gibson guitar, circa 1964. Michael Ochs Archives—Getty ImagesJohn Lennon poses for a photo in the snow in March 1965 in Obertauern, Austria during a break from filming their second movie HELP!.Michael Ochs Archives—Getty ImagesJohn Lennon in character as Musketeer Gripweed during the filming of the Dick Lester film 'How I Won The War' in September 1966 in Germany. Gunter Zint/K7K Ulf Kruger OHG/Redferns—Getty ImagesJohn Lennon of the Beatles, after making a formal apology for his controversial statement that the group were 'more popular than Jesus'. August 16, 1966.Harry Benson—Express/Getty ImagesJohn Lennon filming Magical Mystery Tour, 1967. David Redfern—Redferns/Getty ImagesJohn Lennon wearing a frilly shirt and a sporran at the press launch for the Beatles' new album 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', held at Brian Epstein's house at 24 Chapel Street, London, May 19, 1967.John Downing—Getty ImagesYoko Ono and John Lennon, December 1968. Susan Wood—Getty ImagesJohn Lennon with his son, Julian Lennon, circa 1968.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone—Getty ImagesJohn Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono holding a press conference in their bed at Amsterdam Hilton Hotel, during their honeymoon. March 26, 1969.
Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone—Getty ImagesFormer Beatle John Lennon with his wife Yoko Ono at his home, Tittenhurst Park, near Ascot, Berkshire, July 1971.Michael Putland—Getty ImagesJohn Lennon and Yoko Ono (extreme left) as they attend a rally in Hyde Park, London, England, 1975. Rowland Scherman—Getty ImagesJohn Lennon and Yoko Ono in New york, 1980.David Mcgough/DMI—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
