The Death of John Lennon - Five shots in the New York night

Rockapedia | 3rd Dec, 2024 theBeat.ie

As the 1980's began John Lennon came out of his five year retirement announcing to the world that he was Starting Over. Having spent the past number of years changing nappies and baking bread, Lennon was back in the charts once again with the single Just Like Starting Over and the album, Double Fantasy.

Since the early 70's the Lennons had been living in New Yorks, Dakota building. Despite stepping back from public life the historic building had become a meeting point for a small group of loyal fans. As the cold December wind was blowing a new un-familar face had joined the group.

Mark David Chapman was born in 1955, growing up in Fort, Worth Texas. As a result of his pudgy features and quirky personality he became a victim of bulling through his childhood. In an effort to cope he created imaginary friends called the little people. By the time he reached his teen years Chapman began experimenting with drugs and became a devoted Christian.

It was also in his teen years that Mark developed another obsession...The Beatles.

In 1977 Chapman would escape his abusers by moving to Honolulu, Hawaii. However he was unable to escape his troubled mind which was now beginning to decline. Unable to cope, Chapman would try to take his own life.

With his mental health declining further Chapman became angered at Lennons reemergence from retirement. Chapman believed that Johns extravagant lifestyle was betraying everything The Beatles stood for. Soon a voice in his head began telling him he would need to right this wrong.

Along with The Beatles, Chapman had also become obsessed with Holden Caulfield, a fictional character from JD Salingers The Catcher in the Rye. Chapman believed that if he brought an end to John Lennon, he would be able to step into the books pages and become Holden.

On the 5th December Chapman would arrive in New York with a backpack containing cassette tapes with 14 hours of Beatles music. Picking up a copy of Double Fantasy on his arrival Mark would spend the next couple of nights amongst fans gathered outside the Dakota.

Lennon began the 8th December getting a haircut for a Rolling Stone photoshoot taking place that afternoon. In an effort to recaputre his youth he choose a Teddy Bear style, a popular haircut he had back in his Hamburg days.

Following the photo-shoot, at about 4pm, Lennon would leave the Dakota building for the Record Plant, a legendary New York recording studio. Just as he was getting into a car to leave an amateur photographer captured a moment between Lennon and a fan who had been waiting outside the building.

The fan presented Lennon with a copy of Double Fantasy which was rewarded with a scribbled autograph. When he finished signing the album cover Lennon asked, is that all you want. Surprised by how friendly Lennon was treating him the fan stood in silence.

Following the encounter Lennon would spend the next six hours working on a Yoko Ono track left from the Double Fantasy recording sessions. John received the news that his latest album was about to reach gold status in sales. Filled with excitement Lennon phoned his beloved Aunt Mimi to tell her the good news.

With work in the studio finished for the day Yoko and John decided to go for a meal at a nearby restaurant. However John insisted they stop by the Dakota first to see their five year old son, Sean.

The Lennons were in joyful spirits when they reached the Dakota. Normally the car would drop John at the side of the building, but on this night the driver pulled outside the front door. As Lennon got out of the car a figure moved out from the shadows clutching a copy of Double Fantasy in one hand, and a revolver in the other.

Five shots rang out in the New York night as John continued to walk up the steps of the Dakota before finally collapsing at its summit. Staff ran out in an effort to aid Lennon, however it was already too late.

Outside a relaxed Mark Chapman was leaning against the Dakota brickwork reading his copy of The Catcher in the Rye. On the inside cover Mark had inscribed the words, This is my statement. Beside him on the ground was a gun and his bloodstained autographed copy of Double Fantasy which Lennon had signed earlier that day.

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