John Lennon, the rock star, transitioned to Lennon the family man in New York City during the 1970s, finding freedom in the city’s mayhem. Lennon and Yoko Ono moved to New York in 1971 following the breakup of the Beatles. During that time, Lennon wrote honest and poignant songs that spoke to a generation in the midst of political and social upheaval.
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Give peace a chance. All you need is love. Ann Arbor ; John Sinclair ; Bed-ins; Sit-ins; Bagism ; Make love not war. Where’d it all go? No one with Lennon’s cujones. MacCartney on an ice floe? I don’t think so. Anyone out there who can come to the fore? After all, it’s been 30 years. Cold Turkey baby. Cold Turkey
John and I met in spring 1969 …I slipped hima songId written ona napkin and he casually looked at it..IT was to become the song Imagine….he then had me secretly pen all of his songs from that point on..and he paid me two billion dolars a year
signed 6thBeatle
Clarence
you touched my life in the sixtys. i missed you in the seventys. i’ve loved you as a brother ever since that tragic day. I HAVE TEARS IN MY EYES AS I WRITE THIS. I MISS YOU. AND I LOVE YOU. IF THERE IS A HEAVEN I PRAY WE’LL MEET. I THINK OF YOU EVERY DAY. WITH ALL MY LOVE MARLON BROOKS MILLBURN
First, I want to say that I never met John Lennon…or have I??? Sometimes I think I met the man in my dreams, or if nothing more, I like to think I met the man through his music. In any case, what can I say about John that hasn’t already been said a million different ways??? When I heard we lost him that dreadful day in December all these many years ago now, I didn’t know how to react. It was almost as if I was shot. I truly haven’t been the same since. John was more than a musician and songwriter to me. He was my hero, very nearly my God. All that I have become (both good and bad) is a result of his songs. I truly have tried to live my life as he would have me live it. What else can I say??? I’m sure he would not expect anything in return for the gift he gave us in his music and his life. But..if my words could reach back to him wherever he may be right this minute, I would say to him…’I love you John!!!’ And I’m sure he would say….’Oh, go on, I’m nothing’…and I would say to him….’Yes you are brother, you were the best, man!!!’ I’m sure John would have me say….’Peace and Love!!!’
I have loved John Lennon since high school, in the early 60;s. John was my favorite Beatle, not only because he is a Libra, like myself, but because his music always had LOVE and it was from his heart. My husband was a musician and I was a singer. We played guitar, piano and sang every day. Unfortunately he passed away in 2005, but just like memories of John Lennon, his music lives on in my heart.
Our children are also musically gifted and absolutely love John Lennon……….even our grandchildren. Just had to share this. John’s music and his love lives on. When I hear my nine year old grandson singing…..All you need is Love………it brings tears to my eyes and makes my heart smile. Thank you forever.
Helen grace Richardson
I actually did meet John & Yoko at the Nice, Fr., airport in 1972. I was just 21 and had been staying at a youth hostel, where we’d heard that John would be leaving from the next day. He & Yoko had screened a film they made at the Cannes Film Festival. Two of us hitched to the airport, and after several shots of courage at the airport bar, caught up with them as they were making their way to the gate. They stopped and allowed us to take their photo, and I was too awestruck to utter any words (my friend did all the talking). We didn’t see the picture for several weeks (pre digital, yeah?) and when we finally did, you could see in their eyes they were not too pleased to have been bothered by fans at the airport. Such is the life of a super nova. We loved them, yeah, yeah ,yeah…
what would the world be like now if the outcomes of the actions of john david hinckley and mark david chapman were reversed
In the spring of 1975, John Lennon arrived in Philadelphia at the behest of Larry Kane, a reporter friend from the band’s touring days, in order to support a local radio station’s annual fund raiser for MS (of which Mr. Kane’s mom had sadly passed). John was happy to accommodate his old friend, especially since it was during his green card days when he was struggling to obtain it. John took Amtrak by himself from NYC to Philly, spent Friday evening through Sunday at radio station WFIL, playing dj for the masses, fund raising and generally wreaking havoc in a funny and sweet way. I listened to this station as a kid and adore the Beatles, so I was there! Late on Saturday, my friend Marian and I managed to get to the front of an array of wooden horses, behind which John would walk around the throng and sign autographs, take money for the charity, say a few words, etc. This was like a dream come true for me and my friend! I had a camera and Marian had a first edition copy of Spaniard in the Works for John to sign. I also had a portfolio under my arm with a drawing I’d done of John and Yoko which I hoped he would autograph. He stopped in front of us and was sweet; Marian gave him the book which he readily signed. She wanted another autograph but didn’t have a piece of paper. That didn’t stop John! He proceeded to scrawl his name up the inside of her arm! Marian turned beet red and declared, “He’s finally holding my hand!” (which he was). John laughed at that while I tried to snap a few photos. Then I managed to remove my drawing and asked if he would autograph it. Ordinarily, I hate asking for such things, but I just couldn’t pass up this opportunity. However, to my horror, he began to write his name clear across Yoko’s face! The first thing that came to my mind, crazily enough, was that John was ruining my drawing! I blurted out, “but look – you’re ruining my picture!” At that, he calmly turned his head to me and drawled, “Let’s not get finicky now.” Well…if a hole could have opened up I would gladly have plunged in, feet first, head first…whatever. I was on the verge of tears and then became angry over how rudely he spoke to me. He walked away, moving on to others in the crowd. My friend looked at me sadly, knowing how badly I felt. All of a sudden I realized John had walked away with my portfolio under his arm…along with my pen and money tucked inside. I ducked under the wooden horse and tried to get over to where he was. Even though he had djs surrounding him, John was all too easily accessible. I tapped him on the shoulder and said, “please, John..you have my portfolio with my money inside.” He looked at me and said, “oh, and that wonderful drawing you did of Yoko and me!” He returned the portfolio and my pen. Of course I felt a million times better, as though he may have for even a millisecond realized he had hurt a fan’s feelings. Well, maybe not, but that throbbing in my head immediately ceased and I was blissful once again! I thanked him and we left the parking lot, overjoyed at having met John Lennon! We stayed up all night talking about it and knew we’d remember that night for the rest of our lives. I have the photos of that evening, my drawing (yes, his name is still scrawled across Yoko’s face) and the pen he carried around with him. I’ll never forget that evening and will always feel lucky to have met such a tremendously talented guy who happened to be in the greatest band that ever walked the planet.
I saw John Lennon sing “Give Peace a Chance” at a huge antiwar demonstration in New York City in April of 1972. His appearance at the rally was a total surprise for the audience since Lennon was not listed on the rally schedule. It was a chilly and rainy day in the Big Apple, and when Lennon took the microphone he said to the cheering crowd, “It may be raining raindrops on you people, but it’s raining bombs on the Vietnamese.” It was my first trip to New York and it was such a thrill to see John Lennon sing the anthem of the peace movement while the crowd roared. After nearly forty years, I still remember that day as one of the high points of my life.
ED TANT
Athens, GA
http://www.edtant.com
The White Album had John’s best talent! What more can be said?
John Lennon lost his life on the my twenty-fourth birthday. The incident affected me profoundly. On my 50th, I visited New York for the first time and walked where he walked. His spirit remains with us. His life, his music, his kindness, his spirit continues to affect my world, our world. We should listen; he is still speaking to us!
In 2004 I had an exchange student from Uzbekistan. We went out on the highway with a sign that said”think peace” John And Yoko. A pic was given to Yoko and in return she sent me a pic of her and John from the bed ins. Also a dozen pins with the words “IMAGINE PEACE”. Thank you Yoko for keeping Johns memory and message alive. We need men like him with a strong wife now more then ever. Imagine peace
I was about to cross W. 72 St on the east side of Columbus Ave. in NYC when I had to stop to allow a police car, lights flashing and siren wailing, to pass. Only when I got home and got a call from my brother in St. Louis asking me “What the hell’s going on up there?” did I realize that John Lennon was dying in the back seat of that police car. That was the closest I ever got to him.
I never met John,but I will say he has had a big influence in my life.I have older brothers,the oldest brother was and still is a major Beatles’ fan.I grew up hearing their music alot.
I remember the night he got shot,my daughter was 2,my husband wasn’t home. I was shocked! A man of Peace taken out violently. The younger people today cannot possibly know how this felt. It was final,the Beatles would never have a time to reunite and just be together.
He was just coming back after being Mr.Mom,by his choice. He was not a perfect man and never pretended to be..but he did try to use his success for good for the world. He cared.
He was a major talent and with his death was also all the death of music he would’ve brought to this world that was and is still so much needed.
I thank Yoko for loving him so much that she has kept his legacy alive.I hope that his son Julian has forgiven John,I believe they would’ve grown closer with time.
John’s music should be listened to today,it’s so much needed.
I heard a strange story
That a Walrus was born
In a small English town
And his tusks were of the most
Precious ivory.
Written in 1980 shortly after hearing of John’s death.
i heard a tony levin interview once (bassist on double fantasy) and when he opened up the case for his SiTCK instrument …..lennon looked at it and said “i dont even wanna hear what that thing sounds like!” he ended up playing it almost exclusively on the yoko songs….
My Lennon story? First year of grad school, waking to an early radio alarm and hearing on the news that Lennon was dead … murdered outside the Dakota. How sad that I never had the chance to see him perform.
I wonder what he would be giving us all these years later?
I was at the Evening show at the Garden, I never dreamed it would be John’s last show. In November 1980 I was working as a NY Supreme Court Officer at 100 Centre St. In Part 40. I came to work that day, knowing John was killed. I did not know, I and my partners were getting The Chapman arraignment. I had to take custody of John’s killer. John was my hero and here I was protecting the man who ended his life.
My parents who immigrated to the United States from Colombia in the early 1960s where big Beatles fans. Throughout my childhood, I remember them singing Spanglish versions of many Beatles songs. I was 9-years-old when John Lennon was murdered. At that time, my father was a NYC cabbie; and on that horrible night, I woke up at around mid-night because I heard my parents crying; I was surprised to see that my father, who was the epitome of Latino machismo, was more upset than my mother. When I asked them what was wrong, my father answered in Spanish: “Mataron a un gran hombre….un hombre que solo queria paz.” [A great man was killed...a man who only wanted peace]. It was a profound moment.
I became a fan of The Beatles, John Lennon and Paul McCartney later in life. I greatly appreciate all the beautiful music and poetry that John created for the world to enjoy in his short lifetime. There will NEVER be another John Lennon.
I am an original beatlemaniac, having stood outside of the Plaza Hotel in NY in February, 1964. I had read about the Beatles and the new wave of music in England in the winter of 1963 in Life Magazine. I was hooked immediately with that first album. I became the expert on all things Beatles. And at the tender age of 13 begged my friend’s mom to take us both to New York to stand (all day mind you) in front of that hotel to get a glimpse of the fab four. From then till this day I will forever be a Beatlemaniac! Love you John for all the joy and great memories you gave me.
Me and Knocky were leaving a midtown pawn shop to cop some heroin in Harlem, We were riding in a little green convertable on west 57st.. I spotted John and Yoko strolling down 57 st. and Knocky pulled over to the curb we just stared and watched ,then John just nodded his head at us, actually acknowledged us . They were both dressed in black . My moment .
John ,Rest in peace.
Knocky , Rest in peace.
I remember the night he was murdered. I was a sophomore at Frostburg State College in western Maryland. I was walking back to my dorm room from the library. It must have been around 11 p.m. I could hear people shouting “he’s been shot.” My first thought was they meant Ronald Reagan, who had just been elected president, but hadn’t taken office yet. I hadn’t voted for him, and was still feeling guilty for voting for John Anderson.
So when I heard that someone had been shot, and thought it was Reagan, I had a momentary flash of, “It’s sad he had to die that way, but maybe it’s best for the country if he doesn’t become president.”
When I found out it was Lennon who had been shot, and that I would spend my young adult years under a Republican president after all, it was a double blow.
I met him in 1971 leaving a television show taping. He was here in Chicago (with Yoko) to promote a book.
I met John sometime between 1971 and late1972 on 7th Ave N, across from my high school, in downtown Nashville, TN. He was coming up (west) to his hotel from the rear of the “Honky-Tonks” on Broadway via “Possum Holler”, the alleyway from the river to 8th ave, between Broad and commerce. He was staying at The James Robertson Hotel on 7th. I was 16 or 17 at the time and worked at the downtown Ramada Inn, where I met Ringo when he appeared on the Johnny Cash Show. It really didn’t seem like a big deal at the time, I was always meeting “stars” at work thru the Cash and Hee-Haw casts and crews.
I totally agree that John Lennon’s spirit is on the upper west side. That little coffee place around the corner, all those places around the Dakota.
love John, thanku for the show. can’t wait to get to heaven to hug John.
I watched Lennon NYC last night and thought it was very well done. It displayed John’s many sides. He was an amazing person. But I must admit it hurt to hear the sirens. I heard the sirens that tragic night of December 8, 1980 when I was staying at a hotel along Central Park. We miss you John.
(If anyone is interested, my new Beatles quiz book, Do You Really Know The Beatles?, containing 540 questions and answers is available at Amazon.com. Tomorrow never knows, Brooke Halpin)
I remember the One to One Concert tricking my friend, Scott to have me go along because my grandma lived across in Brooklyn. I do remember the tambourines giving out to all. The weeks before the NYC rally Scott & Mark went but I didn’t go due to work.
When he died I remember the vast sadness all around the NYC metro area. The radio stations told all of us to put our headlights on in honor of Lennon….it was astounding because of every walk of life had them on.
The night he was shot, I was sitting listen to the radio and heard an obscured track of Day Tripper supposedly recorded by Hendrix & Lennon & though that was odd they were playing. Three hours later, the report came on that Lennon was shot. If you lived at that time and loved RnR you probably to this day feel the heartbreak.
I may have been one of the last outsiders to see and speak to John. During the Dec. winter of 1980, I was working for my boss who lived in the Dakota. I was fortunate enough to get lost in the building. (which wasn’t difficult to do) I came across two men standing outside an apt door. One had on a bathrobe and the other a suit. I walked over to them and asked them for directions to get back to my bosses apt. The man in the suit studied me a little bit while the man in the bathrobe casually got me going in the right direction.
Ever get the feeling that you know the person you’re talking with but can’t remember where you met them before?
All the while the man in the bathrobe was talking to me, I kept thinking, “I know this guy”
I finally found my way downstairs, ( and drank a cup, and looking up I noticed I was late…Just kidding) and asked my bossman if John Lennon lived here. Because if he did, I just talked to him and didn’t even know it.
Well, he did live there, I did talk to him and get directions and I was finished for the rest of the day. I had just talked to my idol. I needed to lie down somewhere and soak this in… True story..
The American Masters documentary was exceptional. I was moved to tears. I am very grateful to the people involved with the movie. Thank you all so very much.