A fateful day in history

[Pontiuth Pilate]

23 years ago today John Lennon, the leader of the by then defunct Beatles, was shot to death by a deranged fan.

The world of music still misses your voice, John yet one has to extend some pity also to Ringo Starkey and Paul McCartney, who have had the bad fortune to live to see the age of Britney Spears, American Idol, and Good Charlotte.

Perhaps some of our posters can still remember that day in New York, akin to similarly fateful days in Dallas, Texas and Memphis, Tennesee.

Needless to say, conspiracy theories have abounded about the "real" reason behind Lennon's assassination, most of them putting the blame on some radical right-wing element. While such dignitaries as Richard Nixon, Strom Thurmond, John Mitchell, J. Edgar Hoover, etc, all spoke out against John as a "dangerous radical" and attempted to force him out of the country, I personally find such theories ridiculous.

I'm listening to "A Day In The Life" right now...

 

[The Yankee]

Well, my father said on that day, he dressed in a way, with the sunglasses, so that he looked similar to Lennon. Seeing pictures from even before 1980, I guess if he did his hair right and put the glasses on, yeah, he looked somewhat like Lennon.

Evidently, he had some odd experiences that day, from people wondering who he was and why he was walking around, to somebody thinking he was Lennon and survived, and warned him to get out of Manhattan.

I'll add that he didn't do it on purpose, but that was before he grew a beard and mustache and was lighter skinned then. He didn't even know about it until he got home.

 

[WickedSmurf]

Well I'm no Beatles fan but the world was surely brutaly robbed of a great artist. Respect.

 

[cgannon64]

That could be the worst public assasination, simply because he was such a peace-loving man that he doesn't deserve death.

I may put on Double Fantasy in honor.

 

[Mrogreturns]

Yeah I remember it very well. Up to that point I had been a beatles fan without knowing it. It wasn't until then that I realised that so many of the songs I really liked were by the Beatles- I had heard them all my life on the radio but never connected them.

Mark Chapman was the name of my brother's best friend. I might go to the Lennon museum this weekend or next.

 

[eyrei]

A true tragedy. John Lennon was one of the greatest songwriters to have lived, and his life was ended by a man who liked his songs too much. Such a strange world...

 

[Turner]

I remember the day well. I was in the Fifth grade. We had a PE instructor that was just devistated. I didn't understand what was wrong until I went home and found out.

While I didn't agree with his politics, I found his music very good. I enjoyed (and still do) listening to it, and grieved with the rest during that time.

 

[Immortal]

and Good Charlotte.

*quietly hides signature*

 

[col]

A working class hero is something to be

 

[Simon Darkshade]

His politics, beliefs and personal habits may have been utterly reprehensible, but his death was still somewhat of a pity.

 

[luiz]

A great loss. He was one of the best songwriters of the XXth Century. And I think that if he was not killed the Beatles would probably have performed together at least one or two times

 

[Suppersalmon]

it's a great shame one of the 20th centries greatest song writer had to die

 

[Stapel]

It was december 8th, wasn't it?

Or is this a timezone thingy?

Anyway: A said loss, but we still have his music!

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Its a shame when anyone gets shot, whether he's a garbage man, a waiter or a great talent like John.

 

[Laughing Gull]

Instant Karma

Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head
You better get yourself together
Pretty soon you're gonna be dead
What in the world you thinking of
Laughing in the face of love
What on earth you tryin' to do
It's up to you, yeah you

Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna look you right in the face
Better get yourself together darlin'
Join the human race
How in the world you gonna see
Laughin' at fools like me
Who in the hell d'you think you are
A super star
Well, right you are

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Well we all shine on
Ev'ryone come on

Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you off your feet
Better recognize your brothers
Ev'ryone you meet
Why in the world are we here
Surely not to live in pain and fear
Why on earth are you there
When you're ev'rywhere
Come and get your share

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah we all shine on
Come on and on and on on on
Yeah yeah, alright, uh huh, ah .........

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah we all shine on
On and on and on on and on.....