The Beatles, the Liverpool rock band composed since 1962 by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, became a musical icon and a social and cultural reference for generations of young people around the world.
TV and movie appearances ultimately catapulted the Beatles to fame. Not only did his music arouse the interest of the crowd, but the musicians themselves generated passions in their wake. However, the group ended up disbanding in 1970 due to internal differences. Ten years later, rumors circulated about a possible return, but they would be truncated on December 8, 1980 with the murder of John Lennon.
John Lennon had distanced himself from The Beatles in 1969 and turned to focus on the collaborative project of his partner, Yoko Ono, which crystallized into the Plastic Ono Band. Little by little, the internal crisis eroded the group. Just a year later he released “Imagine“, but his solo career did not take off. In late 1974, Lennon sang alongside Elton John in what would be his last appearance on stage.
In 1980, John Lennon and Yo ko Ono returned to the recording studios and released the album “Double Fantasy“. until Lennon’s tragic death turned off a rock world that was eagerly awaiting the return of one of his stars.
That morning Lennon and Ono had a photoshoot at their home for Rolling Stone magazine. When they left the luxurious building where they lived in New York, Lennon stopped to sign autographs and exchange a few words with fans. Among them was a twenty-five-year-old, Mark David Chapman. After spending the afternoon in the studio, the couple returned home in the evening.
Chapman had not moved, and before Lennon could cross the threshold of his house, he fired five shots at him: four bullets hit his back and his shoulder. Still, Lennon was able to walk to the entrance of the building to call for help, but the injuries were very serious and he was taken to a hospital. Despite medical efforts to resuscitate him, he had lost a lot of blood and soon passed away.
Aware that he had just shot John Lennon, Chapman waited at the crime scene for the police to arrest him. Although he was an obsessed Beatles fan who envied Lennon’s life and fame, he had a list of potential targets with other celebrities. Chapman’s religious sentiment also played a role in the murder, due to statements Lennon made in 1966 that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus.
Chapman pleaded guilty at trial and admitted that he had killed Lennon for his “personal glory“. As a result, he was sentenced to between twenty years and life in prison, and since 2000 parole has been denied eleven times.