The World Mourns John Lennon

On this day, 8th December 1980

On this day in music history, the world was shaken by the devastating news that John Lennon had been shot and killed outside the Dakota Building in New York City. The former Beatle, visionary songwriter, and global peace advocate was returning home with his wife, Yoko Ono, after a recording session at the Record Plant Studios when tragedy struck.

As Lennon stepped out of the car, he was approached by Mark David Chapman, a 25-year-old fan who had earlier that afternoon asked Lennon for an autograph on his copy of Double Fantasy. Lennon obliged, unaware that Chapman would return hours later armed with a revolver.

Chapman fired five shots, four of which fatally struck Lennon in the back and shoulder.

Lennon was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital, but despite frantic efforts by medical staff, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. He was just 40 years old.

John Lennon’s murder came at a time when he was experiencing a creative and personal resurgence. After five years of retreat from the music industry to raise his son Sean, Lennon had returned with newfound energy and optimism. Just three weeks before his death, he and Yoko Ono had released Double Fantasy, their fifth studio album together. The record marked Lennon’s comeback and contained songs celebrating domestic life, love, and renewal including “(Just Like) Starting Over,” which would soon climb to No.1 worldwide. Critics at the time didn’t fully appreciate the album, but in the days and weeks following Lennon’s death, it became a global symbol of the artistic chapter he tragically never got to finish.

News of Lennon’s death travelled rapidly. Radio stations broke format, fans poured into the streets, and vigils began spontaneously in cities across the globe from New York to Liverpool, Tokyo to Berlin. Millions mourned the passing of a man whose music had shaped generations and whose message of peace had become a cultural beacon.

Yoko Ono, newly widowed and facing unimaginable grief, issued a public statement the following day:

“John loved and prayed for the human race. Please do the same for him.”

She asked fans not to gather at the Dakota, instead organising a worldwide ten-minute silent tribute on 14th December. Over 100,000 people stood in Central Park, while millions more paused in silence in cities across the world.

On my Rock & Roll Tour of Soho, we explore the places where The Beatles recorded, performed, and made history from early London gigs to the studios where they shaped modern music. We will visit and create a photo shoot at the John Lennon "Imagine" bench that was installed in Soho on what would have been his 81st birthday.

📆 Please visit the Calendar in the main menu for tour dates and times.

🧑‍🧑‍🧒 For private tour enquiries and Corporate bookings please email directly.