"All You Need Is Love" Remembering A Legend

Oh, go ahead, call me sentimental. Maybe it’s the fact that I can to this day remember exactly where my mother and father were sitting on the couch behind me. Maybe it’s because I can still remember what side of my body I was lying on while on the floor in front of the TV. Maybe it was the quietness that filled the entire house when the woman broke into the TV broadcast to announce that John Lennon had been shot and killed outside his New York City appartment. I remember it all. 29 years ago today, John Lennon met his fate, played out his final tune and in the process became one of the most immortal members of Rock and Roll. Transcending that of even The Beatles.

It was a sad evening, one of the few times I remember my father with tears in his eyes growing up. I remember the magazine covers, of which I still own a few. I’m 40 years old and as I sit here I realize how young John Lennon really was, 40 years himself when he passed. How much music was still left to be created? Would The Beatles, who were finally talking again, moving towards a reunion? Could you “Imagine” what that would have been like?

A short time ago, Paul McCartney opened the new stadium built on the grounds of the old Shea stadium. The Beatles of course played there. During his set he sang a song called “Here Today“. A song that McCartney said he wrote for John shortly after his death. It was moving. I admitt that I am a huge Beatle fan. Always have been. I thank my father for that as he owned all the albums and I grew up listening to them. I own them now and beg as he may, he won’t ever get them back. All 13 originals sit nicely tucked on bookcase a short distance from a record player.

When The Beatles Rockband arrived in stores on September 9, 2009, I was the first at the local Walmart at 12:01 AM to buy it. Not the simple game or the regular edition but the “Deluxe” edition with the replica instruments. As a fan, I have to say I love it.

Around the world, each December 8th, fans around the world celebrate his music and his life and more importantly his message of hope and peace. One calendar day removed from the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Ironic. John Lennon was a lot of different things to a lot of different people and it would be odd to find many who felt the same things about the man from one person to another. Still, his contributions to music is almost unparalled. Today it is difficult to find young teens or 20 somethings who have ever really listened to his music, but his influences in today’s pop is easy to see and easier to hear.

Lennon’s murderer is currently serving a life sentence in Attica Penitentiary in upstate NY. He has been denied parole 5 times. His name is not worth mentioning in this blog. Ever! John Lennon, you sir are far from forgotten.