John Lennon.

[CAEF]

Sadly taken by a crazed gunman in 1980 aged just 40.

But I have heard a lot of bad press about him, that he was Marxist and abused his children. I do hate his Xmas song War Is Over as Xmas songs should not mention such things, they should be cheerful.

[Uncle Quentin]

Absolute genius. My hero. A deeply flawed human-being but a musical genius who has no equal.

Best Christmas record ever.
Although I do like the original Band Aid one too ...

BONG .... BONG .... It's Christmas time ... tra la la la la la la la la

[CAEF]

"Imagine" was one of my faves though even if I disliked War Is Over.

Chapman should have been charged with first degree murder, not 2nd degree as originally charged with. He should have been given the death penalty whether insane or sane.

[Uncle Quentin]

I just spent ages typing out a massive post, full of great Lennon quotes.
Then when I went to attach a picture, it lost all my work.

I just can't be arsed to do it all again.
John would be proud of my poor attitude.

[Lotty27]

I remember being woken up by Simon Bates (on the radio I might add) with the news that John Lennon had been shot dead outside his apartment block. I was shocked to the core and even at 15 when I thought anyone 30 was ancient I still realised that 40 was no age to die and that was an awful way for him to die just when he was coming back into prominence after his self-imposed exile.

I then had to wake my mam up and tell her the news, she was devastated and it's one of the few times I've seen her cry over someone who she didn't personally know. She is and was a massive Beatles, Lennon and McCartney fan and I grew up with their music wafting around our house. I always liked John's edgier music over McCartney's more twee efforts - even though now as a proper adult I recognise their musical merits too.

Can't believe that Mark Chapman has the cheek to go for parole every so often. He wouldn't last 5 minutes on the outside before another crazed fan found and killed HIM - which might not be such a bad thing I suppose.

As much as I liked John my main gripe with him is that he didn't treat his son Julian very well in comparison to the way he treated Sean.

[Deleted]

I can remember the day he died. I was asleep in bed when my clock radio came on so I could grab a few more minutes dozing before I got up to do my paper round. At the time Radio 2 came on early until 7am when Radio 1 came on. And even though I was 16 I enjoyed listening to Ray Moore. He had a wonderful sense of humour.
Anyway that morning while listening to Ray, I noticed he seemed very subdued which wasn`t like him at all. Then the news came on at 5.30am to say that John Lennon had died. I was so shocked I fell back into bed, my head hitting the pillow. I went into my parents room to tell them, and they were so shocked too. I can`t remember much about my paper round, but I do remember thinking how I was bringing bad news to peoples doors so early in the morning.
Later that morning in school, there was a special assembly. And all the 6 formers had to attend. Mr Berry our art teacher gave a eulogy to John Lennon, because he was in the same University of Art in Liverpool together when they were younger. Mr Berry broke down crying in front of us all, and Mrs Grffiths the English teacher (who also played piano during assembly) walked up to the stage, put her arm around him and led Mr Berry to the staff room. We could still his sobbing going down the corridor.
It was a truly awful day in school that day. I don`t think kids then really knew what death was until someone they grew up up listening to their music so often that they felt like they knew him. It hit a lot of people hard...the kids and teachers alike.

I always disliked Yoko Ono, but I felt so sorry for her that day losing her husband so brutally. We lost a massive talent that day.
RIP John, another year without you.

I do like 'Merry Christmas - War is Over' except for Yoko screeching in it.

[CAEF]

If name shipping had been around back then it would be John and Yoko - Joko.

John would still be just as famous today if he had lived. I wish he was still around today. He'd be 77.

Mark Chapman is evil with a capital E. I hope he dies or a Lennon fan finally gets to him.

[Lotty27]

One thing I'll give Yoko, she's helped make sure that scum has stayed in prison by turning up at every parole hearing.