john lennon was murdered 30 years ago today :(

it's hard to believe that it was 30 years ago today, december 8, 1980, that john lennon was brutally murdered outside his apartment building here in new york city. as with millions of other fans, i'll never forget that day. i was a college freshman at the time and i remember that night as someone ran down the hall in our dorm shouting "john lennon's been shot!" i remember how we sat around glued to the t.v. coverage of his grisly murder at the dakota. it was a very, very sad moment in time.

john lennon was only 40 years old (8 years younger than i am right now). he was in the middle a creative rebirth, so to speak, having been working to get out the "double fantasy" album with yoko ono when chapman shot him. he had retreated from the music scene to be a dad and raise his son, sean. lennon had weathered an incredible effort by the u.s. government to deport him - and he was a proud nyc resident. he had reemerged in the public eye.

but the murder tragically ended an incredible life. just imagine how much richer the world would have been with 30 more years of john lennon's creative spirit coursing through it.

rest in peace john lennon

"the u.s. vs. john lennon" documentary review

what a coincidence that, on the anniversary of lennon's recording of "instant karma," vh1 classics broadcast the documentary "the u.s. vs. john lennon" last night! the film, with all the archival footage, is an incredibe look at the u.s. government effort to deport lennon in the early 1970's. but, don't mistake the film as a broader look at john lennon's life during that same period. the film portraits lennon as a saint - without faults - and had the full backing of yoko ono.

"the u.s. versus john lennon" takes the polar opposite tack that the creepy "lennon in america: 1971-1980," book did, in covering the same period of lennon's life. that book passed up no opportunity to highlight every lennon weakness, and painted him as a captive of yoko ono (a familar lament of those who insist she broke up the beatles). the "real" flesh and blood lennon was somewhere between those extremes.

regardless of the portrait of lennon himself, the u.s. efforts to deport him were real - and were an ugly perversion of our constitutional government. the lengths to which government officials went to achieve their personal objectives was obscene. thankfully that effort failed miserably. it was karma that lennon finally received his "green" card the day his son sean was born! the film does a great job highlighting the abuses of power.

but the film itself grossly abused its licence in the final scene - where yoko implied that "they" wanted john dead. then it cuts to reports of lennon's grisly murder outside the dakota. his death was the work of an insane fan, not some government operatives. for the filmmakers to foster that cold calculated impression is really sinking to the bottom of respectability.

that ugliness aside, watch this film if you can. it is an eye opener.



for another side of john lennon, check out an exhibit of his artwork.

john lennon recorded "instant karma" 39 years ago today

john lennon recorded "instant karma" in one marathon 9 hour session 39 years ago today, january 27, 1970. it was released 10 days later, one of the fastest releases in rock history. it went on to become the 1st million selling (gold) single in america released by a beatle.

it was produced by phil spector and included george harrison on guitar. "instant karma" is one of three john lennon songs inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame's list of 500 songs that shaped rock and roll.

while john lennon's artwork has been exhibited lately, it was, is, and will always be about the music!!

it still shines on...



for two different takes on john lennon, check out the documentary, "the u.s. vs. john lennon" (positive) and the book, "lennon in america: 1971-1980" (negative).

"imagine peace" the artwork of john lennon exhibit

today was the last of four days that "imagine peace: the artwork of john lennon" was on display at the openspace gallery. it was a special exhibit in remembrance of lennon's 68th birthday. not wanting to miss it, after the great train race, i took a quick shower and took the metronorth north into the city.

surprise number one: pat and katie joined me! surprise number two: i met a finisher of the westchester half marathon, andrew, on his way home to nyc.

we both stood in the vestibule of the crowded sunday afternoon train. he still wore his finishers medal and had on his running clothes. i was reading the new dean karnazes book. after we struck up a conversation, the time passed quickly. turned out the westchester half was his last hard effort before he tapers for his first marathon - the nyc marathon next month!



after the metronorth we took yet another crowded train ride. this time from grand central down to the gallery in soho. at times, it almost seemed as if katie was more interested in window shopping than the lennon exhibit ;) but, all in all, she did seem to enjoy the experience.



the gallery space was crowded, but not overwhelming so. the artwork was nicely displayed and well-lit. here are a few pieces that i found interesting:



below are larger, clearer versions of the two illustrations on this panel: a herd moving and a cat climbing.


"a herd moving"


"a cat climbing"


"war is over"

it's too bad the exhibit was only on display for 4 days. but, luckily, this exhibit tours different cities and venues!