The Day the Music Died

[lIKeeldKenny]

Must Buy Ckicken!!! lol thats funny

[tomcornhole]

why do people use the term 'ASSASSINATED' AND NOT SIMPLY 'MURDERED'.

??

perhaps there is a very dirty understory related to this tragedy ...that has to do with...

psyops...MK uLtra....john Lennon was a serious threat to the fascist amerikan ideoLogy. chapman has military experience. chapman has talked so much about the 'voices in his head' yet, i don't think he is diagnosed as schizophrenic.

did the c.i.a. or some shadowy tentacLe ops have Lennon killed VIA mr. chapman??

[desorden150]

Well I'm 19 so I definitely don't remember that. My mom told me that the day he died, my dad went out and bought his record because he thought they'd be sold out. My dad was a huge Beatles fan, in fact that's how he learned english. I wish I had been there. The Beatles are my favorite band ever. My love for them started about two years ago and it has never stopped. I love older music too. This is really neat that you did this because it's a personal experience and not just a news story.

[HarveyEspatchelowe]

Liverpool!

watch?v=W5y956PV8no

[HarveyEspatchelowe]

I remember learning in Dale Ley's drawing class at Murray State. It was Dale's birthday...he cried, and people started crying...people talked about it a while and class was cancelled. Dale is ten years older than me and The Beatles were more his and my sisters than mine. But, I grew up listening to them, you know. It was a punch in the gut to know, someone might want to assassinate a brilliant and caring artist like John.

[kenrg]

A punch in the gut, yes. With lasting effects a bit higher, in the heart.

[paul1967uk]

I'm a huge John Lennon fan. But THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED, has nothing to do with Johns Death. The phrase is coined from Don Mcleans song, "the day the music died" was dedicated to the death of Buddy Holly. If you google the day the music died you will see that this phrase is only to Buddy and not John.

[kenrg]

You're correct about the origin of the phrase, I hope I didn't imply otherwise. And it's not just Buddy Holly, but all three who died in that plane crash back in '59: Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens (referred to in McLean's song as the trinity: father, son, and holy ghost).

But, just as the that tragedy marks the end of the 50's era of rock, Lennon's death also signaled the end of an era for many, and so the phrase gets recycled a bit ;^)

[paul1967uk]

@kenrg no you didn't imply otherwise.

It's 51 years next month since this terrible accident took place. Buddy just like John, Elvis and Freddie Mercury will always live on. They certainly were not two minute wonders. As for the Big Bopper, Chantilly lace is my all time favorite, & Ritchies COME ON LETS GO

We must never forget also Roger Peterson the Pilot who was also very young. Only 21 yrs old.

watch > watch?v=BNjP1okA03c&feature=re­lated from the La Bamba movie. its very moving

[filemen2]

I think John was as brilliant an artist as ever

tried their hand at pop music.

And I like to say that The Beatles were the most

influential artists of any kind, ever.

Don't know if it's true, but I like to say it ;)

[kenrg]

You might be right. Just sayin' I ain't arguing with you ;^)

[ockteby]

I was 42, and I remember......not as much as Kennedy or the Challenger, but I do remember.

[kenrg]

Well, Kennedy (the first two) I'm not quite old enough to remember specifically, but the Challenger was another one I'll not forget. I was on the air on my college radio station when it came over the wire and I had to deliver the news.

[not2tees]

Thanks so much for this commemorative, Ken. I remember appreciating every Lennon song that was playing on the radio in 1980. I was living in an ashram at the time (no media at all) but when I got to work, the radio was piped through and you listened as you worked. One of the salesmen came by and said,"Did you hear about John Lennon?" Lennon wrote songs I'll never forget, and he had maximum potential to write a lot more great music. A sickening tragedy, it was and is.

[kenrg]

Wow - Very interesting to have been living in an ashram, and to get the news that way! Thanks for sharing your story.

[TamHickey67]

I'm not surprised that the memory of his assassination brings forth such passion. He was one of the greatest musicians/lyricists of the twentieth century who had so much more to say and do before his life was cut short.

I saw the news report on TV and couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was almost like losing a member of your family as I'd grown up listening to his wise words of peace since I was a child.

He may be dead, but his words are immortal.

[kenrg]

Thanks for sharing your memory of seeing the news. We all feel the same.

[PaintedRavensong]

I can't imagine working in the record industry during that time. I was in 10th grade and heard it on the bus radio. Our family were huge Beatles and Lennon fans because my brother and I both did covers of theirs in our band. We were devastated. I still haven't really gotten over it completely as I'm sure you haven't either.

[kenrg]

I don't think it's something I ever really want to get over, you know? Thanks for the comment.

[anakin1814]

I didn't make my John Lennon video this year because I still have to make my Michael Jackson video for this year. As you know, I'm a huge MJ fan. Have been since I was a young boy and remained so, through all the controversy. When he died this summer, it sickened me how many fans came out of the woodwork when they had turned their backs on him years before. Also, it bothered me how much I knew about his life that the media was getting wrong...yeah, true fans indeed!

[anakin1814]

But with all that said about MJ, I didn't really know much about John at the time of his death (I was in the 5th grade at the time). Mom was a big Evil fan...the Beatles barely registered with me. As I found John and the Beatles music in college, it changed my life. It was probably 15 years ago or so that his death really hit me. Ironically, I got "Thriller' as a gift less than a year after John Lennon died.

[kenrg]

Expecting the media to get things right is kind of like waiting for pigs to fly. And never, ever trust a DJ teach you anything about music.

[captainfury2007]

I remember it, but my mom wasn't much of a fan, so I didn't know much about him until later. On a similar note, my friend in the Maries - his friend from High School was Shannon Hoone (sp?) the singer from Blind Melon. THIS was like his best friend. But about John Lenone, I dont thing anyone has touched as many lives as he did.

[kenrg]

That must have been odd for him; to have somebody he knew closely on a personal level have such a public and tragic young death. Thanks for the comment.

[FantasticBabblings]

I would loved to have had the benefit of 29 years more of listening to John's ideas and songs. Who knows what he would have done? We have no way of knowing what a loss it was.

[kenrg]

And who knows what other great products Col. Sanders would have come up with? Tremendous losses.

[FantasticBabblings]

@kenrg There might have been a 12th secret herb and/or spice.

[fehquig]

Your memory of it is a lot more vivid than mine. I only remember finding it very hard to believe...

[kenrg]

Yes, hard to believe - very surreal - but sadly true.

[RodEOpallo]

Ken, i thought about it briefly the other day (although, it wasn't on tv this year or at least i didn't find it). Of course, that was the year i was born, but i became a fan (superfan) the year i started learning guitar in '94. The Anthology stuff came out about that time, too, which was cool for me! Nice vid, man-

[kenrg]

Thanks - And now, with the latest CD re-mastering and re-releases (not to mention video games) there's another new generation getting turned on to the Beatles and to John's legacy. Pretty cool, if you ask me.

[RodEOpallo]

No doubt about it! I'm from middle America, but i've been to the Dakota at least 4 or 5 times. It's the best music, but it's also a combination of numerous values and qualities that they were/are able to bring to people. The way they interacted on/off stage, their collective wit, the fact that they look like your neighbors but write like no one and on and on..and also they used their fame and money to say "war is" bad..etc etc. There's not enough room...

[lisaburks]

wonderful recollection video of a horrible day. thanks for sharing, Ken!

[kenrg]

Thanks for stopping by!

[garouHH]

I was 19 *months* old, so for me it's history, not memory...

[kenrg]

I suppose that's a legitimate excuse. This time.

[ralfonzo83]

it´s a tragedy...just imagine the joy he would bring to the world nowadays...

[kenrg]

He still does! But, yes, if he could be working now and telling us what he thought of our current wars...

[anakin1814]

For me, his legacy lives on through Bono's charitable work as well as many others. Amazing to see that light passed on.

[Rikotistic]

I was in sophmore year of high school. It really hit my brother hard. My parents let him stay home for two days. I never saw him cry before; but he did for those two days. I remember having a feeling like a parent someone vital to my well-being had been lost. We all lost so much, but we have his poetic heritage and the message he so effectively delivered. He had more impact than Jesus Christ on the betterment of humankind. Time, I believe, will prove this out.

[kenrg]

Definitely was as powerful and moving as losing a family member. It's why it sticks with you like that. A very formative experience.

[blackturtleshow]

I still have the Double Fantasy record album. I have to admit I have never developed an appreciation for the Yoko Ono tracks, but several of John Lennon's songs were quite nice.

[kenrg]

Yoko's tracks are often difficult, but I do appreciate her stuff, and even have some of her post-John solo work. Her (non-music) artwork is something I love without question. She's an incredible artist, and music is just one thing she's experimented with as a medium.

[ChristopherMast]

The odd thing for me was I didn't know who he was... I was 12 and he wasn't really relevant to me. I was into KISS, Queen, Styx, etc... and The Beatles weren't really in heavy rotation at the time... and at twelve years old, having his last record six years prior, that was ANCIENT stuff!!

[kenrg]

Didn't know who he was? Kids these days! Or, those days. Well, something like that.

[DissentingDogLevi]

Trust me, It is a good thing to die as a musical artist. That way they don't end up making shitty garbage. At least he died with some respect.

But the way I see it this sort of thing happens a lot. It happened with Curt Cobain, it happened with MJ.

Kinda pissed it didn't happen so much when Freddie Mercury died, but whatevs'

[kenrg]

Certainly, similar reactions to different artists of different generations. We all have our "Elvis moment."

[Momotaro15]

I remeber that moment very vividly! I was living in Pueblo, CO and I was driving down the street on Pueblo Blvd. and head it on the radio. I started screeming and had to pull off the road. I started slamming my fists on the steering wheel, and started screeming. NO NO NO! It was an awful moment for me, and I won't ever forget it. Yes....Give Peace a Chance. !!!!!! He wrote wonderful songs with great meaning.

[kenrg]

I suppose I was lucky that I must have had a cassette (remember those?) in on the ride home from work, and not the radio, or who knows how I would have reacted on the road. I hadn't thought of that aspect before. I'm glad you had the state of mind to pull off the road and not get in an accident.

[samszeman]

I'm not the biggest Lennon fan i must admit , he was before my time and his music just doesn't appeal to me as much as others. However I do respect him for what he believed in and how he spread the word of peace . Great vid Ken

[kenrg]

Thanks - Appreciated.

[juliact]

after that, the content just seemed irrevocably changed. Over the years I've always thought about him on his anniversaries (birth & death) and what he might have done. What music we missed, what journey of life he missed, not ever getting to grow older. Would he have mellowed? Maybe, but somehow I doubt anything could have put out his fire. Except this, of course. Of course he touched so many personally, with his music and his life. A sad day.

[kenrg]

Oh, yeah... the "what ifs..." Always a great topic of debate! I think some amount of mellowing, certainly, but that doesn't mean no fire, just more steadily burning.

[juliact]

I too remember this day so vividly too, on the other side of the world. I was 17, living at home, I think it was around 11am 9th December our time - I was changing my dress upstairs when my mother yelled up that she'd heard that John Lennon had just been shot. She knew I'd been a Beatles fan even as a young child. Time stood still for me then. I stayed by the radio for the next 24 hrs as he was pronounced dead etc. I couldn't listen to Double Fantasy, which I'd already bought, for a long time

[kenrg]

Working in the record store I couldn't avoid Double Fantasy for a while, but then I did put it aside for awhile before I could truly enjoy it again. Thanks for sharing your story.

[AKDJANGO]

5:02-5:24: Kind of like what happened with Michael Jackson.

[kenrg]

Very similar to MJ - And Elvis and others. Each generation has one event like this.

[AKDJANGO]

There's videos about the assassination on Youtube and I saw part of an interview with the man who did it. Such trash, he straight up said he did it, because he wanted to be famous like Lennon, or something like that, it's pathetic and even terrifying what some people will do for their fifteen minutes.

[RustleAbout]

Powerful memories Ken. Thanks for sharing this. And for your comments on my blog.

[kenrg]

It was a day that moved us all. Thanks.

[PappyStu]

A second day which will live in infamy...

I was in the south china sea pointing nukes at commies...

We don't have them anymore either...

I am sure I miss John more...

Good to hear your reminisces...

[kenrg]

Two infamous days in a row. But my memories of one are first hand... Not that they didn't each change the world. Yeah, I miss John more than commies too ;^)

[PappyStu]

Well at least we have the good ole chiKnee

VEG

[PappyStu]

But I'm not sure they qualify as true commies... they might out capitalist us... he he

[PappyStu]

All kidding aside it was very good to hear your feelings about the man...

[hallbe]

I'm so amazed it's been 29 years!

John Lennon was one of my greatest heros growing up and to this day. I will always remember him...

[kenrg]

Good heroes are hard to find. It's been a long 29 years without him.

[NiteBlogger]

29 YEARS! OMG!!!

Most celebs aren't worth their salt...but Lennon was truly special...I know so many young peeps that were not even alive when he died that are touched by his magic.

[kenrg]

Not many will be remembered this longer after their passing. Truly special, and truly a great loss.

[Grimace]

OMg its been so long since I had one of your videos pop up on my subscription block, its so nice to see you again, missed your vlogs....I was born in 81 so yeah I don't remember John Lennon when he was alive but I can say that his music has helped to shape and mold my entire life.

[kenrg]

Yeah, I don't get to vlogging enough anymore, but I always have the intention to.

Really, it's part of the testament to the power of John's music that he means as much to people who were born after he was assassinated as to people who remember him at the time.

[BandOnTheRun87]

what about the day george died?

[kenrg]

Interesting in that I don't remember the circumstances of getting the news as clearly. Not that I didn't love George or miss him, but just a different time in life.

Probably that being 19 when John was killed, it was very much a part of that passage from teen to adult, from a protected life to a more volatile one. And end of the innocence. Damn. Now I think I may need to make another vlog!

[BandOnTheRun87]

so suffering from dimensia?

[rd1999]

glad i bought it before the assassination. Double Fantasy was a very hunting album considering the events, almost prophetic, well except the track with Yoko Ono faking orgasm. At least i hope she was faking

[kenrg]

You think she was faking it? Now you've gone and ruined it for me. But, yes, a great record.

[OhCurt]

MUSIC PLUS??!!

You were the competition!

*glares*

Okay, my memories of Lennon's death are fragmented - clear fragments but fragments nonetheless.

But Colonel Sanders?! Don't remember a thing.

And, no, it's not silly (was that the word you used?).

Nice Andymooseman vlog.

:-)

[kenrg]

The competition? Where were you? And that was a very cool Music Plus. Someday I'll tell you about some of our regular celebrity customers.

[OhCurt]

I worked for The Wherehouse, but not until 1989, when nobody worth anything was still hitting the Billboard charts.

And if you were in Studio City, I can only imagine. The locations I worked at (89-96) were all Inland Empire or Orange County (never called "the OC" until that damn TV show aired, btw). The biggest celebrity we ever got was the homeless guy who allegedly peed in the middle of the parking lot once. Everyone claimed to know someone who saw it happen!

[andymooseman]

I just had to record a response to this vlog Ken.

Uploading shortly & yes it's 8 minutes long! :)

[kenrg]

Looking forward to it... all eight minutes of it! ;^)

[staplerjm]

I've never understood why people care about celebrity deaths so much. It was their job to be publicly known and yes they get spanking rich off it, that's why they do what they do. much better people die everyday, most that you might not hear of.

[kenrg]

Very true that millions die unsung for each one who's death we make a media circus out of. Different people obsess about celebrity deaths for different reasons.

For me, in talking about John Lennon, it's because of the way he touched my life with his words and music that still effects me 29 years after his death.

Art is a powerful thing, and the power of Lennon's art is still very meaningful to millions of us, and it is that which we remember today.