John Lennon's Last Day--Where Were You?

A shorter blog today, because virtually everything worth reading about John Lennon has already been written.

Rolling Stone magazine is cashing in on the anniversary of his murder by claiming their interview with the fallen Beatle—published in the latest issue—was his last.

It was not.

The last interview occurred on the day he was shot---a radio interview that was conducted in part by colleague and friend Dave Sholin.

Dave told me the story of his encounter with Lennon years ago over the phone—and I still get chills when I think of the circumstances. Imagine the following:

You are nervous and yet enormously excited to meet the one and only John Lennon. After years of hearing his music and following his life experiences, you are there, in front of him in New York—at his home in the Dakota.

After hours of recording, taking photos and really getting to know him, you say your good byes. Dave and company board a flight back to their home in San Francisco.

Sometime between saying goodbye and landing on the west coast, John Lennon is murdered in cold blood by Mark David Chapman. Those involved with what would turn out to be his very last interview have NO IDEA of course, until they land. Dave’s description of the emotions of learning the tragic news upon arrival still gives me goose bumps.

Holding a box of tapes, it’s hard to fathom that beyond the devastation of the news itself among Lennon’s newest friends, they were holding in their hands a cargo more precious than can be described.

His last words, in effect.

A part of that final interview is here:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pMpLyW9FEI&feature=related


I was a senior at Ohio State in Columbus—and found out the news in the same way that much of America did—via Howard Cosell during the telecast of Monday Night Football. Here is that clip-you'll need to click on the link as embedding has been disabled:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gcdz1IRVoM&feature=related

Howard’s demeanor was a bit detached, it seemed to me—both then and now. Too businesslike or unfeeling or…something. I can’t put my finger on it.

What I didn’t know at the time was that John Lennon and Howard Cosell were actually fairly close friends. No two individuals could be more opposite, but in fact they were close.

My old colleague and radio consultant Rick Sklar (since deceased) was the Program Director of the biggest Top 40 station in America in the 1960’s—WABC. That station helped to break the Beatles —and Rick became familiar with all the members, but particularly John. Since Howard Cosell worked for ABC and did radio regularly, he also was a close friend of Rick’s—and Mr. Sklar was the common thread that allowed this very odd friendship to develop.

In much the same way that Cosell became close with Mohammed Ali, he also developed a bond with Lennon.

Knowing this, I can only conclude that Cosell’s seemingly cold delivery of the news was due to a man who was profoundly in shock.

On that day in 1980, we all were.


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