CULTURE RE-VIEW: John Lennon fatally shot outside his residence in New York City

Amateur photographer Paul Goresh (left), took the last photo of John Lennon when he was alive.
Amateur photographer Paul Goresh (left), took the last photo of John Lennon when he was alive. Copyright  Bettmann / Getty Images
By David Mouriquand
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CULTURE RE-VIEW: John Lennon fatally shot outside his residence in New York City

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8 December 1980: John Lennon dies.

On the evening of 8 December 1980, former Beatle John Lennon was shot and fatally wounded in the archway of the Dakota, his residence in New York City.

The killer was 25-year-old Mark David Chapman, an American Beatles fan who said he was inspired by the fictional character Holden Caulfield from J.D. Salinger's novel "The Catcher in the Rye."

Bettmann / Getty Images
Paul Goresh (left) with John LennonBettmann / Getty Images

Amateur photographer Paul Goresh (above - left), who describes himself as a life-long fan of Lennon, took the last photo of the rock star when he was alive.

The last professional photo of Lennon was taken by Annie Leibovitz, who took a portrait of Yoko Ono and John Lennon hours before he was fatally shot. Leibovitz was photographing for Rolling Stone Magazine when she shot the iconic image of Lennon curled up against Ono.

Rolling Stone Magazine
The final photoshoot of John Lennon, taken by Annie LeibovitzRolling Stone Magazine

Rolling Stone published the polaroid on the cover of its January 1981 issue.

Also on this day:

MALCOLM LUBLINER/MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIVES/GETTY IMAGES
Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Jerry Garcia, and Phil Lesh in 1968MALCOLM LUBLINER/MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIVES/GETTY IMAGES

1995: The Grateful Dead announce they are breaking up after 30 years, a few months after the death of bandmate Jerry Garcia. 

Talk about a doomed day for music...

Columbia Pictures Film
Michelle Yeoh in Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden DragonColumbia Pictures Film

2000: Ang Lee's masterful Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon debuts in theaters.

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