Beatles fans mark Lennon anniversary
Devoted fans of ex-Beatle John Lennon gathered in New York, more than 20 years after he was gunned down by a deranged fan.
Hundreds of people surrounded the Imagine mosaic in Strawberry Fields, an area of Central Park dedicated to Lennon, yesterday, after he was shot in 1980 by Mark Chapman in front of the nearby Dakota, the luxury apartment building where he lived.
They sang Beatles tunes, bobbed their heads to the beat of a band, burned candles and remembered the singer who meant so much to them.
‘‘It’s a weird thing. It’s been your whole life, the Beatles,’’ said Larry Martin, a professional guitarist. ‘‘I had older brothers, so from the time I was three or four my earliest memories are of the Beatles.’’
Martin said his decision to attend this year was influenced by the death of George Harrison, who died of lung cancer on November 29.
‘‘(Lennon) was the soul of the Beatles, Harrison was the spirit,’’ Martin said. ‘‘Paul was the heart, and Ringo was the drummer.’’
Geno Barron, who said he goes to Strawberry Fields each year on December 8, made the trip a family event this time, bringing his daughters, Brooke and Carly.
‘‘The first song I ever remember hearing is I Want to Hold Your Hand,’’ Barron said. ‘‘Since I’ve was 13 they’ve been my group.’’
Al Wunsch went to Strawberry Fields to mourn and remember another time.
‘‘It’s like they created a world, and where did that go?’’ he said.
Wunsch attributed the Beatles’ wild success to their self-confidence and the bond they created with their audience.
‘‘There was such a synthesis between the Beatles and the audience,’’ Wunsch said. ‘‘They had a confidence in themselves and you had a confidence in them.’’
With tears, flowers and hands raised in peace signs, Beatles fans in California gathered outside the Capitol Records building, some saying Lennon’s message of peace was more relevant now as the United States waged war in Afghanistan.
Fans arranged bouquets in a floral peace symbol on the pavement near Lennon’s star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. A nearby guitar case overflowed with flowers. Next to it were pictures of Lennon and Harrison, who died in Los Angeles.
Rebecca Dimmick of Ontario, California, wept and hugged her sister. Her son, 23-year-old Brandon Pollock, is a Marine who recently shipped out to Afghanistan.
‘‘(Lennon’s) message was so much about world peace and my son’s at war right now,’’ she said. ‘‘It just really meant a lot to me to be here today to celebrate peace.’’
