John Lennon’s last day was filled with activity and excitement.
On December 8, 1980, he and his wife Yoko Ono started their day under a beautiful blue sky in Central Park.
With a full schedule ahead, they had a photo shoot, an interview, and were planning to work on their song “Walking On Thin Ice” at the Record Plant in the evening.
The morning began with John getting a quick hair trim at Viz-à-Viz after having breakfast at Café La Fortuna.
When he stepped out of the salon, he sported a retro look reminiscent of his pre-fame days.
Meanwhile, photographer Annie Leibovitz was getting ready to complete a photo shoot that had started the previous week at their apartment in the Dakota building.
Leibovitz had a special concept in mind for the cover photo, inspired by the black-and-white Double Fantasy album cover showing John and Yoko in a gentle kiss.
She envisioned a vulnerable portrayal of the couple, capturing their nakedness as a representation of the fading beauty of romance in contemporary culture.
Yoko initially offered to remove her top as a compromise, but then the idea of a n^ked John embracing a fully clothed Yoko in a fetal pose came up.
Leibovitz photographed them lying on the cream-colored carpet in their living room, capturing their intimate connection.
After the photo shoot, John headed downstairs to Yoko’s office while Leibovitz finished up.
There, a team from RKO Radio led by Dave Sholin was waiting for an interview.
John immediately loosened up the atmosphere with his humor and charm.
He shared anecdotes about his daily routine, his son Sean, and his collaborations with artists like Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono.
During the interview, John reflected on his recent 40th birthday and expressed his love and dependence on Yoko.
He also spoke about his work and how he saw it as an ongoing journey that would continue even after his death.
Once the interview ended, Sholin and his team packed up their equipment and prepared to leave.
As they were loading their gear into their car, John and Yoko stepped outside the Dakota building.
John noticed the absence of fans and wondered where they were.
At that moment, a fan approached John with proofs from a recent visit, and another fan asked for his autograph.
John happily signed the fan’s copy of Double Fantasy while Goresh photographed the encounter.
Afterwards, John asked Sholin if they could give him and Yoko a lift to the Record Plant.
With Sholin’s encouragement, they all got into the car and headed towards their destination.
At the Record Plant, John and Yoko joined producer Jack Douglas and listened to the latest mix of “Walking On Thin Ice.”
John was ecstatic about the song and expressed his desire to release it before Christmas.
However, Geffen suggested waiting until after Christmas and promoting it with an advertisement.
This excited John, and he turned to Yoko to share the news.
After a few more hours of work, John and Yoko decided to call it a night and go home to see their son Sean.
They planned to grab a late meal later since New York City never sleeps.
They left the Record Plant and got into their waiting limousine.
As the car made its way back to the Dakota, John and Yoko discussed plans for the future.
Little did they know that tragedy awaited them.
When they arrived at their building, an assassin shot and killed John in front of the entrance.
The news of Lennon’s death spread quickly, reaching millions of television viewers during a Monday Night Football broadcast.
A vigil was held in his honor, and people around the world mourned the loss of a beloved musician.
John Lennon’s last day was filled with love, creativity, and optimism.
He left behind a legacy that continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.
