Incredible photographs that have recently been restored depict the last interactions of John Lennon with his fans just hours before his tragic death.
Among the most notable images is one that captures the Beatles legend signing his latest album, Double Fantasy, for Mark Chapman, who would later become his killer.
Taken at 4 pm on December 8, 1980, outside Lennon’s residence, The Dakota, in New York, these photos were captured by Paul Goresh, a college student from New Jersey.
Goresh often traveled to New York in hopes of catching a glimpse of Lennon.
Goresh managed to photograph Lennon as he greeted Chapman and several others before hurriedly getting into a waiting limousine.
After attending a recording session for his next album following Double Fantasy, Lennon returned home.
However, tragedy struck when he and his wife, Yoko Ono, were confronted by the mentally unstable Chapman at 10 pm.
Chapman opened fire on Lennon with a .38 handgun.
Lennon was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital, but sadly, he was declared dead an hour later.
He was only 40 years old.
The news of Lennon’s death shocked the world, with many perceiving it not only as a personal tragedy but also as the demise of the idealism of the 1960s and the final chapter in the story of the Beatles.
To this day, Chapman remains incarcerated in Wende Correctional Facility, a high-security prison in New York state.
Goresh’s photographs have gained significant notoriety over time.
They serve as the last known images of John Lennon while he was still alive.
Reflecting on his encounters with Lennon before his own passing in 2018, Goresh fondly remembered Lennon as a bright, witty, and personable individual.
Despite being in awe of him, Goresh felt at ease in Lennon’s presence.
Lennon treated him as an equal, showing genuine interest in discussing Goresh’s life rather than focusing on his own fame.
Although Goresh occasionally annoyed Lennon by talking excessively about the Beatles, Lennon would still laugh and joke with him because he understood what it meant to be a fan.
Before he died, Goresh insisted that the photos not be sold for commercial purposes.
However, he did leave the negatives with a collector, who was authorized to sell them after Goresh’s passing.
These negatives have
