Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
John Lennon Fans Flock To Strawberry Fields To Mark 31st Anniversary Of His Death
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 8, 2011
Modified Dec 8, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 5
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 8, 2011
Modified Dec 8, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
It's been 31 years since John Lennon was shot outside of his home at the Dakota—where his last words were, "I'm shot, I'm shot." Will you be going to Strawberry Fields today? Below is a broadcast from ABC News that aired December 9th, where Paul McCartney is heard telling a reporter, "It's a drag, isn't it?"
Here are some images of New Yorkers following his death, as well as the Daily News's coverage from that time. Meanwhile, London's News Standard called "Lennon's meaningless murder increasingly typical of New York... where the freedom to carry guns has brought forth monsters."
Here is how Lennon spent his final hours (but beware, this also includes a photo of Lennon's after he was pronounced dead); Yoko Ono went over the details of that night, saying they were being driven by limousine to 72nd Street—"I said, 'Shall we go to a restaurant before we go home?' He said, 'No I want to see Sean before he goes to sleep'. I said, 'He's probably asleep by now'. And the car stopped, we got out and it was... really terrible."
Earlier this afternoon, Yoko Ono asked that people put their Lennon tributes right here—there are already over 700 posts. And now, revisit this amazing party the couple hosted.
Here's video of Walter Cronkite's broadcast on December 9, 1980:
Here's video of WNBC 4's coverage of a vigil at Strawberry Fields on December 14, 1980:
Tagged
31 years
anniversary
death
john lennon
yoko ono
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
"Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger," says the co-owner of Art of Play.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 13, 2026
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
Thanks to Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet and more, the rideshare program is having a moment.
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Arts & Entertainment
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
Thanks to Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet and more, the rideshare program is having a moment.
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
By
James Ramsay
What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.
By
Jayson Greene
Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .