John Lennon’s bloody clothes?

A New York exhibit centered around the life of John Lennon will feature a paper bag filled with the late singer's bloody clothes from the day of his death.

The exhibit also includes handwritten lyrics, guitars, the piano from his apartment, a pair of “his trademark wire-rimmed glasses,” and letters recounting his battle against deportation in the 70s.

Widow Yoko Ono, who said she feared “criticism” for the exhibit, also said, “I know it's a kind of a sad and very poignant kind of paradox, I think, that he loved this place so much and this where he was killed.”

John Lennon vigil 2008 in Strawberry Fields, NYC

Last night at around 10 minutes past midnight (it had just turned Dec 8th), I drove to 72nd street, corner of Central Park west to the Dakota building. There was NO ONE around, not even a guard. I sat in my car blasting Hide your love away, feeling eeire- thinking this is the same spot John Lennon was shot in 1980. Imagining that horrible scene gives you a nasty chill, especially when you are at the scene of the crime. Then an overwhelming feeling of sadness comes over you. Hard to describe, you just have to visit the place to FEEL what I mean.

 

Every year on Dec 8th Beatles fans gather in Strawberry Fields  to sing Beatles and John Lennon songs. I got there around 7 pm at night, it was naturally dark and FREEZING BEYOND belief (20 degrees fahrenheit/-1 celcius) AND it was windy as FOOK.

 

 

The bitter weather didn't stop the vigil. Every one sings along to the 5 or 6 guitarist who were in the middle of the circle they formed around the Imagine mosaic. I went alone, didn't know anyone there- and just sang along with everyone, as you do. It felt SO NICE to be around other Beatle fans. SO FUCKING AWESOME. 

 

 

It was extremely difficult to get a picture or get anywhere close to the middle.. so many swarmed around it.. I had to stand on tippie-toes and take these pictures (not a place to get even slightly pushy so you just wait and try)

 

 

 

Not sure how long the guitarists were all there, but I could only take an hour of the brutal cold. My toes were frozen solid and I had a hard time walking back to my car as my toes would not bend anymore; I looked like marching soldier the way I was walking, lol, trying to avoid bending icy toes out of fear they would have snapped in two lol. Only hardcore Beatles freaks were there, you could tell. Everyone knew every word to every song and people were even making the electric guitar notes in 'Something'

 

 

When I left they were in the middle of 'Let it be'. No sign of Yoko this year. She did come out to the vigil in 2005 though. 

 

 

After the vigil I went to an amazing wine bar and met some wonderful new friends. You just never know who you will meet in this city. Then I met up with Jonesy and we went and did some karaoke. I sang "Helter Skelter" as my Beatles tune for the night. I wore a Beatles shirt too to show love. John Lennon; gone but never, ever forgotten. Mark David Chapman – may you rot in hell.