Mark David Chapman

Chapman was so deranged, he thought he was John Lennon. Theoretically, he was committing suicide.

It happened on this date, and it was a Monday. I was a disc jockey at a college radio station. A guy called and asked me to play John Lennon's last song, which was "Starting Over", if I'm not mistaken.

"Last song" hit me as strange because it's the only time anyone has called me to request someone's last song. Latest, yes. Last, never.

Mind you, this was prior to the shooting. When I got home, and turned on the tv, the story was breaking news. I got chills. What a strange night.

Reminiscent of JFK's shooting, or the passing of King Elvis on his thrown, I would think that everyone who is old enough to remember that night, can tell you exactly where they were when they heard of the dreadful news.

Chapman was clearly out of his mind, but that doesn't mean he isn't still hated by millions. I'm not one of them. It's hard for me to hate anyone, let alone someone who was certainly insane. I don't blame all of the Lennon devotees who do hate him. I can empathize. It was truly horrific. The end of an era. Robbed of not only a great song writer and guru.

I was not a huge fan. My younger brother is. He loves the Beatles. I don't know if this anniversary will hit him hard, but I suspect so.

The real irony is that I think Lennon would have forgiven Chapman, had he survived. Yet so many Lennon followers hate Chapman.

See you tomorrow.