Lennon's music influenced a generation of liberal-minded Americans.

By 1980, former Beatle John Lennon had become an icon for the anti-war movements of the 1970s. His music embodied the struggle for peace and love amidst the horrors of war and destruction.

On December 8, 1980, Lennon emerged from his Manhattan apartment after five years of living in seclusion with his family. A fanatical fan, Mark David Chapman, obtained Lennon's autograph outside his apartment and then shot him dead.