John Lennon Tribute December 9th 1980 Granada TV

This may view a little strangely as some clips of The Beatles or John Lennon have either had to be edited out or muted for copyright reasons. There is still over 33 mins worth left. Presented by Tony Wilson with guests: John Hamp, Hunter Davies, Richard Williams & Anthony Fawcett.

[@davidrobinson2776]

I was 9 years old when I discovered John. My Mam, who died in 1974, had the Imagine album that my Gran had locked away in a drawer. I found it and wanted to know everything about this weird looking bloke in the granny glasses. In a few months I was so deep in John’s music and then I found out he was in the Beatles!
As a 12 year old one morning in December, my gran told me the radio, which was on every morning, had broken and she ushered me off to school. Whilst there, I got myself kicked out of morning assembly so I could listen to a tiny transistor radio I took to school everyday. I was hoping for an update on Newcastle United, my favourite football team, who were rumoured to be trying to sign an ageing George Best. Instead, I heard the news of John’s murder. Suddenly, my whole world fell in. I was sent home that day and I remember thinking “Why did they kill John?”
I don’t think I ever got over that shock. The only famous person’s death I felt anywhere near as deeply was Amy Winehouse’s, 31 years later. But nothing compares to John’s death. Like Ozzy Osbourne once said: He was like a God to me.

[@rogerrambo4172]

That's beautiful David, thankyou for sharing it with us

[@manclad3077]

This was actually broadcast on Tuesday 9th December 1980. I remember this well coming home from school the evening it was aired.

[@karenhowarth5552]

I'll change details later.

[@manclad3077]

@@karenhowarth5552 🙂❤️

[@markandresen1]

Richard Williams; still going and still worth listening to.

[@CarlosBacardi]

I’m struck again how there’s no sympathy for his widow who watched him die less than a day earlier. Instead it’s “did Yoko split The Beatles?”

[@rotonda4068]

Was this shown nationally, or just in Granadaland?

[@karenhowarth5552]

I recorded it in London, not sure about the rest of the UK.

[@GriefTourist]

@@karenhowarth5552 you had a VCR in 1980 ? Cool.

[@garfieldharrison510]

They sound so posh way they talk about the guys. John was more hard, and Paul was more soft. I don't believe that. To have that kind of success. There wasn't nothing soft about the guys. John and Paul was focus. George and Ring was the complete blend to the puzzle. Everyone played a role into that success. John Lennon would cringe if he heard them talking about him like this.