45YRS AGO TODAY

20YRS AGO TODAY

This month marks the 45th anniversary of the publication debut of EXPOSE! magazine (1980). The final print issue was Feb 1990.


DECEMBER 1980 ON THE WORLD STAGE Former Beatle John Lennon has been shot dead by an unknown gunman who opened fire outside the musician's New York City apartment. The beloved world famous 40yr old musician was shot several times in the back as he entered the Dakota, his luxury apartment building on Manhattan's Upper West Side opposite Central Park, at 11PM. He was rushed in a police car to St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His wife, Yoko Ono who is understood to have witnessed the attack was with him. A police spokesman said a suspect was in custody but he had no other details of the killing, stating "this was no robbery" and adding that Mr. Lennon was probably shot by a "deranged" person. Witness reports say at least 3 shots were fired and others have claimed they heard 6. There are also reports that Lennon staggered up 6 steps into the vestibule after he was shot before collapsing. Jack Douglas, Lennon's producer, said he & the Lennons had been at a studio called the Record Plant in midtown earlier in the evening and Lennon left at 10:30PM, planning to have some dinner and then return home. The Dakota was the site of the 1968 film 'Rosemary's Baby' and has long been the residence of many high-profile celebrities including Judy Garland, Lauren Bacall, Leonard Bernstein, Boris Karloff, Paul Simon, Joe Namath, Jack Palance, and Gilda Radner. The Lennons apparently left their limousine on the street and walked up the driveway when the gunman opened fire. It is unclear whether the man had been lying in wait in the entrance to the building for Lennon or whether he came up behind him. Witnesses describe the gunman as a "pudgy kind of man", 35-40yrs old with brown hair, and may have been an autograph seeker who might have mingled earlier with other bystanders. Former band members, Paul McCartney, guitarist George Harrison and drummer Ringo Starr are thought to have been informed of Lennon's shocking murder. Fans have already begun arriving at the scene, many in a state of disbelief still unaware Lennon has died. Lennon is survived by his wife, their son Sean, and his son Julian from a previous marriage.