NEW YORK — Thirty years have passed since John Lennon was shot. John Lennon’s fans gathered around the “Imagine” mosaic, which is located in Strawberry Fields and known as a memorial to Lennon in Central Park, on the 30th anniversary of John Lennon’s death on Wednesday.

Outside of his NY apartment, the incident happened when John Lennon, the former Beatle as well as “Imagine” singer, was 40 on December 8th, 1980. Mark David Chapman, who shot Lennon, ended up serving a prison sentence of 20 years to life.

Yoko Ono tweeted and shared some story with Lennon, “‘Yoko, Yoko, you’re supposed to first put the tea bags in, and then the hot water.’we both cracked up. That was in 1980. Neither of us knew that it was to be the last year of our life together.”

Imagine this: John Lennon’s 70th birthday is coming up this Saturday. The fans will be gathering around the globe in special tributes planned for his birthday. The events are being planned in New York, England and throughout the world to honor the music that he created and the man that he was

In Lennon’s hometown of Liverpool, the Peace Monument will be unveiled on his birthday.

In New York, fans will gather, as they usually do every year on his birthday and on the anniversary of his death, at Strawberry Fields to sing and remember Lennon. Strawberry Fields is the 2.5-acre memorial is in New York’s Central Park, across the street from the Dakota, the building where Lennon before his death, in 1980.

During the evening, there will be a free Central Park screening of “LENNONYC,” a new film by Michael Epstein with concert footage and home movies documenting Lennon’s life in New York after the breakup of the Beatles. The film will air nationally on PBS as part of the American Masters series on November 22.

This year is considered as a big one for Beatles fans as well. It’s been 50 years since the band was formed, 40 years since they split up, 70 years since Lennon was born and 30 years since he was assassinated.

According to ABC news, Lennon’s wife and artist herself, Yoko Ono, 77, commented regarding the Lennon’s death and his legacy, “Well, it was very hard because it was a sudden thing that happened, he wasn’t ill for a long time or anything, it’s just, we were talking before that you know, and, it was very hard. I think I am getting over it in a kind of way, in my own unique way, but it’s still lingering. It’s very interesting, you know, that songs like ‘Gimme Some Truth’ mean a lot now, and of course ‘Give Peace a Chance’. … ‘Imagine’. All his political songs really have a lot of meaning right now for people.”

ROME — Fourteen years after the “Yoko Ono film festival” in 1996 in Palazzo delle Espozioni in Rome, the Japanese- American artist, musicians and peace activist Yoko Ono has a new exhibition entitled “I’ll be back” at the Studio Stefania Miscetti in via delle Mantellate 14. The show which runs until October 30, features pictures, sounds, sculptures and pieces of dialogue inspired by the Italian Futurist movement, whose work Ono first witnessed at London’s Tate Modern Gallery.

Yoko Ono is a multimedia artist who constantly challenges the traditional boundaries of art, known for her groundbreaking conceptual art, instructional arts, performance arts experimental films and music. Her most recent album, “Between My Head and the Sky,” 2009, has received international critical acclaim. Yoko Ono is well known for her peace initiatives, first with her husband John Lennon, “Bed-In” for Peace and “War Is Over! (If You Want It)”, and more recently with her Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland and participatory Wish Trees throughout the world.

Opening hours : from Monday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday only on appointment.

Rumors have persisted for months that perhaps the biggest band in the history of music will be making their way to either the Rock Band or Guitar Hero franchise, finally — the wait is over and we have an answer.
Kind of.

In a teleconference‚ Apple Corps Ltd., Harmonix and MTV Games announced an exclusive partnership to bring the music of The Beatles to the world in a new interactive form sometime in 2009. The currently unnamed title will take players through the band’s storied career, from first album to last. Though it has been confirmed that the title will use interactive instrument peripherals, it was stressed during the teleconference that it is not a Rock Band title.

“Introducing the genius of The Beatles to a whole new generation of music lovers through original and inspired ways is extremely exciting to us at Apple Corps,” stated Jeff Jones, CEO, Apple Corps. “We are truly pleased to be working with the innovative forces at MTV and Harmonix as they embody our mutual passions for music and creativity.”

The new partnership marks the first time that either Apple,‚ EMI Music, Harrisongs Ltd, or Sony/ATV Music Publishing have agreed to present the normally highly protected Beatles music license in interactive format.‚ The game was creatively conceived with input from Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison, and enjoys their full blessing. In addition, Giles Martin, co-producer of The Beatles innovative LOVE project, will provide his expertise and serve as Music Producer for this groundbreaking Beatles project.

“The project is a fun idea which broadens the appeal of The Beatles and their music. I like people having the opportunity to get to know the music from the inside out,” Sir Paul McCartney said

“It gives me great pleasure to be part of The Beatles / Apple and Harmonix / Rock Band partnership,” said Ringo Starr. “The Beatles continue to evolve with the passing of time and how wonderful that The Beatles’ legacy will find its natural progression into the 21st century through the computerized world we live in. Let the games commence.”