In 1980, John Lennon was on the media circus once more, promoting his new album with a series of radio interviews, tv appearances, magazine and newspaper articles. He was sending out messages, signalling to the world that he was back.

Mark Chapman was alert, and tuned to receive such signals, and make of them what he wanted.

This is just one of the strange elements of this case: just as John Lennon emerged into the media spotlight again, Chapman was there waiting for the very signals he was broadcasting. He picked up on those signals, twisted and distorted them to what he wanted them to say, and acted upon his conclusions.

Chapman had failed on his first trip to New York. He had gone there to kill John Lennon, but could not bring himself to do it, because he did not feel the time was quite right. Instead, in his frustration, he had gone to the top of the Statue of Liberty and put the gun to his own head...but could not pull the trigger. Murder or suicide, he had failed at both.

Now he was back again, responding to the newest set of signals.

Chapman had been reading the magazines and newspapers for signs. And suddenly they were full of John Lennon; his photos were everywhere, his words published over hundreds of column inches.

The new Playboy magazine, which Chapman bought in New York, featured a full and exclusive interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

After Todd Rundgren's "Utopia" album, Chapman had been watching the television for a special signal he just knew would be beamed to him. One night he had seen a "Thou Shalt Not Kill" flash across the screen...moments later he was watching newsreels of John Lennon emerging from "exile" and "starting over".

He had turned to the Bible for strength and guidance, only to find the Gospels of John and Mark in conflict over the depiction of Christ. Here again, Chapman read it as a sign that Mark (Chapman) and John (Lennon) were in conflict.

On the day of the murder, Chapman set up a tableau display in his hotel room. He intended it to make a statement about himself, and he intended the police to find it, and understand why he had murdered Lennon.

The tableau contains items of special significance and meaning: photos of his happiest times looking after Vietnamese refugee children; an eight-track cassette of Todd Rundgren songs; a picture of Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion with which he identified; a testimonial letter from his time working in Beirut; the New Testament opened at the start of St. John's gospel.

This tableau was a snapshot of his life, and in murdering Lennon, he knew his own life was over.

Television....newspapers...radio...magazines....the books he read...the art works he loved....the music he listened to...all these were giving Mark David Chapman the signals he craved.

And faced with this overwhelming array of signs and signals, some of which he had been waiting for, some of which were new and sensational, Chapman made up his mind to board the plane to New York, seek out John Lennon, and kill him.

Remember....this is only a small sample of my findings.

Find out more....

My books about John Lennon's murder contain the FULL story, told in an original and informative way.

"Two Spirits Dancing" is a 'novelised' version of the events. It is a full length, 100,000 word book that takes you into the parallel worlds of the killer and his victim. It is available as a PDF ebook costing $5.00 or as a 320 page paperback costing $16.50

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"Through The Mirror Go Round" is a fully illustrated and factual account of the murder, including all the images, art work and album covers that are such an amazing part of these tragic events.

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