John Lennon was 'happy' as he spoke about the future just hours before his murder

John Lennon appeared "open" and "excited" during his final interview on the day of his tragic death. 

The Beatles legend was shot and killed aged 40 outside the Dakota building in New York City on December 8, 1980, by Mark David Chapman. John sustained four gunshot wounds - two to the back and two to the shoulder - at point-blank range. He was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Director Steven Soderbergh has shared insights about John's last day, which involved a recording session, a photo shoot and participating in a radio interview. The interview took place with RKO Radio and featured John alongside his wife Yoko Ono.

Steven is revisiting the radio conversation in a new documentary and disclosed that John and Yoko were "both so free in their discussions" while covering topics ranging from politics to music and their future plans. "I was surprised at how open and excited they were to talk," Steven confessed to Variety.

The 62-year-old filmmaker quipped that the candidness John and Yoko displayed made it seem as though they had never taken part in an interview previously. He continued, "Everything that they said 45 years ago is not just relevant today. It's even more relevant in terms of relationships, politics, how we treat each other," reports the Mirror US.  ‌

John and Yoko participated in the RKO Radio session to publicize their album Double Fantasy, which had been released just weeks before. This was their sole radio appearance to promote the record, spanning three-and-a-half hours at the Dakota.

Hosts Dave Sholin and Laurie Kaye conducted the interview with the pair, with Dave later remembering on 20/20, "He had arrived at the Dakota somewhere around noon. The visual of John opening up the door, literally jumping up, leaping into the room and extending his arms like, 'Hey folks, I'm here!'"

He added, "He had just turned 40. As he said, this was like he was opening up a new chapter. That was the mood of the day, and he could not have been more upbeat."

‌Laurie also noted that John appeared to be "just happy" as he walked into the room. She described, "Happy to be alive and happy to think of the years that he had ahead of him with Sean and making music and with Yoko."

Source: Scarlett O'Toole/irishstar.com

Read More>>>