Paul McCartney Gets Candid About John Lennon's Death: 'I Just Couldn't Process It'

English singer and songwriter Paul McCartney opened up about his struggles with processing the death of his former The Beatles bandmate, John Lennon.

McCartney's friend and bandmate, John Lennon, was killed in New York on December 8, 1980, leaving fans and the "I Don't Know" crooner stunned ever since. The killer, Mark David Chapman, was an obsessed The Beatles fan who was openly critical of the singer's lifestyle and opinions.

The Beatles were an English rock band that gained noteworthy acclaim in the 1960s and comprised Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon. They're commonly regarded as the most influential band in pop music history.

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On December 8, 1980, Lennon and his wife, Ono, arrived at their residence, The Dakota, from an event. They were walking past his house when the fame-crazed fan, Chapman, fired five shots at the singer. 

According to reports, four of the bullets hit Lennon in his back, but his wife went unscathed. Chapman told the police that while firing at the "Let It Be" singer, his wife tried to stay hidden but rushed to her husband as soon as she realized he had been shot. 

"I stood there with the gun hanging limply down at my right side," Chapman later explained to the police during his interrogation, per ATI.

He also mentioned that Lennon's doorman, Jose, heard the shots and tried to get the gun from him, which Chapman thought was 'very brave.' Later, the police arrived and found Chapman patiently waiting for his arrest.

Chapman was given a 20-year-to-life sentence for his crime.

McCartney recently talked about his inability to publicly discuss Lennon's death at the time, claiming the loss was "too deep" and that he couldn't "put it into words."

The legendary musician recounted how he returned from the studios that fateful day and switched on the TV to see how people reflected on Lennon's importance to them, per the Daily Mail.

"When John died it was so difficult. It had hit me so much that I couldn't really talk about it. I remember getting home from the studio on the day that we'd heard the news he died. Turning the TV on and seeing people say, 'Well, John Lennon was this' and 'What he was, was this' and 'I remember meeting him,'" he narrated.

McCartney, 80, further went on to reveal that at the time, he told himself he couldn't be one of those people expressing Lennon's worth in their lives on TV, adding that it was "just too deep" and "he couldn't put it into words."

The singer also recounted what he had to do to mourn his bandmates' death, disclosing that it resulted in him making music.

According to the Daily Mail, McCartney said he "sat on the wooden floor in the corner with his guitar" and came up with the opening chords to the 1982 track "Here Today," a song that expresses his sorrowful state over Lennon's death.

He also shared that the line "the night we cried" was about the time he and his late pal, Lennon, had an honest conversation, although they were both drunk. In it, they "told each other a few truths" and revealed how much they loved themselves.

The "Say Say Say" singer is currently promoting Disney+'s "If These Walls Could Sing," a documentary dedicated to Abbey Road studios, where The Beatles recorded all of their albums.

According to the synopsis, the film narrates to us the wealth of experience and creativity the studio has played host to over nine decades, making it the most famous and longest-running studio in the world.

The documentary includes expertly chosen archival material, session tapes, and cameos from A-list performers like Sir Elton John and Oasis member Noel Gallagher.

"If These Walls Could Sing" is to be released this December globally but has been delayed for UK and Ireland viewers until January 6.

About 42 years after killing the beloved musical star, Lennon, in cold blood, Chapman appeared before a parole board in August and was denied for the twelfth time.

He is reported to have said "he feels more and more Shame" every year for his crime. During his hearing in 2020, Chapman called his actions "despicable" and said he would have "no complaint whatsoever" if he's never allowed out of prison for the rest of his life.

"I assassinated him ... because he was very, very, very famous and that's the only reason and I was very, very, very, very much seeking self-glory. Very selfish," he said at the time. According to reports, he is maintained in isolation to keep himself safe from other prisoners and is only permitted to leave his cell for three hours each day due to his work as an administrative clerk.

His subsequent hearing with the parole board is scheduled for February 2024.