Did you know that John Lennon died 29 years ago today? It was Dec. 8, 1980 when the former Beatle was gunned down outside his New York City home by Mark David Chapman. Chapman shot Lennon to death as the star was returning to his home inside Manhattan’s The Dakota. Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, had spent the evening at a recording studio known as the Record Plant, working on a song called “Walking on Thin Ice.”

The BBC has put together a timeline and photo collective of Lennon’s life and career….