Celebration of Lennon’s life, work

To mark the 25th anniversary of John Lennon’s death on Thursday, fans will gather at his Hollywood Walk of Fame star outside the Capitol Records building for a memorial vigil and celebration.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. with the lighting of 25 candles forming what organizers call a “flaming peace symbol” outside Capitol’s offices at 1750 N. Vine St. Among the guest speakers will be Chris Carter, host of the weekly radio show “Breakfast With the Beatles” on KLSX-FM (97.1).

Carter also will salute Lennon on his show Sunday by highlighting his first post-Beatles solo album, “John Lennon Plastic Ono Band,” released 35 years ago. Carter will play the album in its entirety, as well as rarities and outtakes from the sessions that led to what many critics consider to be Lennon’s most powerful solo work.

In New York City, a vigil will be held at Strawberry Fields in Central Park, and the two ceremonies will be coordinated at 8:15 p.m. PST, with a circle of unity and a moment of silence around the hour that Lennon was shot outside Manhattan’s Dakota apartment building in 1980, said Hollywood vigil organizer Jerry Rubin.

“This is a sad day to remember,” Rubin said, “but we want to celebrate John’s life and his music and his work in promoting world peace.... Yoko [Ono] has asked for this: It’s not a time for mourning; it’s a time for celebrating his music and his life.”