8 December 1980 (9 December in UK) - John Lennon is murdered outside of the Dakota. During the night while Julian was sleeping in his attic bedroom, the chimney collapsed and part of it fell through the roof. Julian recalls, "I just felt something in the room. I came downstairs that morning and noticed the curtains were still drawn. There must have been hundreds of photographers outside. Then this guy, this guy I hated said to me, 'I've got some serious bad news for you.' He said, 'I don't know how you're going to take it, so just be prepared.' And I already knew." Julian and Justin flew to New York this same day to be with Yoko and Sean for three weeks.  Ironically, Julian was 17 at the time of his father's death, the same age John was when his mother was killed by a drunk driver.

10 December 1980 - John is cremated at Hartsdale Crematorium in New York.

Shortly after returning to England, Julian dropped out of school, started washing dishes in a bistro, and played music in a converted barn behind the house.