Lennon vigil rekindles New York row

Lennon was shot dead by a fan in 1980

Beatles fans are in for an extended period of mourning, with the 21st anniversary of John Lennon's murder coming just over a week after George Harrison's death.

But Saturday's planned vigil for Lennon in Strawberry Fields, New York - the site of this week's memorials for Harrison - has re-ignited a row with the New York authorities.

Fans have also mourned Harrison in Strawberry Fields

Beatles fans are hoping that this year they will be allowed to stay past the 1am curfew which has been imposed for the past eight years.

Tom Leighton, co-founder of the Memorial Committee, is appealing to the city mayor Rudolph Giuliani to relax the curfew.

"Since 11 September, we have seen a new side of [Guiliani], who has shown a lot of compassion.

"We are just hoping that perhaps he can extend this compassion to fans of John Lennon and rock'n'roll fans in general, and allow us to extend the vigil this year past 1 am."

Harrison's death led to worldwide mourning

Mr Leighton's comments came at a press conference at Strawberry Fields, where he drew a comparison between the vigils for Harrison and the proposed commemoration of Lennon's death.

"Last week, when George Harrison passed away, the vigil was allowed to go on all night.

"There were no problems, and we are just asking for equal treatment for John Lennon fans," he said.

'Unseemly'

Mayor Giuliani has not replied to the request, although in previous years, his office has said that the curfew was justified by public safety concerns and security costs.

The park is normally closed between 0100 and 0600.

Mr Leighton, who ran for mayor this year under the banner of the Marijuana Reform Party, has received support for his stance from the former head of the New York Civil Liberties Union, Norman Siegel.

"Constitutionally, one Beatle cannot get more rights than another Beatle," said Mr Siegel.

"Secondly, the idea of pitting Harrison fans against Lennon fans is just unseemly - the mayor should not do that."

Lennon was shot dead by a fan in front of his Central Park West home on 8 December 1980, while Harrison died of lung cancer on 29 November.