Dave Wedge Pořadí knih

The greatest true-crime story in music history. A GLOBAL SUPERSTAR In the summer of 1980, ten years after the break-up of the Beatles, John Lennon signed with a new label, ready to record new music for the first time in years. Everyone was awestruck when Lennon dashed off '(Just Like) Starting Over'. Lennon was back in peak form, with his best songwriting since 'Imagine'. A DANGEROUSLY OBSESSED FAN In the years after Lennon left the Beatles, becoming a solo artist and making a life with Yoko Ono in New York City, Mark David Chapman had become fixated on murdering his former hero. He was convinced that Lennon had squandered his talent and betrayed his fans. In December 1980, Chapman boarded a flight from Hawaii to New York with a handgun stowed in his luggage. He was never going home again. A MURDER THAT STUNNED THE WORLD Enriched by exclusive interviews with Lennon's friends and associates, including Paul McCartney, The Last Days of John Lennon is a true-crime drama about two men who changed history. One whose indelible songs enliven our world to this day, and the other who ended the music with five pulls of a trigger.

Longtime ATF agent Ken Croke, known for his undercover work against white supremacists and gang members, faced a pivotal moment in his career when he encountered an associate of the Pagan Motorcycle Gang. Seizing the opportunity, he adopted the persona of "Slam," a fearsome enforcer dedicated to protecting the gang's leadership. For two years, he immersed himself in their violent world, befriending the most dangerous members while covertly gathering evidence for a major federal prosecution that would dismantle the gang's hierarchy. This risky operation jeopardized his marriage, sanity, and life, showcasing a rare commitment to traditional undercover tactics in an era where law enforcement increasingly favors cyber operations. Croke's experiences became legendary in the field, marking him as a unique figure among undercover agents. For the first time, he shares the harrowing details of his life infiltrating the Pagans, revealing the extreme violence, drug culture, and disturbing rituals he witnessed. Collaborating with bestselling crime writer Dave Wedge and drawing on extensive court documents, surveillance footage, and personal accounts, Croke presents a gripping narrative that exposes the brutal realities of the biker underworld.

„Byli jsme nejlepší kapela, jaká kdy existovala,“ prohlásil kdysi John Lennon. „Nikdo nás nemohl zastavit!“ Nikdo, kromě jednoho obyčejného muže z Texasu jménem Mark David Chapman. Ten kapelu bezmezně obdivoval, ale později došel k závěru, že ho John Lennon zradil. Proto se Chapman vzdal práce v ostraze a nastoupil do letadla mířícího do New Yorku – zbraň i s náboji bezpečně schovanou v zavazadle. A rozhodl se spáchat největší zločin v historii hudby…

Presents a portrait of the Irish-American gangster who worked as an informant on both sides of the law and describes the sixteen-year hunt for him and his final capture, arrest, and murder in prison.