John Lennon
John
Winston Lennon was born in Liverpool, England on October 9, 1940.
His father left the family when he was very young, and his mother
gave custody of him to his aunt, Mary Smith, when he was five.
(although he still visited his mother regularly)
As Lennon became a teenager, it was apparent that he was much brighter than other kids his age. He was bored with school, but did join the school's newspaper and contributed short stories. He also loved music, and had his first taste at learning an instrument at a young age when his uncle had taught him to play the harmonica.
In the early 50's, with the emergence of rock 'n roll, he decided he wanted to learn to play the guitar. He talked his aunt into buying him one, and taught himself how to play. By the time he was 15, he started his own band called The Quarryman. It was with this band that he would meet Paul McCartney and George Harrison.
When Lennon was 17, his mother was killed when she was hit by a car. Lennon had witnessed the accident, and was devastated. He turned to his music more than ever, and used it as an escape. This also brought him closer to McCartney who had just lost his mother to cancer.
The band continued to play together, changing their name on several occasions until they came up with The Beatles. Lennon and McCartney shared lead vocals, and were steadily making a name for themselves.
In 1961, The Beatles made their first professional recording as back up for Tony Sheridan. It was around this time that Brian Epstein, a record shop manager, decided to go to one of the clubs that they played at, and see what all the fuss was about. From there, he went on to manage the band.
In 1962, Lennon married his long-time girlfriend, Cynthia Powell. The following year, they had a son named Julian. It was also during this time that the band started to record. The Lennon-McCartney tunes Love Me Do and P.S. I Love You became their first singles in the UK. Throughout the 60's the band toured throughout England and Scotland. They also were making television appearances, and started to gain national popularity. Lennon continued to write music.
In 1963, The Beatles recorded their first album. Meet the Beatles catapulted them into the world wide market, but almost ruined Lennon's voice on the hit Twist and Shout.
In 1964, the band traveled to the
US, and were slotted on the Ed Sullivan Show. This was the
beginning of the "British Invasion" of music. Lennon also
published
his
first book called 'In His Own Write'. The band also made it's
first movie called "A Hard Day's Night".
"Beatle Mania" had taken over all the countries in the free world. There were stories published about happy band members and their wives vacationing in sunny places, and having lots of fun. But, behind the scenes, things were much different. Lennon was once quoted as saying that the after show get-togethers were times filled with drugs, alcohol, and women. The tours took a toll on the families as well, and Cynthia and Lennon began to grow apart.
In 1965, Lennon published his second book entitled "A Spaniard in the Works".
In 1966, The Beatles, especially Lennon, became convinced that their days of touring were coming to an end. The band was thought to have snubbed Imelda Marcos (wife of the Philippines' president) when they failed to show up for a reception at the presidential palace. What really happened was that the band was never formally invited, but the press made it into front page news. The band started to receive death threats, and were physically attacked by a mob at the airport while trying to flee the country.
It was also in the same year that Lennon's quote, "We are more popular than Jesus" was printed out of context in a US teen magazine. Another irate mob waited for them when they returned to the US for what would be their final tour. John offered an apology at a press conference in Chicago. He then went on to appear in the movie "How I Won the War".
In November of the same year, Lennon met Yoko Ono at an exhibition of her art at the Inica Gallery in London. Lennon fell in love with her, and made her a strong influence on his music. Tension started to grow with in the band when he would bring Ono into the studio for sessions. It became apparent to the band that they were facing the end.
Lennon married Ono in March of
1969. Together they wrote songs and staged "bed-ins" in
protest of the Viet Nam war. They released a live recording of the
single Give Peace A Chance. It was recorded at a bed-in in
Montreal. They also gave a live performance at the
Toronto Rock & Roll Festival. He was supported by Ono, as well
as other musicians,Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann, and Alan White.
He also went on to release the single Cold Turkey which was about
his heroin addiction.
In 1970, Lennon announced to the band that he was leaving. He agreed not to announce this publicly until the band had finished negotiations with EMI records. In February, Lennon released Instant Karma, which was a huge success. In December of the same year, Lennon released his first full length solo album John Lennon- Plastic Ono Band. It was a disturbing album inspired by Lennon's primal scream therapy.
Early in 1970, Lennon released the protest single Power to the People. It was another hit for him. He then moved to New York to work on his next album. Imagine was released in October of that year. the album went to number 1 internationally. The title song became his most loved and most remembered song. The album also contained some protest songs like How Do You Sleep, which was directed at Paul McCartney. In December he released the anti war single Happy Christmas (the War is Over).
In 1972, he released Sometime in New York City, a double album. He was also in the middle of a legal battle with the government. He wanted to stay in the country, but US Immigration would not give him a green card due to a marijuana conviction in 1968.
In 1973, Lennon was ordered to leave the country, and he launched a battle against the department. At the end of that year, he released Mind Games. The album seemed to highlight problems between himself and Ono.
In the next year and a half, Lennon seemed to be in a haze of drugs and alcohol. He separated from Ono and moved to Los Angeles He partied with Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, and Harry Nilsson. Throughout this, he did produce Nilsson's album, PussyCats. He also released a studio album, Walls and Bridges. The single from the album, Whatever Gets You Through the Night, which was performed with Elton John, went to number 1 in the US. The same month, Lennon made his last stage appearance and performed with Elton John. He was also reunited with Ono, and they got back together.
In 1975, Ono gave birth to their son Sean. More good news awaited him when he found out that the court of appeals overturned his deportation order.
In 1976, Lennon received his green card. Shortly after this, he co-wrote and appeared on David Bowie's single Fame. Lennon then decided it was time for him to retire from music. He chose to stay home with his son while Ono took care of the couple's business interests.
In 1980, Lennon returned to his music, and signed a contract with Geffen Records. Together with Ono, they released Double Fantasy. It went to number 1 worldwide.
On December 8, 1980, while returning from the studio, he was shot down on the steps of his Manhattan apartment. The entire world seemed to go into mourning. Millions of people participated in a ten minute silent vigil in his memory. His murderer, Mark Chapman, is currently serving a life sentence.