John Lennon

John Lennon

Creator of the Beatles
Date of Birth: 09.10.1940
Country: Great Britain

Biography of John Lennon

John Lennon was a British rock musician, singer, poet, composer, artist, writer, and activist. He was born on October 9, 1940, in Liverpool at 6:30 in the morning. His arrival into the world was met with the wailing of sirens and bombings, as the city was under attack by German aviation. John's father, Fred, served as a steward on a merchant ship and was rarely at home. In 1942, John's mother, Julia, was informed that her husband had gone missing. Unable to raise their son on her own, Julia entrusted the care of 18-month-old John to her sister, Mimi Stanley.

John Lennon

At the age of 4, John began attending a primary school near the famous Penny Lane. He started writing his own poems and illustrations at a young age. In 1952, John moved from primary school to Quarry Bank High School, a typical English school with strict discipline. Despite his rebellious nature, John excelled in subjects like drawing, English, and literature. He continued to compose short poems and drawings, some of which were of an inappropriate nature. At this time, he had no interest in music.

John Lennon

In early 1956, John observed how his peers were being captivated by the new music trend of rock and roll. The song "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley, which topped the British charts in January 1956, did not convince him. However, in February, when he heard Elvis Presley's new song "Heartbreak Hotel" on the radio, he was completely won over. John persuaded Mimi to buy him a used guitar, and with the help of his mother, who played the banjo, he learned basic chords. He decided to start a skiffle band, a fusion of American country music and British folk traditions. He invited his closest friends, Pete Shotton, Nigel Walley, and Ivan Vaughan, to join the band, which they named "Quarrymen". Rod Davis, Eric Griffiths, and Colin Hanton later joined the group. They performed occasionally at youth clubs and skiffle group competitions.

John Lennon

On July 6, 1957, the band played at a church garden party. Ivan Vaughan invited his school friend, Paul McCartney, to the concert. John was impressed by Paul's guitar skills but tried not to show it. However, when Paul performed Eddie Cochran's "Twenty Flight Rock" and John couldn't resist asking him to write down the lyrics. A week later, John invited Paul to join the band through Pete.

John Lennon

In school, John's attendance was sporadic, resulting in his failure in all exams. The headmaster took pity on him and provided a recommendation for him to enroll in the Liverpool College of Art. On July 15, 1958, tragedy struck when Julia Lennon was killed in a car accident. John later recalled it as the most traumatic moment of his life. It is uncertain how things would have turned out if it wasn't for Paul, rock and roll, and new friends from college. One of John's new friends was Stuart Sutcliffe, an extremely talented painting student. They understood and fascinated each other. Under John's influence, Stuart developed an interest in rock and roll. In art college, John met Cynthia Powell, and they began dating. They eventually moved in together, and Cynthia was convinced that John would eventually leave her. When she announced her pregnancy in the summer of 1962, she was surprised by John's sincere proposal to get married. They tied the knot on August 23.

John Lennon

In November 1966, John met Japanese avant-garde artist Yoko Ono in London, who was there for an exhibition of her works. On November 8, John divorced Cynthia. Their son, Julian, was 5 years old at the time. On March 20, 1969, John and Yoko got married in Gibraltar. On May 26, they started an eight-day bed-in for peace, staying in bed in a Montreal hotel room, giving interviews and holding discussions with friends. On the seventh day, John spontaneously composed the song "Give Peace A Chance".

John Lennon

On September 13, 1969, John's new band, "The Plastic Ono Band," had their debut concert. By this time, John had already informed Paul, George, and Ringo of his decision to leave the Beatles. This was prompted by their refusal to record the song "Cold Turkey" together. John recorded the song with the Plastic Ono Band and released it as a single in October.

John Lennon

In 1969, the press paid exceptional attention to John Lennon. On December 15, he and Yoko organized an anti-war concert under the slogan "War Is Over (If You Want It)". On December 30, British television dedicated a special program to Lennon, ranking him among the three political figures of the decade, alongside Mao Zedong and John F. Kennedy.

In 1970, John made headlines again. On January 5, he announced in Denmark that he would use all his earnings from songs and records to fund peace activism. In March 1971, he released the single "Power To The People" as a plea for empowerment.

By 1975, John and Yoko were living together again. On October 9, 1975, their son Sean was born, and John decided to temporarily leave the music industry to focus on being a father. This break lasted for five years, during which John became a devoted father and homemaker.

He returned to the recording studio on August 4, 1980, to work on the album "Double Fantasy". The album, released in November, impressed listeners with its fresh melodies, sophisticated arrangements, and profound lyrics.

During that time, John and Yoko frequently gave interviews, and John openly shared his plans. On December 8, 1980, around 11 pm, John was fatally shot by a man named Mark David Chapman. He was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.

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