Biography
Overview
John Winston Lennon was born in Liverpool on October 9, 1940, during a German air raid. His father was a seaman who abandoned the family; his mother Julia was unable to care for him and gave him to her sister Mimi, though she remained a presence in his life, teaching him banjo, encouraging his rebellious streak, until a drunk driver killed her when John was seventeen.
He hardened himself with wit and cruelty, formed a skiffle band, met a younger boy named Paul McCartney who could actually play, and began the partnership that would change popular music forever. The Beatles became the biggest phenomenon in entertainment history, from Hamburg dives to screaming stadiums, from 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' to 'A Day in the Life.
John Lennon’s world, year by year
19401980
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Dated facts
Account · checked against Wikipedia Read the source
- 1940John Winston Lennon was born on 9 October 1940 at Liverpool Maternity Hospital, the only child of Alfred and Julia Lennon.
- 1956In 1956, aged 15, he formed the skiffle group the Quarrymen, which evolved into the Beatles in 1960.
- 1957He first met Paul McCartney at a Quarrymen performance at the St Peter's Church garden fête in Woolton in July 1957.
- 1965The Beatles were appointed MBE in the 1965 Queen's Birthday Honours; Lennon later returned his medal in protest.
- 1969In 1969 he married Yoko Ono on 20 March, formed the Plastic Ono Band, held a bed-in for peace, and left the Beatles.
- 1970He released the solo albums John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band in 1970 and Imagine in 1971, the year he moved to New York City.
- 1980He was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman on returning to the Dakota in New York City on 8 December 1980.
Alive at the same time
Overlap Same years; not influence
Wars during this life
- World War II
- Indo-Pakistani Wars
- Vietnam War
- First Sudanese Civil War
- Rhodesian Bush War
- Angolan War of Independence
Sources
Primary works and follow-on reading.
Primary Sources
- Songs and albums
- Interviews
- Writings with/after The Beatles
- Reference profile for John Lennon
Further Reading
- Lennon Remembers - Jann S. Wenner
- Tune In (Beatles biography, vol. 1) - Mark Lewisohn
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about John Lennon.
Who was John Lennon?
John Winston Lennon was born in Liverpool on October 9, 1940, during a German air raid. His father was a seaman who abandoned the family; his mother Julia was unable to care for him and gave him to her sister Mimi, though she remained a presence in his life, teaching him banjo, encouraging his rebellious streak, until a drunk driver killed her when John was seventeen. He hardened himself with wit and cruelty, formed a skiffle band, met a younger boy named Paul McCartney who could actually play, and began the partnership that would change popular music forever. The Beatles became the biggest phenomenon in entertainment history, from Hamburg dives to screaming stadiums, from 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' to 'A Day in the Life.
What was John Lennon best known for?
John Lennon is best known as a artist. British musician and cultural icon whose songwriting fused personal candor with peace-activist imagery.
When did John Lennon live?
John Lennon lived 1940-1980 CE, born in 1940 and died in 1980, during the modern period.
Can I chat with an AI version of John Lennon?
Yes, free. Anyone can ask John Lennon, and a first question needs no account. Every answer is a Simulation in character, grounded in John Lennon’s real life, work and era. A good first question is: "How do I write honestly about my feelings without it sounding like therapy?"
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What John Lennon is best at.
- Autobiographical Songwriting: From raw feeling to clear lyric
- Message-Driven Pop: Making ideals sing without preachiness
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“John Lennon.” HistorIQly. https://historiqly.com/ai-historical-figures/john-lennon/
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