John Lennon
October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980
John Lennon was to some, the leader of the Beatles. As guitarist and primary songwriter along with Paul McCartney, it was Lennon’s vision and drive that helped transform the young Liverpool skiffle band into the game-changing band that would become arguably the greatest pop band in history. Lennon was given his first guitar when he was 16, and within a year, he formed his first band, the Quarrymen. The following year he met McCartney at one of their shows and asked him to join the band based solely on his ability to tune a guitar and his knowledge of songs. They would soon become the Beatles with the addition of George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Over the next decade, the Beatles would change the face of popular music and would go on to be the biggest selling group in history. Following the break up of the Beatles in 1970, Lennon began releasing albums with his wife and sometime musical partner, Yoko Ono. Songs like “Imagine,” “Cold Turkey,” “Happy X-Mas (War Is Over),” and “Whatever Gets You Through The Night” kept Lennon relevant during a time that saw many changes throughout America and beyond. In November of 1980, Lennon’s Double Fantasy was released to rave reviews and strong fan anticipation due to the fact that Lennon had been all but invisible raising his son Sean. His last albums was 1975’s Rock ‘n’ Roll, a collection of covers with no new compositions by Lennon. Before that, it was 1974’s Walls and Bridges. Just three weeks after the release of Double Fantasy, and while still enjoying the overwhelming response to the album, Lennon was walking outside of his New York City apartment building only to be senselessly shot and killed by deranged fan, Mark David Chapman. John Lennon was 40 years old when he was murdered, and the world was never the same.
What You Should Own
Lives On . . .
A part of me died that day. I grew up with The Beatles, and they were so much more to me than music. They were the blue print for my life from the age of 10 until now 55. I was sad at George Harrisons death as well, but that was from an illness that he struggled with for many years. Lennon was brutely and senselessly taken from us for no reason other than the sick mind of a madman. RIP John you are missed more than you know.
But he will remain alive in our hearts, especially in the hearts of people from Cold Spring Harbor, the place where he spent his last years of life.
John was an amazing talent and missed by many, the biggest loss being the music he would have written had he lived.
It just annoys me a little when people write stuff that they get things wrong and miss things out when talking of him and the Beatles. They always talk about the transition from the Quarrymen to the Beatles and fame and fortune but never mention Pete Best who was a big part of the early Beatles success (only to be sacked in a not so nice way). Also Lennon was shot on returning to his apartment after a recording session not leaving his apartment, if you’re going to write about that fateful day get it right.
simlply……………………..Thank You xxx
I think he saw the world for what it really is, and he saw life for what it really is (or could be for most), so many people waste their short lives fighting, being angry, being worried, being sad, focusing on whats wrong with their world..as a good friend of mine once said, “sometimes its like the whole world has taken a nightmare pill” John Lennon tried to change this, but his message is still here, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN.
Out of the vicious air raid attacks on London, was born John Lennon 70 years ago today, to re-kindle Love single-handedly throughout the worlds’ generations, during and after his short life.