A Short Biography of John Lennon

John Lennon was born in October 1940, during a German air raid in Oxford Street Maternity hospital, Liverpool. During his childhood Lennon saw little of his father, Freddie, who went AWOL while serving in the navy. For several years he was brought up by his mother’s sister Mimi.

In his early years Lennon was a mischievous student, who would be quick to take the “micky” out of teachers as well as students. While in his early teens he got his first guitar and would spend hours playing. His Aunt Mimi would remark regularly:

    “The guitar's all very well, John, but you'll never make a living out of it."

In the late 1950s Lennon formed a rock group called the Quarry Men Skiffle Band. This was the precursor to the Beatles. In 1957, he met and formed a successful musical partnership with Paul McCartney. They complemented one another.

Lennon focused on the more satirical aspects and McCartney veered towards the more optimistic, cheerful qualities. Lennon was considered the leader of the Beatles, as the oldest and with the most musical talent. It was McCartney who persuaded Lennon to allow George Harrison to join the band as lead guitarist.

The Beatles first concert was at the Cavern Club in Liverpool on March 21, 1961. After being rejected by many music labels, they eventually signed an agreement with Parlophone in 1962.

During their great success in the 60s, Lennon would often be the figurehead for the group, although they maintained that the decisions of the group were democratic.

Through The Beatles years and his subsequent solo career, Lennon expressed his political activism and pacifism.

On Monday, December 8, 1980 John Lennon was shot by Mark David Chapman at the entrance of the building where he lived, The Dakota, in New York City. Lennon had just returned from Record Plant Studio with his wife, Yoko Ono.

John Lennon was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, where it was stated that nobody could have survived for more than a few minutes after sustaining such deadly injuries. Shortly after local news stations reported Lennon's death, crowds gathered at Roosevelt Hospital and in front of The Dakota.

He was cremated on  December 10, 1980, at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. The ashes were given to Ono, who chose not to hold a funeral for him. The first report of John’s death was announced to by Howard Cosell, during ABC's Monday Night Football.

Imagine
By John Lennon

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too

Imagine all the people living life in peace
You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world

You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one