A Brief History of John Lennon
As most of us associate John Lennon with The Beatles, very few recognize Lennon’s solo career and additional accomplishments. This witty man, known for his rebellious nature and gentle spirit made a name, not only as a member of a band, but also as an activist, songwriter, peace activist and author. Even out of the spotlight, Lennon created a family/home life and took time to be a human of average nature.
John Winston Ono Lennon was born on October 9, 1940 in Liverpool. Lennon only lived with his parents for a short amount of time, then spent the rest of his younger years living with his aunt and uncle in Woolton. Lennon formed The Beatles in 1957, at the young age of sixteen. The band, still recognized today as a historic moment in musical history, hit the charts almost immediately.
Even with The Beatles’ growing success, Lennon decided to detach himself from the band in September of 1969, to release his debut solo album. The album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, was released in 1970, even through the media’s outrage to his leaving, The Beatles. In 1971 Lennon became extremely involved with the anti-war movement, releasing, the timeless, “Imagine”. He attended several protests, where he would speak out and sing songs of peace and humanity.
In August of 1971 John Lennon, and his wife Yoko Ono, moved to New York, where they collaboratively released, Happy Xmas (War is Over). John projected his feminist side, creating songs with Ono about women’s rights and race issues. Lennon followed this album with several other songs about equal rights and peace, as well as several television performances to make his music and message understood.
John Lennon had two children: Sean and Julian. Although Sean and Lennon’s relationship was strained due to his fallouts with Ono, Lennon devoted much time with him after his retirement from the music business. Julian was much more into music, and got along better with his father. Julian was even asked to play drums on “Ya Ya”, a song from Lennon’s 1974 album Walls and Bridges.
In the late 1970′s John Lennon and Yoko Ono took a hiatus from the world, living an extremely introverted lifestyle in Dakota, New York. On December 8, 1980 Lennon was shot by Mark Chapman, after autographing a copy of Double Fantasy. Ono made a statement at the time of Lennon’s death, “There is no funeral for John. John Loved and prayed for the human race. Please pray the same for him.”
Following the murder, “Imagine” topped the charts for an estimated eight weeks. Lennon and Ono’s art installations were viewed more than ever, and his comic strip and caricatures were publicly released. Also, after Lennon’s death, Skywriting by Word of Mouth and Japan Through John Lennon’s Eyes: A Personal Sketchbook, were also released. Some could say that Lennon’s popularity rose to highest levels after his traumatic passing. Today, aside from John Lennon’s music, over ten artistic monuments around the world have been created for the beloved artist.
About the Author
Jeff Bachmeier is owner of 977music.com, an online music and online radio station network providing live streaming Internet Radio channels with music from the 50′s thru Today. Users can also choose to create their own customized on demand playlist through their own social media profile. For more information please visit http:///www.977music.com.
Imagine – John Lennon
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Vandor 64269 The Beatles Yellow Submarine Shaped Tin Tote with Embossing, Multicolored $8.27 We (COLLECTOR’S TOY DEN, LLC)are authorized reps for the Vandor Gift Co. and all of our products are authentic, original, and brand new in the original box and packaging from our warehouse as we have a retail pop culture and collectible toy shop in NYC…. |
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Vandor The Beatles 12-Ounce Double Wall Ceramic Travel Mug with Silicone Lid, Black and White $11.99 Now you can enjoy your favorite drinks with your favorite band, The Beatles. Double wall ceramic travel mugs have a silicone lid and are dishwasher and microwave safe. Double wall keeps drinks hot!… |
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Beatles/Pint Glass Set Album Series One 4-Pack $24.95 Set of 4 16-ounce pints: “Let it Be”, “Revolution”, “Rubber Soul”, “With the Beatles”…. |
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George Harrison: Living In The Material World $16.96 Director Martin Scorsese pays tribute to one of music’s most renowned talents with this affectionate and informative two-part HBO documentary. The film explores Harrison’s childhood in Liverpool, his tenure with The Beatles, his interest in Indian culture, and much more through never-before-seen interviews with his widow Olivia, son Dhani, and friends and collaborators such as Paul McCartney, Ring… |
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Revolver $7.32 BEATLES THE REVOLVER (EDICION LIMITADA)… |
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All Things Must Pass [BOXED EDITION] $12.63 It’s hard to imagine, but Beatles resident mystic George Harrison has arguably become the band’s most curmudgeonly cynic. We offer as evidence this splendidly remastered 30th-anniversary edition of his 1970 multidisc solo epic. If the mini-boxed set’s booklet and twin inner CD sleeves won’t convince you (the album’s familiar cover is colorized and altered to include backdrops of a freeway-tangled … |
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The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy [Blu-ray] $8.63 Don’t panic! After twenty years stuck in development (a mere blink compared to how long it takes to find the answer to life, the universe, and everything), The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has finally been turned into a movie. Following the radio play, TV series, commemorative towel, and books, this latest installment in the sci-fi-comedy franchise is based on the screenplay and detailed note… |
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The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour [VHS] $12.49 This 1968 oddity is probably a film only a total Beatlemaniac could love, but it carries both musical and historical resonance. It also gives intimations of what would happen in the next 30 years as artists gained more and more power over how they were presented. The roots of virtually any rock star’s vanity project (including Prince’s Under the Cherry Moon) can be traced to this little Liver… |
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The Compleat Beatles [VHS] $14.95 vhs tape… |
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A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas $3.99 … |