The Life and Career of John Lennon

The Life and Career of John Lennon Musician, philosopher and a peace activist, welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’re taking a look at the life and career of John Lennon. Born October 9, 1940, John Lennon grew up in Liverpool, England. After telling his family he would be one day be a famous musician, his mother bought him his first guitar in 1957. It didn’t take long for Lennon to start his first band. At the Quarrymen second concert, Lennon met a 15-year-old Paul McCartney and he quickly joined the band. This initiated one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of all time, which endured for more than a decade. Once the lineup the Quarrymen was solidified in August 1960, the Beatles were born. Lennon was considered by all to be the leader of the group due to his age and quick wit. Lennon married fellow art student Cynthia Powell in August, 1962 amid extensive touring with the Beatles. Just two months later, the band’s first single “Love Me Do” was released in moderate success. Their debut album “Please, Please Me” was recorded in February 1963 and marked the start of the Beatles mainstream success. Due to this triumph, Lennon was on tour when his first son Julian was born in April 1963. The Beatles made their legendary American TV debut on the Ed Sullivan show in February 1964, which carried Beatlemania to the US and made them international superstars. The following two years saw the band tour, write and produced films. By 1966, Lennon had grown disenchanted and considered leaving the Beatles. It was also around this time, he made the infamous “We’re more popular than Jesus” remark that caused backlash against him and the band. After being accidentally introduced to LSD, Lennon spent much of the year under its effects and has drastically affected his songwriting. December 1969 Beatles album, Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club band is a result of this where Lennon’s dreamlike lyrics contrast sharply with his earlier work. Later that year, the band was devastated by the death of their Brian Epstein. During this period, Lennon continued his experimentation with drugs and began an affair with artist Yoko Ono that eventually led to their marriage in March of 1969. The pair recorded three experimental albums together and formed a plastic the Plastic Ono Band in 1969. During that year, Lennon and Ono helped two Bed-In for peace and he released several songs including the antiwar anthem “Give Peace a Chance”. By September of 1969, Lennon had quietly decided to leave the Beatles. Lennon solo debut John Lennon Plastic Ono band was released in 1970 and his follow-up “Imagine” came out a year later. Imagine’s titled track became another popular protest song against war and the subsequent release of “Happy Christmas: War is Over” with Ono revealed more of Lennon’s political activism. The period between 1972 and 1975 saw Lennon released four albums including Mind Games and Walls and Bridges. He separated from Yoko Ono in 1973 and engaged in what he called his lost weekend, an 18-month period when he rekindled relationships with family and friends and had an affair with his personal assistant. The next year, he made what would ultimately be his final stage appearance on the TV special, “A Salute to Lew Grade”. After reuniting with Ono, the couple welcomed their first son Sean in October 1975, a five-year hiatus from music followed during which he focused primarily on family. October 1980 saw Lennon return to music with the ultra successful Double Fantasy album. The world was shocked when Lennon was assassinated outside his New York apartment building on December 8, 1980. His death elicited a global torrent of grief. However, his musical legacy lives on and continues to inspire each new generation of musicians.