John was born in the middle of World War 2, and the seaport of Liverpool had been going
through some heavy bombing from the Germans around the time he was born. John's
father, who went by Fred or Freddy, was away at sea and rarely saw his son. His mother
Julia liked to enjoy herself and didn't seem to relish the responsibility of rearing a child
at that time, with the result being that young John was left in the care of his Aunt Mary
"Mimi" Smith and Uncle George in the pleasant Woolton area of Liverpool.
John seemed destined to be reared by his aunt when Julia decided to live with another man,
John Dykins, and eventually bore him two daughters. She'd previously given birth to
another daughter by a soldier of brief acquaintenance but was forced by her father to put
the baby up for adoption.     
In 1946, Fred returned to Liverpool and took his son on a short holiday to the nearby
seaside resort of Blackpool where he made plans to emigrate to New Zealand with John.
Julia turned up and took her son back to Liverpool, returning him to Mimi's care.
John went to Dovedale Primary School where he began to show the streak of rebellious-
ness which was to remain with him for the rest of his life. He also began to take an interest
in drawing.
Tragedy struck in 1955 when his kindly Uncle George died, leaving the troubled young boy
to internalize another grief. Despite the love his authoritarian aunt gave him, the fact that
he was not reared by his own mother and father was a factor in his outlook on life.
John began attending Quarry Bank Grammar School in September of 1952, and struck up
a friendship with another young "tearaway", Peter Shotton. The two friends became
inseparable and were always getting into trouble at school for crazy pranks and insolence
to teachers. Their academic work suffered. It was during this period when John began to
display his creative abilities as a writer and artist with a series of exercise books contain-
ing his drawings and humorous stories, which he dubbed "The Daily Howl". As a youngster
he loved books and would prefer them as presents. His favorites included the Lewis
Carroll "Alice" books and Richmal Crompton's "Just William" novels. The "Just William" novels were stories of of a scamp school boy and possibly influenced John's
behavior, and he possibly identified with the character.
When the skiffle boom spread throughout Britain, John was one of the many boys who
decided to form a group of his own, and in May of 1955, he gathered his school friends
into a band he called the Quarry Men.
There were various changes in personnel, but the most important event occurred at the
Woolton Parish Church Fete on July 6th, 1957 when he met school boy Paul McCartney,
who was soon to become a member of the group.
John's own preference for rock 'n roll and his love of Elvis Presley soon began to have
it's effect on the Quarry Men, as they shed the traditional folksy numbers and developed
into a rock 'n roll group. Although John was the leader of the group, his musical relation-
ship with McCartney grew to the extent that they became a songwriting team, and developed a vocal-harmony style. There were many suggestions and pressures for them to adopt the current style of having a leader's name at the front of the group. Suggestions included "Long John & The Silver Men". At one time they used the name "Johnny & The Moondogs" for a series of talent contests, but generally resisted efforts to make them into a group with a front line singer. This pressure continued until they signed with Parlophone. George Martin initially thought of changing their style and having Paul as the leader, but then changed his mind.
In September of 1957, John enrolled at Liverpool Art College. He met Cynthia Powell,
who was to become his first wife, Stuart Sutcliffe, who became his best friend and the
fifth Beatle, and Bill Harry who published his first works and promoted the Beatles career
locally.
In 1960, the Beatles traveled to Hamburg, and many stories filtered back to Liverpool
of John's escapades there. In 1961, his first published work appeared in Mersey Beat
and he contributed a column called "Beatcomber". Later the same year, the group met
Brian Epstein who became their manager, and the following year, they signed with
Parlophone Records. In the meantime, John married Cynthia on August 23, 1962, and she
gave birth to their son Julian on April 8th, 1963. Within a few weeks, John went on a brief
vacation to Spain with Brian Epstein, and when local disc jockey Bob Wooler made a snide
remark about the trip, John beat him up.
The Beatles were enjoying international success when John's first book "In His Own
Write" was published on March 23rd, 1964, and became a best seller. In January of 1965,
he appeared on the television program "Not Only . . But Also", reading his poetry, and on
June 24th of that year, his second book, "A Spaniard In The Works" was published.
During the same year, his father Fred re-entered his life, and the Beatles received their
MBE's (Member of the British Empire). In 1966, there was a degree of anti-Beatle fervor
in America following comments John had made in an interview with Maureen Cleave, in
which he said that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus, and he reluctantly made a
public apology. At the end of the year, the Beatles had decided to cease touring and in
November, John met the Japanese artist Yoko Ono at the Indica Gallery in London.
The Beatles had begun to experiment with various drugs, including LSD, and in August
of 1967, met the Maharashi Mahesh Yogi. During the same month, their manager Brian
Epstein was found dead from an accidental drug overdose. John's ties with Yoko grew
stronger, and he sponsored an exhibition of her work called "Yoko and Me" at the
Lisson Arts Gallery in October. Later that month, "How I Won The War", in which he
played his first solo feature film role, was premiered.
Following the Beatles' stay at the Maharishi's ashram in India, John and Cynthia split up
and he began to live with Yoko. A play, "In His Own Write", based on John's books, was
staged at the National Theater in June, and John's first art exhibition, "You Are Here",
opened at the Robert Fraser Gallery. John and Yoko were raided by the police while
staying at Ringo's flat in Montague Square, and John was fined for possession of cannabis.
John and Yoko's album, "Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins" was issued in November
and created international controversy due to the cover, which showed the pair in a full
frontal nude pose. John also appeared on the unshown "Rolling Stones Rock 'n Roll
Circus".
In 1969, John was disillusioned with the Beatles' Apple empire and revealed as much to
journalist Ray Coleman. As a result, Allen Klein appeared on the scene, and with John's
support, was able to take control of Apple. In the meantime, Yoko's divorce from Anthony
Cox came through in February, and John and Yoko were married in Gibraltar on March
20th.
John and Yoko began making a series of avant garde films together, which included:
"Apotheosis", "Clock", "Erection", "Fly", "Freedom Films", "Imagine", "Self Portrait",
"Smile and Up Your Legs Forever". In May of 1969, they bought an imposing mansion
in Ascot called Tittenhurst Park and issued their second album "Unfinished Music No.2":
Life With The Lions". During the year, they also travelled to Toronto where they met
Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and they recorded the peace anthem "Give
Peace A Chance". 1969 was also the year in which John introduced the Plastic Ono Band
on record. In September, he formed a Plastic Ono Band for a live appearance at the "Rock
'n Roll Revival Concert" in Toronto. In November, the couple issued their "Wedding
Album", and John returned his MBE to the Queen. At the year's end, John was featured
in an ITV documentary "Man Of The Decade".
An exhibition of John's erotic lithographs opened at the London Arts Gallery on January
15th, 1970, which was raided the the police. During the year, there were further Plastic
Ono Band releases, John and Yoko travelled to Los Angeles to undergo Primal Therapy
under Dr. Arthur Janov, and Cynthia Lennon remarried. In January 1971, Rolling Stone
magazine published the first part of a lengthy interview with John in which he vented his
spleen. By March, a receiver had been appointed to wind up the Beatles partnership and
John and Yoko flew to New York. They came to Britain for a short time before returning
to America in September, with John never to set foot in Britain again. During 1972, John
fought to obtain a "green card" and was involved in a number of political protests, and his
album, "Some Time In New York City" included a number of songs based on the political
causes he supported. During 1973, Ringo Starr bought Tittenhurst Park and John left Yoko
to fly to Los Angeles with their secretary, May Ping, with whom he was having an affair.
What John called his "long weekend" eventually ended, and he returned to live with Yoko
in New York in January of 1975. Their son Sean was born in September of that year.
In 1976, John received his "green card" and at the end of the year decided to go into
semi-retirement and rear Sean personally. He was to describe himself as a "house husband" during this period. In late August of 1980, he began recording his first album in
six years, and agreed to a number of interviews prior to him becoming active in the music
scene once again. On December 8th, he was shot dead outside of the Dakota building.
Among the non-Beatles albums made by John were: 'Unfinished Music #1 - Two Virgins',
issued in Britain on Apple SAPCOR 2 on November 29th, 1969 and in America on Apple
T5001 on November 11th, 1968; 'Unfinished Music #2 - Life With The Lions', issued in
Britain on Zapple 01 on May 9th, 1969 and in America on Zapple ST3357 on May 26th, 1969;
'The Wedding Album', issued in Britain on Apple SAPCOR 11 on November 7th, 1969 and in
America on Apple SMAX 3362 on October 20th, 1969; 'The Plastic Ono Band - Live Peace In
Toronto 1969', issued in Britain on Apple CORE 2001 on December 12th, 1969 and in America
on Apple SW 3362 on December 12th, 1969; 'John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band', issued in
Britain on Apple PCS 7124 on December 11th, 1970 and in America on Apple SW 3372 on
December 11th, 1970; 'Imagine', issued in Britain on Apple PAS 10004 on October 8th, 1971
and in America on Apple SW 3379 on September 9th, 1971; 'Some Time In New York City',
issued in Britain on Apple PCSP 716 on September 15th, 1972 and in America on Apple SVBB
3392 on June 12th, 1972; 'Mind Games' issued in Britain on Apple PCS 7165 on November
16th, 1973 and in America on Apple SW 3413 on November 2nd, 1973; 'Walls And Bridges',
issued in Britain on Apple PCTC 253 on October 4th, 1974 and in America on Apple SW 3416
on September 26th, 1974; 'Rock 'n Roll', issued in Britain on Apple PCS 7169 on February
21st, 1975 and in America on Apple SK 3419 on February 17th, 1975; 'Shaved Fish' (Collectable Lennon), issued in Britain on Apple PCS 71173 on October 24th, 1975 and in
America on Apple SW 3421 on October 24th, 1975; 'Double Fantasy', issued in Britain on
Geffen Records K99131 on November 17th, 1980 and in America on Geffen Records GHS
2001 on November 17th, 1980. After John's death, an album 'The John Lennon Collection'
was issued in Britain on Parlophone EMTV 37 on November 8th, 1982 and in America on
November 10th, 1982.
John's singles included: "Give Peace A Chance" c/w "Remember Love", issued in Britain on
Apple 13 on July 4th, 1969 and in America on Apple 1809 on July 7th 1969; "Cold Turkey"
c/w "Don't Worry Kyoko", issued in Britain on Apple 1001 on October 24th, 1969 and in
America on Apple 1813 on October 20th, 1969; "Instant Karma" c/w "Who Has Seen The Wind", issued in Britain on Apple 1003 on February 6th, 1970 and in America on Apple 1818 on February 20th, 1970; "Power To The People" c/w "Open Your Box", issued in Britain on Apple R 5892 on March 12th, 1971 and in America on Apple 1830 on March 22nd, 1971; "God Save Us" c/w "Do The Oz", issued in Britain on Apple 36 on July 16th, 1971 and in America
on Apple 1835 on July 7th, 1971; "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" c/w "Listen, The Snow Is Falling", issued in Britain on Apple R 5970 on November 24th, 1972 and in America on
Apple 1842 on December 1st, 1971; "Mind Games" c/w "Meat City", issued in Britain on Apple R 5994 on November 16th, 1973 and in America on Apple 1868 on October 29th, 1973;
"Whatever Gets You Through The Night" c/w "Beef Jerky", issued in Britain on Apple R 5998 on October 4th, 1974 and in America on Apple 1874 on September 23rd, 1974; "No. 9 Dream" c/w "What You Got", issued in Britain on Apple R 6003 on January 31st, 1975 and in America on Apple 1878 on December 16th, 1974; "Stand By Me" c/w "Move Over Ms. L", issued in
Britain on Apple R 6005 on April 18th, 1975 and in America on Apple 1881 on March 10th, 1975; "Imagine" c/w "Working Class Hero", issued in Britain on Apple R 6009 on October 24th, 1975; "Just Like Starting Over" c/w "Kiss Kiss Kiss", issued in Britain on Geffen Records K79186 on October 24th of 1980 and in America on Geffen Records GEF 49604 on October 23rd, 1980; "Woman" c/w "Beautiful Boy", issued in Britain on Geffen Records K79195 on January 16th, 1981 and in America on Geffen Records 49644 on January 12th, 1981; "Watching The Wheels" c/w "Yes I'm Your Angel", issued in Britain on Geffen Records K79207 on March 27th, 1981 and in America on Geffen Records 49695 on March 13th, 1981.