Hello there. I'm back to being a mediocre, trying hard musician again. I was supposed to publish this article days before this day but I got so busy with house stuff and I have to find a good timing for a clearer environment for recording.
General Profile
John Winston Ono Lennon was born on 9 October 1940 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. He was named after his late grandfather John "Jack" Lennon and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. He was an English singer, songwriter, musician, and peace activist. He's known as the founder, co-lead vocalist, and guitarist of the Beatles.
What remained the most successful in history was his songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney. However, just like other bands out there, the Beatles disbanded in 1970. From then, Lennon established his career as a solo artist.
How the Beatles started
In 1956 (at the age of 16), Lennon formed his first band, The Quarrymen which evolved into the Beatles in 1960. Originally, Lennon was the leader of the group which gradually ceded to Paul McCartney.
Lennon has this side of being a rebellious character, misbehavior, and expresses his thoughts through his music, drawings, writing, on film, or even in interviews. In the mid-1960s, he was able to publish two books, which were recognized as a collection of nonsense writings and line drawings.
In 1967, his song "All You Need Is Love" became an anthem by the anti-war movement and the larger counterculture.
Lennon first met Paul McCartney during the Quarrymen's second performance on July 6th at the St. Peter's Church garden fete. After the performance, Lennon asked McCartney to join the band.
McCartney's father disapproved of Lennon's influence on his son as he will put everything into trouble. In the same year while rehearsing in front of McCartney's lawn, Lennon wrote his first song "Hello Little Girl", which became a UK top 10 hit for the Fourmost in 1963.
George Harrison became the lead guitarist although Lennon did not accept him right away so McCartney, as Harrison's friend, engineered an audition that made him be an official member of the band.
Stuart Sutcliffe, Lennon's friend from art school, joined the band too as the bassist. He completes the band "The Beatles" in early 1960. However, they desperately needed a drummer so Pete Best to join them.
Opportunities rolled over, as they were getting invited to perform overnight in bars. Lennon was then introduced to Preludin, a stimulant drug that keeps them awake during their long overnight performances.
The Beatles disbanded
Brian Epstein managed the band from 1962-1967 for some tragic reasons. In a span of 5 years, changes occur as Sutcliffe was replaced by McCartney as the bassist because he decided to stay in Hamburg, Best was replaced by Ringo Starr as the drummer.
The band was able to release classic songs until 1970 when they disbanded. It was due to musical indifferences and clashing personalities.
Although the band has established an enormous effect on the music industry. They achieved mainstream success in the UK in 1963.
Aside from their fame in music, Lennon was also involved with negative impressions against the public. In an interview in March 1966, he said "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink ... We're more popular than Jesus now – I don't know which will go first, rock and roll or Christianity."
This greatly took offense in the US citizens when it was quoted by a magazine five months later. As a result, the band received threats making them stop touring.
Lennon's Solo Career
Lennon was known for his straightforward, shady expressions, political views against the society. He was a peace activist and several groups got affected by it.
Imagine
This meaningful song has been his image throughout his career. The lyrics of the song were clear and hopeful.
However, this created a huge fuss most especially in the Religious groups. Lennon then explained the lyrics that "if only the world has no denominations of religions, the world would be at peace. Not no religion literally."
I could make a separate article for the list of the songs he made that contributed a lot of issues to society.
Lennon's Assassination: Dec. 8, 1980
After a 5-year hiatus because of focusing on taking care of his child, Lennon came back and begin touring again.
At around 5 pm, Lennon autographed a copy of Double Fantasy for a fan named Mark David Chapman. After the session, Lennon and Ono (his wife) returned to their apartment to rest. As soon as they got out of the limousine at around 10:50 pm when they walked through the archway of the building, Chapman shot Lennon twice in the back and the shoulder at a close range.
He was rushed to the hospital but he was declared dead on arrival at 11:15 pm.
Reason for Chapman killing Lennon?
His frustration about Lennon's lifestyle and public statements plus delusions related to Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye.
There was no formal funeral so none of the Beatles members attended.
John Lennon surely left a legacy in the music industry. Here's a song cover of his famous song, Imagine.
Subscribe to my channel:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCb71HsAjb04K74_R8C5Kxiw
Check out my other Piano Covers
Heeeey @wrabitter, what's with the huge tip? Thank you 😅