Information AboutJohn Lennon |
John Winston Ono Lennon, 2006 In his solo career, Lennon wrote and recorded songs such as " Imagine " and " Give Peace A Chance ". Lennon revealed his rebellious nature and irreverent wit on Television , in Film s such as '' A Hard Day's Night '' ( 1964 ), in Book s such as '' In His Own Write '', and in press conferences and interviews. He channelled his fame and penchant for controversy into his work as a Peace Activist , Artist , and Author . He had two sons, Julian , with his first wife Cynthia , and Sean , with his second wife, Avant-garde artist Yoko Ono . Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman , in New York City on 8 December 1980 as he and Ono returned home from a recording session. In 2002, respondents to a BBC poll on the 100 Greatest Britons voted Lennon into eighth place. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Lennon number 38 on their list of "The Immortals: The Fifty Greatest Artists of All Time"12 and ranked The Beatles at number 1. EARLY YEARS: 1940-1957 John Winston Lennon was born on was the birthplace in 1858 of John's grandfather, John (Jack) Lennon who, like many men of his time, emigrated to Liverpool to seek better prospects of employment {Link without Title} Freddie Lennon was not present at John's birth. He was a 1945 she gave birth to a daughter, Victoria, Cynthia Lennon - “John”. p54. who was given up for adoption after intense pressure from Julia's family (the girl was later re-named Ingrid) . Lennon was not told about his half-sister's birth and never knew of her existence. Spitz - ''Beatles: The Biography'' p29. Julia later met John 'Bobby' Dykins and moved into a small ' with Dykins Miles. p32 Cynthia Lennon - “John”. p55. and after considerable pressure from her sister, Mary "Mimi" Smith — who contacted Liverpool's Social Services and complained about John sleeping in the same bed as Julia and Dykins — Julia reluctantly handed the care of John over to Mimi. Cynthia Lennon - “John”. p55. (Julia later had two daughters - Julia and Jackie - with Dykins.) Cynthia Lennon – “John”. p61. In July 1946, Freddie visited Mimi and took John to Blackpool for a long 'holiday', secretly intending to emigrate to New Zealand with him. Cynthia Lennon - “John”. p56. Julia and Dykins found out and followed them, and after a heated argument Freddie made the five-year-old John choose between Julia or him. John chose Freddie (twice) and then Julia walked away, but John, crying, followed her. Freddie then lost contact with the family until Beatlemania , when father and son met again. Spitz - ''Beatles: The Biography'' p30. Throughout the rest of his childhood and adolescence, Lennon lived with his ' records to John, and would dance around her kitchen with him. Cynthia Lennon - “John”. p41. Lennon was later inspired by Elvis Presley , Chuck Berry , Buddy Holly and Little Richard . Lennon was raised as an 2006 and like much of the population of Liverpool he had some Irish heritage. Lennon attended their odd characteristics. Miles. p107 Julia bought Lennon his first guitar in 2007 George Smith died in 1955. Cynthia Lennon – “John”. p59. George Smith's death Retrieved: 18 December 2006 On 15 July 1958 , Julia was killed on Menlove Avenue — close to Mimi's house — when struck by a car driven by a drunken off-duty police officer. Miles. p31.Keith Badman ''The Beatles Off The Record'' p18 Lennon was 17 at the time. Her death was one of the most traumatic events in John's life and one of the factors that cemented his friendship with McCartney, who had lost his own mother to Breast Cancer in 1956. Miles. p20. Lennon named his first-born son Julian after his mother, and later wrote the song, " Julia ". Lennon failed all his GCE O-level examinations by one grade. He was accepted into the Liverpool College Of Art with help from his school's Headmaster and his Aunt Mimi, who was insistent that John should have some sort of academic qualifications. It was there that he met his future wife, Cynthia Powell , when Lennon was a Teddy Boy . Cynthia Lennon – “John”. p22. Lennon failed his exams despite help from Powell, and was often disruptive in class with most of the teachers refusing to take him on in their classes. Coleman - ''Lennon: The Definitive Biography'' p93. He also picked on anyone who was in anyway different, using his quick wit and sense of humour to bully them. Coleman - ''Lennon: The Definitive Biography'' p97.He dropped out before the last year of college. Cynthia Lennon – “John”. p67. 1957-1960: THE QUARRYMEN AND THE SILVER BEETLES See Also: The Quarrymen Lennon/McCartney Lennon started The Quarrymen , a Skiffle band, in March 1957 Spitz. p47, while attending Quarry Bank Grammar School. Their first engagement was on 9 June 1957 at an audition for impresario Carroll Lewsis, known as "Mr. Star-Maker."Lewisohn. p. 14 A few weeks later, on 6 July 1957 , Lennon and The Quarrymen met guitarist Paul McCartney at the Woolton Garden fête held at St. Peter's Church. Spitz. p93 McCartney's father later allowed the Quarrymen to rehearse in his front room at 20 Forthlin Road . Cynthia Lennon – “John”. p46. Miles. p38. During their early friendship Lennon encouraged McCartney to Steal cigarettes, Sweets , or books from shops, Spitz. p113 and they found a shared interest in playing Jokes on the other band members and on their teachers. Miles.p107 It was around this time that Lennon and McCartney started writing songs with each other and separately. The first song that John completed was "Hello Little Girl" when he was eighteen years old. This later became a hit for the Fourmost . McCartney convinced Lennon to allow George Harrison to join the Quarrymen - although Lennon considered Harrison to be too young - after Harrison played at a rehearsal in March 1958. Spitz. pp126-127 Harrison joined the group as Lead Guitarist , Miles. p47. and Stuart Sutcliffe (Lennon's Art School friend) later joined as Bassist . Miles. p50. The band soon switched to playing rock 'n' roll, using the name 'Johnny and the Moondogs', but Lennon found it too musically associated with skiffle. In mid-1958, the Quarrymen made their first recording: a cover of That'll Be The Day by Buddy Holly and a McCartney-Harrison original called In Spite Of All The Danger . In 1960, the band changed its name five times. Stuart Sutcliffe suggested 'the Beetles' as a form of tribute to 2007 Lennon was considered the leader of The Beatles, as he founded the original group. McCartney said, "We all looked up to John. He was older and he was very much the leader - he was the quickest wit and the smartest and all that kind of thing." "Paul McCartney 1984 Playboy Interview" Cynthia Lennon - “John”. pp45-46. 1960-1970: THE BEATLES See Also: The Beatles The Beatles discography joined The Beatles on drums as soon as their first Hamburg season was confirmed. Aunt Mimi was horrified when Lennon told her about Hamburg. She pleaded with him to continue his studies, but was ignored. Cynthia Lennon - “John”. pp70-71. The Beatles first played at the Indra club - sleeping in small, dirty rooms in the Bambi Kino - and after the closure of the Indra moved to the larger Kaiserkeller Miles. pp57-8. In October 1960, they left Koschmider's club and worked at the "Top Ten Club", Cynthia Lennon “John”. p93. which was run by Peter Eckhorn. Miles. pp71-72. Koschmider reported McCartney and Best for arson after the two attached a Condom to a nail in the 'Bambi' and set fire to it. Miles. p72. They were deported, as was George Harrison for working under-age. Miles. pp72-73. Days later Lennon's Work Permit was revoked and he went home by train, but Sutcliffe had Tonsillitis and flew home. Cynthia Lennon “John”. p79. When Lennon got back to 'Mendips', his Aunt Mimi threw a cooked chicken (that Lennon had bought for her) and a hand-mirror at him for spending money on a leather coat for Cynthia Powell (John's girlfriend, and later his wife) whom she referred to as "a Gangster 's Moll ". Cynthia Lennon “John”. p80. In December 1960, The Beatles reunited, and on 21 March 1961 , they played their first concert at Liverpool's Cavern Club . Cynthia Lennon “John”. p84. Lewisohn. p80 They went back to Hamburg in April 1961, and recorded ' My Bonnie ' with Tony Sheridan . Cynthia Lennon “John”. p97. Sutcliffe stayed with Astrid Kirchherr when it was time to go home, so McCartney took over Bass . Miles. p74. When Lennon was nearly 21 in October 1961, his Aunt Mater (who lived in Edinburgh ) gave him 100 Pounds , which he spent on a holiday to Paris with McCartney. Cynthia Lennon – “John”. p99. Brian Epstein first saw The Beatles in the Cavern Club on 9 November 1961 , and later signed them to a management contract. Cynthia Lennon – “John”. p101. The Beatles were driven to London by their Road Manager , Neil Aspinall , on 31 December 1961 and auditioned the next day for Decca Records , who rejected them. Miles. p89 In April 1962 they returned to Hamburg to play at the Star-Club , but they learned that Stuart Sutcliffe had died a few hours before they arrived. Cynthia Lennon “John”. p109. This was another shock for Lennon, after losing Uncle George and Julia. Cynthia Lennon “John”. p109. They finally signed a record contract on 9 May 1962 , with Parlophone Records, Miles. p90 after having been turned down by many Labels . Miles. p89 " Love Me Do " was released on 5 October 1962 , featuring Lennon on Harmonica and McCartney singing solo on the chorus line. Miles. p91 All Lennon-McCartney songs on the first pressing of '' 2005 , ISBN 0-595-34663-4 They usually needed an hour or two to finish a song, most of which were written in hotel rooms after a concert, at Wimpole Street, at Cavendish Avenue, Miles. p149 or at Kenwood (John Lennon's house). Miles. p171 As recording technology improved, and they were doing more work in the studio than live, Overdubbing was used so that Lennon might provide the harmony parts as well as the lead for his songs. The "Beatles" sound was a three-part harmony with Lennon or McCartney singing lead, and harmony provided by the others. The group's decisions were democratic: if any member objected to an idea, the group wouldn't pursue it. The Beatles decided to stop touring after their San Francisco concert in 1966, and never performed a scheduled concert again. Time 100: The Beatles Retrieved: 20 January 2007 Lennon resented McCartney taking control of the band after Brian Epstein 's death in 1967, and disliked some of the resulting projects such as '' Magical Mystery Tour '' and particularly '' Let It Be '' ("That film was set up by Paul, for Paul," as he said later to ''Rolling Stone''). He was the first to break the band's all-for-one sensibility, and also the rule that no wives or girlfriends would attend recording sessions, as he brought Yoko into the studio. Lennon was also the first member to quit the group, which he did in September 1969 (Starr had left during 1968, but was persuaded to return; Harrison stated he was "leaving the band" on 's '' 48 Hours '' in 1989. In 1970, died we collapsed. Paul took over and supposedly led us. But what is leading us when we went round in circles? Paul had the impression we should be thankful for what he did, for keeping The Beatles going. But he kept it going for his own sake." The interview was broadcast for the first time on BBC Radio in December 2005, along with other rare Beatles audio clips, as part of "a major John Lennon season on BBC Radio to mark the 25th anniversary of his death" . 1970-1975: SOLO CAREER Lennon had a varied recording career. Whilst still a Beatle, Lennon (along with Ono) recorded three albums of experimental music, ''", the Heroin Withdrawal report " Cold Turkey ", and " Instant Karma! ". Following The Beatles' split in 1970 Lennon released the '' John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band '' album. The song " God " lists people and things Lennon no longer believed in - ending with "Beatles". The album also included " Working Class Hero " which was banned from the airwaves for its use of the word "fucking". The album '' 2007 '' 2000 In 1972 Lennon released " 2007 On 2007 Following Lennon's depression over the poor-selling ''Some Time In New York City'' album and Nixon's re-election as president (which would insure the continuance of Lennon's immigration problems), Lennon and Ono decided to separate. He moved to California and embarked on a period he would later dub his "lost weekend" (despite the fact that it lasted approximately eighteen months). At Ono's suggestion he took May Pang along as his assistant and his lover during this period.http://www.lennonrevealed.com Lennon released '' Mind Games '' in 1973, which was credited to "the Plastic U.F.Ono Band". It was the first solo album produced by Lennon with no input from Yoko. He wrote " I'm The Greatest " for Ringo Starr 's album '' Ringo '', and recorded his own version of the song (which appears on the John Lennon Anthology ). Because of his excessive drinking, Lennon's behavior during this period was notoriously bad. Some songs from this period (appearing on ''Mind Games'' and '' Walls And Bridges '') took an apologetic tone that seem to be directed at Ono. Lennon released ''Walls and Bridges'' (1974), which featured a duet with Elton John on Lennon's only #1 (in his lifetime) hit single " Whatever Gets You Thru The Night ". The album was released under the name "the Plastic Ono Nuclear Band". Another hit from the album was " #9 Dream " which features a vocal from Pang. In March, 1974, during a jam session known as "The Jim Keltner Fan Club Hour," a most interesting lineup participated in what can be described as a "very loose" studio hour unfolded. The session, captured on tape and later released as a bootleg '' A Toot And A Snore In '74 '', featured Lennon on guitar and vocals, Harry Nilsson, Stevie Wonder , Jesse Ed Davis , Bobby Keys , Linda McCartney on keyboards and May Pang on tambourine. Paul McCartney played drums and the bass player was producer Ed Freeman. This was the one and only time Lennon and McCartney played together after the Beatles split. During this period, Lennon produced Harry Nilsson's '' Pussy Cats '' album, and re-recorded his Beatle song '' Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds '' with Elton John in 1974. David Bowie achieved his first U.S. number one hit in 1975 with " Fame ", co-written with Lennon (who contributed vocals and guitar) and Carlos Alomar .3 Lennon also re-recorded Across the Universe with Bowie at this January, 1975 session. In October, 2007, ''Too Many Cooks'', a song Lennon produced for Mick Jagger during this time, is released on Mick Jagger's Greatest Hits. In February 1975, Lennon rush-released his '' Rock 'n' Roll '' album of cover versions, to combat the illegal mail-order version, ''John Lennon Sings The Great Rock N Roll Hits: ROOTS'', by Morris Levy. Begun in December, 1973, this "simple" album became the most complex of Lennon's career, complicated by the unpredictable Phil Spector's involvement as producer and by several legal battles. It was completed with the same musicians from ''Walls and Bridges'' in October, 1974. Lennon made a surprise guest appearance in November 1974 at an Elton John concert in Madison Square Garden where they performed " Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds ", "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" and " I Saw Her Standing There " together. It was to be his last-ever major concert appearance in front of a rock audience. Coincidentally, Yoko Ono happened to be present at the concert. Following this performance, George Harrison came to New York on his ''Dark Horse'' tour. Lennon was to join him on stage as well, but because of a disagreement between the two over Lennon not signing the Beatles dissolution agreement in New York City on December 19 (at a meeting in which McCartney was also present), Lennon didn't appear. Lennon travelled to Florida with Pang and son Julian for the Christmas holidays where he signed the papers legally dissolving The Beatles partnership in the unlikely backdrop of Disneyworld. In January, 1975, Lennon and Pang planned to visit Paul and Linda McCartney in New Orleans where the McCartneys were recording their "''Venus And Mars''" album. Lennon wanted to write a song with McCartney and spring it on the world unannounced. On the weekend of February 1, 1975, Lennon returned to live with Yoko Ono, who soon became pregnant with their first child. Lennon made his last public musical appearance on had sold Lennon's and McCartney's publishing rights to Grade in 1969. During "Imagine" Lennon interjected the line "and no immigration too" - a reference to his battle to remain in the United States. On 9 October 1975 – Lennon's 35th birthday – his son Sean Ono Lennon was born, and Lennon retired from the music business to care for him. 1980: STARTING OVER Lennon's retirement came to an end in 1980, a year in which he wrote an impressive amount of material during a lengthy vacation in Bermuda and began to think about recording a new album. For this comeback, he and Ono produced '' Double Fantasy '', a Concept Album focusing on their relationship. The name came from a species of Freesia Lennon saw at the Bermuda Botanical Gardens ; he liked the name and thought it was a perfect description of his marriage to Yoko. The Lennons once again began a series of interviews and video footage to promote the album. Although Lennon would say in interviews for the album that he had not touched a guitar for five years, several of the tunes, such as "I'm Losing You" and " Watching The Wheels ", had been worked on at home in The Dakota in various stages with different lyrics from 1977 onward. " (Just Like) Starting Over " began climbing the singles charts, and Lennon started thinking about a brand new world tour. Lennon also commenced work on '' Milk And Honey '', which he would leave unfinished. It was some time before Ono could bring herself to complete it. Towards the end of his life, Lennon expressed his displeasure with the scant credit he was given as an influence on George Harrison in the latter's autobiography, ''I Me Mine''. According to Ono, he was also unhappy that McCartney's Beatles songs, such as " Yesterday ", " Hey Jude " and " Let It Be " were more covered than his own contributions. In a 1980 ''Playboy'' interview Lennon claimed that some of his Beatles songs were subconsciously sabotaged, and that the group put more work into and paid more attention to McCartney's songs, whereas with his they tended to experiment. In the same interview, Lennon was ambivalent about his time with The Beatles and the group's legacy and was not interested in talking about them any more than he would about old high school buddies.Playboy interview - 1980 He was prompted that there was considerable speculation about whether The Beatles were now "dreaded enemies or the best of friends." He replied that they were neither, and that he hadn't seen any of The Beatles for "I don't know how much time." He also said that the last time he had seen McCartney they had watched the episode of '' 2007 PERSONAL LIFE In one of his last major interviews, conducted in September 1980, Lennon said that he'd always been very macho and had never questioned his 2006 Cynthia and Julian Lennon . Cynthia Lennon – “John”. pp28-29. If Sutcliffe's room was not available, they often had sex in alleyways or shop doorways, but Cynthia didn't enjoy those "snatched encounters". Cynthia Lennon – “John”. p35. Lennon's jealousy could manifest itself in cruel and aggressive behaviour towards Cynthia, Cynthia Lennon – “John”. p36. as when Lennon slapped her across the face (knocking her head against the wall) the day after he saw her dancing with Stuart Sutcliffe. Miles. pp48-49. Cynthia broke up with Lennon for three months, but resumed their relationship after Lennon's profuse apology. Cynthia Lennon – “John”. pp50-51. Cynthia visited Lennon in Hamburg for two weeks in 1960, but in 1961 Lennon left her at home and went to Paris with McCartney for a holiday. Cynthia Lennon – “John”. p99. In mid-1962, Cynthia discovered she was pregnant. Cynthia Lennon “John”. p122. Lennon proposed marriage, but when he told Mimi she screamed and raged at Lennon to stop him from going through with it. Cynthia Lennon “John”. p123. Lennon and Cynthia were married on 23 August at the Mount Pleasant Register Office in Liverpool. Mimi did not attend. Cynthia Lennon “John”. pp128-129. On April 8 , 1963 , John Charles Julian Lennon was born in Sefton General Hospital. John did not see Julian until a week after he was born because of commitments with The Beatles. The birth of John's son and his marriage to Cynthia was kept secret from the public, due to Brian Epstein's insistence that it would harm John's image with The Beatles' female fans. According to Cynthia, in a 1995 interview, there were problems throughout their marriage because of the pressures of The Beatles' fame and rigorous touring, and because of Lennon's increasing use of drugs.Interview of Cynthia Lennon with Linda McDermott, ''Liverpool Echo'', with friends to find that John and Yoko had been in bed together. John did not deny the fact but when Cynthia left for a while he phoned her and said "I can't understand why you went off". Coleman - ''Lennon: The Definitive Biography'' p462. Cynthia found out about the definite end of their marriage when John refused to go on a family holiday with them and was later shown in a newspaper making his affair with Yoko public. To make matters worse Lennon sent a mutual friend to Italy to inform her that he was going to take their child and force her to leave their home. He also arranged for divorce, stating that she was the one who had committed adultery, not him.. Coleman - ''Lennon: The Definitive Biography'' p464. In the ensuing court case Lennon refused to give his wife anymore than £75,000, telling her "What have you done to deserve it? Christ, it's like winning the bloody pools". Coleman - ''Lennon: The Definitive Biography'' p467. In the end, she got £100,000 plus £2,400 a year, custody of Julian and the house. Lennon was distant to his son, Julian, who felt closer to McCartney than to him. The younger Lennon later said, "I've never really wanted to know the truth about how dad was with me. There was some very negative stuff talked about me ... like when he said I'd come out of a whiskey bottle on a Saturday night. Stuff like that. You think, where's the love in that? Paul and I used to hang about quite a bit ... more than dad and I did. We had a great friendship going and there seems to be far more pictures of me and Paul playing together at that age than there are pictures of me and my dad." When Lennon moved to New York in 1971, Julian did not see him until 1973. After encouragement from May Pang, it was finally arranged for Julian to visit John and her in Los Angeles. Lennon was said to be very nervous beforehand but the visit went well. After this point, Julian started to see his father more regularly, and played drums on "Ya Ya" from Lennon's 1974 album, Walls and Bridges.4 Lennon also bought Julian a Gibson Les Paul guitar for Christmas in 1973 and encouraged his growing interest in music.5 Lennon was quoted as saying: " Sean was a planned child, and therein lies the difference. I don't love Julian any less as a child. He's still my son, whether he came from a bottle of whiskey or because they didn't have pills in those days. He's here, he belongs to me, and he always will." According to Cynthia, after the break-up with John, McCartney visited Cynthia and jokingly suggested marriage, reportedly saying, "How's about you and me, Cyn?" Cynthia Lennon – “John” 2006. p303 In an interview shortly before his death, Lennon said he was trying to re-establish a connection with the then 17-year-old Julian, and confidently predicted that "Julian and I will have a relationship in the future."''Playboy'' interview with David Sheff, conducted September 1980; published in January 1981 issue of ''Playboy''; reprinted in John Lennon, Yoko Ono, David Sheff and G. Barry Olson, ''The Playboy interviews with John Lennon and Yoko Ono'' New York: Playboy Press/Putnam, 1981; available online at http://www.geocities.com/wireless_machine/lennon/pi.htm Both Julian and Sean Lennon went on to have recording careers years after their father's death. Yoko Ono Pierre Trudeau , 22 December 1969 Ottawa, Ontario]] On 9 November 1966 , after The Beatles' final tour and just after he had finished filming '' How I Won The War '', Lennon visited an art exhibit of Yoko Ono's at the Indica gallery in Mason's Yard, London. Lennon began his relationship with Ono in May 1968 after returning from India . Cynthia filed for Divorce later that year, on the grounds of John's adultery with Ono which was evidenced by the latter's pregnancy and miscarriage of Their Son . Lennon and Ono became inseparable, even during Beatles sessions. The press was unkind to Ono — writing unflattering articles about her, with frequently racist overtones — and one called her "ugly". This angered Lennon, who said that there was no John and Yoko, but they were one person; "JohnandYoko". Yoko's constant presence in the studio led to tension within The Beatles during the '' White Album '' recordings in 1968. At the end of 1968, Lennon and Ono performed as Dirty Mac on The Rolling Stones '' Rock And Roll Circus ''. During Lennon's last two years in The Beatles, he spent much of his time with Ono partaking in public protests against the Vietnam War . Lennon sent back his MBE medal, which Queen Elizabeth bestowed during the height of Beatlemania, "in protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria - Biafra thing reference to the Nigerian civil war of 1967-70 , its support of America in Vietnam, and ' Cold Turkey ' slipping down the charts." (Return of the medal did not formally negate his appointment to the Order.) On 2007 On 20 March 1969 , they were married in Gibraltar , and spent their honeymoon in Amsterdam in a " Bed-In " for peace. Behind their bed were posters that displayed the words "Hair Peace. Bed Peace." They held another "Bed-In", in Montreal , at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel , where they recorded " Give Peace A Chance ", which became an anthem for the Peace Movement . They were mainly patronised as a couple of eccentrics by the media, yet they did a great deal for the peace movement, as well as for Feminism and racial harmony. Lennon and Ono often combined advocacy with Performance Art , as in their " Bagism " introduced during a Vienna press conference. Shortly after, Lennon changed his name to John Ono Lennon. Lennon wrote " The Ballad Of John And Yoko " about his marriage and the subsequent press coverage it generated. The failed ''Get Back''/'' Let It Be '' recording/filming sessions did nothing to improve relations within the band. After both Lennon and Ono were injured in the summer of 1969 in a car accident in Scotland, Lennon arranged for Ono to be constantly with him in the studio (including having a full-sized bed rolled in) as he worked on The Beatles' last album, '' Abbey Road ''. While the group managed to hang together to produce one last acclaimed musical work, soon thereafter business issues related to Apple Corps came between them. House-husband On . Deeply aware, after his experience of Primal Therapy , of the crucial importance of the Parent-child Bond , he devoted his energies to nurturing young Sean in every possible way. He also made a point of learning how to bake a loaf of bread, an accomplishment which he proudly showed off to visitors. In 1976, Lennon's U.S. Immigration status was finally resolved favourably, after a years-long battle with the Nixon administration that included an FBI investigation — a full-scale effort involving Surveillance , Wiretap s, and agents following Lennon around as he travelled. Lennon insisted that the investigation was politically motivated, a claim that was later proven true. With the departure of Nixon from the White House, the administration of his successor, Gerald Ford , showed little interest in continuing the battle. When Jimmy Carter was inaugurated as President on 20 January 1977 , Lennon and Ono were invited to attend the Inaugural Ball, signalling the end of hostilities between the U.S. government and Lennon. After that appearance, Lennon was rarely seen in public for the next 3½ years, until his 1980 comeback. Estrangement from his father At the time that Beatlemania took off, John had not seen or heard from his father, 2007 POLITICAL AND LIFESTYLE CONTROVERSIES Lennon's humour was often quoted during his time with The Beatles, but he later rejected the idea of being a "lovable mop-top" and concerned himself with drug experimentation, meditation, therapy cures, world peace, and was active for a range of anti-government causes. Christianity On 2006 :" Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink.... I don't know what will go first, rock 'n' roll or Christianity. We're more popular than Jesus now. Jesus was all right, but his Disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me." The article was printed and nothing came of it — until five months later, when an American teen magazine called ''Datebook'' reprinted part of the quote on its front cover. "John Lennon Proclaims Beatles "More Popular than Jesus"" from News of the Odd, 4 March 1966 A firestorm of protest erupted across the American Bible Belt in the South and Midwest , as Conservative groups staged public burnings of Beatles records and Memorabilia . (The Beatles at first viewed this in a wry way, saying, "They've got to buy them first before they burn 'em.") Many radio stations banned Beatles music, and some concert venues cancelled performances. On 11 August 1966 , The Beatles held a press conference in Chicago , in order to address the growing controversy. :Lennon: I suppose if I had said television was more popular than Jesus, I would have got away with it, but I just happened to be talking to a journalist friend, and I used the words "Beatles" as a remote thing, not as what I think — as Beatles, as those other Beatles, like other people see us. I just said "they" are having more influence on kids and things than anything else, including Jesus. But I said it in that way, which is the wrong way. Reporter: Some teenagers have repeated your statements — "I like The Beatles more than Jesus Christ ." What do you think about that? :Lennon: Well, originally I pointed out that fact in reference to England . That we meant more to kids than Jesus did, or religion at that time. I wasn't knocking it or putting it down. I was just saying it as a fact, and it's true more for England than here. I'm not saying that we're better or greater, or comparing us with Jesus Christ as a person or God as a thing, or whatever it is. I just said what I said and it was wrong. Or it was taken wrong. And now it's all this. Reporter: But are you prepared to apologise? :Lennon: I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious thing. I apologise if that will make you happy. I still don't know quite what I've done. I've tried to tell you what I did do, but if you want me to apologise, if that will make you happy, then OK, I'm sorry. The , well, Lord, I might still be up there with all the other performing fleas! God bless America. Thank you, Jesus."6 Political activism and the deportation battle " Give Peace A Chance ", recorded in 1969 at the height of the Vietnam War, marked Lennon’s transformation from mop-top to Anti-war Activist , and began a process that culminated in 1972, when the Nixon Administration sought to silence him by ordering him Deported from the US. The Vietnam War mobilised a great many was more common among Folk Musician s like Phil Ochs , Joan Baez and Bob Dylan (the British musician Donovan was a notable exception). Lennon, however, was determined to use his power as a Superstar to help end the war, especially after he left The Beatles and teamed up with Yoko. The couple declared their Honeymoon at the Amsterdam Hilton , in March 1969, a "bed-in for peace," winning world-wide Media coverage. At a second "bed-in" in Montreal, in June 1969, they recorded "Give Peace a Chance" in their hotel room. The song quickly became the Anthem of the Anti-war Movement , and was sung by as many as half a million Demonstrators in Washington, D.C. at the second Vietnam Moratorium Day , in November 1969. They were led by the renowned Folk Singer Pete Seeger , who interspersed phrases like, "Are you listening, Nixon?" and "Are you listening, Agnew ?", between the Chorus es of protesters singing, "All we are saying ... is give peace a chance".See, for example, this PBS documentary When Lennon and Ono moved to New York City in August 1971, they became friends with antiwar leaders Jerry Rubin , Abbie Hoffman , and others, and planned a national concert tour to coincide with the 1972 Presidential Election . It would have been the first U.S. tour by any of the ex-Beatles since the lads had waved farewell at Candlestick Park in San Francisco at the end of their 1966 tour. But it would not have been the usual rock tour. 1972 was the first year 18-year-olds had been given the Right To Vote in the U.S., and Lennon wanted to help persuade young people to register to vote and to vote against the war — which meant voting against Nixon. Thus, the planned tour was to combine rock music with anti-war organising and Voter Registration . The Nixon , who suggested in a February 1972 memo that "deportation would be a strategic counter-measure." The next month the Immigration And Naturalization Service began deportation proceedings against Lennon, arguing that his 1968 Misdemeanour conviction for cannabis possession in London had made him ineligible for admission to the U.S. Lennon spent the next two years in and out of deportation hearings and constantly under a 60-day order to leave the country, which his attorney managed to get extended repeatedly. The 1972 concert tour never happened, but Lennon and his friends did put on the "Free John Sinclair " concert in Ann Arbor , Michigan , in December 1971. Sinclair was a local antiwar activist and poet who was serving ten years in state prison for selling two Joint s of Marijuana to an undercover cop. Lennon and Ono appeared on stage (in his first live appearance since The Beatles' breakup) along with Phil Ochs, Stevie Wonder and other musicians, plus antiwar Radical Jerry Rubin and Bobby Seale of the Black Panthers . Lennon performed the song, "John Sinclair", which he had just written, calling on the authorities to ''"Let him be, set him free, let him be like you and me."'' Some 20,000 people attended the rally, and two days after the concert, the State of Michigan released Sinclair from prison. (A Bootleg Recording of the live performance circulated for years, but was later released on the 2-CD John Lennon Anthology and the album, Acoustic [2004 ). Lennon performed the song on the David Frost Show accompanied by Ono and Jerry Rubin. While his deportation battle was going on, Lennon spoke out against the Vietnam War - appearing at rallies in New York City and on TV shows, including a week hosting the Mike Douglas Show in February 1972, where Jerry Rubin and Bobby Seale appeared as his guests. He was tailed by a team of FBI agents, who concluded, "Lennon appears to be radically oriented however he does not give the impression he is a true revolutionist since he is constantly under the influence of narcotics." Nixon left the White House after the , 2006 , and are available on the web. Lennon Files Recreational drug use Although drinking beer was commonplace in Liverpool, Lennon was first given drugs in Hamburg , Germany . Miles. pp66-67. The Beatles had to play long sets, and were often given "Prellies" ( Preludin ) (slimming pills) by customers or by Astrid Kirchherr , whose mother bought them for her. Miles. pp66-67. McCartney would usually take one, but Lennon would often take four or five. Miles. pp66-67. He later took Amphetamines called 'Black Bombers' and 'Purple Hearts'. Cynthia – “John”. p76. After having smoked Cannabis with Bob Dylan in New York in 1964, Miles. p185 McCartney remembered all of The Beatles being "very high" and laughing a lot. Miles. pp188-189 Lennon largely Abandoned His Leadership Role under the influence of LSD and Timothy Leary 's book ''The Psychedelic Experience'', believing he needed to "lose his ego" to become enlightened. His drug experiences, which his first wife Cynthia did not want to join him in were also a major factor in their divorce. He later dabbled in heroin and wrote about its effects in the song '' Cold Turkey ''. Coleman - ''Lennon: The Definitive Biography'' p570. Meditation On , 2007 Primal therapy In 1970, Lennon (and Yoko Ono) went through Primal therapy with Dr. " ("Mama don't go!! / Daddy come home!!"), "Remember", "Isolation", "I Found Out", "My Mummy's Dead", and "Well Well Well". Lennon's " God " song opens with the simple observation that "God is a concept... by which we measure... our pain." The middle section, in which he dramatically names people and things he no longer believes in — such as Bible, Jesus, Kennedy, Buddha, and yoga — ends with an emphatic, "Beatles". Lennon's political radicalisation is evident in the song "Working Class Hero", whose lyrics also show traces of Primal therapy all the way through, beginning with, "As soon as you're born they make you feel small ... Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all." Lennon's Imagine album also contained songs influenced by Primal Therapy. "How?", a song that includes lines like "How can I feel love when love is something I ain't never had?" and "Oh My Love", that includes lines like "Oh My Love for the first time in my life - my mind can feel," are songs inspired by John's Primal experience. "Crippled Inside", which is a continuation of the themes of "Working Class Hero" and "God", is a direct reference to those who are not "feeling" people. Humour Each of The Beatles was known, especially during Beatlemania , for his sense of humour. Lennon's style of humour was always to combine the normal with the absurd, and then make it appear as just a normal comment. After Starr said, "It's been a hard day's ''(work)'' night", Lennon laughed, but then turned it into a song. During live performances of " I Want To Hold Your Hand ", Lennon often changed the words to "I want to hold your Gland ", because of the difficulty hearing the vocals above the noise of screaming audiences. Lennon's humour also showed up often in The Beatles' music and in his solo work. For instance, during the aborted '' Get Back '' sessions, he was recorded introducing " Dig A Pony " by shouting, "I dig a Pygmy by Charles Hawtrey and the Deaf Aids, phase one in which Doris gets her oats!" The phrase was later edited to precede the first song on ''Let It Be'', the McCartney-penned " Two Of Us ". On one occasion, when asked if Ringo Starr was "the best drummer in the world", Lennon replied, "He isn't even the best drummer in The Beatles", showing again how he would turn things upside down to create laughter. Perhaps regretting the remark, Lennon in later years was outspoken in his conviction of Starr's importance to the band. It was Lennon who, at the Royal Variety Show in 1963, in the presence of members of the British royalty, told the audience, "Those of you in the cheaper seats can clap your hands. The rest of you, if you'll just rattle your jewellery." Lennon's humour was apparent during The Beatles' first American press conference, immediately after they stepped off the plane in February 1964. Reporter: "Will you please sing something for us?" Lennon: "No, we need money first." Reporter: "What is it about your music that excites people so much?" Lennon: "If we knew, we'd form another group and be managers." Once, in an elevator of a hotel in New York where they were staying, '', John said to a friend: "More like ''A Cellarful of Boys''." In his early years Lennon also liked to make fun of cripples and people who were disfigured. Coleman - ''Lennon: The Definitive Biography'' p90. Lennon would sometimes use his humour to be extremely sarcastic and caustic in interviews. "We created Apple so someone wouldn't have to go down on their knees in an office — probably yours." Whilst the other Beatles laughed, he would glare to make his point, although nobody was quite sure if he was joking or not. When Lennon once had put on a lot of weight after a time period when he was drinking heavily around 1965, he said, "I was eating and drinking like a pig, and I was fat as a pig, dissatisfied with myself, and subconsciously I was crying for help. It was my fat-Elvis period."Ken Lawrence, ''John Lennon: In His Own Words'' (2005), p.62. Lennon's partnership in songwriting with McCartney involved him — many times — in opposing McCartney's upbeat, positive outlook, with a sarcastic counter-point, as seen, for example, in " Getting Better ": : McCartney: ''I've got to admit it's getting better, a little better all the time.'' : Lennon: ''Can't get no worse.''7 The Beatles often made fun of George Martin, as they once sang "tit-tit-tit", as backing vocals instead of "dit-dit-dit" on the 1965 song " Girl " from the LP '' Rubber Soul ''. When Martin (who was upstairs in the control room and could not see them) asked, "Boys, was that dit, or... tit?" "It was dit, George", Lennon replied, as the others doubled up in silent laughter. They thought of George Martin (who was always dressed in a suit and tie) as being part of the establishment and therefore open to jokes, but never ridicule. Lennon’s wit often reflected his strong political beliefs. While visiting Canada, which at the time was still flying under the British Union Flag, Lennon was asked by a reporter what he thought of a country that did not have its own flag. Lennon replied, “It’s a start.” Writing and art Lennon started writing and drawing early in life, with encouragement from his Uncle George (Mimi's husband). He often drew Caricature s of his school teachers; when he attended art school he penned love poems to Cynthia Lennon on scraps of paper, once writing, "Our first Christmas, I love you, yes, yes, yes." Cynthia Lennon – “John”. p35. Lennon even created his own Comic Strip , which he called "The Daily Howl". This contained drawings, frequently of crippled people, and Satirical writings, often with a Play On Words . For example, in one page, Lennon wrote a weather report saying that "Tomorrow will be Muggy, followed by Tuggy, Wuggy and Thuggy." Bill Harry, Mersey Beat. When Liverpool's Mersey Beat magazine was founded, Lennon was often asked to contribute. His first piece was about the origins of The Beatles and contained the line, "A man appeared on a flaming pie, and said you are Beatles with an 'A'." Cynthia Lennon – “John”. pp98-99. Books written by Lennon, or with contributions. Some were published posthumously. The first three works here are generally considered to be unique examples of Literary Nonsense .
DEATH On the morning of December 8 , 1980 , Annie Leibovitz came over to the Ono and Lennon's apartment to do a photo shoot for the Rolling Stone Magazine . She had promised Lennon it would make the cover8 but she initially tried to get a picture with just Lennon alone. Leibovitz would recall that, "nobody wanted {Link without Title} on the cover".9 When Lennon insisted that both be on the cover Leibovitz then tried to recreate the kissing scene from the ''Double Fantasy'' album cover, a picture that she loved.
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| On | "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/January_22" class="copylinks">January 22 , 1981 , Annie Leibovitz's shot taken on the day he died appeared on the cover of the ''Rolling Stone'' magazine (Issue #335) In October 2005 it was voted the best ever magazine cover ever {{cite web date=Updated: 12:56 pm ET Oct 17, 2005 url = http://wwwmsnbcmsncom/id/9729637/ title = |
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