Many people know that Liverpool is the birthplace of the popular British band The Beatles. This article will tell you about its founder, the famous singer and composer John Lennon. Learn more about his life and career at liverpool-trend.com.
CHILDHOOD AND INTEREST IN MUSIC
The future singer was born in Liverpool in 1940. It happened in the year when German troops were launching an air attack on the city. John’s parents divorced when he was still a baby. For some time, the future star was raised by his aunt.
John Lennon wasn’t very successful at his studies. On the contrary, every school year was worse than the previous one. However, despite the bad grades and behaviour, the young man managed to reveal his creative potential. He began to sing in a choir and made illustrations for a magazine.
In the 1950s, John became interested in rock and roll. In 1956, he founded his band Quarrymen. It consisted of his school friends and was named after the educational institution where they studied. A year later, Lennon met Paul McCartney and offered him to join his band.
After leaving school, John decided to continue his studies at Liverpool College of Art. The young singer met his future wife in this educational institution.
CREATION OF A BAND AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT
The created band constantly changed its name and composition. In 1959, it was renamed The Beatles. The following year, they went abroad. In Hamburg, young musicians performed in the Reeperbahn club. In this city, John and his bandmates tried drugs for the first time. It wasn’t an easy experience because they had to perform on stage all night.
Later, Brian Epstein became the band’s manager and started to work on its image. He changed their style of clothing and the manner of performing on stage. Such a transformation benefited the band and John Lennon and his bandmates became increasingly popular. In 1964, The Beatles were known all over the world.
In 1964, John published his own book of prose and poetry called In His Own Write. A year later, the second book, A Spaniard in the Works, was published as well.
The singer also tried his hand at cinematography. He appeared in the movie How I Won the War.
In 1967, Lennon began to take drugs and gradually gave up the leadership of the band. The Beatles’ manager died and Paul McCartney took over the position, also becoming the leader of The Beatles. The band members stopped dressing neatly and let go of their hair and moustaches. During 1967-1968, Lennon wrote such compositions as Strawberry Fields Forever, Across the Universe, I Am the Walrus, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, A Day in the Life and All You Need is Love.
Relations in the band got tense in 1968, and in 1970, it was announced that The Beatles had disbanded.
PERSONAL LIFE AND POLITICAL ACTIVITY
John Lennon married for the first time in 1962 with Cynthia Powell. Two years later, the couple had a son.
In 1966, John met Yoko Ono and they became lovers. The singer had a hard time divorcing his wife. However, in 1968, Lennon finally divorced, and a few months later, he married Yoko Ono. Together with his second wife, John Lennon released the album Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins.
In addition to creativity, Lennon was also a political activist. The singer spoke out against violence and for world peace. By the way, he even returned his MBE medal to Queen Elizabeth. In this way, Lennon protested against the country’s foreign policy.
Yoko actively supported her husband’s political position. After their wedding, the couple arranged the interview in bed and spoke for an hour about the importance of world peace.
In 1969, John organised a concert War Is Over! If You Want It. However, two years later, Lennon’s political views changed a lot. He and his wife took part in a rally in support of the Irish Republican Army.
In 1971, he received permission to enter the USA. The spouses moved to the United States, where they also became active participants in political life. However, two years later, Lennon was ordered to leave the country. John and Yoko’s relationship worsened, and as a result, the couple separated for a while.
At that time, John faced a creative decline, which led to alcohol abuse.
In 1975, Lennon had a son. The singer announced the end of his career and devoted his life to him. The same year, he returned to the USA.
In 1980, John Lennon was killed by mentally ill Mark Chapman. The killer took an autograph and then shot John in the back a few hours later. Lennon died in hospital.
This is the life and creative path of the famous British singer and leader of The Beatles, John Lennon. We hope that our article was interesting and that you learned more information about the famous Liverpudlian.
