Quick Facts
Imagine. Give Peace a Chance. Beatle who became an icon and martyr.
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Life Journey
John Winston Lennon was born to Alfred and Julia Lennon in Liverpool, England, during a German air raid in World War II. His father was a merchant seaman and his mother was a young, aspiring singer.
John Lennon starts his secondary education at Quarry Bank High School, where he shows a talent for music and art but often skips classes and gets into trouble.
John Lennon meets Paul McCartney at a church fete in Woolton, Liverpool. McCartney impresses Lennon with his guitar skills, and he invites McCartney to join his band, the Quarrymen.
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr officially form the Beatles. They begin performing in Liverpool and Hamburg, Germany, gaining a dedicated following.
The Beatles sign with EMI and release their first single, 'Love Me Do,' which reaches number 17 on the UK charts, marking the beginning of their meteoric rise to fame.
John Lennon and the Beatles are awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II, recognizing their contributions to British music and culture.
The Beatles release 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,' a groundbreaking album that revolutionizes the music industry and cements their status as cultural icons.
John Lennon marries Yoko Ono, a Japanese avant-garde artist, in Gibraltar. Their relationship becomes a significant influence on Lennon's personal and artistic life.
John Lennon announces that he is leaving the Beatles, leading to the official breakup of the band. This marks the end of one of the most influential eras in music history.
John Lennon is shot and killed by Mark David Chapman outside his apartment in the Dakota building, New York City. His death shocks the world and leaves a lasting legacy in music and popular culture.