Remembering John Lennon

John Winston Ono Lennon was born October 9, 1940 in Liverpool England to Julia and Alfred Lennon. Alfred was a merchant seaman. His father was often away from home but sent regular pay cheques to 9 Newcastle Road, Liverpool. Unfortunately John and Julia lived nowhere near there and never received the checks.

Little Johnny was raised by his Aunt Mimi and her husband George “TooGood” Smith. They had no children of their own. Aunt Mimi instilled a love for books in John and Uncle George bought him a mouth organ. Julia visited John on a regular basis. She played him Elvis records, taught him the banjo and showed him how to play “Ain’t That a Shame” by Fats Domino on the mouth organ. In 1956, Julia bought John his first guitar.

The Quarrymen

At the age of 15, Lennon formed a skiffle group, The Quarrymen. John asked Paul McCartney to join. Paul then suggested George Harrison as the lead guitarist. John’s friend Stuart Sutcliffe played the bass. Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Sutcliffe became “The Beatles” in early 1960. In August that year, the Beatles were engaged for a 48-night residency in Hamburg, in West Germany, and were desperately in need of a drummer. They found Pete Best in the airport and asked him to join them.

The rest as they say is history. Ringo Starr replaced Pete Best and The Beatles went on to have a nice little career with moderate success. Meanwhile Pete Best became a household name. Funny how things work out.

Remembering John Lennon — John Lennon Illustration By Paul King Art

Yoko

John married Cynthia and had a son named Julian. They divorced and John married Yoko. This was the downfall of The Beatles. The name Yoko actually became synonymous with a pain in the arse wife or girlfriend who interfered or broke up a band. Yoko actually had the nerve to say that she did not know who John was when they first met. Either she is a liar or an incredible dummy because John was the most popular celebrity in the world in 1968.

After The Beatles broke up, John created some brilliant solo music. He loved Yoko and indulged her. The greatest moment in television history took place while John and Yoko were on The Mike Douglas show. John invited his hero Chuck Berry on and they were performing together. Who could forget the look on Chuck Berry’s face when Yoko began caterwauling in the background.

Unfortunately John was killed by a worthless maniac in 1980. John was a true musical genius and created the soundtrack to a generation. He was a once in a lifetime musician and they will not be making anymore John Lennon’s. He is truly missed.