The Life And Influences Of Joh Essay, Research Paper

The Life and Influence of John Lennon

One of the most prominent musicians ever to walk the face of the Earth was John Lennon. He was a founding member of the Beatles, the most successful rock band in history and later had a successful solo career. Lennon had a remarkable voice. He played rhythm guitar and piano as well. He is arguably the greatest songwriter of all time with such classic hits as Imagine, Can t Buy Me Love, and A Hard Day s Night. Although he was shot in 1980 outside his New York City apartment, his legend will live through his life, songs, and their influences on the popular culture.

John Winston Lennon was born in Liverpool, England in 1940. His middle name was given to him after the political leader of England at the time, Winston Churchill. As his mother, Julia, gave birth to John the sirens wailed because of the Nazi bomb raids. His Aunt Mimi and Uncle George in a lower middle class family raised him, as many of the families were, trying to recover from England s post-war era. John stood out even at the age of five. In his first school, Lennon s individuality rose quickly (Coleman 30). When Lennon was seventeen, he got his first guitar. He and a few classmates of his formed the group called the Quarry Men. Later that year John would meet his equivalent, a younger Paul McCartney at a church picnic. John was impressed by Paul s ability to play the guitar and later would invite him to join the band. Paul would eventually become John s tutor on the guitar. The lessons were awkward because Paul was left-handed, which meant that the dyslexic Lennon learned the chords backward and then had to restore them to their normal positions by studying his hands in a mirror (Goldman 69). When Paul arrived on the scene, he brought along another great guitarist, George Harrison. Paul and George had been friends. George was even younger than Paul so he was a mere, intimidated boy compared to Lennon. Yet, Harrison could easily outplay both of them on guitar. He could pick solos that the others could only dream. Socially, Lennon took Harrison under his wing. Everyday outside the art school George would follow John around just to get that important feeling of confidence. The Quarrymen added a drummer named Pete Best. He was the son of the manager of the club that the band regularly played. Yet a fight broke out between Pete and another member of the band and Pete was told to leave. A rough stretch of time for Lennon had now appeared. On July 16, 1958, John s mother, Julia Lennon, is hit by a car and died at the age of forty-four. The next year the Quarry Men would disband, but John made a decision to concentrate on his music (67-72).

Lennon was beginning to become disgusted by the teaching system at the Liverpool Art Institute. He failed his exams publicly criticized the college and was then expelled. George and Paul were not so sure if they should follow John s lead and quit the institute, but they soon did as well. Paul mainly because he did not care and George because he was willing to do anything John did. The Beatles were now finally formed and decided to take their act on the road to Hamburg. They added Stu Suttcliffe on bass and kept Pete Best on the drums. They played a show in Kaiserkellar, Germany where they would meet Richard Starkey, also known as Ringo Starr. The Beatles formally made Brian Epstein their manager and Lennon had him fire Pete Best, rid them of Stu Suttcliffe, who would later die in 1961, and hire Ringo Starr as their drummer. The fabulous four were now intact (Coleman 110-115).

While in Hamburg Lennon kept in touch with his love interest Cynthia Powell. He wrote many letters professing his unending love for her. The Beatles were forced to return from Hamburg because the German government found out that George was under age. Lennon then married Cynthia. She was pregnant with their child. Lennon was performing during the three days she was in labor at the hospital. He would call her but the hectic schedule made it difficult. Not being use to Lennon s newfound fame, he had Cynthia move in with his Aunt Mimi. The move to Mimi s house was speedy and practical, but disastrous for Cynthia. Cynthia felt that Mimi resented the intrusion on her home, despite her earlier invitation (181). She would file for divorce in 1968 because of John s new love interest Yoko Ono (online).

The Beatles producer and manager, Brian Epstein, would turn the scruffy band into a clean-shaven group. Lennon was later quoted, as saying this is when the Beatles sold out. The Beatles and John Lennon had continued success in Britain by making appearances on television and on the British Broadcasting Company (BBC). In 1963 their first album was released, Introducing the Beatles, later Meet the Beatles on the Capitol record label. Their popularity was now astounding. Herds of people would stand outside the stage doors just for a look at these up-and-coming popular icons. The Beatles hurled down the front steps and dove into their car, which drove along Oxford Street with difficulty as first one girl, then another hurled herself in the path of the machine (Goldman 143). National newspapers carried the story on their front pages. One headline read simply: Beatlemania! (143). The Beatles headlined the Royal Variety Show, a concert played for Queen Elizabeth and the nobility. This success brought about the massive presale of their next album, I Want to Hold Your Hand, which was in excess of one million. The Beatles and Lennon were at the top of the British popular culture and would stay there for the next few years (143-151).

After success in Britain the Beatles invaded the United States. As the Beatles emerged from the 707 and descended the air stairs, they were greeted from the building s observation deck by four thousand screaming, placard waving fans (153). By February 1964, Introducing the Beatles was climbing the charts. Local music stores were selling posters, shirts, buttons, lunch boxes, or anything that said the Beatles. Lennon was astounded by the success and his astonishment grew as they their United States tour progressed. Lennon was later quoted as saying that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ. After many successful albums that would establish the Beatles as the greatest musical group of all time, Lennon married Yoko Ono. On April 10, 1970, Paul announced he was leaving the band due to the wedge created by Yoko Ono. Thus, the Beatles would disband. John and Yoko would have a child in 1975 named Sean. When Sean was five, Lennon left his studio work on his solo career to raise his son. Lennon was assassinated at the age of forty by Mark Chapman outside his New York apartment. Yoko Ono called for an international moment of silence that was quite emotional and powerful. Lennon was gone and so was an international music legend (online).

Lennon has been regarded as the greatest lyricist ever to pick up a pen. From the early popular tunes to the songs written while under heavy influences of alcohol and narcotics, his music and the music of the Beatles appealed to all walks of life. At a time when both England and America were recovering from World War II, Lennon produced music that lifted the spirits of their distraught souls. Such catchy tunes as Can t Buy Me Love and Hard s Day Night seemed to arouse the musical ear of the two countries. The Beatles were central figures in the popular revolution in manners and morals that took place in American society in the 1960s (Hanmer 45-46). Even early in the Beatles popularity Lennon s voice was heard outside his music. After arriving in America and seeing the huge crowds, Lennon commented that Christianity would eventually vanish and at the moment the Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ. This quote would influence boycotts, the burning of their records, and threats. Lennon would later formally apologize (46).

In 1967 Lennon would again change the face of popular music. The release of Sgt. Pepper s Lonely Hearts Club surprised the popular music industry. He introduced the concept of an entire album as being one instead of a bunch of catchy singles. He left only small breaks between songs so the album virtually had to be listened to as a complete set. The Beatles then ventured to India for study of Transcendental Mediation and wrote many songs there for the White Album. These songs had major influence on people as they started to think about their spirits. After the Beatles disbanded his new wife, Yoko Ono, mainly influenced Lennon s solo career. The songs Imagine and Power to the People spoke of world unity and peace. He wrote songs about social issues with such topics as war, women, and politics (online).

Lennon and the Beatles influence sparked a British music invasion to the United States. Their popularity opened the door to such bands as The Who, Rolling Stones, and Gerry and the Pacemakers. All of these bands were influenced by the Beatles (Szatmary 113). Lennon s voice nor his music notes caused this social revolution. The Beatles and other rock and roll groups focused on the new morality and their lyrics celebrated the outermost boundaries of social change (Hanmer 46).

John Winston Lennon was born October 9, 1940. He was assassinated April 10, 1980. The forty years he spent living saw of life of many accomplishments. He wrote songs that will last forever, did an unthinkable amount of drugs, and cared for both of his sons. His ability to write lyrics and melodies will never be seen again. His legacy is seen through his life s triumphs and hurdles, and his songs influences on the people of the time. I don t think John Lennon ever stopped being an artist. But I don t think even he realized how great a craftsman he was (Flanagan 341). He was shot at the tender age of forty, but Lennon s legacy will not soon be forgotten.