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John Lennon (1940–1980) -

John Winston Lennon was born on October 9, 1940 in Liverpool, England.

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Mother -

A young John poses for a portrait with his mother Julia. On July 15, 1958, Julia was struck and killed by a car. Her death traumatized the teenaged Lennon, but the tragedy would later serve as a major creative inspiration for Lennon.

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Father -

Alfred "Fred" Lennon was a merchant seaman of Irish descent. Often away from home, he saw little of his wife and son. Eventually, in 1946, Alfred left the family home. Lennon had no further contact with his father for nearly 20 years.

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Music -

In 1956, John Lennon formed a skiffle group called the Quarrymen. After performing with the band at the St Peter's Church garden fête in Wooten on July 6, 1957, Lennon met Paul McCartney. Lennon then asked him to join the group. George Harrison would join in 1958. The Quarrymen would eventually become the Beatles, with Ringo Starr joining in 1962. 

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With the Beatles -

After gigging in Hamburg, the Beatles secured a record contract and released their first single, 'Love Me Do,' in October 1962. They recorded their debut album, 'Please Please Me,' on February 11, 1963.

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Global success -

Throughout the 1960s, the Beatles recorded 13 studio albums, had numerous worldwide hits, appeared on film and television, and, until 1966, toured the globe.

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Marriage to Cynthia -

John Lennon married Cynthia Powell in 1962. They had a son, Julian.

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Julian Lennon -

Julian is pictured here with his dad relaxing at home in Weybridge, England, in 1967.

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'How I Won the War' (1967) -

It was in 1967 that Lennon appeared in the black comedy 'How I Won the War.' For his role as Gripweed, Lennon, still a Beatle of course, donned a pair of wire-rim "granny glasses." It was a fashion that would later define the look of the older Lennon.

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Yoko Ono -

In 1968, Lennon left Cynthia for Yoko Ono, a Japanese artist whom he'd met back in November 1966.

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Marriage to Yoko -

Having divorced Cynthia in 1968 and walked away from the Beatles in 1969, John began a new life with Yoko. On March 20, 1969, the pair married in Gibraltar.

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Peace activist -

The newlyweds spent their honeymoon in Paris and then in Amsterdam, where they campaigned with a week-long bed-in for Peace in the Presidential Suite of the Hilton Hotel. A second bed-in took place in Montreal, Canada, where they recorded 'Give Peace a Chance,' which was widely adopted as an anti-Vietnam War anthem.

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Protest and politics -

Lennon and Ono effectively became peace activists, protesting against the Vietnam War and other perceived injustices. The pair also became more politicalized. Lennon would go on to record a Christmas song, 'Happy Xmas (War is Over),' initially released in 1971, but which became a hit in the UK in November of the following year.

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Still 'Top of the Pops' -

Lennon continued recording. He's pictured here with a blindfolded Yoko, who's knitting, on an edition of the UK's 'Top Of The Pops' performing 'Instant Karma.'

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Lennon the artist -

As a teenager, Lennon had attended art college. His meeting with Yoko rekindled his interest in art, and especially conceptual art. The pair pooled their creative talents on many projects throughout John's life.

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'Imagine' -

Lennon had already released his debut solo album 'John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band' in 1970, which features the track 'Working Class Hero.' But it is 'Imagine,' the title track of the 1971 album of the same name, that's widely considered to be his signature song.

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Moving to America -

John and Yoko moved to New York City in August 1971. But his political activism had caught the attention of the Nixon administration. Lennon was considered a threat to national security, and the US government tried to get him deported back to England. The singer is pictured at the New York office of Immigration and Naturalization in May of 1972 to fight deportation proceedings.

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Under surveillance -

Many years later, declassified but redacted documents were released proving that Lennon had been placed under surveillance by the FBI almost as soon as he'd arrived in the United States. Pictured here is a letter by J. Edgar Hoover about FBI surveillance of Lennon.

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Legal battle -

The first half of the 1970s saw Lennon fight to stay in the United States. While the legal battle continued, he attended rallies and made television appearances (he's pictured with Yoko and Richard Cavett). He also recorded, releasing four more albums between 1972 and 1975.

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On stage -

Lennon on stage with the Elephant's Memory Band at Madison Square Garden on August 30, 1972 in New York City, his new home.

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Separation from Yoko -

In 1973, Lennon separated from Yoko Ono and embarked on a 18-month affair with their personal assistant, May Pang. Drinking heavily, Lennon spent time in Los Angeles in what he later described as his "Lost Weekend." He eventually settled back with Yoko in New York.

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Last live performance -

On November 28, 1974, Lennon made a surprise guest appearance at Elton John's Thanksgiving concert at Madison Square Garden. Elton John had earlier provided backing vocals and piano on Lennon's single, 'Whatever Gets You thru the Night.' Lennon performed the song along with 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' and 'I Saw Her Standing There,' which he introduced as "a song by an old estranged fiancé of mine called Paul." It was John Lennon's last ever live performance.

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'Fame' -

John and Yoko meet David Bowie backstage on March 1, 1975 at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards. Lennon collaborated on Bowie's track 'Fame,' which he co-wrote with the "Thin White Duke," and for which he provided backing vocals and guitar. It was Bowie's first US number one.

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Tomorrow never knows -

Pictured: John Lennon chats with host Tom Snyder from the television program 'Tomorrow.' Conducted in 1975, this was the last television interview Lennon ever gave.

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Out of public view -

On October 9, 1975 (Lennon's 35th birthday), Sean Lennon was born. John's second family was complete. The three of them are seen here in a rare snapshot from 1977 entering the Dakota Building, their New York home.

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Green Card -

In 1976, John Lennon was finally awarded his Green Card, allowing him to live and work permanently in the United States. With this vital document secured, John Lennon effectively retired from public view. He had no recording contract and for the next five years became a househusband, raising his son and spending a lot of time in Japan meeting Yoko's extended family.

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Lennon returns -

Towards the end of 1980, rumors began to circulate that Lennon was back in the recording studio. The music industry was surprised and intrigued.

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'Double Fantasy' -

Lennon had indeed emerged from his five-year interruption in music recording. In October, he released the single '(Just Like) Starting Over.' A month later, the album 'Double Fantasy' hit the record stores. John Lennon was back in business!

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Comeback -

Lennon was once again fawned over by the music press. Newspaper and magazine interviews followed, though no television interviews were arranged.

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Final radio interview -

British DJ and radio and television presenter Andy Peebles managed to secure an exclusive radio interview with the Lennons at the Hit Factory recording studio in New York on December 6, 1980 (pictured). This was the former Beatle's final radio interview.

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Iconic image -

On December 8, acclaimed photographer Annie Leibovitz captured an image of a naked John Lennon curled up next to Yoko on the floor of their Dakota home (the now famous photograph made the cover of Rolling Stone magazine the following month). Later that afternoon as he was leaving the Dakota with Ono for a recording session at the Record Plant, Lennon signed a copy of 'Double Fantasy' for a man claiming to be fan.

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Death -

Just before 11 pm, the Lennons returned to their apartment building. As he walked towards the entrance, John was shot several times at close range by the same person he'd earlier signed his album for. Mortally wounded, the singer was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after 11 pm. Pictured are crowds gathering outside the Dakota the following morning. A flag flies at half-mast over the building.

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Sorrow and anger -

As news of his murder spread around the world, fans expressed their sorrow and outrage at such a senseless and despicable act.

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'Get Back' -

Over 40 years on from that fateful night, John Lennon is still revered as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, and remains a cultural icon.

Sources: (udiscovermusic) (Rolling Stone)

See also: The Beatles: find out more about the Fab Four

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