Career Timeline of John Lennon: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of John Lennon, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
John Lennon was a highly influential English singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. He achieved global recognition as the founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles, one of the most iconic and successful bands in music history. His songwriting collaboration with Paul McCartney is celebrated as the most successful in history, producing a vast catalog of timeless and innovative songs. Beyond his musical achievements, Lennon was a vocal advocate for peace and social change, using his platform to promote messages of love, unity, and non-violence, making him a cultural icon.
1917: Homage to Marcel Duchamp
In 1917, Marcel Duchamp created Bicycle Wheel, which may have served as inspiration for John Lennon's "You Are Here" art exhibition in 1968.
September 1956: Formation of the Quarrymen
In September 1956, at the age of 15, John Lennon formed the skiffle group called the Quarrymen, named after Quarry Bank High School.
1956: Formation of The Quarrymen
In 1956, John Lennon formed The Quarrymen, a skiffle group that would later evolve into The Beatles.
1956: Purchase of First Guitar
In 1956, John Lennon's mother, Julia, bought him his first guitar, a Gallotone Champion acoustic, marking a pivotal moment in his musical journey.
1957: Quarrymen's Performances
By 1957, the Quarrymen were performing a mix of skiffle and rock and roll songs. It was that same year that Lennon met Paul McCartney.
1960: Evolution into The Beatles
In 1960, The Quarrymen evolved into the band known as The Beatles. Lennon was initially the group's de facto leader.
April 1961: Second Hamburg Residency
In April 1961, The Beatles accepted their second residency in Hamburg, continuing their musical development in West Germany.
November 1961: Introduction to Brian Epstein
In November 1961, The Beatles were introduced to Brian Epstein after a midday concert at Liverpool's Cavern Club.
April 1962: Third Hamburg Residency
In April 1962, The Beatles embarked on their third residency in Hamburg, solidifying their presence in the German music scene.
October 1962: Release of 'Love Me Do'
In October 1962, The Beatles released their first single, "Love Me Do", which reached No. 17 on the British charts, marking their initial commercial success.
February 1963: Recording of 'Please Please Me'
On 11 February 1963, The Beatles recorded their debut album, "Please Please Me", in under 10 hours, with Lennon battling a cold during the session.
April 1963: Julian's Birth During Beatlemania
In April 1963, Julian Lennon was born, coinciding with the height of Beatlemania. Lennon was touring with the Beatles at the time of Julian's birth. Due to Epstein's concerns, Julian's birth was kept secret to protect the Beatles' commercial success.
1963: "Hello Little Girl" Becomes a Hit
In 1963, "Hello Little Girl", the first song written by John Lennon, became a UK top 10 hit for the Fourmost.
1963: Birth of Julian Lennon and Royal Variety Show
In 1963, John Lennon's first son, Julian, was born. That year, The Beatles performed at the Royal Variety Show, where Lennon made a memorable quip to the audience.
1963: Jamming with McCartney leads to "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
In 1963, John Lennon's jamming on a piano with Paul McCartney led to the creation of the Beatles' first US number one hit, "I Want to Hold Your Hand".
1963: Recording of Please Please Me Album
In 1963, The Beatles recorded their debut album, Please Please Me, in a one-day session. During the recording of "Twist and Shout", the final track, John Lennon's voice, already weakened by a cold, nearly gave out, leading him to describe his singing as screaming.
February 1964: US Debut on The Ed Sullivan Show
In February 1964, The Beatles made their historic US debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, marking their breakthrough to international stardom and the beginning of Beatlemania in America.
1964: Acquisition of Mellotron keyboard
In 1964, John Lennon became one of the first British musicians to acquire a Mellotron keyboard.
1964: Publication of In His Own Write
In 1964, John Lennon's book "In His Own Write", a collection of short stories, poetry, plays and drawings, was published and received positive reception.
1965: A Spaniard in the Works Publication
In 1965, "A Spaniard in the Works" by John Lennon, was released.
1965: Lennon's "Help!" expresses feelings
In 1965, Lennon felt that The Beatles' music was suffering due to the screaming of fans at concerts. His song "Help!" reflected his feelings at the time. He also felt overweight, later referring to this period as his "Fat Elvis" phase, and was subconsciously seeking change.
March 1966: Lennon's Christianity comment causes furore
In March 1966, John Lennon's comment that The Beatles were "more popular than Jesus" during an interview with the Evening Standard caused a significant controversy in the US after being quoted by a magazine five months later. This led to the burning of Beatles records, Ku Klux Klan activity, and threats against Lennon, which contributed to the band's decision to stop touring.
August 1966: Lennon films 'How I Won the War'
After The Beatles' final concert on August 29, 1966, Lennon filmed the anti-war black comedy 'How I Won the War', marking his only appearance in a non-Beatles feature film before rejoining his bandmates for recording sessions.
1966: This is Not Here, Blue Room Event
In 1966, Yoko Ono created "This is Not Here", part of her Fluxus installation of wall text pieces called "Blue Room Event".
1967: Death of Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein, the manager of The Beatles, died in 1967, a significant event that impacted the band's direction and management.
1967: Ono's Half-A-Room exhibition
In 1967, John Lennon funded and anonymously participated in Yoko Ono's art exhibition "Half-A-Room" held at Lisson Gallery.
1967: Release of "Strawberry Fields Forever" and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
In 1967, The Beatles released "Strawberry Fields Forever", praised for its inventiveness, and the landmark album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Lennon's lyrics in this album were a departure from the band's earlier love songs.
1967: "Strawberry Fields Forever" features Mellotron
In 1967, the Mellotron keyboard was first heard on a Beatles recording in the song "Strawberry Fields Forever".
February 1968: The Beatles travel to India
In February 1968, the Beatles, influenced by Harrison and Lennon, traveled to the Maharishi's ashram in India. During this time, they composed many songs for their double album 'The Beatles'.
May 1968: Lennon and Ono's Recording Session
In May 1968, while Cynthia Lennon was on holiday, John Lennon invited Yoko Ono to his home. They spent the night recording what would become the "Two Virgins" album and, according to Lennon, "made love at dawn".
1968: Lennon and Ono record experimental albums
Between 1968 and 1969, Lennon and Ono recorded three albums of experimental music together: Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins, Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions and Wedding Album.
1968: The Lennon Play opens at The Old Vic
In 1968, "The Lennon Play: In His Own Write", co-adapted by Victor Spinetti and Adrienne Kennedy from John Lennon's books, opened at The Old Vic, with Lennon and Ono in attendance.
1968: Formation of ABKCO Industries
In 1968, Allen Klein formed ABKCO Industries as an umbrella company to ABKCO Records.
1968: Comic for Harmony magazine
In 1968, John Lennon drew a comic for the macrobiotic magazine Harmony.
1968: The Beatles LP released
In 1968, The Beatles LP (aka The White Album) was released. A portrait photo of John Lennon included in the packaging was later cut by Lennon into 134 small rectangles for "The Complete Yoko Ono Word Poem Game".
1968: Formation of International Marxist Group
In 1968, the International Marxist Group, a Trotskyist group, was formed in Britain.
1968: You Are Here art exhibition
In the summer of 1968, John Lennon began showing his painting and conceptual art at his "You Are Here" art exhibition held at Robert Fraser Gallery in London, dedicated to Yoko Ono.
March 1969: Honeymoon Bed-In at Amsterdam Hilton Hotel
In March 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono used their honeymoon as a bed-in at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel, an event that attracted worldwide media attention. During a second bed-in three months later at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Lennon wrote and recorded "Give Peace a Chance".
September 1969: Lennon leaves The Beatles
On September 20, 1969, John Lennon left The Beatles, but agreed to keep it secret while the group renegotiated their recording contract.
1969: May Pang Hired by Allen Klein
In 1969, Allen Klein hired May Pang as a receptionist in ABKCO Records.
1969: Self-Portrait art film appearance
In 1969, John Lennon appeared in the Yoko Ono Fluxus art film "Self-Portrait", a single forty-minute shot of Lennon's penis, premiered at the Institute of Contemporary Arts.
1969: Formation of Plastic Ono Band and Anti-War Demonstration
In 1969, John Lennon started the Plastic Ono Band with Yoko Ono, held a two-week anti-war "bed-in for peace", and left The Beatles to begin a solo career.
1969: "Four in Hand" skit written for Oh! Calcutta!
In 1969, John Lennon wrote "Four in Hand", a skit based on his teenage experiences, for Kenneth Tynan's play "Oh! Calcutta!".
1969: Drawings printed inside Wedding Album
In 1969, drawings by John Lennon were printed inside the sleeve of his "Wedding Album".
1969: Allen Klein appointed as Apple's chief executive
In early 1969, Allen Klein was appointed as Apple's chief executive by Lennon, Harrison and Starr, but McCartney did not sign the management contract.
January 1970: Bag One lithographs exhibited
On January 15, 1970, John Lennon exhibited his "Bag One" lithographs at Eugene Schuster's London Arts Gallery. The show was raided 24 hours later, and police confiscated 8 of the 14 lithographs on the grounds of indecency.
April 1970: McCartney publicises departure
In April 1970, McCartney publicized his own departure from the Beatles upon releasing his debut solo album, which outraged Lennon.
June 1970: GRAPEFRUIT FLUXBANQUET art events
From April 18 to June 12, 1970, John Lennon and Yoko Ono presented a series of Fluxus conceptual art events and concerts at Joe Jones's Tone Deaf Music Store called GRAPEFRUIT FLUXBANQUET.
1970: Beatles' Break-up
Following the Beatles' break-up in 1970, John Lennon remained consistently friendly with Ringo Starr. Lennon's relationships with the other band members, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, fluctuated over the years.
1970: Break-up of The Beatles
In 1970, The Beatles officially broke up, marking the end of an era for one of the most influential bands in music history.
January 1971: Lennon writes "Power to the People"
In January 1971, after Tariq Ali expressed his revolutionary political views in an interview, Lennon responded by writing "Power to the People". He later disowned the song, citing guilt and a desire for radical approval.
December 1971: "John Sinclair Freedom Rally"
In December 1971 at Ann Arbor, Michigan, 15,000 people attended the "John Sinclair Freedom Rally", a protest and benefit concert with contributions from John Lennon, Yoko Ono and others. Lennon and Ono performed an acoustic set of four songs from their forthcoming Some Time in New York City album including "John Sinclair", whose lyrics called for his release. The performance was recorded and two of the tracks later appeared on John Lennon Anthology (1998).
1971: Lennon moves to the US
After moving to the US in 1971, John Lennon's relationship with George Harrison began to drift apart.
1971: Erection experimental art film
In 1971, John Lennon made an experimental art film called "Erection", edited by George Maciunas, featuring songs from Yoko Ono's 1971 album "Fly".
1971: Lennon releases Imagine album
In 1971, Lennon released his album Imagine, adopting a more accessible sound. The title track became an anthem for anti-war movements.
August 1972: Last full-length concert appearances
On August 30, 1972, Lennon and Ono performed their last full-length concert appearances, holding two benefit concerts with Elephant's Memory at Madison Square Garden in New York to support patients at the Willowbrook State School mental facility.
1972: Release of Some Time in New York City
In 1972, Lennon and Ono released Some Time in New York City, a collaboration with Elephant's Memory. The album addressed topics such as women's rights, race relations, and Lennon's green card difficulties. The album was not commercially successful.
April 1973: Formation of Nutopia announced
On April 1, 1973, John Lennon and Yoko Ono held a press conference where they announced the formation of Nutopia, a conceptual country with "no land, no boundaries, no passports, only people," and requested political asylum in the US.
November 1973: Release of Mind Games and Ringo
In November 1973, Lennon released his album Mind Games. Lennon also contributed to Starr's album Ringo, which was released in the same month.
1973: Separation from Yoko Ono and Album Production
From 1973 to 1975, John Lennon and Yoko Ono separated. During this time, Lennon produced Harry Nilsson's album "Pussy Cats".
October 1974: Release of "Walls and Bridges" album
In October 1974, John Lennon released his album "Walls and Bridges", which included the hit single "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" featuring Elton John. Another single, "#9 Dream", was also released from the album before the end of the year.
December 1974: Failed Reunion with Harrison on Stage
In December 1974, George Harrison was in New York for his Dark Horse tour. John Lennon agreed to join him on stage but failed to appear after an argument over Lennon's refusal to sign an agreement that would finally dissolve the Beatles' legal partnership.
1974: Recording Session with McCartney
In 1974, John Lennon and Paul McCartney recorded music together, which was later bootlegged as "A Toot and a Snore in '74," before eventually growing apart once more.
January 1975: Elton John's "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" Tops Charts
In January 1975, Elton John's cover of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", featuring John Lennon on guitar and backing vocals, topped the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Lennon was credited under the moniker "Dr. Winston O'Boogie".
1975: Career Break Begins
From 1975, John Lennon began a career break until shortly before his death. He was content to observe Paul McCartney's musical output during this time.
April 1976: McCartney's Final Visit
During Paul McCartney's final visit in April 1976, John Lennon recounted that they watched an episode of "Saturday Night Live" where Lorne Michaels offered $3,000 for a Beatles reunion on the show. They considered making a joke appearance, but decided against it.
1976: Last Recording Session Before Hiatus
In 1976, John Lennon participated in his last recording session until 1980, contributing to Ringo Starr's album Ringo's Rotogravure by performing on the track "Cookin' (In the Kitchen of Love)" in June.
1977: Announcement of Career Break
In 1977, John Lennon formally announced his break from music in Tokyo, stating his decision to prioritize spending time with his baby, Sean.
October 1980: Release of "(Just Like) Starting Over"
In October 1980, John Lennon emerged from his hiatus with the release of the single "(Just Like) Starting Over".
December 1980: Support for Sanitation Workers
On December 5, 1980, John Lennon's last act of political activism was a statement in support of the striking minority sanitation workers in San Francisco. He and Yoko Ono planned to join the workers' protest on December 14, 1980.
1980: Return to Music After Hiatus
In 1980, John Lennon ended his five-year hiatus from the music industry. During the break, Lennon had devoted himself to raising his son Sean.
1980: Release of 'Double Fantasy' and Death
In 1980, John Lennon returned to music with the Ono collaboration "Double Fantasy". Three weeks after the album's release, he was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman.
1980: Lennon Returns to the Studio
In 1980, John Lennon returned to the studio after noticing Paul McCartney's release of "Coming Up." Lennon jokingly complained that the tune was driving him crazy because he couldn't get it out of his head. That same year, Lennon remarked that the Beatles were neither enemies nor friends but that he still loved them.
1984: Posthumous Release of "Milk and Honey"
In 1984, the album "Milk and Honey", a planned follow-up to Double Fantasy with additional material recorded by John Lennon, was issued posthumously.
1986: Skywriting by Word of Mouth published
In 1986, the book "Skywriting by Word of Mouth", containing further works by John Lennon, was published.
1992: Ai: Japan Through John Lennon's Eyes published
In 1992, "Ai: Japan Through John Lennon's Eyes: A Personal Sketchbook", featuring John Lennon's illustrations of Japanese words, was published.
1994: Beatles Reunion and "Free as a Bird"
In 1994, the three surviving members of the Beatles reunited and began working on finishing John Lennon's home recording demo, "Free as a Bird".
1995: Beatles Finish "Real Love"
In 1995, the remaining Beatles finished another of Lennon's demos, "Real Love", which was subsequently released as a single.
1997: Establishment of the BMI Foundation John Lennon Scholarship
In 1997, Yoko Ono and the BMI Foundation established an annual music competition program called the BMI Foundation John Lennon Scholarship for songwriters of contemporary musical genres to honor John Lennon's memory and his creative legacy, giving over $400,000 to talented young musicians in the United States since its establishment.
1998: Release of John Lennon Anthology
In 1998, tracks from the John Sinclair Freedom Rally concert of December 1971 appeared on John Lennon Anthology.
1999: Real Love: The Drawings for Sean published
In 1999, "Real Love: The Drawings for Sean", a collection of John Lennon's drawings, was published.
January 2000: Gimme Some Truth published
In January 2000, Jon Wiener published "Gimme Some Truth: The John Lennon FBI Files", which contained facsimiles of documents from Lennon's FBI file.
2000: Writings and drawings presented in The Beatles Anthology
In 2000, John Lennon's writings and drawings were presented in "The Beatles Anthology".
2006: Ali Confirms Lennon's Sympathy to IMG
In 2006, Tariq Ali confirmed that John Lennon was sympathetic to the International Marxist Group (IMG), a Trotskyist group formed in Britain in 1968.
2013: Downtown Music Publishing Agreement
In 2013, Downtown Music Publishing signed a publishing administration agreement for the US with Lenono Music and Ono Music, representing John Lennon's solo works, including songs like "Imagine" and "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)".
2023: Release of "Now and Then"
In 2023, "Now and Then", a song worked on by the Beatles, was released and topped the UK charts, being dubbed "the last Beatles song".
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