Childhood and Education Journey of John Lennon in Timeline
How education and upbringing influenced the life of John Lennon. A timeline of key moments.
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.
October 1940: John Lennon's birth
In October 1940, John Winston Lennon was born at Liverpool Maternity Hospital to Julia and Alfred Lennon. His father, a merchant seaman, was away at the time.
February 1944: Alfred Lennon's Absence
In February 1944, Alfred Lennon, John's father, went absent without leave, ceasing the regular pay cheques he sent to support John and his mother.
July 1946: Custody Dispute
In July 1946, John Lennon's father took him to Blackpool with the intention of emigrating to New Zealand. His mother followed, leading to a heated argument and a forced choice for young John between his parents.
June 1955: Death of Uncle George
In June 1955, John Lennon's uncle George died of a liver haemorrhage at the age of 52, marking a significant loss in Lennon's life.
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: 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: Meeting Cynthia Powell
In 1957, John Lennon met Cynthia Powell at the Liverpool College of Art. Powell dyed her hair blonde to attract Lennon's attention, after hearing that he was obsessed with Brigitte Bardot.
July 1958: Death of Julia Lennon
In July 1958, John Lennon's mother, Julia Lennon, was tragically killed by a car, deeply traumatising the teenage Lennon.
July 1962: Decision to Marry Cynthia
In July 1962, upon learning of Cynthia's pregnancy, John Lennon decided that they would get married.
1962: Hanratty Hanged
In 1962 James Hanratty was hanged. Later Lennon and Ono began to support efforts by the family of James Hanratty to prove his innocence.
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.
April 1963: Birth of Julian Lennon
On April 8, 1963, Julian Lennon, John Lennon's first son, was born. Lennon was on tour with the Beatles at the time and did not see his son until three days later. The birth was kept secret from the public.
June 1963: Attack on Bob Wooler
In June 1963, at Paul McCartney's twenty-first birthday party, John Lennon physically attacked Cavern Club master of ceremonies Bob Wooler for making a joke about Lennon's honeymoon with Brian Epstein.
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.
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.
November 1966: First Meeting with Yoko Ono
In November 1966, John Lennon first met Yoko Ono at the Indica Gallery in London, where she was preparing her conceptual art exhibit. The gallery owner, John Dunbar, introduced them. Lennon was intrigued by Ono's "Hammer A Nail" piece, and this encounter marked the beginning of their relationship.
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.
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".
November 1968: Divorce Settlement
In November 1968, John Lennon and Cynthia Powell's divorce was settled out of court. Lennon gave Powell £100,000, a small annual payment, and custody of Julian.
November 1968: Ono's Miscarriage
In November 1968, Yoko Ono miscarried a male child a few weeks after John Lennon's divorce from Cynthia Lennon was granted.
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: Misdemeanor conviction for cannabis possession
In 1968, John Lennon was convicted for cannabis possession in London, which the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) later used as a basis for deportation proceedings.
1968: Formation of International Marxist Group
In 1968, the International Marxist Group, a Trotskyist group, was formed in Britain.
1968: Inspiration for "Julia"
In 1968, the memory of Julia Lennon, John's mother, served as a major creative inspiration for him, leading to the creation of The Beatles song "Julia".
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".
March 1969: Lennon and Ono marry and release "Bag One" lithographs
On March 20, 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono married and soon released a series of 14 lithographs called "Bag One" depicting scenes from their honeymoon. Eight of these were deemed indecent and were mostly banned and confiscated.
April 1969: Lennon Changes His Name
On April 22, 1969, John Lennon changed his name by deed poll, adding "Ono" as a middle name. The ceremony took place on the roof of the Apple Corps building.
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.
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.
September 1970: Lennon and Ono undergo Primal Therapy
Between April and September 1970, Lennon and Ono underwent primal therapy with Arthur Janov in London and Los Angeles. The therapy was designed to release emotional pain from their early childhood.
December 1970: Lennon expresses bitterness towards McCartney
In December 1970, during an interview with Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone magazine, Lennon revealed his bitterness towards McCartney, accusing him of using the band's breakup to sell records.
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.
August 1971: Lennon and Ono move to New York
In August 1971, Lennon and Ono moved to New York and embraced US radical left politics.
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: Move to New York
In 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono moved to New York. After this, Julian did not see his father again until 1973.
March 1973: Lennon ordered to leave the US
On March 23, 1973, John Lennon was ordered to leave the United States within 60 days, while Yoko Ono was granted permanent residency.
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.
1973: Ono Suggests Pang Become Lennon's Companion
In 1973, after May Pang had been working with John Lennon and Yoko Ono for three years, Ono confided that she and Lennon were becoming estranged. She suggested that Pang should begin a physical relationship with Lennon.
1973: Reunion with Julian
In 1973, with Pang's encouragement, arrangements were made for Julian and his mother to visit John Lennon in Los Angeles, where they went to Disneyland. Julian started to see his father regularly, and Lennon gave him a drumming part on a Walls and Bridges track.
December 1974: Harrison asks Ford to intervene
In December 1974, George Harrison visited the White House and asked President Gerald Ford to intercede in John Lennon's deportation case.
1974: Alcohol-fueled antics at The Troubadour
In early 1974, Lennon engaged in alcohol-fueled antics with Harry Nilsson, resulting in two widely publicized incidents at The Troubadour club in March.
February 1975: Reunion with Ono
In February 1975, John Lennon agreed to meet Yoko Ono, who claimed to have found a cure for smoking. After the meeting, Lennon did not return home and ultimately resumed his relationship with Ono, ending his separation from her.
October 1975: Deportation attempt barred
On October 8, 1975, a court of appeals barred the attempt to deport John Lennon, stating that "the courts will not condone selective deportation based upon secret political grounds".
October 1975: Birth of Sean Lennon
On October 9, 1975, John Lennon's thirty-fifth birthday, his son Sean Lennon was born. Following Sean's birth, Lennon took on the role of househusband.
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.
1975: Reconciliation with Yoko Ono
In 1975, John Lennon reconciled with Yoko Ono, ending their separation period.
1975: Deportation order overturned
In 1975, the deportation order against John Lennon was overturned.
1976: Lennon granted permanent residency in the US
Lennon's legal battle with immigration authorities, which began in 1971, finally ended in 1976 when he was granted permanent residency in the US.
January 1977: Lennon and Ono attend the Inaugural Ball
In January 1977, John Lennon and Yoko Ono attended the Inaugural Ball for President Jimmy Carter.
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.
September 1980: Lennon's Comments on Family and Rebellion
In September 1980, John Lennon reflected on his family and his rebellious nature, providing insights into his upbringing and personal development.
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: Harrison's Autobiography Offends Lennon
In 1980, George Harrison offended John Lennon when he published his autobiography, "I, Me, Mine," which Lennon felt made little mention of him and his influence on Harrison's life.
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: Lennon's Recollection of Meeting Ono
In 1980, John Lennon recalled his first encounter with Yoko Ono in November 1966, noting that she had not heard of the Beatles at the time of their meeting at the Indica Gallery in London.
1987: McCartney's Interview on Lennon
In a 1987 interview, Paul McCartney reflected on John Lennon's leadership and influence within The Beatles, highlighting Lennon's quick wit and intelligence.
2015: Death of Cynthia Powell
Cynthia Powell, John Lennon's first wife, passed away in 2015.
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