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, a pivotal figure in music and activism, achieved global recognition as the founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. His songwriting collaboration with Paul McCartney is celebrated as one of the most successful in history. Beyond his musical achievements, Lennon was known for his political activism, using his platform to advocate for peace and social change. He remains an influential and iconic figure in popular culture.
1917: Homage to Marcel Duchamp
In 1968, Lennon's "You Are Here" show also included a ready made black bike (an apparent homage to Marcel Duchamp and his 1917 Bicycle Wheel).
October 1940: John Lennon's Birth
In October 1940, John Winston Lennon was born at Liverpool Maternity Hospital to Julia and Alfred Lennon.
1940: Birth of John Lennon
John Lennon was born in 1940. No other information provided.
February 1944: Father's Absence
In February 1944, Alfred Lennon went absent without leave, ceasing the regular pay cheques that supported John and his mother.
July 1946: Custody Dispute
In July 1946, John Lennon's parents had a heated argument regarding his custody, leading to a moment where he had to choose between them.
June 1955: Death of Uncle George
In June 1955, John Lennon's uncle George died of a liver haemorrhage at the age of 52, impacting Lennon during his adolescence.
September 1956: Formation of The Quarrymen
In September 1956, John Lennon, at the age of 15, formed the skiffle group 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: First Guitar
In 1956, Julia Lennon bought John his first guitar, an inexpensive Gallotone Champion acoustic, despite Mimi's skepticism about his musical aspirations.
1957: End of High School
In 1957, John Lennon ended his high school at Quarry Bank High School.
1957: Meeting Cynthia Powell
In 1957, John Lennon met Cynthia Powell at the Liverpool College of Art. This marked the beginning of their relationship.
July 1958: Death of Julia Lennon
In July 1958, John Lennon's mother, Julia, was killed in a car accident, deeply traumatizing the teenage Lennon.
1960: The Beatles Emerge
In 1960, The Quarrymen evolved into The Beatles, marking a significant step in Lennon's career.
1960: The Beatles Form and Hamburg Residency Begins
In early 1960, Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Sutcliffe officially became "The Beatles". In August 1960, they began a 48-night residency in Hamburg.
April 1961: Second Hamburg Residency
In April 1961, The Beatles accepted a second residency in Hamburg, continuing to hone their skills and build their reputation.
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 undertook their third residency in Hamburg, further solidifying their musical foundation.
July 1962: Decision to Marry Cynthia
In July 1962, after learning that Cynthia was pregnant, John Lennon decided that they would get married.
1962: James Hanratty Case
In 1962, James Hanratty was hanged, and later John Lennon and Yoko Ono supported efforts by Hanratty's family to prove his innocence, though his conviction was eventually upheld by DNA evidence.
April 1963: Birth of Julian Lennon
In April 1963, specifically on the 8th, Julian Lennon was born while John Lennon was touring. Julian's birth was kept secret to protect the Beatles' image.
June 1963: Assault on Bob Wooler
In June 1963, at 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.
1963: Recording of Please Please Me Album
During the recording of the Beatles' debut album, Please Please Me, in 1963, Lennon's voice was strained due to a cold while recording "Twist and Shout".
1963: Jamming with McCartney
In 1963, John Lennon's jamming on a piano with McCartney led to the creation of the Beatles' first US number one, "I Want to Hold Your Hand".
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, when John Lennon was 24, "In His Own Write" was published, featuring a mix of short stories, poetry, plays, and drawings, showcasing his love of wordplay and nonsense.
1965: Publication of A Spaniard in the Works
In 1965, Lennon released "A Spaniard in the Works".
1965: LSD Introduction
In March 1965, John Lennon and George Harrison were unknowingly introduced to LSD, marking the beginning of the band's experimentation with psychedelic drugs.
November 1966: First Meeting with Yoko Ono
In November 1966, specifically on the 9th, John Lennon first met Yoko Ono at the Indica Gallery in London during her conceptual art exhibit.
1967: Death of Brian Epstein
In 1967, Brian Epstein, the Beatles' manager since 1962, passed away, impacting the band's direction and management.
1967: Transcendental Meditation Seminar
In 1967, John Lennon and Cynthia traveled by train to Bangor, Wales for the Maharishi Yogi's Transcendental Meditation seminar.
1967: Lennon Funds and Participates in Ono's Art Exhibition
In 1967, John Lennon funded and anonymously participated in Yoko Ono's art exhibition "Half-A-Room" held at Lisson Gallery.
1967: Mellotron on Strawberry Fields Forever
In 1967, John Lennon's Mellotron keyboard was heard on a Beatles recording for the first time on the song "Strawberry Fields Forever".
February 1968: The Beatles travel to India
In February 1968, the Beatles, influenced by Harrison and Lennon, went to India to seek guidance from the Maharishi.
May 1968: Affair with Yoko Ono
In May 1968, while Cynthia was on holiday, John Lennon invited Yoko Ono to his home and they spent the night recording what would become the Two Virgins album.
November 1968: Divorce Settlement with Cynthia
In November 1968, John Lennon's divorce case with Cynthia was settled out of court. Lennon gave her £100,000 and custody of Julian.
November 1968: Ono's Miscarriage
In November 1968, specifically on the 21st, Yoko Ono miscarried a male child, a few weeks after Lennon's divorce from Cynthia was granted.
1968: The Lennon Play: In His Own Write Opens
In 1968, "The Lennon Play: In His Own Write", co-adapted by Victor Spinetti and Adrienne Kennedy, opened at The Old Vic; Lennon and Ono attended the opening night, marking their second public appearance together.
1968: Comic for Macrobiotic Magazine
In 1968, John Lennon drew a comic for the macrobiotic magazine Harmony.
1968: Formation of International Marxist Group
In 1968, the International Marxist Group, a Trotskyist group, was formed in Britain, and John Lennon was reportedly sympathetic to it, though the FBI deemed him of limited effectiveness as a revolutionary.
1968: The White Album Release
In 1968, the portrait photo of John Lennon included in the packaging of The Beatles LP (aka The White Album).
1968: You Are Here Art Exhibition
In the summer of 1968, Lennon began showing his painting and conceptual art at his You Are Here art exhibition held at Robert Fraser Gallery in London.
March 1969: Lennon and Ono's marriage and "Bag One" release
On March 20, 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono got married and released a series of lithographs called "Bag One", which faced censorship due to their depiction of scenes from their honeymoon.
April 1969: Name Change to John Ono Lennon
In April 1969, specifically on the 22nd, John Lennon legally changed his name by deed poll, adding "Ono" as a middle name.
1969: Self-Portrait Film Appearance
In 1969, John Lennon appeared in the Yoko Ono Fluxus art film Self-Portrait, which consisted of a single forty-minute shot of Lennon's penis.
1969: Drawing for Wedding Album
In 1969, John Lennon drew fine art prints one printed inside the sleeve of his Wedding Album.
1969: Formation of Plastic Ono Band and Bed-In for Peace
In 1969, John Lennon started the Plastic Ono Band with Yoko Ono, held the two-week-long anti-war demonstration bed-in for peace, and left the Beatles.
1969: Lennon Writes Skit 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!".
January 1970: Bag One Lithographs Exhibition
On 15 January 1970, Lennon exhibited his Bag One lithographs at Eugene Schuster's London Arts Gallery, but the show was raided by police 24 hours later due to some lithographs being deemed indecent.
June 1970: GRAPEFRUIT FLUXBANQUET
From 18 April to 12 June 1970, Lennon and Ono presented a series of Fluxus conceptual art events and concerts at Joe Jones's Tone Deaf Music Store called GRAPEFRUIT FLUXBANQUET.
September 1970: Primal therapy with Arthur Janov
Between April and September 1970, John Lennon and Yoko Ono underwent primal therapy with Arthur Janov in London and Los Angeles.
August 1971: Lennon moves to New York
In August 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono moved to New York and embraced US radical left politics.
December 1971: "John Sinclair Freedom Rally"
In December 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono performed at the "John Sinclair Freedom Rally" in Ann Arbor, Michigan, advocating for the release of John Sinclair, who was imprisoned for marijuana possession. The performance was part of a protest and benefit concert attended by 15,000 people.
1971: Move to New York
In 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono moved to New York, after which Julian did not see his father again until 1973.
1971: Erection Film Production
In 1971, John Lennon made an experimental art film called Erection that was edited on 16 mm film by George Maciunas.
1971: Lennon's Ties with London Anti-War Activists
In 1971, the final 10 documents in Lennon's FBI file reported on his ties with London anti-war activists and had been withheld as containing "national security information provided by a foreign government under an explicit promise of confidentiality".
1972: Lennon Standing up to Nixon
In 1972, young people were thrilled to see Lennon's courage in standing up to [US President] Nixon.
April 1973: Formation of Nutopia
On April 1, 1973, John Lennon and Yoko Ono announced the formation of the state of Nutopia and requested political asylum in the US.
1973: Relocation to The Dakota
In 1973, John Lennon and Yoko Ono relocated to The Dakota building overlooking Central Park for better security.
1973: Separation from Yoko Ono
In 1973, Lennon and Ono separated, during which he produced Harry Nilsson's album.
1973: Beginning of the "Lost Weekend"
In 1973, Yoko Ono suggested May Pang have a physical relationship with John Lennon. Lennon and Pang then began an 18-month period in Los Angeles he later called his "lost weekend".
1973: Reunion with Julian in Los Angeles
In 1973, with Pang's encouragement, Julian and his mother visited John Lennon in Los Angeles, marking the beginning of a more regular relationship between Lennon and his son.
December 1974: Harrison's White House Visit
In December 1974, George Harrison asked Gerald Ford, Nixon's successor, to intercede in Lennon's deportation case during a visit to the White House.
February 1975: Reunion with Yoko Ono
In February 1975, John Lennon agreed to meet with Yoko Ono, who claimed to have a cure for smoking. Following the meeting, Lennon did not return to May Pang, signaling the end of their relationship and a reconciliation with Ono.
October 1975: Birth of Sean Lennon
In October 1975, specifically on the 9th, Sean Lennon, John Lennon's son with Yoko Ono, was born. Following Sean's birth, Lennon took on the role of househusband.
October 1975: Deportation Attempt Barred
On October 8, 1975, a court of appeals barred the deportation attempt, stating "the courts will not condone selective deportation based upon secret political grounds".
1975: Reconciliation with Yoko Ono
In 1975, John Lennon and Yoko Ono reconciled after a period of separation.
1975: Deportation Order Overturned
In 1975, the deportation order against John Lennon was overturned.
1976: Lennon granted permanent residency in the US
After a four-year legal battle with immigration authorities, John Lennon was finally granted permanent residency in the US in 1976.
1976: Devotion to Sean and "Cookin' (In the Kitchen of Love)"
In 1976, John Lennon began a five-year hiatus from the music industry to focus on raising his son Sean. During this time, he also wrote and performed on the track "Cookin' (In the Kitchen of Love)" for Ringo Starr, which would be his last recording session until 1980.
January 1977: Attendance at Inaugural Ball
In January 1977, John Lennon and Yoko Ono attended the Inaugural Ball for Jimmy Carter.
1977: Formal Announcement of Music Break
In 1977, John Lennon formally announced his break from music in Tokyo to focus on family life with his son Sean.
September 1980: Lennon's Reflection on Family and Rebellion
In September 1980, John Lennon reflected on his family and his rebellious nature, shortly before his death.
December 1980: Support for Sanitation Workers
In December 1980, John Lennon's last act of political activism was a statement in support of the striking minority sanitation workers in San Francisco, with plans to join their protest on December 14.
1980: Lennon's Recollection of Meeting Ono
In 1980, John Lennon recounted his first meeting with Yoko Ono, describing how he wanted to hammer a nail into her art piece.
1980: Death of John Lennon
John Lennon died in 1980. No other information provided.
1983: ACLU Sues FBI
In 1983, with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, Jon Wiener sued the FBI to release withheld pages regarding the Bureau's role in attempting to deport John Lennon.
1991: ACLU Wins Suit Against FBI
In 1991, the ACLU, representing Jon Wiener, won a favorable decision in their suit against the FBI in the Ninth Circuit, regarding the release of files documenting the Bureau's role in attempting to deport John Lennon.
April 1992: Justice Department Appeals Decision to Supreme Court
In April 1992, the Justice Department appealed the decision to the Supreme Court regarding the release of John Lennon's FBI files; however, the court declined to review the case.
1997: Justice Department Settles With ACLU, Releases Lennon Files
In 1997, respecting President Bill Clinton's new rule, the Justice Department settled most of the outstanding issues outside court and released almost all of the contested John Lennon's FBI documents.
January 2000: Wiener Publishes Book on Lennon's FBI Files
In January 2000, Jon Wiener published "Gimme Some Truth: The John Lennon FBI Files," containing facsimiles of the documents obtained through his 14-year campaign.
2005: Powell's Memoir "John"
In 2005, Cynthia Powell released her memoir titled "John", which detailed her relationship with John Lennon, including instances of abuse and his possessive nature.
December 2006: Release of Remaining FBI Files
In December 2006, the final 10 documents in John Lennon's FBI file were released, reporting on his ties with London anti-war activists in 1971.
2006: Lennon's Courage
In a 2006 Guardian article, Jon Wiener wrote: "For young people in 1972, it was thrilling to see Lennon's courage in standing up to [US President] Nixon. That willingness to take risks with his career, and his life, is one reason why people still admire him today."
2024: Lennon and Windsor Glasses
Writing for El País in 2024, Amaia Odriozola described Lennon's Windsor glasses as being "known all over the world" and credited him with pioneering glasses as a "style statement" for musicians.
