History of John Lennon in Timeline
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.
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: 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.
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.
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.
July 1962: Decision to Marry Cynthia
In July 1962, upon learning of Cynthia's pregnancy, John Lennon decided that they would get married.
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.
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.
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.
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: "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: Appointment as MBE
In 1965, John Lennon was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) with the other Beatles.
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.
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.
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: Trip to Bangor and Marriage Breakdown
In 1967, during a train journey to Bangor, Wales, for the Maharishi Yogi's Transcendental Meditation seminar, Cynthia was stopped from boarding, an event which she felt symbolized the end of her marriage. Later, she returned home to find Lennon with Ono.
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".
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: 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: 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: 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: 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".
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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: Report on ties with London anti-war activists
In 1971, John Lennon's ties with London anti-war activists was reported by the FBI and the documents withheld as containing "national security information provided by a foreign government under an explicit promise of confidentiality".
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.
February 1972: Strom Thurmond suggests deportation
In February 1972, Republican Senator Strom Thurmond suggested that deporting John Lennon would be a "strategic counter-measure" against his anti-war activities, as the Nixon administration feared Lennon's involvement in a concert could affect the upcoming election.
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: Lennon's Courage in Standing Up to Nixon
In 1972, John Lennon's courage in standing up to US President Nixon was seen as thrilling to young people.
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.
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.
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".
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.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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".
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.
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.
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.
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: John Lennon's Death
December 1980 marks the death of John Lennon, the English singer, songwriter, musician and political activist. He was known for being the founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles.
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: Archival Footage Used After Lennon's Death
Following John Lennon's death in 1980, all releases of his material use archival footage.
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.
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.
January 1981: "Imagine" Hit Number One in the UK
In January 1981, following John Lennon's death, "Imagine" hit number one in the UK. It was then succeeded at the top of the UK chart by "Woman", the second single from Double Fantasy.
1981: Grammy and BRIT Award for Lennon
In 1981, Double Fantasy won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Additionally, John Lennon received the BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music that year.
1981: Posthumous Grammy and Brit Award
In 1981, after his death, John Lennon's album, Double Fantasy, won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, and he also won the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.
1983: Wiener sues the FBI
In 1983, historian Jon Wiener sued the FBI with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California to release FBI files documenting the Bureau's role in John Lennon's deportation attempt.
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.
1987: Induction into Songwriters Hall of Fame
In 1987, John Lennon was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
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.
1988: Induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (The Beatles)
In 1988, John Lennon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Beatles, recognizing the band's impact on music history.
1991: ACLU wins decision against the 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 John Lennon's FBI files.
April 1992: Justice Department appeals to Supreme Court
In April 1992, the Justice Department appealed the decision regarding the release of John Lennon's FBI files to the Supreme Court, but the court declined to review the case.
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: Induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Solo Artist)
In 1994, John Lennon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist, acknowledging his individual contributions to music.
1994: Induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 1994, John Lennon was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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.
1996: Release of The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus film
In 1996, a film version of The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus was released. John Lennon participated in this television special at the end of 1968 with the Dirty Mac, which also featured Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Mitch Mitchell.
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.
1997: Justice Department releases contested documents
In 1997, the Justice Department settled most of the outstanding issues outside court by releasing all but 10 of the contested documents in John Lennon's FBI file, due to President Bill Clinton's new rule.
1997: Induction into Songwriters Hall of Fame
John Lennon was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1997, recognizing his significant contributions to music.
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.
1999: "Imagine" Wins BBC Poll
In 1999, on National Poetry Day, a BBC poll identified John Lennon's song "Imagine" as the UK's favorite song lyric.
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.
February 2000: Allegations of Lennon's IRA Support
In February 2000, Lennon's cousin Stanley Parkes stated that the singer had given money to the IRA during the 1970s.
2000: Writings and drawings presented in The Beatles Anthology
In 2000, John Lennon's writings and drawings were presented in "The Beatles Anthology".
2002: Eighth Greatest Briton
In 2002, John Lennon was voted eighth in a BBC history poll of the 100 Greatest Britons, solidifying his legacy.
2002: BBC Poll: 100 Greatest Britons
In 2002, a BBC poll voted John Lennon eighth of "100 Greatest Britons".
2002: Liverpool Airport Renamed
In 2002, the airport in John Lennon's hometown was renamed the Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
2003: Rolling Stone's Recognition
In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked John Lennon fifth of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time".
2005: Powell's Memoir
In her 2005 memoir John, Cynthia Powell recalled John Lennon's possessive and sometimes violent behavior during their relationship.
December 2006: Final FBI files released
In December 2006, the final 10 documents in John Lennon's FBI file, which reported on his ties with London anti-war activists in 1971, were released.
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.
2006: Release of The U.S. vs. John Lennon documentary
In 2006, the documentary "The U.S. vs. John Lennon" was released, featuring footage from the 1973 press conference where Lennon and Ono announced the formation of Nutopia.
2006: The Guardian Article on Lennon
In a 2006 Guardian article, Jon Wiener highlighted John Lennon's courage in standing up to US President Nixon as a reason why people still admire him.
2007: Release of "Too Many Cooks (Spoil the Soup)"
In 2007, the Mick Jagger song "Too Many Cooks (Spoil the Soup)", which was produced by Lennon in April 1974 but remained unreleased due to contractual reasons, was finally included on The Very Best of Mick Jagger album.
2008: Rolling Stone's Recognition
In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked John Lennon 38th of "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
2010: Unveiling of the John Lennon Peace Monument
In 2010, on what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday, Cynthia and Julian Lennon unveiled the John Lennon Peace Monument in Chavasse Park, Liverpool.
December 2013: Crater on Mercury Named After Lennon
In December 2013, the International Astronomical Union named one of the craters on Mercury after John Lennon.
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)".
2015: Death of Cynthia Powell
Cynthia Powell, John Lennon's first wife, passed away in 2015.
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".
2024: Lennon's Windsor Glasses as a Style Statement
In 2024, Amaia Odriozola described John Lennon's Windsor glasses as being "known all over the world" and credited him with pioneering glasses as a "style statement" for musicians.
2024: Lost guitar auctioned for $2.9 million
In 2024, a guitar of John Lennon's that was thought to have been lost was found in an attic and auctioned at Julien's Auctions for $2.9 million.
Mentioned in this timeline
Sir Elton John is a highly successful British singer songwriter...
Liverpool is a port city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside...
Nigeria officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a West...
California is the most populous US state located on the...
India officially the Republic of India is a South Asian...
Saturday Night Live SNL is a late-night American sketch comedy...
Trending
54 minutes ago Sean King, West Coast Eagles Pioneer, Passes Away at 60: Tributes Flood In
55 minutes ago Kyle Richards' relationship with Morgan Wade under scrutiny by Andy Cohen and Dolores Catania.
55 minutes ago Rhea Ripley Defends WrestleMania 41 Match Against IYO SKY and Bianca Belair.
56 minutes ago Justin Turner in Cubs Starting Lineup: Third Base Role on Saturday
2 hours ago Brewers vs. Diamondbacks: Highlights, Prediction, Odds and Picks for MLB game.
Michael Mike Knuble is a retired Canadian-born American professional ice hockey right winger He played seasons in the NHL for...
Popular
Doug Ford is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving...
Peter Navarro is an American economist and author known for...
Justin Trudeau served as the rd Prime Minister of Canada...
The Real ID Act of is a US federal law...
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Bruce Pearl is an American college basketball coach currently head...