John Lennon, foster child, was the founder
of the greatest rock group in recording history: the Beatles.
With members Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr along
with Lennon, the Beatles were the first group in history to enjoy
idol status, previously reserved for individual acts like Frank
Sinatra or Elvis. They created an electric atmosphere in popular
music in the 60’s and their influence is evident throughout
rock and roll. Their songs have become modern-day folk songs and
they’ve sold more records than any other band. The Beatles
are the only group in history to have twenty songs reach number
one. They first appeared in the U.S. on black and white TV in 1964
and ruled until the band broke up in 1970.
John Lennon was born October 9, 1940 in Liverpool England. At
the time of his birth, England was experiencing the frightening
blackouts, air raids, and terrible bombings of the Second World
War. John’s birth took place during a lull in the bombing
of Liverpool, which was targeted by the Germans because of the
docks. As the bombing continued, Julia and her newborn baby took
refuge in nearby makeshift bomb shelters.
When John was born, his father, Alfred, was away at sea, and did
not reappear for another 18 months. He played practically no part
in his son’s early life. John’s mother, Julia, was
left as the sole caregiver for her son. And when Alfred came home,
she filed for divorce. When his mom began seeing a man named Dykins
who the preschooler did not like, John became angry and rough,
acting out. When he was five and a half, little John was expelled
from kindergarten for misbehavior.
Time and time again he ran away from home to make his way to his
Aunt Mary’s house.
One time when he got lost on his way to his aunt’s house,
his father came for him and announced that he was emigrating to
Australia with his son. Mom Julia confronted him and the ensuing
argument ended with their son being asked to choose between them.
Five year old John chose to stay with his mother.
By now, Julia and Dykins were living in a small flat with John.
But his Aunt Mary began to interfere. She was a determined and
forceful personality and had previously taken part in raising John.
She now felt that the accomodations in the flat were not suitable
for the child. She called a social worker who first thought that
children should remain with mothers. But when Mary pointed out
that the young John would be sharing one bedroom with two adults,
the social worker gave in and handed little John to Aunt Mary and
her husband to raise.
Alfred Lennon disappeared from his son’s life. John said: “I
soon forgot my father, it was like he was dead.” However
he said of Julia: “I did see my mother now and again, and
my feeling never died off for her. I often thought of her. . .
She (Mimi) said she was a long, long way away.” In fact Julia
lived a mere three miles away.
John Lennon moved in with his Aunt Mimi (Mary) and her husband
George when he was 5 and although he did see his mother regularly,
his aunt and uncle provided the major grounding influence in his
life. One biographer notes that even though John would engage in
outrageous behavior and be rude, when the occasion called for it,
he knew how to behave with grace in social situations. These skills
he learned from Aunt Mary and Uncle George.
By the time John was a teen, he was spending more and more time
with his mom, although his relationship with her was more as a
friend, than as mother and son. When he wanted a guitar to play,
his Aunt Mimi objected to wasting her money on a “craze”.
John then asked his mother for a guitar, which she gladly bought
for him. Aunt Mimi wasn’t happy about this and would not
allow him to play or practice in the house. So John played on the
porch, singing to himself. His Aunt said, “The guitar’s
all right, John, but you’ll never make a living with it”.
Music became important in John’s life. He had always been
interested in art. But he had no use for the discipline of school.
He was an unwilling student and failed his classes, which was troubling
because John was obviously intelligent. Probably he was suffering
somewhat from his displacement from his parents. And most likely
he was rebelling from the strict rules at his Aunt Mimi’s
house. John says: “My whole school life was a case of ‘I
couldn’t care less.’ It was a joke as far as I was
concerned. Art was the only thing I could do, and my headmaster
told me that if I didn’t go to art school, I might as well
give up life.”
In 1957 John entered the Art College of Liverpool Institute. The
next summer, his mother, Julia, was tragically killed in a car
accident. John would suffer for years with his feelings about his
mother’s death. Two songs, “Mother” and “Julia” were
songs about Julia Lennon.
Mother, you had me, but I never had you
I wanted you, you didn’t want me
So I, I just got to tell you
Goodbye, goodbye
Mother
Music was now taking up more and more of John’s time. His
band the “Quarrymen” had the first major “gig” on
July 6, 1957 and it was here that John met another musician, Paul
McCartney. By 1960 George Harrison had joined the group and in
1961 Ringo Starr became the Beatles drummer thus completing the “Fab
Four”. Renamed the “Beatles” the group’s
popularity sky-rocketed when their records were released in America.
During the Beatles recording career from 1962 to 1970, the mass
hysteria that resulted whenever they performed was called Beatlemania.
In 1980 John came out of retirement and was recording his first
album in six years. On December 8, he was returning from a recording
session around midnight, John was shot to death by a crazed fan
outside his New York apartment building.
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