John Lennon
English musician, singer-songwriter, and peace activist who co-founded the Beatles, the most commercially successful band in history, and later had a groundbreaking solo career.
Formed the Beatles in 1960; revolutionized pop music with innovative songwriting; pursued solo career after 1970 breakup; became global peace activist; released iconic album 'Imagine' (1971); fatally shot in New York City at age 40.
- Parents separated when he was 4; raised by his aunt Mimi after his mother's death when he was 17.
- Met Paul McCartney in 1957, forming the core songwriting partnership of the Beatles; initially faced multiple rejections from record labels.
- Married Yoko Ono in 1969 amid controversy, with fans blaming her for the Beatles' breakup; staged famous 'bed-ins' for peace in Amsterdam and Montreal.
- Took a 5-year hiatus from music (1975-1980) to raise his son Sean; returned with acclaimed album 'Double Fantasy' weeks before his death.
- Assassinated by Mark David Chapman, a mentally unstable fan who shot him four times in the back outside his Dakota apartment building.
