John Lennon was born in Liverpool, England, during a German air raid. His parents weren’t around much, and he was primarily brought up by his aunt Mimi. Even as a child, he was known for his humour – sometimes to his teachers’ frustration. Although he left school without formal qualifications, he was artistic and went on to spend several years at the Liverpool College of Art.

In 1956, John established a small band called The Quarrymen. At a performance in 1957, he met Paul McCartney. Together, they went on to form one of the most powerful musical partnerships in history. His sharp wit and humour fitted well with Paul’s. George Harrison and Ringo Starr later joined them, and they became the world-famous band The Beatles.

The success and enthusiasm for The Beatles in the 1960s led to the term ‘Beatlemania’. They made countless records and performed many concerts during their decade-long successful reign as an iconic band. Their music is still hugely popular today, with over 600 million recordings sold worldwide.

In 1969, John decided to use his creativity to produce his own solo work. He married Yoko Ono, and they created work both separately and together. He also believed strongly in the possibility of world peace, and he and Yoko Ono campaigned strongly for this. To protest against the Vietnam War, they both stayed in bed for a week and invited the media to interview them. It was a creative way to get attention on an issue they cared about.

Tragically, John was killed outside his home in 1980. His words and music continue to resonate today: