John Lennon Research Paper Outline
The Life and Legacy of John Lennon
Name
Mr. Hiebner – Methods of Historical Research
October 7th, 2013
Outline
I. INTRODUCTION
II. EARLY LIFE
A. Childhood
B. College and Family
C. Early Bands
III. THE BEATLES
A. Early Beatles
B. Hey-Day
C. Breaking Up
IV. LIFE AFTER BEATLES
A. Solo Career
B. Success
C. Retirement
V. DEATH
VI. LEGACY
VII. CONCLUSION
I. John Lennon has had a large influence on music around the world. His despondent childhood helped create the music that eventually spread across the globe and is still influencing music today. The Beatles have had a large effect on the rock genre and helped shape what music is being created and performed in the …show more content…
contemporary music industry. It all started with John Lennon’s dream to make waves in society. He helped inspire many organizations today who are attempting to continue his legacy.
II. A. On October ninth, 1940, John Winston Lennon was born into a doomed marriage and a world at war. John’s aunt, Mimi Smith, named him after Winston Churchill. For the first few years of his life John lived with his mother, Julia. For these years Julia would collect a small salary from John’s father, Fred. The supply of money suddenly ended and Fred Lennon dropped off the face of the planet. Mimi complained to social services and Julia handed John over to Mimi. Eventually, Fred returned and planned to take John to New Zealand. Julia followed him and confronted him. After a heated argument John was asked to choose between the two of them. John chose Fred until Julia started walking away and he ran back to her. This was the last contact John had with his father for around twenty years.
II. B. Throughout the rest of his childhood he lived with Mimi and her husband, George. John attended Dovedale Primary School for his early education; he then attended Quarry Bank High School in Liverpool. Julia bought John his first guitar. It was a Gallotone Champion acoustic guitar that was very inexpensive. John failed his examinations to get into college. He was barely accepted into the Liverpool College of Art after much prying from Mimi.
II. C. John put together his first band when he was fifteen. The Quarrymen were named after John’s high school, Quarry Bank. This band was described as half skiffle, half rock group. The band’s line up consisted of some of John Lennon’s closest friends: Paul McCartney, Pete Shotton, and George Harrison. Their first single was titled “Hello Little Girl.”
III. A. Early incarnations of the Beatles included “Johnny & the Moon Dogs”, “The Silver Beetles”, and “The Quarrymen” until they finally settled on The Beatles. Allan Williams joined as an unofficial manager. The Beatles became considered as one of the most influential acts in the history of rock music. The group consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They started gaining popularity in the United Kingdom with their first hit, “Love Me Do”, in late 1962. From 1965 on, the Beatles produced what many critics consider to be their greatest material.
III. B. The Beatles started playing shows in Homburg, Germany. There, Ringo Starr who previously played with Rory Storm joined them and the Hurricanes. They continued to play a regular gig at the Cavern in Liverpool, where they were paid five pounds for every show. As they gained popularity, the Beatles started getting paid around three hundred pounds for every show. In September of 1962 the Beatles recorded their first hit in London. In November of 1962 The Beatles gave a charity concert at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London for an upper-class audience. At the show John made a famous announcement: “Would the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands? And the rest of you, if you’ll just rattle your jewelry.”1 The Beatles played a show in October of 1963 at the London Palladium, making them famous in Great Britain. John’s first son was born while the Beatles were on tour. Julian was born while they were playing the Royal Variety Show performance. They went through a slight scare when the Beatles played a show and they could not hear the music over the screaming fans. The Beatles played their last show in August in 1966.
III. C. Lennon was involuntarily introduced to LSD and started making increasing use of the drug. The group traveled to India, looking for guidance, and composed most of the songs for Abbey Road, which is one of the most well-known and iconic albums by the Beatles. Throughout this time period John Lennon’s focus slowly grew past the Beatles. “How I Won the War” was an anti-war comedy by the Beatles. It was shown in cinemas in October of 1967. The film itself proved to by a critical disappointment, but the soundtrack was a success. Lennon married Yoko Ono in March of 1969 and they started to record music together. John left the Beatles in September of 1969, agreeing not to inform the media. He was outraged by the fact the McCartney released his solo album in April of 1970, publicizing the break. This led to John’s low residing anger for Paul.
IV. A. Lennon and Ono when through therapy to attempt to confront and release childhood pain. Lennon then released his debut solo album “John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band” in 1970. This album received high praise. This album had many songs that brought out his feelings of childhood rejection and attacks on social systems. Lennon’s next album, “Imagine”, became an anthem for anti-war movements. The song “How Do You Sleep?” was a emotional song regarding his feelings about Paul McCartney.
IV.
B. In early 1974, Lennon started drinking heavily and this led to some very embarrassing acts while under the influence. John moved back to New York and recorded the album “Walls and Bridges”, released in October of 1974. This album contained his only number-one non-Beatles single in his lifetime, “Whatever Gets You thru the Night”. Elton John featured on backing vocals and the piano. Lennon co-wrote “Fame”, David Bowie’s United States number one hit and sang backing vocals and played the guitar for the recording. In the same month, Elton John topped the charts with “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”, which also featured John Lennon. Lennon released an album of cover songs titled “Rock ‘n’ Roll” in 1975.
IV. C. John’s son Sean was born in October of 1975. Lennon devoted himself to his son, which began his hiatus from the music industry. During this hiatus, he devoted all of his attention to family. He formally announced his break from music in Tokyo in 1977, telling the people that he wanted to focus on his family. Lennon eventually emerged from his five-year retirement with the single “(Just Like) Starting Over”. The next month, the single was followed by the album “Double Fantasy” which talked about his family life. This album was not a big hit with the critics, and it was not received
well.
V. On the eight of December 1980, around eleven o’clock John and Yoko were returning to their New York apartment. David Chapman, who had earlier gotten a signed copy of Double Fantasy, shot John Lennon four times in the back with a .38 revolver at the entrance to the apartment building. Lennon was taken to the emergency room of the nearby Roosevelt Hospital and was promptly pronounced dead on arrival. Lennon was cremated. His ashes were scattered in Central Park, where the Strawberry Fields memorial was later created. Chapman was charged with second-degree murder and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced with twenty years to life in prison.
VI. Lennon continues to be mourned around the world through many tributes and memorials. The airport in Lennon’s hometown was renamed the Liverpool John Lennon Airport. On what would have been Lennon’s seventieth birthday, the John Lennon Peace Monument was unveiled by Cynthia and Julian Lennon, in Chavasse Park, Liverpool. Lennon has revolutionized the sound, style, and atmosphere of popular music. Critics say that he has opened doors for rock and roll music around the world. The band Oasis and their lead singer, Liam Gallagher, think of Lennon as a hero.
VII. John Lennon has had a lasting impact on many things, even today. His anti-war movements and peace activism has changed people’s mindsets and helped people stay strong in times of trouble. The Beatles have practically made the rock ‘n’ rock genre what it is today. There are many organizations and associations dedicated to continuing and keeping the legacy of John Lennon alive to this day. It all started with little John Lennon who no one believed would make a lasting impact on society.
Endnotes
1. "John Lennon." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2013. 14 October 2013. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johnlennon387432.html
Opinion Page
I think that John Lennon’s impact has changed the way that the music industry has pegged the rock ‘n’ roll and pop genres. As the Beatles were an amalgamation of the two, they set up a platform for many bands to bridge the gap just and they did. Many bands have attempted to emulate the prodigious impact that the Beatles had and I have not found one that lives up to my expectations.
John Lennon’s “Imagine” album is arguably one of the most influential albums of its time. Yet, it wasn’t received as well as his first solo record. I find that sometimes the truth in its most legitimate form can sometimes be frightening to those who haven’t come to terms with the unshakeable boulder that is known as truth. Humanity has to learn to get past their own inhibitions about facing the music and continue on. Perhaps critics in the time of the release of “Imagine” didn’t realize the immense impact the album had on society.
Some would argue that Lennon’s music making ability was worn by the time he was releasing albums like “Double Fantasy” but I think that it is just the opposite. There is no way to “beat a dead horse” in music. Music is a world that is ever changing and will never stop. No matter what music you create or enjoy, there will be someone who will appreciate your efforts to please a community of people. Yes, critics will be critics, yet there is pureness in music that will never be taken away by the amounts of belittlement in the world today.
Documents
Works Cited
Assgayas, Michka. The Beatles and the Sixties. New York, Henry Holt and Co., 1996. Print.
Ilic, Dusko. “John Lennon is Dead.” September 2013
Keno, “Rock ‘N Roll Biography: John Lennon.” 1999
Pauline Ovens, “John Lennon.” November 1998
Name
Mr. Hiebner – Methods of Historical Research
October 7th, 2013
Outline
I. INTRODUCTION
II. EARLY LIFE
A. Childhood
B. College and Family
C. Early Bands
III. THE BEATLES
A. Early Beatles
B. Hey-Day
C. Breaking Up
IV. LIFE AFTER BEATLES
A. Solo Career
B. Success
C. Retirement
V. DEATH
VI. LEGACY
VII. CONCLUSION
I. John Lennon has had a large influence on music around the world. His despondent childhood helped create the music that eventually spread across the globe and is still influencing music today. The Beatles have had a large effect on the rock genre and helped shape what music is being created and performed in the …show more content…
contemporary music industry. It all started with John Lennon’s dream to make waves in society. He helped inspire many organizations today who are attempting to continue his legacy.
II. A. On October ninth, 1940, John Winston Lennon was born into a doomed marriage and a world at war. John’s aunt, Mimi Smith, named him after Winston Churchill. For the first few years of his life John lived with his mother, Julia. For these years Julia would collect a small salary from John’s father, Fred. The supply of money suddenly ended and Fred Lennon dropped off the face of the planet. Mimi complained to social services and Julia handed John over to Mimi. Eventually, Fred returned and planned to take John to New Zealand. Julia followed him and confronted him. After a heated argument John was asked to choose between the two of them. John chose Fred until Julia started walking away and he ran back to her. This was the last contact John had with his father for around twenty years.
II. B. Throughout the rest of his childhood he lived with Mimi and her husband, George. John attended Dovedale Primary School for his early education; he then attended Quarry Bank High School in Liverpool. Julia bought John his first guitar. It was a Gallotone Champion acoustic guitar that was very inexpensive. John failed his examinations to get into college. He was barely accepted into the Liverpool College of Art after much prying from Mimi.
II. C. John put together his first band when he was fifteen. The Quarrymen were named after John’s high school, Quarry Bank. This band was described as half skiffle, half rock group. The band’s line up consisted of some of John Lennon’s closest friends: Paul McCartney, Pete Shotton, and George Harrison. Their first single was titled “Hello Little Girl.”
III. A. Early incarnations of the Beatles included “Johnny & the Moon Dogs”, “The Silver Beetles”, and “The Quarrymen” until they finally settled on The Beatles. Allan Williams joined as an unofficial manager. The Beatles became considered as one of the most influential acts in the history of rock music. The group consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They started gaining popularity in the United Kingdom with their first hit, “Love Me Do”, in late 1962. From 1965 on, the Beatles produced what many critics consider to be their greatest material.
III. B. The Beatles started playing shows in Homburg, Germany. There, Ringo Starr who previously played with Rory Storm joined them and the Hurricanes. They continued to play a regular gig at the Cavern in Liverpool, where they were paid five pounds for every show. As they gained popularity, the Beatles started getting paid around three hundred pounds for every show. In September of 1962 the Beatles recorded their first hit in London. In November of 1962 The Beatles gave a charity concert at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London for an upper-class audience. At the show John made a famous announcement: “Would the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands? And the rest of you, if you’ll just rattle your jewelry.”1 The Beatles played a show in October of 1963 at the London Palladium, making them famous in Great Britain. John’s first son was born while the Beatles were on tour. Julian was born while they were playing the Royal Variety Show performance. They went through a slight scare when the Beatles played a show and they could not hear the music over the screaming fans. The Beatles played their last show in August in 1966.
III. C. Lennon was involuntarily introduced to LSD and started making increasing use of the drug. The group traveled to India, looking for guidance, and composed most of the songs for Abbey Road, which is one of the most well-known and iconic albums by the Beatles. Throughout this time period John Lennon’s focus slowly grew past the Beatles. “How I Won the War” was an anti-war comedy by the Beatles. It was shown in cinemas in October of 1967. The film itself proved to by a critical disappointment, but the soundtrack was a success. Lennon married Yoko Ono in March of 1969 and they started to record music together. John left the Beatles in September of 1969, agreeing not to inform the media. He was outraged by the fact the McCartney released his solo album in April of 1970, publicizing the break. This led to John’s low residing anger for Paul.
IV. A. Lennon and Ono when through therapy to attempt to confront and release childhood pain. Lennon then released his debut solo album “John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band” in 1970. This album received high praise. This album had many songs that brought out his feelings of childhood rejection and attacks on social systems. Lennon’s next album, “Imagine”, became an anthem for anti-war movements. The song “How Do You Sleep?” was a emotional song regarding his feelings about Paul McCartney.
IV.
B. In early 1974, Lennon started drinking heavily and this led to some very embarrassing acts while under the influence. John moved back to New York and recorded the album “Walls and Bridges”, released in October of 1974. This album contained his only number-one non-Beatles single in his lifetime, “Whatever Gets You thru the Night”. Elton John featured on backing vocals and the piano. Lennon co-wrote “Fame”, David Bowie’s United States number one hit and sang backing vocals and played the guitar for the recording. In the same month, Elton John topped the charts with “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”, which also featured John Lennon. Lennon released an album of cover songs titled “Rock ‘n’ Roll” in 1975.
IV. C. John’s son Sean was born in October of 1975. Lennon devoted himself to his son, which began his hiatus from the music industry. During this hiatus, he devoted all of his attention to family. He formally announced his break from music in Tokyo in 1977, telling the people that he wanted to focus on his family. Lennon eventually emerged from his five-year retirement with the single “(Just Like) Starting Over”. The next month, the single was followed by the album “Double Fantasy” which talked about his family life. This album was not a big hit with the critics, and it was not received
well.
V. On the eight of December 1980, around eleven o’clock John and Yoko were returning to their New York apartment. David Chapman, who had earlier gotten a signed copy of Double Fantasy, shot John Lennon four times in the back with a .38 revolver at the entrance to the apartment building. Lennon was taken to the emergency room of the nearby Roosevelt Hospital and was promptly pronounced dead on arrival. Lennon was cremated. His ashes were scattered in Central Park, where the Strawberry Fields memorial was later created. Chapman was charged with second-degree murder and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced with twenty years to life in prison.
VI. Lennon continues to be mourned around the world through many tributes and memorials. The airport in Lennon’s hometown was renamed the Liverpool John Lennon Airport. On what would have been Lennon’s seventieth birthday, the John Lennon Peace Monument was unveiled by Cynthia and Julian Lennon, in Chavasse Park, Liverpool. Lennon has revolutionized the sound, style, and atmosphere of popular music. Critics say that he has opened doors for rock and roll music around the world. The band Oasis and their lead singer, Liam Gallagher, think of Lennon as a hero.
VII. John Lennon has had a lasting impact on many things, even today. His anti-war movements and peace activism has changed people’s mindsets and helped people stay strong in times of trouble. The Beatles have practically made the rock ‘n’ rock genre what it is today. There are many organizations and associations dedicated to continuing and keeping the legacy of John Lennon alive to this day. It all started with little John Lennon who no one believed would make a lasting impact on society.
Endnotes
1. "John Lennon." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2013. 14 October 2013. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johnlennon387432.html
Opinion Page
I think that John Lennon’s impact has changed the way that the music industry has pegged the rock ‘n’ roll and pop genres. As the Beatles were an amalgamation of the two, they set up a platform for many bands to bridge the gap just and they did. Many bands have attempted to emulate the prodigious impact that the Beatles had and I have not found one that lives up to my expectations.
John Lennon’s “Imagine” album is arguably one of the most influential albums of its time. Yet, it wasn’t received as well as his first solo record. I find that sometimes the truth in its most legitimate form can sometimes be frightening to those who haven’t come to terms with the unshakeable boulder that is known as truth. Humanity has to learn to get past their own inhibitions about facing the music and continue on. Perhaps critics in the time of the release of “Imagine” didn’t realize the immense impact the album had on society.
Some would argue that Lennon’s music making ability was worn by the time he was releasing albums like “Double Fantasy” but I think that it is just the opposite. There is no way to “beat a dead horse” in music. Music is a world that is ever changing and will never stop. No matter what music you create or enjoy, there will be someone who will appreciate your efforts to please a community of people. Yes, critics will be critics, yet there is pureness in music that will never be taken away by the amounts of belittlement in the world today.
Documents
Works Cited
Assgayas, Michka. The Beatles and the Sixties. New York, Henry Holt and Co., 1996. Print.
Ilic, Dusko. “John Lennon is Dead.” September 2013
Keno, “Rock ‘N Roll Biography: John Lennon.” 1999
Pauline Ovens, “John Lennon.” November 1998