Products

About

©2018 StudyMode.com

Convictions of John Lennon

Topics: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Give Peace a Chance Pages: 1 (349 words) Published: May 7, 2013
Pop star, composer, and songwriter John Lennon was born October 9, 1940, in Liverpool, England. Lennon met McCartney in 1957 and invited Paul to join his music group. They eventually formed the most successful songwriting partnership in musical history. Lennon left The Beatles in 1969 and later released albums with his wife Yoko Ono, and others. In 1980 a crazed fan killed him. In September of 1969, Lennon returned his MBE (Member of the British Empire), awarded by Queen Elizabeth to the Beatles in 1965, in protest over Great Britain's support for the Vietnam War. After their marriage in March 1969, John and Yoko staged a "bed-in for peace" at the Amsterdam Hilton. It was at their second bed-in in Montreal in June of 1969 that Lennon recorded "Give Peace a Chance" in his hotel room, aided by a host of celebrities such as Tommy Smothers, Timothy Leary, Petula Clark, Dick Gregory, and Murray the K. The song was sung by half a million Vietnam War protestors at the second Vietnam Moratorium Day in October 1969 in Washington, D.C. Noting Lennon's appearance at the Sinclair rally, Senator Strom Thurmond sent a memo to Attorney General John Mitchell in February 1972 declaring that Lennon could pose a serious threat to the re-election of Richard Nixon that year. Lennon could allegedly mobilize the youth vote against Nixon as well as donate sizeable sums of money for rallies that would disrupt Nixon's idea of an orderly America. The following month the Immigration and Naturalization Service began a four-year effort to deport Lennon based on his 1968 conviction of drug possession. Lennon wasn’t religious but atheist. He was one for peace and totally against war and violence. He was what they would call a “hippy”. He stood up for his convictions through protest and by returning awards to countries he didn’t agree with politically. All in all, John Lennon was eventually murdered for his belief and for one of his most controversial quotes, “We’re more popular than Jesus”, as...
Continue Reading

Please join StudyMode to read the full document

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • John Lennon Essay

    ...John Lennon was one among many inspiring and peaceful performers of his time. Lennon first began to perform with his first band, the Quarrymen, named after his high school the Quarry Bank School, at the age of sixteen. This was the year 1956, after World War II. His hometown was still recovering from the aftermath, both physically and emotionally. Lennon’s big musical break happened when he joined the Beatles, around 1960. At this time, his hometown celebrated popularity for its “Merseybeat sound” (Edmondson xvi). John Lennon broke away from the Beatles and started his own solo project in 1969. His solo career focused on antagonizing the modern Vietnam War waging on. John Lennon motivated people to live serenely through his music. John Lennon’s songs became very famous for their political and peaceful encouragement. “All You Need is Love,” was written in 1967 while Lennon was still performing with the Beatles. The song became popular due to its straightforward and clear message of love and peace. The song also poked fun at nations overrun by propaganda. “Give Peace a Chance” was also a song released by John Lennon as part of his solo career. The song was written in 1969, during the Vietnam War. John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, wrote it at their Bed In for Peace, where they would...

    Read More
    1338 Words 4 Pages
  • Essay on John Lennon

    ...John Lennon was known best for his music, but in addition to that he was a philosopher, artist, visionary, social leader and most importantly a common man with a dream. John Winston Lennon was born on October 9, 1940 in Liverpool, England. At a young age he was already very interested in music and would sit in his room and play his guitar for hours on end. His skill with the guitar led to John bouncing around from band to band until he met Paul McCartney and formed the Beatles (Encyclopedia of World Biography). The Beatles were the most successful band ever. They sold over 2 billion albums and toured the world. While Lennon and the Beatles were touring, John stated his first bit of controversy. He said, “We’re (The Beatles) more popular than Jesus.” (History Channel Website) After making millions of dollars Lennon decided to leave the Beatles to pursue a solo career. He made legendary songs that sparked political and social activism and led to controversy (Nardone). Despite John Lennon’s music he had an abusive side that came out in his personal life (Cahalan). Although John Lennon was offensive to the people closest to him and sparked decades of controversy, his musical achievements and the messages he sent through his songs outweigh any altercations he could have made. Over the years, John Lennon’s...

    Read More
    1345 Words 4 Pages
  • John Lennon Essay

    ...will take one of his work to keep it in my room. John Lennon John Lennon Lennon rehearses "Give Peace a Chance" in Montreal, Canada, in 1969 Background information Birth name John Winston Lennon Born 9 October 1940 Liverpool, England, UK Died 8 December 1980 (aged 40) New York, New York, US Genres Rock, pop Occupations Musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, artist, writer Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, harmonium, electronic organ, six-string bass Years active 1957–75, 1980 Labels Parlophone, Capitol, Apple, EMI, Geffen, Polydor Associated acts The Quarrymen, The Beatles, Plastic Ono Band, The Dirty Mac, Yoko Ono Notable instruments Rickenbacker 325 Epiphone Casino Gibson J-160E John Winston Lennon (9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Along with fellow Beatle Paul McCartney, he formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 20th century. Born and raised in Liverpool, Lennon became involved as a teenager in the skiffle craze; his first band, The Quarrymen, evolved into The Beatles in 1960. As the group disintegrated towards the end of the...

    Read More
    10989 Words 30 Pages
  • John Lennon Essay

    ...throughout the times before us, there have been people who have chosen to step forward and defend the rights of others. These people are heroes of Social Justice. Men like John Lennon, conspire to change our world and the lives of those who live in it by spreading a message of peace and fighting for our rights. As a young boy Lennon was fascinated with music and had little interest in school or being the perfect child. He quickly discovered his artistic talents and by the age of 16, had made his own band. From there, his musical talent expanded and the band ‘The Beatles’ erupted as a popular rock band. Lennon used his music to spread a message of peace and to also relay his ideas of a better world. His anti-war movements and protests are a testament of what the world could be like and more importantly what the human mind can imagine. He lives on through his incredibly idealistic music and will continue to do so. John Lennon is a Hero of Social Justice and is the image of Peace. His vision will move our culture from blindness to vision, from numbness to imagination, from war to peace. Outline Thesis: John Lennon is a hero of social justice and has spread his message through his music. I. The Rise of a Hero A. A hero of Social Justice and Human Rights 1. Card D1 B. The beginning: John Lennon...

    Read More
    1846 Words 5 Pages
  • John Lennon Essay

    ...Patton 1 Seth Patton Mrs. Sperry English 12 CP 30 November 2012 The Amazing Legacy of John Lennon “How do you expose somebody who posed nude?” (“John Lennon…” 8) pondered comedian Conan O’Brien in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine twenty years after the tragic death of John Lennon. O’Brien was making a light reference to the controversial album cover of “Virgins” which featured a fully nude John Lennon and Yoko Ono. This album is just one of countless things that Lennon did while alive that, in a way, keeps him so in our hearts and lives. An undeniable influence in style, in culture, and in music, a great effect on the world and world events, and the controversy that made him famous, both then and now are all reminders of the life of the legendary self-proclaimed “Working Class Hero.” John Lennon played a hugely multifarious and influential role in the world in which he lived and created a legacy to leave behind him that would be just as, or more, extensive and profound. To understand why this man had such an incredibly profound impact on his times as well as those after his, one must first understand who he is, where he came from, what he did. Doreen Rappaport, in her novel “John’s Secret Dreams”, depicts the events that ultimately created a legend. John Lennon’s childhood wasn’t an easy...

    Read More
    2215 Words 6 Pages
  • John Lennon Essay

    ...Lennon Thousands of singing fans and followers gather outside of an apartment late one December night in 1980. They are not celebrating, or trying to catch a glimpse of their idol. Instead, they are mourning him. John Lennon, one of the fab four; was shot and killed on December eighth. Before the sun begins to rise the next day, three girls have already taken their own lives after hearing the news. The death of the former Beatle shocked the nation and left a dent on thousands of people. More than music fans were upset. Thousands of peace activist were also displeased with the loss of their role model and leader. Lennon was more than a musician, he was a hero. John Lennon was born October 9, 1940, in Liverpool, England. Lennon's father was not around after he was born and his mom never accepted the responsibilities of motherhood. Therefore, he lived with his aunt and uncle who lived in a nice, working class section of Liverpool ("John Lennon"). Later, Lennon was apart of one of the biggest pop music groups of all time, The Beatles. On February 7, 1964, ten thousand people gathered at Kennedy International Airport in New York City to greet The Beatles on their first visit to America ("John Lennon"). The death of John Lennon struck so many at the heart because it was so unexpected and...

    Read More
    526 Words 2 Pages
  • The death of John Lennon Essay

    ...John Lennon was shot at 10.50pm on the 8th of December 1980 in New York City, outside The Dakota where Lennon lived with his Wife Yoko Ono and their son Sean. Lennon was shot by Hawaiian security guard, Mark David Chapman. On the 8th of December, Lennon and Ono were scheduled to do a photo shoot together for Rolling Stone magazine. The photographer, Annie Leibovitz initially only wanted a photo of Lennon by himself, but when he insisted that she was in the photo with him, she agreed and promised him that it would be on the front cover. The shoot ended at 3.30pm, and once Leibovitz had left Lennon gave what turned out to be his last interview to San Francisco DJ Dave Sholin. The interview for a music show was broadcasted on the RKO Radio Network. After the interview Lennon and Ono left their apartment to go and mix a song created by Ono at 5.40pm. As Lennon and Ono walked outside to a waiting Limo to go to the recording studio there were several people outside waiting to get autographs from Lennon. One of those people was Mark David Chapman, Lennon’s would-be killer. Lennon was handed a copy of his album ‘Double Fantasy’ by Chapman to sign. Lennon signed it for him and handed it back, asking if that was all that he wanted, to which Chapman nodded and smiled. While this was happening, one of Lennon’s...

    Read More
    979 Words 3 Pages
  • John Lennon Essay

    ... John Lennon Agent of Change Amy Kirkland Mr. Cumulonimbus HSB4U 03/03/2014 Kirkland 1 “We're trying to sell peace, like a product, you know, and sell it like people sell soap or soft drinks. And it's the only way to get people aware that peace is possible, and it isn't just inevitable to have violence…” - JOHN LENNON, The David Frost Show, June. 14, 1969. (N.A, 2011.) John Lennon was an icon to people across the nation. A definite Agent of Change. He was only 40 when he died, but his musical legacy, and peace movement are still very much impactful; even up to today. John lived a short life, however the work he did during that short amount of time he was here helped to change the world’s ideas of peace forever. Some of his most popular music expressed thoughts of peace and change, even in some of John’s earlier work including “Help!” which he wrote with Paul McCartney. This song depicts the narrator is in dire help of a helping hand from a friend (depression or just issues in general) how friends should be there for one another.(Oachs, 2010.) Many of John’s actions in the public can be categorized by the positions that Malcolm Gladwell had set out in his book “The Tipping Point”, however, John was such a complex...

    Read More
    1557 Words 5 Pages

Popular Essays

Become a StudyMode Member

Sign Up - It's Free