John Lennon factbox

Oct 9, 1940: John Winston Lennon born in Liverpool, England

1957: Forms Quarrymen skiffle-rock group with Paul McCartney. George Harrison joins one year later

1960-62: With name changed to The Beatles, they perform over 280 gigs at Hamburg rock clubs

1962: Beatles – now with Ringo Starr on drums – release first single, Love Me Do. Lennon marries Cynthia Powell, son Julian born 1963

1965: Beatles play to crowd of over 60,000 fans at Shea Stadium in New York City. Appointed MBEs in Queen’s Birthday Honours list

1966: Lennon states that Beatles are more popular than Jesus, setting off backlash against group

1967: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band released

1968: John and Cynthia break up over his infidelity
          
1969: Lennon marries Yoko Ono. Give Peace a Chance recorded. Lennon returns MBE in protest over Vietnam War
        
1970: Beatles break up. Lennon debuts solo album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
    
1971: Lennon and Ono move to New York. Imagine released
    
1972: Nixon administration spends four years trying to deport Lennon for his vehement stance against Vietnam war
         
1974: Lennon releases album Walls and Bridges, which includes number one single, Whatever Gets You Thru the Night. Makes final concert appearance at Madison Square Garden with Elton John
   
1975: Deportation order overturned. Lennon and Yoko’s son Sean born – Lennon takes break from music
    
1980: Double Fantasy released
   
Dec 8, 1980: John Lennon shot dead by crazed fan Mark Chapman outside Lennon’s Dakota building apartment in Manhattan
      

Pictures: Associated Press, Getty Images 
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