| eamt of world peace. He was an artist, poet and | | | | their producer George Martin, changed music in |
| an outspoken voice of the hippie generation. He | | | | dramatic fashion; with studio techniques that had |
| was an influential musician, a peace activist, an | | | | never been attempted. |
| absent father and a devoted lover and husband. | | | | They pioneered the concept album with "Sgt. |
| He abused alcohol and drugs, sneered at | | | | Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", which the |
| normality, yet took time off from his rock and roll | | | | editors of Rolling Stone magazine list as the |
| career to raise his son. But most of all, he was a | | | | greatest rock album of the rock era. |
| Beatle. He was and still is, John Winston Lennon. | | | | He had the attention of our government with his |
| Born in Liverpool on October 9, 1940, John | | | | anti-war protests and at one point was under FBI |
| Lennon was shot to death on December 8, 1980 | | | | investigation. He sang of love and peace and living |
| by a fanatical fan. December 8, 2005 marks the | | | | in harmony, with all people coming together as |
| 25th anniversary of this tragic and senseless loss. | | | | one. There are some who called him a genius. He |
| There are many words to describe John Lennon. | | | | could be nasty, resentful and mean-spirited. He |
| He was an unruly, stubborn and a disobedient, | | | | fought his demons and it seems he was winning, |
| troubled youth. He failed at art school, yet swore | | | | until December 8, 1980. |
| to his aunt that "one of these days I'm going to | | | | We can only recall his career, from the beginning, |
| be famous and you'll be sorry". | | | | until the end and who doesn't know the story |
| He called himself a leader, yet did some of his | | | | about the four lads from Liverpool. He was part |
| best work alone. He was an alleged wife beater, | | | | of the group that changed rock and roll music |
| very outspoken, often putting out contoversial | | | | history. |
| quotes to the media; either to make a point or | | | | We can only wonder what John Lennon would be |
| just to be outlandish. But when he spoke, people | | | | doing if he were alive today. How active would he |
| listened. | | | | be in promoting world peace? Would he still be |
| He was a partner with his boyhood friend, Paul | | | | creating wonderfully crafted rock and roll songs? |
| McCartney and together they left a musical | | | | All we can do is Imagine, and that is the shame |
| writing partnership and a legacy that is unequalled | | | | of it all. |
| to this day and may never be. The Beatles, with | | | | |