John Winston Ono Lennon MBE was an English singer, songwriter and peace activist who became famous as the founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the iconic Beatles. His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney is to this day, one of the most successful in musical history.
In celebration of what would have been his 80th birthday, there will be a series of events across the globe and in Liverpool to honour his memory.
The Cavern Club Liverpool took to social media to invite the public to join in celebrating the life of John Lennon saying: ‘John Lennon would have turned 80 today. He was born in Liverpool on 9th October 1940 - he will never be forgotten. Today we will be posting throughout the day about John, his life and his music.”
John Lennon would have turned 80 today.
— The Cavern Club (@cavernliverpool) October 8, 2020
He was born on 9th October 1940 in Liverpool and his legacy shines on.#JohnLennon80#GIMMESOMETRUTH pic.twitter.com/ubJCtGKlWo
His birthday is also being marked by the council which has launched a worldwide contest to find another great songwriter and a collection of previously unseen pictures of Lennon in New York will also go on display at The Beatles Story in Liverpool.
There will also be a special photographic exhibition in Lennon’s honour at the John Lennon Liver pool airport.
Julia Baird, John Lennon’s sister, a fierce caretaker of his legacy which she describes as "anti-war, equality, diversity - all the things that we've gotten nowhere with, that we're still talking about today" will also be remembering her brother.
She is the honorary president of Strawberry Field, the place immortalised in the hit Beatles song and which has since been turned into a tourist attraction and youth training centre by the Salvation Army. The piano used by John Lennon to write the peace anthem Imagine is going on display there today.
Lennon's landmark birthday is also being marked with a pop-up television channel called LENNON80 which will feature special programming.
Universal Music Group is launching the channel on Sky, Virgin and Freeview from today until October 15.
The Empire State Building shone its tower lights in Sky Blue with a white peace sign rotating in the mast on Thursday, October 8, in partnership with the John Lennon Estate and Universal Music Group to celebrate John Lennon’s life and legacy ahead of the big day.
The celebration also coincides with the release of a new album titled GIMME SOME TRUTH. THE ULTIMATE MIXES. (Capitol/UMe), featuring 36 of Lennon’s best loved songs from his solo career.
It was on the 8th December 1980 that Lennon was shot and killed by an obsessed fan in New York City. The 40-year-old artist was entering his luxury Manhattan apartment building when Mark David Chapman shot him four times at close range. In August of this year, he was denied parole for the 11th time.
