John Lennon Highlights

1980: Shot to death by deranged fan, Mark David Chapman, outside of NYC home on December 8
1976: Given resident status in US after years of wrangling with State Department
1974: Last public performance (November 28) at Madison Square Garden
1971: Best-selling album "Imagine" released
1969: Married Yoko Ono, holds "Bed-In for Peace", legally changes middle name to "Ono"; forms "Plastic Ono Band"; returns MBE to Queen Elizabeth
1968: Lennon and Ono arrested "for possession of cannabis"
1966: Meets Yoko Ono at London art gallery
1963: Beatles rocketed to worldwide stardom
1962: EMI signed group (which now included Ringo Starr); first hit records released
1961: Newly-named "Beatles" discovered by promoter Brian Epstein; first commercial record, "My Bonnie"
1957: Paul McCartney and George Harrison join the group
1955: Started first music group, "The Quarrymen"
Raised by aunt Mary Elizabeth Smith in Liverpool after parents separated