Top 10 Facts You Probably Did Not Know About John Lennon
Here are some cool, crazy and interesting facts you probably did not know about the late English singer-songwriter, musician, peace activist, artist, and former member of the Beatles, John Lennon.
As he was becoming a popular folk singer-songwriter with albums like Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan introduced Lennon and the other Beatles to marijuana. Weed, along with acid, were highly influential to the band. Rubber Soul was the weed album, while Revolver was the acid album.
Lennon was cremated after his tragic murder on December 8, 1980. There are theories that his ashes were scattered at Strawberry Fields, a section at Central Park that Lennon often visited. This area was posthumously named after The Beatles' song. It has not yet been confirmed by his wife, Yoko Ono, as his final resting location is still unknown.
Lennon himself once said that in August 1974, he saw a UFO from his terrace on 53rd Street in Manhattan, New York. He even went out naked to see it. There were a number of calls to the police that same day from people who claimed to witness these sightings.
So he just walked outside naked in the middle of New York? Right. During the day or night?
It was a normal night for Lennon as he was socializing in London in April 1965. His dentist, John Riley, wanted to show Lennon the wild experiences of LSD, so he slipped it into his coffee.
His dentist was most likely selling drugs on the side and wanted to get Lennon hooked.
When Lennon was a boy, he often asked for pencils, paint boxes, and paper. You can find his drawings mainly in his bibliography, including In His Own Write and Skywriting by Word of Mouth. His childhood drawings are also available if you purchased a copy of Walls and Bridges.
As it is common for many musicians, Lennon disliked his own voice. He disliked it so much that he asked to put effects on his vocals to make them sound different.
Lennon was said to have been a terrible driver. He did not get his driver's license until February 15, 1965, at the age of 24. While on a trip to Scotland, he got into an accident and needed 17 stitches.
Lennon would often bring the game of Monopoly with him on the road during the Beatles' touring days. He'd bring it with him on planes, buses, and in hotel rooms to play with anyone willing. Strangely, he did not care whether he won or not.
While at a disco in 1979, Lennon heard "Rock Lobster" by the B-52's and instantly recognized Charlie Wilson's scream as a homage to Yoko Ono. He and Ono purchased the album and would listen to it repeatedly while working on their collaborative album, Double Fantasy.
An amazing honor for a significant artist to be featured on the cover of Rolling Stone. When it debuted in November 1967, Lennon was the first person to appear on a Rolling Stone cover.