Legendary Lovers: John Lennon & Yoko Ono

The union of rock's premiere poet John Lennon and avant-garde artist Yoko Ono was one of mind, body, and spirit. John's love for his soul mate was so consuming that he even had his middle name legally changed to Ono in an attempt to further meld their lives together. Although his voice was silenced over twenty years ago, the legendary singer's wife continues to spread the message that we all still need to learn- "give peace a chance".

"A DAY IN THE LIFE"- JOHN LENNON'S EARLY YEARS

Rock and roll had become the language of the young in 1956. Its incessant rhythm spoke to teenagers wakening emotions- a fact deemed dangerous by those beyond its musical grasp. The rebellious beat soon flooded England's shores, and sixteen year old John Lennon was swept up in the movement, forming his own band. The Quarrymen, a name derived from the all-boys school which John attended, performed a style of music known as skiffle, popular at the time due to the fact that no actual ability was required to play. Armed with a second-hand guitar, his ever-present harmonica, and enough bravado to mask his lack of musical prowess, John would lead The Quarrymen in raucous renditions of "Be Bop A Lula" and "That'll Be The Day" at local gatherings. Watching the fledgling band perform at a fete held at St. Peter's Parish Church in Woolton was another Liverpool lad with dreams of his own- Paul McCartney.

Tours of John Lennon's childhood home, Mendips in Menlove Avenue, will be available to the public beginning in April of 2003. Already accessible to Beatles enthusiasts is The McCartney House, an unassuming, working-class residence furnished in typical 1950's style. Roaming through the birthplace of the first Lennon/McCartney compositions, you can almost hear the echo of two budding songwriters, struggling to find the right melody to "Love Me Do". (www.spekehall.org.uk/beatles.htm)

Beatle buffs can immerse themselves in early Fab Four lore with Live@pool tours. John's hometown haunts are revealed as fans pay their respects at the final resting place of the real "Eleanor Rigby" and the early band member who met an untimely end, Stu Sutcliffe. The tours also shed light on the inspirations behind such classics as "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields", and gives a glimpse into the early days of the mop tops as the tours go past the childhood abodes of John, Paul, George and Ringo.

"HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE"- BEATLEMANIA IN AMERICA

America fell under The Beatles' spell in 1964, and seemingly overnight adolescent boys began to sprinkle Liverpudlian lingo into their conversations, while young girls purchased every available Fab Four accessory on the market from charm bracelets to shampoo and held debates laced with high-pitched giggles over who was the cutest Beatle. As the lads from Liverpool became men we as a nation matured with them, and their lyrics provided both solace and an awareness of social situations as the group reached into their souls to articulate their view of the rapidly changing world around them.

Imagine John Lennon's view of the world as he peered through the orange-tinted glasses on display at The Beatles Story, located at the Britannia Pavilion in Liverpool. The wire-rimmed spectacles, which the songwriter wore during the filming of the "Imagine" video, is the museum's latest acquisition, which includes a John Lennon black velvet jacket and microphones from Apple studio. Visitors are transported back to a time when the British Invasion ruled the charts as they stroll past faithful recreations of sixties landmarks from the smoky Cavern Club to the purity of John's White Room.

In London, the Beatles heyday is revived with a walking tour of sites seeped in rock and roll history presented by the president of the London Beatles Fanclub. On this intimate tour celluloid Beatle memories come to life with various filming locations used in both "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help", and every fan will want to pose as their favorite Beatle when they see the famous Abbey Road crosswalk.

"THE BALLAD OF JOHN AND YOKO"

"Yes"- with one word artist Yoko Ono captured the heart of a musical genius. Printed in minuscule letters on a white board which could be reached only by a ladder, this abstract work of art, in John's mind, was a positive expression of hope- something missing from his life at the time. This mysterious woman's vision of the world, while misunderstood by the masses, mirrored his own,and as his relationship with The Beatles crumbled around him John turned to Yoko for a new lease on life. The couple began a passionate and controversial love affair which culminated in a wedding on the island of Gibraltar. Both bride and groom dressed solely in white, envisioning themselves as "Two Virgins".

John and Yoko's honeymoon was used as a forum to promote world peace. Bed-ins were held at both The Amsterdam Hilton and The Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. For more information on how you can make your own flower power memories, click here.

"IMAGINE"- JOHN LENNON'S LEGACY

The arrival of Sean Lennon on October 9, a birthday shared with his famous father, signaled a turning point for the singer. The man who had campaigned for world harmony had found peace in his own life, and from 1975 to 1980 he lived out of the glare of the spotlight, content to simply be with his small family. When the decision was made to return to the recording studio the project became a collaborative effort, and the husband and wife team remained together until the final moment of his life.

In celebration of the life and career of the fallen singer the city of Yoko's birth, Tokyo, opened the first ever John Lennon Museum on what would have been John's 60th birthday. A treasure trove of artifacts donated by his widow illustrate the forty year span of his life, from the Teddy Boy-style leather jacket he wore in the era of the teenage rebel to the New York City T-shirt he donned in a series of famous photographs to visually demonstrate his love for his adopted homeland. The most personal item, however, is the handwritten lyrics to one of John's last compositions, "Woman"- an intimate confession of love from a man to his soulmate.

John Lennon's spirit lives on in Strawberry Fields, a teardrop-shaped plot of land in New York City's Central Park, where the singer would often take his child for a walk. Watched over in the distance by his former home, The Dakota, a new generation of fathers play in the area with their sons, and couples walk hand in hand past the circular mosaic inscribed with the song title which embodies John and Yoko's hope for the future- "Imagine".

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