John Lennon, a man of peace and artistic vision- today, on the anniversary of his death, we remember this icon and reflect on his impact on pop culture as a whole. Born in Liverpool, from a young age Lennon started his life with a creative outlook, and by the age of sixteen, he had started his first band, The Quarrymen. Later on July, 6 1957, Lennon met Paul McCartney and soon after asked him to join his band. This was the beginning of one of the most successful musical partnerships in all of history.

 The band’s first recording was Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be The Day,” and shortly after they were picked up by Brian Epstein in 1961 at their regular playing grounds, the Cavern Club in Liverpool. Epstein secured a record contract with EMI. With the newly acquired drummer Ringo Starr, replacing former drummer Pete Best and producer George Martin, The Beatles rattled the British charts at No. 17. From there on, The Beatles were on an upward spiral of success and fame to eventually be the first British band to break out in the US. From that point, The Beatles went on to produce such mega-hits as “I Want To Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You.”

 In 1962 John Lennon married Cynthia Powell, and together they had a son Julian, named after Lennon’s mother, Julia Lennon. Due to the group’s substantial rise in fame in 1964 during what was known as “Beatlemania,” Cynthia had to maintain a low profile. Ultimately, Lennon and Cynthia decided to cut ties and get a divorce in 1968. However, just one year later in 1969, Lennon married Yoko Ono, a Japanese avant-garde artist he had met three years earlier at the Indica Gallery. From there on, Lennon began to withdraw from The Beatles and follow Yoko’s artist views and started “The Plastic Ono Band.” Lennon and Yoko’s relationship began to cause a major rift in the Beatles, and in 1970 the band officially broke up.

 Launching his solo career, Lennon release “Imagine” in 1971, which was a monumental success as it quickly reached the top three on The Rolling-Stones magazine’s All-Time Best Songs. Lennon’s adamant and vocal claims against The Vietnam War made him an unpopular figure in the eyes of President Richard Nixon. Then tragically in 1980 John Lennon was shot and killed by a deranged fan outside the Dakota, his residence in New York at the time. This unbelievable loss left the world of pop culture in shock. Finally, in 1987, Lennon was inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame.

 John Lennon’s life left a major footprint on history, and he still has an impact today. Senior Seth Hodges said, “The Beatles had a definite and lasting effect on music, and by extension, so did John Lennon. However, he had his own impact on music and culture. I like to think that his message still holds up, and for the most part, I believe that it still does regardless of some of the negative events that have happened these past few years.” This goes to show the legacy Lennon left through his music and the message of peace for the world to hear. His death was devastating to many people and still stands as a tragedy in the hearts of fans. That is why today will forever be remembered as the loss of John Lennon, an untimely passing of a timeless hero.