John Lennon, born in Liverpool on Oct. 9, 1940, earned worldwide fame when he created the Beatles. Throughout his life, Lennon became known as a peace activist, artist, poet and philosopher, while still writing and recording seminal music. The former Beatle's life was cut short on Dec. 8, 1980, in New York City when crazed fan Mark David Chapman shot him outside his apartment. He was 40. Take a look back at the music legend's life in photos.
Beloved singer-songwriter John Lennon is shown in this December 1980 photo, taken days before his death.
Before the Beatles, Lennon is pictured as a young school boy in a uniform and cap, circa 1948.
Back in his native Liverpool, John Lennon poses for a photo, circa 1961, before he formed The Beatles.
From left to right, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Pete Best and John Lennon form The Beatles while performing onstage at the Cavern Club in February 1961 in Liverpool, England. The band played at the Cavern Club nearly 300 times, helping it become one of the most famous live venue in the world.
The Beatles dropped their drummer Pete Best and replaced him with Ringo Starr, left, who left Rory Storm and the Hurricanes to join them. The new and improved band can be seen in this early group portrait backstage in 1962. These four members made The Beatles one of the greatest and most influential musical acts of all time.
Viewed by 73 million people, The Beatles’ appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on Feb. 9, 1964, is considered one of the most significant moments in pop history.
The Beatles (minus a sick George Harrison) were overwhelmed by the view of the New York City skyline seen from Central Park in February 1964. George missed out on a day of fun and instead rested a sore throat.
The Beatles achieved gold album status from Capital Records when the band was awarded with a Gold Record at the Plaza by president of the label, Allen Livingston, on Feb. 10, 1964.
Here, John Lennon is pictured with his first wife Cynthia Lennon as the pair returned from a holiday in 1964. The couple wed on Aug. 23, 1962, in Liverpool but separated six years later.
John Lennon and George Harrison are pictured filming “The Magical Mystery Tour” in the coastal English town of Newquay, circa 1967.
The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, right, meets with Paul McCartney, George Harrison and John Lennon of The Beatles backstage after a lecture on transcendental meditation at the Hilton Hotel on Aug. 25, 1967, in London, England.
At the beginning of their blossoming romance, John Lennon and Yoko Ono pose together for this photo in December 1968, just months before the pair wed on March 20, 1969.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono, both dressed in white, are pictured with their marriage certificate after their wedding in Gibraltar on March 20, 1969.
John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono lay in bed in the presidential suite at Amsterdam’s Hilton Hotel in 1969. They stayed there for a week, using the public interest in their marriage to bring attention to their “bed-in,” which they did in the name of world peace.
While Lennon will always be known as an iconic rocker, he may even be more famous for his work as an outspoken campaigner for world peace.
John Lennon and his son Sean in the kitchen of their home in the New York complex known as The Dakota. John was shot dead by Mark Chapman as he returned to his home at The Dakota building with wife Yoko Ono following a recording session. The senseless killing sent shockwaves around the world as one of the most influential men of the 20th century was brutally murdered at the age of 40.
John Lennon poses with his son Julian, sitting on his lap, and Yoko Ono at an unknown location in 1968.
John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono are seen at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 1971. Lennon carries Ono’s art book, “Grapefruit,” in his jacket.
Former Beatle John Lennon poses for a photo with his wife Yoko Ono and son Sean Lennon in 1977, in New York.
John Lennon is with his wife Yoko Ono at the Hit Factory recording studio on Dec. 6, 1980, in New York. Lennon was shot dead two days after this photograph was taken.
Dec. 9, 1980: John Lennon Slain Here — Ex-Beatle shot outside of his apartment. A suspect was taken into custody at the scene. Yoko Ono, the wife of former Beatle John Lennon, is helped from Roosevelt Hospital by record producer David Geffen after her husband was pronounced dead last night.
Police lead suspect Mark David Chapman, with his head covered, from the 20th Precinct on New York’s Upper West Side.
Yoko Ono and record producer David Geffen leave Roosevelt Hospital in New York after the death of her husband, John Lennon.
John Lennon fans gather at Strawberry Fields, Central Park, in remembrance of his death. Fans of the late music legend still gather at the same mural today.
People participate in tribute to the slain musician John Lennon wave the peace sign and sing “Give Peace A Chance” at New York’s Central Park on Dec. 14, 1980.
“Rolling Stones” issues a commemorative cover honoring Lennon’s death. The picture was taken on the last day of Lennon’s life and was released as the Jan. 22, 1981, “Rolling Stones” cover. The picture has become world-known since its release.
A woman weeps during a ten-minute silent vigil for John Lennon held in front of Trinity Church on Dec. 14, 1980, in Boston.
A crowd gathers during a tribute to John Lennon in New York’s Central Park. The death of Lennon still reverberates as a defining moment for a generation and for the music world.
A woman leaves flowers at a make shift memorial outside the Dakota apartment house where John Lennon was shot and killed on Dec. 8, 1980, in New York.
