Lennon Facts

With some Beatles facts thrown in

1. John Lennon was born to Julia Lennon after 30 hours of labor
2. John was expelled from school for misbehavior at age 5
3. John was raised by his mother's sister, Mimi Smith
4. Later in life, John discovered that he had dyslexia
5. By age 15, John was a big fan of Elvis
6. Lennon decided to become a "rocker" after hearing Elvis' "Heartbreak Hotel"
7. Without glasses, John was legally blind
8. Lennon's mother taught him how to play an old spanish guitar like a banjo
9. The first tune that John learned to play on the guitar was Fats Domino's "Ain't that A Shame"
10. The first instrument John was given was an accordian; his second was a harmonica
11. John formed his first band, The Quarry Men, in 1957
12. John was 15 when he met Paul McCartney, who was 14
13. John didn't want George Harrison in the Quarry Men, at first, because he was too young
14. It has been reported that John got a big thrill out of shoplifting when he was young
15. John's mother died after being hit by a car
16. John invited Rod Murray and Stu Sutcliffe to join the Band
17. Stu Sutcliffe named the band "The Beetles." John said, "It needs an 'A'"
18. "The Beatles" was the name of a gang in Marlon Brando's motorcycle romance, "The Wild One"
19. The Beatles didn't conform to the standard, having one star and a backing band like "Buddy Holly and the Crickets"
20. The Beatles experimented with names throughout 1959. At one point they were called "Johnny and the MoonDogs"
21. Their first LP was "Please Please Me"
22. Their last was "Let it Be"

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