英語(yǔ)名人堂：約翰·溫斯頓·列儂

約翰·溫斯頓·列儂(John Winston Lennon，1940年10月9日—1980年12月8日)，出生于英國(guó)利物浦，英國(guó)搖滾樂(lè)隊(duì)“披頭士”成員，[1] 搖滾音樂(lè)家，詩(shī)人，社會(huì)活動(dòng)家。[2]

1952年9月，列儂在進(jìn)入Quarry Bank初級(jí)中學(xué)之后開(kāi)始喜歡上音樂(lè);1955年初列儂在學(xué)校里組織了一個(gè)搖滾樂(lè)隊(duì)“the Quarrymen”(采石工人);1960年，列儂組建了“披頭士”并開(kāi)始在各地的俱樂(lè)部演出。1965年，約翰·列儂獲英國(guó)女王頒發(fā)的大英帝國(guó)勛章，1970年披頭士樂(lè)隊(duì)解散后，列儂發(fā)行《約翰·列儂/塑膠小野樂(lè)隊(duì)》與《想像》等專輯，也創(chuàng)作了《Give Peace a Chance》、《Imagine》等歌曲，列儂同樣也參與了許多社會(huì)活動(dòng)，用音樂(lè)來(lái)呼喚和平，參與了反越戰(zhàn)活動(dòng)。1980年12月8日 晚上10點(diǎn)49分，列儂在紐約自己的寓所前被一名據(jù)稱患有精神病的美國(guó)狂熱男性歌迷馬克·查普曼槍殺，卒時(shí)年僅40歲。

1994年，約翰·列儂入選搖滾名人堂[3] ，2004年約翰·列儂入選《滾石》雜志評(píng)出的“歷史上最偉大的50位流行音樂(lè)家”[4] 。

John Winston Ono Lennon is one of the most famous musical artists ever. He shot to fame as one of The Beatles. He co-wrote most of the band’s songs, the majority of which are now rock classics. He also helped shape the social revolution of the 1960s. His solo career further elevated him as a music legend. Lennon also achieved fame as a peace activist.

Lennon was born in Liverpool in 1940. He was brought up by an aunt, who bought him a harmonica and taught him how to play the banjo. Lennon’s mother played him Elvis Presley records and he fell in love with Rock and Roll. He told his mother and aunt he would be a famous singer one day.

Lennon met Paul McCartney in 1957 at a church hall concert. They became friends and began writing songs together. They formed a band called The Beatles. They became popular playing live at local clubs in Liverpool and Germany. Then they became the most successful and influential act in music history. Lennon famously said The Beatles were more popular than Jesus.

Lennon left The Beatles in 1970. That same year he released the ‘John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band’ album, which he recorded with his Japanese wife Yoko Ono. His album ‘Imagine’ followed in 1971. The title song became an anthem for anti-war movements. More classic albums followed. On 8th December 1980, Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York apartment by a deranged fan.