The Search for John Lennon: The Life, Loves, and Death of a Rock Star

by Lesley-Ann Jones

Description

"Late on December 8th, 1980, the world abruptly stopped turning for millions, as news broke that the world's most beloved musician had been gunned down in cold blood in New York City. The most iconic Beatle left behind an unrivaled body of music and legions of faithful disciples--yet his profound legacy has brought with it as many questions and contradictions as his music has provided truths and certainties. In this compelling exploration, acclaimed music biographer Lesley-Ann Jones unravels show more the enigma that was John Lennon to present a complete portrait of the man, his life, his loves, his music, his untimely death, and, ultimately, his legacy"-- show less

Recommendations

Sound Pictures: The Life of Beatles Producer George Martin, The Later Years, 1966–2016 by Kenneth Womack

Sound Pictures: The Life of Beatles Producer George Martin, The Later Years, 1966–2016

Kenneth Womack

The Beatles Anthology by The Beatles

The Beatles Anthology

The Beatles

Solid State: The Story of "Abbey Road" and the End of the Beatles by Kenneth Womack

Solid State: The Story of "Abbey Road" and the End of the Beatles

Kenneth Womack

Being John Lennon by Ray Connolly

Being John Lennon

Ray Connolly

George Harrison: The Reluctant Beatle by Philip Norman

George Harrison: The Reluctant Beatle

Philip Norman

And in the End: The Last Days of The Beatles by Ken McNab

And in the End: The Last Days of The Beatles

Ken McNab

Shout!: The Beatles in Their Generation by Philip Norman

Shout!: The Beatles in Their Generation

Philip Norman

The Beatles: The Biography by Bob Spitz

The Beatles: The Biography

Bob Spitz

Living the Beatles Legend: The Untold Story of Mal Evans by Kenneth Womack

Living the Beatles Legend: The Untold Story of Mal Evans

Kenneth Womack

John Lennon 1980: The Last Days in the Life by Kenneth Womack

John Lennon 1980: The Last Days in the Life

Kenneth Womack

All You Need Is Love: The Beatles in Their Own Words: Unpublished, Unvarnished, and Told by The Beatles and Their Inner Circle by Peter Brown

All You Need Is Love: The Beatles in Their Own Words: Unpublished, Unvarnished, and Told by The Beatles and Their Inner Circle

Peter Brown

John Lennon: The Life by Philip Norman

John Lennon: The Life

Philip Norman

The Beatles: The Authorized Biography by Hunter Davies

The Beatles: The Authorized Biography

Hunter Davies

Revolver: How the Beatles Re-Imagined Rock 'n' Roll by Robert Rodriguez

Revolver: How the Beatles Re-Imagined Rock 'n' Roll

Robert Rodriguez

The Beatles: Get Back by The Beatles

The Beatles: Get Back

The Beatles

Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties by Ian MacDonald

Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties

Ian MacDonald

The Ballad of John and Yoko by Jonathan Cott

The Ballad of John and Yoko

Jonathan Cott

In Their Lives: Great Writers on Great Beatles Songs by Andrew Blauner

In Their Lives: Great Writers on Great Beatles Songs

Andrew Blauner

Beatles '66: The Revolutionary Year by Steve Turner

Beatles '66: The Revolutionary Year

Steve Turner

The Beatles Unseen Archives by Tim Hill

The Beatles Unseen Archives

Tim Hill

The Love You Make: An Insider's Story of the Beatles by Peter Brown

The Love You Make: An Insider's Story of the Beatles

Peter Brown

John by Cynthia Lennon

John

Cynthia Lennon

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band: The Album, the Beatles, and the World in 1967 by Brian Southall

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band: The Album, the Beatles, and the World in 1967

Brian Southall

The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present by Paul McCartney

The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present

Paul McCartney

The Ultimate Beatles Encyclopedia by Bill Harry

The Ultimate Beatles Encyclopedia

Bill Harry

Lennon: The Man, the Myth, the Music - The Definitive Life by Tim Riley

Lennon: The Man, the Myth, the Music - The Definitive Life

Tim Riley

The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years 1962-1970 by Mark Lewisohn

The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years 1962-1970

Mark Lewisohn

Lennon Remembers by Jann S. Wenner

Lennon Remembers

Jann S. Wenner

Chuck Berry: An American Life by RJ Smith

Chuck Berry: An American Life

RJ Smith

Mellencamp by Paul Rees

Mellencamp

Paul Rees

The McCartney Legacy: Volume 1: 1969 – 73 by Allan Kozinn

The McCartney Legacy: Volume 1: 1969 – 73

Allan Kozinn

The Beatles : A Hard Day's Write; the stories behind every song by Steve Turner

The Beatles : A Hard Day's Write; the stories behind every song

Steve Turner

Dreaming the Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and the Whole World by Rob Sheffield

Dreaming the Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and the Whole World

Rob Sheffield

John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian Leslie

John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs

Ian Leslie

Sheer Misery: Soldiers in Battle in WWII by Mary Louise Roberts

Sheer Misery: Soldiers in Battle in WWII

Mary Louise Roberts

Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run by Paul McCartney

Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run

Paul McCartney

One Two Three Four: The Beatles in Time by Craig Brown

One Two Three Four: The Beatles in Time

Craig Brown

The Roof: The Beatles' Final Concert by Ken Mansfield

The Roof: The Beatles' Final Concert

Ken Mansfield

When They Were Boys: The True Story of the Beatles' Rise to the Top by Larry Kane

When They Were Boys: The True Story of the Beatles' Rise to the Top

Larry Kane

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: The Wild, Definitive Saga of Rock's Greatest Supergroup by David Browne

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: The Wild, Definitive Saga of Rock's Greatest Supergroup

David Browne

Abbey Road: The Inside Story of the World’s Most Famous Recording Studio (with a foreword by Paul McCartney) by David Hepworth

Abbey Road: The Inside Story of the World’s Most Famous Recording Studio (with a foreword by Paul McCartney)

David Hepworth

All Things Must Pass Away: Harrison, Clapton, and Other Assorted Love Songs by Kenneth Womack

All Things Must Pass Away: Harrison, Clapton, and Other Assorted Love Songs

Kenneth Womack

Elvis in Vegas: How the King Reinvented the Las Vegas Show by Richard Zoglin

Elvis in Vegas: How the King Reinvented the Las Vegas Show

Richard Zoglin

Being Elvis: A Lonely Life by Ray Connolly

Being Elvis: A Lonely Life

Ray Connolly

Imagine John Yoko by John Lennon

Imagine John Yoko

John Lennon

Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain, and America by Jonathan Gould

Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain, and America

Jonathan Gould

The Lives of John Lennon by Albert Goldman

The Lives of John Lennon

Albert Goldman

The Beatles Lyrics: The Stories Behind the Music, Including the Handwritten Drafts of More Than 100 Classic Beatles Songs by Hunter Davies

The Beatles Lyrics: The Stories Behind the Music, Including the Handwritten Drafts of More Than 100 Classic Beatles Songs

Hunter Davies

Phil Spector : sound of the Sixties by Sean MacLeod

Phil Spector : sound of the Sixties

Sean MacLeod

Uncommon People: The Rise and Fall of the Rock Stars 1955-1994 by David Hepworth

Uncommon People: The Rise and Fall of the Rock Stars 1955-1994

David Hepworth

Complete Recommendations

Member Reviews

Featured Recent Thumbs

All Ratings
1
1
1

1 review

TobinElliott 2,467 reviews

The author basically pop-psychoanalyzes Lennon through his various relationships while dropping as many lyrics and song titles as possible into the narrative. She also inserts herself in there wherever possible.

Jones breaks no new ground here, just comes at it from a different angle with dubious results.

There's far better books out there than this one.

Jun 13, 2024

Ratings

csjthree 1 review

Jun 6, 2021

hukkleberri 22 reviews

Aug 10, 2024

All Reviews