Ebook: LIFE Remembering John Lennon: 40 Years Later

He was a directionless 15-year old from Liverpool, England when he heard a recording of Elvis Presley singing “Heartbreak Hotel” and knew he had found his calling. Soon, John Lennon had formed the Quarry Men, a band that would evolve into The Beatles and change the face of music forever. Now, on the 80th anniversary of Lennon’s birth, the editors of LIFE celebrate this cultural icon; his mates Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr; and the joy they brought the world in songs from “I Want to Hold Your Hand” to “Revolution No. 9.” With rare photos and essays from photographers who chronicled the Beatles’ rise, Remembering John Lennon is an insightful, behind-the-scenes look at a complicated, beloved musical giant.