Death Records Now

John Lennon was a member of The Beatles, one of the world’s most famous bands. The other band members were Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Lennon was born in Liverpool, England, on October 9, 1940. His first band was called The Quarrymen. Lennon played the guitar and the keyboard and sang vocals. In 1957, Paul McCartney joined Lennon’s band as a guitarist and singer. Later that year, George Harrison, another guitarist, joined. In 1960, Pete Best became the band’s drummer. The band changed its name two more times before it was called The Beatles.

In 1962, The Beatles got a record contract with a British recording company. Lennon and McCartney wrote the songs that the band recorded. Just before they made their first record, Ringo Starr replaced Pete Best on the drums. The Beatles’ records and albums were instant best-sellers in Britain and Europe, and the group became a sensation. In 1964, they performed on U.S. television and were a huge hit. After that, they were followed everywhere by screaming fans. It was known as Beatlemania.

The Beatles performed together for the last time in San Francisco on August 29, 1966. The band later broke up. John Lennon married Cynthia Powell, an art student, in 1962. They had a son, John Julian, in 1963 and divorced in 1968. In 1969, Lennon married Yoko Ono, an artist and a musician. Their son, Sean, was born in 1975. After The Beatles broke up, Lennon recorded his own music. He had hit records in 1970 and 1973. He formed a band with Yoko Ono and a record album they made in 1980 was a big success. They also became active in the peace movement.

On December 8, 1980, Lennon was killed by a crazed fan in front of his New York City apartment building.

Millions of people around the world grieved his death. After he died, his records became even more popular. His music is still popular today.

Answer these questions about John Lennon.

A.True or False. Read the statements below and answer T for true or F for False.

1. John Lennon’s band was always called The Beatles.
2. The Beatles’ original drummer was Ringo Starr.
3. The Beatles’ got their first record contract in 1960.
4. It took a long time for their albums to become popular.
5. Lennon had two sons.

B. VOCABULARY REVIEW
Choose the word(s) with the closest meaning to the underlined words in the following sentences.
1. The Beatles got a contract with a British recording company.
a) meeting b) legal agreement c) album

2. Their records were instant best-sellers.
a) big b) expensive c) immediate

3. Their albums were instant best-sellers.
a) books b) collection of songs c) photographs

4. The group became a sensation.
a) citizen b) a touring group c) something that causes great excitement

5. When they performed on American television, they were a huge hit.
a) loud b) success c) happy

6. They were a huge hit.
a) happy b) popular c) very big

7. They were followed everywhere by screaming fans.
a) admirers b) teenagers c) children

8. Lennon continued to record music after The Beatles broke up.
a) had an accident b) separated c) became rich

9. He became active in the peace movement.
a) very involved b) singer c)against

10. He became active in the peace movement.
a) parades b) music industry c) joint efforts of a group

11. People around the world grieved his death.
a) heard about b) felt sadness about c) told each other

A1. False there were known as the Quarrymen before
2. False
3. True 4. False 5. True Julian and Sean Julian is the elder of the two.
B 1.b.2.c. 3.b.4.c.5. b.6. b.7. a. 8. b.9. a. 10. c 11. b
hope i answered all this properly only reason i know anything is my brother is a big beatles fan