John Lennon is remembered as one of the greatest musicians of all time, what with his many hit singles and gloriously inspiring albums with The Beatles.
Then the icon was tragically murdered in 1980 by a crazed super-fan in the archway of The Dakota building in NYC, where he lived with wife Yoko Ono.
Killer Mark David Chapman told reporters he shot the icon to gain instant fame.
While Lennon was—and is still—regarded as a kind of musical God by fans everywhere, his closest friends know otherwise.
In REELZ new docuseries, John Lennon: It Happened Here, pals of the late star speak about his early days as a child rebel and the difficult upbringing that sparked his rise to fame.
“I actually got to know John when I was about five years old. We were in the same class in St. Peter’s Sunday School and he was always a big influence. I think Mimi thought the sun shone out of his various orifices, but the rest of us knew differently — because in our house, he was known as ‘that Lennon,’ as in ‘keep away from that Lennon,’” says friend and Quarrymen Banjo Player, Rod Davis, with a laugh.
Readers know The Beatles started a human-rights, free-speech revolution with their inspiring and catchy tunes. They fought against social and political stereotypes, and strived to welcome peace on Earth and love to all people.
“He didn’t have a stable home like we did,” explains friend & Quarrymen drummer Colin Hanton. “He didn’t have a mother and a father laying down the rules. I mean he went a bit wild. Aunt Mimi sort of took him into her care and tried to straighten him out somewhat but he always had that rebellious streak in him,”
John Lennon: It Happened Here airs Thursday June 14 at 9:00 ET / PT on REELZ.
