His friendship with Paul McCartney was no doubt stronger having both lost their mums at an early age and when his first wife Cynthia gave birth to their son, he would be called Julian. Traumatised by her death when she was hit by a car in 1958, John’s love for his mother never waned but his anger at the cruelties of life inspired some of his most revered pieces of music.
She taught him how to play the banjo, the ukulele and even bought him his first acoustic guitar. As John grew into his rebellious teenage years, so did his relationship with his mum, she was musically talented and her carefree attitude to life resonated in John, becoming great friends (his Aunt feared she was a bad influence) rather than anything parental. He had suffered a difficult childhood, and was raised predominantly by his Aunt Mimi, as his mother Julia struggled with the responsibility of being a single parent (his father was away at sea showing little interest in his son). John Lennon was just 17 years old when his mother died. Share Pinterest reddit Tweet Whatsapp tumblr