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Although he is most famous for his songs about love and his anti-war demonstrations, John Lennon’s entire life stands in stark contrast to the peaceful guru who moved millions with his idyllic vision in “Imagine.” The content of the Beatles’ early albums reveals an overt misogyny that was much more violent and terrifying behind closed doors, having cheated on his first wife Cynthia constantly and physically and emotionally abused she and their son Julian. His political life was similarly two-faced, taking out ads saying “War is over if you want it” while supporting violent radicals like the Black Panthers. And while he may have cemented his place in history with “All You Need Is Love,” Lennon lived a life of luxury and maintained deep grudges until his untimely demise.

To his credit, he did make quite a turnaround towards the end of his life, going on a work hiatus to start a new family with Yoko after she forgave him for beating her. In his last interview before his murder, John remarked “I will have to be a lot older before I can face in public how I treated women as a youngster,” as well as acknowledging the hypocrisy behind his political action and extravagant wealth. Still, even if John Lennon was a total phony, a talentless, violent lunatic with no remorse or empathy, the biggest cultural force of the 20th century doesn’t happen unless John Lennon starts a skiffle band with his schoolmates.

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