英语名人堂：约翰·温斯顿·列侬

约翰·温斯顿·列侬（John Winston Lennon，1940年10月9日—1980年12月8日），出生于英国利物浦，英国摇滚乐队“披头士”成员，[1]  摇滚音乐家，诗人，社会活动家。[2] 

1952年9月，列侬在进入Quarry Bank初级中学之后开始喜欢上音乐；1955年初列侬在学校里组织了一个摇滚乐队“the Quarrymen”（采石工人）；1960年，列侬组建了“披头士”并开始在各地的俱乐部演出。1965年，约翰·列侬获英国女王颁发的大英帝国勋章，1970年披头士乐队解散后，列侬发行《约翰·列侬/塑胶小野乐队》与《想像》等专辑，也创作了《Give Peace a Chance》、《Imagine》等歌曲，列侬同样也参与了许多社会活动，用音乐来呼唤和平，参与了反越战活动。1980年12月8日 晚上10点49分，列侬在纽约自己的寓所前被一名据称患有精神病的美国狂热男性歌迷马克·查普曼枪杀，卒时年仅40岁。

1994年，约翰·列侬入选摇滚名人堂[3]  ，2004年约翰·列侬入选《滚石》杂志评出的“历史上最伟大的50位流行音乐家”[4]  。

 

John Winston Ono Lennon is one of the most famous musical artists ever. He shot to fame as one of The Beatles. He co-wrote most of the band’s songs, the majority of which are now rock classics. He also helped shape the social revolution of the 1960s. His solo career further elevated him as a music legend. Lennon also achieved fame as a peace activist¹.

 

Lennon was born in Liverpool in 1940. He was brought up by an aunt, who bought him a harmonica and taught him how to play the banjo. Lennon’s mother played him Elvis Presley records and he fell in love with Rock and Roll. He told his mother and aunt he would be a famous singer one day.

 

Lennon met Paul McCartney in 1957 at a church hall concert. They became friends and began writing songs together. They formed a band called The Beatles. They became popular playing live at local clubs in Liverpool and Germany. Then they became the most successful and influential² act in music history. Lennon famously said The Beatles were more popular than Jesus.

 

Lennon left The Beatles in 1970. That same year he released the ‘John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band’ album, which he recorded with his Japanese wife Yoko Ono. His album ‘Imagine’ followed in 1971. The title song became an anthem³ for anti-war movements. More classic albums followed. On 8th December 1980, Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York apartment by a deranged⁴ fan.

1 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

2 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

3 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

4 deranged   

adj.疯狂的

参考例句：

• Traffic was stopped by a deranged man shouting at the sky.一名狂叫的疯子阻塞了交通。
• A deranged man shot and killed 14 people.一个精神失常的男子开枪打死了14人。