Lennon [60min]

When John Lennon was shot the impact on the world was both instant and lasting. That the man with an acid Liverpudlian wit, which was always the dominant force in his personality and music, should die in such a way was both tragic and ironic. For many, once the shock had subsided, the facts loomed large. Yet another man who'd campaigned for peace had been killed in a violent and meaningless way, it was undoubtedly the end of a musical era and the greatest band ever would now never play again. To begin the Radio 2 Lennon Night with an hour of context, Mark Radcliffe sketches a portrait of the twentieth century's most influential and iconic figure. The programme will examine some of the many 'Lennons': the musician; the hard man; the son; the father; the writer; the husband; the radical. We examine his musical legacy, both with and without The Beatles, and how some of the key events in his life manifested themselves in his work. We talk to the major players in his life, including an exclusive new interview with Yoko Ono, in which she talks candidly about her life with John, and in particular the split with The Beatles and their private and creative life together. She talks about their meeting, John in The Beatles, the split, their private and creative life together in the seventies, and what he may have thought had he been around today. As well as contributions from his childhood and school friends, and fellow musicians. We also dig deep into the archives for some candid and rarely heard interviews with Lennon himself, including the first ever Beatles radio interview from 1962, which will be a national exclusive. New and archive material will be cut together with lyrics from Lennon's work with The Beatles, and in particular, his solo work. His painfully autobiographical work such as Plastic Ono Band tracks like "Mother" and "My Mummy's Dead" allow us to reflect on John's psychological state at this time. The "Imagine" album was a piece of work that changed the way many people viewed the world. The programme examines Lennon the peacenik; the husband; the rock star; the songwriter; the philosopher; the father.