John Lennon, would have been 86

musicOct 9, 2026712,958

On what would have been John Lennon’s 86th birthday, fans and creators posted tributes centering on 'Imagine' and his songwriting legacy. Posts noted his birth on October 9, 1940, and recalled that 'Imagine' was recorded in May 1971 and later ranked highly on lists, including Guinness World Records naming it the second best single of all time in 2002 and Rolling Stone ranking it number three on its 500 Greatest Songs list. Several posts quoted peers praising Lennon, including Paul McCartney remembering Lennon’s quick wit and leadership and George Harrison calling him “brilliant” and “a great soul.” Social shares pointed readers to archival material, from the nine-hour Rolling Stone interview conducted three days before his death to the Playboy Interview that writer David Sheff landed after helping Lennon evade a subpoena. Contemporary creators also marked the day with music tied to Lennon, for example The Long Lost Band’s song titled “John Lennon” on the album One More Mile. The posts mixed personal remembrances, links to performances and interviews, and renewed plays of Lennon songs as the main ways people marked the anniversary.

Michael Warburton

@michaelwarburton.bsky.social

John Lennon was Best Man at his wedding, his Movie career included Young Frankenstein, Joe, Taxi Driver, The Candidate, The Friends Of Eddie Coyle and he was of course ‘Frank Barone’ in the hit Sitcom EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND The late great PETER BOYLE.

90915h ago

grumpyleigh.bsky.social17

And he won an Emmy for his X files episode which is still my favorite episode of TV ever.

fingbullshit.bsky.social14

“Putting on the Ritz…” 👏🎥

altchickindallas2014

Peter was GENIUS in Young Frankenstein (FrAnkenstEIn!). Did not know Lennon was the Best Man at his wedding - that is such a cool fact!

You doesn't have to call me Jim6

He's one of the reasons we've watched Raymond front to back several times - the whole cast was excellent.

Anthony Sword5

Add the pleasure of working with Peter on a short lived sitcom in the early 90s called “Flying Blind.”

Jake Turk4

Also in one of the best X Files episodes, "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose." Upon meeting anyone, he can tell where, when, and how they'll die. So naturally, he sells life insurance.

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘

@kojamf.bsky.social

Happy birthday to the legendary John Lennon who would have been 86 today 😔🖤

45021h ago

Petal Lu Ⓥ 💚🌱💙🌎9

I still remember waking up to that news when my clock radio went off for school. I had a Beatles poster in my room. I still can’t believe he was murdered 💔

BreeDanielsWins8

Happy birthday, John. May Pang had a showing of her photographs at a local art gallery recently & wanted so badly to talk to her but some guy was hogging all her time & I lost my nerve. Hers is the voice whispering "John" in "#9 Dream" which has been on my mind a lot. About dreams. So haunting.

Place19317

John would be leading the protest movement against the American fascist regime! Damn, I miss him

Steve5

He was a remarkable human being, flawed nonetheless. We all are.

saileesue.bsky.social4

POWER TO THE PEOPLE 🎶

Cyndeebee4

I still miss him. I will ALWAYS miss him. 😢

The 70s Guy

@stevenw888.bsky.social

John Lennon was born on 9th Oct 1940. He would've been 86 today. His single 'Imagine' was recorded in May 1971. A 2002 survey by Guinness World Records named it the 2nd best single of all time, while Rolling Stone ranked it number 3 in their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". #JohnLennon

18916h ago

Tom Dollar1

He did ok in the other universe.

Quoting this

Michael James 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇦🇵🇦2

When I had small kids, as atheists we decided to forgo Easter, so we started Happy Spring instead. We also had a discussion about not celebrating Christmas but instead recognizing either John’s birthday or Noam Chomsky’s birthday. 🤣😂

Monica

@softtail65.bsky.social

What's one of your favorite Lennon solo or Beatles songs? 🎶 Remembering John Winston Lennon who was born in Liverpool on October 9, 1940. His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney is still the most influential & successful of all time. In 1956, Lennon formed the skiffle band, 👇

17222h ago

Monica38

the Quarrymen that evolved into the Beatles in 1960. As writer or co-writer John Lennon had 25 singles hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His last album, Double Fantasy, released in November 1980, won the 1981 Album of the Year Grammy. Lennon was posthumously inducted into the

🦋TNGal °‧🫧⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🐾25

I'm going with "Come Together." That bassline, the groove, and Lennon's unmistakable vocals make it one of my all-time favorite Beatles songs. Never gets old! 🎸🔥 youtu.be/45cYwDMibGo?...

desertscribe.bsky.social18

🎶Imagine🎶 IMHO it's the 🏆 song from the 20th Century

T Doyle - Nana18

My absolute favorite! Morning Sunshine, it's my sister's birthday too! She's 79 today ❤️🎂❤️ youtu.be/Y_V6y1ZCg_8?...

oldkeyw.bsky.social13

Lennon solo- Number 9 Dream Beatles- Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite (among dozens of others!)

David Sheridan12

Gimme Some Truth. Might be my favorite solo Beatles song

Rolling Stone

@rollingstone.com

John Lennon: The Last Interview Three days before he died, John Lennon talked with Rolling Stone for nine hours. Celebrate what would have been his 86th birthday by reading this extraordinary conversation. 🔗 www.rollingstone.com/feature/john...

11617h ago

Quoting this

Bodhi Boo 👩🏻‍🌾🌿 (Cara)9

Today would have been John Lennon’s 86th birthday. He’s been gone now for nearly 46 years. This loss still hurts. Just imagine all the beautiful music we’ve missed… 😢

Lief Sorbye

@liefsorbye.bsky.social

“Yeah we all shine on, like the moon, and the stars, and the sun.” To the memory of the great John Lennon, who would have been 86 years old today. This world is missing you! ✌🏼&❣️

6222h ago

Here’s Johnny 💙🇺🇸🐕‍🦺🎶🎸🇨🇦BLM🌈🇺🇦

@heresjohnny.bsky.social

#MusicChallenge #EmojiSounds Day 10 - 🇪🇺 John Lennon - “Imagine” I used this earlier to remember John’s birthday today! But John’s dreams where "all the people living life in peace" and "the world will live as one”, captures the exact spirit behind the European project. youtu.be/VOgFZfRVaww?...

8415h ago

L'agrume1

Such a crever link with the emoji of the day 🙏🏻✨️🔥

Despondent Mets Fan1

Wonderful!! It really fits the prompt, Johnny. Well done! 🙌👏👊

Gummy Arts

@gummyarts.bsky.social

John Lennon rookie card, 1956 Topps style, in honor of his birthday today

Colored-pencil card drawing of John Lennon with the Quarrymen

6519h ago

davidc1935.bsky.social

@davidc1935.bsky.social

"He was older and he was very much the leader; he was the quickest wit and the smartest and all that kind of thing." Paul McCartney on John Lennon, born 9 October 1940.

5122h ago

Jimusic

@jimusic.bsky.social

Remembering John Lennon, singer, songwriter, guitarist and founding member of the Beatles born in Liverpool, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 on this day in 1940. What are your favourite songs that showcase John Lennon? #JohnLennon

63Yesterday

Pedro Jimenez21

Way way way too many, so here my very favorite- Dear Prudence

adrienne of erie17

Come Together Norwegian Wood A Day in the Life Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds Imagine Watching the Wheels

topgun161616.bsky.social15

Despite the many songs he’s written and been lead vocals, to me, it begins and ends with this amazing classic. I’ll leave ALL the rest to others. youtu.be/Ts0XSyWpMnU?...

🦋TNGal °‧🫧⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🐾15

So many incredible songs, but "Imagine," "In My Life," "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Across the Universe," and "Jealous Guy" are among my favorites. His songwriting had a way of being both deeply personal and universal. What a legacy he left behind.

Leda Immortelle14

John’s in the same room with Jim Morrison in my personal pantheon He was the consummate rock & roller terrific songwriter arranger & player plus that voice is holy balm upon my fevered brow It’s good medicine Post Beatles his solo output doubled the fantasy John gave us the truth Don’t look away

sunne.bsky.social13

Across the Universe is stunning. I also love the acoustic version of Watching the Wheels. youtu.be/_88sydrNThk

Shantha Mohan, Ph.D., DTM

@shlead.bsky.social

🎵Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion, too youtu.be/0DNwYnJivJw Remembering John Lennon on his birthday. 💐💐💐 #musicsky #music

4322h ago

Quoting this

John3

I still get shivers listening to this masterpiece of poetic and musical art.

Playboy

@playboy.com

‘A guy’s trying to serve me a subpoena and I just don’t want to deal with it today. Will you help me out?’ To land his iconic Playboy Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Playboy's David Sheff had to help the rockstar evade legal trouble.

4722h ago

Quoting this

Chell O'Buster2

This is actually why he did the walk, his unpredictable movements and lowered hitbox meant the agents of the court couldn't grab hold of him

Andrew Gelston2

This is a fun read

Greg Proops

@gregproops.bsky.social

All you need is love All you need is love All you need is love, love Love is all you need #JohnLennon

Except for pig and Putin they can rot in hell

4620h ago

Robin Reed

@robinreed.bsky.social

I try to imagine today (no pun intended) the 86 year old John Lennon. What he’d be creating, how he’d be fighting against the machine, his vision. Just imagining. 🙏🏻

4421h ago

Paul Gundlach

@paulsgundlach.bsky.social

For a John Lennon birthday timeline cleanse, I was randomly assigned his phone number in NYC in 1992 after Yoko Ono disconnected it when it appeared in Albert Goldman's biography ⬇️. I got calls from George Martin, Elton John, Rod Stewart, and many others. I hope you are having a great day!

4019h ago

2 sources

playboy.comThe Time John Lennon Used a Playboy Reporter to Dodge a Subpoena thelonglostband.bandcamp.comJohn Lennon, by The Long Lost Band

John Lennon, would have been 86music Troye Sivan releases 'She's the Best' albummusic

John Lennon, would have been 86

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