Warning, this episode contains strong language and mention of domestic violence.

Listener discretion is advised.

Hello and welcome to a new series of Legacy.

This time, we're talking about a man who smashed pop conventions and changed the course of the music industry.

His band sold more records than any other group, an estimated 1 billion discs and tapes to date, and billions of downloads.

He personally still holds the record for the most UK number one singles by a songwriter.

30 of his songs have topped the charts. And just last year, an AI version of him released

the fastest selling single of the year. He was a global champion for peace. His high profile

activism established the playbook for just about every campaigning pop star to

date and made him a target for President Nixon.

But the revered pacifists struggled with his temper, admitting that he fought men and hit women.

And his relationship with drugs descended into headline-grabbing

chaos, even as it fuelled that groundbreaking creativity. Of course, we're talking about John Lennon,

founder of the Beatles and one of the most successful songwriters in the history of popular music.

In life, his notorious stunts attracted both worship and ridicule,

but since his death, he's become a mythical icon and a standard bearer for integrity.

Music From Wondery and Goalhanger, I'm Peter Frank O'Hopern. I'm Afwa Hush.

And this is Legacy, the show that tells the lives of the most extraordinary men and women ever to have lived,

and asks if they have the reputation that they deserve.

This is John Lennon, episode one, the boy everyone wanted.

So what about John Lennon, Afa? What do you reckon? Is he a big hero of yours?

I'm just going to take a moment to tell you my personal Beatles story, Peter. Just a moment, because it's a bit weird.

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