John Lennon, would have been 86

musicOct 9, 202635634

John Lennon would have turned 86 on October 9, 2026, and tributes on the day marked his songwriting legacy, especially the song "Imagine." Posts and creators shared lyrics and YouTube links to "Imagine," covers, sped-up demos and remixes of unreleased material, and personal remembrances citing Lennon’s birth on October 9, 1940 and his death on December 8, 1980. Paul McCartney’s line recalling Lennon as “the quickest wit and the smartest” appeared in tributes. Music acts and writers also resurfaced related items: The Long Lost Band released a track titled "John Lennon" on the album One More Mile, and an article about David Sheff’s Playboy interview recirculated for its anecdote about helping Lennon avoid a subpoena. The day’s posts included quotations from "Imagine" and other Lennon solo songs, links to performances, and new covers built from Lennon demos, keeping archived recordings and newly produced tributes in circulation.

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘

@kojamf.bsky.social

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

1263h ago

Petal Lu Ⓥ 💚🌱💙🌎5

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 💔

Joanie3

🎶 ❤️ (Stay safe down there!)

Steve2

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

saileesue.bsky.social1

POWER TO THE PEOPLE 🎶

loubumb2013.bsky.social1

The man who wrote ‘give peace a chance’ ❤️ World peace ain’t gonna happen in my lifetime!

Place19311

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

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, 👇

1064h ago

Monica21

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 °‧🫧⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🐾20

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.social15

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

T Doyle - Nana15

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

oldkeyw.bsky.social12

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

Linda Oswald9

#9 Dreams Happy Xmas (War is over) Come Together And so many more.

The 70s Guy

@stevenw888.bsky.social

7 Oct 1976 #JohnLennon was awarded a Green Card-permanent residency status which overturned efforts by the US Govt to deport him. The US Court of Appeal ruled that his arrest in the UK for dope possession was "contrary to US ideas of due process & was invalid as a means of banishing him from the US"

482d ago

Sven Golly2

The Nixon admin wanted him out because of his opposition to the Vietnam war among other things. By contrast IIRC he and Yoko attended the Carter inaugural a few months after this photo was taken.

gardenia-38.bsky.social1

Hoover was head of the FBI and was the one that targeted John Lennon because of his peaceful protests against the Vietnam War. His motives were tamp down his message because of the upcoming Republican National Convention. Sound familiar?

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

518h ago

Pedro Jimenez18

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

adrienne of erie15

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

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

topgun161616.bsky.social14

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 °‧🫧⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🐾13

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.

sunne.bsky.social12

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

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.

374h 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

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

204h ago

Michelle M.

@michellemabelle.bsky.social

Happy Birthday, Johnny Rhythm. Dearly loved. Never forgotten. #JohnLennon 💜

2811h ago

Music Box Magazine

@musicboxonline.bsky.social

Good morning, Blue Sky! "There's room at the top they are telling you still But first you must learn how to smile as you kill If you want to be like the folks on the hill A working class hero is something to be" (Happy Birthday, John Lennon!)

244h 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.

194h ago

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! ✌🏼&❣️

114h ago

Ron Sexsmith

@ronsexsmith.bsky.social

In honour of the late John Lennon's birthday I thought I'd post a few faves from my channel Here's "Oh My Love" RS youtu.be/5HDCNxdYlNE?...

144h ago

Nemo

@nemonihil1664.bsky.social

I've seen quite a few comments online by people who were a little underwhelmed by John's demo of Little Girl. I think it's great. I've experimented with this unused Lennon song, speeded it up a bit and added an unused Lennon middle 8. Here's my cover: #Beatles #JohnLennon

172d ago

Damien Maguire2

Go for it Dave. Brilliant 👏

JP1

Very nice job. I commented about the song a few days ago...

Just Joan

@justjoan.bsky.social

Today is John Lennon’s birthday, he would have been 86. I hope wherever he is it is just as he imagined. youtu.be/YkgkThdzX-8?...

94h ago

Linda Oswald

@lindaaoswald1.bsky.social

Happy Xmas (War is over)--John Lennon So this is Christmas And what have you done? Another year over A new one just begun

153h 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. 🙏🏻

113h 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

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John Lennon, would have been 86

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