The Former Beatles (1983: Doomsday)

The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. From 1962, the group consisted of John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals). The nature of their enormous popularity, which first emerged as the "Beatlemania" fad, transformed as their songwriting grew in sophistication. The group came to be perceived as the embodiment of progressive ideals, seeing their influence extend into the social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s. Despite the success the band was achieving the members began to drift apart in order to chase their own aspirations. However, the break-up was not officially announced until December 31, 1970, when Paul filed a lawsuit against John, George and Ringo in order to dissolve the Beatles. All four members went on to pursue solo-careers.

 Notable Post Breakup/Pre-Doomsday Activities 

John Winston Lennon: is best known for his 1971 album Imagine, which continued to explore the socially conscious and idealistic images of his previous releases, as well as tackling his own personal issues. A true icon for peace, Lennon used the album, and particularly the title track, to champion a world where “there’s no hell bellow us/ above us only sky” and which resides “a brotherhood of man.” The song Imagine is probably one of Lennon’s most popular and its effectiveness in reaching audiences likely comes from its simplicity and straightforward lyrics that paint a picture of the ideal world; a world that Lennon would sadly never see. At around 10:50 pm on 8 December 1980, as Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono returned to their New York apartment in The Dakota, Mark David Chapman shot Lennon in the back four times at the entrance to the building. Lennon was taken to the emergency room of nearby Roosevelt Hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival at 11:07 pm.