Nowhere Boy - Young John Lennon's biography

He got his passion for music from his mother. His uncle, George, gave him his first instrument, a harmonica, his mother, Julia, his first rock and roll lessons, his aunt, Mimi, his first 7 pounds guitar and Paul his first notions of musical notes and the dream of having their own songs and recordings. The witty sense of humor, his defiance, fierceness and his intelligence did the rest. Although uncle George and Julia left him early, Mimi took care of him for the rest of his life. As the ending of the film says: “John called Mimi as soon as he arrived in Hamburg… and every week thereafter for the rest of his life”.

"Nowhere boy" is the story of a troubled adolescence, with questions and no answers, with great talent and no direction. John Lennon is torn between his joyful mother and his rigid aunt, both concealing secrets or feelings. But when music came into his life, he found his way. The introduction of music into his existence was underlined at the beginning of the film by the wire that John and his uncle installed into his room, for listening to the radio.

I found the movie powerful, witty, vivid, exactly as I expected it to be. A very interesting fact was that the name of the band, "The Beatles", was never mentioned in the movie, maybe to highlight that the film is only about the "nowhere boy".

Strengths: Aaron Johnson was perfect for playing such a complex character as John Lennon and I particularly appreciated him for having the looks, attitude and tone of voice of John.

Weaknesses: no Beatles songs :); Paul and George do not resemble at all with the real ones (last picture, the second and the fourth from left); some details are not so exact: for example, I know that Julia Lennon was killed while riding a bike and the movie shows no sign of bikes.

All in all, you must see it!



Pictures in comparison :)


John Lennon




John Lennon (Nowhere boy)




John Lennon and Aunt Mimi




Aunt Mimi (Nowhere boy)



The Quarrymen



The Quarrymen (Nowhere boy)



The Quarrymen (Nowhere boy)

When did John and Paul meet?

Saturday, July 6, 1957 is the day John met Paul!

John (aged 16) and his band the Quarrymen were performing at a fête at St. Peter's Woolton Parish Church in Liverpool. Paul (aged 15) was wheeling around on his bicycle - hoping to pick up girls - and heard the Quarrymen play (photo). A mutual friend named Ivan Vaughan introduced Paul to John. Paul whipped out the guitar strapped to his back and played "Twenty Flight Rock" and "Be-Bop-a-Lula", among others. John was impressed that Paul could tune a guitar and "looked like Elvis", and John said that he "dug him." That October, Ivan told Paul that John wanted him in the band. The rest, as they say, is history.

They shared the passion for music and, sadly, the early loss of their mothers. In 1956, Mary McCartney, a heavy smoker, died of an embolism after a mastectomy operation to stop the spread of her breast cancer. Lennon's mother died in 1958. John was living with his Aunt Mimi and her mother came to visit him. After spending the day with his son, Julia Lennon waved goodbye and began to cross the road in order to catch the bus home. She never made it. She was hit by a car being driven by an off-duty policeman and died instantly, aged 44.