The Search for John Lennon: The Life, Loves, and Death of a Rock Star by Lesley-Ann Jones. Pegasus Books, 352 pages.

Pulling back the many hidden layers of John Lennon’s life, Lesley-Ann Jones closely tracks the events and personality traits that led to the rock star living in self-imposed exile in New York—where he was shot dead outside his apartment on that fateful autumn day forty years ago.

Late on December 8th, 1980, the world abruptly stopped turning for millions, as news broke that the world’s most beloved musician had been gunned down in cold blood in New York City. The most iconic Beatle left behind an unrivaled body of music and legions of faithful disciples—yet his profound legacy has brought with it as many questions and contradictions as his music has provided truths and certainties.

In this compelling exploration, acclaimed music biographer Lesley-Ann Jones unravels the enigma that was John Lennon to present a complete portrait of the man, his life, his loves, his music, his untimely death, and, ultimately, his legacy.

Using fresh first-hand research, unseen material and exclusive interviews with the people who knew Lennon best, –

Lesley-Ann Jones interviews the guitarist Earl Slick. Best known for his work with David Bowie, Slick played on the sessions for Lennon’s 1980 album Double Fantasy. As such, it makes perfect sense that Jones would talk to him about the making of the album.
Jones applies the same strategy to the long, long barely interrupted quotes from John’s first wife, Cynthia, as well as one of his closest friends, the bassist Klaus Voormann. These are acceptable sources, and it’s a legitimate scoop that Jones arranged original interviews with them (the Cynthia quotes come from 1989, when she and Jones were working together on an abandoned book project) – Jones’s search for answers offers a spellbinding, 360-degree view of one of the world’s most iconic music legends. The Search for John Lennon delves deep into psyche of the world’s most storied musician—the good, the bad and the genius—forty years on from his tragic death.