John Lennon Learns He’s a Bad Driver

While vacationing in the Scottish Highlands, Lennon lost control of his vehicle carrying his family and ended up in a ditch. Lennon, Ono, and their children had to be taken to the hospital.

John Lennon Learns He’s a Bad Driver

John Lennon may be a brilliant songwriter, but he proved to be a very poor driver. The rock star didn’t get his license until he was 24 when he was still at the height of Beatlemania. Although he reportedly spent very little time driving since getting his license in early 1965, Lennon felt confident enough to try and navigate through the narrow roads of the Scottish Highlands, and so Lennon’s future decisions to be behind the wheel ended on July 1, 1969.

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John Lennon's wife Yoko Ono, and their children; 6-year old Julian Lennon and 5-year old Kyoko Ono were in the Austin Maxi when Lennon lost control of the vehicle that wound up into a ditch. The scary mishap ended with a trip to the hospital for Lennon, his son, Yoko Ono, and her daughter.

Although no one was seriously hurt, the family didn’t escape injury. They were taken to the hospital where Julian was treated for shock and Lennon, Ono, and Kyoko all received stitches to repair facial lacerations. Ono, who was pregnant at the time, also sustained back injuries.

Lennon gave up driving after the accident, hiring a chauffeur to take him wherever he needed to go. The Beatle later had the car crushed into a cube and exhibited it on his lawn at Tittenhurst Park.

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Two months after the car accident, Lennon privately informed the rest of the Beatles that he was leaving the group. In April 10, 1970 Paul McCartney publicly announced The Beatles was breaking up.

The four individual Beatles continued making music separately and had very successful careers. The other Beatles, most especially Paul McCartney achieved many hits throughout the 70s, 80’s and even well into the 90’s. Throughout Lennon’s short-lived solo career, he was only able to top the Billboard Hot 100 with one song Whatever Gets You Through the Night, which features Elton John on backing vocals. You can request more post-Beatles hits during the Friday Gold Rush where our Rhythm Crew will gladly play your oldies but goldies song requests. Call in Y101 at #412-6101 and go back in time to enjoy the hits of yesteryears!

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