John Lennon's Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses
Owner
John Lennon
(English, 1940 - 1980)
Maker
Oliver Goldsmith
(English, founded 1926)
Date1966-1968
ClassificationsClothing
DescriptionJohn Lennon's Oliver Goldsmith sunglasses. The glasses have a gold tone wire-frame with round green tinted lenses. "Oliver Goldsmith" is engraved on each inner temple. The left side is missing a screw, resulting in loose temple, and lens, minor scratching to lenses. Lennon first began wearing this style of sunglasses, that became an iconic trademark, in 1966 when he was given a pair of this style to prepare for his role in Richard Lester’s film How I Won the War. He gave this pair to Alan Herring, who worked as a chauffeur and assistant to George Harrison and then Ringo Starr from 1967 to 1969. John Lennon left this pair of sunglasses in the car during a routine trip to The Beatles London office in the summer of 1968. Herring recalls: “I had picked John up with Ringo and George in Ringo’s Mercedes and driven the boys into the office.” The glasses had broken and when Herring noticed Lennon had left them in the car he offered to get them repaired to which Lennon replied that they were "just for the look" and that he’d "send out for some that fit." Herring kept the glasses in the same condition as John had left them.
John Lennon (1940-1980) was a musician, singer, and songwriter best known as the co-lead vocalist and guitarist for The Beatles. Lennon and Paul McCartney served as the primary songwriters for The Beatles, and their collaboration is credited as one of the most successful musical outputs of all time. Lennon was born in Liverpool, England where he was raised by his aunt, Mimi Smith. In 1956, Lennon received his first guitar and formed a band, the Quarrymen. While playing with the Quarrymen, Lennon met Paul McCartney and George Harrison who joined the skiffle and rock and roll group. The band changed their name to The Beatles in 1960.
Lennon and The Beatles released their first single in 1962, "Love Me Do," and their debut album, Please Please Me, in 1963. By 1964, the band had reached international stardom, with Beatlemania taking over both European and American airwaves. The Beatles toured extensively from 1964 to 1966, when they became a studio band. Their initial rock and roll sound transformed into new styles, with influences of the 1960s psychedelic and counterculture movements - led by Lennon's anti-war and protest activism. After the dissolution of The Beatles in 1970, Lennon embarked on a solo career. His 1971 album Imagine and its title track became his most popular solo release. Lennon left the music world during the mid-1970s, returning to the studio in 1980 for the album Doubly Fantasy.
On December 8, 1980, Lennon was shot and killed outside of his apartment building in New York City by a disillusioned fan of The Beatles. Lennon is remembered as one of the most influential musicians of all time. His work with The Beatles is credited with shaping the musical landscape of the 20th century. His early demise led to many tributes by his friends and colleagues such as Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Elton John, and the other Beatles.
