It’s been 80 years since John Lennon was born and 40 since he died — an excellent time to appreciate the life and work of one of the most influential figures in modern history. Since the moment the Beatles first made their mark on popular culture in the early 1960s, John, Paul, George and Ringo have been a fixture in our hearts and ears — never far away and never out of style. John Lennon was probably the most personal Beatle of them all. As the leader of the band and a solo artist, he couldn’t help but share what he was going through in his life. Often it was thrilling. Sometimes, it was raw, painful and flawed. But, good or bad, Lennon never hid who he was — and we loved him for his honesty.