John’s Number Nine Fixation

On this date in 1975, one of John Lennon’s most beautiful songs, “No. 9 Dream,” peaked at number 9 on the U.S. charts. It was a cut from his 1974 album, “Walls And Bridges,” his ninth non-Beatles album, which just happened to be released in the ninth month of 1975.

Maybe there’s something to this numerology stuff after all, especially considering the role that number 9 played in John’s life. Here are some interesting facts:

John was born on October 9, 1940.

His first Liverpool home was located at 9 Newcastle Road – his grandfather’s house. It was there that John wrote one of his earliest songs – “One After 909” – which was finally recorded in 1969 and released on the “Let It Be” album.

John travelled on bus number 72 (7 + 2) to Liverpool Art College.

Paul McCartney’s surname contains nine letters, as did the surname of John’s art college friend and one-time Beatle, Stu Sutcliffe.

The Beatles’ first appearance at Liverpool’s Cavern Club was on February 9, 1961. Their future manager, Brian Epstein, saw them perform at the club on November 9, 1961.

The Beatles’ contract with EMI records was confirmed on May 9, 1962.

The band first appeared on the Ed Sullivan show on February 9, 1964.

John met Yoko Ono on November 9, 1966, when he attended a private preview of her avant-garde exhibit, “Unfinished Paintings and Objects,” at the Indica Gallery in London.

John took up nearly the entire 4th side of The White Album with a long, incoherent recording called “Revolution 9.” The words “number nine” are repeated throughout the song.

In April 1969, John changed his name from John Winston Lennon to John Ono Lennon. There are nine “O”s in the combined names of John Ono Lennon and Yoko Ono Lennon.

John and Yoko’s first apartment in the Dakota Building was number 72 (7 + 2).

Their son, Sean, was born on October 9, 1975.

The cover of John’s “Walls and Bridges” LP features a painting John created at age 11, depicting a soccer player with a number 9 on the back of his striped jersey.

John was assassinated in New York City on December 8, 1980, but it was already December 9 in his birthplace of Liverpool.

John was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital on 9th Avenue in Manhattan when he was shot. Both Roosevelt and Manhattan contain 9 letters.

The digital remasters of The Beatles’ back catalogue were released on September 9, 2009, along with the group’s Rock Band video game. This date was deliberately chosen, in recognition of John’s lucky number.

Oh, Johnny, had you but nine lives!

Here’s the beautiful “No. 9 Dream:”