To mark the 20th anniversary of John Lennon's assassination, this is a revised and updated edition of his biography. Capturing the frenetic life and work of the Beatle who wrote " A Hard Day's Night" through to the philosopher who wrote "Imagine", this biography, with rare illustrations, is revised and updated with a new chronology composed by Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn, and a foreword by Sir George Martin.

Ray Coleman was the former editor-in-chief of Melody Maker known for his biographies of The Beatles and Lennon: The Definitive Biography. Besides Melody Maker, Coleman contributed to music magazines such as Disc, Black Music, Musicians Only, and Billboard. An author or co-author of ten books, Coleman was near the completion of a Phil Collins biography at the time of his death. The book was completed and published in 1997. He was the first journalist to be awarded a Gold Badge of Merit by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for services to British music.