Who Was John Lennon's Best Friend? The Untold Story

The Meaning of Friendship to John Lennon

Honestly, when you think about John Lennon, you likely picture him as one of the most iconic figures in music history. But have you ever wondered about the man behind the music? His friendships, especially the ones that shaped him, offer a deeper, more human side. Lennon was famous for his complex personality, and his friendships were no different—they were intense, deep, and often turbulent. So, who was his best friend?

Well, if you ask most people, the first name that pops up is Paul McCartney. And while it’s true that Paul was arguably Lennon’s closest collaborator in The Beatles, the real answer might surprise you.

Paul McCartney: A Bond That Shaped History

The Musical Partners

Look, it’s hard not to start with Paul McCartney. You can’t really talk about John Lennon without mentioning him. Together, they created some of the most legendary songs in music history. The Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership was the backbone of The Beatles. But was Paul Lennon’s best friend? That’s a bit more complicated.

Actually, Lennon once said in an interview that they were more than just partners—they were like brothers. They fought, but their bond was undeniable. Their friendship, though, became strained later in life. The tension between them—mostly stemming from creative differences and personal conflicts—led to the breakup of The Beatles. Yet, in the early years, their friendship was inseparable.

The Friendships with Paul: Beyond Music

Paul and John had their ups and downs, but it’s clear that Lennon respected Paul not just as a collaborator but as a true friend. They would have long conversations about life, politics, and personal struggles. John often described Paul as the "yin to his yang," balancing out his more rebellious and intense nature. That was the magic of their friendship: They truly complemented each other, and that balance made their music so powerful.

But Was Paul Really His Best Friend?

Honestly, there’s a debate here. Many people (and I used to be one of them) assumed that John’s best friend was Paul. But if you dig a little deeper into Lennon’s life, another name keeps cropping up—his lifelong friend, Pete Shotton.

Pete Shotton: The Unsung Best Friend

Who Was Pete Shotton?

Pete Shotton was one of John’s oldest friends, and, from what I’ve gathered, they were incredibly close, even before The Beatles took off. Pete was with John from the very beginning, even before fame. He was a childhood friend from Liverpool, and, for many years, he remained by John’s side. They met as young boys, and Pete became one of the few people John truly trusted.

You might not know this, but Pete was actually the drummer for The Quarrymen, John’s early band before The Beatles. He later worked as Lennon’s personal assistant and even helped with some of the day-to-day tasks during John’s early solo career. So, yeah, he was there through thick and thin.

The Depth of Their Friendship

But what really set Pete apart was the way he balanced John’s intense personality. Lennon had a lot of dark moments—many people forget that he dealt with personal demons, depression, and a complicated family life. Pete was there to support him through all that. There’s this one story I remember, where Pete would help John with his emotional struggles, especially after The Beatles’ breakup. Pete wasn’t just a friend in name; he was family to John, and that’s something that Paul never fully could be, at least not in the same way.

Actually, when I spoke to a friend of mine—an old-school Beatles fan—we were discussing the complexity of John’s relationships. He made a great point: "John didn’t have many real friends, but Pete was the one guy who stuck around when everyone else was caught up in the fame."

Yoko Ono: A Friend or Something More?

Was Yoko His Best Friend?

Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room. Yoko Ono is often portrayed as the one who "broke up" The Beatles, but the truth is, she and John shared a very deep connection. While it’s hard to categorize her as just a "friend," Yoko was undoubtedly someone who profoundly impacted John’s life. She was his muse, his partner, and in many ways, his emotional support during some of his most turbulent times.

In the later years of his life, Lennon was increasingly dependent on Yoko. They became a creative duo, and although it’s often debated how much influence she had on him, it’s clear that she played a significant role. She was there when Paul and John’s friendship faltered, offering him a kind of understanding and stability that he seemed to need.

The Complexity of Yoko’s Relationship with John

Yoko and John’s relationship has always been a bit of a mystery. Was she a friend or more of a protector? Honestly, it’s hard to say. Some say Yoko was the one person who really got John. She didn’t just support him, but she was his equal in the artistic and philosophical sense. This could be seen as the deepest form of friendship—one where both people challenge and push each other.

What Can We Learn from John Lennon’s Friendships?

Okay, after all this, where does that leave us? Who was John Lennon’s best friend? Well, it seems like it’s not a straightforward answer. Sure, Paul McCartney was the closest in terms of music and collaboration. But Pete Shotton, the childhood friend, was undeniably the one who knew John the best, long before fame or fortune ever came into the picture.

Honestly, I think the real answer is that Lennon had different kinds of "best friends" at different stages of his life. There’s no one-size-fits-all definition of friendship, especially for someone as complex as John Lennon. Whether it was Paul, Pete, or even Yoko, each one played a critical role in John’s life—and each shaped who he was in different ways.

And that’s what makes John’s relationships so fascinating. They were complicated, multifaceted, and—let’s be real—sometimes downright messy. But that’s also what makes him so human.

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The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

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Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

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Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.