A biography of the controversial, outspoken member of the Beatles whose extraordinary songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney changed the world of rock music forever. Norman also wrote Shout!, one of the first and still one of the best Beatles histories.

Includes index.

The country boy -- War baby -- The Northern Confederacy -- The outlaws -- Shortsighted John Wimple Lennon -- The gallotone champion -- Buddies -- To the toppermost of the poppermost -- My mummy's dead -- Jealous guy -- Under the jacaranda -- Mach schau -- The singing rage -- Shadowlands -- Lucky stars -- A genius of the lower crust -- Leather tonsils in a throat of steel -- The big bang -- The top of the mountain -- Real life in cinemascope -- A most religious fellow -- Zen vaudeville -- Breathe -- Magic, meditation, and misery -- There's a good little guru -- Back to virginity -- Bedlam -- Withdrawal symptoms -- Beatledämmerung -- Pizza and fairy tales -- The yippie yippie shake -- Trouble with Harry -- Beautiful boy -- Homebody -- Starting over -- Postscript: Sean remembers.