John published a second book, 'A Spaniard in the Works' in 1965. It contained the same type of witty wordplay in short stories and poems as his first book. John's drawings which accompanied the text brilliantly conveyed in a few strokes of the pen strange and often disturbing scenarios.

It was in 1966 that the Beatles had a frightening touring experience, which convinced John and George, at least, that touring would soon have to end. In July, the Beatles were thought to have snubbed Imelda Marcos, wife of the Philippines' president, when they failed to show up for a reception at the Presidential Palace. In reality, the Beatles had not been formally invited, but the Philippine press made the incident headline news. The Beatles received death threats and finally, after performing at two major concerts there, fled the country while being physically attacked by a mob at the airport.

It was also in '66 that John's quote about the Beatles being more popular than Jesus was reprinted out of context in a U.S. teen magazine, Datebook - and yet another irate mob awaited the group when they arrived in the States for what would be their final tour. Beatles record burnings had been taking place in various parts of the country. The mood was tense. John reluctantly offered an apology at a press conference upon the group's arrival in Chicago on August 11.

John: "I'm not anti-God, anti-Christ or anti-religion. I am not saying we are greater or better. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It's just that the translations have gone wrong. I wasn't saying whatever they are saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it, really. I apologize, if that will make them happy. I still don't know quite what I've done."

Because of the Jesus statement controversy, un-Christian-like death threats were made against the band, and the whole furor signaled the end of an era for the Beatles...and their fans. Touring was over.

1966 was also the year John appeared in the Richard Lester movie, How I Won the War as Pvt. Gripweed. John's now-famous granny glasses were first worn for this film.

In November of '66, John met avant-garde artist, Yoko Ono at her art exhibition at the Indica Gallery in London. The show was called Unfinished Painting and Objects by Yoko Ono and featured the famous Painting To Hammer a Nail and the ladder that had to be climbed to see the word "Yes" on the ceiling. John was introduced to Yoko by gallery owner, John Dunbar. They would see each other off and on throughout the coming year at various art and musical events in London. Yoko sent John her book, Grapefruit in December of '66.

It was during this period, that John was living in an expensive mock-Tudor mansion in Weybridge, Surrey with Cynthia and Julian. Touring was over, and the 26-year-old John Winston Lennon had done it all already. Published two books, appeared in three films, written and recorded some of the world's best and most popular songs. What was there left to accomplish? Ringo Starr who lived down the road told an interviewer, "Sometimes I go up to John's house to play with his toys, and sometimes he comes down here to play with mine." John had a little too much free time on his hands and he was becoming restless. That would soon change when John's mind-blowing "Strawberry Fields Forever" was released and the first songs for the ground-breaking Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band were recorded.

The Beatles' fashions had changed drastically by this time. There were beards and mustaches, Flower Power shirts and bell bottom pants. The music was changing as well, as the Beatles experimented with sitars, moog synthesizers and other non-conventional musical instruments.

Cynthia was reluctant to get involved in the drug culture scene and seemed increasingly out of the picture as the John she knew grew into a different person, with different dreams and a need for new experiences. John and Cynthia's relationship was definitely not flourishing as the couple grew apart emotionally.

In 1967, after the long Pepper sessions were finally wrapped..the BBC informed the Beatles that they would not air A Day In the Life because of John's apparently pro-drug line, "I'd love to turn you on." (The BBC would later censor another John Lennon song during the Gulf War in 1991. Imagine was considered subversive by the BBC, along with the updated version of Give Peace a Chance recorded by Sean Lennon, Lenny Kravitz, Yoko Ono and a host of musical friends.)

In retrospect, the worriers may have had half a point. Ever since the Beatles had been so firmly clasped to the bosom of the establishment, their every antic had been feasted by the press as another example of the lovable mop-tops' exuberance, and the youth of the world had been encouraged to note their industry, shampooed cleanliness and apparent decency. So when these same four young men decided, with the waning influence of Brian Epstein, to speak out for themselves, and were seen to be endorsing ways of life which many considered to be of dubious social value, huge cracks suddenly appeared in the smiling faces of welcome which had been virtually the Beatles' only view of the world during the past five years."

In 1967, the Beatles were introduced to Transcendental Meditation by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. There's a famous and sad news photo of Cynthia in tears after she missed the train to Bangor, Wales where the Maharishi was lecturing at University College. As John and the others all chugged down the tracks, Cynthia stood forlornly behind in the train station. The scene turned out to be symbolic of where her troubled marriage to John was going.

Just days after the Beatles had arrived in Bangor, Brian Epstein was found dead at his London flat. John and the others were shaken by Epstein's death and were counseled by the Maharishi. The reality was - suddenly there was no one to guide their career. When the touring had ended, the four Beatles had been able to pursue some of their other interests, but Epstein's death was a major factor in the power struggles that were to come within the group. Without Epstein, it truly was every man for himself.

The Beatles' TV film, Magical Mystery Tour was produced after Epstein's death. The film was not well-received by critics or the public who found it to be unfocused, too weird and unworthy of the Beatles. The world which had adored the Beatles was now reveling in what was perceived as a crushing Beatles failure. Little did the world know that The White Album was yet to come.

In 1968, all four Beatles and their wives spent several weeks with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh, India. John, Paul and George found the experience conducive to songwriting, but all four couples eventually left the camp disillusioned with the Maharishi, who appeared to be too interested in fame..and young women. It was after their arrival home from this trip that John and Cynthia's marriage entered its final days, and John was about to embark on a totally new phase of his life.