very tough life before stardom - being virtually abandoned by his mother, raised by his aunt, then as his mother was getting back into his life she was killed in a traffic accident.

Lennon did not have much direction.  He therefore made decisions that were not healthy which led him down a self-destructive road in spite of the massive talent he had.  By contrast, Paul McCartney was raised in a good family environment and had better direction.  He therefore did not seem to have the bitter/edgy/angry luggage of Lennon.

I was raised differently than John Lennon.  I grew up with a wholly different set of values - which he never had.  That doesn't excuse obvious bad behavior.  The way he treated Cynthia and Julian is just awful.  Yet, I like to think that the Savior's grace and repentance is still sufficient for people like Lennon.  We, of all people, should understand that.