John Lennon.Photo: Keystone/Getty

John Lennon’s loved ones are celebrating theBeatleslegend on what would be his 81st birthday.
Paul McCartneyandYoko Onohonored the occasion Saturday on social media with throwback photos of Lennon, who was killed at age 40 in 1980.
McCartney, 79, paid tribute to his late bandmate on Instagram with ablack-and-white photoof him and John holding electric guitars like violins to their chins.
“Happy Birthday thoughts for John,” McCartney wrote alongside the image.
Paul McCartney/Instagram

Ono, 88, shared a similar message on Twitter, marking both her sonSean Ono Lennonand her late husband’s shared birthday withan adorable photo of the twoblowing out birthday candles when Sean was a child.
“Happy Birthday John! Happy Birthday Sean! I love you!” Ono wrote with the sweet snapshot.
Sean, 46, alsocelebrated his birthdayon Saturday with a grid of photos on his Instagram page. The nine shots combined to create one big image of Sean wearing a paper birthday crown with the number “6” written on it several times.
Last year markedthe 40th anniversaryof John’s death. The musician was shot and killed on Dec. 8, 1980, while entering his Manhattan apartment building.
To honor his friend, McCartney penned an emotional note, which the Grammy winner posted on Twitter alongside a different black-and-white image of himself and John.
“A sad, sad day, but remembering my friend John with the great joy he brought to the world,” McCartney captioned the post. “I will always be proud and happy to have known and worked with this incredible Scouser! X love, Paul.”
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Ringo Starr alsomarked the milestoneon Twitter with a smiling shot of him and John sitting on the bumper of a car.
“I’m asking Every music radio station in the world [to] sometime today play ‘Strawberry Fields Forever.’ Peace and love. 😎✌️🌟❤️🎶🎼💝☮️,” he added.
source: people.com