Julian Lennon Issues Statement About Father

"I am not John Lennon, I never will be!" writes Julian Lennon. On the twentieth anniversary of the murder of John Lennon, his oldest son prepared a statement to discuss his relationship with his father, despite stating that "in the past, a lot of people have considered me the book of knowledge on the subject, which I am certainly not."

The younger Lennon said that he received numerous inquiries asking him to reflect on John Lennon and the Beatles, and despite his hope that the beginning of 2000 would mark the end of his speaking on the matter, he drafted the statement and placed it on his official Web site, www.julianlennon.com.

Lennon said that after his birth, he only lived with his father for a couple of years. "After that I only saw him a handful of times before he was killed," Lennon wrote. "Sadly, I never really knew the man. I think that the work he produced was incredible and so was what he achieved with his three friends, Paul, George and Ringo. But his work hasn't given me a clear insight into what his real life was about or how he truly felt about it."

Lennon likened his "love/hate relationship" with his father as the same as any other father/son relationship, except that his was public. He says he resented the way he was treated by his father, and also took a swipe at his father's widow, Yoko Ono. "I had a great deal of anger towards Dad because of his negligence and his attitude to peace and love. That peace and love never came home to me. I wonder what it would have been like if he were alive today. I guess it would have depended on whether he was 'John Lennon' (Dad) or 'John Ono Lennon' (manipulated lost soul)."

As for Lennon's son with Ono, Sean, Julian wrote, "I love Sean very much and I hope that he's able to cope with his destiny. One thing's for sure, he's got a big brother who will protect him and love him to the end."

Lennon closed the statement by addressing his father directly. "Wherever you are, may your light shine as long as we do! We are one!"

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV 10 Shows to Watch This Summer
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter