Julian Lennon 'Always Hoped' He Could Make Peace With His Dad John and Forgive Him
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Julian Lennon 'Always Hoped' He Could Make Peace With His Dad John and Forgive Him
Julian said that he and his father only "saw each other a couple of times" after John Lennon divorced his mother.
Left: 1966: Beatles singer John Lennon performing against a lit backdrop. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) Right: WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 04: Julian Lennon. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Julian Lennon had to deal with a lot growing up including the separation of his parents, which was the basis of the Beatles' iconic song, "Hey Jude." The song was written by Paul McCartney to console Julian as his parents John Lennon and Cynthia separated. Julian Lennon, 59, has come a long way since and moved past the issues he had with his father, and become his own man. Julian is now releasing a new album titled "Jude" and it symbolizes his own personal journey away from the shadows of his illustrious father and also his own legacy as John Lennon's son, reported PEOPLE. It certainly took a while for him to get a place where he could make peace with his relationship with his father and also carve out a space for himself.
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CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 19: Julian Lennon attends The Creative Coalition Dinner celebrating the Art of Julian Lennon during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Torch at Vegaluna Beach Club on May 19, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Torch)
He elaborated on how his journey inspired the album. "It was very much reflective, looking in the mirror deeply and trying to find that place of peace," said Julian, before adding that the process of achieving that peace was a constant journey. "I found it one or two times before, but it got lost in the muddle of life. Working on the album was about getting in touch with myself and who I am." Most of the songs in his new album were written more than 30 years ago and he only stumbled upon them recently as he rummaged through some old demos. Julian had announced that his 2011 album "Everything Changes" would be his last but the discovery of these demos inspired him to make another album. "Never say never is obviously the learn on this curve," he said. "I just thought, 'I still love music and I still love writing and recording'… I'm thankful [to Hartwig] because I think it's some of the best work I've ever done."
John Lennon (1940 - 1980), his son Julian and Yoko Ono pose for photographers at Internel Studios in Stonebridge Park, Wembley, during a rehearsal for the Rolling Stones' 'Rock and Roll Circus' TV special, London, 10th December 1968. (Photo by Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
His relationship with his Dad wasn't always the best. After divorcing his mother Cynthia, John Lennon married Yoko Ono and had a son named Sean in 1975. Julian went to live with his mother and lived a "normal" life while his father rarely visited him. Julian said that they only "saw each other a couple of times" after John Lennon divorced his mother. The Beatles' star would pass away at the age of 40 in 1980 but Julian says they worked it out between each other and "resolved many issues way back."
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He also spoke about the importance of letting go as opposed to it hindering your own personal progress. "When you hold a grudge or when there's negativity in your life, it doesn't necessarily hurt other people, it hurts you. And when you feel that damage on a physical and emotional level over the years, it can break you down," he says. "I haven't carried any negativity with me for a long, long time. But you still have to work through a few knots here and there, just to relax properly. And I think probably the last few years have done that for me." Julian also said the pandemic proved an important juncture in his life as he embraced a healthier lifestyle.
Beatles singer and bass player Paul McCartney holds four-year-old Julian, son of his colleague John Lennon during a holiday near Athens in Greece. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)
Julian has worn many hats as he tried to find himself away from the shadows of his father. At different points in his life, he pursued many careers including that of photographer, documentary filmmaker, children's book author, and philanthropist. "I wanted to prove to myself that I'm so much more than John's son or being [fans'] version of John in a lot of people's minds," he said. "That was important to me, to build a foundation to myself outside of music, that I was capable of just about anything I put my mind and heart to. I can hold my head up high."
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