Julian Lennon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julian Lennon
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Lennon at SXSW London, June 2025
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John Charles Julian Lennon
8 April 1963 Liverpool, England
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| Years active | 1974–present |
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| Relatives | Sean Lennon (half-brother) |
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Julian Charles John Lennon (born 8 April 1963) is an English musician, photographer, author, and someone who helps others (a philanthropist). He is the son of Beatles member John Lennon and his first wife Cynthia. Julian was named after his grandmother, Julia Lennon.
Julian inspired three famous Beatles songs. These include "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1967), "Hey Jude" (1968), and "Good Night" (1968).
Julian Lennon started his music career in 1984 with an album called Valotte. This album featured popular songs like "Too Late for Goodbyes". Since then, he has released six more albums. He also shows his amazing fine-art photography in exhibitions. Julian has written several children's books too.
In 2006, Julian produced a documentary film. It was called Whaledreamers and focused on environmental issues. This film won eight international awards. In 2007, he started The White Feather Foundation (TWFF). This foundation works to help with "environmental and humanitarian issues" around the world.
More recently, in 2020, Julian was an executive producer for the Netflix documentary Kiss the Ground. This film is about regenerative agriculture, which helps improve soil health. He also worked on its follow-up film, Common Ground. In 2022, Julian was an executive producer for Women of the White Buffalo. This documentary tells the stories of women living on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Julian Lennon was born on 8 April 1963. He was born in Liverpool, England. His parents were John Lennon and Cynthia Powell. He was named after his grandmother, Julia Lennon. She had passed away five years before he was born. The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, was Julian's godfather.
Julian went to Kingsmead School in Hoylake. Later, when his mother remarried, he moved to Wales. He attended Ruthin School, a boarding private school in Ruthin, North Wales.
Julian inspired some of his father's famous songs. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" was inspired by a drawing Julian made. It was a watercolour painting of his friend, Lucy O'Donnell, surrounded by stars. Another song inspired by him was the lullaby "Good Night". This song was the last one on The Beatles album, also known as The White Album. In 1967, when he was four, Julian visited the set of the Beatles' film Magical Mystery Tour.
When Julian was five years old, in 1968, his parents separated. His father, John Lennon, later married Yoko Ono in 1969. Julian later had a younger half-brother named Sean Lennon.
Paul McCartney wrote the song "Hey Jude" to comfort Julian during this time. The song was originally called "Hey Jules." McCartney changed the name because "Jude" was easier to sing. After his parents' separation, Julian did not see his father much. But in the early 1970s, he started visiting his father regularly. This happened at the request of his father's girlfriend at the time, May Pang. John Lennon bought Julian a Gibson Les Paul guitar and a drum machine for Christmas in 1973. He also showed Julian some chords to encourage his interest in music.
Julian's Relationship with His Father
After his father, John Lennon, passed away in December 1980, Julian shared his feelings. He felt some sadness and frustration. He mentioned that his father's words about him sometimes hurt. Julian felt that Paul McCartney was often more present in his life than his own father. He said they had a "great friendship."
Julian also felt that his father, who spoke about "peace and love" to the world, did not always show it to his family. He explained that it was hard to hear about peace and love when his own family life was difficult. Julian said his mother, Cynthia, showed more love than his father did. He felt that his father's "darker side" sometimes influenced him.
However, Julian also remembered happier times with his father. He recalled that in the mid-1970s, when his father was with May Pang, they got along much better. He said they had "a lot of fun, laughed a lot." Julian described these memories as "the happiest time I can remember with him."
Julian was not included in his father's main will. However, a special fund was set up for him and his half-brother, Sean. In 1996, Julian reached an agreement with his father's estate. This agreement was approved by John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono.
In 2009, Julian spoke about his feelings. He realized that holding onto anger would make him unhappy. He decided to forgive his father. He wanted to move past the pain and focus on the good things. Julian said that writing music helped him heal. He felt he could finally "embrace Dad and the Beatles."
Julian Lennon's Career
Julian Lennon has been influenced by many artists. These include David Bowie, Keith Jarrett, Steely Dan, and AC/DC.
Music Journey
Julian first played music on his father's album Walls and Bridges when he was 11. He played drums on the song "Ya-Ya". He later joked that he would have played better if he knew it would be on the album! The album notes even credited him as "starring on drums."
His first album, Valotte, came out in 1984 and was very successful. It was produced by Phil Ramone. The album had two songs that reached the top 10: the title track and "Too Late for Goodbyes". Julian was even nominated for a Grammy Award in 1986 for Best New Artist. After the album was released, Paul McCartney sent Julian a telegram wishing him good luck.
His second album, The Secret Value of Daydreaming (1986), was not as popular with critics. However, it still reached number 32 on the Billboard 200 chart. It also had a single called "Stick Around". This song became Julian's first number-one hit on the US Album Rock Tracks chart.
In 1987, Julian appeared in a musical called The Hunting of the Snark. He played the Baker. The show was a benefit for the deaf. In 1989, his song "Now You're in Heaven" reached number 5 in Australia. It also became his second number 1 hit on the Album Rock Tracks chart in the US.
In 1991, George Harrison shared some ideas for Julian's album Help Yourself. The song "Saltwater" from this album reached number 6 in the UK. It was also number one in Australia for four weeks. Julian also covered the Rolling Stones' song "Ruby Tuesday" for the TV series The Wonder Years.
Julian took a break from music in the 1990s. He wanted to focus on helping others. This was after he met some elders from the Mirning people in Australia. There was sometimes talk that Julian might perform with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. But the three surviving Beatles said they never planned for Julian to replace his father.
In 1998, Julian released Photograph Smile on his own record label. Critics liked the album, calling it "well-crafted and melodic." In 2002, he recorded a version of "When I'm Sixty-Four" for an Allstate Insurance commercial.
In 2009, Julian released a song and EP called "Lucy." This honored Lucy Vodden, the girl who inspired "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." Half of the money from the song went to help with Lupus research.
In October 2011, Julian released the album Everything Changes. He also worked on a documentary about making the album. This film, Through the Picture Window, included interviews with famous musicians like Steven Tyler and Bono.
On September 9, 2022, Julian's album Jude was released. It included songs like "Freedom" and "Every Little Moment." The album's title refers to the Beatles song "Hey Jude". Julian said calling it Jude helped him accept who he is. He explained that the songs came from over thirty years of writing.
On 23 August 2024, Julian released a new version of "I Should Have Known." He said it was always a favorite song of his. He wanted it to "breathe life into the world again."
Film Work
Julian's first tour as a solo musician in 1985 was part of a film. It was called Stand by Me: A Portrait of Julian Lennon. Julian has appeared in other films too. These include The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (released in 1996) and Cannes Man (1996). He also had a small role as a bartender in Leaving Las Vegas (1995). Julian provided the voice for the main character in the animated film David Copperfield (1993). He also voiced Toby the Teapot in The Real Story of I'm a Little Teapot (1990).
Julian also produced the documentary Whaledreamers. This film is about an Indigenous Australian tribe. It shows their special connection with whales and discusses environmental issues. The film won several awards. It was shown at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
In 2018, Julian was an executive producer for Women of the White Buffalo. This documentary, released in 2022, focuses on Lakota women from Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. It shows their efforts to keep their way of life strong.
In 2020, Julian was an executive producer for Kiss the Ground. This award-winning documentary is about regenerative agriculture. It was narrated by Woody Harrelson.
Photography
Julian became very interested in photography after taking pictures of his half-brother Sean's music tour in 2007.
On 17 September 2010, Julian opened his first photography exhibition. It was called "Timeless: The Photography of Julian Lennon." The exhibition featured 35 photographs. It included pictures of his brother Sean and U2 singer Bono.
Julian's "Alone" collection was shown at the Art Basel Miami Beach Show in December 2012. This show helped raise money for The White Feather Foundation.
His "Horizon" series was displayed at the Emmanuel Fremin Gallery in NYC in 2015. Julian's "Cycle" exhibit was shown at the Leica Gallery in Los Angeles in 2016.
Julian uses the social media app Instagram to share his photography. In 2021, he was the first fine-arts photographer featured at the new gallery in Aston Martin Residences Miami.
In 2023, Julian showed photographs in an exhibition called ATMOSPHERIA. This was at the William Turner Gallery in Santa Monica, California. In 2024, Julian released a book of his photographs. It is titled Life's Fragile Moments.
Books
After his father passed away, Julian started collecting Beatles items. In 2010, he published a book about his collection. It was called Beatles Memorabilia: The Julian Lennon Collection.
From 2017 to 2019, Julian wrote a New York Times Bestselling trilogy. The books were Touch the Earth, Heal the Earth, and Love the Earth.
On 9 November 2021, Julian published a graphic novel for middle-grade children. It is called The Morning Tribe. He wrote it with co-author Bart Davis.
Helping Others: Philanthropy
Julian Lennon once had a conversation with his father. His father told him that if he passed away, he would send Julian a message. This message would come in the form of a white feather. The white feather has always meant peace to Julian.
While on a tour in Australia, Julian received a white feather. It was given to him by two Indigenous elders from the Mirning tribe. They asked him to help share their voices. In response, Julian produced the documentary Whaledreamers about their tribe.
In 2007, he founded The White Feather Foundation (TWFF). Its goal is to help with "environmental and humanitarian issues." The foundation works with partners worldwide. It raises money to improve life for everyone. It also honors those who have made a real difference.
TWFF works with people and charities globally. They raise money for projects in four main areas: clean water, protecting Indigenous cultures, the environment, and education and health. In 2008, Prince Albert II of Monaco gave TWFF the Better World Environmental Award.
In 2015, after the Nepal earthquake, TWFF helped the victims. They gave over $106,000 to the Music for Relief's Nepal aid fund.
Julian visited Kenya, Ethiopia, and Colombia in 2014. He saw the education and environmental projects TWFF was supporting. After his mother passed away the next year, Julian named TWFF's scholarship program after her. It is called "The Cynthia Lennon Scholarship for Girls." Since then, the foundation has given over 50 scholarships to girls in Africa, the U.K., and the U.S.
In 2019, Julian contributed his voice and music to the film One Little Finger. This film aims to raise awareness about "ability in disability." It shows how music can help people with disabilities.
In September 2020, Julian received the CC Forum Philanthropy Award in Monaco. That same month, he was honored by the UNESCO Center for Peace.
In 2022, Julian recorded his own version of his father's 1971 song "Imagine." All the money from this song went to support Ukraine.
Personal Life
Julian Lennon lived with his parents in Weybridge, outside London, from 1964 to 1968. After his parents separated, he moved with his mother to different places in Britain. They eventually settled near Liverpool and then on a farm in North Wales. Julian's first stepfather, Roberto Bassanini, was Italian.
In the early 1980s, Julian moved to the United States. He lived in New York City and then Los Angeles. In 1991, he moved to Europe, mainly living in Italy. Julian later moved to Monaco, where he lives now. He is friends with Albert II, Prince of Monaco.
Julian has a good relationship with Yoko Ono, his father's widow. He is also close to his half-brother, Sean. Julian saw Sean perform live for the first time in Paris in 2006. They spent time together on Sean's tour in 2007.
Julian does not have children. He shared in 2011 that his challenging relationship with his father made him decide not to have his own.
In 2020, he legally changed his name. He changed it from John Charles Julian Lennon to Julian Charles John Lennon. This was to match the name he has always been known by.
Health Updates
In 2020, Julian had a cancerous mole removed from his head. In December 2024, he shared that he was waiting for results from a recent medical check-up on his arm.
John Lennon's Legacy
To honor John Lennon's 70th birthday, Julian and his mother, Cynthia, unveiled the John Lennon Peace Monument. This happened in Liverpool, his father's hometown, on 9 October 2010.
Julian remains friends with his father's former bandmate, Paul McCartney. They had a small misunderstanding in 2011 when Julian was not invited to McCartney's wedding. However, McCartney later told him it was a mistake. McCartney even provided the handwritten "Jude" design for Julian's 2022 album. Julian is also still friends with May Pang. She provided the cover photo for his Jude album. He shared memories of her and his father in her 2022 documentary.
Music Albums
- Valotte (1984)
- The Secret Value of Daydreaming (1986)
- Mr. Jordan (1989)
- Help Yourself (1991)
- Photograph Smile (1998)
- Everything Changes (2011)
- Jude (2022)
Film and TV Appearances
Films
- As a producer
- WhaleDreamers (2008)
- Kiss the Ground (2020)
- Women of the White Buffalo (2021)
- As an actor
- Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
- As himself
- Above Us Only Sky (2018)
- The Lost Weekend: A Love Story (2023)
Television Shows
- Top of the Pops (18 October 1984)
- American Bandstand (29 December 1984)
- Solid Gold (TV series) (2 February 1985)
- Live at Five (WNBC TV series) (18 February 1985)
- Late Night with David Letterman (10 April 1985)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (12 June 1985)
- American Bandstand (26 April 1986)
- Top 20 Countdown (3 May 1986)
- Solid Gold (13 September 1986)
- The Arsenio Hall Show (15 June 1989)
- Today (American TV program) (19 June 1989)
- Late Night with David Letterman (28 July 1989)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (16 August 1989)
- Top of the Pops (3 October 1991)
- Late Night with David Letterman (18 October 1991)
- Late Show with David Letterman (17 February 1999)
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (9 March 1999)
- The Howard Stern Show (1 May 1999)
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (11 August 1999)
- Daybreak (19 September 2011)
- Larry King Now (16 July 2013)
- Chelsea Lately (28 October 2013)
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (21 November 2013)
- The View (19 April 2017)
- Access Hollywood (25 April 2017)
- The Chew (6 April 2018)
- Home and Family (16 April 2018)
- American Chopper (28 March 2019)
- The View (talk show) (24 April 2019)
- Home and Family (30 April 2019)
- Ways to Change the World (18 November 2022)
- The View (talk show) (11 March 2025)
See also
In Spanish: Julian Lennon para niños
