|
Julian was born in 1963 in time his father became a household name in England. At the time, his parents' marriage and his birth was kept a secret
by Brian's request so that fans would believe that John was available. Months later, the marriage and Julian's existence became
known. Although John did love Julian, business with the Beatles kept John away most of Julian's toddler years. In 1968, Julian's
life changed when his parents separated, and later divorced. Paul felt sorry for Julian after visiting him and Cynthia after
the separation and wrote "Hey Jude". After the divorce became final, Cynthia got custody with John visitation rights. A few
months after the divorce, John remarried to Yoko Ono while Cynthia became involved and later married Roberto Bassanini. Roberto
became a father figure to Julian and they continued to be close after the divorce with Cynthia until his death in the 1990s.
Julian was a regular weekend visitor at John's home until 1971 when John and Yoko moved to New York City. For the next three years, John and Julian didn't
see or speak to each other. In 1974, John and Yoko separated. Cynthia asked John to reconnect with Julian. With the encouragement
by May Pang, John's girlfriend, John started talking to Julian more with phone calls, letters, and gifts. In Christmas of
1974, John invited Julian and Cynthia to Los Angeles, where he was staying, and took him to Disneyland. They
traveled to New
York and then
Julian and Cynthia went back to England soon after. By 1975, John and Yoko reunited and Sean was born later that year. Julian traveled
to New York whenever he could during the school's holidays.
In April of 1979, John took Julian, Yoko, Sean, Yoko's family, and a few friends to West Palm Beach, Florida
where John gave a birthday party for Julian. Later, they traveled back to New York and then Julian went back home to England. That would be the last time John and Julian would
see each other. In December of 1980, with Cynthia away visiting Maureen, John Twist (who married Cynthia in 1977) received
news that John was murdered and informed Julian. Cynthia came home quickly after hearing the news and saw Julian off to New York to see Yoko and Sean. By 1983, Julian decided to become a musician
after several years dabbling. In 1984, his first record, "Valotte" was released and received great reviews. But the comparisons
with his father, and pressures from fame, were too much for him. He got into drugs heavily and by 1986, "The Secret Value
of Daydreaming" was released and flopped. "Mr. Jordon" and "Help Yourself" followed until 1993 when Julian had enough and
got out of the music business. His relationship strained with Yoko with the involvement of merchandising John's name and selling
off personal possessions- which he bought back. In 1997, Julian returned to the music business with his own independent record
label, Music From Another Room and released "Photograph Smile", which got positive reviews. Julian lives in Monte Carlo, working on several projects (including a new album) and maintaining
his own website and another dedicated to his family from Liverpool, the Stanley/Lennons. In 2009, Julian and Cynthia hosted the launch of White Feather: A Spirit of Lennon, a John Lennon
Memorabilia Exhibition at The Beatles Story in Liverpool, England. |
|
Name Origins
John after John Lennon, his father
Charles after Charles Powell, Cynthia's father who died in June of 1957 from
cancer
Julian after Julia Stanley Lennon, John's mother who died on July 15, 1958 after being run over by an off duty policeman
Career
Artist *1967- drew a picture of his friend, Lucy O'Donald called "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" which inspired John to write
a song which appears in the Beatles' "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" in 1967
*1968- Julian,
with John and Ringo's help, drew the back of the Beatles' annual Christmas album
Musician -can play drums, guitar, piano *1984- "Valotte" *1986- "The Secret Value
of Daydreaming" *1989- "Mr. Jordan" *1991- "Help Yourself" *1997- "Photograph Smile" *2009- currently working on a new album
Restaurateur *2004- Blowfish Sushi To Die For Restaurant in San Francisco, California *upcoming- Red bar and grill
Actor *1995-
Leaving Las Vegas "Bartender"
Links
Julian Lennon's Official Site
The Liverpool Lennons |