Words by Riley Fitzgerald
Graphic by Press

Julian Lennon has offered a series of reflections on his relationship with John Lennon in a new article published by UK newspaper The Guardian.

“A lot of the happy memories of my father are from the late 1960s at Kenwood,” Julian shares with journalist Joshua David Stein, “Without knowing it, I probably saw some of the greatest musicians in the world come and go through that house.”

Located a short drive from London, Lennon lived at his Kenwood estate with first wife Cynthia Lennon and Julian from 1964 until 1968.

“As a kid, I thought my dad was pretty happy – with the family, the family home and his place in the world,” Julian continues. “Who could have predicted that everything was about to change?”

In 1968 John Lennon would leave Cynthia Lennon for Yoko Ono.

“Then suddenly my dad literally disappeared off the face of the planet,” Julian confides. “At least, that’s how it seemed to me. He and Yoko Ono were deeply and publicly in love. And I felt as if my mum and I had been cast aside.”

“Not everyone forgot about us, though,” He continues, “Paul McCartney wrote ‘Hey Jules’ after dropping in to check how my mum and I were doing. (Obviously, the title of the song changed to ‘Hey Jude’).”

After this Julian admits he had little contact with his father.

“Maybe 10 years passed during which my dad and I barely spoke,” he states. “I was very angry about how he left the family. It was thanks to my mum that we started having conversations again.”

Traveling to the US where Lennon resided from 1971 until his death in 1980, Julian remembers his father at this time as being”charming, funny and warm”.

Like his father before him, Julian would start a musical career in 1984.

“Sadly,” Julian laments, “[John] never really got to see my career unfold, as he passed when I was just 17. When I did finally become a professional musician a few years later, I felt like I understood him better.”

Lennon also shares he has a difficult relationship with his father, he strives to look upon it in a positive light.

“I try to remember my dad as fondly as possible,” he concludes, “I strive for forgiveness and understanding in that area of my life, for the difficult times he put my mum and me through. I loved her more than anything and can’t forget how poorly he treated her. But our relationship was getting better before he died. He was in a happier place. He wanted to reconnect, not just with me but with the rest of his family. He never got a chance to do so. Even now, almost 40 years after he died, I hold my father’s memory dear.”

You can read Julian’s full account and those of several other reflections from children of famous entertainers here.