Julian Lennon knows well what people think of him and he knows it even if more than 40 years have passed since his first album Valotte. He knows it, but when connected from his home in Munich he can't find the right word to say it. «Someone said that I would be the pioneer of…». Some nepo babies? “That,” he says, more amused than saddened. «At the time there weren't many others. I was certainly one of the first to address this in music. But I'm here, I survived, I'm fine. I like the life I live and the job I have. I get up every day and think about the best, hope for the best, pray for the best in these difficult times.”
It's true that for a large part of the public Julian is just the son that John Lennon had from his marriage to Cynthia Powell, at most the debutante with the mullet who had two hits in the '80s, Valotte And Too Late for Goodbyes. He says it himself that since then he has had fluctuating fortunes in music. In recent years he has therefore dedicated himself to photography, written children's books and produced documentaries such as Ai Weiwei's Turandotjust released about the Chinese artist and his directorial debut at the Rome Opera. “People knew me as John's son and that was it. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do what I wanted, something solid.”
After a long hiatus, at age 62 Lennon returned to music with a four-song EP titled Because and with the video of I Won't Give Upwhich is essentially a mission statement. “It can mean whatever you want and that's the beauty of it, right?” he says of the title. «It's the beauty of songs: you see what you want in them».
We talked with him about new songs, about the Beatles biopics directed by Sam Mendes, about the autobiography that we are about to write.
You said you were disappointed by the lukewarm reception to your 2022 album Jude. Why then did you want to make this EP?
Record labels have failed me. I put my heart and soul into it, especially in the latest albums, and I can't accept that so much work is put aside, that it isn't valued. That's why I've been an independent artist for quite a while. Then they hung up on me for Jude promising me the world and instead there was no support from them. In any case, I decided a long time ago to only make singles and EPs, there's less pressure. And then working on all the other things, from the White Feather Foundation to documentaries and then children's books and photography, I told myself that I can make music in a more relaxed way. Making a song every now and then makes me feel freer.
How were these four pieces born?
I've known Justin Clayton since I was 11. At the time of Jude we found boxes full of demos and cassettes in the basement of my former manager's office. I had no idea they were there, I thought I lost them during a move or something. They contained all the material I had written, good or bad, over the years. Then about a year ago Justin asked me if I wanted to take a look at it. I've wanted to do it for a while, there were a lot of things in there that didn't fit with the albums I'd made.
So when do the songs date back?
The first three in the late 80s and early 90s. They're fun and that's what I wanted to achieve: to remember what it was like to have fun with music. The vocals are the original ones, as are the guitar and bass, but Justin said that having a real drummer play would completely change the atmosphere and it's true. They're pretty simple tracks and I like them for that, they weren't overproduced at all. I will have written them between the ages of 20 and 30, the age when you just want to chase after girls, or boys. They're coming-of-age songs, about loss, about wondering where it all went wrong. Nothing new, just written more simply and directly than I would today. The fourth piece is I Won't Give Up and it was born in Los Angeles ten years ago when I met Andrew Watt, who was starting out and said to me: «Jules, do you have something you want to work on?». I had the lyrics and verses of that song, written 20 or 30 years before. We changed something, Justin wrote a bridge and a solo. It's the classic sports hall ballad that closes an album.
Did those old songs make you think back to the beginning of your career?
The first two albums belong to another life, another time, another age, another experience. There was a lot of naivety in the first one, I didn't know certain negativities, as a kid full of enthusiasm I introduced myself, “Hi, I'm Julian!”, but I didn't have the slightest fucking idea of what I was getting myself into. I'm also starting to write my autobiography, but I don't want to do it in a traditional way. No “I was born here, these are my parents, this and that happened, blah blah blah.” I found another way to do it, which unfortunately I can't tell you, it would ruin the surprise. But it's a project I need to dedicate time to. An assistant interviewed old friends of mine to collect memories, places, times, how we met.
Will there be a section on the mullet years?
The mullet years? (He makes a disconsolate expression, ed) Well, look, the mullet is back, isn't it? And big too. Okay, that's pretty creepy. The mullet years… I don't know. No doubt there will be some photos from that period.
Did you interview Sean and Yoko for the book?
I talked to Sean. Yoko no, because I haven't seen her for a while, the last time was at George Martin's commemoration, so a lot of years ago (in 2016, ed). I wish her the best. Sean tells me what he can, when he can, what he feels like telling me. I don't press him. I love him and I want to have a happy, fraternal, mutually supportive relationship with him.
What would you like people to understand about your life?
Many people still don't know how I lived, when dad really left, how my mother was treated, how we made do for years. And also how, as much as I love Sean and get along with Yoko, I have always been kept at a distance from my own family and from my father's life and work. I have always been an outsider, since the age of 5. Mom and I have gone our separate ways for most of my life. Dad helped us with food, clothing and school, sure. But many people misunderstand, they believe that I have always been part of the business, that I have been swimming in mountains of money. It is not true. So there are a few things here and there that I feel the need to fix. But most of all, I have had some beautiful, strange life experiences, more often than not as John's son.
What do you mean by strange experiences?
I was a shy kid and had to change schools, go to a new school in the north of England when I was 12 or 13. I remember going to morning prayer, where a couple of hymns were sung and the teachers said a few words. It was the first day of school and I was terrified, I felt uncomfortable in a place where I didn't know anyone. And at the end of the assembly the principal stands up and says, “We'd like to introduce some of the new staff members. And we also have Julian Lennon, the son of John Lennon of the Beatles.” And I, inside myself: «But you ugly son of a whore…». Excuse the French, but have I really changed schools and I have to deal with this stuff? Luckily most of the kids didn't notice.
Do you know anything about the four Beatles biopics in the works and in particular the one about your father?
I am kept in the dark about all things Apple and the Beatles. Sean and I have a good relationship, but he can't even talk to me about certain things, for legal reasons, and this is unpleasant, he wants to but can't. He called me and said, “Look, Sam Mendes would like to get in touch with you.” I hadn't even heard of the four Beatles films. The first thing I thought was: are you kidding me? Another damn Beatles movie? (He laughs) Haven't we had enough already?
And then?
Then Sam and I met for lunch earlier this year. He is a perfect gentleman. He asked me if I had any curious or special memories that I would like to share. I told him that I have memories, but they are vague, I was 3 or 4 years old. He said, “The most important thing to me, Jules, is to make sure that your story and your mother's story are told with absolute clarity and truth.” I really appreciated it. At first it seemed like a crazy idea, but then I fell in love with it and now I'm curious to see how he will realize it. It's nice to think that Mom will finally be put in a positive light.
Will someone play you?
Apparently yes. That will be interesting too. In fact, I just got back from London after a charity event I did for amfAR, Sean was coming into town and said, “Jules, do you want to come and check out the set to see how it's going?” I would have loved it, but I was flying back to the States, so maybe later in the year, we'll see. Sean involves me in everything he can and I'm grateful for that.
Will you have a chance to read the script?
Sean asked me to read it with him to see if there's anything strange, because he wants the truth to be told in the best way possible. I'm curious to read it, I will when I have the chance. It would be nice if the spirit was positive.
The Beatles continue to fascinate, right?
Always and forever. Maybe this thing can also affect the new generations, who knows. I believe these films will arouse great curiosity in people of all ages.
As hard as it is to believe, in December it will be 45 years since we lost your father.
It's strange, it's been a long time. As soon as I got to London, I went back to the hotel and there were a couple of documentaries about dad, one after the other, and I watched them. It was a difficult relationship, because of the distance and everything else, I had forgotten how many things he did, his originality, his authenticity as a person. The older I get, the more it inspires me. It's a beautiful thing but also sad, because in the end we started talking to each other again. There was the idea of seeing each other more often. Unfortunately it didn't happen that way. But I talk to him every now and then, like I do with my mother. I'm going to hug a tree and wish love to all my family and friends who are no longer here.
I live near the Dakota and every day there are tourists who stop in front of the entrance to take photos.
This aspect is beautiful and strange. In a way, I'm glad I don't live in New York.
Going back to the EP, what expectations do you have at this point?
I don't have any and I think it's better this way. I do my job, period. I'm a fan of Rick Rubin, who said something like: just work and when you've done it, publish it and from that moment that thing no longer belongs to you, it's up to the world to give it the meaning it wants. Well, I don't think there's anything I can do to make things better or worse.
From Rolling Stone US.
