Julian Lennon Delivers His First-Ever Performance of “Imagine”
Growing up as the son of a cultural icon such as John Lennon meant that Julian Lennon’s path would never be ordinary. Born John Charles Julian Lennon on April 8, 1963, he carried not only the family name but also the expectations of millions of fans around the world. His mother, Cynthia Lennon, was John’s first wife, and together they gave him both a legacy and a shadow that would follow him for the rest of his life. The world’s fascination with the Beatles placed him under a spotlight from birth, where every musical move he made risked comparison to his father’s genius. Understandably, Julian often avoided touching the sacred works like “Imagine,” knowing that any interpretation would be intensely dissected and judged.
That long-held resistance eventually cracked under extraordinary circumstances. When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, Julian Lennon admitted that such a catastrophic moment pushed him into doing something he had sworn off: performing his father’s timeless anthem. He confessed that only a world-ending kind of event would ever make him sing “Imagine,” and the brutal war met that threshold. In an intimate setting, with the room lit softly by candlelight, he delivered a stripped-down acoustic performance, hoping to project a message of peace and resilience when the world seemed consumed by darkness.
The performance wasn’t just a symbolic act of family legacy; it became part of a larger humanitarian mission. As part of Global Citizen’s “Stand Up For Ukraine” event, Julian collaborated with virtuoso guitarist Nuno Bettencourt to give life to a performance that was raw and emotionally charged. Unlike the countless renditions of the song heard over decades, this one carried an urgency tied to real-time suffering, making it not just a musical tribute but also a call to conscience. It resonated widely, reminding audiences that the power of music lies not only in melody but also in its ability to stir empathy and action.
Behind this public moment lies a private history that has often been turbulent. Julian’s childhood was deeply affected by the divorce of his parents, which occurred when he was just five years old. His father’s growing relationship with Yoko Ono created distance, and as John moved forward in his new life, contact with Julian grew scarce. These wounds shaped not only Julian’s personal identity but also his artistry, as he often carried the tension of longing for connection while navigating the pressure of being linked to one of history’s most celebrated musicians.
Despite the distance, Julian’s love for music persisted. Gifted with natural talent, he learned to play multiple instruments—drums, guitar, and keyboard—proving that artistry ran through his veins. At only eleven years old, he made his first musical mark by playing drums on his father’s album “Walls and Bridges,” appearing on the track “Ya Ya.” That brief but meaningful contribution signaled both the weight of legacy and the promise of a budding career of his own, even if the world expected him to remain in his father’s shadow.
By 1984, Julian had fully stepped into the spotlight with the release of his debut album, “Valotte.” The record was both a commercial and critical breakthrough, earning him a Grammy nomination and placing him firmly on the map as an artist in his own right. His follow-up, “The Secret Value of Daydreaming,” may not have reached the same heights critically, but it still succeeded commercially, climbing to number 32 on the Billboard 200 and producing his first number-one single, “Stick Around.” It proved that Julian’s talent could hold its ground, even amid critics eager to measure him against an impossible standard.
As the years unfolded, Julian didn’t confine himself solely to pop stardom. In the 1990s, he took a deliberate pause from music, turning his focus toward causes that spoke to his heart. One of the most powerful inspirations came from a conversation with his father years earlier. John had once remarked that if there were ever a way to assure Julian he was watching over him after death, it would be through the image of a white feather. When such a feather came into Julian’s life later, he embraced the symbol as a calling, producing a documentary about Australia’s indigenous Mirning Tribe. This experience eventually led him to establish the White Feather Foundation in 2007, aimed at tackling humanitarian and environmental issues worldwide.
Even as he built a philanthropic legacy, Julian never abandoned music entirely. Albums like “Photograph Smile” and “Everything Changes” demonstrated his persistence, each carrying his distinct voice and songwriting style. At the same time, he found another creative outlet in photography, where his keen eye for visual storytelling allowed him to curate exhibitions and share perspectives beyond sound. His ventures into different artistic mediums proved his determination to be recognized not just as John Lennon’s son, but as an artist in his own right with something meaningful to say.
Financial success followed, though Julian himself has often highlighted that wealth alone cannot replace the emotional complexities tied to his family history. With an estimated fortune of around £38,000,000, he has chosen a life without marriage or children, decisions he has attributed in part to the difficult example set by his father. For him, relationships and legacy carry a depth that extends beyond traditional expectations, shaped by both absence and reflection.
Today, Julian Lennon remains a man continuously searching for identity outside the shadow of his lineage. Through his music, photography, and humanitarian work, he has crafted a multidimensional life that balances pain with purpose. His performance of “Imagine” in support of Ukraine was more than a tribute to his father—it was a demonstration of his own voice emerging when the world needed it most. In carrying forward both the music and the message, he has found a way to honor the past while also carving his own place in history.
