Daydream Believer

Has Julian Lennon inherited anything other than a surname from his father? Chris Roberts looks for genius and finds charm, honesty and a colourful imagination.
Peter Anderson sees things in black and white.

April 8 is the 23rd birthday of John Charles Julian Lennon. Three weeks before he was born The Beatles had their first number one with 'Please Please me', and the '60s began.

It is reported that Julian's father's first words to him at Sefton General Hospital were, "Whose gonna be a famous little rocker like his dad?"

Five years later John Lennon divorced Cynthia, marrying Yoko Ono the following spring. The '70s began and young Julian lived with his mother and a step-father whom he hated. At various schools he learned to play the guitar and not get O levels, visiting his dad in New York with increasing frequency.

Then John Lennon was killed, and the '80s began.

In 1983 Julian Lennon signed to Charisma Records and in October 1984 he released an LP, 'Valotte', which sold over two million copies worldwide.

He has now unveiled a second album, entitled 'The Secret Value of Daydreaming', recorded in The Bahamas, and in May will embark on his debut concert tour of the UK and Europe.

Can I start doing joined-up writing now, please?

Are you a daydreamer, Julian?

Yeah, I'm always wandering off. But I daydream about being confused, cos that's what I think about a lot. I just get lost. I'm a very lost person inside, I don't know where I'm going. But... still I find some strength to have...  some sort of road to follow. I don't know which road it is but I'm following it somewhere. My destiny or whatever.

Do you have strong beliefs, Julian?

Um...

Is there something that you believe in?

I try to but I get confused again. I'm a very indecisive person. Even in interviews I say one thing and then I think, Did I really mean that? Sometimes it gets really bad when I don't know what the hell I'm talking about so I just stop and say, Wait, wait."

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