Happy Birthday John & Sean Lennon: Sean Covering The Beatles Live

Today marks what would have been John Lennon’s 79th birthday. Coincidentally, his son Sean Lennon has the same birthday. Sean Taro Ono Lennon was born on October 9, 1975 (John’s 35th birthday) to John and Yoko Ono in New York City.

While John was tragically murdered in 1980, Sean would carry on his father’s legacy as a solo artist as well as in numerous bands including Cibo Matto, The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger and most recently The Claypool Lennon Delirium with bassist Les Claypool. To celebrate John and Sean’s birthday, JamBase has compiled five videos of Sean performing Beatles songs penned by his father.

You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away via JohnLennonObsession

This video sees a young Sean, Yoko and a band dubbed The Friends Of The Earth performing The Beatles’ “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” from their 1965 album Help. The song opens with Sean showing off his guitar skills even at a young age.

Across The Universe w/ Moby and Rufus Wainwright via jovewilliams

In 2001, Sean apperaed on a televised all-star benefit to his father at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Sean would join Moby and Rufus Wainwright on a cover of “Across The Universe.” John penned the song in 1968 but it wouldn’t appear on a Beatles album until 1970’s Let It Be.

Julia via Beatles rare stuffs

Taken from the same concert in 2001, Sean performed The Beatles’ “Julia” from The White Albumsolo acoustic. Sean dedicates the song to his mother, Yoko, as John’s 1968 version was an ode to his mother, Julia. Sean never got to meet his grandmother as Julia died tragically in 1958 when she was struck by a drunk driver.

Yer Blues via chjdolly3

On December 8, 2012 — 32 years to the day that John was murdered — Sean delivered a version of “Yer Blues” from The White Album live at the world-famous Budokan Arena in Japan. The Beatles have a history with the building as they were the first rock band to perform at the martial arts venue, a debut that caused quite a bit of controversy.

Tomorrow Never Knows via mrmojoinco

In August of 2016, Claypool Lennon Delirium played the Vertex Festival in Buena Vista, Colorado. The band would offer up their interpretation of The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows” from the Fab Four’s groundbreaking 1966 album Revolver. The closing track on the LP, “Tomorrow Never Knows” heralded the psychedelic direction The Beatles were headed.