Sean Lennon
Encyclopedia
is an American singer, songwriter
, musician
, guitarist
and actor. He is the only child of John Lennon
and Yoko Ono
. His godfather is Sir Elton John
.
on October 9, 1975, his father's 35th birthday. With his parents being John Lennon and Yoko Ono, he is of Japanese, Irish, and English descent. Julian Lennon
is his half-brother and Kyoko Chan Cox is his half-sister. After Sean's birth, John became a house husband, doting on his young son until his murder in 1980. Sean attended kindergarten
in Tokyo
, and was also educated at the exclusive private boarding school Institut Le Rosey
in Rolle, Switzerland
, and earlier at New York's private Ethical Culture Fieldston School
and Dalton School. He later attended Columbia University
, though only for three semesters before dropping out to focus on his music career.
His parents did not force him into the life of a musician: they intentionally hid their musical lives from their son. His debut into the music world came at the age of five, reciting a story on his mother's 1981 album Season of Glass
. From childhood into his teen years Sean continued to collaborate with his mother, contributing vocals and receiving production credit on her solo albums It's Alright (I See Rainbows)
, Starpeace
and Onobox
. At 16 Sean co-wrote the song "All I Ever Wanted" with Lenny Kravitz
for his 1991 album Mama Said. By 1995 Sean had formed the band IMA (with Sam Koppelman and Timo Ellis
) to play alongside his mother on her album Rising. Sean also made appearances in film, featured in the cast of Michael Jackson
's 1988 Moonwalker
and portraying a teenager experiencing visions of various M. C. Escher
paintings in Sony
's 1990 promotional short-film Infinite Escher.
and Yuka Honda
of Cibo Matto
were invited by Ono to remix the song "Talking to the Universe" for a Rising remix EP
Rising Mixes. They met Sean and invited him to join them on tour as a bass player. This eventually led to Sean contributing to their side-project Butter 08
and to his becoming a member of the group. He continued to play with them on tour, joining them on television and providing bass guitar and vocals on their EP Super Relax
. Through his association with Cibo Matto, Lennon was approached by Adam Yauch
(of the Beastie Boys
), who expressed an interest in his music and persuaded him to sign a record contract with Grand Royal Records. Regarding Grand Royal, Lennon has said:
Lennon's solo début Into the Sun, was released in 1998. A music video
for "Home", a single from the album, was directed by Spike Jonze
and enjoyed extended airplay on MTV
. The album was produced by fellow Cibo Matto member Yuka Honda, who Lennon claimed was his inspiration for the album. They struck up a personal relationship as well as a creative one.
He would go on to tour (often backed by Cibo Matto) supporting Into the Sun. During this period he appeared on radio programs such as The Howard Stern Show and KCRW
's Morning Becomes Eclectic
. He later recalled promoting the album as a bitter experience due to the media focus on his family rather than his own music. In 1999, Sean's EP Half Horse, Half Musician
was released featuring new tracks such as "Heart & Lung" and "Happiness" as well as remixes of songs from Into The Sun. Along with Half Horse Half Musician 1999 saw the release of Cibo Matto's second album Stereo Type A. Sean stepped out of his traditional role as the group's bass player, this time playing a much wider range of instruments (such as drums, guitars and synthesizers). Despite being well received Stereo Type A was the final Cibo Matto album and the group disbanded.
In 2000 Lennon contributed vocals to Del tha Funkee Homosapien
(a single stanza on the Deltron 3030
track 'Memory Loss'), Handsome Boy Modeling School
and Jurassic 5
. In 2001 on national television, Sean performed Beatles classics "This Boy", "Across the Universe" and "Julia" alongside Robert Schwartzman, Rufus Wainwright
and Moby
for Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music
. In the following years Sean faded out of the spotlight. However he collaborated with various bands and artists as a session musician
and producer.
(whose parent company EMI
has released the vast majority of his father's musical output, group and solo), yet no solo material surfaced until February 2006, when "Dead Meat" was released as the first single from his new album, Friendly Fire. A promotional trailer for the CD/DVD
package of Friendly Fire was leaked online in early 2006. The trailer featured scenes from the film version of the album
, a DVD of music videos comprised into a film. The videos were actually screen tests for Coin Locker Babies, another project on which Lennon is working which became a cinematic counterpart to his new album.
Friendly Fire was released in October 2006. The theme of the album is love and betrayal, and it is dedicated to the memory of a close friend who died. The night the album was released, Lennon made his first major television appearance in five years, performing "Dead Meat" live on the Late Show with David Letterman
. Lennon has since appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
and The Sharon Osbourne Show
. When questioned about the eight-year gap between solo albums in interviews Lennon expressed that he did not feel like a solo artist during those years and that he wanted to experience music anonymously without the spotlight on him.
Since the release of Friendly Fire, Lennon has toured extensively around the world and while in France remixed his song "Parachute" in collaboration with French artist -M-
. The remix is entitled "L'éclipse" and was featured as a bonus track on the French release of Friendly Fire.
While reestablishing himself as a solo artist, Lennon continued his work as a session musician and producer, lending his talent to the likes of Dopo Yume, Albert Hammond, Jr. (of The Strokes
) and model/singer Irina Lazareanu
. In October 2007 Sean joined Mark Ronson
in the BBC
Electric Proms where he sang "Sail on, Sailor
", as well as "We Can Work It Out
" alongside Daniel Merriweather
, and Tawiah.
Along with girlfriend Charlotte Kemp Muhl
, Lennon started a record label, Chimera Music, and stepped into the world of film score
s in 2009 with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead
, directed by long time friend and school mate Jordan Galland
In the same year, Lennon produced a second album on Chimera for his mother, "Between My Head and the Sky
," by Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band. Lennon has also contributed the score to Jordan Galland
s 2012 film "Alter Egos", in which he appears as the character "Electric Death."
With the release of new material and subsequent touring Sean launched a website featuring music, videos and a forum for his fans. Various members of the forum have created a fan-made cover album entitled Truth Mask Replica.
The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger
Kemp Muhl and Lennon premiered the band The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger
during a live performance at Radio City
on Valentines Day, 2008. The duo, commonly referred to as 'The GOASTT', host their music on MySpace and perform under the aliases of Amatla and Zargifon. The GOASTT released their debut single, "Jardin Du Luxembourg", on July 6, 2010, and their debut album, "Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (Acoustic Sessions)," on October 26, 2010, both on Chimera, their own label. In conjunction with the debut, they performed six songs during an hour-long interview on WNYC and four songs for a Tiny Desk Concert on NPR.
what his opinion on the Occupy Wall Street
protests was. Sean replied with this statement "I'm heading down there this weekend." which he did. On October 22nd 2011, Sean showed up on Wall Street
with Rufus Wainwright
and Josh Fox. The three played music throughout the day to protesters and others joined in. Lennon has not yet spoken to the media or press about the event. Sean's father John Lennon
was known to have led marches through New York City
in protest as well as doing world tours to protest many different causes.
With The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger
Sean made a spoken word contribution to The Flaming Lips '7SkiesH3', a 24 hour long song. Lennon read the names of charity contributers who had donated in order to have their names featured in the song.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and actor. He is the only child of John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
and Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
. His godfather is Sir Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
.
Early life and education
Sean Lennon was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on October 9, 1975, his father's 35th birthday. With his parents being John Lennon and Yoko Ono, he is of Japanese, Irish, and English descent. Julian Lennon
Julian Lennon
John Charles Julian Lennon is an English musician, songwriter, actor, and photographer. He is the son of John Lennon and Lennon's first wife, Cynthia Powell. Beatles manager Brian Epstein was his godfather. He has a younger half-brother, Sean Lennon. Lennon was named after his paternal...
is his half-brother and Kyoko Chan Cox is his half-sister. After Sean's birth, John became a house husband, doting on his young son until his murder in 1980. Sean attended kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, and was also educated at the exclusive private boarding school Institut Le Rosey
Institut Le Rosey
Institut Le Rosey, commonly referred to as Le Rosey or simply Rosey, is a school, in Gstaad, Switzerland. It is described as one of the most prestigious boarding schools in the world. The school was founded by Paul-Émile Carnal in 1880 on the site of the 14th-century Château du Rosey near the town...
in Rolle, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and earlier at New York's private Ethical Culture Fieldston School
Ethical Culture Fieldston School
The Ethical Culture Fieldston School, known as "Fieldston", is a private "independent" school in New York City and a member of the Ivy Preparatory School League. It has about 1600 students and a staff of 400 people , led by Dr. Damian J...
and Dalton School. He later attended Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, though only for three semesters before dropping out to focus on his music career.
His parents did not force him into the life of a musician: they intentionally hid their musical lives from their son. His debut into the music world came at the age of five, reciting a story on his mother's 1981 album Season of Glass
Season of Glass
Season of Glass is a 1981 album by Yoko Ono, her first solo recording after the murder of her husband John Lennon. The album was released less than six months after Lennon's death and deals with it directly in songs such as "Goodbye Sadness" and "I Don't Know Why".The front cover features Lennon's...
. From childhood into his teen years Sean continued to collaborate with his mother, contributing vocals and receiving production credit on her solo albums It's Alright (I See Rainbows)
It's Alright (I See Rainbows)
It's Alright is the sixth solo album by Yoko Ono, and her second release after the death of husband John Lennon. As a variation of a theme concerning its predecessor, the back cover features a transparent image of Lennon in a then-contemporary photo of Yoko and Sean, depicted in Central Park...
, Starpeace
Starpeace
Starpeace is Yoko Ono's 1985 concept album, designed to spread a message of peace around the world as an opposition to Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" missile defense system...
and Onobox
Onobox
Onobox is a 1992 comprehensive 6-disc collection of Yoko Ono's work from 1968 to 1985. The discs are grouped by era and theme. Disc six is the previously unreleased 1974 album A Story, which was later reissued separately along with the rest of Ono's back catalogue. There was also an accompanying...
. At 16 Sean co-wrote the song "All I Ever Wanted" with Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
for his 1991 album Mama Said. By 1995 Sean had formed the band IMA (with Sam Koppelman and Timo Ellis
Timo Ellis
Timothy K. "Timo" Ellis is a multi-instrumentalist and record producer from New York City, currently in the bands The Netherlands and Joan as Police Woman. He also runs a commercial music company called 70% Water Music as well as his personal label Records and Tapes Records.Ellis attended Evergreen...
) to play alongside his mother on her album Rising. Sean also made appearances in film, featured in the cast of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's 1988 Moonwalker
Moonwalker
Moonwalker, also known as Michael Jackson: Moonwalker, is an American anthology film released in 1988 by singer Michael Jackson....
and portraying a teenager experiencing visions of various M. C. Escher
M. C. Escher
Maurits Cornelis Escher , usually referred to as M. C. Escher , was a Dutch graphic artist. He is known for his often mathematically inspired woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints...
paintings in Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
's 1990 promotional short-film Infinite Escher.
Cibo Matto and Into The Sun
In 1996 Miho HatoriMiho Hatori
is a singer, songwriter, and musician. She is primarily known as the vocalist of the New York City group Cibo Matto, and the first person to provide the voice of Gorillaz member Noodle.-Biography:...
and Yuka Honda
Yuka Honda
Yuka Honda is a Japanese musician who resides in New York City. She is a multi-instrumentalist musician, composer, record producer, and co-founder of the band Cibo Matto...
of Cibo Matto
Cibo Matto
Cibo Matto are a New York City-based band formed by two Japanese women, Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori, in 1994...
were invited by Ono to remix the song "Talking to the Universe" for a Rising remix EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Rising Mixes. They met Sean and invited him to join them on tour as a bass player. This eventually led to Sean contributing to their side-project Butter 08
Butter 08
Butter 08 was a short-lived musical side project whose members consisted of Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori of Cibo Matto, Russell Simins of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Rick Lee of Skeleton Key and director Mike Mills. The band released just one album, the self-titled "Butter 08" in 1996 on the...
and to his becoming a member of the group. He continued to play with them on tour, joining them on television and providing bass guitar and vocals on their EP Super Relax
Super Relax
Super Relax is an EP by Cibo Matto released in 1997. Four of the nine tracks are remixes of the song "Sugar Water" from the group's debut album, Viva! La Woman, and "Spoon" would later appear on Stereo ★ Type A...
. Through his association with Cibo Matto, Lennon was approached by Adam Yauch
Adam Yauch
Adam Nathaniel Yauch , , is a founding member of hip hop trio the Beastie Boys. He is frequently known by his stage name, MCA, and other pseudonyms such as Nathanial Hörnblowér.-Early life:...
(of the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
), who expressed an interest in his music and persuaded him to sign a record contract with Grand Royal Records. Regarding Grand Royal, Lennon has said:
- I think I found the only label on the planet who doesn't care who my parents are and what my name is. It's a good feeling to know that I wouldn't have gotten the offer if they wouldn't have liked my songs. That's pretty rare in the music business!
Lennon's solo début Into the Sun, was released in 1998. A music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Home", a single from the album, was directed by Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
and enjoyed extended airplay on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. The album was produced by fellow Cibo Matto member Yuka Honda, who Lennon claimed was his inspiration for the album. They struck up a personal relationship as well as a creative one.
He would go on to tour (often backed by Cibo Matto) supporting Into the Sun. During this period he appeared on radio programs such as The Howard Stern Show and KCRW
KCRW
KCRW is a public radio station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, carrying a mix of National Public Radio news, talk radio and freeform music format. The general manager of KCRW is Jennifer Ferro...
's Morning Becomes Eclectic
Morning Becomes Eclectic
Morning Becomes Eclectic is a three-hour adult album alternative radio program first aired in 1977 and broadcast live every weekday from KCRW in Santa Monica, California. The show's name is a play on the Eugene O'Neill trilogy of plays, Mourning Becomes Electra.The show is hosted by Jason Bentley,...
. He later recalled promoting the album as a bitter experience due to the media focus on his family rather than his own music. In 1999, Sean's EP Half Horse, Half Musician
Half Horse, Half Musician
Half Horse, Half Musician is a 1999 EP by Sean Lennon. It features three remixes from his debut album Into the Sun as well as original material...
was released featuring new tracks such as "Heart & Lung" and "Happiness" as well as remixes of songs from Into The Sun. Along with Half Horse Half Musician 1999 saw the release of Cibo Matto's second album Stereo Type A. Sean stepped out of his traditional role as the group's bass player, this time playing a much wider range of instruments (such as drums, guitars and synthesizers). Despite being well received Stereo Type A was the final Cibo Matto album and the group disbanded.
In 2000 Lennon contributed vocals to Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Teren Delvon Jones , better known as Del the Funky Homosapien or Del tha Funkee Homosapien, is an American MC.-Early life and beginnings: 1990-1997:...
(a single stanza on the Deltron 3030
Deltron 3030
Deltron 3030 is an alternative hip hop supergroup composed of producer Dan the Automator, rapper Del the Funky Homosapien and DJ Kid Koala...
track 'Memory Loss'), Handsome Boy Modeling School
Handsome Boy Modeling School
Handsome Boy Modeling School was a collaborative project between renowned hip hop producers Dan the Automator and Prince Paul...
and Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...
. In 2001 on national television, Sean performed Beatles classics "This Boy", "Across the Universe" and "Julia" alongside Robert Schwartzman, Rufus Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright
Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter. He has recorded six albums of original music, EPs, and tracks on compilations and film soundtracks.-Early years:...
and Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
for Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music
Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music
Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music was a 2001 television program tribute to John Lennon. It aired on The WB.Originally planned to celebrate Lennon's accomplishments, the concert took place on October 2, 2001 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, shortly after 9/11...
. In the following years Sean faded out of the spotlight. However he collaborated with various bands and artists as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
and producer.
Return and Friendly Fire
After the demise of Grand Royal Records in 2001, Sean signed with Capitol RecordsCapitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
(whose parent company EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
has released the vast majority of his father's musical output, group and solo), yet no solo material surfaced until February 2006, when "Dead Meat" was released as the first single from his new album, Friendly Fire. A promotional trailer for the CD/DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
package of Friendly Fire was leaked online in early 2006. The trailer featured scenes from the film version of the album
Friendly Fire (2006 film)
Friendly Fire is a 2006 film written and directed by Sean Lennon and Michele Civetta. It accompanies Sean Lennon's 2006 album of the same name . The film comprises 10 music videos, one for each song on the album...
, a DVD of music videos comprised into a film. The videos were actually screen tests for Coin Locker Babies, another project on which Lennon is working which became a cinematic counterpart to his new album.
Friendly Fire was released in October 2006. The theme of the album is love and betrayal, and it is dedicated to the memory of a close friend who died. The night the album was released, Lennon made his first major television appearance in five years, performing "Dead Meat" live on the Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
. Lennon has since appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
and The Sharon Osbourne Show
The Sharon Osbourne Show
The Sharon Osbourne Show refers to either of two TV chat shows hosted by Sharon Osbourne – the original US version, or the more recent UK version. These are described separately below.-US version :...
. When questioned about the eight-year gap between solo albums in interviews Lennon expressed that he did not feel like a solo artist during those years and that he wanted to experience music anonymously without the spotlight on him.
Since the release of Friendly Fire, Lennon has toured extensively around the world and while in France remixed his song "Parachute" in collaboration with French artist -M-
Matthieu Chedid
Matthieu Chedid is a French rock singer-songwriter and guitar player.-Biography:...
. The remix is entitled "L'éclipse" and was featured as a bonus track on the French release of Friendly Fire.
While reestablishing himself as a solo artist, Lennon continued his work as a session musician and producer, lending his talent to the likes of Dopo Yume, Albert Hammond, Jr. (of The Strokes
The Strokes
The Strokes are an American indie rock band formed in 1999 in New York City. Consisting of Julian Casablancas , Nick Valensi , Albert Hammond, Jr. , Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti ....
) and model/singer Irina Lazareanu
Irina Lazareanu
Irina Lăzăreanu is a Romanian-Canadian model. She got her ‘big break’ through her acquaintance with model Kate Moss.- Early life :...
. In October 2007 Sean joined Mark Ronson
Mark Ronson
Mark Daniel Ronson is an English DJ, guitarist, music producer, artist and co-founder of Allido Records. He currently works with his band under the music alias of Mark Ronson & The Business Intl....
in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Electric Proms where he sang "Sail on, Sailor
Sail on, Sailor
"Sail On, Sailor" was the final song recorded for the 1973 Beach Boys album Holland. The song was written by Brian Wilson, Ray Kennedy, Tandyn Almer, Jack Rieley, and Van Dyke Parks.-Background:...
", as well as "We Can Work It Out
We Can Work It Out
"We Can Work It Out" is a song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. It was released as a "double A-sided" single with "Day Tripper", the first time both sides of a single were so designated in an initial release...
" alongside Daniel Merriweather
Daniel Merriweather
Daniel Paul Merriweather is an Australian R&B singer-songwriter who has worked as a featured vocalist for other artists and has a solo career. His guest vocals are included on album tracks by Disco Montego, Mark Ronson and Phrase...
, and Tawiah.
Along with girlfriend Charlotte Kemp Muhl
Kemp Muhl
Charlotte Kemp Muhl is an American model, actress, singer, and musician from suburban Atlanta, Georgia. Modeling since the age of 13, Muhl, at sixteen years old, became the youngest model to appear on the cover of Britain’s Harper’s and Queen magazine.-Career:Muhl has been featured in campaigns...
, Lennon started a record label, Chimera Music, and stepped into the world of film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
s in 2009 with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead is a 2009 American independent film written and directed by Jordan Galland. The film's title refers to a fictitious play-within-the-movie, which is a comic reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and its aftermath and whose title is a reference to the play...
, directed by long time friend and school mate Jordan Galland
Jordan Galland
Jordan Galland is an award-winning filmmaker, musician. He has also contributed his music to raise money and awareness of various charitable causes....
In the same year, Lennon produced a second album on Chimera for his mother, "Between My Head and the Sky
Between My Head and the Sky
Between My Head and the Sky is an album by Yoko Ono released on Chimera Music in September 2009. This is her first studio album to be released as "Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band" since 1973's Feeling the Space...
," by Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band. Lennon has also contributed the score to Jordan Galland
Jordan Galland
Jordan Galland is an award-winning filmmaker, musician. He has also contributed his music to raise money and awareness of various charitable causes....
s 2012 film "Alter Egos", in which he appears as the character "Electric Death."
With the release of new material and subsequent touring Sean launched a website featuring music, videos and a forum for his fans. Various members of the forum have created a fan-made cover album entitled Truth Mask Replica.
The Ghost of a Saber Tooth TigerThe Ghost of a Saber Tooth TigerThe Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger is a band formed in 2008 by Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl.-History:The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger was formed in 2008 by musician Sean Lennon and his girlfriend, musician/model Charlotte Kemp Muhl. The name of the band is from a short story once written by...
Kemp Muhl and Lennon premiered the band The Ghost of a Saber Tooth TigerThe Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger
The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger is a band formed in 2008 by Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl.-History:The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger was formed in 2008 by musician Sean Lennon and his girlfriend, musician/model Charlotte Kemp Muhl. The name of the band is from a short story once written by...
during a live performance at Radio City
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
on Valentines Day, 2008. The duo, commonly referred to as 'The GOASTT', host their music on MySpace and perform under the aliases of Amatla and Zargifon. The GOASTT released their debut single, "Jardin Du Luxembourg", on July 6, 2010, and their debut album, "Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (Acoustic Sessions)," on October 26, 2010, both on Chimera, their own label. In conjunction with the debut, they performed six songs during an hour-long interview on WNYC and four songs for a Tiny Desk Concert on NPR.
Activism
On October 19th, 2011 Lennon was asked by Josh Sigurdson over TwitterTwitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
what his opinion on the Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street is an ongoing series of demonstrations initiated by the Canadian activist group Adbusters which began September 17, 2011 in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City's Wall Street financial district...
protests was. Sean replied with this statement "I'm heading down there this weekend." which he did. On October 22nd 2011, Sean showed up on Wall Street
Wall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
with Rufus Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright
Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter. He has recorded six albums of original music, EPs, and tracks on compilations and film soundtracks.-Early years:...
and Josh Fox. The three played music throughout the day to protesters and others joined in. Lennon has not yet spoken to the media or press about the event. Sean's father John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
was known to have led marches through New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in protest as well as doing world tours to protest many different causes.
Solo albums
- Into the Sun (1998)
- Half Horse, Half MusicianHalf Horse, Half MusicianHalf Horse, Half Musician is a 1999 EP by Sean Lennon. It features three remixes from his debut album Into the Sun as well as original material...
(1999) - Friendly Fire (2006)
With The Ghost of a Saber Tooth TigerThe Ghost of a Saber Tooth TigerThe Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger is a band formed in 2008 by Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl.-History:The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger was formed in 2008 by musician Sean Lennon and his girlfriend, musician/model Charlotte Kemp Muhl. The name of the band is from a short story once written by...
- Acoustic Sessions (2010)
- La Carotte Bleue (2011)
Film scores
- MoonwalkerMoonwalkerMoonwalker, also known as Michael Jackson: Moonwalker, is an American anthology film released in 1988 by singer Michael Jackson....
(1988) - Five Children And It (2004)
- Smile for the CameraSmile For The CameraSmile for the Camera is a short 2005 independent film. It was directed, produced and edited by Jordan Galland, who co-wrote the story and screenplay with Sean Lennon. Galland and Lennon also wrote the theme song, which was performed by Galland's Domino band mate Domino Kirke and her sister Jemima...
(2005) - Friendly FireFriendly Fire (2006 film)Friendly Fire is a 2006 film written and directed by Sean Lennon and Michele Civetta. It accompanies Sean Lennon's 2006 album of the same name . The film comprises 10 music videos, one for each song on the album...
(2006) - The Stranger (2008)
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are UndeadRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are UndeadRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead is a 2009 American independent film written and directed by Jordan Galland. The film's title refers to a fictitious play-within-the-movie, which is a comic reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and its aftermath and whose title is a reference to the play...
(2008) - Tea Fight (2008)
- A Monster In Paris (Un Monstre à Paris) (2011)
- Alter Egos ( 2012)
Producer
- SoulflySoulflySoulfly is a heavy metal band formed in 1997 based in Phoenix, Arizona. The original lyrical content revolved around spirituality and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, hatred and anger. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max...
– PrimitivePrimitive (album)-Appearance:The track "Son Song" appears on the Valentine OST, although not included in the film.The track Mulambo appears in the movie The Forsaken .-Personnel:*Max Cavalera – Vocals, Guitar, Berimbau, Bass, Producer*Mike Doling – Guitar...
(2000) - ValentineValentine (film)Valentine is a 2001 horror film directed by Jamie Blanks, and starring Denise Richards, David Boreanaz, Marley Shelton, Jessica Capshaw, Hedy Burress, and Katherine Heigl. It is a slasher film with a Valentine's Day theme...
Original Soundtrack (2001) - EstheroEstheroEsthero ,born Jenny-Bea Englishman, is a Canadian singer-songwriter who currently lives in Los Angeles, California. The name Esthero refers both to the singer and formerly to the two-person team of herself and producer Doc McKinney...
– Wikked Lil' GrrrlsWikked Lil' GrrrlsWikked Lil' Grrrls is Canadian American singer Esthero's second album, her first full-length in seven years....
(2005) - Irina LazareanuIrina LazareanuIrina Lăzăreanu is a Romanian-Canadian model. She got her ‘big break’ through her acquaintance with model Kate Moss.- Early life :...
– Some Place Along the Way (2007) - Yoko OnoYoko Onois a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
/Plastic Ono Band – Between My Head and the SkyBetween My Head and the SkyBetween My Head and the Sky is an album by Yoko Ono released on Chimera Music in September 2009. This is her first studio album to be released as "Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band" since 1973's Feeling the Space...
(2009)
Other contributions
- Marianne FaithfullMarianne FaithfullMarianne Evelyn Faithfull is an award-winning English singer, songwriter and actress whose career has spanned five decades....
's album, Easy Come, Easy GoEasy Come, Easy Go (Marianne Faithfull album)Easy Come, Easy Go is a studio album of cover versions by English singer-songwriter Marianne Faithfull, which was released in the EU on 10 November 2008. The album is produced by Hal Willner and features guest appearances from a variety of musicians...
(2008) – "Salvation" (originally by Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubBlack Rebel Motorcycle ClubBlack Rebel Motorcycle Club is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, now based in Los Angeles. BRMC is known for their garage rock, blues, folk revival, neo-psychedelia sound. They are influenced by bands such as: The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Verve, The Rolling Stones, Oasis, T...
) - Sean contributed vocals and guitar to "Son Song", on the SoulflySoulflySoulfly is a heavy metal band formed in 1997 based in Phoenix, Arizona. The original lyrical content revolved around spirituality and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, hatred and anger. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max...
album PrimitivePrimitive (album)-Appearance:The track "Son Song" appears on the Valentine OST, although not included in the film.The track Mulambo appears in the movie The Forsaken .-Personnel:*Max Cavalera – Vocals, Guitar, Berimbau, Bass, Producer*Mike Doling – Guitar...
. He can be heard in the final seconds of the song talking about how Soulfly guitarist/vocalist Max Cavalera's heavy-gauge strings hurt his fingertips. - Deltron 3030Deltron 3030Deltron 3030 is an alternative hip hop supergroup composed of producer Dan the Automator, rapper Del the Funky Homosapien and DJ Kid Koala...
's album, Deltron 3030Deltron 3030 (album)Deltron 3030 is the 2000 debut album by hip hop supergroup Deltron 3030. It is a rap opera concept album set in a dystopian year 3030.-Album information:...
(2000) – "Memory Loss" - Sean sang backing vocals on the track "Sandpaperback" on Ben LeeBen LeeBenjamin Michael "Ben" Lee is an ARIA Award winning musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appeared as the protagonist in the Australian film The Rage in Placid Lake...
's 1998 album Breathing TornadosBreathing TornadosBreathing Tornados is the third album by Australian musician Ben Lee, released in 1998.-Track listing:#"Cigarettes Will Kill You" – 3:50#"Nothing Much Happens" – 3:37#"I Am a Sunflower" – 3:56#"Tornados" – 3:21#"The Finger and the Moon" – 3:42...
. - Collaborated in John ZornJohn ZornJohn Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
's Great Jewish Music tributes to Marc BolanGreat Jewish Music: Marc BolanGreat Jewish Music: Marc Bolan is a tribute album featuring the music of English singer/songwriter Marc Bolan of the band T.Rex. Produced by Danny Cohen, it was released on John Zorn's label Tzadik Records in 1998 as part of their series on "Radical Jewish Culture", following similar prior tributes...
, Burt BacharachBurt BacharachBurt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
and Serge GainsbourgGreat Jewish Music: Serge GainsbourgGreat Jewish Music: Serge Gainsbourg is a tribute album featuring the music of French singer/songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. Executive-produced by John Zorn, it was released on Tzadik Records in 1997 as part of their series on "Radical Jewish Culture"....
, in 1997 and 1998.
Sean made a spoken word contribution to The Flaming Lips '7SkiesH3', a 24 hour long song. Lennon read the names of charity contributers who had donated in order to have their names featured in the song.
Filmography
- MoonwalkerMoonwalkerMoonwalker, also known as Michael Jackson: Moonwalker, is an American anthology film released in 1988 by singer Michael Jackson....
(1988) – Actor - Imagine: John LennonImagine: John LennonImagine: John Lennon is a soundtrack album of popular music composed by John Lennon for the 1988 documentary film, Imagine: John Lennon...
(1988) – Himself - Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 2, Episode 1 – "When She Was Bad" (1997) – musician, Cibo Matto
- Smile for the CameraSmile For The CameraSmile for the Camera is a short 2005 independent film. It was directed, produced and edited by Jordan Galland, who co-wrote the story and screenplay with Sean Lennon. Galland and Lennon also wrote the theme song, which was performed by Galland's Domino band mate Domino Kirke and her sister Jemima...
(2005) – Original Score, Writer - Friendly FireFriendly Fire (2006 film)Friendly Fire is a 2006 film written and directed by Sean Lennon and Michele Civetta. It accompanies Sean Lennon's 2006 album of the same name . The film comprises 10 music videos, one for each song on the album...
(2006) – Actor, Original Score, Writer - Coin Locker BabiesCoin Locker Babies, 1980) is a novel by Ryu Murakami, translated into English by Stephen Snyder. The translation was published in 1995 by Kodansha International Ltd.-Plot summary:...
(2008 in production) – Actor, Writer - Alter Egos (2012 in production) – Actor
External links
- Official website
- "Sean Lennon", New York Magazine, 18 May 1998
- Interview on I Like Music, 2006
- Interview with director Michele Civetta about Friendly Fire