Brothers & Sisters From Another Mother

“The love for Sean, and the love for Yoko, and Stella, and Paul, and Mary, and Dhani, and Zak—it’s a big old, weird family. But as they say, families are always a bit screwed up.”

Julian, 2023

"Listen, we all love and respect each other, no question about that. You know, I mean, Zak and I used to hang out together way back when. He was an amazing drummer back then even when we were in our 20s. Dhani's a great kid. Lovely, lovely guy."

Julian, 2023

Julian and Zak on a boat in Weybridge (originally posted in Thanks Mo)

Photographed by Ringo Starr

Jason Starkey and Julian at the opening night of Hard Rock Cafe in New York City on March 12, 1984 

George Harrison, Julian, Ringo Starr, and Lee Starkey backstage during the Natural Law Party at the Royal Albert Hall in London on April 6, 1992 

Maureen and Augusta Tigrett

I really think Julian was more closer to the Starkey children for two reasons, 1) Julian, Zak, and Jason were born during The Beatles years, and 2) their mothers Cynthia and Maureen were great friends. Maureen, along with her two daughters Lee and Augusta, and Julian lived in Los Angeles for some years during the late 1980s/early 1990s - I definitely believe Maureen and Julian were in contact due to some comments Julian made to Zak on Instagram (though he didn't say that, only that he missed their mothers very much and that tells me Julian and Maureen were close). 

"The boys had always been playmates. ... After their son Zak was born in September, seven months after the wedding, she (Maureen) and I used to go up to Knightsbridge to shop. We'd buy cute little outfits for our sons and we were always on the lookout for something different of special for the men. ...He (Ringo) and John would race the go-carts or play pool while Maureen and I chatted over a cup of tea or took Zak and Julian for a walk. Ringo's other passion was making his own short films. He had lots of equipment and loved to experiment, so after the nanny had taken over Zak and Julian we'd watched his latest movie."

Cynthia, from her book John, 2005

With life journeys and the death of Maureen in late 1994, communication between Julian with Zak, Jason, and Lee diminished for a number of years. Although when Lee had her brain tumor in 1995 and a recurrence in 2001, Julian sent Lee a bouquet of flowers wishing her well. 

"I haven't seen him for a long time, but it's been a nice gesture."

Lee Starkey, 1996

Now, thanks to social media, especially Instagram, Julian follows Zak, Jason, and Augusta - not really sure with Lee - but I do know both Jason and Augusta follow him back. I don't think Zak does but he has liked some pictures of Julian's and responded to him, particularly about the Tittenhurst Park home when Zak posted some pictures of memories (Julian had no recollections over the other small homes on the property, Zak tried to help his memory by sharing that Maureen decorated one of the homes herself hands on.) I think the only one that Julian kept in touch the most was Augusta, despite the almost 24 years age difference. Julian has been associated with Hard Rock Cafe, owned by Maureen's second husband Isaac Tigrett. 

"Actually I saw him [Zak] for the first time in maybe 10 years the other day. He's a sweetheart, actually." 

Julian, 1993 

John and Heather McCartney at Apple Studios in the basement of Apple Corps in London, January 26, 1969

Julian with Paul and Mary McCartney at Paul's Eyes of the Storm at the National Portrait Gallery on June 26, 2023 in London

Julian and Stella McCartney at her Get Back Capsule Fashion Collection and documentary release premiere of Peter Jackson's Get Back at The Jim Henson Company on November 18, 2021 in Los Angeles

James and Paul McCartney attended Stella McCartney's London Fashion Week at the Royal British Institute on September 14, 2014 in London

Beatrice and Paul McCartney on the beach in The Hamptons, New York on August 24, 2008

I like to think that Heather and Julian played together once or twice in the period of October of 1968 until April of 1970 when The Beatles officially broke up. Although I am absolutely not sure until someone from MPL Communications release a photo by Linda McCartney. But they must have met, right? Certainly in 1974 when Julian was visiting John and May Pang in Los Angeles, the McCartney family (Mary and Stella now included) dropped in. Other than that, Julian and Paul/family rarely saw each other over the years: Julian did see Mary at the Natural Law Party in 1992 with Dhani, Zak, Jason, and Lee. In 1999, Julian was at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Paul with Stella as Paul's date. Then I think such meetings dwindled until most recently. The first kickoff of reconnecting was George Martin's memorial service where just about every Beatle family member attended. Thanks (again) to social media (once again Instagram), Julian follows Mary, Stella, and James - Mary follows Julian while Stella and James don't seem to although Stella did tag Julian once so she does know his Instagram handle. Stella hosted her new fashion line dedicated to The Beatles when Get Back came out with Julian and Sean in attendance in 2021. In 2023, Julian went to Paul's Eyes of the Storm exhibition with Mary, Stella, and James there. I don't know if Julian ever met Beatrice (born in 2003) at this time of writing.

Julian and Dhani hanging out together in Los Angeles, April of 2017

Sometime in the 1980s Julian visited George at Friar Park, Dhani was a little kid at the time and it's more than likely they first met. Another known encounter was at the Natural Law Party in 1992. After that it was many years until Julian and Dhani saw each other at the LOVE show in Las Vegas in 2006. I think after 2010s, Julian and Dhani saw each other more frequently then ever - 2013 (John Varvatos: Rock In Fashion), 2017 (Los Angeles hangout), and 2023 (Julian attending Dhani's concert). There's also Instagram. I think Julian attended Dhani's wedding to Sola Karadottir in 2012 but I'm not 100% sure on that - granted Dhani once said "everyone was there" and Julian congratulated Dhani and Sola on Facebook (by the way,. Dhani and Sola have since divorced). Julian met Dhani's girlfriend Mereki Beach at Dhani's concert.

Oliver's Bistro

 

Exiting

 

Child Support

While in London, Julian saw Dhani Harrison performing at the Omeara on October 19, 2023. They had a chance to catch up. Olivia Harrison and Dhani's girlfriend Mereki Beach was also there.

Hugs

Photographed by Michael Wainwright 

Julian and Dhani Harrison hugging at the book launch of John Varvatos: Rock In Fashion at John Varvatos store in Los Angeles on November 7, 2013. 

Hard Rockers

Julian attended the opening of A Hard Rock Cafe in New York City on March 12, 1984 with Isaac Tigrett, Maureen Starkey and her children, Jason and Lee.

Happy Daze For Julian

Don Most, Ron Howard, John, Anson Williams, Julian, Henry Winkler, Jerry Paris, and guest star Alan Abelew on the set of Happy Days on January 28, 1974 at Paramount Pictures Studio in Los Angeles.

“YES the fab photo of John Lennon and his wonderful son Julian is VERY real and an outstanding memory AND what a day it was”

Henry Winkler, 2013

“I met John Lennon. He brought his son Julian to the set of Happy Days. It’s one of the most important pictures I have in my house. I tried to have a conversation with John and he was very shy. It was really hard to pry a sentence out of him until I mentioned the song Mother, which was a primal scream on his first solo album. Suddenly he opened like a garden. I think of it as one of the great memories of my life.” 

Henry Winkler, 2024

While trying to find activities and places to entertain Julian while visiting from England in Los Angeles, May Pang managed to arrange a set visit with Paramount Studios where a bunch of television shows were filmed, including Mannix and Happy Days. On January 28, 1974, John, May, and Julian toured around the lot. Happy Days had just started airing since January 15th and I supposed the first episode made a great first impression on Julian who wanted to meet The Fonz (Arthur Fonzarelli, played by Henry Winkler). At the time, Happy Days was filmed without a studio audience with one single camera; by the third season, Happy Days had a studio audience and three cameras. Plus, in the first season, Fonzie had this pale wind jacket thanks to the higher up suits of ABC who thought black leather jackets were threatening before compromising that Fonzie could wear leather while on his motorcycle. Eventually that wind jacket went to the dumpster and Fonzie wore the leather jacket permanently until the show's cancellation in 1984. The cast was filming an episode called Guess Who's Coming to Visit about a midnight drag race. I honestly don't know how long John, May, and Julian stayed - half of the recollections say 15 minutes, the other half say the whole day. Yet, no matter the stay length, it sounded like both John and Julian enjoyed their stay as much as did the cast! Some, including crew members, got art doodles by John. 

“Well, it was the first year of the show and we were a minor hit at the time. It was early morning, we were just filming some kitchen scenes. Ron Howard was there, Donny Most, Henry and myself and a guest star. It was just a normal day, I go over to grab a cup of coffee, a big ol’ tin, and I see this guy and like a 10 year old kid. He looks really familiar, hmmm. So, go back to the guys and I said, ‘There’s a man and a kid, the man looks like John Lennon.’ ‘Oh get out of here!’ I know! I mean, it’s gotta be a grip or something. It’s John Lennon! With his son Julian, who was 10 years old at the time. He was a fan of the ’50s, fan of Happy Days brought his son down and spent the entire day on the set.

He was so kind, so gentle and shy. Absolutely,  truly shy, so kind. He spent the entire 12 hours on the set until we wrapped. He was doing doodles for the crew, personal things like this. But do we get one? Oh no, we’re professionals! We’re too cool, oh no no no. Could’ve bought a house today! He was such a wonderfully, honestly, humble guy. It was surreal. It was surreal to have that opportunity.”

Anson Williams, 2018

“We got word that John Lennon wanted to come by and bring his son Julian, and he was a big Fonzie fan. I managed to sneak in a picture. He was graciously cool, but mostly it was for his kid, which we all really appreciated.”

Ron Howard, 2013

"His son really wanted to see our set and meet Henry. Henry was desperate to meet John Lennon, too. I had nothing but admiration for John Lennon but I was nothing quite as fervent – for Henry it was a practically religious experience. I just said hello – it was all over in 10 or 15 minutes. Ringo and Keith Moon wandered onto our set a few years later, but they were in a state in which I wouldn’t expect them to remember very much of the experience!” 

Ron Howard, 2016

"I could not believe that they were on our set. My fingers have just stopped there are no words."

Henry Winkler 2022

“He was so shy, and I didn’t know how to get into a conversation with John Lennon. And then I just started talking about his-the Imagine-the album that he made solo, and there’s a cut on it called Mother, which is like a primal scream. I started talking to him about that, and he opened like a flower. It was amazing.” 

Henry Winkler, 2021

I don't know if John and Julian continued to watch Happy Days, though I believe they did. Especially John, as he lived in America until his death. Not sure if Happy Days aired in England until much later. But whatever the case, Julian does seem to remain a fan of the show and actors.

Julian visiting Henry Winkler at Paramount Studios offices in 1985 while filming his Stick Around music video

Julian with Scott Baio, Henry Winkler, and two guests at his Stand By Me: A Portrait Of Julian Lennon documentary at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel on November 23, 1985

In 1985, Julian appeared on Solid Gold and decided to drop in on Henry who had his production office there while doing MacGyver (working behind the scenes). 

“Cut to ten years later, and I’m in my office on the Paramount lot, and there’s a knock on the door. I open it and the man says, 'I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m Julian…' He now has a hit record, and he was there at Paramount doing his song on Solid Gold and he came to say hi! And I said, 'Julian, I think I would remember you.' What a wonderful circle, you know?”

Henry Winkler, 2017

I guess then Julian invited Henry, and Scott Baio (who joined the Happy Days cast in 1977) to his Stand By Me: A Portrait Of Julian Lennon documentary at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel on November 23, 1985. As far as I know, and as of the time of this writing, Julian and Henry hadn't seen each other since - but there's social media! In 2018, Henry did a Q&A and mentioned John and Julian visiting the set of Happy Days: 

What is your most treasured possession? 

A picture of the cast of Happy Days with John and Julian Lennon.

Julian saw it and responded from Twitter (now X):

Thank You Henry! A fond Memory of mine too... Happy Days... 🙏🏻 x 

Olivia Harrison, Ron Howard, and Yoko Ono at the The Beatles: Eight Days A Week: The Touring Years premiere at Odeon Leicester Square on September 15, 2016 in London.

In 2016, Ron produced and directed Eight Days a Week: The Touring Years with the cooperation with The Beatles/Apple. Since it was mostly focused on their tours, there was a picture by Robert Whitaker of John, Cynthia, and Julian shown while Ringo was talking that at this time they were settling down with families (a picture of Maureen, Zak, and Ringo was also shown). I have no idea if Ron and Julian have seen each other since 1975.

Julian and Anson Williams in New York City on April 4, 2018 in the lobby of SiriusXM Radio Studios.

From Julian's Instagram

However in April of 2018, Julian and Anson ran into each other while at SiriusXM Radio Studios and took a moment for a selfie and a brief catch up. 

As far as I know, well, don't know at all, if John and Julian met Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, and Erin Moran while on the set. 

Cast of Happy Days:

Richie Cunningham ... Ron Howard

Arthur (Fonzie) Fonzarelli ... Henry Winkler

Howard Cunningham ... Tom Bosley

Marion Cunningham ... Marion Ross

Joanie Cunningham ... Erin Moran

Warren (Potsie) Webber .... Anson Williams

Ralph Malph ... Don Most

Charles (Chachi) Arcola ... Scott Baio