Sean steps out of the shadows

Oct 12 2006 By Kate Mansey, Liverpool Echo

IF John Lennon were alive today, he would have just had his 66th birthday.

Life-long fans of the former Beatle may have stopped to spare a thought for their legend.

But Sean Lennon celebrated in his own way – because he shares a birthday with the father he lost when he was just five years old.

On Monday Sean, the ‘beautiful boy’ who John dedicated the last years of his life to, turned 31.

He says: “It has always been a poignant day for me. I always think about him a lot on my birthday.

“I suppose there was a 1-in-365 chance but it’s nice that I was born on his birthday.”

In many ways there’s a lot about Sean that reminds you of his father.

His round-rimmed glasses and soft features make him look so much like the young John it’s eerie.

And from the passionate way he speaks about music, to his live-and-let-live philosophy on life right through to his sense of calmness, it would be hard for Sean to deny his DNA even if he wanted to.

But in other ways Sean is not at all like his father – he is much more understated, more shy and more unsure of himself.

Or, as he puts it: “I’m not a star personality.”

You can see that from the gap in his CV.