The legacy of The Beatles continues as the sons of band members come together for a new generation. Sean Ono Lennon, the son of John Lennon, James McCartney, the son of Paul McCartney, and Zak Starkey, the son of Ringo Starr, have teamed up to create the upcoming song titled “Rip Off,” which Starkey hinted at through social media.
Starkey, 59, is a member of the supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos, which includes notable musicians like Andy Bell from Oasis and Mark Berry and Shaun Ryder from Happy Mondays. Previously, McCartney, 47, and Lennon, 49, collaborated on the 2024 release “Primrose Hill.”
Reflecting on their high-profile lineage, Lennon shared, “When you’ve never experienced anything else, it’s not weird — it’s simply your life.” He illustrated the unique challenges of growing up in the public eye, stating, “I never knew that doing interviews and having press was weird. You take it as it comes. You don’t choose your name, you don’t choose your parents. You’re hurled into this earth, and life hits you like a slap on the ass. Boom, you’re born. Now deal with it.”
The original members of The Beatles, including George Harrison, who passed away in 2001, last released the song “Now and Then” in November 2023. This track was pieced together from a composition written by Lennon before his assassination in 1980. The other surviving members worked on the song in the 1990s, and advancements in audio technology allowed for its completion in 2022 during Peter Jackson’s three-part documentary, “Get Back,” available on Disney+.
McCartney described the emotional experience of working with Lennon’s voice in the studio, saying, “There it was, John’s voice, crystal clear. It’s quite emotional, and we all play on it. It’s a genuine Beatles recording. In 2023 to still be working on Beatles music, and about to release a new song the public haven’t heard, I think it’s an exciting thing.”
The reunion of McCartney and Starr at the end of McCartney’s Got Back tour in December 2024 marked a significant moment as they performed classic Beatles songs like “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)” and “Helter Skelter.”
Furthermore, a cinematic exploration of The Beatles’ story is on the horizon, with four films directed by Sam Mendes slated for release in April 2028. Each film will provide a unique perspective, featuring actors such as Paul Mescal portraying McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Starr, Harris Dickinson as Lennon, and Joseph Quinn as Harrison.