Here come the sons: Will Beatles' kids form own band?

Getty Images

From left: Zak Starkey, Dhani Harrison, James McCartney, Sean Lennon.

By Courtney Garcia, msnbc.com contributor

Sgt. Pepper may have recruited new members to the Lonely Hearts Club Band. Four sons of the four Beatles may be looking to form a group of their own.

James McCartney has reached out to Sean Lennon, Dhani Harrison and Zak Starkey to create the next generation of The Beatles, the BBC reports. In an interview Monday, the 34-year-old musician, who’s released three EPs on his own, said embracing the legacy of the Fab Four has worked to his advantage so far, thus he wouldn’t be opposed to a reincarnation of the ensemble. But not all the sons may agree.

“I don't think it's something that Zak wants to do,” James remarked. “Maybe Jason [another of Ringo Starr's sons] would want to do it. I'd be up for it. Sean seemed to be into it, Dhani seemed to be into it. I'd be happy to do it.”

Zak Starkey has already had a respectable career, serving as drummer for The Who and Oasis. His younger brother Jason performs with a few bands on the indie circuit. Sean Lennon has found some success as a solo artist, and signed briefly to Capitol Records before launching his own label. He’s additionally done work as a film composer and social activist. And Dhani Harrison made his musical debut in 2001 on his father’s final release, “Brainwashed,” which he completed upon the death of his father George.

Dhani Harrison told The Guardian in 2003, "I don't really plan to be a pop star; I just want to be able to make music without the whole My Dad thing hanging over me."

However, even McCartney realizes that the musical bar has been set awfully high.

“I then dreamt of being better than The Beatles,” he said. “I'm not sure if I can do that. If anything, I would love to be equal to The Beatles -- but even that's quite tough.”

Fans might concur.

New Yorker editor Ben Greenman tweeted, “Can we all agree that this is a bad idea?”

He also wondered why no headline writer had used the tag, "Here come the sons." Here you go, Ben.

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Damn all of them look like their fathers spit them out! Especially Dhani...

banks said:

James McCartney has reached out to Sean Lennon, Dhani Harrison and Zak Starkey to create the next generation of The Beatles,

He's the only one I have never heard of, with regard to a music career. So this Beatles may be lacking in the McCartney dept. Certainly in the Lennon dept, too, but at least Sean has been doing his thing for a while.

It might be fun, but I would expect absolutely nothing from such a band. Hell they are all older than the Beatles were when they broke up.

But they do look like them!

banks said:

“I then dreamt of being better than The Beatles,” he said. “I'm not sure if I can do that. If anything, I would love to be equal to The Beatles -- but even that's quite tough.”

Does this guy have some kind of aphasia?

I'd be interested. I'm a Sean Lennon fan, but he's only made 2 albums since 1998. It'd be nice just to hear something new from him.

Paul's son look's way to much like him...... it's like looking at Paul's twin

NDRU said:

banks said:

James McCartney has reached out to Sean Lennon, Dhani Harrison and Zak Starkey to create the next generation of The Beatles,

He's the only one I have never heard of, with regard to a music career. So this Beatles may be lacking in the McCartney dept. Certainly in the Lennon dept, too, but at least Sean has been doing his thing for a while.

It might be fun, but I would expect absolutely nothing from such a band. Hell they are all older than the Beatles were when they broke up.

But they do look like them!

James just started his music career, which is odd... the McCartneys up until recently were more known for outside activities that didn't involve their father's occupation. Stella is a world renowned fashion designer, the other McCartney daughters are either models or have respective jobs where they make good money, I'm thinking all of them are connected to some Hollywood stuff but I don't know what. James McCartney is the first of Paul's children to take after his father's occupation.

NDRU said:

banks said:

“I then dreamt of being better than The Beatles,” he said. “I'm not sure if I can do that. If anything, I would love to be equal to The Beatles -- but even that's quite tough.”

Does this guy have some kind of aphasia?

I doubt any of them could write a song as good as any of their fathers did.

Timmy84 said:

NDRU said:

He's the only one I have never heard of, with regard to a music career. So this Beatles may be lacking in the McCartney dept. Certainly in the Lennon dept, too, but at least Sean has been doing his thing for a while.

It might be fun, but I would expect absolutely nothing from such a band. Hell they are all older than the Beatles were when they broke up.

But they do look like them!

James just started his music career, which is odd... the McCartneys up until recently were more known for outside activities that didn't involve their father's occupation. Stella is a world renowned fashion designer, the other McCartney daughters are either models or have respective jobs where they make good money, I'm thinking all of them are connected to some Hollywood stuff but I don't know what. James McCartney is the first of Paul's children to take after his father's occupation.

That's why it seems a bit forced.....

Not to mention The Beatles starte dyoung & got better and grew as time went on.. these guys are already in there mid 30's many of them.

Timmy84 said:

NDRU said:

Does this guy have some kind of aphasia?

I doubt any of them could write a song as good as any of their fathers did.

I'm sure that Ringo's children could write a better song than "Don't Pass Me By" or "Octopus's Garden".

I wouldn't be surprised if these guys were better on their instruments (except vocals) than the Beatles though!

CrabalockerFishwife said:

Timmy84 said:

I doubt any of them could write a song as good as any of their fathers did.

I'm sure that Ringo's children could write a better song than "Don't Pass Me By" or "Octopus's Garden".

I forgot about that. Yeah I bet they can. Ringo wasn't as good a songwriter.

NDRU said:

I wouldn't be surprised if these guys were better on their instruments (except vocals) than the Beatles though!

They probably are better live performers, musicians, vocalists, etc. Paul was technically the best Beatle as far as vocal ability and George and Ringo were better musicians. Ringo technically was the best of them as live performers partially because of the All Starr band.

banks said:

Here come the sons: Will Beatles' kids form own band?

What a bunch of ugly mofos

PANDURITO said:

banks said:

...

What a bunch of ugly mofos

"Ringo" would be the hottest of them all

Timmy84 said:

NDRU said:

Does this guy have some kind of aphasia?

I doubt any of them could write a song as good as any of their fathers did.

Well first thing is that the most talented would NO WAY have a part in this, and thats Julian, though sean has grown on me and Dhani is a good player, this would be the biggest mistake, maybe as a one time appearance, cool, but no way on record there just asking for crap to be thrown at them, Least of all Sean should know better.

As for Julian, he makes albums better than most of the original Beatles have made, especially his last 2, "Photograph Smile" from 1999 and "Everything CHanges" from 2011.

lastdecember said:

Timmy84 said:

I doubt any of them could write a song as good as any of their fathers did.

Well first thing is that the most talented would NO WAY have a part in this, and thats Julian, though sean has grown on me and Dhani is a good player, this would be the biggest mistake, maybe as a one time appearance, cool, but no way on record there just asking for crap to be thrown at them, Least of all Sean should know better.

As for Julian, he makes albums better than most of the original Beatles have made, especially his last 2, "Photograph Smile" from 1999 and "Everything CHanges" from 2011.

Julian is a non-conformist, he wasn't gonna do any shit related to his dad anyways.

Timmy84 said:

lastdecember said:

Well first thing is that the most talented would NO WAY have a part in this, and thats Julian, though sean has grown on me and Dhani is a good player, this would be the biggest mistake, maybe as a one time appearance, cool, but no way on record there just asking for crap to be thrown at them, Least of all Sean should know better.

As for Julian, he makes albums better than most of the original Beatles have made, especially his last 2, "Photograph Smile" from 1999 and "Everything CHanges" from 2011.

Julian is a non-conformist, he wasn't gonna do any shit related to his dad anyways.

Julian is exactly like his dad thats the thing, his dad if alive would be ripping this to shreds right now

lastdecember said:

Timmy84 said:

Julian is a non-conformist, he wasn't gonna do any shit related to his dad anyways.

Julian is exactly like his dad thats the thing, his dad if alive would be ripping this to shreds right now

True.

Meh....Being a Beatles fan, I would probably check it out for the novelty value.

It's not so bad if it's just a friendly Travelling Wilbury kind of thing. But if anyone expects it to have any real magic, they will be seriously disappointed.

lastdecember said:

As for Julian, he makes albums better than most of the original Beatles have made, especially his last 2, "Photograph Smile" from 1999 and "Everything CHanges" from 2011.

. Though Photograph Smile had some really good songs, I think the rest of his solo career has been garbage [though I've yet to hear the new album]. And double at saying his albums are better than John, Paul, George or Ringo's.

The first thing I thought when I saw this, was that if it does happen, I'm glad they picked Sean over Julian.

Save us the horror.

Paul's brother Mike released some records back in the 1970's.

banks said:

Here come the sons: Will Beatles' kids form own band?

Getty Images

From left: Zak Starkey, Dhani Harrison, James McCartney, Sean Lennon.

hell, they DO look like their fathers...

and that pic is HILAROUS, btw, Sean's face is priceless, James seems like a nice guy forced to look like a dork from Eton, and you gotta love the "what's up" attitude of Dhani and Zak...

"Beatles Jr." sounds like a good idea, as long as James an Sean can sing, and as long as they release their OWN material (not a bunch of covers): perhaps something hard-rocking but also funky/soulful...something that the Beatles could have done circa 1974-76

[Edited 4/17/12 18:28pm]

Would any children of Jimmy Nicol & Pete Best be involved? They can be produced by Giles Martin.

Oh, that shit is doomed.

The sons of Donovan (Mellow Yellow) & Michael Nesmith were in this band (Nancy Boy) from the 1990's.