Sean Ono Lennon is currently navigating a whirlwind of creative output. Between a new album with his band, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, and a documentary premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, Sean has also turned his attention to a pivotal moment in his parents' history. The result is Power To The People: John & Yoko Live In NYC, a meticulously restored concert film capturing John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1972 charity performances at Madison Square Garden.
These shows, consisting of a matinee and an evening performance, represent a bittersweet milestone as they were John’s only full-length concerts before his tragic death in 1980. For Sean, the project was less about visual polish—which had been in development for years—and more about achieving a sonic clarity that had previously been missing from the archives.
A Sonic Resurrection of the 1972 Madison Square Garden Gigs
While the visual restoration provides a crystal-clear window into the past, Sean’s primary contribution was the audio engineering. Reflecting on the 1986 posthumous live album produced by his mother, Sean notes that the sound often felt "mushy." His work on the new film aimed to strip away those layers, revealing the raw power of his father’s vocals. "I think everyone who listens to it gets chills from how good his voice is," Sean observes, noting that the performance captured John in a transitional phase, moving away from the signature Beatles sound toward something more visceral.
This vocal evolution was partly influenced by the couple’s exploration of "primal scream" therapy. Although Sean now views the therapy itself with a degree of skepticism—suggesting that reinforcing childhood trauma through screaming may not be the most effective solution—the impact on John’s musicality was undeniable. The film showcases a singer finding a new, more aggressive way to communicate his message to the world.
The Avant-Garde Legacy and Punk Influence of Yoko Ono
A central theme of the restoration is the re-evaluation of Yoko Ono’s musical contribution. Long a target of unfair criticism regarding the dissolution of The Beatles, Yoko’s work is presented in the film as a precursor to the punk movement. Sean highlights that figures like Malcolm McLaren recognized the Plastic Ono Band’s influence, suggesting that Yoko essentially invented the genre’s aesthetic and sonic rebellion.
"She is invulnerable to people not understanding that part of her because she just thinks that they aren't hip enough," Sean says of his mother’s reaction to negative feedback. He points to her 2014 Glastonbury performance as a modern example of her uncompromising artistic vision. In Power To The People, Yoko delivers some of her most traditional yet experimental vocal performances, including the once-banned "Open Your Box," a track Sean defends as being about mental liberation rather than the sexual euphemisms critics assumed at the time.
The Future of the Lennon-McCartney Dynasty
Beyond the restoration of the 1972 concerts, Sean remains deeply involved in the broader Beatles universe. He serves as one of the four directors at Apple, the band’s long-standing company, alongside Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney. This "weird family" dynamic ensures that the legacy is managed with a personal touch, including regular dinners with the McCartney family.
The legacy also extends to the silver screen. Sean recently visited the set of Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles biopics, where he met Harris Dickinson and Anna Sawai, who portray his parents. He describes the experience of hearing Dickinson mimic his father’s voice as "spooky" and "amazing," expressing high confidence in the actors' dedication to their roles. While Yoko, now 93, is retired and not micro-managing these projects, Sean continues to act as the bridge between the past and the future.
Looking ahead, fans can expect more archival releases, including a potential restoration of John’s 1974 album Walls And Bridges. In the meantime, Sean continues his own musical journey with Les Claypool in The Claypool Lennon Delirium. Their latest project, a rock opera titled The Great Parrot-Ox And The Golden Egg Of Empathy, explores a surreal narrative about a robot turning the world into paper clips—a testament to the fact that the Lennon penchant for the "quirky and weird" is alive and well.
There is zero irony in letting a maid do her job. Thinking otherwise is a very goofy take. They were not protesting maid service.
— Seán Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) April 22, 2026