I'm not trying to overcome my father or fill his shoes or reach any kind of level that he did. We're talking about a [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart] of rock music.
Sean LennonI like to have books around to give me ideas-to get the verbal part of my brain to start working.
Sean LennonI wouldn't even say "Imagine" is political. I think it'sโฆmore just sort of declaration of humanity. I don't find his political songs to be the ones that I go home and listen to. And I would say that of any artist. They're not the ones that interestโฆ
Sean LennonAnyone who doesn't think the government killed my father either hasn't given the issue much thought, or is insane.
Sean LennonI feel that film is inevitably the medium of the future. It has been for years, decades, but more so now than ever.
Sean LennonI have a piano and a guitar, and I tend to switch back and forth between those two instruments to help me get inspired.
Sean LennonFor me, songwriting is something that I have to do ritually. I don't just wait for inspiration; I try to write a little bit every day.
Sean LennonI like songs that have lots of different parts in them, an intro, an outro and a bridge.
Sean LennonNatural gas has been sold as clean energy. But when the gas comes from fracturing bedrock with about five million gallons of toxic water per well, the word โcleanโ takes on a disturbingly Orwellian tone. Donโt be fooled. Fracking for shale gas is in truth dirty energy.
Sean LennonI think when people try to use their art for political views, I think they're art becomes smaller, less interesting. And so for me, as an artist, I'm trying to speak about things in a universal way and not be pedantic or small-minded and try to convince other people of my political views. But having said that, every day I live in sort of complete terror because of what I read in the newspaper and what is going on in the world. I'm constantly, as I think many of us are, overwhelmed by the sort of, mass psychosis that's occurring.
Sean LennonSongwriting is kind of like a craft. It's not something that just comes in a dream. You've got to work at it.
Sean LennonIt would be nice if I was remembered at all. I don't really care about being remembered. I just want to enjoy my life today and do my best while I'm here. I'm not that ambitious, other than to have a good life now.
Sean LennonMaking films is great. You've got 100 people around and you're all dressing up and making weird art - it's a fun group activity.
Sean LennonI feel like I've been way overexposed in the press. I'd rather play shows and represent myself in person.
Sean LennonI wouldn't say the purpose of making art is to enjoy it necessarily. For me, it happens to be the thing I enjoy the most. I don't even know what the purpose of art is really, I just know that is something that makes me feel satisfied in a way that other things don't. That's all I know, that's why I like to write songs and films or draw. I just like to make things and somehow I find it gives me a feeling of satisfaction that I can't find in other areas of my life.
Sean LennonThe one thing I do find about serious reviews is that usually they tend to have a point, and that's what I find hurt so much about discerning critics. If the reviews hurt they're probably right on some level.
Sean LennonI spend my time trying to figure art out. I was brought up to believe that the way one processes information is by making it into art. That's how I live my life.
Sean LennonI'm always surprised that people make such a fuss about Italian tailoring and French design houses. I think traditional British tailoring for men is so good. Everything's the right cut, the fabrics are good.
Sean LennonNow Daddy is part of God. I guess when you die you become much more bigger, because you're part of everything.
Sean LennonPutting out commercial pieces and promoting them and trying to sell them to people is not necessarily what it means to be an artist
Sean LennonI did a record with a producer, and the good producers eat up the budget, so I didn't have any budget left to produce this record. I had to produce it myself.
Sean LennonI don't really believe in political art. I feel in my heart the purpose of art transcends cultural and class and politics. I think something like the Sistine Chapel is something that goes beyond just being a Christian thing. It transcends its Christianity and becomes sort of a universal beauty. And I think that's true of music and art and literature.
Sean LennonThey say rock is dead. Andy [Warhol] said art is dead. God is dead according to Nietzsche. If everything's dead what's alive? Only technology. We're in the era of technology.
Sean LennonI do think British tailoring is the best. French people hate me when I say that, but I do think it's true.
Sean LennonI'm trying to use the language of today to express a general existential crisis that I think the world and I are going through.
Sean LennonI'm not that in control of myself that I could be specific about exactly the way I'm doing everything as it happens. I'm just trying my best
Sean LennonGrowing up, I fantasized about being a rock musician and that somehow it would be really easy. I didn't realize that it's so much work.
Sean LennonMy dad, he's definitely one of greatest writers of his generation. There is no question about it. When you are that good, when work is that good, you have to appreciate every aspect of it. It's the architecture of it, it's like looking at a Frank Lloyd Wright building or a Lautner building, it's master craftsmanship. Every aspect of it intertwines in a perfectly harmonious way. That's what architecture is at its best and the architecture of my father's music is on that level.
Sean LennonIt's a bit embarrassing watching myself, but I couldn't get someone else to play me, that would've been stupid.
Sean LennonI actually think in music, learning technical stuff doesn't matter. You can be as technical as you like, but still sound awful.
Sean Lennon