What sounds like the beginning of a joke has actually happened. Zak Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, has teamed up with Sean Lennon, son of John Lennon, and James McCartney, son of Paul McCartney, to collaborate on a new song titled “Rip Off.”
A short teaser of the track was posted by Starkey on Instagram, generating buzz among Beatles fans and the rock music community. Zak, who founded his band Mantra of the Cosmos two years ago, has already worked with major names in the industry, including Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher and Shaun Ryder, frontman of the Happy Mondays. But this latest project marks a major milestone: a collaboration between the next generation of Beatles.
Carrying the Torch: A Musical Reunion of the Next Generation
For the first time ever, three sons of the Beatles have joined forces in a musical project—albeit as a one-time effort—for the track “Rip Off.” The song evokes clear echoes of Beatles classics, incorporating elements that longtime fans will likely recognize.
Still, Starkey, born during Ringo’s first marriage to Maureen Starkey, emphasizes that Mantra of the Cosmos is not just about riding the coattails of the Beatles’ legacy. “At the end of the day, it’s my own band with its own signature sound,” he told The Telegraph.
Sean Lennon, now 49, is the youngest son of the late John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Over the years, he has forged a solo career of his own and even collaborated with artists like Lana Del Rey. Back in 1998, he shared insights with Rolling Stone about growing up as the son of one of the most iconic musicians of all time: “If you’ve never known anything else, it doesn’t seem strange — it’s just life.”
John Lennon also had another son, Julian Lennon, from his marriage to Cynthia Powell. But it’s Sean who has most publicly followed in his father’s artistic footsteps.
The Weight of a Name: Life Under the Beatles’ Shadow
James McCartney, Paul’s only son, showed an early interest in music, teaching himself how to play both guitar and piano. But living up to the Beatles name hasn’t been easy. In a 2013 interview with the Irish Mirror, James admitted, “It’s hard to live up to the Beatles.”
Even Paul McCartney himself faced similar challenges after the Beatles broke up. His next band, Wings, struggled to replicate the same level of success. “When Wings were touring, they got torn apart,” James said. “Even Dad found it hard to live up to the Beatles. That’s when I started performing under a pseudonym.”
While there’s no word yet on whether this Beatles-sibling collaboration will continue beyond “Rip Off,” it’s clear that the legacy of the Fab Four lives on—not just in record sales and classic hits, but in the next generation of musicians trying to find their own sound while honoring the past.