John Lennon ‘HE'D STILL BE SURPRISING US ALL!'

The musician’s sons Sean and Julian look back at their famous father’s life, along with their close family friend Elton John

It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years since the tragic death of music icon and former Beatle John Lennon, and his sons Sean and Julian reveal they still struggle with the loss of their dad.

The iconic songwriter, vocalist and guitarist was fatally shot on December 8, 1980, as he was entering his building, the Dakota, in New York.

“Sometimes when I talk about certain songs Dad wrote, they’re so emotional, they’re hard for me to even to think about, let alone listen to,” Sean, 45, confessed to his brother Julian, 57, in an emotional radio special on what would have been the Imagine singer’s 80th birthday this year.

“I do wish he could speak for himself. I’m constantly barraged with people telling me what they think he would believe about this, that or the other. I always tell them, ‘Whatever he’d have thought, it wouldn’t have been what you think he would think.’

“He updated his thinking all the time. It wouldn’t have been the same thing as in 1975 because he’d have evolved,” Sean told his godfather Sir Elton John.

“Your dad was kind and generous and sweet and we hit it off immediately,” Elton remembered. “I think if your dad had still been alive he’d have won the Nobel Peace Prize. That’s what your dad was – he wanted to bring people together.