Sean Ono Lennon fears it’s possible for Gen Z to “forget” about The Beatles and the legacy of his father, John Lennon. In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Lennon explained how he’s working to ensure that doesn’t happen.

“Obviously, the world is also the custodian of his legacy,” Lennon told CBS Sunday Morning’s Anthony Mason. “I’m just doing my best to help make sure that the younger generation doesn’t forget about The Beatles and John and Yoko. That’s how I look at it.”

Buy ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ on Vinyl

When Mason asked whether it was “even possible” for them to be forgotten, Lennon responded: “I do actually [think so]. And I never did before.”

“My parents gave me so much that I think it’s the least I can do to try and support their legacy in my lifetime,” Lennon added. “I feel like I just owe it to them. It’s a personal thing.”

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Lennon explained that he views his parents’ legacy as “peace and love,” but added, “It’s not just peace and love. It’s an attitude towards activism that is done with humor and love.”

One of the ways Lennon has preserved this history is through his 2023 Oscar-winning animated short film, WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko, which he co-wrote with former Pixar writer, director, and animator Dave Mullins. The 11-minute film was uploaded to YouTube earlier this month.

“I wanted to see if I could get that feeling of maybe it sounds like you’re hearing [Plastic Ono Band’s ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’] again for the first time, or at least in a new context, in a way that you’d pay attention, as opposed to, ‘Oh, there it is on the radio again,’” Lennon said about the short.

Elsewhere in the interview, Lennon shared a rare update on his mother, Yoko Ono, who has inspired his approach to maintaining The Beatles’ legacy.

“She’s good. I mean, you know, she’s 92, so she’s slowed down a lot, and she’s retired,” Lennon said. “That’s why I’m kind of trying to do the work that she used to do. That’s why I feel a lot of pressure, actually, to do my best, because she set a high standard for the way that she dealt with my dad’s music, and The Beatles stuff.”

He continued, “She’s always been very singular. And I think my dad was less so. You know, he had Paul to write with, and then he was hoping that my mom would kind of be a writing partner. And I just think it’s really funny that, you know, there’s probably only one person in the world who would turn down John Lennon as a writing partner, and that’s my mom.”

Lennon also spoke about the 2024 documentary film One to One: John & Yoko, which features phone call recordings and home video that were new even to him. “It’s like getting more moments to spend with my dad,” he stated. “So actually, for me on a personal level, it just really means a lot.”

Watch the interview segment below, followed by WAR IS OVER!

“Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” was also recently reissued on 7-inch evergreen vinyl with the B-side “Listen, the Snow Is Falling.” Grab your copy here.