Sean was featured with his Mom in some beautiful color photos in an issue of Paris Match magazine (February 22, 1985). In the article, Yoko talked about Sean, John, Julian and Kyoko. Yoko: "At John's death, Kyoko sent me a telegram of condolence. Since then, I've had no news. I'd like to leave a message for Kyoko. If by chance she should read this article, I'd like her to know that I love her. That she shouldn't be afraid to write or telephone me. I'd like her also to know that she has a darling little brother who asks for news of her."

In '85, Sean was a big fan of the game of tennis and the New York Daily News carried a photo of Sean with Yoko and Martina Navratilova at the Virginia Slims tournament at Madison Square Garden. The caption to the photo said, "Sean wanted Martina to win so badly (in her match with Helena Sukova) that he even closed his eyes during the close points." Sean wanted to meet Martina, but apparently the feeling was mutual, because Navratilova sent Sean and Yoko a note asking them to drop by the locker room to say 'hello.'

Julian was quoted about Sean in a British newspaper: "Whenever I see Sean it's great, because I remind him of dad a lot and he just sits there and stares at me. He just looks at me and recognizes bits, like saying I've got the same nose as dad - which is sometimes hard to take, even for me."

(PICTURE BY M. EWING: SEAN ON MTV)

(Instant Karma! Issue #21 - April - May 1985)

Sean and Yoko attended the 50th birthday party of Sean's best friend's Dad, Warner LeRoy in March. The party took place at the famous Tavern On the Green restaurant in Central Park. Other party guests included Mike Wallace, Barbara Walters, Bob Fosse and Roone Arledge.

Yoko was asked about Sean being photographed: "The easiest thing was just to keep him in a box. But the more I wanted to hide Sean, the more they wanted to take his picture. So I said, 'Enough of this game.' If he wants to go to a Michael Jackson show, he's going to be photographed. Normal life means watching TV, going to shows when he wants to and going to school normally. That's all he's doing."

In the radio special, Yoko Only, that was aired on Atlanta radio last year, with portions repeated this past February in honor of Yoko's birthday, George Watts talked to recording engineer Mike Barbieri about Sean's experiences in the studio while recording his version of his Mom's song, "It's Alright." Barbieri: "That was an extraordinary evening - the evening he came in to do the lead vocal. He was very spontaneous. Yoko made a wonderful decision early on into the vocal performance of not really putting the pressure on Sean to sing, but rather to just enjoy himself behind the microphone. I think immediately when the singing label of what he had to do was removed, he became extremely fluid. Actually almost all of what you hear was done in one take. Just at the very end, we had to use portions from another tape. It's almost one solid performance. He did extraordinarily well. When I say 'spontaneous' - I mean, he knew what the song was, but he just took off. When he said, 'I wanna tell everyone in the world', he really felt that this was his opportunity to speak to the children of the world, and he took that opportunity and he used it quite well."

(Instant Karma! Issue #22 - June - July, 1985)

The 9-year-old Sean made a splash in Los Angeles, showing up to accept an award for his Dad at the BMI Music Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Elliot Mintz escorted Mr. Lennon, who picked up John Lennon's award for "Nobody Told Me" which was one of 1984's most played songs. In one article, Sean was pictured in his white tuxedo and the caption read in part, "...Sean looked like a regular duke in his snazzy white tux."

(PICTURE OF JOHN FROM T.V. BY M.EWING / PICTURE OF SEAN FROM NEWSPAPER REPORT)

In this issue, we ran a special report, written exclusively for IK! by Bill Harry. He had interviewed John's Aunt Mimi Smith and this is what he wrote about Sean meeting Mimi (see Sean's Liverpool Adventure): "Aunt Mimi is really thrilled with Sean and loved the visit he made to her. As soon as he saw her he rushed up and threw his arms around her. 'He's a replica of John,' she said. 'He has the same affectionate nature.' "

(Instant Karma! Issue #23 - August - September 1985)

Yoko and Sean met with the actors who would portray John and Yoko in the TV movie, "John and Yoko: A Love Story." (Mark McGann and Kim Miyori) The tabloid, the Star, ran photos of Yoko and Sean with the actors and they quoted Yoko as saying: "When (Sean) heard Mark's voice, it sounded so much like his dad that he freaked out." Sean was quoted, "He looks like Dad with his glasses on - and sounds like him."

Correction please: Sean let it be known that his favorite tennis star is not Martina Navratilova, even though he showed up for her match at the Virginia Slims Tournament some months ago and was photographed with Martina and Yoko after the match. The Daily News reported on August 30 that Sean and Yoko showed up at the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows to cheer for Chris Evert! Asked if he was rooting for Martina, Sean reportedly replied: "Oh,no. I love Chris Evert. She's my number one." Sean had proclaimed his admiration for Evert in a radio interview for the BBC some time ago, saying that he liked the fact that Ms. Evert is a good sport, even when she loses. Yoko and Sean were shown in the audience September 8 during the Open matches.

(Instant Karma! Issue #24 - October - November, 1985)

October 9, 1985

On his, and his Dad's birthday, Sean, along with Yoko and a host of dignitaries and friends met in Central Park for the dedication ceremony for the official opening of Strawberry Fields. In the NYPost, the day before the dedication, Yoko said: "I feel very happy that this garden is finally coming to fruition. Now we have a beautiful Strawberry Fields, with 123 countries participating, to make a peaceful garden. It is not just a gift from John, but it is a gift from our generation to the future and I trust it will be a joy to the people for centuries to come."

Sean celebrated his birthday with about 100 of his buddies inside the Dakota. Elliot Mintz came downstairs and met with the fans who were standing outside and said, "Sean wanted to send some cake down for everyone." Asked by some of the fans if Sean was planning to come down to the street, Mintz replied, "No, Sean is still entertaining his guests."

A celebration party was held at New York's Area disco later that evening. Yoko was there, as well as her Studio One office staff, Elliot Mintz and Sean. Sean took a turn at the turntable spinning a few discs for the dancers, including his Mom's latest 12-inch single of "Hell In Paradise." It was reported that upon leaving the music booth, photographers tried to surround him, but Sean sprayed foam all over their camera lenses!

(PICTURE OF SEAN AND YOKO AT TENNIS MATCH FROM US MAGAZINE)

Late in '85, Sean and Yoko appeared as co-hosts of "Friday Night Videos". Sean introduced his Mom's videos from "Starpeace." Yoko talked about the songs and about meeting Julian.

(Instant Karma! Issue #25 - December - January, 1986)

On January 20, 1986, a 29-year-old "part-time laborer" was arrested in NYC for breaking into Yoko's apartment at the Dakota. He apparently lowered himself down from the roof and climbed in through an unlocked (7th floor!) window. The man left his name and address, a photo of himself and a note. He was easily apprehended by police later that day. IK! inquired about Yoko and Sean's safety and she assured us that they were all right, and if nothing else, the break-in alerted them to tighten security. Elliot Mintz said, "Yoko and Sean always have armed guards around them in fairly close proximity. We (also) have a procedure for people who write unusual letters to Yoko. They are not ignored."

Yoko was to appear at a Martin Luther King celebration on January 20th, but said things hadn't worked out, that Sean was home with the flu, and she had stayed home to care for him.

(PICTURE OF SEAN, YOKO AND JULIAN, AP WIRE NEWS PHOTO)

Sean, Julian and Yoko made several appearances together in early '86 including Julian's "Stand By Me" premiere in New York, at an official party for press and executives in Lincoln Center for the "John Lennon Live in New York" video, and Julian and Sean were presenters at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inauguration at the Waldorf in New York on January 23rd.

Yoko was featured on the cover of the USA Weekend magazine. The story coincided with the showing of the NBC TV movie about John and Yoko and was written by David Sheff. About Sean, Yoko said: "He's very protective of me. He tries to fill in for John that way. When he goes away - to camp or to spend a weekend with a friend - he's always worrying about me. For my part, of course, I cannot replace his father, but Sean and I still have a very special relationship."

Sean and Yoko showed up at the premiere of Michael Douglas' smash hit movie, "Jewel of the Nile."

In a December 1 (1985) article about Mark McGann and Kim Miyori, who starred as John and Yoko in NBC's "J & Y : A Love Story", McGann said, "Sean thinks I'm radical."

Yoko gave an interview to K-SHE 95 FM in St. Louis in the summer of '84. K-SHE: "Sean looked beautiful when I saw him on 'Good Morning America.' He looks very healthy and beautiful." Yoko: "Oh, thank you, thank you. Well, you know, I'm so thankful about that because that was a surprise and a half. You know, and we're friends. Not so much mother and son. I don't know what mother and son are supposed to be, but I really feel that he's a good friend. And also, because he reflects a lot of John in him. It's the mannerism that I know Sean would never have known, didn't actually witness John saying or doing, and it comes out from Sean, as if it were John. It sometimes makes me... it's the young version of John or something, though Sean is definitely another individual, a different person. But it's uncanny."

(Instant Karma! Issue #26 - February - March, 1986)

Sean and Yoko's 1985 appearance on "Friday Night Videos" was repeated in March '86 with different videos being shown between interview segments.

In USA Today's February 17, 1986 edition, Yoko was interviewed and had this to say about Sean's relationship with his half-brother and half-sister: "When Sean was 5 or 6, he said, 'I'm supposed to have a brother and sister but I never see them. In usual households, brothers and sisters are together.' Julian has come around. Now maybe Kyoko will come around. But I want her to take he rown time and not feel guilty about not reaching me."

In a Cleveland newspaper, Yoko was asked if she feels people are starting to appreciate her for herself and not just because she was married to John. Yoko: "I realize a lot of people write to me because I am Mrs. John Lennon. I feel John's still helping me in spirit and it will take a long time for people to appreciate me. But it really doesn't matter. One day I might be known as Sean's mother."

In an interview from Yoko's Starpeace tour for the Daily Mail (February 28, 1986) Sandra White asked Yoko about Sean: "John always told him he would live 'til he was 80 and sometimes Sean cried: 'Daddy promised he would still be here. What willhappen if you go?' He needed me to make him feel more secure. He's very independent and he comes on cocky sometimes. He thinks he knows it all and he always wants the last word. Aren't most 10-year-olds like that?"

(SEAN SENT OUT THANK YOU CARDS LIKE THE ONE AT RIGHT TO PEOPLE WHO'D SENT HIM BIRTHDAY GREETINGS)

Sean appeared with his buddy, Max LeRoy and his Mom in the "Hands Across America" video which was filmed in Central Park in New York City. The Lennons joined an all-star cast which included Roberta Flack, Andy Warhol, actor Michael Douglas and Nona Hendryx (who appeared on "Starpeace").

(Instant Karma! Issue #27 - April - May, 1996)

Sean was standing just offstage to greet his Mom after her performance for the Amnesty International "Conspiracy of Hope" concert at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. Yoko sang "Walking on Thin Ice" and "Imagine."

Yoko and Sean participated in the Hands Across America event on May 25. They were in the line in New York City, making the front page of the New York Post. A small color photo appeared in TIME Magazine on June 9 and there were video clips on various news and entertainment shows.

Sean and Yoko appeared at a Green Plays benefit at Seaport's Liberty Cafe (Green Plays helps develop new plays and musicals). While Yoko chatted with other adult guests, Sean juggled, spun-the-plate and ate calzone. US Magazine quoted Sean as saying, "I age just before I came, but I can't stop eating these!"

Sean and Yoko appeared at an AIDS benefit sponsored by the New York fashion people and there was a group picture taken of all the stars in attendance to be used at some later date to help raise awareness and funds for AIDS research. Yoko was dressed to kill with her hair a'la McCalls ad, while Sean was wearing a casual jacket over a John Lennon T-shirt.

(PICTURE BY M.EWING: SEAN HOSTS FRIDAY NIGHT VIDEOS)

Julian talked about Sean in article in Cleveland's Quad-City Times. "I visit frequently. Sometimes, being with Sean, he almost feels like a son rather than a half-brother. He is great. He had everything there for him but he has turned out to be a wonderful kid. He knows values."

Julian also talked about Sean in an interview with the Daily Express (April 25, 1986). "(Sean) goes to school, he goes to summer camp. Perhaps in a couple of years he could spend some time with me. I could take him somewhere for a couple of weeks. Not to push him around, but so that we could hang out together. Take him to museums, he'd enjoy that. I haven't spoken to Yoko about this, but I'd just like to take him out on my own sometimes."

On Father's Day, the Daily News asked Sean what his Dad had done for him that was special. Here's Sean's reply: "Well, this might sound kind of weird, but I remember we used to wrestle a lot on the bed after 'The Muppet Show'. I was 3 years old, but I remember it. He would always win. Sometimes, I would jump on him - but it was fun."

(Instant Karma! Issue #28 - Fall, 1986)

A group of American and Russian children traveled around the country in '86 singing and performing in a play about peace. Sean greeted the group in September. The story was carried in various newspapers. Sean was quoted as saying: "I hope you have a wonderful time. I speak for everyone - I mean everyone - when I say I hope this will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Mebmers of the troupe gave Sean a t-shirt and taught him to sing a Soviet peace song. Sean said he wants peace because "being angry and hating is wrong, and it doesn't help anyone." Asked if he might start a group like the Beatles, Sean said, "I don't know."

(Instant Karma! Issue 29 - Winter, 1986)

Sean went to Chicago with Yoko to attend the 5th Anniversary celebration of the Peace Museum. Sean toured the museum with Yoko before her press conference. Yoko was the featured speaker at a $100 per person champagne reception to benefit the opening of a special retrospective exhibition at the museum.

(Instant Karma! Issue 30 - Mid-Winter, 1987)

Yoko and Sean appeared at WNEW's holiday Cerebral Palsy Benefit concert. The host for the show was WNEW's operations director and afternoon man, Scott Muni.

BIG NEWS! Sean goes to dinner! Acupuncturist, J.J.Murata took Sean out to celebrate his birthday on October 8 and the news made the New York Post. Murata accompanied Yoko on her Starpeace tour.

Sean and Yoko appeared in a commercial to wish Rolling Stone magazine a happy birthday. As part of the greeting, the Lennon-Onos blow out a birthday cake.

(Instant Karma! Issue 32 - Summer, 1987)

On Mother's Day, May 19, 1987, Yoko received the Helen Caldicott Leadership Award in Boston for her efforts to promote peace. Carol Barr of the Marlborough Gallery in Boston accepted the award for Yoko and she told IK's Ron Scarlett: "I was honored to be asked by Yoko to accept the award. No one is more worthy or deserving of such a prestigious and meaningful award. It's a mother's award and she's the quintessential mother. Sean is such a delightful and magical personality which is surely a result of her direct involvement and love."

In connection with the Caldicott award, Doreen Iudica filed a report on May 14 for a Boston newspaper. She visited Yoko at the Dakota, was given a tour of the apartment and spoke briefly with Sean, who was working on a school project in his room. Iudica and Yoko stopped off at Sean's room, where he was working on a poster of Hitler. His room was filled with Beatles memorabilia. Sean: "My Mom has a warehouse full of this stuff. I just picked through the stuff one day and pulled out what I liked. It's really neat stuff."

Yoko told Iudica that Sean is "very aware of what I am doing in my work for peace, and that's good, but I don't think his generation should feel that they are responsible to turn the world around." Sean does plan to work for peace someday. Sean: "I know that someday I'll be doing something, apart from my mom, to work for peace, but right now, I just have an opinion."

It was in this issue of IK! that we announced that Sean was working with Michael Jackson on the "Smooth Criminal" video.

(PICTURE OF SEAN AND YOKO IN JAPAN DONATED BY TSUNEO MATSUMOTO)

Sean was featured in Andy Warhol's "Interview" magazine in July. He was interviewed at the Dakota by Kevin Sessums, who asked Sean if he likes being famous. Sean: "Sometimes I think that someone should just be famous for earning their fame, you know. But what am I going to do - be reborn? I just live with it. Of course, I don't really mind. But also it's good to know in a way that I haven't earned it yet, because I can be a normal kid, too." Asked about drugs, Sean replied, "None of my friends do drugs. I do know of 11-year-olds who do them, though. But, I mean, I can't just go up to them and say, 'Hey, you shouldn't do that.' Because they'll just, like, have a spaz." Asked how he would describe his Mom and Dad to people who hadn't heard of them before, Sean gave the same answer for both parent: "A very loving person."

In the July '87 "Vanity Fair" magazine, it was revealed that Andy Warhol had intended to pick up where John left off - with a lifetime series of portraits of Sean. Yoko was quoted from her eulogy at Warhol's memorial service in St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC: "Andy visited me at home and he noticed on a wall five photographs of Sean, each representing a year of his life. Andy wanted to know why the photographs stopped when Sean was five years old. I told him that it was John's project and when John died it stopped. 'I'll finish the project if you want,' Andy said. 'I'll paint Sean every year." Warhol had taken Polaroids of Sean for the continuation of the series, but his plans were cut short by his sudden, unexpected death.

Sean, Yoko and Sam Havadtoy attended a NYC fundraiser - Arts Against AIDS - at Sotheby's Auction House. Hundreds of artists and 72 galleries agreed to donate a large percentage of all proceeds from 600 works to be sold by the end of the year. Afterwards, guests paid $500 each at ten different dinner parties, for the opportunity to rub elbows with people like Tatum O'Neal, Susan Sarandon and Yoko. At the Cafe Luxembourg, Sean talked about how the subject of AIDS is out in the open at his school. Sean: "Kids in my school - everytime we hear about a new way you might get AIDS, we talk about it. From what I've heard, you have to get it through sexual relations. I'm only sixth grade. We don't have too much of that." (!!)

(Instant Karma! Issue #34 - November - December 1987)

In an interview in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on September 13, 1987, Yoko talked about Sean: "Sean is fantastic. Sean had an unusually strong relationship with his father until he was 5, and I think a lot of things we go through in life, the way we are, by the age of 5 are already there. Watching Sean grow up - that's incredible. He is absorbing life, the world, all that knowledge. It is very exciting to watch that happen." Asked if Yoko worries more about Sean than other mothers considering the circumstances of their lives, Yoko replied, "Every mother worries. I try to make sure that he is taken care of - in the sense of security, and health. And other than that, I want him to be able to pursue what he wants to pursue, as long as it is good for him. But I am trying to avoid the situation of the mother and son sticking to each other too much. He has many friends, he communicates with many people. For example, he goes to summer camp every year. It was his choice, but I thought it would be good for him to be away from me a bit, to create his own life."