In 1986, Julian Lennon followed in his father’s footsteps as he took to the stage with rock ‘n’ roll legend Chuck Berry to deliver an A-class duet of “Johnny B. Goode.” Performing six years after the death of Beatles frontman and Berry’s friend, John Lennon, this viral clip offers the ultimate blast from the past, while illuminating the oddly wholesome link between the Berry and Lennon families.
Amassing over 867,000 views to date, Music Man readers can watch the vintage magic unfold in the viral live video below!
Chuck Berry (aged 60 in this clip) welcomes John Lennon’s eldest son, Julian (then 23), to the stage, calling him “the seed of the greatest influence in rock music in the ‘60s.” Julian waltzes into the spotlight, looking the spitting image of his late father, the crowd screaming as if Beatlemania is back in fashion again.
Chuck lays down the iconic guitar riff of his hit, “Johnny B. Goode,” a smile spreading across his face as Julian jumps in to duet on the lead vocals. As the chorus kicks in, Chuck lets Julian sing the lyrics solo in a raspy, rock ’n’ roll voice, the young star stealing the show with his exuberant confidence and infectiously upbeat energy.
Don’t miss the moment Chuck and Julian perform the legendary, leg-kicking dance in perfect unison; a move immortalized for younger viewers by Marty McFly in the first Back to the Future film, released the year before this live duet unfolded! It sends the crowd absolutely haywire, while Chuck and Julian equally seem to be having the time of their lives on stage.
As incredible as this flashback clip may be, the moment is made even grander given the decade-long connection between Chuck Berry and the Lennon family.
Back in 1972, Chuck Berry performed an identical duet of “Johnny B. Goode” featuring John Lennon himself. And it lives on in the hearts of many, not just for its superb constellation of stars, but for its notorious backstory…
This was the infamous performance which saw Yoko Ono join John on stage, only to have her mic completely muted so she wouldn’t “ruin” such a rare, iconic duet with her absurd vocal talent. Curious readers can revisit the moment in the video above!
Chuck and John certainly shared a bond of mutual, musical respect. John even praised Chuck’s music publicly when he said, “[Berry] was writing good lyrics and intelligent lyrics in the 1950s when people were singing ‘Oh baby, I love you so.’ It was people like him who influenced our generation to try and make sense out of the songs rather than just sing ‘do wah diddy.’”
Julian’s 1986 moment with Chuck Berry is a touching bridge between rock generations — a rare, joyful reminder of the Lennon legacy. If you’d like to explore the clip and related material, check the useful links below to discover more about this unforgettable duet.