John Lennon Labeled One Band As “The Sons Of The Beatles”

In the music industry, it’s one thing to be famous as a band but it’s a whole different thing when it’s when an iconic band recognizes a talent. A lot of bands have drawn inspiration from the Beatles, but only a few have been as authentically influenced as the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), at least that’s according to John Lennon himself.

ELO’s founder Jeff Lynne had a transformative experience before forming the band. During his time with The Idle Race, he was invited to Abbey Road by the Fab Four. When he heard the musical precision of The White Album firsthand, it reshaped his musical vision. This eventually led him to create the experimental and futuristic ELO in 1970.

Lynne’s admiration for the Beatles was mutual, especially with Lennon. In the early ’70s, Lennon publicly praised Lynne and ELO, essentially passing the creative torch to them. While on a radio show, Lennon expressed his appreciation for ELO’s work, particularly the song “Showdown.” Lennon also remarked:

“‘Showdown’ I thought was a great record and I was expecting it to be No. 1 but I don’t think UA [United Artists] got their fingers out and pushed it.
“It’s a nice group – I call them ‘sons of Beatles’ – although they’re doing things we never did, obviously. But I remember a statement they made when they first formed was to carry on from where the Beatles left off with ‘Walrus,’ and they certainly did.”

Lennon’s endorsement of ELO was a significant recognition, praising ELO’s unique ability to expand on the Beatles’ innovative legacy while still carving out their unique sound. Coming from one of the most influential musicians in history has marked ELO’s place in the rock pantheon.

So, do you agree with Lennon’s assessment? Was ELO truly the “sons of the Beatles?” Listen to “Showdown” and decide for yourself.