Being the child of a Beatle might open doors, but it also comes with the constant shadow of comparison. Zak Starkey, James McCartney, and Sean Ono Lennon have heard the whispers of nepotism for years—but now, they’re answering the noise with something far louder: music.
Zak Starkey—Ringo Starr’s son and longtime drummer for The Who and Oasis—has taken the lead. In 2023, he launched the genre-blurring supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos, pulling together a cast of UK music legends: Shaun Ryder and Bez from Happy Mondays, and guitarist Andy Bell (Ride, Oasis, Beady Eye). Earlier this year, they released the punchy single “Domino Bones (Gets Dangerous),” with a guest spot by none other than Noel Gallagher.
But their latest track “Rip-Off” takes things further—with James McCartney and Sean Ono Lennon joining Ryder on vocals. The sons of Paul McCartney and John Lennon last collaborated on “Primrose Hill”, and fans have long speculated about a possible Lennon-Lennon reunion between Sean and Julian. While “Rip-Off” doesn’t try to recreate the magic of the Beatles, it proudly leans into the lineage. Starkey even featured classic Beatles footage in the teaser video, embracing the weight of their legacy.
Zak, meanwhile, has been navigating turbulence of his own. After a messy departure from The Who—marked by rehiring and another sudden dismissal—he’s kept the door slightly ajar. “Don’t take your drums out of the warehouse, we might be calling you,” Roger Daltrey reportedly told him. And despite his Oasis past, Zak has confirmed he won’t be joining the Gallagher brothers on their reunion tour.
Still, “Rip-Off” may be his boldest move yet—uniting the Beatles’ next generation not to relive history, but to carve out something entirely their own.
