Julian Lennon still rattled by dad

LONDON, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Julian Lennon says the trials of growing up with father John Lennon contributed to his reluctance to become a dad himself.

Julian, 48, told Record Collector magazine he never married and never sired his own kids because he had doubts he would be mature enough to handle such a serious task.

Julian was only 5 years old when his father left his mother, Cynthia, for a high-profile relationship with Yoko Ono in 1968. He didn't see his dad again for two years and was stung by an 1980 interview in which the ex-Beatle implied Julian's conception had been an accident.

"He was young and didn't know what the hell he was doing," Julian said. "That's the reason I haven't had children yet. I didn't want to do the same thing."

Britain's The Daily Telegraph said Sunday that although Julian is pushing 50 himself and followed his father's footsteps into rock-and-roll, he says he is still trying to establish his own identity, and admitted he may have inherited his "darker side" from his old man.

"Whenever I get too aggressive, which comes from dad's side, I try to calm myself down, be more positive," he said.