Julian Brian Jones occupies a fascinating but relatively quiet corner of rock history. Born on 23 July 1964, he was the son of Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones and Linda Lawrence. His life began in the orbit of one of the most turbulent figures in British popular music, yet Julian himself has largely avoided the glare that followed his biological father.
Known by names including Julian Leitch, Julian Brian Lawrence, Julian Lawrence Leitch and, professionally, Julian Jones, he inherited a complicated family history. His biological father was Brian Jones, the founding multi-instrumentalist and early leader of the Rolling Stones. His mother, Linda Lawrence, later married folk musician Donovan, who became Julian’s adoptive father. Through that marriage, Julian became part of another influential musical family.
His story is therefore more than a footnote to the Rolling Stones. It is a story about identity, adoption, music, absent parents, and the unusual family connections created by the British music scene of the 1960s and 1970s.
The Early Life of Julian Brian Jones
Julian was born during a period when Brian Jones was still deeply involved in building the Rolling Stones. His birth name reflected his connection to his mother, Linda Lawrence, while the inclusion of Brian honored his biological father.
The first name Julian also carried a musical reference. Brian Jones reportedly admired jazz saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley and used the name Julian for more than one of his sons. In that sense, Julian’s name contained a small piece of his father’s musical imagination before he was old enough to understand the world into which he had been born.
Brian’s relationship with Linda began around 1962 or 1963, when she was still a teenager. Their relationship eventually ended, and Linda became the principal figure in Julian’s early upbringing.
Brian Jones died on 3 July 1969, when Julian was only about five years old. Brian’s death by drowning at his Sussex home became one of the enduring mysteries of Rolling Stones history. Julian was therefore left to grow up with a father whose public reputation became enormous after his death, while his personal relationship with that father had barely had time to develop.
Linda Lawrence and Donovan
A major turning point came when Linda Lawrence married Donovan Phillips Leitch, better known simply as Donovan, on 2 October 1970.
Donovan became an important father figure in Julian’s life and later adopted him. Julian consequently became associated with the Leitch family name, although he continued to use Jones in his musical identity.
Linda herself was much more than the mother of Brian Jones’s son. She became a lasting muse for Donovan and was associated with songs including “Sunshine Superman” and “Legend of a Girl Child Linda.” Her life connected two different strands of 1960s music culture: the Rolling Stones and Donovan’s folk and psychedelic songwriting.
The household created by Linda and Donovan gave Julian a very different environment from the chaotic world surrounding Brian Jones during the Rolling Stones’ rise. Julian spent periods in Ireland and England and was raised within Donovan’s family circle.
The contrast is striking. His biological father represented the dangerous, unpredictable side of 1960s rock and roll, while his adoptive father represented a more poetic and folk oriented musical tradition.
Julian Jones and His Musical Career
Music remained part of Julian’s life, although he never became a major mainstream recording artist.
He performed under the name Julian Jones and appeared publicly in musical settings connected with his family background. One notable performance took place in 1994 at Cheltenham Racecourse, where he performed the Rolling Stones song “Sympathy for the Devil.” Donovan introduced him, creating a memorable link between Julian’s two musical identities.
In 1997, Julian released the mini album and CD I’m An American through JMP Developments. The material included country influenced songs, with the title track co-written with Donovan.
Julian’s musical work has been relatively modest in commercial terms, but it represents an important thread in the family story. He did not simply inherit a famous surname. He developed his own relationship with music while remaining connected to the traditions established by both Brian Jones and Donovan.
He was also involved in a recording of a poem written by Brian Jones. That recording was produced with Denis Bovell and became associated with Nick Broomfield’s 2023 documentary The Stones and Brian Jones. The project brought Julian’s connection to his biological father back into public view decades after Brian’s death.
Julian’s Brief Experience as a Child Actor
Music was not Julian’s only early connection with entertainment.
When he was around five years old, during the period when he and Linda spent time in the Los Angeles area, Julian reportedly attracted attention after appearing in a small acting role. Accounts describe him as impressing people enough to be considered for a starring role in a Hollywood film centered on American life as seen through a child’s eyes.
The acting opportunity did not develop into a lasting career. Instead, it became a brief episode in his childhood, one more unusual chapter in a life surrounded by entertainers.
As an adult, Julian remained far removed from the high profile acting and celebrity careers associated with some members of his extended family.
Julian’s Marriage and Son Joolz Jones
Julian wed Virginia Lee Perkins in a west London registrar office ceremony at the beginning of January 1992. Virginia was 29 years old at the time, while Julian was reportedly 27. Donovan went to the nuptials.
There is little information available to the public concerning the marriage, and knowledge about its subsequent history has mostly stayed confidential.
Joolz Jones, sometimes known as Joolz Leitch, is a musician whose father is Julian. Joolz, who was born in the late 1990s, is another member of the family’s musical lineage.
Joolz has recorded his own music, appeared at festivals and other musical events, and played with Donovan. From the late 2010s to the 2020s, he released and performed his work. The musical narrative that started with Brian Jones and carried through Donovan has reached a new generation thanks to Joolz.
Brian Jones and His Other Children
Julian was not Brian Jones’s only child. Brian’s relationships produced several children, although the exact number varies among accounts because some births involved adoption, private arrangements or limited documentation.
The known and widely reported children form a remarkable family tree.
| Child | Birth | Mother | Notable details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simon | 29 May 1960 | Valerie Corbett | Adopted shortly after birth and later discovered his biological connection to Brian |
| Belinda | 4 August 1960 | Angeline | Raised by her mother and her mother’s husband |
| Julian Mark Andrews | 22 October 1961 | Pat Andrews | One of Brian’s early children and known publicly as Mark |
| Julian Brian Jones | 23 July 1964 | Linda Lawrence | Later adopted by Donovan and known professionally as Julian Jones |
| John Maynard | 24 March 1965 | Dawn Molloy | Adopted as an infant and later discovered Brian was his biological father |
| Barbara Anna Marion | 1969 | Elizabeth | Born in the United States several months before Brian’s death |
There have also been reports of an earlier child who was given up for adoption, although the publicly available details are less certain.
This family history reveals one of the most complicated aspects of Brian Jones’s private life. His children were born to different mothers, often under very different circumstances. Some were raised knowing their biological history, while others discovered their connection to the Rolling Stones founder much later.
Simon and the Search for His Father
Simon, originally named Barry David Corbett, was born on 29 May 1960 to Valerie Corbett. He was placed for adoption shortly after birth and grew up under another family name.
His connection to Brian became known to him decades later, reportedly around 2004. Like several of Brian’s children, Simon lived much of his life away from the public spotlight.
His story illustrates how the consequences of Brian’s early relationships continued long after the musician became a global rock icon. To the public, Brian was a legendary musician. To Simon, the discovery was also a deeply personal revelation about his own identity.
Julian Mark Andrews and Pat Andrews
Julian Mark Andrews, often called Mark, was born on 22 October 1961 to Pat Andrews.
Pat’s relationship with Brian began before the Rolling Stones became an international phenomenon. Accounts describe Brian living with Pat for a period and taking an active interest in the birth of their son.
As the Rolling Stones became increasingly famous, Brian’s personal circumstances became more difficult to manage. Pat later spoke about their relationship and about Brian’s character, helping preserve a more intimate picture of the man behind the stage persona.
Mark’s life has remained comparatively private, although he has occasionally appeared in discussions concerning Brian’s children and family history.
John Maynard and Dawn Molloy
John Maynard was born on 24 March 1965 to Dawn Molloy. He was originally named Paul Andrew Molloy and was adopted at about six weeks old.
His biological connection to Brian was not immediately part of his everyday life. As an adult, however, John investigated his origins and eventually established that Brian Jones was his biological father.
His story became particularly notable because of his willingness to discuss his discovery publicly. He described physical similarities between himself and Brian and developed his own views about the circumstances surrounding Brian’s death.
John’s experience is another example of how adoption separated Brian’s children from their famous biological identity, only for that identity to reappear decades later.
Barbara Anna Marion and the American Branch
Barbara Anna Marion was born in the United States in 1969, only months before Brian Jones died.
Her mother was an American woman named Elizabeth, and Barbara was raised by her mother and her mother’s husband. She did not learn that Brian Jones was her biological father until 2002.
By then, Brian had been dead for more than three decades.
Barbara later spoke publicly about her discovery and about the resemblance she believed she shared with Brian. She has also maintained connections with members of the wider Jones family.
Her story demonstrates just how far Brian’s personal history extended beyond Britain. The Rolling Stones were becoming an international phenomenon while Brian’s children were growing up in separate households, often with little knowledge of one another.
The Maternal Family Through Linda and Donovan
Julian’s family connections also extend through Linda Lawrence and Donovan.
Julian’s half-siblings on his maternal side include Astrella Celeste and Oriole Nebula, both associated with Donovan’s family. Astrella became a singer, songwriter and composer, while Oriole has also remained connected to the creative world.
Donovan’s other children include actor and musician Donovan Jerome Leitch and actress Ione Skye. These relationships make Julian part of an unusually broad entertainment family spanning music, film and popular culture.
The family tree resembles a musical crossroads. One branch leads to the Rolling Stones, another to Donovan, and later generations continue into contemporary music and acting.
Julian’s Connection to Brian Jones’s Legacy
For decades, Julian’s connection to Brian Jones was mostly a private family matter. That changed periodically when Brian’s story returned to public attention.
Linda Lawrence has spoken about Brian in documentaries and interviews, including material surrounding the 2023 documentary The Stones and Brian Jones. Julian’s involvement in the recording of Brian’s poem provided another personal link between father and son.
Yet Julian has never appeared to pursue celebrity on the scale associated with his father’s name. His career has remained comparatively understated, and reliable public information about his current occupation, residence, finances and private life is scarce.
That privacy is an important part of his story. Being the child of a famous musician does not necessarily mean wanting to live as a public figure.
The Next Generation and Joolz Jones
Joolz Jones provides one of the clearest modern links between Julian and the broader musical family.
As a musician, Joolz has performed and released his own work while also participating in Donovan related musical activities. His career places him within a family tradition that began with Brian Jones and continued through Donovan and Julian.
The significance is less about fame than continuity. Three generations have maintained relationships with music in different ways. Brian helped create the Rolling Stones’ early sound, Donovan established his own influential songwriting career, Julian recorded and performed music without becoming a major celebrity, and Joolz has continued to develop his own musical identity.
A Family History Built Around Music and Absence
The life of Julian Brian Jones is situated at the meeting point of two significant musical traditions. His adoptive father went on to become one of the most well-known singer-songwriters in Britain, while his biological father contributed to the formation of one of the most well-known rock bands in the world.
Julian’s life, however, has been more subdued.
He lost Brian when he was five years old, was raised under the Leitch family name, experimented with acting as a child, studied music as an adult, got married in 1992, and is now the parent of another artist. A unique network of half-siblings, step-siblings, parents, and kids surrounds him, all of whose lives were impacted differently by Brian Jones’s short and traumatic life.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Julian’s biography is that, despite having every incentive to garner publicity, he has stayed mostly private. Although there are two musical legacies associated with his name, neither has characterized his adult life exclusively.
FAQ
Who is Julian Brian Jones?
Julian Brian Jones is the son of Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones and Linda Lawrence. He was born on 23 July 1964 and was later adopted by folk musician Donovan after Donovan married Linda Lawrence.
What name does Julian Brian Jones use?
He has been known by several names, including Julian Leitch, Julian Brian Lawrence and Julian Lawrence Leitch. As a musician, he has commonly used the stage name Julian Jones.
Who adopted Julian Brian Jones?
Donovan, whose full name is Donovan Phillips Leitch, adopted Julian after marrying Julian’s mother, Linda Lawrence, in 1970.
Was Julian Brian Jones a musician?
Yes. Julian performed and recorded music under the name Julian Jones. He released the 1997 mini album I’m An American and performed publicly, including a 1994 performance of “Sympathy for the Devil.”
Did Julian Brian Jones act as a child?
He reportedly had a brief opportunity as a child actor around 1970 after attracting attention during a walk-on appearance. The reported Hollywood project did not become a long-term acting career.
Who is Julian Brian Jones’s son?
His son is musician Joolz Jones, who is also known in some references as Joolz Leitch. Joolz has performed with Donovan and developed his own career as a musician.
How many children did Brian Jones have?
Brian Jones is widely reported to have fathered at least five children, with several additional or less well documented cases appearing in biographies and family accounts. The exact number varies because some children were adopted and some family circumstances remained private.
Who were Brian Jones’s other known children?
The other widely reported children include Simon, Belinda, Julian Mark Andrews, John Maynard and Barbara Anna Marion. Their circumstances varied considerably, with some being adopted and others discovering their connection to Brian only as adults.
Who was Julian’s mother?
Julian’s mother was Linda Anne Lawrence, who later became Linda Leitch after marrying Donovan. She was in a relationship with Brian Jones in the early 1960s and later became a longtime muse and collaborator associated with Donovan.
Is Julian Brian Jones still active in music?
Public information about his current professional activity is limited. His documented musical work includes recordings and performances, but he has generally maintained a private life away from the public spotlight.
What was Julian Brian Jones’s relationship with Brian Jones?
Brian Jones was Julian’s biological father. Because Brian died in 1969 when Julian was about five, their relationship was necessarily brief. Julian was subsequently raised largely by his mother and later within Donovan’s family.
Is Julian Brian Jones related to Ione Skye?
Yes. Through Donovan, Julian is part of the same extended family as actress Ione Skye, who is Donovan’s daughter from his marriage to Enid Karl.
Why is Julian Brian Jones’s story significant?
His life connects two major strands of 1960s British music through Brian Jones and Donovan. His story also illustrates how the children of famous musicians can grow up far from the spotlight while carrying complicated family histories into later generations.
