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Though the common census is that Yoko Ono and to a lesser degree Linda Eastman, killed the Beatles, there is a bit more to it than that.
| John, Paul and George met in their late teens in the late 1950s and performed together for the next ten or so years. They also saw each other nearly every day for ten years straight. "Ringo" Richard Starkey came onto the scene in the early sixties, just as the Beatles were starting to gather a following. Ringo was also the only Beatle that consistently managed to stay on good terms with the three other ex-bandmates, in the post-Beatles era.
George and John were the first to publicly complain about Beatlemania. Though Paul may have felt the same, he was also completely infatuated with the Beatles and their success so he kept his mouth shut and his smiles big. After a year or so of relentless touring and chaos, the Beatles decided to stop touring. In the wake of JFK’s death, safety was also a concern. Their last official live concert was at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, on August 29, 1966. They had a bit of a break before they returned to the studio. During their break, John flew to Spain to work on the movie How I Won the War. In later interviews, John said that this was when he first started thinking about going solo. It was also during this period that "Strawberry Fields Forever" first began to take shape.
Back in the studio, "Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band The same month, Paul publicly admits that he has experimented with LSD. Though he was the last to try it, he is the first to admit it. When a reporter asked him about his LSD use, he decided he was sick of lying. He tried to place the blame on the media by saying that it was their choice to broadcast it. If they felt his admonition would promote LSD use, then he told them they shouldn’t use it. At the urging of George’s wife Patti, the Beatles took up transcendental meditation. Beatles Manager Brian Epstein died of a drug overdose that same month, on August 27, 1967—almost a year to the date of the Beatles last concert. Though his death was deemed accidental, speculation of a suicide still persists. Some people claim that being in the closet was too much for Brian; others say he was depressed because he felt like the Beatles no longer needed him. In the wake of Brian’s death, the Beatles didn’t quite know what to do with themselves. On August 31st, the Beatles announced that they would be managing themselves from then on. But in Brian the Beatles not only lost a friend, but a peacekeeper and a manager. Almost immediately, Paul took up Brian’s position. In September they filmed the critical and commercial disaster Magical Mystery Tour. John later commented that if nothing else, at least it got them working again. In late 1967, John and Paul created Apple Records. The company continued on into the mid 1970s due to legal issues, but it really ended in the summer of 1968. None of the Beatles were business men and it showed, though Apple did manage to discover James Taylor and Badfinger. At the end of December the psychedelic color-friendly Magical Mystery Tour was released on the BBC in black and white. It was time for a break.
In early 1968, the Beatles set out on a meditative journey for India. Ringo couldn’t handle the food and was the first to leave, followed not long after by a disillusioned John and Paul. George and Patti stayed on a bit longer. Nonetheless, 32 new songs returned to England with them, along with a newly spiritual George. Thus, the White Album
Tensions in the studio make Ringo walk out of a White Album session. He returns to flowers and apologies. Later on when recording Let It Be, George would also walk out on a session. Both frustrations with Paul’s bossiness and a fight with John have been sited as reasons for the walk-out. A tiff with Paul was recorded in the movie Let It Be, but John can also be heard during the session, angrily commenting on the fact that they will have to get Eric Clapton to fill in for George because George is being difficult. In early 1969 Paul wants to do another movie, but no one else does. They settle on a documentary that ends up recording the beginnings of the Beatles break-up. Musically, the Beatles have also grown apart. John, Paul and George often prefer to record their own songs alone. Paul is upset with the way new producer Phil Specter handles his song "Let It Be." George is upset that he still isn’t treated as serious as a song-writer as John and Paul are, especially by John and Paul. In his frustration, he produces some of his most beautiful songs. Ringo also would have liked more of a chance to write his own songs, but was often too insecure to bring it up. With George’s help he writes "Octopus’s Garden." He also wrote the ironically entitled "Don’t Pass Me By"—a song that didn’t make it on to an album until the White Album, though Ringo can be heard asking the other Beatles to mention his song to the press as early as 1964. They also all begin on their own solo projects. Both Linda and Yoko stop by during the sessions, though Linda does not sleep on a mattress underneath a piano or scream out John’s name at odd times like Yoko does. Yoko’s constant presence makes the other three uncomfortable, though John didn’t notice anything at the time. Later he explains that they just wanted to be together all the time. Once the Beatles are officially over, Paul does the same thing with Linda. Though hard to believe, Yoko actually had musical training, however, unlike Linda. Paul marries Linda on March 12, and John and Yoko follow in suit eight days later. Surprisingly, the Beatles decide to record one more album, this time with their original producer, George Martin. The Beatles do their best to put their differences aside and fight as little as possible. The Beatles also fought over their new business manager Allen Klein. John introduces the Beatles to Allen Klein in early 1969, and George and Ringo take a liking to him. Paul does not. He would prefer that Linda’s lawyer father and brother handle their finances. In May, Paul refuses to sign an official business contract with Allen Klein. The other three sign the contract.
In September, Abbey Rd
In April 1970, Paul’s first solo album "McCartney The other Beatles did not publicly confirm the break-up until December 31, 1970, when Paul filed a lawsuit against John, George and Ringo in order to dissolve the Beatles. By then the Beatles had not recorded together in more than a year. They continued to go their separate ways. Three years later, John, George and Ringo split with Allen Klein and sued him. All four went on to solo careers. ~Rachael Stillman © beatlesnumber9 |
CAN WE KNOW WHY THE BEATLES BROKE UP?© davidholmes
(And call me nuts if you want, but I really hear John and Paul talk to each other through their music. Maybe John was the Fool On The Hill and maybe Paul was the subject of Hey! Bull Dog). But we're limited in space here and I'm not writing a book. There's enough books out there now. I just want to understand the break up of The Beatles a little better.
But the fact is, Lennon began receiving death threats. Lots of them! The Beatles were boycotted and the KKK protested outside their concerts. They were harshly beaten by the southern bible belt and John was EXTREMELY paranoid. Though the other three stood by John, they privately resented John for putting his foot in his mouth. Out of this fear John decided to quit touring, and George hopped aboard this decision. Paul to this day thrives on touring and wasn't happy about 'never' again touring. Maybe he thought things would pass and eventually they would resume touring. But for the time being they began an amazing stint as studio recording artists. John was losing his role as the leader, and Paul gladly picked up the slack (the void left by the death of Brian Epstein only sped up this inevitability). By the time Sgt Pepper was recorded Paul was the leader of the Beatles, and John in turn hated this new Beatles. He resented the whole charade and all his old childhood anger resurfaced. He wanted out of it. I think he brought Yoko in only to sabotage the group. And it worked. John played dirty. Paul played just as dirty, and the dream was over. There just is no one person to point the finger at. Lennon and McCartney lost control of their egos and crashed. Not a total surprise for working class Liverpudlian's. Competition turned fierce and it destroyed the group. Everything else is arm chair psychiatry. I will say this; The Beatles made it to the top not by trying to impress us, but by trying to impress each other. The what ifs and what next is for people through out the rest of history to wrestle with. I do it. I read about their childhoods and try to put the pieces of the puzzle together. The books are out there. Go grab some and play arm chair shrink. All human nature, warts and all, can be seen in the story of The Beatles. For Paul's part, as the newly bearded father figure, he certainly made his share of bad choices. Not the least of which was his idea to 'Get Back.' He didn't see there was no going back, only forward. To make a documentary on film at the height of their fighting was a rotten idea. George walked out, John is seen sitting next to Yoko usually mocking Paul, and Paul is shown trying to rally the troops, but only as side men to McCartney songs. This period, and the film caused Harrison so much pain the film was taken out of print at his request in 1981 and only allowed to be re-released after his death. We're still waiting.... John fought hard, I think too hard, to destroy the 'boy band' image, and Paul fought hard, I think also too hard to hold on to a pop image. Musically we ended up with the two extremes after the break up. No Beatle magic there. Some Time In New York was John's crap recording and Silly Love Songs summed up Paul's idea of rock 'n' roll. It was never so obvious how desperately they needed each other. We can clearly see how the combination of these two egos created magic, and had they taken a much needed break from each other perhaps the split could have been avoided. But it seems as though Paul was under the spell of his in-laws and was angered that his brother and father in law weren't made managers of The Beatles. John pointed out that much earlier on they agreed to never let relatives be their managers (a wise decision), but the war raged on. Somewhere along the way Paul got it in his head to sue the others and make a legal break up (Hmmm, his in laws were lawyers....not a lot of thought need be put into this). Leaving aside all opinions about this and that, one could simply say 'Paul broke up The Beatles'. The others had each quit, but never publicly. By all accounts the others had plans to record as The Beatles again. Paul's lawsuit and announcement that he was leaving The Beatles surprised John, George and Ringo as much as it did the world.
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In the revealing conversation, which was recorded by Rolling Stone magazine journalist Jann Wenner in the aftermath of The Beatles' split, Lennon reveals he felt compelled to choose between his wife and his bandmates - and he had no regrets about his decision. Lennon says in the interview, "It seemed that I either had to be married to them or Yoko. I chose Yoko and I was right. "They despised her. They insulted her and still do... they can go stuff themselves." Lennon also displays extreme hostility to McCartney's treatment of the rest of the band following the death of their manager Brian Epstein in 1967. He continues, "Paul took over and supposedly led us. But what is leading us when we went round in circles? "Paul had the impression we should be thankful for what he did, for keeping The Beatles going. But he kept it going for his own sake. Not for my sake did Paul struggle." |
SIR PAUL McCARTNEY planned to reunite THE BEATLES a year before JOHN LENNON was murdered, according to a newly released record contract. In a 1979 deal with CBS Records, McCartney claimed he could again make music with Lennon, GEORGE HARRISON and RINGO STARR under the banner of The Beatles. Details of the $10.8 million (GBP6 million) contract have been released to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Lennon's death on 8 December 1980 later this week. An industry insider comments, "This is the earliest evidence of any Beatle making formal overtures towards a reunion." |
READ THIS LETTER PENNED BY PAUL TO JOHN
UPON JOHN'S INDUCTION TO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME
ON THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY |
AND BEATLES HISTORY
Tattoo Your Walls
~WE GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS~ |