Uncovering The Real Reasons Why The Beatles Split
People frequently attribute the dissolution of the Beatles to uncomplicated factors, such as Yoko Ono’s schemes or their polarizing manager Allen Klein, who John Lennon favored but Paul McCartney did not. The causes, however, were far more intricate than that and had their roots in the band’s past as well as the hardships of the individual band members.
So why did the Beatles split up when John Lennon and Paul McCartney were the finest rock songwriting combo of the 1960s and the Beatles were the largest band on the planet? Let’s find out why the renowned Fab Four barely lasted more than 10 years.
How It All Started
In 1957, Lennon and McCartney first crossed paths as youngsters. They established a working relationship by first writing songs together and then supporting one another as they completed tracks on their own. Despite working together, they had quite distinct styles, with Lennon penning songs from a more tormented perspective and McCartney creating more realistic story songs. Due to their contributions to singing and composition, Lennon and McCartney dominated the group as their most important members. Lennon had unofficial seniority, though.
After years of touring, John, George, and Ringo persuaded Paul that they should quit playing live shows, which caused the band to split up for around three months in 1966. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band, which was mostly McCartney’s idea when they got back together, was the result of their time apart. Lennon wrote the majority of “A Day in the Life,” which is debatably the album’s best song and reflects his misery, in part due to his domestic situation at the time.
Yoko Ono Comes Into The Picture & They Travel To India
Lennon first met Yoko Ono in November 1966. Upon his return to London, he broke off his marriage to Cynthia and began a passionate and creative relationship with Yoko Ono. He gave her extraordinary access to the recordings the band was making. Ono did not want to be a part of the band, but Lennon wanted her to be. Instead, they started recording their own music together. They also started using heroin.
The Beatles visited the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram in India to learn Transcendental Meditation after reviewers tore apart the Magical Mystery Tour. Harrison, who believed McCartney and Lennon were using their time there to write songs, became furious with them and tensions grew. Two weeks after arriving, Ringo Starr and McCartney both left. Lennon insisted that Harrison depart with him when he learned that the Maharishi had made sexual attempts toward a woman at the ashram. Lennon appeared to be angry all the time when they returned to London.
Recording In Different Studios
The White Album, the band’s lone double album, got underway once back in England. Each band member viewed the others as backup musicians and they recorded the album in three separate studios, which was characterized by intense conflict. They simultaneously started their own label, Apple. “Hey Jude,” a Beatles song that McCartney had written for Julian Lennon, served as Apple’s opening track.
The Beatles made the decision to put out one last album, Abbey Road. On September 25, 1969, the day before the album was set for release, Lennon made the decision to disband the group. McCartney stopped writing music, developed a drinking problem, and went through a period of depression. During Christmas of 1969, he finally started creating his own music after listening to his wife’s advice. He got in touch with John Lennon in March 1970 to inform him that he was also leaving.
The Beatles’ Move On
John Lennon carried on with his solo endeavors and musical collaborations with Yoko Ono after the Beatles’ official breakup, releasing numerous albums up until his passing in 1980. With Starr and Eric Clapton as part of his recording studio band, George Harrison finished his solo album. Harrison was actively interested in charitable work as well, and Handmade Films, his film production firm, produced Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Harrison later received a lung cancer diagnosis and passed away in 2001 at McCartney’s Los Angeles home.
Only Ringo Starr performed alongside the other members. He was successful as a solo performer, the voice of Thomas and Friends, and a movie actor. After the split, Paul McCartney released two solo albums before starting Wings with his wife Linda. Additionally, he has painted and published a book of poems. He has more than 60 gold records, and McCartney wrote “Yesterday,” which has been covered more than 3,000 times.