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Who Really Broke Up The Beatles?

The Beatles was an English rock band wildly popular in the 60s. The band was composed of extremely talented individuals like John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They were widely regarded as one of the most iconic bands of all time, having played a vital role in developing the genre during the height of their success. In spite of their accolades and good relationship with each other, The Beatles broke up. With several controversial stories behind the band splitting up, Paul McCartney confirms the real reason behind it.

With more than half a century later, Paul McCartney revealed that it was John Lennon who broke up The Beatles. McCartney told the BBC that one day, Lennon called for a meeting and just announced that he was leaving the band.

The Break-Up of The Beatles 

Many people attribute The Beatles’ demise to the death of their manager, Brian Epstein. Epstein passed away on August 27, 1967. But even though Epstein was a record store owner with no experience managing bands, he played a critical role in the band’s rise to global fame.

Exhausted from their lengthy tours, during which they couldn’t hear themselves play due to the roar of their fans, the Beatles opted to discontinue live performances by 1966. Epstein opposed the decision. But the band felt it was necessary to concentrate on the quality of their music instead.

The Beatles lost a man who expertly managed their finances and egos when Epstein died of a drug overdose. While Lennon, Harrison, and Starr wanted Allen Klein, the Rolling Stones’ manager, to take over, McCartney disagreed. He preferred Lee and John Eastman, his soon-to-be wife Linda’s father and brother.

I think that was Paul’s giant miscalculation. Consider the reverse, he would never have let John Lennon bring his in-laws into the business.

Tim Riley, Journalism Professor and Author of Tell Me Why: A Beatles Commentary

Issues started to pile up and affect the band. This included financial problems because they stopped touring. In addition, the conflicts between John and Paul started to cause a rift between the band’s members.

The group was officially disbanded during a meeting on September 20, 1969. Lennon officially informed McCartney and Starr that he was leaving the group. In the meeting, Allen Klein was present as well.

Klein persuaded Lennon to keep his departure a secret to avoid jeopardizing a lucrative deal that would give Apple ownership of the Beatles’ entire back catalog. The Beatles signed the agreement, which significantly improved their financial situation, on the same day that John Lennon announced his departure from the band. (Source: Noise)

What was Yoko Ono’s Contribution to The Beatles Breaking Up?

John Lennon and Yoko Ono began dating in 1968 and got married the following year. The Beatles officially disbanded in April 1970. During the time they were together, and Lennon was still in the band, Ono demanded to be in the studio during the recordings.

By the time Lennon broke away from the band, he and Ono went on to push their platform of pacifism and collaborate as solo artists. The couple was separated briefly in 1973 and Sean, their son was born in 1975. But the rumors of Ono’s involvement in the disbanding of The Beatles did not die down.

I had nothing to do with breaking up the Beatles. And I think Paul is a pretty cool dude.

Yoko Ono

(Source: Biography)

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