AND IN THE END
I’d loved them since I’d first heard them as a college freshman, pouring all my quarters into the jukebox to play ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ . . . When it was over, it was sad, but it was time. We were fortunate they made the sacrifice to
be together with each other for so long.
– Booker T.
The Beatles had weathered both Ringo and George’s walkouts, but, by the late summer of 1969, it was John’s turn to decide The Beatles were over. On Saturday, 13 September, John, and his hastily put together Plastic Ono Band – Yoko, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann and Andy White – played a rock ’n’ roll revival gig in Toronto alongside acts such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Alice Cooper and The Doors. Along for the ride were Allen Klein and journalist Ray Connolly (later the author of many Beatles memoirs). On the flight home, John announced his intention to leave The Beatles. Klein, at that time still negotiating on The Beatles’ behalf, advised John to keep schtum about his decision, and Connolly was sworn to secrecy.
John kept his promise until Klein presented the new EMI/ Capitol contract for a ceremonial signing photograph at the Apple offices. Ink dry and flashbulb dimmed, John informed Paul and Ringo (George was absent that day) that he wanted a ‘divorce’. Paul and Ringo were stunned, but again it was decided that the news should remain private as Abbey Road was days from release.
By early 1970, each Beatle was concentrating on solo projects: John and Yoko carried on publicising issues important to them and recorded and released the ‘Cold Turkey’ and ‘Instant Karma’ singles; George had gone on tour with folk band Bonnie and Delaney and was contemplating his first commercial solo album; while both Paul and Ringo were nearing completion of their first solo albums, McCartney and Sentimental Journey.
The ‘Get Back’ album and film were now back on track, both renamed Let It Be. Paul, now absent from Apple since John’s decision, was astonished to learn that Spector had been brought in to rework Glyn Johns’ tapes, as was George Martin – neither had been consulted. When Paul heard Spector’s treatment of ‘The Long And Winding Road’, he fired off an irate letter to Klein to make known his disapproval, to no avail.
The last Beatles photo shoot, in August 1969, in John and Yoko’s newly purchased Tittenhurst Park estate. Getty Images
The final straw for Paul was a visit from Ringo, despatched by Klein, John and George, to let him know that, with the release of both Let It Be and his Sentimental Journey, it had been decided to postpone the release of McCartney (it had been pencilled in for an April release). Paul went ballistic, sending Ringo packing. In the end, Ringo brought forward Sentimental Journey for a late March release, Paul kept his April release date, and Let It Be was scheduled for release on 8 May.
Paul had stopped doing his usual press rounds since late 1969, and was in no mood to put on his showbiz face for his solo album. He knew he’d have to fend off questions about The Beatles’ future. Instead, he instructed the Apple press office to send him a Q&A to complete, to be included in the advance press copies of McCartney. When the journalists opened up their press packs, The Beatles’ situation was crystal clear:
Q: Did you miss the other Beatles and George Martin? Was there a moment, e.g., when you thought, ‘Wish Ringo was here for this break’?
A: No.
Q: Assuming this is a very big hit album, will you do another?
A: Even if it isn’t, I will continue to do what I want – when I want to.
Q: Are you planning a new album or single with The Beatles?
A: No.
Q: Is this album a rest away from The Beatles or the start of a solo career?
A: Time will tell. Being a solo album means it’s ‘the start of a solo career’ . . . and not being done with The Beatles means it’s a rest. So it’s both.
Q: Have you any plans for live appearances?
A: No.
Q: Is your break with The Beatles temporary or permanent, due to personal differences or musical ones?
A: Personal differences, business differences, but most of all because I have a better time with my family. Temporary or permanent? I don’t know.
Q: Do you foresee a time when Lennon-McCartney becomes an active songwriting partnership again?
A: No.
On 10 April 1970, Paul’s comments became headline news. As the world reeled from the revelation, Derek Taylor released this press statement:
Spring is here and Leeds play Chelsea tomorrow and Ringo and John and George and Paul are alive and well and full of hope.
The world is still spinning and so are we and so are you. When the spinning stops – that’ll be the time to worry. Not before.
Until then, The Beatles are alive and well and the Beat goes on, the Beat goes on.
When the Let It Be album was released, The Beatles were over. At the premieres of the Let It Be film in New York, London and Liverpool, no Beatle was present. Activity in Apple dried up, and by the end of 1970, its only function was to collect Beatles royalties.
On 1 January 1971, Paul sued his bandmates to officially dissolve The Beatles partnership that bound their earnings together through Apple and to oversee the separation of their assets.