It was Paul McCartney's press release on April 10, 1970, that was the last straw, announcing his departure from the Fab Four and shocking the other three members.
The Smithsonian Magazine recognized The Beatles as the icon of the communal spirit that revitalized the cultural revolution of the 60s; that's why fans around the world found the news hard to believe at first. As the infamous breakup remains a heated topic for discussion, official sources agree that The Beatles going their separate ways came as a result of different reasons.
First releasing "McCartney"
Paul McCartney's April 10 press release contained a "self-interview" regarding the upcoming release of his debut solo album "McCartney." Some questions asked if the next album was the start of his solo career and if his split with the band was "temporary or permanent." McCartney generally gave vague answers, saying time will tell or that he doesn't know.
However, in the question of whether he sees the Lennon-McCartney writing duo getting back together, the latter flatly answered "No." Though McCartney was generally ambiguous, newspapers ran with it, with "The Daily Mirror" penning the famous "Paul Quits the Beatles."
The rest of the band worried about this statement, so John Lennon and George Harrison sent drummer Ringo Starr to Paul's Cavendish Avenue apartment. Without any press around, Ringo described the scene in his 1971 affidavit as Paul "went completely out of control, shouting at me, prodding his fingers towards my face."
John and Yoko
It was in September 1969 when Lennon himself first asked The Beatles for a "divorce," but was convinced not to go to the press with it to preserve some clauses in their contracts. Lennon was already acting and going solo before McCartney's April 10 announcement. He had also been playing at the Toronto Rock 'n' Roll Festival with the Plastic Ono Band.
During the recording of the band's only double album, popularly known as "The White Album," Yoko Ono started accompanying Lennon during their recording sessions. She would be a steady presence in the band's future sessions. Being the only non-band member in the sessions, Ono caused friction with the other members - especially Lennon and Harrison. The two Beatles have been experimenting together with LSD and Indian mysticism.
While Yoko Ono received hate over the years and was pointed out as a reason for the band's breakup, it was none other than Paul McCartney himself who defended her in 2013 according to a Fox News report. "She certainly didn't break the group up. I don't think you can blame her for anything," McCartney said. He also recognized Ono's partnership with Lennon as giving him creative inspiration, leading him to write the iconic tune "Imagine."
The Long and Winding Road
A couple of other incidents have slowly but steadily contributed to the demise of "The Biggest Act of All Time." During the sessions for "Get Back," Lennon brought in American music producer Phil Spector, despite an earlier agreement that the production should be a band-only.
McCartney did not take it kindly when Spector added a female backing vocal to their would-be hit song "The Long and Winding Road." The album would be subsequently renamed "Let It Be," which it would carry until release.
Then, McCartney announced the release of his solo album, going solo before the release of their twelfth studio album. When the "Let It Be" film was released, fans were disappointed with the bickering and the incessant playing of old hits. It did, however, finish with the now-iconic live set from the Apple headquarters rooftop.
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