For half a century, Paul McCartney has been responsible for the dissolution of the Beatles. The proof was the press release in connection with McCartney’s first solo album “McCartney” in 1970, where it was said that he “could not imagine a time when Lennon-McCartney became an active songwriting partnership again”.
In a new interview with BBC however, the 79-year-old presents a quite different story. On the contrary, he claims that it was John Lennon who quit.
– The most difficult period in life
– It was not me who took the initiative for us to be dissolved. It was Johnny, says McCartney to the British national broadcaster.
He elaborates.
– John just came into the room one day and said “I’m leaving the Beatles”. And he said, “It’s pretty exciting, like a divorce.” Then it was up to us to clean up.
McCartney thinks he knows the reason why Lennon wanted out of the band.
– The point was really that John was about to create a new life with Yoko, and he wanted … to lie in bed in Amsterdam for a week for peace. You could not argue with that. It was the hardest period of my life.
Paul McCartney’s portrayal plays well into the second story of the Beatles’ dissolution, in which it is Lennon’s girlfriend and lifelong partner, the Japanese artist Yoko Ono, who is blamed for “destroying” the Beatles.
(The article continues below the picture).
The Beatles in their heyday once in the 60’s. From left: Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon. Photo: AP/NTB
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The greatest band in history
The Beatles are to date the world’s best-selling band, with an estimated 600 million records sold, the highest number one number one album in the UK (15) and the most number one hits on the US Billboard charts (20).
The band is the most legendary pop group in history, no matter how you measure it.
Both John Lennon and Paul McCartney followed up the Beatles’ success with brilliant solo careers. McCartney released his latest album “McCartney III” last year, while his partner and friend from Liverpool had a much shorter solo career.
John Lennon was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman, a fan, on December 8, 1980.
Today, only Paul McCartney and drummer Ringo Starr of the Beatles are alive. George Harrison, also with an impressive solo career after the Beatles, died of cancer on November 29, 2001.
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