Many thanks for this Tudor. Knowing what we do now, I'm amazed that they resisted the seismic pressures of expectation placed upon them for as long as they did. As is usual, the factors contributing to the break up were multifactorial and you lay them out clearly here. My take away is that I couldn't be happier that I lived during the same time they did. That they existed at all is a miracle and that they chose joy as their gift to us all in spite of everything is a wonderful thing.
There is also the under representation of George's music. I could see why he was frustrated in the end. Not so much with Ringo, though he was one of the first who had had it - probably due to the negativity that permeated their musical sessions. Love your perspectives.
Absolutely. George had so much to give but he had very little opportunity to shine. Isn’t it ironic that his two songs on Abbey Road were pure quality. Ringo always did seem to take a back seat but he too had had enough by the end!
Happy New Year, Tudor! Glad to see a new video from you. I think that the Beatles' breakup is perfectly understandable without having to blame any individual. I couldn't imagine being cooped up for a decade even with my three favorite people and expected to lay golden eggs every time we pick up an instrument. It's really a wonder they made it as long as they did tbh. They were after all four human beings, not even 30 yet. I think they gave the world more than enough and went out in the classiest way possible.
I think that one of the strongest forces in the breakup was George Harrison. He got increasingly frustrated by only being allowed two or three songs per album. In the Get Back documentary he says that he has enough songs to fill quite a few albums by himself. It was obviously true since his first solo album was a triple album. He wanted out, so that he could get artistic freedom.
Yep, agree with a lot of that Tudor. In essence the break up occurred as the enthusiasm for the collective was gradually replaced by greater enthusiasm for the individual. Personally I think had the business issues been less divisive, they might have regrouped for the occasional Beatles project.
Happy New Year Tudor. Great video and I agree with all that you mentioned. I think it's interesting to consider the group dynamics at the time of the split - Paul wanted an Eastman to manage The Beatles (I understand why the others objected to a member of Paul's family taking charge) whilst John, George and Ringo favoured Klein (John later admitted Paul's suspicions about him where correct.) Sadly the split became acrimonious with solicitors involved but thankfully after a few years they were able to put it all into perspective, look back on the Beatles with some fondness, occasionally collaborate and see each other for social reasons.
In the words of Derek Taylor ‘ George matured far beyond his years ‘. Just look at his first post Beatles solo album ATMP. How many 27 year olds could achieve such a musical feat?
I agree Tudor that all the factors you detail played a part in the break-up, however many of these I believe could have been resolved after a period of solo albums, concerts, collaborations, time/space apart etc. The crucial element is that Paul refused to accept Allan Klein as the band’s manager (against the other three) and in order to prevent this he had to apply legally to dissolve the band. Relations had thawed considerably by the end of the 70’s and I like to think that only for the tragic event that took John’s life the Beatles would have recorded more albums together.
I always believed the breakup was a natural evolution…..no single person broke up the Beatles. I also believe The Beatles got bigger for breaking up when they did. The Get Back documentary really highlighted the period well…..you could see they were all still getting on musically.
To address their position as an artistic business, if they could've distanced themselves from the situation, and seen historically how their listening audience perceived the fact they were so very different, yet that was one of the great things about it....when they'd come together with all the differences and create this fantastic entity specifically DUE to their vast differences, and if they could've just kept managing to "bottle" that formula like various brand names of fragrances under the same umbrella, they could've possibly just maturely committed, out of an interest for their combined artistic output and their listeners, to see satisfaction and continue.
Mr Tudor I agree with your analisis of Beatles'break up. There were many factors, it's like we get married and have the need to leave our original home and create a new one. Greetings from Mérida México.
John and George had Distanced them selfs from the group ,as a fan reading and watching their break up it was the right time, yoko did not break them up .Thankyou Tudor your words summed their breakup Perfectly.
I agree that there were multiple issues that broke up the Beatles but the Eastman's for Paul and Klein for the others was a huge contributor to the breakup.
I can't imagine there was a bigger Beatles fan than I was, but to be honest, I think the breakup came at the right time. George would never have flourished as much as he did had the band stayed together because Paul, and to a lesser degree John, would have continued to dominate the songwriting. It's ironic, I think, that McCartney was the one Beatle who wanted the band to continue while at the same time, it was his increasing power grab that drove John and George further away. And Ringo, God bless him, seems to be the one member who never really changed.
I'd take issue with characterising McCartney's behaviours as a 'power grab'. As you say, he wanted the band to stay together more than anyone and, in retrospect, didn't go about it in the best way, but I don't think it was about taking over - he saw a vacuum and was attempting to fill it to keep the 'show on the road'. He says as much in "Get Back" and I choose to believe him. It is all much more complicated than just this of course! EDIT - I agree with you entirely that the break up came at the right time.
Many thanks for this Tudor. Knowing what we do now, I'm amazed that they resisted the seismic pressures of expectation placed upon them for as long as they did. As is usual, the factors contributing to the break up were multifactorial and you lay them out clearly here. My take away is that I couldn't be happier that I lived during the same time they did. That they existed at all is a miracle and that they chose joy as their gift to us all in spite of everything is a wonderful thing.
Theirs was an amazing journey and you’re so right. It happened in our life times 👍
There is also the under representation of George's music. I could see why he was frustrated in the end. Not so much with Ringo, though he was one of the first who had had it - probably due to the negativity that permeated their musical sessions. Love your perspectives.
Absolutely. George had so much to give but he had very little opportunity to shine. Isn’t it ironic that his two songs on Abbey Road were pure quality. Ringo always did seem to take a back seat but he too had had enough by the end!
Happy New Year, Tudor! Glad to see a new video from you. I think that the Beatles' breakup is perfectly understandable without having to blame any individual. I couldn't imagine being cooped up for a decade even with my three favorite people and expected to lay golden eggs every time we pick up an instrument. It's really a wonder they made it as long as they did tbh. They were after all four human beings, not even 30 yet. I think they gave the world more than enough and went out in the classiest way possible.
Obviously pros and cons involved Tudor and thanks for the post. Just glad we got the music The Beatles gave us. Not much waste. Cheers! 🥨
Yes they left an indelible legacy.
I think that one of the strongest forces in the breakup was George Harrison. He got increasingly frustrated by only being allowed two or three songs per album. In the Get Back documentary he says that he has enough songs to fill quite a few albums by himself. It was obviously true since his first solo album was a triple album. He wanted out, so that he could get artistic freedom.
Yep, agree with a lot of that Tudor. In essence the break up occurred as the enthusiasm for the collective was gradually replaced by greater enthusiasm for the individual. Personally I think had the business issues been less divisive, they might have regrouped for the occasional Beatles project.
Hello, I m late so late! Another great video! Thanks Tudor! Beatles forever. The Beatles split the Beatles!
No worries! I'm not uploading as frequently as I'd like to so you're not really missing things. Work and life gets in the way for me these days 🤣
Happy New Year Tudor. Great video and I agree with all that you mentioned. I think it's interesting to consider the group dynamics at the time of the split - Paul wanted an Eastman to manage The Beatles (I understand why the others objected to a member of Paul's family taking charge) whilst John, George and Ringo favoured Klein (John later admitted Paul's suspicions about him where correct.) Sadly the split became acrimonious with solicitors involved but thankfully after a few years they were able to put it all into perspective, look back on the Beatles with some fondness, occasionally collaborate and see each other for social reasons.
In the words of Derek Taylor ‘ George matured far beyond his years ‘. Just look at his first post Beatles solo album ATMP. How many 27 year olds could achieve such a musical feat?
I agree Tudor that all the factors you detail played a part in the break-up, however many of these I believe could have been resolved after a period of solo albums, concerts, collaborations, time/space apart etc. The crucial element is that Paul refused to accept Allan Klein as the band’s manager (against the other three) and in order to prevent this he had to apply legally to dissolve the band. Relations had thawed considerably by the end of the 70’s and I like to think that only for the tragic event that took John’s life the Beatles would have recorded more albums together.
I always believed the breakup was a natural evolution…..no single person broke up the Beatles. I also believe The Beatles got bigger for breaking up when they did. The Get Back documentary really highlighted the period well…..you could see they were all still getting on musically.
To address their position as an artistic business, if they could've distanced themselves from the situation, and seen historically how their listening audience perceived the fact they were so very different, yet that was one of the great things about it....when they'd come together with all the differences and create this fantastic entity specifically DUE to their vast differences, and if they could've just kept managing to "bottle" that formula like various brand names of fragrances under the same umbrella, they could've possibly just maturely committed, out of an interest for their combined artistic output and their listeners, to see satisfaction and continue.
Mr Tudor I agree with your analisis of Beatles'break up.
There were many factors, it's like we get married and have the need to leave our original home and create a new one.
Greetings from Mérida México.
Yes I agree. They had all outgrown the Beatles
John and George had Distanced them selfs from the group ,as a fan reading and watching their break up it was the right time, yoko did not break them up .Thankyou Tudor your words summed their breakup Perfectly.
I agree that there were multiple issues that broke up the Beatles but the Eastman's for Paul and Klein for the others was a huge contributor to the breakup.
Absolutely and in my eyes developed a distrust between the Beatles.
I can't imagine there was a bigger Beatles fan than I was, but to be honest, I think the breakup came at the right time. George would never have flourished as much as he did had the band stayed together because Paul, and to a lesser degree John, would have continued to dominate the songwriting.
It's ironic, I think, that McCartney was the one Beatle who wanted the band to continue while at the same time, it was his increasing power grab that drove John and George further away. And Ringo, God bless him, seems to be the one member who never really changed.
I'd take issue with characterising McCartney's behaviours as a 'power grab'. As you say, he wanted the band to stay together more than anyone and, in retrospect, didn't go about it in the best way, but I don't think it was about taking over - he saw a vacuum and was attempting to fill it to keep the 'show on the road'. He says as much in "Get Back" and I choose to believe him. It is all much more complicated than just this of course!
EDIT - I agree with you entirely that the break up came at the right time.
re John.. heroin
Red bloodshot eyes or that dreamy faraway look in his eyes?