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12.57am
5 February 2010
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I want your opinion, because I’m collecting data for a research paper (of course I’m doing my research paper on The Beatles!) – I’ve set up a poll on my blog to collect answers to this question: Why did The Beatles break up?
It should only take a few seconds to answer the poll question, and it will really help me out with the paper I’m writing. The poll is at the very top of the right-hand navigation menu.
Thanks, gang. 
Note by Ahhh Girl 31 May 2014: this thread is a combination of five threads.
1. Posts 1-14 were in a thread titled “Research question : I need your help”.
2. Posts 15-57 were in a thread titled “The Breakup”.
3. Posts 58-60 were in a thread titled “Paul McCartney Places Beatles Breakup Squarely on John Lennon .
4. Post 61 was a thread titled “John Lennon officially ended the Beatles at Disneyworld”.
5. Posts 62-100 were in a thread titled “I don’t blame Yoko”.
Not a bit like Cagney.
3.11pm
27 April 2010
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PeterWeatherby said:
I want your opinion, because I’m collecting data for a research paper (of course I’m doing my research paper on The Beatles!) – I’ve set up a poll on my blog to collect answers to this question: Why did The Beatles break up?
It should only take a few seconds to answer the poll question, and it will really help me out with the paper I’m writing. The poll is at the very top of the right-hand navigation menu.
Thanks, gang. 🙂
I think the main reasons would be: John’s indifference with anything related to the group, at a time when he was struggling to kick the big H. This was severly compounded by Paul’s huge distaste for Allen Klien (the subject of You Never Give Me Your Money and Carry That Weight ). And in the background of all of this, they were going their separate ways anyway, as far as musical interests, and all felt the natural need to see what they could do on their own. The Beatles image was now restricting their individuality way too much.
Bringing you the best and worst of The Beatles, since 2007.
3.14pm
27 April 2010
Offline Happy Nat said:
PeterWeatherby said:
I want your opinion, because I’m collecting data for a research paper (of course I’m doing my research paper on The Beatles!) – I’ve set up a poll on my blog to collect answers to this question: Why did The Beatles break up?
It should only take a few seconds to answer the poll question, and it will really help me out with the paper I’m writing. The poll is at the very top of the right-hand navigation menu.
Thanks, gang. 🙂
I think the main reasons would be: John’s indifference with anything related to the group, at a time when he was struggling to kick the big H. This was severly compounded by Paul’s huge distaste for Allen Klien (the subject of You Never Give Me Your Money and Carry That Weight ). And in the background of all of this, they were going their separate ways anyway, as far as musical interests, and all felt the natural need to see what they could do on their own. The Beatles image was now restricting their individuality way too much.
Peter, I tried to do the right thing just now and post that previous comment on your blog before realizing only one multiple choice answer is allowed. Problem is there was more than one reason and a few have a relatively equal weight imo.
Bringing you the best and worst of The Beatles, since 2007.
11.59am
14 October 2009
Offline Voted!
"If we feel our heads starting to swell.....we just look at Ringo!"
4.37am
13 November 2009
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I could have answered a number of those so I chose the one I thought was the main reason. Good idea for a poll.
7.15pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline Answered the poll – I did not see an “All of the Above” selection, so just chose one answer.
To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
2.56pm
14 December 2009
Offline I think Ringo always gets off too easy. Everybody knows the breakup was all his fault!
Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
7.23pm
27 April 2010
Offline Zig said:
Answered the poll – I did not see an “All of the Above” selection, so just chose one answer.
I’m thinking John lost interest is probably the strongest. That got my vote.
Bringing you the best and worst of The Beatles, since 2007.
8.32pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline Any one of these 3 could have been strongest – They naturally drifted apart, Paul got too bossy or John lost interest.
When I think ‘drifted apart’ I think interest-wise, not as friends. To me, their interests drifted apart.
For the poll though, an All of the Above selection would have been the overwhelming choice. Just my opinion.
To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
9.37pm
5 February 2010
Offline Zig said:
For the poll though, an All of the Above selection would have been the overwhelming choice. Just my opinion.
Thanks, guys, I really appreciate everyone’s contribution to the poll. I figured that for most of us, being slightly more “die-hard” fans than most, it would be difficult to choose one poll answer over another, and that’s exactly why I didn’t include a “Select all” or “All of the above” choice. I wanted people to have to choose the one answer that juuuuuust edged out the others in importance, and because those votes are being cast by Beatles “addicts” who obviously know a lot about the in’s and out’s and complexities of the breakup, those votes are all the more valuable to me. So, thanks again, this is very helpful. And PS: we all know it was Yoko’s fault. 🙂
Not a bit like Cagney.
11.46pm
1 May 2010
Offline PeterWeatherby said:
Thanks, guys, I really appreciate everyone’s contribution to the poll. I figured that for most of us, being slightly more “die-hard” fans than most, it would be difficult to choose one poll answer over another, and that’s exactly why I didn’t include a “Select all” or “All of the above” choice. I wanted people to have to choose the one answer that juuuuuust edged out the others in importance, and because those votes are being cast by Beatles “addicts” who obviously know a lot about the in’s and out’s and complexities of the breakup, those votes are all the more valuable to me. So, thanks again, this is very helpful. And PS: we all know it was Yoko’s fault. 🙂
I’m suprised Yoko doesn’t have any votes and John losing interest has quite a few when it seems like John lost interest because of Yoko.
I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine
12.48am
19 May 2010
Offline I’d list Yoko, Paul’s bossiness, and John’s lack of interest as the top three reasons. I’d also list John’s personality, although it’s not usually mentioned. John was the type of person who would get under your skin if he could; in their earlier years it wasn’t that big of a deal, but since the atmosphere was already combustible, that aspect of his personality didn’t help matters at all. Just my two cents 😉
"I've just seen a face, I can't forget the time or place…"
5.39am
13 November 2009
Offline So how's you research paper coming along?
Ad hoc, ad loc, and quid pro quo! So little time! So much to know!
1.15pm
4 April 2010
Offline Tyler said:
I'd list Yoko, Paul's bossiness, and John's lack of interest as the top three reasons. I'd also list John's personality, although it's not usually mentioned. John was the type of person who would get under your skin if he could; in their earlier years it wasn't that big of a deal, but since the atmosphere was already combustible, that aspect of his personality didn't help matters at all. Just my two cents 😉
Welcome to the forum.
"The best band? The Beatles. The most overrated band? The Beatles."
8.34pm
19 September 2010
Offline What caused the breakup of the Beatles? All opinions welcome. Personally I believe it was going to happen regardless of Yoko, Magic Alex or Allen Klein. I think Paul used the business issues as an excuse to end it, whereas it just was the end of the road IMO
Note by Ahhh Girl 31 May 2014: this post originally began a thread titled “The Breakup”. Posts 16-57 were also a part of that thread.
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
2.09am
1 May 2010
Offline It's hard to blame one person, but here's my thought process. If it's true that John Lennon had the most to do with the Beatles rise to fame, then it also must be true that John Lennon is the most responsible for the Beatles breakup. I don't think that it was necessarily intentional or even really a bad thing that they broke up because they were just moving in completely opposite directions. The way I see it, had they stuck around they would have produced more Let it Be's than Abbey Road 's, but even take Abbey Road as an example. As great as the medley is, do you think the Beatles were planning on coming up with this medley or did they sort of have to do it because the material wasn't that great? I would definitely say the latter, as we see many half finished songs just being smushed together to make one great song. Certainly John's songs weren't intended for the medley as we know that a few were recorded prior to the White Album sessions.
The breakup happened because the material that they could have recorded as Beatles just wasn't really that great any more. John and George were being stifled as songwriters and so they decided that leaving was their best option. I just don't think that John would have had the same level of creative freedom with the Beatles that he experienced on the Plastic Ono Band album, and I certainly don't think that George would have been able to release more than two to three songs per album, and as we saw he had plenty that he was itching to put out there. So it happened, the only person that it effected negatively was probably Paul, but even he was able to use the breakup to sell his album, so it didn't work out all that bad for him. Could they have been more mature about the whole thing and left on better terms? Absolutely, but when they all had so much ego, it was probably hard for them to put it aside and be considerate of one another. But you can't change history, it was unfortunate what happened, but ultimately I think it just adds to the Beatles myth.
I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine
3.20am
13 September 2010
Offline I personally think that the break up was not because of just one person or issue. My opinion is that they all wanted seperate things in life and had grown too far apart to stay together as a band any longer. But that's just my opinion.
"I am definitely a mad man with a box."- Matt Smith as the 11th Doctor of Doctor Who (Episode 1 Season 5: The Eleventh Hour)
5.36am
10 November 2009
Offline It was really a very slow dead, starting with the Jesus controversy statement by Lennon. 
1966. Was a very hard year for The Beatles (at least outside the studio). 
They had a 3-month break after the Rubber Soul sessions (only overdubs for the Shea Concert were made around Jan. 66). 
The interview were Lennon make that mistaken opinion of christianism was around March 66. Then, it was released on London and nothing happened, all knew John jokes and all that. 
Well, they got back for the Revolver sessions and just 3 days later of finishing recordings for that album, the world tour begins on late June 66 with Munich, then the Budokan and then the Philippines where, after finishing their concert, The Beatles snubbed unintentonally the First Family and then, they were kicked out. 
Then, the Jesus statement is released on America, and BANG! Burning of Beatles stuff, banning them from the Radio, starting to get a bit lower in the charts, and also the 'butcher' cover of Yesterday …and Today made more controversy. 
So when they arrived to America, Epstein recalls a statement that said that Lennon's words were used out of context, and Lennon apologize. Nevertheless, a lot of trouble on tours happened, threats of death, more banning and burning, and also, The Beatles were really tired of touring (all minus Paul) 
, and the four were playing really bad, so after Candlestick Park concert on August 29th, back in London decided to end touring and all of them took a break until late November 66. It is said that George wanted to left the band after tours ended because his heart was in India now so he didn't want to back, but it was impossible for him to get out. 
Ringo took vacation, George left to India, Paul went to George Martin and made the soundtrack of The Family Way . 
John made How I Won The War and meet Yoko. 
Then they got back to Pepper where, Paul aported more ideas than the others, although the four of them, worked together every day during the 129-day of making Pepper.
1967. The Pepper album makes hit, all the beatles left drugs (minus John) 
so they make All You Need Is Love for a massive audience worldwide 
and also meet the marahishi. (For me this was the main reason of the breakup). So they go to India and suddenly their main support, Epstein, 
Dies. 
From there they start to go down a bit more, but they complete Mystery Tour film/soundtrack, but the film was screened on Boxing Day in black and white and 
But the soundtrack hit great. 
1968. They prepare singles, probably the last singles of real fun and happiness before left to the Marahishi on Feb. 68 (I'm with Geoff Emerick that those sessions, finishing with Hey Bulldog , were the last where the four were team).
And true, after 4 months, they got back because of the rumour of the Marahishi making sexual advances to some young girls there, and suddenly, all were changed. Everyone wanted to make their own directions (more John). 
They open Apple 
and then go back to The Beatles (White Album ) Sessions were all started to be tensions, only in very few songs were together, like Yer Blues and Happiness Is A Warm Gun , and then, Ringo, suffering from the egos of John & Paul, treating George's songs like inferior, feeling of not be taken seriously and be criticizied by Paul for his drumming in Back In The USSR , He left. 
He's reanimated by the same Beatles and started to work again although with tensions still, and so, the christmas record of that year was made separately.
Also, Geoff Emerick quits on those sessions.
Anyway, The Beatles is released and recieved (initally) mixed to positive reviews, and one review i'm really with it ''Four solo albums in one''.
1969. Paul cames to the idea to Get Back to the old days, no overdubs and just playing like good old days, and so, he got the idea of making a TV Special for making the album, showing how they start rehershal, jamming, composing, get together, and finally performing before a live audience. The other three were less or no enthusiastic with this last thing (live concert) but they were intersted of getting back to the old days.
But as soon they start, tensions come again, now this time, Yoko is with The Beatles in the sessions, and causes a bit more of tensions, and so, on Jan. 6, Paul & George have the argument of the Two Of Us song. Then, tensions grow up to the point where on Jan. 10, George quietly quits the band.
And for two more days, they continue without George, although John 
suggest to replace George with Eric Clapton, but the others scrap his idea because the group couldn't be named Beatles without the four original members.
Then they bring back George with the condition of scrapping the live audience concert, and the TV changes to be a movie, and all they move to Apple Savile Row on Jan. 21 (originally was going to be in EMI until Magic Alex said that it wasn't good, he prepared the Savile Row Studio and made it a disaster so they had to clean up again and bring the equipment), and also George brings Billy Preston to change the mood into a 100% improvement, then they made an unplanned live concert on the rooftop of the studio on Jan. 30th.
Then, they finish the album and on March, Glynn Johns (the new co-producer/mixer (role not sure)) made the first acetate and was going to be released on Jul. 69 but it was pushed back.
John calls Allen Klein to be the manager of him and then for The Beatles and they all agree except Paul 
, cause he wanted Linda's Eastman dad, Lee Eastman, be their manager, but The Beatles vetoed it because it was going surely to favour him and be against them. So, Klein is signed to be their new manager, (Neil Aspinall 
was in charge of Apple because Epstein died, and The Beatles really didn't know how to lead up with financial things, and Neil didn't want to do it, and also the boutique and the label Zapple got closed). and Apple changes completely. 
Later, The Beatles decided to make a better album than the near-disastered Get Back , but George Martin didn't want to colaborate really until he's convinced that all four wanted to make this one. Also, Geoff Emerick is bring back. But instead of getting more united, rarely they were together, but they finish the album peacefully.
On Aug. 22, 7 years later of the first live concert in the Cavern with Ringo as official member of The Beatles, the four of them appear for the last time together on a photo session.
Then, on September, Get Back was pushed to December because The Beatles wanted to release Abbey Road instead. And then, before the Abbey Road album is released, John quits the band permanently. 
But even so, he contributed to the last christmas record, that was also recorded separately. Then Get Back is shelved.
1970. Get Back revives thanks to Phil Spector changing the name to Let It Be , then the last Beatle session is made (without John), then overproduces the album, Paul gets angry because of that and demanded to cut out some of the overproduction, but is ignored and the album is released like that, but before that, McCartney, announcing his solo album, released before Let It Be , he announces too that, he quits the band. 
And The Beatles are over, although, Paul, calls the members, so they can dissolve legally The Beatles, on December 31st, 1970. 
At least, two reunions were about to be made, one on 1974, with John away of Yoko and reunited with Paul on a Jam Session, they were about to get back until Yoko & John reconciled again.
But in 1980, the very last days of Lennon, he felt, it was time to get back with The Beatles, he thud they had been away long enough, and then he planned to come back with them on a reunion concert and then try to record and make new music. But all was scrapped when Lennon died. 
Let me take you down 'cause I'm going to...Strawberry Fields.
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