Ray Connolly, a reporter at the Daily Mail, knew Lennon well enough to ring him up for comment. He wanted Apple to release this solo debut alongside the group's new album, 'Let It Be,' to dramatize the split.īy beating Lennon to the announcement, McCartney controlled the story and its timing, and undercut the other three's interest in keeping it under wraps as new product hit stores. In fact, Lennon behaved more and more like a solo artist, until McCartney countered with his own eponymous album.

11, 1970, he performed a new solo track, 'Instant Karma,' on the popular British TV show 'Top of the Pops.' Yoko Ono sat behind him, knitting while blindfolded by a sanitary napkin. Still, Lennon's departure seemed imminent: He had played the Toronto Rock 'n' Roll Festival with his Plastic Ono Band in September 1969, and on Feb. The previous September, soon after the band released 'Abbey Road,' he had asked his bandmates for a 'divorce.' But the others convinced him not to go public to prevent disrupting some delicate contract negotiations. Lennon, who had been active outside the band for months, felt particularly betrayed. Without any press present, McCartney shouted Ringo off his front stoop. The others worried this could hurt sales and sent Ringo as a peacemaker to McCartney's London home to talk him down from releasing his solo album ahead of the band's 'Let It Be' album and film, which were slated to come out in May. The Daily Mirror nonetheless framed its headline conclusively: 'Paul Quits the Beatles.' In it, McCartney is asked, 'Are you planning a new album or single with the Beatles?'īut he didn't say whether the separation might prove permanent. Was McCartney's 'announcement' official? His album appeared on April 17, and its press packet included a mock interview.

The power struggles in the group had been mounting at least since their manager, Brian Epstein, died in August of 1967. How could they possibly come apart?įew at the time were aware of the underlying fissures. The Beatles had symbolized the great communal spirit of the era. In doing so, he shocked his three bandmates. In a press release on Apfor his first solo album, 'McCartney,' he leaked his intention to leave. Fifty years ago, when Paul McCartney announced he had left the Beatles, the news dashed the hopes of millions of fans, while fueling false reunion rumors that persisted well into the new decade.

Tim riley john lennon