Today in Music History: Paul Leaves the Beatles

Some say it was Linda, some say it was Yoko, either way on this day in 1970, Paul McCarteny left the Beatles.

The lead up saw rumors of John Lennon leaving.  The story goes, John got back on drugs after a lackluster trip to learn transcendental meditation from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.   When he returned he developed an interest in the work of Yoko Ono and started a relationship with her during his marriage to John’s current wife at the time, Cynthia.   This eventually leads John taking a crap load of acid and deciding to let Yoko have creative input on the Beatles Music.

That is like letting Kanye west help Beethoven create Pathetique Sonata, No. 8 Op. 30.  Not a good idea

There were all kinds of rumors as to why.  But the common thread among the members was that the death of Brian Epstein really put them all in a bad place.

It is said that Brian Epstein was a big part of the Beatles worldwide popularity.  It was while recording the album, The Beatles, AKA the White Album that personal and financial issues and then the eventual death of Brian Epstein cause a rift. Epstein’s role as band manager would never be replaced, and ultimately the lack of strong managerial leadership would be a major cause of the break-up.

I wonder what Ringo thought of all this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvEexTomE1I

I think he was upset but got over it

Goerge did just fine as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kNGnIKUdMI

No matter the real reason it is said this day was one of the saddest days in music.  But you could argue that it was a good day.  After all, we would have never got songs like Instant Karma and Imagine.

Or we would have never heard Say Say Say.

Okay, we could have done without that one.  But things would not have been the same without Maybe I’m Amazed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm2YyVZBL8U

So whether it is sad, or good, this day will be remembered in music history for a long time.

• Eric