Paul McCartney: John Lennon was responsible for Beatles break-up
- McCartney in interview asserts it was Lennon, not he who wanted to disband The Beatles
- Beatles fans have long debated who was responsible for band’s break-up
Paul McCartney has revisited the break-up of The Beatles, flatly disputing the suggestion that he was responsible for the group’s demise.
Speaking on an episode of BBC Radio 4’s This Cultural Life that is scheduled for broadcast on October 23, McCartney said it was John Lennon who wanted to disband The Beatles.
“I didn’t instigate the split,” McCartney said. “That was our Johnny.’’
The band’s fans have long debated who was responsible for the break-up, with many blaming McCartney. But McCartney said Lennon’s desire to “break loose’’ was the main driver behind the split.
Confusion about the break-up was allowed to fester because their manager asked the band members to keep quiet until he concluded a number of business deals, McCartney said.
The interview comes ahead of Peter Jackson’s six-hour documentary chronicling the final months of the band. The Beatles: Get Back, set for release in November on Disney+, is certain to revisit the break-up of the legendary band. McCartney’s comments were first reported by The Observer newspaper.
