History 5
On August 27, 1967 Beatles manger Brian Epstein was found dead of a drug overdose, possibly intentional. The band was shaken, but decided not to hire a new manager, assuming complete control over their own career. Their first project without Epstein's guidance, the concept album and BBC TV special Magical Mystery Tour, was attacked by critics, and perhaps was the beginning of the end for the Beatles.
By 1968 the group had formed its own record label, Apple, and was recording tracks for a new double album. Sessions were filled with tension as members of the group stormed out periodically and often failed to record together, turning in tracks recorded independently. The often bizarre result, popularly referred to as The White Album but officially called The Beatles, was released in November of 1968, and featured a guest appearance by Eric Clapton on the single "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."
That same month John Lennon released a solo album recorded with his controversial new lover, Japanese-American artist Yoko Ono, entitled Unfinished Music No. 1 - Two Virgins.Late in 1968 an animated film inspired by the song "Yellow Submarine" was released in theaters. Despite the cheery tone of the film, created with little band involvement, the real Beatles were hardly speaking, spending more time on their personal lives and own musical projects than on the group.
In January 1969 the weary band began preparing to record a new album live in the studio, without any overdubs, tentatively entitled Get Back. For an accompanying film, the Beatles performed on the roof of their studio, their last public appearance ever. While preparing the album, the group began to fight over creative issues, and the project was shelved amid many bad feelings. On March 12, McCartney married American photographer Linda Eastman; several days later Lennon formally married Yoko Ono.
By May the Beatles' situation worsened when the group appointed Allen Klein as their new business manager, despite objections by Paul McCartney, who wanted to give the job to his new father-in-law. Though conflict continued to plague the group, the Beatles returned one last time to EMI Studios to record Abbey Road with George Martin, an amazingly cohesive album.
By early 1970 each of the four Beatles was working on a solo album, but each publicly denied rumors of a split. In September 1969, Lennon told his bandmates that he wanted to quit, but because the group was renegotiating with EMI at the time, the breakup was temporarily put aside. Meanwhile, rampant rumors spread across America that Paul McCartney had died in an auto accident several years earlier and had been secretly replaced by a look-alike; the alleged "clues" hidden in lyrics and cover art were quickly proved to be the product of overactive imaginations.
By 1968 the group had formed its own record label, Apple, and was recording tracks for a new double album. Sessions were filled with tension as members of the group stormed out periodically and often failed to record together, turning in tracks recorded independently. The often bizarre result, popularly referred to as The White Album but officially called The Beatles, was released in November of 1968, and featured a guest appearance by Eric Clapton on the single "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."
That same month John Lennon released a solo album recorded with his controversial new lover, Japanese-American artist Yoko Ono, entitled Unfinished Music No. 1 - Two Virgins.Late in 1968 an animated film inspired by the song "Yellow Submarine" was released in theaters. Despite the cheery tone of the film, created with little band involvement, the real Beatles were hardly speaking, spending more time on their personal lives and own musical projects than on the group.
In January 1969 the weary band began preparing to record a new album live in the studio, without any overdubs, tentatively entitled Get Back. For an accompanying film, the Beatles performed on the roof of their studio, their last public appearance ever. While preparing the album, the group began to fight over creative issues, and the project was shelved amid many bad feelings. On March 12, McCartney married American photographer Linda Eastman; several days later Lennon formally married Yoko Ono.
By May the Beatles' situation worsened when the group appointed Allen Klein as their new business manager, despite objections by Paul McCartney, who wanted to give the job to his new father-in-law. Though conflict continued to plague the group, the Beatles returned one last time to EMI Studios to record Abbey Road with George Martin, an amazingly cohesive album.
By early 1970 each of the four Beatles was working on a solo album, but each publicly denied rumors of a split. In September 1969, Lennon told his bandmates that he wanted to quit, but because the group was renegotiating with EMI at the time, the breakup was temporarily put aside. Meanwhile, rampant rumors spread across America that Paul McCartney had died in an auto accident several years earlier and had been secretly replaced by a look-alike; the alleged "clues" hidden in lyrics and cover art were quickly proved to be the product of overactive imaginations.
