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Fifty years ago, in 1969,The Beatles' created two classic albums —Abbey RoadandLet It Be—but outside the studio the four young men had started living very different lives. This reality would lead them to quietly decide to break up in September 1969.
Now, a new PEOPLE special edition,The Beatles: 1969,examines how a year filled with weddings, babies, musical side gigs and money disputes set the stage for the Beatles' dissolution and the creation of four new careers.
Even while recording with the Beatles,John Lennonwas already part of a new artistic union with his wife,Yoko Ono. They put out two avant-garde albums:Unfinished Music No. 1: Two VirginsandUnfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions. In 1970, Lennon released his first post-Beatles studio album titledJohn Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. “I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” Lennon toldRolling Stoneat the time. “It’s me! And nobody else. That’s why I like it. It’s real, that’s all.”
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When Harrison arrived at Twickenham Film Studios on Jan. 2, 1969 to meet the rest of his bandmates as they prepared to film themselves for a documentary project, he was eager to share a batch of new songs he had written during an extended vacation in the States. But after tensions worsened, the guitarist bolted. His reaction stemmed from his perceived status as a junior partner in the band. “The usual thing was that we’d do 14 of their tunes,” Harrison revealed in a 1989 interview. “And then they’d condescend to listen to one of mine.” In November 1970, Harrison released his debut albumAll Things Must Pass, a triple-disc collection that included tracks left over from his Beatles days.
“The Beatles is over, but John, Paul, George and Ringo — I still love those guys!” Lennon once said in a 1980 interview. “Because they’ll always be those people who were that part of my life.”
PEOPLE’s special issueThe Beatles: 1969is available nowon Amazonand wherever magazines are sold.
source: people.com
