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GaryB 
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 17 2009
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 Topic: Did Yoko Kill The Beatles?
Posted: June 25 2009 at 10:38 |
Over the years, especially during the seventies, I heard a lot of opinions as to why the Beatles called it quits. Some said that after the sudden death of Brian Epstein the band couldn't agree on what direction to take the music and that the conflict eventually lead to the end. Others felt that by 1970 the band had gone just about as far as it could go in the changing music scene.
Then there was the opinion that John's insistance that Yoko be included in discussions (and decisions?) was the final straw that broke the camel's back.
Personally, I am undecided on what caused the break-up and that's why I want to know what others here think.
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chopper
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Posted: June 25 2009 at 10:59 |
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I think this is a very old topic and not really worth discussing any more, to be honest.
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mystic fred
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Posted: June 25 2009 at 11:09 |
much had been going on in the Fab 4 camp as far back as the mid-sixties, the band had created their own monster and it was inevitable they would go their separate ways.
Famous rock stars often say being in a band was like a marriage, and splitting up was like a divorce - driven by creativity they need changes to progress, such a creative force remained very prolific right up until the end, but the "Let It Be" movie was a shock for many fans who had no previous insight into the workings of a top band that had been together for years.
To answer the question Yoko was a catalyst but not to blame directly for the band's demise - in hindsight John Paul George and Ringo had run their course as a group in 1970, though in later years still worked happily together with each other occasionally without the pressure of being Beatles. 
Edited by mystic fred - June 25 2009 at 11:12
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J-Man
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Joined: August 07 2008
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Posted: June 25 2009 at 11:28 |
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Well, Yoko definitely didn't help. It was a ton of factors put together that ended the band.
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The T
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Posted: June 25 2009 at 11:29 |
There's no one to blame... John Lennon lived happy with Ono until his death, I guess his decision was the right one. I don't think he should have avoided happiness and continue in a band just to please music fans, who are one of the less loyal species on the planet...
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TGM: Orb
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Joined: October 21 2007
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Posted: June 25 2009 at 12:15 |
 The T wrote:
There's no one to blame... John Lennon lived happy with Ono until his death, I guess his decision was the right one. I don't think he should have avoided happiness and continue in a band just to please music fans, who are one of the less loyal species on the planet...
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Post of the year. 
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mr.cub
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Joined: March 06 2009
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Posted: June 25 2009 at 12:23 |
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The Beatles killed themselves. Harrison had quit multiple times already, as did Ringo....but sadly enough it was always Paul and John's band so once those two couldn't coexist it was adios
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Negoba
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Posted: June 25 2009 at 12:27 |
Well one aspect was that Lennon was so gorked on Acid that he no longer was able to be the bandleader he was early on. He visually and mentally changed from one person to another. He produced some amazing music during that period and also a lot of crap. There's a phenomenal book on the Beatles called "Revolution in the Head" by the late Ian Macdonald (I think that's right) that describes alot of it.
He claims the last straw was Lennon and Phil Spector doing the post-production on Let It Be without the knowledge of the rest of the band. Besides the terrible over-production, they left in scratch tracks and errors and basically did a shameful job. Supposedly the clincher was Paul hearing "The Long and Winding Road" which was a scratch vocal and had a bassline John had recorded without even knowing the song (it was intended to be only a demo) that has numerous blatant errors in it. Paul was furious and the rest is history.
Edited by Negoba - June 25 2009 at 12:38
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You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all.
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Slartibartfast
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Posted: June 25 2009 at 13:16 |
I don't know if Yoko killed the Beatles, but I'm pretty sure listening to some of her music will kill brain cells. 
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Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Evolver
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Posted: June 25 2009 at 13:22 |
I admit it. I killed the Beatles. I'm not ashamed of it, and I'm not proud of.
And I was responsible for the crucifixion. I bought the nails.
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Trust me. I know what I'm doing.
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JLocke
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Posted: June 25 2009 at 14:13 |
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No, John killed The Beatles. He drove the others away because of his attitude. Sure, it was a result of him falling so hard for Yoko, but she had no control of how he chose to act around the band. It was him and him alone who ultimately drove them to the brink.
Not that things were just peachy, anyhow. If John hadn't turned into a dick, the band would have still broken up at some point or another due to each band member's own issues:
George didn't want to be a Beatle anymore. He was so into the whole Indian thing that his heart just wasn't in it by that point.
Paul was trying to look out for the band's best interest via finding a new manager, and organizing the band's projects. His controlling attitude didn't sit too well with any of them, I don't think.
Ringo's low self-esteem issues had led him to quitting the band already once before, so they had butter him up and coax him back into it all.
It was bound to fail regardless, and I don't think blaming Yoko for something that started from within the band is very fair or accurate.
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luger7
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Joined: November 30 2008
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Posted: June 25 2009 at 14:41 |
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With Brian Epstein's death, all began to crumble, I think....
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Viva .MX cabrones!
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akamaisondufromage
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Posted: June 25 2009 at 14:46 |
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Help me I'm falling!
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Alberto Muņoz
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Posted: June 25 2009 at 21:22 |
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No, i think The Beatles can't sustain more
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moshkito
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Posted: June 30 2009 at 13:48 |
Hi,
I think that it is simplistic and unfair to blame one person for The Beatles going their own way ... and there are many interviews with John where he explains his side of the story ... look ... stop blaming Yoko ... you left the house of your parents when you grew up and wanted to have ____ and a little more ____ and then a beer and then _____ without ever having to talk to mom or dad about it ...
So what's the big deal?
That people can't grow up and make their own choices ... like your mom and dad approoved your girlfriend or wife or husband?
Give it a break ...
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Moogtron III
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Joined: April 26 2005
Location: Belgium
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Posted: June 30 2009 at 14:06 |
When bands last for a long time, the musical development of the members grows. After a while it becomes crowded in a band. There's not much room anymore for your ideas, because members go more and more their own way.
The Beatles lived almost out of each others' pockets for about 8 years, which is a very long time.
There had to be an end some time, I think. Yoko was only a factor. And some sort of scapegoat, I think.
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Easy Money
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Posted: June 30 2009 at 14:14 |
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NO! It was time for the Beatles to break up. Band members get sick of each other after awhile, it's just the nature of the game. Just ask anybody who has been in a band with me, I'll wager dollars to doughnuts they'd like to kill me right now.
Really cynical bands like the Stones and latter day Genesis find ways to tolerate each other for the money.
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stonebeard
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Joined: May 27 2005
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Posted: June 30 2009 at 14:16 |
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Nope. Lack of new chord progressions killed the Beatles.
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CPicard
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 03 2008
Location: Lā, sui monti.
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Posted: June 30 2009 at 14:41 |
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I thought that what killed the Beatles was:
1) a bullet;
2) cancer.
We're still waiting for the two others. My pronostic: oldness.
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Slartibartfast
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Joined: April 29 2006
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Posted: June 30 2009 at 15:07 |
CPicard wrote:
I thought that what killed the Beatles was:
1) a bullet;
2) cancer.
We're still waiting for the two others. My pronostic: oldness.
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You all got it all wrong, it was bug spray. 
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Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Did Yoko Kill The Beatles?
