Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Yoko also spreads the cash around Liverpool for Beatle (John) related things, also Tokyo, in John's memory. On his Birthday she was there for a large John concert she'd put together, a few days later she was in Liverpool doing interviews.

As far as the fabs breaking up, Cynthia Lennon says by Sgt. Pepper, she had the feeling they would not last much longer.

Jerry: Yes, I think John was getting very tired of the whole Beatle thing, especially by the time they went to India in 1968. I've heard that he discussed forming a new band with Brian Jones and others.

I've heard that too. But I dont think it ever got any farther than that.... especially since Brian Jones checked out soon after.

My take is that by '68 both John and George were VERY tired of being Beatles. Paul was the "heavy" in the band and pushed them on.

Lennon was into smack and Yoko, Harrison into Hare Krishna, and Paul into carrying on and making more money, of which by this time they should have more. Brian's inexperience had cost them about 1 billion (in today's dollars) in merchandise profits that went elsewhere. When Brian died it went from making music and recording to trying to run a business, at which they were not experienced. A lot of non-Beatles were taking money from Apple and NEMS. Any feelings of 'tired of being a Beatle' must have been amplified by the zoo that their empire had become.

How heavy was Lennon into the heroin? ... which time period was this?

Brammy: I have know first hand experience with opiate addiction, so I won't editorialize. From what I've read, he began using heroin shortly after he got together with Yoko. It is rumored that she had been an on and off user since her days in the NYC art scene. Lennon may never have been an intravenous user. He may have snorted only, but was dependent for some time. I tend to think this time spanned from the 'White Album' sessions through 'Abbey Road'. They kicked the habit before recording the 'Plastic Ono Band' album. Lennon seems to mention or allude to his addiction in songs like 'Happiness Is A Warm Gun', 'I'm So Tired', 'Yer Blues' and 'Cold Turkey'.

He also had a daily LSD habit for quite some time before that. His first wife thinks that did alot of harm to his personality and how he related to other people.

I love his music, but I sure wouldn't want to have been him.

Jerry: Not to nitpick, but LSD isn't generally considered addictive (i.e. no physical withdrawal). I'm sure John enjoyed the altered consciousness that LSD (and other psychedelics) could provide. I was surprised to read somewhere that John was still using psychedelics up to the time of his death. I was even more surprised to find out that George reportedly wrote 'Here Comes The Moon' after taking LSD for the first time since the 1960's. I've never heard the song, but I think it appeared on his 'Somewhere In England' album.

Ooops...I realize I used the word habit, didn't mean to imply an addition. He was a daily user for quite some time, I've read.

Yoko is the woman who most Beatle fans love to hate, largely because it is their perception that she contributed in a significant way to the breakup of the Fab Four.

Looking from the outside. and having no insight into the Beatles' day to day lives, it seems that there was increasing strain within the group that was apparent before Yoko that was destined to rip them apart in any event. Further, Lennon had significant emotional difficulties from his early childhhod that compromised the quality of his interpersonal relationships. Of fascination to me, these problems at the same time contributed to his greatness.

I think Yoko sped up the inevitable and simply allowed Lennon to spring-broad from the Beatles sooner rather than later. I do think that her hold on him kept the Fabs from getting back together though.

Randy, 'Here Comes the Moon' is on George's self-titled 1979 album... Some great songs on that one! 'Faster' has always been a favorite of mine.

Stuart: Thanks for the info. I haven't owned or listened to many of George's solo records. Like lots of things, I'm sure I'll explore them one of these days...

The Dark Horse set that was released about a year and a half ago is pretty cool. It's nice to see the albums in the stores and the extra DVD is really nice.

Apple, more than anything or anyone, really was the last straw, though Epstein's death did open the door for Klein and Mcca's in-laws to get involved, neither of which should have been at the helm (or was liked for their experience/ credentials.) Unfortunately, the Beatles were victims or their own success, not unheard of with other superstar acts. Elton John, in a way, mirrors Lennon's experience with the Beatles. Elton, due in large part to the other three guys in his group, was at the top of his game in '75, with a top flight pop band. But like Lennon, Elton was miserable, had his own demons plus had to deal with fame at that level and the excesses of the 70s. He fired his drummer and bassist, an insane move, and was barely heard from again, on the charts at least, until '80 or so. And he never, even with his original lineup, came close to equalling the quality he had once attained. Curtis Mayfield, a guy with not nearly the personal problems of those above, got really successful and then spent his time producing and writing for other acts instead of minding his own career. So it waned. I guess the key is, if you're hot, focus on that because you're not going to be hot forever, anyway. But who can see that at age 26? When one's working too much as it is?

Let's not forget that by the time the Beatles broke up, they had been playing together for about 10 years and all were approaching 30 years of age -- a critical time for even well-adjusted, non-famous, less creative people. They'd come a long way, fast, had all the money they needed, had egos, felt bored and trapped by their "jobs" and, in short, took a logical step. If you've been in band, you know how much of a love/hate relationship it can be. I don't know how much influence Yoko or Linda had on J & P, but I do believe the band would have broken up even if they had not appeared. "The Boys" grew up -- at least as much as many rockers ever have -- whether we wanted them to or not.