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The late-stage Beatles in the studio
Photo: Everett Collection / imago images
It's a controversial question among the millions and millions of Beatles fans: Who was to blame for the breakup of the legendary British musical group?
Many of them have committed themselves to Paul McCartney.
After all, it was he who declared in April 1970 that the band no longer existed.
Now, 51 years later, McCartney described his view of the events in an interview.
So it wasn't himself, but rather John Lennon who wanted to get out of the band.
The now 79-year-old McCartney said in an interview with the British BBC, parts of which were published in advance.
When asked about his plans for a solo career at the time, McCartney replies: “Stop here.
I wasn't the one who started the breakup.
Oh no no no no
One day John came into a room and said, 'I'm leaving the Beatles.' Does that sound like a breakup or not? "
He himself regretted the breakup, not least because, in his opinion, the band had still done "pretty good stuff".
Specifically, he cites the albums Abbey Road and Let it be as examples.
McCartney continues: "That was my band, my jo, my life and that's why I wanted to continue." It was "the most difficult time of my life," said the musician.
Until now, he has suffered from the widespread impression that he has destroyed the band.
With lawyers against the ex-bandmates
McCartney also commented on the legal disputes after the break in the BBC.
At the time, he called on lawyers to save the band's legacy.
The other members would have continued to stick to the new band manager Allen Klein, whom McCartney describes as "dodgy".
“The other years later thanked me for that.
But I did not bring about the separation.
That was our Johnny ... "
What the other surviving band member, drummer Ringo Starr, says about McCartney's view of the break is not yet known.
John Lennon was shot dead by an assassin in 1980.
Beatle number four, George Harrison, died in 2001 of complications from cancer.
The interview will appear in full on October 23.
In addition, the end of the Beatles is discussed in the documentary "The Beatles: Get Back".
The six-hour work by director Peter Jackson will be released in November.
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