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For years, the breakup of the Beatles has always been hurtful for the former members of the band to talk about. It was a turbulent time, that left the fab four scarred as it affected their personal relationship with each other. However, with the upcoming Peter Jackson documentary, ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ which focuses on their break up, the remaining two Beatles are now finally reflecting on that time again, albeit from a different perspective. The documentary is so touching and eye-opening for them that Paul McCartney has now admitted that it has changed his perception of the Beatles’ breakup.
The Beatles: Get Back brings out the good side of the final days of the band
While talking to The Sunday Times, the 79-year-old told the news outlet after watching the film that the movie truly shows just how joyous it was to be a part of The Beatles. He said:
I’ll tell you what is really fabulous about it, it shows the four of us having a ball. It was so reaffirming for me. That was one of the important things about The Beatles, we could make each other laugh.
There was one particular footage from the documentary that fascinated Sir Paul, and it was during the recording of the song ‘Two Of Us’ from the fab four’s penultimate album Let It Be. He said:
John and I are in this footage doing ‘Two Of Us’ and, for some reason, we’ve decided to do it like ventriloquists. It’s hilarious. It just proves to me that my main memory of the Beatles was the joy and the skill.
Then, the interviewer asked Paul McCartney if it changed his perception of The Beatles breakup, to which he said:
Really yes. And there is proof in the footage. Because I definitely bought into the dark side of The Beatles breaking up and thought, ‘God, I’m to blame.’ It’s easy, when the climate is going that way, to think that. But at the back of my mind there was this idea that it wasn’t like that. I just needed to see proof.
Recently, Paul McCartney decided to take the blame off of himself for breaking up The Beatles, revealing it was John Lennon who instigated the split
Recently, Sir Paul also revealed that it was John Lennon who broke up the fab four in September 1969. But, that was done privately. The news became public after Paul McCartney announced his debut solo self-titled album in a press release, in which he also stated that he is no longer a part of the band. He said:
We made a decision when The Beatles folded that we weren’t going to pick it up again. You talk about how something has come full circle and that’s very satisfying, so let’s not spoil it.
However, he did say that in retrospect, Paul McCartney does believe he could have had a reunion with John Lennon. The duo met several times after the band’s breakup and once came close to even reuniting the band, but it could never materialize. But, he believes now that given more time, it “could have” happened. Moreover, Paul McCartney often imagines his late best friend in his mind and thinks of what he would have to say about his songs and lyrics, saying:
And I often now will think, if writing a song, ‘OK, John, I’ll toss it over to you. What line comes next?’ So I’ve got a virtual John that I can use.
He has repeated this point several times in the past
This isn’t the first time that Sir Paul McCartney has revealed that he did not break up The Beatles. In October of this month, he reiterated that it was indeed John, saying:
I am not the person who instigated the split. Oh no, no, no. John walked into a room one day and said I am leaving the Beatles. Is that instigating the split, or not?
However, he admits that the misconception stems from his untimely press release, adding:
I think the biggest misconception at the end of The Beatles was that I broke The Beatles up, and I lived with that for quite a while. Once a headline’s out there, it sticks. That was a big one – and I’ve only finally just gotten over it.
The Beatles: Get Back will be released on Disney+ later this month, with three episodes airing on November 25, 26, and 27. The documentary will focus on the making and behind-the-scenes footage of the Beatles album Let It Be.
Related: Paul McCartney “loved” Peter Jackson’s Beatles documentary