Why Did The Beatles Break Up? Inside the Band’s Differences — and Why It Wasn’t the First Time They Wanted to Split

Mar. 15, 2025

Mark and Colleen Hayward/Redferns

The Beatlesare arguably the greatest band of all time, releasing memorable music and marking historic milestones until their unexpected breakup in 1970.

The four musicians that comprised The Beatles —John Lennon,Paul McCartney,George HarrisonandRingo Starr— were known as “The Fab Four.” They exploded onto the scene in the U.K. in 1962 before reaching incomprehensible levels of popularity and acclaim when they visited America in 1964 — covered in theBeatles ‘64documentary released on Nov. 29 — culturally referred to as “Beatlemania.”

After ceasing touring in 1966, The Beatles releasedSgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band— one of the most critically and commercially successful albums of all time —in 1967, but tragedy struck that year. Their managerBrian Epstein, who previously handled much of The Beatles’ business affairs, died.

In the following years, the band experimented with their sound, creating more classic albums likeAbbey RoadandLet it Be. Outside of the studio, Lennon marriedYoko Onoin 1969 and began bringing her to recording sessions, which caused tension.

These events and growing creative differences amongst the group contributed to the breakup. Each Beatle had differing reasons as to why exactly they broke up, but a constant theme was that they were going in opposite directions, as Starr summed up in an interview onPrivate Sessionsin February 2008.

“It was a bit of a drag it broke up even though we all wanted it. We had been working steady for eight years and we’d been these brothers,” Starr said. “We all wanted it. We’d all grown up a little more, and we weren’t prepared to put in the time and energy for each other.”

From moments that unfolded behind the scenes to how dynamics were affected, here’s a look at whyThe Beatlesbroke up and how their legacy lives on today.

What was the last album The Beatles released before they broke up?

The Beatles perform in November 1963.Getty

Getty

The last album The Beatles released wasLet It Bein May 1970.

The making of the work was chronicled in the three-part documentaryThe Beatles: Get Back, which painted a portrait of a band who loved playing together but struggled at times due to their creative talent and differing opinions.

How many times did The Beatles break up?

George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Ringo Starr of The Beatles on November 14, 1963.Reg Lewis/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty

Reg Lewis/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty

Although The Beatles publicly disbanded in 1970, it wasn’t the first time the band had dealt with a split. They broke up a total of three times, with the first coming in 1968 when Starr walked out during the recording sessions ofThe White Album.

In the 1995 documentaryThe Beatles Anthology, Starr recalled a sense of not belonging. After telling Lennon and McCartney about his decision to leave, they also revealed that they felt like outsiders. Still, Starr took a step back from music and used the time to travel with his family until the band convinced him to return.

“That time was pretty stressful because I had left the Beatles. I couldn’t take it anymore,” the drummer told PEOPLE in August 2019. “[The other Beatles] were sending me messages: ‘Come on home.’ When I got back and I went to the studio, George had put flowers everywhere. It was beautiful.”

As is covered in theThe Beatles: Get Backdocumentary, Harrison later quit in 1969 during the recording of the song “Get Back"due to creative differences with McCartney.

“It’s like George said, he didn’t get enough satisfaction anymore, because of the compromise he had to make to be together,” Lennon said in the documentary.

Why did The Beatles break up?

John Lennon, George Harrison and Paul McCartney of The Beatles in a studio.Keystone Features/Getty

Keystone Features/Getty

Over the years, fans have pointed to different reasons why The Beatles broke up, but it seems that the band simply grew apart and no longer shared the same vision after eight years together.

“[The Beatles] happened, and it was good, but it was also good to carry on and do something else. In fact, it was a relief,” Harrison toldThe Dick Cavett Showin November 1971. “Some people can’t understand that because Beatles was such a big deal. They can’t understand why we should actually enjoy splitting up.”

He continued, “But there’s a time when people grow up and leave home or whatever they do and go through change, and it was really time for change.”

Around the timeLet It Bewas released in May 1970, McCartney put out a press release a month prior stating that he was taking a break from The Beatles for a variety of differences but didn’t know if it was temporary or permanent, according toThe New York Times.

Despite this news, Lennon had already told The Beatles that he was ready to part from the group during a meeting in late 1969, according to McCartney.

“I know [who broke up the Beatles]. John,” McCartney said onThe Howard Stern Showin September 2018. “There was a meeting where John came in and said, ‘Hey guys, I’m leaving the group.’ "

He explained that the rest of them thought the decision was related to Ono. While reflecting, McCartney acknowledged that Lennon was “totally in love with her, and you’ve just got to respect.”

Apart from the band’s dynamics, Epstein’s death was also considered a contributing factor in the breakup as they took on much of their own business affairs that he used to manage.

How did Brian Epstein’s death contribute to The Beatles' break up?

George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and John Lennon of The Beatles with manager Brian Epstein on September 22, 1964 at London Airport.Keystone/Getty

Keystone/Getty

In 1961, Epstein went to see The Beatles perform at a local venue and quickly realized they could become something special, leading him to become their manager the following year.

“Ever since Mr. Epstein passed away it’s never been the same,” Harrison said in a throwback clip featured inThe Beatles: Get Back.

“We’ve been very negative since Mr. Epstein passed away and that’s why all of us in turn has been sick of the group. It’s discipline we lack,” McCartney replied. “We’ve never had discipline. We’ve had sort of slight, symbolic discipline, but Mr. Epstein, he sort of said, ‘Get suits on’ and we did. And so we were always sort of fighting that discipline a bit. There really is no one there now to say, ‘Do it.’ ”

After Epstein’s death, The Beatles set up a company called Apple Corps in 1968 to manage their business affairs, but their relationships became more complex. The Beatles took on much of their own business affairs and could no longer focus strictly on their creative process.

How did John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s relationship contribute to The Beatles' breakup?

John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono speak at a press conference on March 2, 1973, in New York.AP Photo

Lennon married Ono in 1969, and he brought her everywhere, as seen inThe Beatles: Get Backwhen she attended nearly every minute of their studio time. While fans blamed Ono for the breakup, footage inThe Beatles: Get Backand interviews with the band point to other factors at play.

One element that Ono elaborated on — and was evident in the footage — was that The Beatles were such strong artists on their own that it eventually became difficult for them to work together.

“She didn’t split The Beatles because how could one girl split The Beatles. … [We] were drifting apart on their own,” Lennon said onThe Dick Cavett Showin September 1971. “A long time ago, I said that I didn’t want to be singing ‘She Loves You’ when I’m 30. I said that when I was about 25 … which in a roundabout way meant I wouldn’t be doing whatever I was doing then.”

Ono added, “Especially for John, I can say that he’s at least [outgrown] whatever they were in. I think it’s very difficult for four artists who are so brilliant and talented to be together and do everything together … just impossible almost. So whatever they were doing was almost miraculous.”

Despite popular belief, McCartney also felt that Lennon’s desire to start a new life with Ono contributed to the breakup rather than Ono’s influence. McCartney reportedly helped Lennon finish the song “The Ballad of John and Yoko.”

What is The Beatles' legacy?

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison on May 19, 1967 in London, England.Jeff Hochberg/Getty

Jeff Hochberg/Getty

The Beatles are the top-selling artists of all time,topping multipleBillboardchartswith their singles and albums over the years.Other notable musical publicationshave recognized The Beatles' influence on the industry, culture and the creation of boy bands as well.

Their 1966 albumRevolver, 1967 concept albumSgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Bandand 1969 albumAbbey Roadare frequently ranked amongst the greatest albums of all time. Songs like “Hey Jude,” “Let it Be,” “Yesterday,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “A Day in the Life"and many more are often regarded as some of the greatest songs ever recorded.

While Lennon and McCartney were known as the primary singers and songwriters — especially for The Beatles’ early hits — Starr sang on songs like “Yellow Submarine"and “With a Little Help from My Friends: while Harrison performed tunes like “Here Comes the Sun"and “Something.”

After The Beatles broke up, all the members had successful solo careers. Lennon’s song “Imagine” is still celebrated today, over 40 years afterhis death at 40from a gunshot on Dec. 8, 1980.

Ringo Starr and Sir Paul McCartney on March 04, 2024 in Paris, France.Dave Benett/Getty

Dave Benett/Getty

McCartney found solo success creating songs like “Maybe I’m Amazed,” and Harrison made the multi-platinum albumAll Things Must Pass,producing multiple hits, like “My Sweet Lord” and “What is Life.” (He later died at 58 from lung cancer on Nov. 29, 2001.)

Meanwhile, Starr had a platinum-selling album withRingo,featuring the hit song “It Don’t Come Easy.”

The Beatles are ingrained in pop culture with their compilation album of No. 1 hits in the U.K. and U.S. called 1, earning the accolade of the top 10 selling albums of the 2000s,The Independentreported. Over 50 years after their last album, the song “Now and Then”— billed as the final Beatles song ever — was released in 2023 and earned a Grammy nomination for record of the year.

They live on in film as well, with movies centered around their music, including 2007’sAcross the Universeand 2019’sYesterdayas well as documentaries like 2021’sThe Beatles: Get Backand 2024’sBeatles ’64. Sony Pictures also announced thatfour upcoming biopicson each Beatle will be released in 2027.

source: people.com