On January 30, 1969, four iconic musicians stood atop the Apple Corps headquarters located at 3 Savile Row in London, England. Unbeknownst to the onlookers, this historic moment would mark the final performance of The Beatles—comprised of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Just a year later, the legendary band would disband, with their last moments captured in Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s acclaimed 1970 documentary, Let It Be. Fast forward more than half a century, and visionary director Peter Jackson aims to reshape that narrative by delving into critical questions: when exactly did The Beatles part ways, and what were the underlying factors that led to their split?

“It’s like that elusive dream every fan wishes could come true,” shared Peter Jackson with The New York Times about his ambitious project Get Back, a documentary spanning over seven hours available on Disney+. This extensive documentary, divided into three captivating parts, was made possible after Peter gained access to nearly 60 hours of previously unseen footage recorded during the Let It Be sessions. “Many people perceive it as a whitewash,” the Lord of the Rings director explained to the NYT, emphasizing that it is not. “It reveals everything that Michael Lindsay-Hogg couldn’t portray in 1970. It presents a very honest look at the internal dynamics of the band.”

Discover the Moment That Signaled The Beatles’ Breakup

April 10, 1970, is a critical date etched in the annals of Beatles history, as it marks the day when Paul McCartney seemingly announced his exit from the band. In a unique move, Paul released a “self-interview” to the media in conjunction with the promotion of his debut solo album, McCartney, as noted by History. “Q: ‘Is this album a break from the Beatles or the beginning of a solo career?’ PAUL: ‘Time will tell. Being a solo album means it’s ‘the start of a solo career…and not being done with the Beatles means it’s just a rest. So it’s both.’”

In this self-reflection, Paul pondered whether his separation from The Beatles was a temporary hiatus or a permanent decision. He responded, “Personal differences, business conflicts, musical disagreements, but most importantly, I enjoy spending time with my family more. Is it temporary or permanent? I can’t say for sure.” While this statement did not serve as a definitive breakup announcement, many journalists interpreted it as such, igniting speculation about the band’s future.

“[Paul] He can’t have his way, so he’s causing chaos,” John Lennon remarked in the May 14, 1970 issue of Rolling Stone. “I released four albums last year, and I didn’t utter a word about quitting.” These albums included Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins, Unfinished Music No. 2: Life With The Lions, The Wedding Album, and Live Peace In Toronto 1969, all collaborations featuring Yoko Ono.

In May 1970, The Beatles released Let It Be, marking their twelfth and final studio album. Accompanying this release was a documentary film of the same name, which documented the recording process of the album and featured their iconic rooftop performance. Paul McCartney reflected on the Let It Be film for a recent reissue, stating it was “sad as it chronicled the dissolution of our band, but the new film demonstrates the camaraderie and affection that existed among the four of us.” (h/t The New York Times)

While the prevailing narrative suggests that The Beatles dissolved in 1970, fans and historians argue that the band had been experiencing strife long before that fateful year. Their last paid concert occurred three years prior, on August 29, 1966, at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, while the rooftop performance took place in 1969 (h/t Newsweek).

Unraveling the Reasons Behind The Beatles’ Split

“Our film doesn’t depict the breakup of The Beatles,” Jackson explained to The New York Times, “but it highlights a pivotal moment in history that could be seen as the dawn of the end.”

This pivotal moment can be traced back to the arrival of Allen Klein, an American business manager who joined the scene just days before the famed 1969 rooftop performance to offer his services. The Beatles’ longtime manager, Brian Epstein, had tragically passed away on August 27, 1967, due to an accidental overdose. “I realized we were in trouble back then,” Lennon recounted in a December 1970 interview with Rolling Stone. “I had no illusions about our capability to do anything beyond making music, and it frightened me. I thought, ‘We’ve f**king had it.’”

Upon Klein’s arrival, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr signed contracts with him, while Paul McCartney opted out, leading to a rift that never fully healed. “I had to fight back, and the only means of doing so was to sue the other Beatles because they were siding with Klein,” he shared in an October 2021 interview with BBC Radio 4, according to The Guardian. “And they expressed gratitude to me for it years later.” Paul maintained that he was not the catalyst for the breakup. “I didn’t instigate the split. That was our Johnny… John walked into a room one day and declared, ‘I am leaving the Beatles.’ Is that instigating the split, or not?”

A significant factor contributing to the band’s dissolution was the overwhelming burnout and creative pressure they faced. The group released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967, which elevated their status to that of perceived musical geniuses. The expectations to follow that monumental album were staggering, and Get Back captures some of the intense moments of creative struggle experienced by the band. Jackson’s documentary also clarifies a common misconception: even though Abbey Road was released before Let It Be, it was actually recorded after the latter.

Let It Be was recorded in January 1969, while work on Abbey Road commenced in February and wrapped up in August. The album was officially released in September 1969.

Many fans have attributed the Beatles’ breakup to Yoko Ono, yet as highlighted in the You’re Wrong About podcast during their September 2019 episode, the fractures in The Beatles’ relationships were nearly irreparable by the time she entered the picture.

Ultimately, the split of The Beatles can be attributed to a complex interplay of factors: colliding egos, creative fatigue, legal entanglements, and the immense pressures that accompany being the most famous band in the world.

Stream the Captivating Beatles Documentary Now

The Beatles: Get Back is currently available for streaming on Disney+. According to a previous press release reported by Variety, the documentary received “enthusiastic support from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon, and Olivia Harrison.”