Sir Paul McCartney has said The Beatles came close to reforming before John Lennon’s death in 1980, but now believes it is a ‘blessing’ that the plans were never realised.
Speaking to Q Magazine, McCartney said a failure for all four members to agree on a reunion stopped the plans from ever going ahead: “There was a bit of talk of The Beatles at certain points,” he said. “What used to happen was three of us would fancy it and then maybe George or John or I wouldn’t. In a way it was a blessing. We’d done it, why spoil it? Whether it’s god given or not those four people was a pretty good mix.”
Rising tensions in The Beatles finally came to a head in 1970, when the legendary band officially announced their split in the April of that year. In the years following their break-up Lennon and McCartney’s solo output was constantly compared, with most critics citing Lennon’s post-Beatles work as superior and more thought-provoking than McCartney’s. Commenting on the differences in his songwriting as compared to Lennon’s, Sir Paul told Q: “You can’t have it all, I’ve written songs more about emotions. Like ‘Eleanor Rigby’ is about loneliness. Love songs like ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’. That’s my forte. I’d love to write more protest songs, but I don’t think I have the knack for it that other people do. I’ve complained about situations but they’re not necessarily my better songs.”
Sir Paul is set to play a clutch of live shows in the UK this summer, details of which can be found in our Tickets section.
I disagree that most critics argue that John’s post-Beatle solo work was superior to Paul’s. The sales definitely say otherwise. For more info about it, I suggest reading the book “Better Than Lennon-The Music & Talent of Paul McCartney.”
Where do I start…you need to go and read the book that is posted at http://www.thegoodguise.wordpress.com. Everything that is being put forth about John and Paul is incomplete and from an insignificant perspective. Once you understand what John and Paul really accomplished you will understand exactly why it was that the reunion never took place. There is so much to learn about them…just don’t go around thinking that everything about them is already decided upon – they are about to be seen by all who they really were…
@JohnCherry
the sales are not the indicator of quality (not always anyway). Britney Spears sells too. Just saying…
That said, The Beatles were magical together, they made something together that no one would be able to create individually. It will never be repeated.
Talking that one is better than the other is like mental masturbation. They were perfect they way they were.:) Peace!