New Year’s Eve 1968 in London

Following the Christmas celebrations with Paul’s family in Liverpool, Paul McCartney and his new girlfriend Linda Eastman were in London to ring in the New Year. They celebrated with other members of The Beatles’ circle, including George Harrison and his wife Pattie, Ringo Starr and his wife Maureen, and Peter Brown.

That New Year’s Eve was rather sad. It didn’t really dawn on them that the end was coming yet, but it was obvious that things weren’t what they used to be. It had become a New Year’s Eve tradition for all of us from Liverpool to celebrate together, frequently at Cilla Black’s large terraced flat on Portland Place. These celebrations were befittingly warm, noisy affairs. […] But this year the celebratory mood was subdued. Cynthia was gone. So, of course, was Brian. John and Yoko didn’t show up. Ringo was growing bored with Maureen. And now Jane Asher was missing, too. In her place was Linda Eastman, whose tenacity had triumphed in landing her a Beatle. And now George and Pattie seemed to be having a hard time of it. Rumors were rife that George had lots of girlfriends on the side, while Pattie sat home and played the good hausfrau. The young couple spent most of New Year’s Eve arguing, and at midnight Pattie was locked in the bathroom, crying.

Peter Brown – From “The Love You Make: An Insider’s Story of the Beatles“, 2002

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