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ONCE upon a time there was a group called the Beatles. They sold a lot of records, collected millions of fans all over the world, and became a legend. Now there are four young men called John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. In theory they are still the Beatles. In practice they are not. They have all made a lot of money and, barring a catastrophe, will live happily ever after. Their future is as vague as their success was phenomenal. Everyone knows about the past, but no one is too sure about their future, if they have one as the Beatles.
Above the Apple offices in London’s Savile Row there hangs a black flag. Their last album “Let It Be” was packaged in a black cover. It appears to be an omen that Beatles are over. It is extremely unlikely that there will ever be any more records by the group and it is even more remote that they ever perform again as a quartet.
There are a lot of questions their millions of fans want answering. This week MM put some of them to their official spokesman at Apple. He are the replies.
How long is it since the Beatles — all four of them — actually played together?
Apple: The last time was during the recording of Abbey Road album which was in the late summer of 1969. Various members of the group have since recorded together on individual sessions. George has been on Ringo’s sessions and vice-versa, but all four have never actually played together since summer 1969. That’s about a year ago.
Is there any recorded material still unreleased?
Apple: No. Even if there was it would never be issued. The group are always very conscious of keeping up with the current tastes.
Are any of the individual members working on solo albums at present?
Apple: Ringo has completed his country album in Nashville and it will probably be released in September. George is nearing the completion of his new album but we don’t know when it will be released. This will be very different from his other solo albums. The other two have not been in the recording studios but I would presume they have not been idle during the summer. It is not their nature to sit and do nothing.
Why has John Lennon been in Los Angeles all this year?
Apple: He is living very quietly over there. There have been no press reports about his activities so I assume he is living quietly. He has rented a house there. There is a lot of building going on at his house in Ascot. I have no idea when he will be back.
Where are the other three Beatles at the moment?
Apple: Paul is at his farm in Scotland. I have no idea when he will return to London. George and Ringo are both at their homes.
Are there any plans for a recording session in the future?
Apple: There are no plans at all.
Are there any plans for any kind of performance whatsoever?
Apple: None at all. There are no plans for any shows or tours.
What, if any, plans do the individual members of the group have for the future?
Apple: I don’t think any of them have any long-term plans. This isn’t unusual because they have never made long-term plans, even in their touring days. George is increasing his success at writing his own songs. He has developed as a composer and will probably continue this. Ringo is exploring different things. He may do more films and may do more comedy, singing and acting.
Have the Beatles finished as a group?
Apple: That is a question I cannot answer. There is no harm in anyone discussing it but it is a futile discussion for people who are not involved in it. I don’t think they will ever lose their Beatles tag even though they may never work together again.
Was “Let It Be” the last Beatles album as it appeared to be from the way it was packaged?
Apple: That way it was packaged did not mean it was the last album. All that work was planned long before all the publicity about the group breaking up. It may have looked like that but it wasn’t meant to.
Does the fact that there are no plans for the future mean there is no future for the Beatles?
Apple: No. The fact that there are no plans doesn’t mean anything. The group have never planned things much. It is not essential to make plans with the Beatles.
And so it appears there is still a slight chance that we may hear from the world’s most successful beat group again. It seems unlikely, however.
In their latest publication, a press book which traces their careers from “Love Me Do” to the present day there are a number of blank pages at the end. At the top of each page it says “to be continued.”
We shall without doubt hear a lot more about the Beatles so that the blank pages can be filled. But whether we shall hear the Beatles together again now appears too remote to consider.
