When The Beatles went their separate ways in the early 1970s, few thought that half a century later the pioneering band would still influence pop music culture.
But, with Friday marking 50 years since their unofficial break-up, the so-called “Fab Four” are still popular and present, in spirit if not in the flesh.
“The Beatles were said to have been the 20th century’s greatest romance, but no one then could have foreseen that such an already phenomenal accomplishment would extend into the next century,” band historian Mark Lewisohn told AFP.
“50 years now after breaking up, The Beatles remain an artistic ultimate, leading creative people everywhere to the limitless playing field, open to all,” said the ardent author of “Tune In”, the first instalment in a trilogy, “The Beatles: All These Years”.
Flashback to the April 10, 1970, release of an interview with Paul McCartney, in which he suggested The Beatles were done making records together, and the band’s legacy seemed far less certain.
Given shortly before the release of his first solo album, McCartney stopped short of announcing the formal break-up of the band in the brief and ambiguous Q&A.
But asked if he foresaw a time when his prolific songwriting partnership with fellow Beatle John Lennon would restart, his blunt reply — “no” — spoke for itself.
“McCartney Breaks Off With Beatles”, The New York Times headlined.
A British High Court case later that year to dissolve the business partnership made it official.
