In the aftermath of The Beatles’ breakup, tensions between Paul McCartney and John Lennon reached an all-time high.
Their friendship, once a vibrant collaboration, became strained with fierce disagreements and pointed criticisms.
Among the many issues they clashed over, McCartney recently recalled some of Lennon’s comments, labeling them as “crap” and ‘utter foolishness.’
The fallout from the band’s split was anything but amicable.
McCartney and Lennon engaged in heated phone calls, exchanged barbed lyrics in their music, and openly criticized each other during interviews.
A significant part of their discord revolved around business decisions, particularly regarding their management.
Lennon championed their manager, Allen Klein, while McCartney remained skeptical, believing that Lennon’s trust in Klein was misguided.
When Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr rallied to endorse Klein as The Beatles’ manager, McCartney firmly opposed their choice.
After the band’s dissolution, McCartney even took legal action to reclaim control over their music catalog from Klein.
By 1973, Klein was ousted by Lennon, Harrison, and Starr, which left McCartney feeling justified in his initial apprehensions about the manager.
Reflecting on this turbulent period, McCartney stated, “The only good thing I feel is that I wasn’t wrong.
It would have been tough to swallow if I had misjudged him and he turned out to be a genuine guy.” He emphasized his belief that true artists should retain ownership of their work rather than being exploited by someone like Klein, whom he deemed selfish.
Even prior to hiring Klein, McCartney noted that warnings came from other musicians, including Mick Jagger, who cautioned against Klein’s managerial prowess.
Lennon, however, brushed off these concerns, insisting that Klein could not possibly be as bad as portrayed.
McCartney found this stance to be quite naive.
Describing Klein as “nothing more than a trained New York crook,” McCartney recounted how Lennon’s reasoning seemed absurd.
“John would say, ‘Anyone whose record is as bad as this can’t be so bad,’ but that was just classic Lennon nonsense—utter foolishness.
Klein had already faced ten counts of income tax evasion,” McCartney remarked.
As McCartney reflected on their relationship, he acknowledged that sometimes Lennon’s remarks were taken with a grain of salt.
He suspected that Lennon often spoke more for the headlines than from the heart, especially when tensions were high.
“I know John well enough to understand that most of what he said was just for the papers.
He was in a particular mood and wanted to express himself,” McCartney explained.
He believed that while Lennon may not have regretted his words, they weren’t always meant to be taken literally.
Their conversations often devolved into shouting matches, especially when discussing business matters.
McCartney recounted instances where calling Lennon felt more like a confrontation than a conversation.
“I’d call him when I was in New York, and he’d respond with hostility.
It was nerve-wracking, and I often felt insecure about our exchanges,” he admitted.
Despite the bitterness that marred their relationship in the early years after the breakup, McCartney noted that time eventually worked its magic.
As the decade progressed, the two musicians gradually managed to reconnect on friendlier terms, easing some of the animosity that had defined their interactions.
Ultimately, the legacy of McCartney and Lennon remains complex, filled with moments of both collaboration and conflict.
The passage of time has allowed for reflection, and while some disputes may never fully heal, there’s hope that understanding can bridge the gap created by their past disagreements.
