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Who Left The Beatles in Order?

Published in Beatles Breakup 2 mins read

While Paul McCartney publicly announced the end of The Beatles, it was John Lennon who first decided to leave the band, marking the true beginning of their separation.

For decades, public perception held Paul McCartney as the individual who "split The Beatles" when he unveiled his self-titled solo album in April 1970, an event that shocked the world and signaled the Fab Four's demise. However, McCartney consistently maintains that he was not the one who quit; rather, it was John Lennon who made the initial, definitive decision to depart the group.

The sequence of key events that led to the official breakup of The Beatles, considering each member's actions related to the band's ultimate dissolution, can be outlined as follows:

Member Key Event / Date Details
John Lennon Privately Quits: September 1969 After the completion of the Abbey Road album, John Lennon privately informed the other band members of his decision to leave. This pivotal moment, as Paul McCartney asserts, marked the true initial departure from the group, though it was kept secret from the public.
Paul McCartney Public Announcement: April 1970 Paul McCartney publicly announced his departure from The Beatles while promoting his first solo album. This statement, made to the press, was the definitive public confirmation of the band's split, despite Lennon's earlier private decision.
George Harrison Pursued Solo Career: Post-1970 Although George Harrison had expressed frustrations and even briefly walked out during recording sessions earlier (e.g., during the Get Back sessions in January 1969, from which he returned), his permanent separation from the band's collective identity solidified after Lennon's decision and McCartney's public announcement. He successfully launched a major solo career.
Ringo Starr Pursued Solo Career: Post-1970 Ringo Starr also experienced a brief, temporary departure during the White Album sessions in August 1968 but promptly returned. His final disengagement from the band's active dynamic was a direct consequence of the band's overall dissolution, leading him to pursue his own successful solo endeavors.

It's important to understand that while Lennon's private decision to quit preceded McCartney's public announcement, both events were crucial milestones in the band's dissolution. The band's internal dynamics had been strained for years, with various members expressing desires to leave at different points, but Lennon's declaration was the catalyst for the final split, and McCartney's announcement made it undeniable to the world.