The Beatles’ breakup has been detailed in new light by wife of Derek Taylor (Picture: Chris Walter)
The collapse of The Beatles is still shrouded in mystery for fans of the British boy band but a newly discovered diary spills never before seen details.
Weeks after a rare vinyl was uncovered, a diary kept by the wife of ‘Fifth Beatle’ Derek Taylor is up for auction, documenting 1969 and the demise of the Love Me Do hitmakers.
Taylor was the press officer and close friend of the four, working at Apple Corps as their head of publicity in 1964 then again between 1968 and 1970.
The diary, written by Joan Taylor, covers arguments which happened almost a year before the official end of the beloved band, widely credited to John Lennon’s exit.
‘George has walked out of The Beatles and won’t go back,’ wrote Taylor of George Harrison who was the second person to threaten to abandon the quartet.
The Get Back sessions in January 1969 proved an incredibly difficult time for him as he felt there wasn’t enough credit given to his songwriting ideas.
He was by the side of Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison as they broke America (Picture: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
The diary reveals details of The Beatles’ collapse (Picture: Special Auction Services/SWNS)
Taylor was behind much of the group’s publicity (Picture: Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Her diary entry gives credence to the rumours that the guitarist had stormed out on January 10, jokingly declaring they would replace him with Eric Clapton.
She also touched on the introduction of notorious recording boss Allen Klein who is said to have influenced The Beatles split.
‘Allen Klein going to handle business affairs for The Beatles, which has put the cat among the pigeons,’ the diary reads.
Taylor also revealed a rather scathing view of Sir Paul McCartney, who her husband didn’t appear to get along with, causing ‘sleepless nights’.
She detailed a ‘rotten day with Paul’ as well as recording ‘more trouble with Paul’ during that turbulent period, which ‘went on most of the day and night’.
‘Pattie bought Derek home after visiting George in hospital,’ Taylor wrote. ‘We are both pretty exhausted by it all. I think this is the beginning of the end for Derek at Apple.’
Taylor said Derek went with Harrison to the police station on his infamous arrest (Picture: Evening News/REX/Shutterstock)
The Beatles officially parted ways in 1970 (Picture: Central Press/Getty Images)
Taylor remained close to Harrison and Lennon after the split (Picture: Getty Images)
The fellow Liverpudlian remained close with both Harrison and Lennon after the collapse of the band, editing the guitarist’s memoir I, Me, Mine in 1980.
The diary also includes day-to day details of Taylor’s life such as taking delivery of John’s piano and having ‘good nights out’ with him and Yoko in happier times.
‘We came home with John, Yoko and Pete and played records and smoked,’ she shared. ‘John and Yoko are buying a house in Virginia Water.’
However, things weren’t always easy with the late singer as she revealed a ‘particularly difficult time at the office as a result of John’s interview on disc.’
Taylor continued: ‘We had a bit of bother on the phone. George came for a chat and when they came home it was all OK but they looked whacked.’
She recorded the day of Harrison and his wife Pattie’s arrest after a drug bust at their home on March 12, the day of McCartney’s wedding.
She revealed the moment Harrison abandoned the band (Picture: Special Auction Services/SWNS)
As well as Allen Klein’s turbulent hiring (Picture: Special Auction Services/SWNS)
He worked as a journalist in breaks from the band (Picture: ANL/REX/Shutterstock)
It reads: ‘George and Pattie were busted this afternoon. Derek went with George to the police station.’
The diary has been called a ‘fascinating artefact’ for any dedicated superfan as it goes under the hammer at Special Auction Services in Newbury, Berkshire on March 26.
It is expected to fetch between £400 and £600 for the unique insight into the still popular band behind closed doors.
Dave Martin, the auctioneer’s music and entertainment expert, said: ‘The Beatles have been written about so many times that it is hard to find new insights into the band.
‘But this diary throws a light on the key dates and events in the run-up to their split and gives personal details that would not have been available before.
His wife was privy to insider discussions and arguments (Picture: Daily Mirror/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images)
Taylor stayed with them right until the official end of The Beatles (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)
He worked with Harrison multiple times after the Beatles (Picture: Peter Carrette Archive/Getty Images)
‘Although the public were not aware of it, the break-up was building up for about a year before it became public, and so to a Beatles collector this is a fascinating artefact.’
Derek was one of a handful of people working closely with the band at the height of Beatlemania, accompanying them on their first tour of the US.
The journalist had been hired after he reviewed The Beatles’ Manchester Odeon gig, catching the eye of manager Brian Epstein who convinced him to become their press release writer.
Taylor was the person who broke the news that The Beatles had officially broken up after McCartney hinted at it previously.
On September 9, 1997, Taylor passed away from cancer at his home in Sudbury, Suffolk, aged 65.
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