Manager Klein Says Beatles Disbanded Because of Paul (1971)

 While Allen Klein was making the film Blindman with Ringo in Spain, he did a very interesting interview with Playboy magazine. 

Manager Klein Says Beatles Disbanded Because of Paul

No Writer Listed

The News Tribune

October 24, 1971

    Allen Klein, embattled business manager of the Beatles, has revealed that he lays all the blame for the group's breakup squarely on the fourth Beatle, Paul McCartney, and his in-law managers, Lee and John Eastman.

     In spite of the present bitterness, Klein has not abandoned hope that the group could still reconcile. Klein's views, couched in the hard-hitting language that has contributed to his reputation for toughness, appeared in the November issue of Playboy.

    "Paul McCartney may have a choir boy image in the press and with the fans," Klein told Playboy interviewer Craig Vetter. "But I'm here to tell you it's not real. If anybody broke up the Beatles, it was him."

     Characterizing McCartney as a selfish person who insists on having his own way in everything, Klein said he was not surprised when the star, on the advice of his father-in-law Lee Eastman and brother-in-law John Eastman, filed suit in England to break up the Beatles' partnership, but that the other Beatles were.

     "John and George were very surprised," he claimed.  "Because they were all supposed to meet in England to discuss and possibly reconcile their differences. And then Paul didn't call any of them. He just went ahead and did it. Lennon and Harrison were not angry," Klein added, "just very sad and disillusioned.

     "I think things are going to get worse for McCartney before they get better," Klein said. "People are going to start finding out that he's not 'poor little Paul.' You know, before George did his benefit for Pakistani refugees at Madison Square Garden last summer, he called Paul and asked him if he wanted to come and play. Paul said, 'Sure, I'll come if you'll dissolve the partnership.'"

     Klein charged the Eastmans with provoking and worsening the bad feelings between McCartney and his partners, because of Lee Eastman's resentment over the fact that Klein, and not he, achieved management of three of the Beatles after the death of their former business manager Brian Epstein.

     "His ego was hurt," Klein told Playboy, "And he was striking back the only way he knew how-- emotionally. Peaceful negotiations," he added, "have been impossible. We had meetings with both the Eastmans, but you can't talk to them; they just start calling names."

     Klein, whom Playboy characterized as "Rock and Roll's only super manager," is a veteran of nearly as many lawsuits as the total number of records, gold records won by artists he managed. More than 100. He is not afraid of litigation. ("Remember, nobody sues a failure; they only sue a success.")  But he considers the partnership dissolution suit a legal nuisance as much to McCartney as to the other Beatles.

     "He's in exactly the same nowhere position as the other three. He declared it gets him the same frustration and annoyance that gets them. In my judgment, the entire action was brought for the sole purpose of trying to embarrass me, is an attempt to force me out and to gain what the Eastmans wanted- control of Apple and the Beatles."

     Klein said he would like to see all of the Beatles getting together to solve their problems amicably, instead of resorting to a lawsuit, which he estimates won't come to trial for another two years if it ever does. 

    "I still think it would be better if the four of them would just talk to each other about it. I've wanted that from the beginning. If they were all to sit down around a table, and the truth were known to all of them, I think they could solve it in a minute."

     Asking whether he thinks the Beatles will ever play together again, Klein replied, "I really don't know. It's up to them completely. There's nothing stopping them."

     If they did, he would expect his relationship with them to continue. "Paul's the only one who's got trouble." He asserted, "Look at the rest of them. They're producing more and better than ever before. They're all happy, and they're now with their families. It's not how much money I make for them. They're the Beatles. They'll make money no matter what. That's not important. I just wish people could look at the three of them right now and understand why I'm proud. I've been through a lot for these guys, but it's been worth it."