The Beatles is so vivid that reading it is like living through the entire history of the band once again. While much of the group’s story is well known, Bob Spitz fills in the details surrounding the world’s most legendary rock band.
The book leads the reader to draw certain conclusions, including how vital Brian Epstein was to the Beatles’ success. He came upon them when they were a raucous band covering American rock ‘n’ roll in grungy English and German clubs. Epstein refined their image, as they traded in their black leather jackets for suits. He was an indefatigable promoter and visionary and an equally careless dealmaker who let the band’s finances fall into disarray.
Spitz captures the madness of the group’s tours, in which they were constantly chased by frenzied adolescent girls and couldn’t hear themselves sing. They finally got to the point where they decided not to tour anymore, becoming strictly a studio band – and they became masters of the studio, known for polished songs, outstanding production, and innovative sounds. In this regard, the contributions of producer George Martin were invaluable.
The Beatles lasted little more than a decade, splitting apart due to personality differences and monetary squabbles. Lennon, the most psychically complex of all, took too much LSD and, eventually, heroin. The more practical and showbiz-oriented McCartney took over as leader of the band, provoking Lennon’s resentment. When Lennon fell in love with Yoko Ono and brought her to the band’s recording sessions, he in turn sparked resentment amongst the others. Yoko, while not necessarily breaking up the group, is depicted as a divisive force particularly pitted against McCartney, whom she saw as a competitor for influence over Lennon. George Harrison, who always felt overshadowed by Lennon and McCartney, also resented the latter’s instructions about how to play his guitar leads. Seeking financial independence, the Beatles formed Apple, a music, media and fashion conglomeration. That was a carelessly run entity, resulting in further financial squabbles and lawsuits.
Despite personal and monetary complications, the Beatles remain the most influential band in rock history. They actually were two bands in one, as their rock and pop period gave way to an imaginative, psychedelic period. While Lennon and McCartney wrote their songs individually, they also depended upon each other to refine them. Meanwhile, Harrison emerged from under their shadows as a songwriter and exerted an Indian influence through the sitar. Ringo Starr, sometimes maligned in an era of flashy rock drummers, provided unique patterns, especially in the later period. Bob Spitz masterfully captures the creative collaboration of this foursome and the ways they evolved with and influenced contemporary culture.
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