The Long and Winding Road: The End of the Beatles

• Week 1 
  The breakup of the Beatles was multifaceted: money problems, Brian Epstein’s death, John Lennon’s relationship with Yoko Ono, not to mention creative divergences, internal power struggles and the evolving artistic impulses of all four Beatles. The end came as a shock to their fans, but the members had seen it coming for a few years.
• Week 2
  Paul wanted to continue like nothing had happened; John wanted to run as far away as possible from the Beatles; George was no longer the “Third” Beatle, becoming his own man; and Ringo just had to figure out what to do. As individuals, they never again reached the critical and commercial heights they had been able to achieve as a group.
• Week 3
  In 1970, each Beatle put out a debut solo album, proving that the fractures had begun long before the split was announced. The documentary film Get Back, meant to chronicle a renewed musical focus for the group, merely showed a slow and painful end, even though their last album, Let It Be, wasn’t released until April 1970.
• Week 4
  For nearly a decade after the split, rumours of a possible Beatles reunion persisted. Both fans and critics alike dreamed of what might be, but each former member rejected any idea of a reunion, which would interfere with their own personal careers. Then, in 1980, John was shockingly gunned down in New York and any possibility of a reunion died with him. 
• Week 5
  Since the demise of the Beatles, Paul has released 26 studio records, with 22 number-one hits. John’s work was not a commercial success, but his raw emotion was acclaimed by the critics. George’s work used songs he wrote that were rejected by the Beatles, which now are regarded with critical acclaim and had much commercial success.
• Week 6
  George died in 2001 and then there were just two. Both Paul and Ringo have continued releasing new material and touring well into their 80s, but the legacy of the Beatles is so much more than any of its parts: “They crossed the road and changed the world!”

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

• Understand the multiple factors leading to the breakup of the Beatles
• Appreciate the interpersonal dynamics and individual ambitions that prevented a Beatles reunion
• Recognize the enduring legacy of the Beatles decades after their breakup

• Lectures
• Participation in discussions
  
• Supplementary resources accessed through Canvas
  
• Reflective essay (applicable only to certificate students)

No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.