John Lennon vs Paul McCartney: Paul's touching words about Yoko and reconciling FEUD

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John Lennon vs Paul McCartney: Paul's touching words about Yoko and reconciling FEUD
JOHN LENNON and Paul McCartney were locked in a feud following The Beatles split back in 1970, but later reconciled. Now, unearthed interview quotes show McCartney speaking out on their spat and sharing touching words regarding his pal’s relationship with Yoko Ono.
By MINNIE WRIGHT
PUBLISHED: Thu, Dec 26, 2019




John Lennon met Yoko Ono in 1966 and soon left his first wife Cynthia Lennon and started up a relationship with the artist. Shortly after they were married in 1969, he told The Beatles he no longer wanted to be part of the band. His romance with Ono is often the focus of The Beatles fans’ anger regarding the group’s split, with many blaming her for drawing him away from mainstream music and into more experimental endeavours.

During an interview with Howard Stern last year, Paul McCartney opened up on the divide between him and his childhood friend Lennon following the disintegration of the band.

On the period of time during which he and Lennon exchanged jibes through their solo music, the Wings star laughed: “We were writing songs at each other, weaponising songs.”

However, he went on to admit his relief that they reconciled their feud before Lennon was fatally shot in 1980.

“We got over it, luckily,” he said. “I feel very blessed that we got over it because if we hadn’t and then John goes and gets killed, I don’t know how I would’ve dealt with that.”



John Lennon vs Paul McCartney: The Beatles star McCartney spoke out on their feud and Yoko Ono (Image: GETTY)


John Lennon vs Paul McCartney: The Beatles split shortly after Lennon and Yoko Ono got together (Image: GETTY)

McCartney did, however, lay blame for The Beatles split firmly on Lennon.

“Who knows who broke The Beatles up,” Stern mused. “Everyone has a theory—”

“I know,” McCartney interjected, declaring: “John.”

When Stern commented that Lennon then tried to “pin” the split on McCartney, The Beatles star explained: “I don’t think anyone tried to pin it on anyone. It just came out that way.



John Lennon vs Paul McCartney: The Beatles star is now 'mates' with Yoko Ono (Image: GETTY)





“That’s a long story,” he continued. “There was meeting where John came in and said, ‘Hey guys, I’m leaving the group.’”

Nonetheless, McCartney had poignant words to say on his late friend’s much maligned relationship with Ono.

Remembering the band’s response to her prominence in Lennon’s life, he said: “John had met up with Yoko and even though we thought, oh God — a bit intrusive…

“She used to sit in on the recording sessions and we’d never had anything like that.”




“But looking back on it you think, the guy was totally in love with her and you’ve just got to respect that. So, we did and I do,” he insisted.

In interviews, McCartney has said the break-up of The Beatles wasn’t Ono’s fault, emphasising that Lennon was going to leave the band anyway.

Despite their tense relationship back in the 1970s, he and Ono are now friends.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, McCartney previously explained why things were fraught between the group and Ono in the early days, saying: “We weren’t sexiest, but girls didn’t come to the studio — they tended to leave us to it.

“When John got with Yoko, she wasn’t in the control room or to the side; it was in the middle of the four of us.”

He said the “big awakening” for him was: “If John loves this woman, that’s gotta be right. I realised any resistance was something I had to overcome.

“It was a little hard at first,” he admitted. “Gradually, we did.

“Now it’s like we’re mates. I like Yoko.”