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You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup |  | Author: Peter Doggett
Publisher: Harper
Category: Book
List Price: $24.99
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Rating:  25 reviews
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 400
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.3 x 1.5
ISBN: 0061774464
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.421660922
EAN: 9780061774461
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Product Description
The world stopped in 1970 when Paul McCartney announced that he was through with the Beatles. His statement not only marked the end of the band's remarkable career, but also seemed to signal the demise of an era of unprecedented optimism in social history. Though the Beatles' breakup was widely viewed as a cultural tragedy, one of the most fascinating phases of their story was just about to begin. Now, for the first time, You Never Give Me Your Money tells the behind-the-scenes story of the personal rivalries and legal feuds that have dominated the Beatles' lives since 1969. Journalist Peter Doggett charts the Shakespearean battles between Lennon and McCartney, the conflict in George Harrison's life between spirituality and fame, and the struggle with alcoholism that threatened to take Richard Starkey's life. In vivid detail, Doggett also describes the wild mismanagement of the Beatles' fortune staked largely in Apple Corps. You Never Give Me Your Money is a compelling human drama and an equally rich and absorbing story of the Beatles' creative and financial empire, set up to safeguard their interests but destined to control their lives. From tragedy to triumphant reunion, and chart success to courtroom battles, this meticulously researched work tells the previously untold story of a group and a legacy that will never be forgotten.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 25
 The Beatles, the business and how it tore and kept them apart June 12, 2010
Wayne Klein (My Little Blue Window, USA)
24 out of 26 found this review helpful
Mojo and Q writer Peter Doggett tackles one of the most difficult subject in The Beatles mythology in You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup. Doggett focuses on the hurricane of success that led to the band's break up and kept these four friends who went through the excitement/hell of Beatlemania together apart--the business of The Beatles, their own egos and all the baggage they carried into and out of their relationship(s) as former partners. The Beatles was truly always bigger than all of them separately and for them to carry on in the shadow of a monster was difficult--they were always individually measured against the sucess of The Beatles something much bigger than John, Paul, George and Ringo individually.
The first third of the book is devoted to The Beatles before and on the cusp of the break up including a discussion of Allen Klein, the Eastmans and the legal issues/conflicts between those outside of the Beatles camp and inside. The majority of the book though focuses everything from the petty (George stating sarcastically suggesting that Paul talked about recording some of John's songs because he ran out of good ones himself) to the major (the conflict between George, Ringo and Yoko when Paul set up a higher royalty rate that tied into his solo career but also effected his Beatles recordings as well that the other three weren't privy to).
"You Never Give Me Your Money" focuses on the legal squabbles and difficulties that John, Paul, George and Ringo faced in the aftermath of their massive success. The band faced friends who robbed them, each other in courtrooms,EMI the company they recorded for and their own personal demons of living up to the reputation that was bigger than all of them. Dogget documents McCartney's struggle with standing in the shadow of a former collaborator who suddenly became an icon; Harrison's attempt to escape being just a Beatle and Ringo surfing on his charm only to fall into a pit of drugs and alcohol. This isn't the first book to focus on the business/legal/ego issues that surrounded the Beatle money making machine (The Longest Cocktail Party and Apple to the Core both did to some degree) but this is the first one to give us a comprehensive look into their post-Beatle lives/business dealings with each other.
Doggett's book is well researched covering everything from the difficult conflict for control of the band between business savvy Allen Klein and the Eastman family to Harrison's financial troubles and McCartney's massive publishing empire. He details the cold/warm relationship between McCartney and Ono quite well. While Doggett does discuss the music he doesn't focus on it--instead he focuses on the people who made it and how they struggled to survive in the wake of one of the most successful and ripped off bands of all time.
Even though it is well researched there are a couple of minor errors that weren't corrected from the British edition--former Wings member at one point is referred to as a guitarist (he was the drummer and later is referred to in another section as the drummer for Wings), "The Beatles-Alpha & Omega" which had commericals airing on TV in 1973 in the U.S. is referred to as "The Beatles Story" (an album title for a 1964 Capitol Records release)and the ads are mentioned as airing on ABC-TV (it wasn't on the networks but on the affiliates). There's also no mention of the lawsuit that George Harrison filed against Ringo Starr related to Ringo recording his song "I'll Still Love You" or the fact that Ringo razzed George about it in an interview. It's possible that these might have been dropped for one reason or another during the editing stage of the book) but on the whole Doggett does an excellent job.
There's a mix of new and older information that's collated nicely by Doggett. Doggett brings it all together with some new insights into the situations The Beatles faced. You Never Give Me Your Money gives us a peek into the insanity (sometimes of their own making sometimes not)that continued to surround The Beatles after their "divorce". Recommended.
Already a classic July 23, 2010
Nowhere Man
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This book is so well written, so well documented, so succinct, relevant and consistent, it's instantly and already a reference book both for the Beatles scholars and fans.
The author's dedication and knowledge is obvious: in 350 pages he sums up facts, observations and (conclusions of mature) reflections around the main themes related to the Beatles breakup, in a perfectly cohesive and easy-to-read narrative.
I read it in a hard day's night. Why "hard"? Because of the content's inherent sadness. The speedy read is due to the book's obvious qualities and interest, but also to the general lack of serious, reliable current literature related to the subject. This one is serious. And reliable.
The note of skepticism of the last pages (referring to the latest Beatles "products" like the LOVE or Let It Be... Naked releases) is understandable: nothing can level the original releases; nothing compares to the fever of unpacking the latest Beatles vinyl LP, to the first (ever) listening to the Abbey Road album, or Let It Be, or Revolver or...
I look forward to re-reading this book with a cooler head, now that curiosity is fulfilled.
I also want to thank the author for his dedication. It's a rare thing.
The Sad Life (and sometimes death) of Richard, George, Paul and John July 28, 2010
Bornintime (The East Coast)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I've probably read a couple hundred books about music and musicians, but only about 15 or 20 on the Beatles. Out of all those books I can't say that this one was the most enjoyable, but it was certainly one of the most profound, the one that made me think the most about the vast chasm between myth and reality. Peter Doggett has been researching and writing and living the Beatles for decades so he is as qualified as anyone to write this book. It is the story of the actual men behind the phenomenon, what they have had to live (or die) through day by day and year by year. I'm not an expert but I don't suppose that there is much in the way of new revelations here but the presentation is certainly different. It doesn't spend a lot of time in exaltation of the music. We all know, the author as much as anyone, what this music and this band has meant both to popular culture and to us individually. We all understand, and there have been countless books and articles detailing it, the sense of joy, freedom, and hope that came from those songs. That's not discussed much here. What is discussed is the day to day reality of these men (flawed as you and I), the repercussions of being one of THE BEATLES, the unrealistic hopes and dreams of millions constantly laid on their all too mortal shoulders over decades. Seen for what it is, stripped of the myth, I often found it more brutal than desirable. Doggett simply reports what happened. He doesn't often draw conclusions for us.
From the beginning the Beatles were a vast source of untold wealth and everybody wanted a piece. Bad business decisions abounded from the beginning. The worst was probably turning things over to Allen Klein after Brian Epstein's death. Much of this book is given over to the repercussions of this action and the subsequent fallout between McCartney and the others. It was tedious to just read about all the lawsuits and legal maneuvers over many years. I can only imagine the stress living through it, month after month, year after year.
We get a sense throughout the book how ill equipped the individual Beatles were to deal with their lives - the insecurities mostly hidden from the public. Ringo struggling through decades battling alcohol and drug addiction, all the while creating work that no one really noticed except as nostalgia because he was a Beatle. Paul - constantly insecure by the comparisons between him and Lennon in which he always seemed to come up short (often unjustly). This was only magnified by John's death and Yoko Ono's constant subtle, passive aggressive comments that put Paul second to John in everything. John - fearful and directionless, subject to following his whims to ridiculous extremes in both his personal life and recording career. George - holding a grudge against Paul for years because he felt slighted and controlled for most of their time in the Beatles. After John's death in constant fear for his safety - a fear that turned out to be all too justified when a man broke into his fortress and tried to take his life. George's deliberately humorous comment was that the man wasn't there to try out for the Traveling Wilburys. The harsh reality was that George came very close to death that day, being stabbed 40 times in a brutal attack. This is exactly the thing that the author ably reveals - the vast difference between the carefree fantasy perpetuated and believed, and the truth of their lives. The constant questions and speculations about a Beatles reunion, even after John's death. It's all quite relentless and, when presented in this manner, seems to indicate the fame of these 4 men was more of a burden than a blessing. But that's just my impression; as I said the author doesn't draw conclusions or tell you how to feel. The most heartbreaking thing to me was how George could not even get any peace during his actual time of dying. One of his medical staff insisted on subjecting him to a song played by the man's son on guitar. He then practically forced him to sign an autograph and had to hold his hand since George didn't have the strength to sign by himself.
I think we have all, to some extent, looked at The Beatles through rose colored glasses - as if their lives were lived in some kind of golden haze, that anyone lucky enough to be in their inner circle was blessed to dwell among the gods. This book certainly shows how wrong we were.
Oh yeah! Alright! Are you gonna be in my dreams tonight? July 16, 2010
DangerousK (Randolph, NJ)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Whenever The Beatles are brought up, it evokes those in the conversation to enter a time machine in their mind that takes them back to another time and place. I find it to be truly fascinating that a band who in their final configuration (McCartney, Lennon, Harrison, and Starr) essentially played together for 7 years from 1962 to 1969. For many bands, they would simply be unable to make any sort of meaningful mark. Yet, The Beatles came to represent the 1960s for better or for worse unlike any entity. Their music evolved perfectly to represent the early 1960s, mid-1960s, and the late 1960s. It was truly a stunning achievement that they accomplished. They absolutely reaped the rewards from their creativity and musical genius during those 7 years. Sadly one could never have predicted that in the 40 years after they last played together as a group in Abbey Road Studios, they would be subjected to a wide range of misfortunes. There were good times for each member as individuals, but it seemed there were more bad times for them.
Peter Doggett lays down the story of the Beatles from the late 1960s through the present day. It is perhaps the most honest assessment of the band that has been put into print. Make no mistake about it, Doggett does acknowledge he is a big Beatles fan, but the book does not turn into a hagiography which can happen quite easily. In spite of his preference for the band, he simply lays down a story backed with facts, and it never feels as if he is telling the reader what to believe. Certainly some may disagree with things he says, but the reader can read the book without feeling pushed into accepting a certain view of the group. Many have chosen to remake the image of the late John Lennon so he appears as a saint. Doggett's book while not a look at Lennon specifically, shows a man who was quite human and made mistakes just like the rest of the members did, or even any one of us. People often lament the fact that the band never got together for a true reunion before Lennon's death in 1980, but Doggett's story makes it clear as to why it never happened. In some regards it probably was for the better even though many may disagree with that assessment.
Their end in 1969 was facilitated by several factors from Yoko Ono to Allen Klein to the Apple Corps. There was no one specific cause for the breakup of the band. It took several factors that when combined made it really impossible for the band to continue on due to the bickering over financial issues. Doggett does a wonderful job of laying out the problems that the Apple Corporation created for the group. The company was created with the best of intentions, yet it turned into a never-ending legal nightmare for the members after 1969. It helped to breed discontentment with one another as well as a lack of general trust among each of the men. While Ringo, John and George decided to go with Allen Klein as their manager in May 1969, Paul never wanted to go with Klein. Ironically ties would be ended with Klein who turned out not to be the ideal manager that the 3 members thought he would be.
While the legal and financial problems do take a center stage in the book, the story does not simply gloss over the solo careers of the band members or even their personal problems. We are treated to the constant sniping at one another throughout the 1970s and even into the 1980s and 1990s. Drug usage, alcoholism, failed marriages, and death play a role in their life after 1969. Even though the solo careers of Paul and George were very successful by most standards, they were simply unable to escape the past. George Harrison was a man who wanted nothing more than to leave his years as a member of The Beatles behind, but he was never quite able to. The curse for all the men was that no matter what they did in their solo careers, the comparisons to what they did together from 1962 to 1969 forever haunted them. It was always right on their heels nipping at them.
This is a book that simply must be read if you are a fan of the Beatles, or a music fan in general. The lasting influence of the band simply cannot be measured in quantifiable terms. But their story was not all fun and games. It shows how men who achieved so much together, could simply be reduced to bitterness in the face of success most can only dream of accomplishing. They represented the spirit of the 1960s unlike no one else and embodied the idea of living for the moment. Yet in living for the moment, many mistakes were made as a result and the mistakes would ultimately end their run together.
"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."
If only they had paid attention to their own song.
A fascinating look at Apple and the Beatles July 14, 2010
Steven W. Hirsch (New York City, USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
While the Stones exiled themselves to avoid the crushing British income tax, the Beatles attempted a more creative approach of pooling their assets in a limited partnership and financing everything from the outlandish imaginations of "Magic Alex" to signing such innovative new talent as James Taylor. This insightful study follows the implications of this structure from its inception up until the current time. Sprinkled throughout are glimpses of the personal lives of the Beatles with an extraordinary and touching account of the night John was murdered.
All in all one of the best books about the Beatles and their empire that I've ever read.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 25
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