I was a fan of their music before I read this book - but wasn't exposed to much of a variety. But the stuff I had heard, I loved it, and while the movie Across the Universe wasn't the best - the soundtrack was - making the movie bearable.
The book was a lengthy 983 pages - including the appendix, pictures and such. It took a good 2 1/2 - 3 weeks to finish it, (the longest so far this summer) and every second was well spent. The book started from the beginning, literally, from the birth of each boys, and even sometimes their parents.
It was fascinating to learn about their beginnings and how it wasn't instant fame. They roughed it out, going to gigs in horrible conditions, without even being guaranteed regular meals and a warm/safe place to sleep. It was compelling to read about how hard they had it, but how they kept going because of their shared passion and gift for music - particularly rock and roll.
It made me realize that, whatever you do in life, you have to have a passion for it. Of course we are told that all the time, and to a certain degree, we know it. But in order to be successful and happy, you have to pursue your dream and persevere. This is what the boys did. They had their eyes and hearts set on music, and persevered.
I especially liked how the book was able to reveal their characters. Learning about who they were, their relationships with each other and others outside the group, made their music and songs much more meaningful. Listening to the songs now, I enjoy some songs more than I did before, just because I know what inspired it - the history.
There is no doubt that they had something special - something other than pure talent with their guitars, voices and drums. They had charm and an aura that attracted a certain frenzy. They were attractive physically, especially with their iconic haircuts, cute accents (to the Americans at least) and their young energy. When the Beatlemania hit in the early 60s, they were in their early 20s. What an attractive and appealing age! This was before the hippie-vibe set in, so their polished, clean-cut image was a success. Along with that, they had personality. They were witty and lived life to the beat of their own drums (tempted to put in a joke about Ringo but I will resist). I love watching interviews from their earlier days - they were funny, witty and sarcastic. They handled themselves well under ridiculous pressure, and under even more ridiculous and preposterous questions and interviews.
As the book continued, I followed the rest of their journey. They became lost - typical of any mid-20-year-old - searching for something more than what the world had to offer materialistically. At this point, they had it all - they had money, fame, looks, big houses, flashy cars, etc. But something was still missing - and so they all ventured off with their personal lives, each shaping into completely different people. Their personalities became more distinct and shaped each person into something completely different. Through the soul-searching, a lot of drugs were used, which also contributed to the forming and shaping of these iconic people.
John Lennon was probably most influenced by the use of drugs. Coming from a difficult childhood, he suffered the most emotionally and internally, and used drugs as a way to find comfort. Speed, pot, LSD, heroin, and lots of pills and alcohol. He became reckless and lost in a downward spiral, but definitely wasn't the only using and abusing. It was amusing at first to read about how often and liberally these drugs were used. They would live days off of drugs, sometimes without sleeping or eating... but in the end, it was sad.
There are a lot of theories and blame for why the Beatles broke up. There are those who find fault in Yoko Ono, or others in the managers - sometimes blame may be put on individual members of the group - but I would have to say, drugs was definitely a big part of the break up. Although it didn't directly break them up, especially since all of them used, it was more about the effect it had on them and how it molded them in the end - particularly John. It made him paranoid, more depressed and distant from the others. The break up may have been inevitable, but the way it was handled could have been one hundred times-over better.
And that comes to my final point (although I could go on). What I found most touching was the relationship and chemistry within the group, especially between John and Paul. There was no doubt that these two were the leaders in their own right. John can be credited for bringing the group together and making them the four. While John was musically talented, Paul had the special ingredient - at least in the beginning - for bringing them to fame. He had a knack for lyrics and a poppy sound that embodied much of their music in the beginning - the music that brought them into the spotlight. I loved how the book didn't sugar coat their relationship. They both had their faults, making them human: Paul was bossy, self-righteous and was striving for something upper class. John was rebellious and could be down-right mean. They were often jealous of each other, but this jealousy was insignificant to their friendship and musical influence on each other. They worked seamlessly, huddled in a room or a corner together for hours, writing lyrics, composing music and creating works of art.
The biography of this group was amazing - they had their ups and downs, and I felt the joy when they felt joy - and was sad when they were. But what truly made this almost unbearable to read was towards the end. It wasn't unbearable because of the writing -it was what was being written. Somewhere, the group took a wrong turn and it was harder and harder to read about what they had become, and how it only got worse. The recording sessions that were once written with optimism and ended with success - were now being described as tension-filled sessions, with constant bickering, sometimes resulting to people leaving and not coming back for days at a time. This group that had taken the world by a storm, were fighting, fueled by a variety of demons: jealously, money, drugs, paranoia, manipulation by others (I'm looking at you Yoko) and power. It was a power struggle, mainly between John and Paul and how much influence they had over the group. It was also sad to read about how John - who had inspired the group in the beginning - now didn't care - at all. It was especially disheartening to read how the special connection between John and Paul deteriorated - they had learned so much from each other, depended on one another and had each other's backs, until one day, they considered the other an opponent.
It was a tragic ending to a story that started off like a typically fairy tale. Boys coming from a city that was unheard of, in conditions that were poor. They worked hard and had their eyes set on the prize. They became each others' brothers - but in the end, that bond was so easily broken. They had known each other for 10 years (sans Ringo who joined a bit later), but their love for each other was extinguished in a few months, a year at tops.
I could keep writing, on and on, about this group... and book. It was an enlightening book that not only revealed the group, but also various political, social and cultural aspects of history during that time. This book also rings true to the saying "ignorance is bliss." I had an idyllic view of these boys - often associating the group from when they were in their 20s. Now, it's hard to think of the Beatles without thinking of the drugs, the fighting and their bitter end.
Regardless, even while they were fighting with words, they were able to come together through music and produce great, and ever-lasting music.
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