Product Description

When Paul McCartney told the world in 1970 that he had no plans to work with the Beatles again, it was widely viewed as a cultural tragedy by the media and public alike. 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 cultural history. But posterity would not let go of the group so easily and one of the most fascinating phases of the Beatle's story was just about to begin. For almost 40 years the four members of the group, their families and business partners, have been forced to live with the reverberations of their incredible success. Now, for the first time, "You Never Give Me Your Money" tells the dramatic story of the personal and business rivalry that has dominated the Beatles' lives since 1969. It charts the almost Shakespearian rivalry of the Lennon and McCartney families, the conflict in George Harrison's life between spirituality and fame, and Richard Starkey's efforts to escape the alcoholism that threatened to kill him. It documents the shifting relationships between the four as they strive to establish their identities beyond the Beatles and it chronicles the transformation of their multi-media company, Apple Corps, from a bastion of 1960s counter-culture into a corporate behemoth. The best of rock'n'roll writers, Peter Doggett gives us a compelling human drama and the 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 court battles to chart success, "You Never Give Me Your Money" traces the untold story of a group and a legacy that will never be forgotten.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2037 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-24
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 400 pages

Review
`An enthralling new book on the group.' --The Independent

`an admirably unstarry-eyed path through the breakup of the band and beyond.' --Metro

`What Doggett has achieved is a laying bare of the darker consequences of enormous fame and wealth.' --Irish Times

"A breath-taking record of uncontrolled fame's grotesque side-affects."
--Q Magazine

"Doggett's approach to the Beatles is brave...refreshing."
--New Statesman

`The Beatles Story you haven't read.'
--GQ

"A familiar story, freshly told" --Financial Times

About the Author
Peter Doggett has been writing about popular music, the entertainment industry and social and cultural history since 1980. A regular contributor to Mojo, Q and GQ, his books include The Art and Music of John Lennon; a volume detailing the creation of the Beatles' Let It Be and Abbey Road albums; the pioneering study of the collision between rock and country music, Are You Ready for the Country? and, most recently, There's a Riot Going On: Revolutionaries, Rock Stars and the Rise and Fall of 60s Counter-culture.

Customer Reviews

TREMENDOUS ACCOUNT OF THE BEATLES' LAST DAYS & BEYOND
Peter Doggett's new book is essential reading for any diligent student of The Beatles. It charts the complex, often exasperating and frequently upsetting tale of their increasingly tangled business affairs, the emotional turmoil this wreaked on each member (and the people who were closest to them) and how monumental decisions made in a time of huge optimism and innocence ultimately ensured that John, Paul, George & Ringo were bound together forever, whether they liked it or not.

Beginning in 1967 during the gradual formation of Apple and continuing right up to the present day, `You Never Give Me Your Money' documents The Beatles' spilt more successfully than almost every other account, revealing the inner-workings of Apple and providing a detailed background to the subsequent antagonism between Lennon/McCartney and McCartney/Harrison.

Rest assured however, this is not some tabloid-style character assassination al-a Albert Goldman: it is an unbiased and well-balanced account of the reality behind the biggest entertainment phenomenon the world has ever seen. Doggett merely shows The Beatles as human beings, four incredibly talented but rather naive young men struggling to come to terms with the financial monster they had unwittingly created.

Nor is `You Give Me Your Money' a dry account of one contract-signing and boardroom-meeting after another; Doggett ensures that the various deals and manoeuvres are explained in a clear, concise and eminently readable fashion, never losing sight of The Beatles' characters or the changes of fortune in their lives and careers following the split. The motivation behind many of these deals is never less than intriguing.

As a huge Beatles-obsessive I've read almost everything about the group I could get my hands on but Doggett manages to include many illuminating interviews I'd never seen before (particularly from Lennon and Apple Spokesman Derek Taylor), although every significant player in the story is well-represented throughout with interesting and insightful quotes.

Whilst no-one here gets away entirely clean, ultimately Doggett's book only made me admire The Beatles even more. It's frankly mind-boggling that they could even stand to be in the studio together at all during 1968-70, let alone make some of their most brilliant and enduring music. But they succeeded. `You Never Give Me Your Money' is ultimately a bittersweet testament to the ability of that music to transcend the harsh reality of the business behind it. It's also one of the few Beatles books in recent years to actually reveal anything new or interesting. If you're serious about The Beatles and their story, you have to read this.

Brilliant!
I could not put this book down! I thought I knew everything about the Beatles but this book is crammed full of stuff about their 'after' life. It's a very intriguing and entertaining book, so whether you're mad about the Beatles or not, it's a great read - definitely giving it to lots of people for Christmas...

Essential reading...!
I can't help but endorse the reviews already posted - this is an excellent book, detailing the complicated and protracted business affairs of The Beatles, both during the giddy days of Apple in the late 60s through to the 70s and beyond. If it sounds like a dry summary, you couldn't be more wrong. The narrative is brisk & filled with detail that will satisfy most followers of Beatles lore. Above all, it is a hugly sad story as well, showing just how far four people who survived in the eye of the hurricane during Beatlemania drifted apart during the 70s, descending into petty, petulant squabbles as the lawsuits & counter-lawsuits dragged on during the process to disentangle the Apple empire. Conversely, it also offers a glimpse as to how close The Beatles came to reuniting during the mid-1970s when relations thawed.

The only criticism of the book (& it's a small one) is that jacket for the book must rank as being one of the dullest I've seen - it doesn't exactly 'shout' from the bookshelves!