Unique legal documents detailing the “real story” behind the breakup of The Beatles more than 50 years ago have been discovered in a wardrobe. The never-seen-before legal papers are being auctioned off on December 12 – and are expected to fetch up to £8,000.
Found following the death of the seller’s brother, they are said to detail conversations about “the growing disputes” between members John Lennon,Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr – as well as discussions about the band’s finances.
The bundle also includes The Beatles’ original 1967 Deed of Partnership, auctioneers Dawsons said, as well as events from “inside the courtroom” when McCartney sued his fellow group members.
Some of the questions asked in the documents include, ‘Where is the money?’, ‘Why was there no written agreement when Ringo Starr joined the band?’, and ‘Would it be easier if The Beatles just retired?’
Experts at Dawsons, who are selling the documents, say they are all a person needs to “tell the real story of what led to one of the best-selling bands in history splitting up”.
The bundle is estimated to fetch between £5,000 and £8,000 when it goes up for auction on December 12.
Denise Kelly, Head of Dawsons Entertainment & Memorabilia Department, said: “These unique and detailed documents are fascinating and once I began to read them, I just couldn’t put them down until I had read every page.
“Even though John, Paul, George, and Ringo had grown tired of being The Beatles and wanted to record and perform as individual artists, this must have been a difficult time for each of them, especially having had such a close friendship and successful partnership.
“It has crossed my mind that if I were a script writer, these documents would be all I’d need to tell the real story of what led to one of the best-selling bands in history splitting up and going their separate ways.”
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