Four lads from Liverpool. Their music changed the world, but their path to superstardom wasn’t paved entirely with gold records. One surprising challenge they faced? Deciphering who truly had their backs.
This group, surrounded by a team managing their meteoric rise, became easy targets for those looking to exploit their trust. Some of their closest people have betrayed them, and led them to troubles that greatly impacted their careers.
The Fab Four and a Flaw About Judging Character
Those close to The Beatles observed such issue; that the band struggled to identify genuine intentions. Their longtime manager, Brian Epstein, even expressed concern over their judgment of character. Press officer Derek Taylor, in the book All You Need Is Love: The Beatles in Their Own Words, quoted Epstein saying, “The boys were very bad judges of character.”
Following Epstein’s passing, The Beatles took on more control of their business affairs – a move many saw as detrimental. They seemingly believed their fame shielded them from being scammed.
“They were terrible, terrible judges of character,” stated Ron Kass, former president of Apple Records. “They were boys from Liverpool who thought they couldn’t be taken, but they knew nothing.” These misplaced trust issues would lead them to make poor decisions involving figures like manager Allen Klein and friend Alex Mardas.
A Case of Misplaced Trust
During the construction of Apple Studios, The Beatles hired Alex Mardas to modernize their recording equipment. Kass describes Mardas as someone with a history of outlandish inventions. He promised the band a state-of-the-art 72-track studio, a claim that would soon unravel.
The finished product fell far short of expectations. The studio lacked soundproofing, a mixing desk, and even a connection between the control room and the studio itself. It became clear the band had placed their trust in the wrong person.
George Harrison’s reflection on the situation is particularly scathing. In Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, he calls Mardas’ studio “the biggest disaster of all time”. He criticizes Mardas’ unprofessional demeanor and the faulty design, highlighting the sixteen tiny speakers for a stereo system. The entire project ultimately had to be scrapped.
A Business Decision That Backfired
The appointment of Allen Klein as manager proved to be a major turning point for The Beatles. Paul McCartney expressed strong reservations, but the other members outvoted him. This disagreement poisoned business discussions within the band, ultimately contributing to their breakup.
Klein continued to manage the solo careers of John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. However, their trust in him began to erode as questions arose about his handling of their finances. By 1973, all three had severed ties with him.
John Lennon, in The Beatles Diaries Volume 2: After the Breakup, acknowledged the band’s mistake. While avoiding specifics, he hinted that Paul’s initial concerns might have been valid and that the timing felt right to finally move on from Klein.