On September 20, 1969, The Beatles convened at Apple Corps headquarters in London, ostensibly to sign a renegotiated contract with Capitol Records that would secure their financial future. With Abbey Road fresh off the presses and an improved royalty rate in hand, it should have been a cause for celebration. Allen Klein, the band’s manager, had worked his magic, convincing EMI and Capitol to increase The Beatles’ US royalty rate from 17.5% to 25%, a move that guaranteed them substantial earnings until 1976. The contract was duly signed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr. George Harrison was absent but would sign in the following days.

But while this moment secured millions for the band, a far more significant event occurred behind the scenes that would eventually overshadow any business deal. In the middle of this routine meeting, John Lennon dropped a bombshell that none of his bandmates—least of all McCartney—saw coming. “I want a divorce,” Lennon said, ending any hope of The Beatles continuing as the Fab Four. The band had been teetering on the edge, but Lennon’s words pushed them over.

The Context: Tensions Bubbling Under the Surface

By the time of this meeting, The Beatles were already a ticking time bomb. For months, their internal dynamics had grown increasingly toxic. Paul McCartney’s dominant role during the Let It Be sessions had alienated the rest of the band, particularly George Harrison, who felt his songwriting contributions were constantly sidelined. The group had already reached a point of no return, exacerbated by Lennon’s growing involvement with Yoko Ono and his shift toward avant-garde projects.

In a meeting on September 8, just 12 days before Lennon’s announcement, the band had discussed making a follow-up to Abbey Road. Lennon and Harrison expressed frustration with McCartney’s growing control over the band’s music. Lennon proposed a radical change to the group’s songwriting process, advocating for equal contributions from all members: four songs each from Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison, with two from Ringo Starr. McCartney, however, dismissed the idea, calling it “too democratic.” Tensions simmered.

Lennon’s mind, though, was elsewhere. Fresh off a high from the Plastic Ono Band’s debut performance at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival on September 13, he was ready for a new direction. On the flight back from Toronto, his decision crystallized: it was time to leave The Beatles behind.

The Moment: Lennon’s Big Reveal

And so, on September 20, 1969, during a meeting at Apple Corps, John Lennon dropped his bombshell. The room included McCartney, Starr, Klein, and Yoko Ono, but Harrison was absent. As Klein was delivering the details of the new contract, which promised to improve their financial standing, Lennon could no longer hold back. He looked around and bluntly said, “I want a divorce.”

The phrase stunned everyone. Paul McCartney, who had long been fighting to keep the band together, was blindsided. According to McCartney, it was a “show-stopper.” Lennon later said, “It’s like I remember telling Cynthia I wanted a divorce,” referring to the rush of adrenaline he felt in making such a decisive announcement. Ringo Starr recalled the mood in the room, saying: “It was like a thought came into the room, and everyone said what they said. John didn’t think we should leave, just that we should break it up.”

McCartney tried to patch things up, even proposing that the band return to its roots and perform small gigs to find their identity again. But Lennon wasn’t having it. He told McCartney he thought he was “daft” for suggesting that The Beatles continue. As McCartney later described, “Good old John – he had to blurt it out. And that was it. There’s not a lot you can say to, ‘I’m leaving the group,’ from a key member.”

What Was Really Happening Behind the Scenes?

Lennon’s departure wasn’t just about creative differences or personal disillusionment—it was the result of months of soul-searching and growing distance from The Beatles’ image and legacy. While Abbey Road was being recorded, Lennon was preoccupied with his relationship with Yoko Ono and their artistic collaborations. His interest in the band had waned, and heroin use only added to his emotional withdrawal.

The Let It Be sessions earlier in the year had been marred by bitter infighting, with Lennon largely checked out. Meanwhile, McCartney was increasingly seen as the band’s de facto leader, a role that rubbed Lennon, Harrison, and Starr the wrong way. During the September 8 meeting, Lennon had proposed splitting up songwriting duties, but McCartney’s rejection of the idea only reinforced Lennon’s growing feeling that his time with the band was done.

After the Toronto concert with the Plastic Ono Band, Lennon realized he could be successful without The Beatles. This cemented his decision, which he was prepared to announce. However, manager Allen Klein, who had negotiated the lucrative contract, urged Lennon to keep quiet, as revealing the split too soon could harm the band’s financial future.

Why Didn’t the Public Know Sooner?

Despite the shock of Lennon’s announcement, the rest of The Beatles and their management kept the news under wraps for several months. Business considerations were at play—Klein knew that revealing the breakup too soon could jeopardize the release of Abbey Road and future deals. McCartney, for his part, was relieved that Lennon wasn’t going to make an immediate public statement.

In fact, Lennon himself later admitted: “Paul and Allen said they were glad I wasn’t going to announce it. I don’t know whether Paul said, ‘Don’t tell anybody,’ but he was damn pleased that I wasn’t.” Lennon, though, felt conflicted about staying quiet, later regretting not going public sooner, as McCartney did in 1970 when promoting his solo album.

Though hints of discontent leaked out, with Lennon and McCartney both making cryptic statements in the press, it wasn’t until McCartney’s public departure in April 1970 that the world knew for sure The Beatles were no more.

A Slow, Painful Death for The Beatles

The end of The Beatles wasn’t a sudden, clean break—it was more like a long, drawn-out divorce. While the business wheels kept turning, emotionally, the band was already shattered. Ringo Starr later reflected on the meeting, saying, “If that had happened in 1965, or 1967 even, it would have been a mighty shock. Now it was just, ‘let’s get the divorce over with.’”

Lennon had already moved on emotionally. He threw himself into his work with Yoko Ono, launching the Plastic Ono Band and recording solo material, including the single “Cold Turkey,” which had been rejected by The Beatles. McCartney, meanwhile, was devastated. In later interviews, he admitted that Lennon’s departure marked a low point in his life. “We all knew it was coming at some point,” McCartney said, “but it was still shocking when John actually said it.”

Lennon’s Legacy After the Breakup

In the years that followed, Lennon showed little sentimentality for The Beatles. He later said, “I started the band, I disbanded it. It’s as simple as that.” Lennon even admitted that his September 20 decision gave him a thrill, comparing it to the adrenaline rush he felt when he told his first wife, Cynthia, that he wanted a divorce.

Despite his departure, Lennon couldn’t fully escape the emotional fallout from the breakup. His 1971 song “How Do You Sleep?” was a pointed attack on McCartney, reflecting the bitterness that lingered between them after the split. Meanwhile, McCartney released his first solo album, McCartney, in April 1970, alongside a press release in which he officially announced his departure from the band.

The Quiet Beginning of the End

Lennon’s September 20 announcement was a quiet moment compared to the cultural earthquake it would eventually trigger. It wasn’t just the end of a band—it was the end of an era. The Beatles, once invincible, were finally broken. But Lennon wasn’t one for nostalgia. As he later put it, “The dream is over. What can I say?”

For The Beatles, the breakup became part of their legend, fueling the myth of the band that changed the world. But for Lennon, that September day was just another step on his journey—one that would take him far away from The Beatles, but never far from the spotlight.