Paul McCartney says feud with John Lennon before the Beatles broke up felt 'like sticking little daggers in me'

Marina WattsFri, June 5, 2026 at 2:57 PM UTC

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Paul McCartney at 'The Beatles: Get Back' premiere in 2021; John Lennon at London Heathrow Airport in 1969Credit: David Fisher/Shutterstock; Chris Walter/WireImageKey Points -

Paul McCartney is reflecting on his friendship and brief feud with Beatles bandmate John Lennon.

The band, consisting of McCartney, Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, broke up in 1970 amid disputes over the band's management.

"Even though it was a painful period, we kinda had to go through it, or someone would have robbed us," McCartney said.

Paul McCartney has no bad blood with John Lennon.

The former Beatle, whose latest album, The Boys Of Dungeon Lane,was released in May, opened up about his relationship with his former bandmate. McCartney addressed whether he felt any responsibility to honor Lennon and his other late bandmate George Harrison while songwriting for the latest album.

"I suppose so. I never think of it like that," McCartney told NMElate last month.

"In one of the songs, 'Days We Left Behind,' I talk about 'We met at Forthlin Road,' which is where I used to live in Liverpool, and 'We wrote a secret code to never be spoken.' I don't feel like I have to be respectful. He's just a mate — it's just this guy who I met, and we wrote songs together, so I don't feel a sense of responsibility. I hope it is responsible."

John Lennon and Paul McCartney in November 1963Credit: Fox Photos/Getty

Towards the end of the Beatles' tenure, there were issues about the band's management that caused tension between McCartney and Lennon. McCartney thought his father-in-law, entertainment lawyer Lee Eastman, would be the best for the Beatles, while the remaining Fab Four preferred businessman Allen Klein, who took over the Beatles' business affairs following the death of Brian Epstein, in 1967.

McCartney was adamant about not working with Klein, which caused issues among the Beatles. The band ultimately broke up in 1970, in part due to Klein's questionable management tactics.

McCartney added that despite the arguments the individual members had about the band's vision, he has "very good memories" of Lennon and Harrison, telling NME, "even though towards the end of The Beatles, John was slagging me off a lot."

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"At the time, it was very hurtful, like sticking little daggers in me. It was just annoying, because you thought, 'I've got to answer him back, what am I going to do?' But I suddenly realized, 'Wait a minute, this is John. This is the guy I've known since I was 16. That's just what he does.' It didn't sting so much once I realized it was just John being John."

Looking back, McCartney added that it was "important" that he and Lennon made amends.

"I was lucky because we'd been separated because of the business trouble and stuff, and John eventually came 'round to my way of thinking that the guy they wanted to bring in [Klein] was a crook, and I'd suffered because they all thought I was the nutter, I was the crook," he explained.

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"So, when it turned out that I was right, it was good to hear John say, 'I think Paul might have been right' — begrudgingly."

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison in London in May 1967Credit: Jeff Hochberg/Getty

"Even though it was a painful period, we kinda had to go through it, or someone would have robbed us," concluded McCartney.

The Boys Of Dungeon Lane is available to stream or purchase.

on Entertainment Weekly

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