Expert: James Michael Anderson - 4/26/2010

Question
QUESTION: hi! just curious about john and yoko's relationship and the changed it heralded for the band (the beatles)?

ANSWER: There are many opinions on Yoko's role in the change for the Beatles so I'll give you my take.  Yoko was one of many moving parts happening for the band.  The most impactful was the death of Brian Epstein.  This caused the band to really take on some new ways of thinking.  They shortly took their trip to India and did trascendental meditation with the Maharishy and began recording separately or in duos etc.. think White album and each song is more within a single band member's style rather than the more collaborative sound heard in earlier albums.  They tried to "Get Back" to that band sound with what was ultimately called the "Let it Be" album.  It was during these sessions that John started bringing Yoko into the studio.  Prior to this, the band had agreed not to have guests in while they were recording and certainly not to critique the music as it was coming along.. so the dynamics of the group were changed.. this "Get Back" project was shelved and released after the Abbey Road album essentially unfinished.

Hope that helps to provide some perspective..

All the best,
-Jim

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you for the great info!!!
so when he brought yoko in to the studio was it something he asked permission to do or did he take it upon himself? did it make anyone mad? was yoko pushy about critiquing them or was she pretty humble?

Answer
I wasn't there, so my knowledge is only based on what I've read/interviews etc.  It is my understanding that he did not ask permission and that the rest of the band was wondering what she was doing there.. John was going crazy, posing naked and doing bed-ins with Yoko, so the dynamics were intense.
You can see some of this if you watch the movie "Let it Be" - there are also some reference to it in The Beatles Anthology video series.

Cheers!
-Jim