You Never Give Me Your Money: The Battle For The Soul Of The Beatles
by Peter Doggett

* When Paul McCartney told the world in 1970 that he had no plans to work with the Beatles again, it was widely viewed as a cultural tragedy by the media and public alike. His statement not only marked the end of the band's remarkable career, but also seemed to signal the demise of an era of unprecedented optimism in cultural history.* But posterity would not let go of the group so easily and one of the most fascinating phases of the Beatle's story was just about to begin. For almost 40 years the four members of the group, their families and business partners, have been forced to live with the reverberations of their incredible success.* Now, for the first time, You Never Give Me Your Money tells the dramatic story of the personal and business rivalry that has dominated the Beatles' lives since 1969. It charts the almost Shakespearean rivalry of the Lennon and McCartney families, the conflict in George Harrison’s life between spirituality and fame, and Richard Starkey’s efforts to escape the alcoholism that threatened to kill him. It documents the shifting relationships between the four as they strive to establish their identities beyond the Beatles and it chronicles the transformation of their multi-media company, Apple Corps, from a bastion of 1960s counter-culture into a corporate behemoth.* The best of rock'n'roll writers, Peter Doggett gives us a compelling human drama and the equally rich and absorbing story of the Beatles' creative and financial empire, set up to safeguard their interests but destined to control their lives.* From tragedy to triumphant reunion, and court battles to chart success, You Never Give Me Your Money traces the untold story of a group and a legacy that will never be forgotten.

Reviews

An enthralling new book on the group
David Lister (Independent)

A breath-taking record of uncontrolled fame’s grotesque side-affects
Victoria Segal (Q Magazine)

Doggett's book... is a real page turner
Annie Lennox (Harper's Bazaar)

A page-turner, and for its genre and uncharacteristically literate one. The shelf of Beatles reads is short, but You Never Give Me Your Money belongs on it
Christopher Bray (Literary Review)

An admirably unstarry-eyed path through the breakup of the band and beyond
 (Metro)

Dropping like a howitzer shell amid a rare ceasefire between Capm Yoko and Macca HQ, there’s something mischievous in the timing of Peter Doggett’s latest decostructino of ‘60s mythoculture
Danny Eccleston (Mojo)

[a] balanced account of the band’s journey from reckless idealists to astute, weary businessmen
 (Record Collector)