Harrison doesn't come back: An earlier Beatles breakup?

In retrospect, the final release of both Abbey Road and Let it Be were extraordinarily luck affairs, considering the pressures the group was under in the time period.

Famously, on January 10th 1969, George Harrison stormed out of a recording session, and announced that he had left the group. By all appearances it was a more serious situation than when Starkey had left the group during the White Album. IOTL the band was able to get Harrison to return, however briefly. What if Harrison had refused to rejoin the group?
 
I think it'd be the same thing as happened when McCartney left. Varying feelings, and everyone saying "We'll probably be recording next year". As we saw when that happened, the Beatles actually did break up (McCartney suing to end them as a legal entity, pissing off the others but denying -that greedy SOB- Allen Klein to milk them further for his own coffer). I think without Harrison, the rest may try to carry on or may just say enough is enough and quit, citing their own tensions with the band as well. An interesting question is will the Beatles continue as a legal entity or will the legal entity of the Beatles be similarly dissolved?
 
I can see them continuing for awhile ... and bringing in a friend of theirs, Eric Clapton, to take over for George. After all, he did the solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," and had history with the band.

So Blind Faith breaks up and Clapton joins the Beatles. And because the Beatles were always on their best behavior around company, maybe the recording of "Get Back" is smoothed somewhat, the album comes out as intended in 1969.

Their next album is robbed of "Here Comes The Sun" and "Something," which become big solo hits for Harrison. Those songs are replaced by Clapton's "After Midnight" and "Let It Rain," highlights of the 1970 release of "Everest."

So, no "Let It Be" album, hard feelings supressed somewhat, a sense of rejuvenation with a new band member, and maybe another album after "Everest."
 
I can see them continuing for awhile ... and bringing in a friend of theirs, Eric Clapton, to take over for George. After all, he did the solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," and had history with the band.

So Blind Faith breaks up and Clapton joins the Beatles. And because the Beatles were always on their best behavior around company, maybe the recording of "Get Back" is smoothed somewhat, the album comes out as intended in 1969.

Their next album is robbed of "Here Comes The Sun" and "Something," which become big solo hits for Harrison. Those songs are replaced by Clapton's "After Midnight" and "Let It Rain," highlights of the 1970 release of "Everest."

So, no "Let It Be" album, hard feelings supressed somewhat, a sense of rejuvenation with a new band member, and maybe another album after "Everest."

The scenario you're suggesting is what John Lennon purposed historically. Paul McCartney shot the idea down, basically taking the attitude that without George, there's no group, period

Perhaps if its absolutely clear that under no circumstances is Harrison is returning to the fold. McCartney could be persuaded to change his mind on the subject.

But what about Clapton? Would he be willing to join the group? I have my doubts.
 
You know, upon review "Let It Rain" sounds a lot like "It Don't Come Easy". Odd that.

How would the public react, and would they overtly make him a member, or just keep Harrison's face while having Clapton in the background providing enough support to finish up?
 
How would the public react, and would they overtly make him a member, or just keep Harrison's face while having Clapton in the background providing enough support to finish up?

Maybe Clapton becomes like Billy Preston was, a guest who stayed for awhile (only a longer while). Preston was credited on Beatles single, if I'm not mistaken.

So maybe it's 'The Beatles with Eric Clapton', at least on the back cover of both 'Get Back' (the front of which still features George with the boys at the EMI offices) and 'Everest' (which doesn't have a photo of the boys, to minimize the impact of No George).

I think Clapton would've helped his friends if he was asked. Actually, he also likely would've asked Harrison, one of his best friends, if that was OK. Harrison, intending to leave for good, probably wouldn't have had a problem with Clapton taking his place. After all, he gave his blessing a few years later with he handed Pattie over to Eric!
 
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