Don't Blame Yoko -- Taxes Killed the Beatles

For those interested in the intersection of politics and culture, a recent Times of London article, "The Beatles Were a Triumph of Capitalism," deserves a read. As the 40th anniversary of the Fab Four's break-up approaches, there's been plenty of reporting on how and why that occurred.

In his recent book "Magical Mystery Tours" (a wonderful insider memoir) [Tony] Bramwell argues that it was penal tax rates that helped to destroy the group's cohesion.

First told to give away vast amounts to avoid tax bills -- which they did in a series of madcap ventures, offering money to any old person who dropped by with a demo tape -- [the Beatles were] then told they had to make £120,000 in order to keep just £10,000. Soon their finances were in chaos and their energy sapped, as nutters besieged Apple HQ pressing tapes on them. They also ran a clothes shop as a tax dodge.

Bramwell blames Harold Wilson, the Prime Minister, directly. "There were enough new regulations and red tape to tie up free enterprise for years. . . . One minute Swinging London was like a giant theme park, the envy of the world, then they -- Wilson and his gang -- closed it down. It was as if they went out and stamped on it."

The reason why the influence of the 1960s endures is because it was the dawn of modern consumer capitalism. It was this culture -- of commerce and consumption -- rather than the counter-culture that made the era and now shapes our time.

(If you drive a car, car) I'll tax the street;
(If you try to sit, sit) I'll tax your seat;
(If you get too cold, cold) I'll tax the heat;
(If you take a walk, walk) I'll tax your feet.