Could There Be Another Yoko In The Internet World?

The Beatles may have been the greatest band ever, but their breakup is still a topic up to much debate. Many fans blame Yoko, and her influence on John Lennon, for the band's dissolution. In a 1987 Rolling Stone's interview, Yoko blamed Paul McCartney for the bands breakup, but chances are there will never be another Yoko, thanks to the Internet.

The popular opinion about the Beatles breakup has long casts most of the blame on Yoko. When Yoko appeared on the scene, the band was already going through a rough period, including infighting, and their every move was closely scrutinized by legions of fans.

The Library of Congress has released several interviews from the Rolling Stone archive, including the 1987 interview. The most obvious, and interesting, topic was the Beatles and their breakup.

Yoko's name became synonymous with an influence that hurt the band's camaraderie, leading to its eventual split. Yoko also has forged her own path as an artist, working with Lennon and as a solo artist, while never straying far from her aspirations. Even 20 years later, and seven years after the death of Lennon, Yoko sounded very even-handed in her assessment of the Beatles.

She described Lennon's reaction to the breakup of the band as a “divorce.”

It was as if “a big weight was off him,” she noted, although Lennon was proud of the band's accomplishments and valued all of the members of the band and regarded them highly.

Yoko has denied any role in their parting ways. “I didn't break up the Beatles. The Beatles were getting very independent. Each one of them [was] getting independent. John, in fact, was not the first who wanted to leave the Beatles. Ringo, one night with Maureen, [Starkey Tigrett], and he came to John and me and said he wanted to leave, and also, George was the next, and then John. Paul was the only one who was trying to hold the Beatles together. But the other three thought Paul would hold the Beatles together as his band. They were getting to be like Paul’s band, which they didn’t like. There was an incredible period of unpleasantness for John.”

Without the Internet, there would probably not be a way to know about the problems in the band, and between its two main collaborators, McCartney and Lennon. Until recently, the Beatles inner workings were unavailable for daily, or hourly, consumption; their breakup surprised, and even hurt, adoring fans.

By the time Yoko coupled with Lennon, the end already palpably near for the Beatles. They had stopped touring, and the “White Album's” production was plagued with problems. While that much has been common public knowledge -- now, at least in part due to the massive volumes of texts dedicated to the Beatles -- fans are no longer totally in the dark about their favorite band.

Fanzines or any newsletters had to deal with deadlines, mailing schedules and other time-sensitive issues, that by the time news about the band, any band, reached fans, there were already often new developments. The Internet, with its numerous blogs, Facebook pages and Twitter accounts dedicated to various bands, each offers an aspect of a group that can be scrutinized by the minute. For instance, any aspect of One Direction, the Wanted or Justin Beiber's status can be discovered with just one simple click. Meanwhile, gossip and rumors have become increasingly common with the advent of the Internet. Take Lindsay Lohan. Her involvement with the Wanted or Taylor Swift's involvement with One Direction were reported and analyzed, almost instantly.

Twitter has also another home for fans of celebrities to voice their frustrations when their favorite band breaks up. With so many online outlets, a band's split can be virtually be predicted ahead of time, easing the surprise of those who follow them. Bands also can announce their “hiatus,” or a “break,” on the Internet, providing fans an official statement on the its status. Yet, with so much access, it would be hard to have another individual, or influence, that would be so synonymous with a band's breakup as Yoko is to the Beatles. With the Internet, the veil of mystery surrounding any band has been almost lifted completely.