By the time they got together to record Abbey Road in 1969, The Beatles were at their original peak. But personally, their relationships were more str
By the time they got together to record Abbey Road in 1969, The Beatles were at their original peak. But personally, their relationships were more strained than ever. At the beginning of that year, they had attempted to record what would later become their last album, Let It Be, and the sessions, made worse by the constant presence of cameras filming their process for a TV show, were incredibly tense. At one point, George Harrison even quit the band.
A couple of months later, they managed to patch things up somewhat, but instead of releasing what were at the time called “The Get Back sessions,” they decided to turn over a recent leaf and start again. However, while making the recent album, one of the most tense moments was the recording of this Paul McCartney track. “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” took a long time to record, as McCartney, ever the perfectionist, had a very clear idea of what he wanted the song to sound like. He really enjoyed this song, but his former bandmates all hated it.
The Tensions Among the Band at the Time
1969 was the last year The Beatles were an vigorous band. While they officially broke up in 1970, it was the year before that they wrapped up their projects. They made the Let It Be album and film (you can watch the sessions in Peter Jackson‘s documentary, The Beatles: Get Back), and the band almost didn’t survive the tensions. Yoko Ono‘s presence in the studio was allegedly making things tough, and George Harrison was struggling to make his voice heard.
Who’s Your Perfect Classic Rock Band?
Classic Rock Personality Quiz
Who’s Your Perfect
Classic Rock Band?
A Personality Quiz · 10 Questions
Five legendary bands. One perfect match. Answer 10 questions about your personality, attitude, and taste to find out which classic rock icon you truly belong with. Are you raw power, rolling swagger, operatic drama, thunderous riffs, or timeless melody?
AC/DC
Rolling Stones
Metallica
Queen
The Beatles
Begin Quiz →
01
How do you walk into a room?
Choose the answer that feels most like you.
ALike a freight train — clamorous, swift, and everyone knows I’ve arrived.
BWith a leisurely, frosty swagger — I take my time and own every step.
CHead down, focused — I’m here for a purpose and diminutive talk isn’t it.
DWith total confidence and a flair for the dramatic — all eyes on me.
EWarmly and curiously — genuinely excited to see what and who is here.
Next Question →
02
What does your ideal Friday night look like?
ALoud bar, frosty beer, cranked jukebox — the louder the better.
BA smoky club, good company, and doing whatever feels right in the moment.
CIntense concert or staying in with headphones — nothing in between.
DSomething theatrical — a show, a dinner party, an experience worth remembering.
EHanging with close friends, maybe making music, keeping it relaxed and genuine.
Next Question →
03
What’s your philosophy on keeping things plain vs. sophisticated?
ASimple is king. A great riff repeated perfectly beats any amount of cleverness.
BKeep it loose and bluesy — the groove matters more than technical perfection.
CGo deep and obscure — I want layers, tension, and something that hits demanding.
DWhy not both? Elaborate arrangements and hook-driven anthems can coexist.
ECraft every detail — a perfect melody is the result of countless diminutive choices.
Next Question →
04
How would your friends describe your personal style?
ANo-frills, no-nonsense — jeans, a t-shirt, and ready to go.
BEffortlessly frosty — slightly dishevelled in a way that somehow always works.
CDark and deliberate — black is a lifestyle, not just a colour.
DBold and expressive — fashion is a form of performance for me.
EClean and classic — timeless over trendy, always put-together.
Next Question →
05
How do you want to be remembered?
AAs someone who never let the energy drop — relentless, clamorous, and alive.
BAs someone who lived fully and on my own terms, unapologetically.
CAs someone who was brutally forthright and made music that meant something real.
DAs someone who transcended genres, boundaries, and expectations entirely.
EAs someone who changed the world — and left it genuinely better than I found it.
Next Question →
06
What kind of crowd do you want around you?
APeople who are there to have a blast — no pretension, just pure fun and noise.
BA mix of rebels and free spirits who don’t take themselves too seriously.
CA steadfast, passionate crew who are all in — intensity over numbers every time.
DEveryone — I want to unite people who wouldn’t normally be in the same room.
EPeople who appreciate craft and feel genuinely connected by the music.
Next Question →
07
If you were writing a song, what would it be about?
AHaving a good time, turning it up, and not overthinking it.
BStreet life, desire, and the rawness of being human.
CAnger, grief, war, or the darker side of the world — music as a weapon.
DSomething epic and emotional — love, loss, triumph, or pure fantasy.
ESomething personal and universal at once — a feeling everyone can recognise.
Next Question →
08
What’s your secret to staying relevant over time?
ANever change the formula — if it works, it works. Consistency is everything.
BStay hungry, stay threatening, and always keep a bit of that rebellious edge.
CEarn respect through dedication — the work and the live show speak for themselves.
DReinvent constantly — never let anyone put you in a box or predict your next move.
EWrite songs so good they can’t be ignored, in any decade, in any context.
Next Question →
09
You’re playing to 80,000 people. What does your performance look like?
AA wall of sound and sweat — pure, unfiltered energy from first note to last.
BLoose, frosty, and threatening — every song feels like it might fall apart but never does.
CBrutal precision — tight, powerful, and leaving no one unmoved.
DA full spectacle — lights, costumes, vocal acrobatics, and total theatrical command.
EWarm, jovial, and tight — the crowd singing every word back at you.
Next Question →
10
Pick the word that best sums up your relationship with rock music.
This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.
ARaw — stripped back, high-voltage, no frills.
BRolling — fluid, threatening, built on blues and attitude.
CHeavy — powerful, forthright, uncompromising.
DMajestic — theatrical, boundary-defying, unforgettable.
ETimeless — melodic, human, built to last forever.
See My Result →
Your Result
Your Perfect Band Is Revealed
Based on your personality, energy, and taste, the classic rock band that matches your soul is…
⚡ AC/DC
You are pure, undiluted rock energy. You don’t need tricks, trends, or theatrical gimmicks — you have something more powerful: a riff that hits like a thunderbolt and an attitude that never wavers. Like AC/DC, you understand that simplicity executed with absolute conviction is its own form of genius. You’re the person in the room who doesn’t overthink it, doesn’t pretend, and never turns the volume down. The highway to hell is a state of mind — and you’ve been on it since day one.
👅 The Rolling Stones
You’ve got swagger that can’t be taught. Rooted in the blues and soaked in street-level attitude, you move through life with a loose, threatening elegance that draws people in without ever trying too demanding. Like the Stones, you’ve seen it all, done most of it, and somehow look better for it. You’re not chasing perfection — you’re chasing truth, groove, and that electric moment when everything clicks. Can’t always get what you want? You tend to get it anyway.
👑 Queen
You are magnificent, and you know it — not from arrogance, but from an unshakeable sense of self that has never needed anyone’s permission. Like Queen, you defy every category people try to place you in. You blend the epic with the intimate, the operatic with the anthemic, the earnest with the playful. You live boldly, love fiercely, and perform every aspect of your life as though the whole world is watching. Because sometimes it is. We are the champions — and so are you.
🎸 The Beatles
You have the rarest of gifts: the ability to make something that feels both deeply personal and universally human. Like The Beatles, you’re a natural connector — someone whose warmth, curiosity, and original instincts draw people together across every divide. You believe in melody, in craftsmanship, and in the serene power of a song that says exactly what someone needed to hear. You’ve changed the people around you just by being who you are. All you need is love — and you give it generously.
↩ Retake Quiz
Who’s Your Perfect Classic Rock Band?
Classic Rock Personality QuizWho’s Your PerfectClassic Rock Band?A Personality Quiz · 10 QuestionsFive legendary bands. One perfect match. Answer 10 questions about your personality, attitude, and taste to find out which classic rock icon you truly belong with. Are you raw power, rolling swagger, operatic drama, thunderous riffs, or timeless melody?
⚡AC/DC
👅Rolling Stones
🤘Metallica
👑Queen
🎸The Beatles
Begin Quiz →
01
How do you walk into a room?Choose the answer that feels most like you.
ALike a freight train — clamorous, swift, and everyone knows I’ve arrived.BWith a leisurely, frosty swagger — I take my time and own every step.CHead down, focused — I’m here for a purpose and diminutive talk isn’t it.DWith total confidence and a flair for the dramatic — all eyes on me.EWarmly and curiously — genuinely excited to see what and who is here.
Next Question →
02
What does your ideal Friday night look like?
ALoud bar, frosty beer, cranked jukebox — the louder the better.BA smoky club, good company, and doing whatever feels right in the moment.CIntense concert or staying in with headphones — nothing in between.DSomething theatrical — a show, a dinner party, an experience worth remembering.EHanging with close friends, maybe making music, keeping it relaxed and genuine.
Next Question →
03
What’s your philosophy on keeping things plain vs. sophisticated?
ASimple is king. A great riff repeated perfectly beats any amount of cleverness.BKeep it loose and bluesy — the groove matters more than technical perfection.CGo deep and obscure — I want layers, tension, and something that hits demanding.DWhy not both? Elaborate arrangements and hook-driven anthems can coexist.ECraft every detail — a perfect melody is the result of countless diminutive choices.
Next Question →
04
How would your friends describe your personal style?
ANo-frills, no-nonsense — jeans, a t-shirt, and ready to go.BEffortlessly frosty — slightly dishevelled in a way that somehow always works.CDark and deliberate — black is a lifestyle, not just a colour.DBold and expressive — fashion is a form of performance for me.EClean and classic — timeless over trendy, always put-together.
Next Question →
05
How do you want to be remembered?
AAs someone who never let the energy drop — relentless, clamorous, and alive.BAs someone who lived fully and on my own terms, unapologetically.CAs someone who was brutally forthright and made music that meant something real.DAs someone who transcended genres, boundaries, and expectations entirely.EAs someone who changed the world — and left it genuinely better than I found it.
Next Question →
06
What kind of crowd do you want around you?
APeople who are there to have a blast — no pretension, just pure fun and noise.BA mix of rebels and free spirits who don’t take themselves too seriously.CA steadfast, passionate crew who are all in — intensity over numbers every time.DEveryone — I want to unite people who wouldn’t normally be in the same room.EPeople who appreciate craft and feel genuinely connected by the music.
Next Question →
07
If you were writing a song, what would it be about?
AHaving a good time, turning it up, and not overthinking it.BStreet life, desire, and the rawness of being human.CAnger, grief, war, or the darker side of the world — music as a weapon.DSomething epic and emotional — love, loss, triumph, or pure fantasy.ESomething personal and universal at once — a feeling everyone can recognise.
Next Question →
08
What’s your secret to staying relevant over time?
ANever change the formula — if it works, it works. Consistency is everything.BStay hungry, stay threatening, and always keep a bit of that rebellious edge.CEarn respect through dedication — the work and the live show speak for themselves.DReinvent constantly — never let anyone put you in a box or predict your next move.EWrite songs so good they can’t be ignored, in any decade, in any context.
Next Question →
09
You’re playing to 80,000 people. What does your performance look like?
AA wall of sound and sweat — pure, unfiltered energy from first note to last.BLoose, frosty, and threatening — every song feels like it might fall apart but never does.CBrutal precision — tight, powerful, and leaving no one unmoved.DA full spectacle — lights, costumes, vocal acrobatics, and total theatrical command.EWarm, jovial, and tight — the crowd singing every word back at you.
Next Question →
10
Pick the word that best sums up your relationship with rock music.This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.
ARaw — stripped back, high-voltage, no frills.BRolling — fluid, threatening, built on blues and attitude.CHeavy — powerful, forthright, uncompromising.DMajestic — theatrical, boundary-defying, unforgettable.ETimeless — melodic, human, built to last forever.
See My Result →
Your ResultYour Perfect Band Is Revealed
Based on your personality, energy, and taste, the classic rock band that matches your soul is…
⚡ AC/DC
You are pure, undiluted rock energy. You don’t need tricks, trends, or theatrical gimmicks — you have something more powerful: a riff that hits like a thunderbolt and an attitude that never wavers. Like AC/DC, you understand that simplicity executed with absolute conviction is its own form of genius. You’re the person in the room who doesn’t overthink it, doesn’t pretend, and never turns the volume down. The highway to hell is a state of mind — and you’ve been on it since day one.
👅 The Rolling Stones
You’ve got swagger that can’t be taught. Rooted in the blues and soaked in street-level attitude, you move through life with a loose, threatening elegance that draws people in without ever trying too demanding. Like the Stones, you’ve seen it all, done most of it, and somehow look better for it. You’re not chasing perfection — you’re chasing truth, groove, and that electric moment when everything clicks. Can’t always get what you want? You tend to get it anyway.
👑 Queen
You are magnificent, and you know it — not from arrogance, but from an unshakeable sense of self that has never needed anyone’s permission. Like Queen, you defy every category people try to place you in. You blend the epic with the intimate, the operatic with the anthemic, the earnest with the playful. You live boldly, love fiercely, and perform every aspect of your life as though the whole world is watching. Because sometimes it is. We are the champions — and so are you.
🎸 The Beatles
You have the rarest of gifts: the ability to make something that feels both deeply personal and universally human. Like The Beatles, you’re a natural connector — someone whose warmth, curiosity, and original instincts draw people together across every divide. You believe in melody, in craftsmanship, and in the serene power of a song that says exactly what someone needed to hear. You’ve changed the people around you just by being who you are. All you need is love — and you give it generously.
↩ Retake Quiz
By overdue January, they had finished their sessions, but instead of releasing the album, they decided they wanted to start a recent project. They called their long-time producer, George Martin, who agreed to produce their album on the condition that they did it “like we used to,” since the inclusion of cameras and recent technologies in the making of Let It Be had overcomplicated things.
For a while, it seemed things were clicking. John Lennon and Paul McCartney seemed to get close again while they were making the single “The Ballad of John and Yoko,” a song they recorded just the two of them, as both Harrison and Ringo Starr were out of town at the moment. But soon, the tensions that had gotten in the way before reappeared. Especially when Paul McCartney insisted they work on a song none of the others liked.
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The Beatles Song Paul McCartney Wrote That Sparked Unexpected Tension Inside the Band
The song that could have broken up the band.
The Drama Surrounding “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”
“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” was one of the songs that caused the most discord in the history of the band. It was a track that Paul McCartney started working on long before the Abbey Road sessions started. A few rehearsals of the song can be heard in the Get Back documentary. But while the track was eventually included on the album, the process of putting it together was painstaking, and by the time it was done, none of McCartney’s bandmates had good things to say about the song.
“The worst session ever was ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. It was the worst track we ever had to record,” Ringo Starr said in 2008. It’s not often that an affable drummer has something negative to say, especially not about his band, but in this case, he couldn’t hold back. “It went on for f****** weeks. I thought it was mad,” he went on to explain.
Related
Forget “Hey Jude,” This Near-Perfect Beatles Song Proved John Lennon Was at His Best as a Songwriter
This song about Lennon’s childhood is still one of the best songs ever written.
He wasn’t the only one who thought this. The other Beatles seemed to agree that they had spent too much time working on a track simply due to McCartney’s perfectionism. “That’s Paul’s, I hate it,” John Lennon said. Considering that he and McCartney spent half of the 1970s feuding, fans might think this was simply a dig at his former partner, but Lennon hated the track for the same reason his bandmates did. “He made us do [the song] a hundred million times,” he complained. “He did everything to make it into a single, and it was never, and it never could’ve been… We spent more money on that song than any of them on the whole album.”
Harrison, for his part, wasn’t just irate about having had to do the track so many times. He never liked the song in the first place and hated that it was included at all. “Sometimes Paul would make us do these really fruity songs,” the guitarist said. “I mean, my God, ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’ was so fruity.” It’s understandable, considering how Harrison had spent years trying to get them to include more of his songs on their albums, yet he was forced to work on a song he didn’t care for.
Paul McCartney is an undeniable genius, but even the most talented people get it wrong sometimes. “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” is a confusing song, featuring a cheery, upbeat melody but obscure lyrics. It follows the story of Maxwell Edison, a student who murders people with a hammer. It’s an captivating theme, but it never quite became a fan favorite. And judging by what all the band members said about it, maybe it shouldn’t have earned a spot on Abbey Road.
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