Iconic rock band The Beatles had an opportunity to reunite for a hefty sum, but declined for an unusual reason.
Ringo Starr, the band's drummer, revealed they were offered a staggering $50million in 1976 – equivalent to £200million today – for a one-off performance. Despite the enticing offer, the Fab Four decided against it. Starr and the band's other surviving member, Paul McCartney, briefly reunited at McCartney's show in London late last year.
However, a full Beatles reunion never materialised after their split in 1970. Their final live gig was held on the rooftop of Abbey Road Studios, where they performed new tracks like 'Don't Let Me Down' and 'Get Back'.
The band members went on to collaborate on one another's solo projects – Starr and George Harrison worked together on the single 'When We Was Fab'. Each member also featured on Starr's 1974 solo album 'Ringo', but they never collaborated as a full band on the record. Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and John Lennon each contributed to separate songs, and they never reunited as a full group.
Reflecting on the last time he worked with all three Beatles, Starr remarked: "I didn't leave the studio thinking that will be the last record we'd ever make. I never thought that. I didn't think it would be the last time we'd ever tour together either."
But this could have changed in 1976 when, according to Starr, the band was offered a substantial amount to get back together. Despite each member believing they would reform at some point and perform live, their reunion was thwarted due to an unusual reason.
The staggering offer from Bill Sargent involved a bizarre twist – the opening act was to be a man fighting a shark. As reported by CultureSonar via Entertainment Tonight Canada, the Beatles rejected the comeback because "the opening act was a guy biting a shark."
This peculiar spectacle would have featured Australian adventurer Wally Gibbins battling a Great White shark live on TV from Western Samoa. As a result, the Fab Four decided not to participate in the televised performance.
Despite this strange proposal, Starr and McCartney have since reunited on stage for the Got Back tour, sans any shark-related antics.
Instead, they performed popular tracks from 'The White Album' and 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'. McCartney's tour left fans in awe, with four sold-out shows taking place in Manchester and London.
McCartney honoured both Harrison and Lennon during the performances and was later reunited with not just Starr but also his original bass guitar, thought to have been stolen 51 years ago.
English (US) ·