The Beatles

When The Beatles officially called it quits in 1970, there were several signs along the way the boys weren't getting along ... including a harsh letter to Paul's lawyer signed by John, George and Ringo.

Now that document can be yours ... if you have a big stack of cash to spare.

The letter, dated April 18, 1969, informs Lee Eastman that he's "not authorized to act or to hold yourself out as the attourney or legal representative of 'The Beatles.'" It goes on to acknowledge Eastman reps Paul McCartney personally ... but that's it.

This document's signed by John Lennon, Richard Starkey (aka Ringo) and George Harrison ... and it's currently on sale for $325k.

There's another letter up for grabs too -- signed by the entire Fab Four -- that's a little more friendly. It's from January 1969 and confirms that attorney John Eastman is authorized to handle the band's contract negotiations "in accordance with our instructions." This one's for sale for $225k.

If you don't know ... a few months after the April letter, John privately informed the other Beatles he was leaving the group. The split wasn't made public until April 10, 1970, though ... when Paul announced he was out.

Beto O'Rourke's long and winding road never lead to The White House ... but he did imagine himself as one of the Beatles.

We got the guy everyone's talking about -- including Barack Obama -- as a likely contender for the Democratic nomination for Prez in 2020.

As he traversed the terminal at Reagan National in D.C., our photog asked if he ever had dreams of becoming Commander in Chief, and he was quick to answer.

As for Obama recently hyping Beto -- saying the almost Senator reminded him of himself -- O'Rourke gave his best, "Aww shucks."

Every now and then a new boy band reminds us of Paul, John, Ringo and George -- and Latin quintet CNCO is getting closer to the Fab 4 ... at least in the handsy chicks department.

We got CNCO leaving Go Greek Yogurt in Bev Hills Wednesday, where they were greeted by throngs of squealing female fans and, amazingly, the fellas tried really hard to hug and take selfies with each of them as they tried to make it to their vehicles.

Gotta hand it to their fans ... they're dedicated. One girl said the hell with selfies, and just went in for kisses on each of the five guys. They didn't seem to mind at all. The scene was pretty wild and, yeah ... kinda reminiscent of Beatlemania.

If you're unfamiliar ... the Miami group was formed during the first season of Ricky Martin's Spanish singing competition show, "La Banda," in 2015. They've been cranking out hit tunes for a while now, and this year they've even crossed over onto Billboard's Top 40 chart.

As for the ladies ... parece que si se vuelven locas.

Ringo Starr found a silver lining in NOT being one of the OG Beatles when we asked him about Paul McCartney and John Lennon's hands-on bonding sessions.

We got the drumming legend at LAX and brought up Paul's recurring dreams about John and George Harrison -- which he revealed in a recent interview. Ringo's not bothered by it, and laughingly told us why he's constantly on Paul's mind.

Then we gently waded into Beatles' masturbation history. You'll recall Paul didn't mention Ringo in the bizarre tale of group self-pleasure.

Just watch, because the reaction from Ringo and his wife, Barbara Bach, is hilarious.

The man who shot and killed John Lennon isn't getting out of prison anytime soon ... he's just been denied parole once again.

Mark David Chapman went before a parole board in New York Thursday, and they came to the decision to keep him behind bars ... and he won't be up for parole again for 2 years.

The board explained its decision to Chapman saying ... "You admittedly carefully planned and executed the murder of a world-famous person for no reason other than to gain notoriety."

The board added ... "While no one person's life is any more valuable than another's life, the fact that you chose someone who was not only a world renown person and beloved by millions, regardless of the pain and suffering you would cause to his family, friends and so many others, you demonstrated a callous disregard for the sanctity of human life and the pain and suffering of others."

We broke the story ... Chapman got a new mug shot before his hearing. He's been serving 20 years to life after pleading guilty to 2nd degree murder of Lennon, who he shot in front of The Beatles' legend's Manhattan apartment in 1980.

Chapman later admitted to planning the killing because he wanted to be famous. He had been denied parole 9 times since December 2000 ... and now it's an even 10.

If Paul McCartney ever gets tired of selling out stadiums, he's got a career as a wedding singer, which he proved when he grabbed the mic over the weekend at his nephew's nuptials.

Macca did an impromptu performance for about 300 guests at Fresh Meadow Country Club in Long Island on Saturday with the 20-piece wedding band. The groom was from his wife Nancy's side of the family.

So, what track did Paul -- who turns 76 today BTW -- pick from The Beatles' catalog? "All You Need Is Love"? "In My Life"? "I Saw Her Standing There"? "Twist & Shout"?

Pierce Brosnan's Bob Dylan painting sold for more than $1 million, and TMZ's learned the new owner is none other than the woman who plunked down $17.8 mil on Kim and Kanye's Bel-Air mansion.

We're told Ukrainian billionaire Marina Acton snapped up 007's painting of Zimmy earlier this week at the 25th annual amFAR Cannes charity gala.

Pierce, who first took up painting back in the '80s, has gotten more serious about it, and the price tag on his work proves it -- Marina dropped $1.4 million.

As for Acton ... she's quickly building a rep for pricey Hollywood collectibles. You already know about the Bel-Air crib Kim and Kanye initially bought for $9 million back in 2013.

Not long after that purchase, Acton also shelled out another $2 million for some Beatles history.

John Lennon was not a saint. In fact, The Beatles legend is a "bad guy" ... so says NFL star Chris Long.

Long was responding to a Twitter challenge where he was supposed to state a "controversial yet unproblematic opinion" ... and he wrote, "John Lennon was a bad guy."

The Philadelphia Eagles stud doubled down in all caps -- "JOHN LENNON WAS A BAD GUY AND IF THIS MAKES YOU MAD UNFOLLOW ME."

When asked why he felt this way, Long responded, "It’s easier for me because I don’t care for the Beatles. I don’t feel a need to cape for an abuser."

Long is clearly referring to Lennon's admission that he physically abused women -- something he touched on during a 1980 Playboy interview.

"All that 'I used to be cruel to my woman, I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved' was me. I used to be cruel to my woman, and physically -- any woman."

"I was a hitter. I couldn't express myself and I hit. I fought men and I hit women. That is why I am always on about peace, you see. It is the most violent people who go for love and peace."

"Everything's the opposite. But I sincerely believe in love and peace. I am not violent man who has learned not to be violent and regrets his violence. I will have to be a lot older before I can face in public how I treated women as a youngster."

In fact, his first wife, Cynthia, wrote a book and said Lennon once slapped her in the face.

Sir Paul McCartney just topped his Beatles drummer ... and joined 'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling.

Queen Elizabeth made Sir Paul a Companion of Honour Friday morning when she placed the medal around his neck during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. As for what the honour means -- it's given to people who've made outstanding achievements. J.K., Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen are among the other honourees.

The timing kinda sucks for Ringo Starr though. He juuuust caught up to Paul less than 2 months ago when HE got knighted.

You can officially put a "Sir" on it -- Ringo Starr took a knee Tuesday morning and received his Knighthood, a mere 21 years after Sir Paul McCartney ... but no one's counting, right?

The Beatles drummer was dubbed into the club, of royal knights by Prince William at Buckingham Palace. Aside from Paul ... he joins Elton John, Rod Stewart and Mick Jagger as the biggest rock stars to get the honor. Bono got an honorary knighthood ... that's why he doesn't get the Sir treatment.

Of course, it's debatable why it took so long for the 77-year-old Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer to get knighted.

John Lennon and George Harrison won't get it at all -- current rules require honorees to be living. Mostly everyone would agree Paul deserved it in 1997, and would also buy Ringo getting it AFTER Paul ... but TWO decades after???

Sure, Paul wrote the songs, but someone played the drums on those hits ... someone had to lay down the beat for The Beatles!

We're sure Ringo ain't complaining. Just peace and love, peace and love, baby.

Reese Witherspoon and Paul McCartney now have a special connection through their own flesh and blood, and the big question -- is it a case of love me do ... or hello, goodbye?

Reese and Ryan Phillippe's daughter, 18-year-old Ava Phillippe, was out strolling the streets of London earlier this week with Paul's eldest grandson, Arthur Donald McCartney, who's also 18.

Ava seemed pretty smitten with the dude, and we can't blame her ... Arthur's kind of a stud with Beatles-esque charm flowing through his veins. Ava and Arthur also stopped off for a drink at a bar. Chill, they're legal to booze in the UK.

BTW ... Arthur's mom is Mary McCartney -- Paul and Linda's first child together.

Hard to tell if Ava and Arthur are just in the friend zone or starting a romance.

Months before John Lennon told The Beatles he wanted out, he was so focused on Yoko Ono ... he hand wrote a Christmas card to her ex-husband, which is now available for wealthy collectors.

Lennon penned the card to music producer Tony Cox in December 1968. Cox and Ono were married from 1962-69 ... so they weren't officially divorced yet when Lennon wrote to him.

The card ain't exactly full of holiday cheer, instead it's all about Yoko moving out -- "We took most of the stuff I think - we're gradually going through it."

John also asks Tony to fork over 2 of Yoko's short films and master tapes from a February 1968 concert she'd performed. The card, and enclosed letter, is being sold on MomentsInTime.com. They're asking $15k for it ... which is kind of a steal considering a lock of John's hair went for $35k.

No one's bigger than The Beatles, not even Justin Bieber ... according to Ringo Starr himself.

The legendary drummer did dinner Tuesday night at Il Segreto in Bel Air with ex-Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, who once played in Ringo's All-Starr Band.

So the question ... if The Beatles and Bieber had both been around at the same time, who'd open for who?

If Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, Tom Hanks and Dave Grohl go out for dinner -- as they did Wednesday night in Santa Monica -- who picks up the tab?

The legends came together with their wives at Giorgio Baldi for what has to be the most hall of fameiest meal ever. Think about it -- Beatles, Eagles, Nirvana ... plus Forrest freakin' Gump!

BTW ... it's a trick question. No one in their right mind would charge such a legendary table, we're guessing.

And for good measure ... Martin Short with Maya Rudolph were also in the the restaurant. Basically, it was a tourist's wet dream.

The Beatles fans could own a very cool piece of the iconic band's history -- the drum kit used for the recording of their first American single, which was played by the "Fifth Beatle."

Unless you're a total fanatic, you probably don't know Andy White replaced Ringo Starr on drums during the recording of "Love Me Do" ... their first #1 song in the U.S.

Nate D. Saunders Auctions has the set on the auction block until January 26, but you're gonna need Beatle-esque cash to score it. Bidding begins at $75,000.

Money can't buy you love, but it'll get you the legendary 4-piece that launched Beatlemania.

Paul McCartney is putting Sony Music on notice ... he's going to reclaim his copyright on a bunch of The Beatles hits in the very near future whether the label likes it or not.

Sony currently holds the copyright on the songs, but in legal docs Sir Paul says they will become his property again in 2018. The tracks -- including "Love Me Do," "All You Need Is Love" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand" -- are part of the Sony ATV catalog.

It's the same group of songs Michael Jackson once controlled. His estate sold it to Sony outright last year ... for $750 million.

According to docs, McCartney's tried numerous times to get confirmation Sony will transfer the rights without a fight, but says he kept getting the run around.

Macca says he's being proactive by filing this lawsuit to get a little help from his friends -- in the court -- to declare the songs will be his again by next year.