Why does the press refer to Paul and Ringo as "former" or "ex" Beatles when they never left?

Question

READ THIS BEFORE YOU REPLY!
1) The Beatles didn't end when John died any more than they did when Brian died. The Beatles are a corporation and right now Yoko and Olivia are part-owners.

2) A band 'breaking-up" just means they are not making music...they're still in the band unless there's a legal separation (which certainly does happen).

3) When you say someone is an "ex" it means there are still people are who ARE that job...an ex-president means not the current president .... so if Paul is an ex-Beatle who are the present ones?

Answer 1

The band disbanded. Long before John died they were all former Beatles. The royalties still go to the individuals entitled to receive them, but this does not mean they are still Beatles. After John died they all expressed regret for not having regrouped.

Answer 2

Paul and Ringo are "former" members because Beatles no longer exist today. It's like saying Victoria Beckham is a former Spice Girl.

When a band breaks up, it means that the members go on with their separate musical careers. Beatles formally and legally dissolved its partnership in 1975, way before Lennon's death in 1980.

On the contrary, Beatles is not a corporation. The rights to many Beatles stuff are owned by different entities. EMI (through its Parlaphone label) owns the copyrights to all Beatles recording in perpetuity.

Apple Corps. Inc. owns the rights to most filmed and videotaped footages of the Beatles, including public appearances and concerts. It is also in charge of Beatles-related merchandise like collectibles, memorabilia, etc.

The word "ex" has really many uses. It can also be used as ex-lover but it doesn't necessarily mean that there is a present lover.

Answer 3

A truely excellent question. I've never considered it before but I think you are correct.