1968

January 5 - "Magical Mystery Tour" is rebroadcast on BBC TV in full color.

February 16 - John, Cynthia, George, and Patti set off again to India to study with the Maharishi. The rest of the group join them on the 19th.

March 15 - the UK single "Lady Madonna" is released (March 18 in the US), hitting #1 in both countries.

March 9 - the LP Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band wins four Grammy Awards.

April - Apple Corps Ltd. begin operations in London along with Apple Publicity.

May - the band begins major world-wide promotion for Apple Corps Ltd. John and Yoko Ono begin their affair.

May 14 - John and Paul appear on the Tonight Show With Johnny Carson (with guest host Joe Garagiola) to promote Apple.

May 30 - demos of the songs written in India are recorded at George's home in Esher.

May 31 - sessions begin for The Beatles.

June - John and Yoko have an "Acorn Event" at the National Sculpture Exhibition. Paul meets Linda Eastman on a US business trip. The band also announces that all future recordings will be released on their newly-formed Apple Records label.

July 17 - the film "Yellow Submarine" a full-length animated movie, premiers in London.

July 20 - Jane announces her engagement with Paul is off.

July 30 - after losing a large amount of money, the Beatles close the Apple Boutique. John announces a free-for-all and people come in and take all the merchandise, along with the clothes hangers and the rug.

July 31 - "Hey Jude" is recorded. It is released along with "Those Were the Days" by Mary Hopkins in the first group of recordings on the Apple label. "Hey Jude" hits #1 in the US and UK and is the Beatles biggest hit ever.

August 22 - After tensions rise in the studio to never-before seen levels, Ringo walks out of the studio during the 'White Album' sessions. Paul performs on drums on "Back In The USSR", and everyone in the studio is sworn to secrecy. When Ringo returns, he finds his drum set covered with flowers.

October 18 - John and Yoko are arrested on drug possession charges.

November - the double LP The Beatles (the "White Album") is released and reaches #1 in the US and UK. No singles are issued from the album.

November 8 - John and Cynthia are divorced.