1968:
Feb. 15: The Beatles leave for India to study Trancendental Meditation with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Ringo and Maureen are the first to leave 10 days later, complaining about the food and routine. John and George stay almost two months before leaving when it’s rumored the Maharishi had tried to seduce actress Mia Farrow.
March 9: “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” wins four Grammys, including Best Album.
May 14: Lennon and McCartney appear on “The Tonight Show,” not hosted that night by Johnny Carson, but a substitute, Joe Garagiola, who reveals his knowledge of the Beatles by asking which one is Ringo. Also on the show was a somewhat inebriated Tallulah Bankhead.
July 31: The group’s Apple clothing boutique is closed, and the clothing is given away, first to friends, then to the public.
Aug. 7: Harrison and his wife pay a surprise visit to San Francisco, strolling through Golden Gate Park and the Haight-Ashbury district. He later criticizes the hippie lifestyle as "wasteful."
Aug. 14: During the individualistic sessions for “The Beatles (White Album)”, John sing lead vocals on the most bizarre song ever recorded for the group, “What’s the New Mary Jane.” The song is punctuated by the chorus, “What a shame Mary Jane had a pain at the party.” The song is left off the album, and later considered by John’s Plastic Ono Band, but not issued.
Aug. 22: Cynthia files for divorce from John, who had found himself a new romantic and artistic partner in Yoko Ono.
Nov. 11: John and Yoko’s “Unfinished Music No. 1 -- Two Virgins” album is released with a nude front and back cover covered by brown wrappers.
Nov. 13: The psychedelic animated cartoon “Yellow Submarine” premieres. A segment with the song “Hey Bulldog” is shown in British theaters, but omitted from American prints.