London, Sep 7 - Almost four decades after the legendary Beatles split, it has come out that it was not former Beatle Sir Paul McCarteny who led to the split, but bandmate John Lennon who told McCarteny he wanted 'a divorce' months before they eventually disbanded.

A lost interview with the guitarist and singer who was assassinated in 1980 reveals he told his co-songwriter of his intentions to split the band in September 1969, before the release of their last album 'Let It Be', reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Until now, it has widely been thought McCartney was responsible for the group's splitting, which also featured Ringo Starr and George Harrison when he quit the band in April 1970.

In the taped interview, Lenon said he told McCartney when they fell out at a record company meeting.

'At the meeting, Paul just kept muttering on about what we were going to do, so in the end I just said, 'I think you're daft. I want a divorce',' Lenon said in the taped interview.

Following the legendary group's split, Lenon was critical of McCartney's work, even writing the song 'How do you sleep' which features lyrics attacking his former partner.