Disillusioned by the industry, Spira left advertising in the late ’50s and began searching for new pursuits. A lifelong clarinet player, Spira fell in love with the tone and style of the electric guitar. Spira began authoring songs, but his aversion to public press and recognition led him to recruit some young chaps from Liverpool to perform his music. They became known as the Beatles. Spira taught John Lennon how to play bar chords and the two became close friends, but often clashed on the subjects of economics and foreign policy. Spira warned John about Yoko Ono, telling Lennon, “She’s not a good kid!” but Lennon refused to heed Spira’s advice, eventually leading to the demise of the band and the friendship between the two legends. As a result, Lennon famously refused to pay back $10 that Spira had lent him for breakfast at a New York City diner.