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Posted by: The End, April 27, 2005, 11:59am
The Paul Is Dead Story and the 'Clues'

The Paul Is Dead rumor started with a series of events in the 1960s that led fans of the popular rock band The Beatles to believe that bassist Paul McCartney was actually dead and replaced with a look-alike. McCartney remains alive, as of 2005.

The rumor began in earnest in 1969, when Russ Gibb, a radio DJ from WKNR-FM in Detroit, Michigan, announced that McCartney was dead. Other DJs, television news reporters, newspapers, and magazines picked up on the story and began to look for clues.

The rumor eventually became a full-fledged conspiracy theory as members of the media and Beatles fans searched album artwork and song lyrics for clues to the cover-up and McCartney's supposed death. Believers eventually decided that McCartney had died in a car accident that happened at 5 a.m. on a Wednesday morning (the time and day, mentioned in the song "She's Leaving Home"), and that "he hadn't noticed that the lights had changed" ("A Day in the Life") because he was busy watching the pretty girl on the sidewalk ("Lovely Rita"). According to believers, McCartney had been replaced with the winner of a McCartney look-alike contest. The name of this look-alike has been recorded as both William Campbell and William Shears. Though it has been denied by all four members numerous times, many fans are convinced that the rumor was a hoax perpetrated deliberately by the Beatles as a joke. The rumor has been exhaustively examined in the book Turn Me On, Dead Man: The Beatles and the "Paul-Is-Dead" Hoax by Andru J. Reeve, the latest edition released in October 2004.

Other alleged clues included:
•     The words "number nine, number nine" on the track "Revolution 9" on The Beatles (aka The White Album) became "turn me on, dead man, turn me on, dead man" when played backwards. The track also includes other clues, such as the sound of a car crashing, and comments by John Lennon which seem to indicate what McCartney was doing before he "died" (for example, one comment goes "who can tell what he was saying...his eyes was on fire", while another comment played backwards yields "let me out, let me out!").

•     A similar reversal at the end of "I'm So Tired" (also from The Beatles) revealed "Paul is dead, man, miss him, miss him..."

•     There are a pair of skeleton hands grabbing Paul in one of the pictures on the White Album poster.

•     Another The Beatles track, "Don't Pass Me By," has lyrics that read, "I'm sorry that I doubted you...I was so unfair. You were in a car crash, and you lost your hair..."

•     The end of The Beatles track "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" has George Harrison seem to be calling "Paul, Paul, Paul..." (indicating Harrison missing his colleague).

•     Lyrics from the Sgt. Pepper track "Good Morning, Good Morning" contain "nothing to do to save his life."

•     Another Sgt. Pepper track has the lyrics "life goes on within you and without you" (from Harrison's "Within You, Without You").

•     Believers think that Lennon said "I buried Paul" at the end of "Strawberry Fields Forever" on Magical Mystery Tour although Lennon claimed he was actually saying "cranberry sauce" and producer George Martin confirmed it in his book Summer of Love. The Beatles Anthology Volume 2 CD includes alternate takes of the song which also confirm this.

•     Another Magical Mystery Tour track, "Blue Jay Way", leads believers to think Harrison is giving a eulogy to Paul (with the lyrics "please don't be long, please don't you be very long, please don't be long, or I may be asleep...").

•     The lines "I believe in yesterday, suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be, there's a shadow hanging over me. Yesterday came suddenly..." from the song "Yesterday". To believers, this was an admission from McCartney's replacement that he was not the same person.



•     On the US release Yesterday and Today, McCartney is sitting inside a trunk. Believers thought that the trunk was supposed to represent McCartney's coffin.

•     The Revolver track "She Said, She Said" contains the lyrics "I know what it's like to be dead".



•     The Rubber Soul album cover is supposed to look like the other Beatles (and the McCartney look-alike) are looking down into the grave of the real McCartney.



•     The Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band cover appears to be a group of mourners standing in front of a freshly dug grave. McCartney is the only person holding a wooden instrument, representing a coffin, and the instrument is the only one that is black, representing death. It also appears like he's being propped up by Ringo Starr and Harrison, as if he were stiff. McCartney is the only person with a hand over his head, a religious symbol for blessing the dead. The hand belongs to Stephen Crane, an American writer who died at the age of 28. Around the "grave", there are several symbols. A doll with a cracked head represents McCartney's fatal injury, a car on one knee and a bloody driving glove on the other. A TV that is not turned on represents the news blackout about his death. Over the letter L in Beatles, one can see McCartney's rugby trophy.

•     The intruments the Beatles are holding are all marching band instruments except Paul's which is an oboe.

•     The yellow flowers on the cover of Sgt. Pepper appear to spell out "PAUL?" Or are McCartney's bass with 3 stick representing the 3 remaining members.



•     An interesting trick is to take a shiny, polished butter knife and lay it horizontally across the words "Lonely Hearts" on the drum on the cover of Sgt. Pepper. The top half of the word "HEARTS" combined with its mirror image spells out "1 ONE 1 X HE ^ DIE", with the arrow pointing up towards McCartney and saying 3 beatles are left and the X is without Paul.



•     The inside cover of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album has Paul wearing an emblem on his shirt sleeve whose initials are believed to be O.P.D. (for "officially pronounced dead"). However, it is the emblem of the O.P.P. (Ontario Provincial Police) not O.P.D.



•     On the back cover of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band McCartney is facing backwards, which is supposedly because he was dead and replaced with an imposter in the photograph.

•     Also, their hands make different letters: George is 'L'; John is 'V'; Ringo is 'E'. The only letter missing in the word 'love' is 'O' because Campbell's (Paul's replacement) back is to the camera, and Paul is the only Beatle who doesn't have the letter 'O' in his name.



•     McCartney is depicted as a walrus according to both the Magical Mystery Tour album cover and The Beatles song "Glass Onion" as Lennon sings, "Here's another clue for you all, the Walrus was Paul." The depiction of a walrus is an ancient sign of death.

•     The Magical Mystery Tour track "I Am The Walrus" clues us in that McCartney "died" on a "stupid bloody Tuesday" (if we are to believe that McCartney died "Wednesday morning at five o'clock", as in "She's Leaving Home" from Sgt. Pepper, then it would translate to be Wednesday morning U.K. time, while it would still be Tuesday evening in the U.S. West Coast). The chant at the end of the track, played backwards, reveals "Paul Is Dead, Paul Is Dead..." And when played forwards to the end, contains a portion of a BBC radio broadcast of King Lear which mentions, "O, untimely death!".



•     In a dancing scene in the film Magical Mystery Tour, McCartney wears a black carnation while the other three Beatles wear red ones, another indication of death. (The real reason was that they had run out of red ones.)



•     In another scene in the film Magical Mystery Tour, McCartney is dressed as an Army Sergeant with a card on his desk that says "I WAS" (indicating that the man WAS Paul). There are also crossed Union Jack flags above his head, indicating a military funeral.



•     The front cover of Abbey Road is a representation of Paul's funeral procession. Lennon is the clergyman or priest (dressed in white), Starr the funeral director or pall bearer (formally dressed), McCartney the corpse (bare feet and cigarette [Sicilian symbol of death] and out of step with the others), and Harrison the grave digger (denim working clothes). Furthermore the licence plate of the white car says LMW 281F. LMW is said to stand for "Linda McCartney Widow (or Weeps)", and 28IF suggests Paul would have been 28 if he had not died. (At the time of the album's release, September 26, 1969, McCartney was in fact 27.) Additionally, the cigarette in the picture is in McCartney's right hand, even though he is left-handed.


•     On the back cover, a strangely configured and placed "3" in front of the Beatles name indicates three "remaining" Beatles. Also, the name Beatles has a crack running through the letter S, making it imperfect. Also, if you look at the girl in the blue dress, some people claim that it makes a profile of McCartney's face.

•     On the back of Abbey Road, next to the passing girl, the shadow looks like a skull.

•     "Come Together" (from Abbey Road) contained several clues in the lyrics..."he got hair down to his knee" refers to the claim that hair and nails continue to grow after death..."he wear no shoeshine" refers to Paul being barefoot on the cover..."he got toe-jam football" refers to rugby, a sport Paul liked to play..."he got monkey finger" refers to a thin frail fingers of someone who's been dead..."one and one and one is three" refers to there being only three "remaining" Beatles..."got to be good looking" refers to McCartney as the "cute" Beatle..."'cos he's so hard to see" refers to the fade memory of someone who is now gone. "Come together right now over me" refers to over McCartney's grave as the mourners come together.

•     The singer in "With a Little Help from My Friends" is announced as Billy Shears, the same name as William Shears, the fictional McCartney look-alike who is said to have replaced Paul.

In the years after this rumor first began, Lennon made a couple of jokes about it in various songs, including "Glass Onion" ("Here's another clue for you all/the walrus was Paul"). McCartney himself also made fun of the rumor with the title of his 1993 live album and tour, Paul Is Live.

However, Paul did indeed have an accident in 1966 - he crashed his scooter, injuring his lip and chipping a tooth. The chipped tooth is most evident in the Paperback Writer and Rain promotional films. Paul later grew a moustache to cover up his injured lip.

Paul's injuries sustained during the scooter accident.



With the advent of the Internet, the "Paul is Dead" rumors have found new life. Several websites have sprung up claiming that photographic evidence proves that the Paul McCartney before and after late 1966 couldn't possibly be the same man. A popular new take is that the alleged imposter's name is William Sheppard (the inspiration for the Beatle song "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill"), a former member of the Ontario Provincial Police.

Students of the bass guitar have noted a marked difference between the style and quality of Paul's playing between earlier Beatles albums and later ones, his earlier playing being very simplistic while his later playing shows a great deal of skill and innovation. This can be linked to a change in recording technique; prior to 1966 he often recorded his bass live, but around that year he began to overdub the bass parts later, giving him more ability to form melodic bass lines.

Beatles fans critical of McCartney's solo career often suggest that the hoax is true, pointing out that there is no way the Paul McCartney who was with the Beatles would write the music he is now producing. However, that said, very few fans of McCartney or the Beatles believe this rumor in earnest. In fact, it is usually a joke itself among Beatles fans.

Posted by: An Apple Beatle, April 27, 2005, 12:30pm; Reply: 1
Great read, cheers Al ;)
Posted by: Bruno, April 27, 2005, 1:54pm; Reply: 2
great post Alan :)
Posted by: The End, April 27, 2005, 4:47pm; Reply: 3
Ta ;D

I was bored during my lunch-break!! ;D
Posted by: 197 (Guest), April 28, 2005, 5:15pm; Reply: 4
;Dhehe

good post anyway
Posted by: Indica, April 28, 2005, 5:57pm; Reply: 5
The Rubber Soul cover theory..how weak! made me chuckle :)
Posted by: lennonlemon, April 28, 2005, 9:48pm; Reply: 6
i must agree with indy. who knows what the hell they were looking at?

personally, the paul is dead theory stuff is good for a laugh, but never something i'd believe and take seriously. i mean, you can take any small detail and distort it into a "clue." my favorite one was always the last one mentioned regarding his solo work.
Posted by: The End, April 29, 2005, 11:11am; Reply: 7
It's the very last comment that I agree with the most!

Quoted from The_End
it is usually a joke itself among Beatles fans.


Here's a question for everyone - has a conspiracy theory ever been proved to be correct? I can't think of one. Maybe Bay of Pigs?
Posted by: juniorsfarm (Guest), April 29, 2005, 11:04pm; Reply: 8
the best one is the bass drum on Sgt Pepper. If anyone hasn't seen it, I can post it.
Posted by: juniorsfarm (Guest), April 30, 2005, 4:07am; Reply: 9
A couple that were left out:

--The intruments the Beatles are holding are all marching band instruments except Paul's which is an oboe.

--On the back cover of Pepper, their hands make different letters: George is 'L'; John is 'V'; Ringo is 'E'. The only letter missing in the word 'love' is 'O' because Campbell's back is to the camera, and Paul is the only Beatle who doesn't have the letter 'O' in his name.

--On the back of Abbey Road, next to the passing girl, the shadow looks like a skull.

--There are a pair of skeleton hands grabbing Paul in one of the pictures on the White Album poster.  The list goes on.
Posted by: juniorsfarm (Guest), April 30, 2005, 4:16am; Reply: 10
I also heard a guy give a lecture on it once and he said toward the end of 'Gently Weeps' that George is singing 'Paul Paul'.

There was also the deal with their name being a phone number. The first three letters like they're spelled out on Magical Mystery Tour are 834, which is also the time on the board in the MMT booklet behind John the mustachioed ticket man. Supposedly someone called the number and there was a message saying "You're getting closer".
Posted by: juniorsfarm (Guest), April 30, 2005, 4:19am; Reply: 11


11/9 he die. The Stupid Bloody Tuesday.
Posted by: An Apple Beatle, April 30, 2005, 12:41pm; Reply: 12
They could have been a bit more subtle. lol
Posted by: SieLiebtDich, May 8, 2005, 3:27am; Reply: 13
XD good one Alan hehehe
Posted by: Harrison, May 8, 2005, 3:57am; Reply: 14
I love reading about these.  The whole Paul is dead theory is just a fun thing to make stuff up for.  Has anyone read the article about this on http://www.iamthebeatles.com?
Posted by: Rowdy, May 8, 2005, 12:53pm; Reply: 15
I could've sworn Paul died after "Back To The Egg"............but then he released "Flaming Pie"......
Posted by: The End, May 16, 2005, 11:59am; Reply: 16
Here's another clue for you all.... I have updated my post with all your new 'clues'! Got any more?
Posted by: The End, May 16, 2005, 11:44pm; Reply: 17
Here is a great site LOADS of pics and some great 'clues'!

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/opd/home.html
Posted by: juniorsfarm (Guest), May 17, 2005, 1:42am; Reply: 18
Quoted from The_End
Here is a great site LOADS of pics and some great 'clues'!

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/opd/home.html



Man, just when you think things can't get any more far fetched, there's always more.
Posted by: The End, May 17, 2005, 12:13pm; Reply: 19
Quoted from juniorsfarm
Man, just when you think things can't get any more far fetched, there's always more.


The good thing about that site though is that it has compiled all the available 'clues' and just lets people decide for themselves.

By the way, I added your clues to my original post - hope you don't mind!
Posted by: juniorsfarm (Guest), May 18, 2005, 12:16am; Reply: 20
Quoted from The_End


The good thing about that site though is that it has compiled all the available 'clues' and just lets people decide for themselves.

By the way, I added your clues to my original post - hope you don't mind!


No, of course not, I'm flattered. One more thing, if I might: To those who argue the 28IF clue--yes, he'd have been 27, but 'Paul Is Dead' theorists counter that, in some Indian cultures, you are given an extra year for time spent in the womb, ergo 28 years old.

Posted by: The End, May 18, 2005, 11:26am; Reply: 21
Quoted from juniorsfarm

To those who argue the 28IF clue--yes, he'd have been 27, but 'Paul Is Dead' theorists counter that, in some Indian cultures, you are given an extra year for time spent in the womb, ergo 28 years old.


Yeah, I remember reading that too.
Posted by: Dan, August 16, 2005, 12:58am; Reply: 22
What does "Paul is Dead because the King is Naked" mean?
Posted by: Dan, August 30, 2005, 9:51pm; Reply: 23
anybody?
Posted by: Bobber, September 26, 2005, 2:31pm; Reply: 24
I read today that experts (not familiar with Paul's work) have taken a closer look at McCartney's paintings. He seems to use a lot of red paint. The experts thought it might have something to do with 'blood'. And of course, thinking further, they figured out that the painter might not be the one we think he is.
Now, that's what we've got experts for...
Posted by: Bobber, September 27, 2005, 8:39am; Reply: 25
Found the article:

ART CRITICS RECONSIDER 'McCARTNEY IS DEAD' MYTH    


New York's top art critics are refuelling the rock 'n' roll myth that PAUL McCARTNEY died over three decades ago - after taking a rare close-up view of his paintings.

Top Big Apple celebrity art expert BAIRD JONES staged a one-night exhibition of JOHN LENNON and McCartney art from his own personal collection at New York club Deep earlier this month (15SEP05) and was left stunned by the reactions of his "austere" friends.

A fan of McCartney's art for years, Jones admits it took the opinions of his critical pals to make him realise that the 'Paul is dead' rumours that started in the late 1960s could be true.

He explains, "There were lots of questions about why he (McCartney) predominantly uses the colour red in ways one would not. It's the colour of blood and death.

"The critics were asking questions like, 'Why is there so much red in the garden (painting) and on the beach (painting)? It's macabre.' Call it art psychoanalysis, but the 'Paul is dead' rumour has started to spread.

"These were highbrow, austere people who take their art seriously. Some had never really had the chance to see McCartney's art up close."

Jones now claims there are major clues in McCartney's art that suggest the rocker might not be what he seems to be.

He explains, "It's one more sign that this man is communicating something. Red has been a dominant colour of his for some time.

"It might be evidence that the Paul McCartney we think we know is not Paul McCartney; he's an imposter - and here's a signal."


Posted by: An Apple Beatle, September 27, 2005, 10:35am; Reply: 26
Red just might mean he supports Liverpool Football Club!!!! lol...Although I believe he is apparantly neutral when it comes to supporting football.
Posted by: Bobber, September 27, 2005, 10:48am; Reply: 27
I thought he was supporting the blues of Liverpool, Everton?
Posted by: An Apple Beatle, September 27, 2005, 11:03am; Reply: 28
Tell me it's not true!!! lol
Posted by: Bobber, September 27, 2005, 11:09am; Reply: 29
Found this. Sorry, it is true. From a site naming famous Everton-fans

Sir Paul McCartney (Musician)

The loveable Mop Top from the world's greatest group once penned "Can't Buy Me Love. No. No. No. Noooo" That may be true but he could of bought us a new f**king ground. When Macca is not creosoting his bird's leg or getting beaten at Twister by Lady McCartney-Mills, Sir Paul loves nothing more than sitting back, lighting up a spliff and watching old Everton DVD's. Paul may "..believe in Yesterday" but today's Blues team ain't half bad either!

Check out: http://www.bluekipper.com/toffee_celebs/1.htm
Posted by: An Apple Beatle, September 27, 2005, 11:24am; Reply: 30
Nah! It's propaganda!!!!!!! lol

Heres mine!!!

http://football.guardian.co.uk/news/theknowledge/0,9204,1104898,00.html

The answer, James, is ambiguous at best. The Beatles were never regulars at either Anfield or Goodison Park - so it really depends on which titbit of folklore you choose to swallow.
Let's keep it a mystery please. lol
Posted by: Bobber, September 27, 2005, 11:30am; Reply: 31
This so-called Liverpudlian doesn't like football? There's another proof that this is not the real Paul McCartney, but an American stand-in.  ;D

Posted by: An Apple Beatle, September 27, 2005, 11:40am; Reply: 32
Heheheheheh!!!!!
Posted by: The End, September 27, 2005, 12:30pm; Reply: 33
Quoted from Bobber
This so-called Liverpudlian doesn't like football? There's another proof that this is not the real Paul McCartney, but an American stand-in.  ;D



Blimey, that is THE clue of the century - and it was SO glaringly obvious! I have just converted to Paulisdeadism! ;D
Posted by: An Apple Beatle, September 27, 2005, 4:48pm; Reply: 34
^Don't tell Frightwolf!!! lol
Posted by: Bobber, September 27, 2005, 6:25pm; Reply: 35
Quoted from The_End


Blimey, that is THE clue of the century - and it was SO glaringly obvious! I have just converted to Paulisdeadism! ;D


I've noted elsewhere on the board that there's a famous picture of the Beatles, taken in 1962 or '63, with Paul holding a cigarette in his RIGHT hand. That means he was already dead in 1963! Now, how's that for a clue.
Posted by: KHAN, September 29, 2005, 7:39pm; Reply: 36
Here are some photo comparisons I've made because...

ummmm....

I'd rather not say. :P

http://img221.echo.cx/img221/2302/63wa0se.gif
http://img234.exs.cx/img234/852/slamdunk.gif
http://img121.exs.cx/img121/6044/64686eo.gif
http://img143.echo.cx/img143/69/stillthesame7pk.gif
http://img18.exs.cx/img18/592/Paul_is_Paul_83828483.gif
http://img86.exs.cx/img86/7656/LIB.gif
http://img83.exs.cx/img83/8663/60s90s.gif
http://img277.imageshack.us/img277/4695/frightys2kw.gif
http://img248.echo.cx/img248/6355/huh0eo.gif
http://img97.echo.cx/img97/3629/6467a9fk.gif
http://img232.echo.cx/img232/595/space24rk.gif
Posted by: Bobber, September 30, 2005, 11:01am; Reply: 37
This Billy Shears and Paul really look a lot alike.
Posted by: The End, September 30, 2005, 11:22am; Reply: 38
Quoted from KHAN


Aha, this PROVES Paul is dead because in most of those pictures his hair changes and he is wearing different clothes!!!

Seriously though, thanks for sharing Khan! ;D
Posted by: KHAN, October 1, 2005, 4:24am; Reply: 39
Here's another clue for you all :D


Posted by: Bobber, March 22, 2006, 9:40am; Reply: 40
Paul's wearing a Liverpool FC rosette on this one:

Posted by: adamzero, March 23, 2006, 2:11am; Reply: 41
And John's got a coke can that you opened with a church key.

Perhaps a little hungover?
Posted by: Indica, March 23, 2006, 10:09pm; Reply: 42
they should bring back them sort of cans ^
It's wierd, pictures like that could be taken now - it's only products  - for instance,  the can of coke that shows how dated it really is.

A world way before my time :)
Posted by: Sandra, March 24, 2006, 2:14am; Reply: 43
Quoted from Bobber
Paul's wearing a Liverpool FC rosette on this one:



Omg, I've never seen that pic from that photo session! I love it! Except Paul looks like he's wearing a wig. I've never seen those kind of cans before. Cool. I've heard of a church key, but I have no idea what one actually is. I know what a skate key is, but not a church key. Cool pic anyway, thanks Bobber!!!
Posted by: Bobber, March 24, 2006, 7:43am; Reply: 44
Of course Paul's wearing a wig. It's not really him, remember. Anyway, more pics like this are to be found here: http://www.nemsworld.com/beatles/
Posted by: The End, March 26, 2006, 12:59am; Reply: 45
Quoted from Bobber
Paul's wearing a Liverpool FC rosette on this one:




You can't see it very well, but Paul wears the same Liverpool FC rosette in this pic too:

Posted by: adamzero, March 27, 2006, 3:10am; Reply: 46
Quoted from Maccalvr
I've heard of a church key, but I have no idea what one actually is. I know what a skate key is, but not a church key. Cool pic anyway, thanks Bobber!!!


They preceeded the pop-top.  Amazing that it took that long for the pop-top to be invented.  I guess American have always liked the old do-it-yourself approach.

Posted by: Sandra, March 28, 2006, 1:59am; Reply: 47
That's a church key?? I've used one my entire life and never heard anyone call it that. It's usually bottle or can opener. You still need those to open up tomato sauce cans or Corona beer bottles. At least that's my two uses for it.
Posted by: adamzero, April 1, 2006, 6:52pm; Reply: 48
Apparently you can also use it to open a church. ;D
Posted by: raxo, April 2, 2006, 12:51pm; Reply: 49
http://james-paul-mccartney.5u.com/show-case.html
Posted by: Kate, April 4, 2006, 5:43am; Reply: 50
quite amusing to read about all those 'clues'.
Paul is Paul is Paul and a hoax is a hoax is a hoax
Posted by: The End, April 4, 2006, 11:29am; Reply: 51
Quoted from Kate
quite amusing to read about all those 'clues'.
Paul is Paul is Paul and a hoax is a hoax is a hoax


I totally agree - but it's fascinating stuff!!! ;D

It's amazing to think that many people actually believe this crap!!! LOL! ;D
Posted by: raxo, April 4, 2006, 1:15pm; Reply: 52
Quoted from The_End

...
It's amazing to think that many people actually believe this crap!!! LOL! ;D


Crap? Which crap? Paul is dead, isn't him?
Posted by: Kate, April 4, 2006, 2:04pm; Reply: 53
yes, raxo, Paul is dead, infact he's doing a 'See-the-Dead-Tour' this year  ;D
Posted by: raxo, April 4, 2006, 2:27pm; Reply: 54
Quoted from Kate
yes, raxo, Paul is dead, infact he's doing a 'See-the-Dead-Tour' this year  ;D


Oh, it has to be that ... the thing I've heard, I mean ... so he's with the Grateful, isn't him? ... that's what I call a DeadLine-Up ...
Posted by: KHAN, April 5, 2006, 8:48pm; Reply: 55










Posted by: The End, April 6, 2006, 11:50am; Reply: 56
I'm so glad MY head doesn't do that!!! ;D



Posted by: raxo, April 6, 2006, 12:24pm; Reply: 57
Quoted from The_End
I'm so glad MY head doesn't do that!!! ;D





:-/ ... but mine does ... hand-over ...  8)
Posted by: adamzero, April 6, 2006, 2:41pm; Reply: 58
The pictures of the toothy Paul are kinda scary.  Maybe he's a vampire.  
Posted by: raxo, April 14, 2006, 10:16pm; Reply: 59
Who buried Paul McCartney?

http://www.cinema.nl/cinema/mediaplayer/index.jsp?media=24021121&refernr=23997369&portalnr=3142294&hostname=www.cinema.nl&portalid=cinema
Posted by: Kate, April 17, 2006, 11:45am; Reply: 60
so far the best clues I found....really start to believe it now...;D

Paul is dead clues
Posted by: adamzero, April 18, 2006, 2:50am; Reply: 61
Awesome site, Kate!

It's in the eyes.  Faul's are narrower, beadier.  He's probably a reptilian.  Those boys at EMI were deep into top secret military projects.  Music was just a sideline-until they realized that it was a great method of mass hypnosis.  

The real Paul tried to blow the cover on whole thing and had an "accident."  Then Faul moved in and took over the band.  Yoko was recruited through a Japanese spy ring to get John hooked on heroin and take him out of the picture.  She brainwashed him with the silly "peace" initiatives, in the hopes that we'd let our guard down so that the reptilians could conquer us without the threat of nukes.  

Faul must have also had some kind of onboard drumming program--which is why he started pestering Ringo about the looseness and swing of his drumming.  

Remember, beware the buckyballs . . . .
Posted by: An Apple Beatle, April 18, 2006, 3:25am; Reply: 62
Reptilians? lol...You been reading David Icke? hehehe
Posted by: The End, April 18, 2006, 12:02pm; Reply: 63
Quoted from Kate
so far the best clues I found....really start to believe it now...;D

Paul is dead clues


What a sad waste of time - I feel sorry for the guy (if it's a guy) who sat there all those hours and came up with that.

Paul McCartney is Viv Stanshall (of the Bonzos) AND Neil Aspinall??? And where does Don Knotts fit into all this exactly???

I actually laughed a lot!!

Good find Kate ;D
Posted by: adamzero, April 18, 2006, 2:16pm; Reply: 64
I thought the Don Knotts bit was the true stroke of genius.  It wasn't from left field, it was out of the park.  But what better front than bumbling Barney Fife?  Apps, sounds like you've been checking out abovetopsecret.com for reptilians and other real lunacy.  
Posted by: raxo, April 18, 2006, 3:49pm; Reply: 65
Posted by: raxo, April 18, 2006, 3:55pm; Reply: 66
It seems that some of you are interested ... have you heard this?

Paul Is Dead (WABC radio broadcast, 1969) ... 16.45 minutes ...

Here you are:
http://rapidshare.de/files/11607945/Paul_Is_Dead_1969.mp3.html

Posted by: Hello Goodbye, April 18, 2006, 4:36pm; Reply: 67
Nice find, raxo.  I heard it the first time around.  I laughed then as I am laughing now.

Posted by: raxo, April 18, 2006, 4:36pm; Reply: 68
Some more for those of you ...  ::)


Is Paul Dead (A report from Australian TV, 1969)

Here you are:
http://rapidshare.de/files/11606891/Is_Paul_Dead.avi



Posted by: raxo, April 18, 2006, 4:38pm; Reply: 69
Quoted from Hello_Goodbye
Nice find, raxo.  I heard it the first time around.  I laughed then as I am laughing now.

http://home.att.net/~thorobred7/Paul_Is_Live.jpg


Thanks!  :)

I'm trying to upload another one (funnier and longer: 45.25 minutes) ... but I'm having some problems with yousendit and rapidshare   ??) ... I'm trying megaupload right now ... let's see ...  ;)
Posted by: raxo, April 18, 2006, 4:43pm; Reply: 70


How can be there ^... when we all know he died a long long long time ago?!  :o  :D



Posted by: raxo, April 18, 2006, 5:24pm; Reply: 71
Quoted from raxo


Thanks!  :)

I'm trying to upload another one (funnier and longer: 45.25 minutes) ... but I'm having some problems with yousendit and rapidshare   ??) ... I'm trying megaupload right now ... let's see ...  ;)


In about half an hour or so ...   :)
Posted by: raxo, April 18, 2006, 5:58pm; Reply: 72
Quoted from raxo


In about half an hour or so ...   :)


I can't understand what's happening today  >:( ... it's obviously my falt  :-/ ... 'cos I couldn't upload it ... none of the three sites  ??) ... I'll try later, tho ... sorry ...  :B
Posted by: Hello Goodbye, April 18, 2006, 6:54pm; Reply: 73
I'm looking forward to that second broadcast, raxo.  As I said, I was around when this all happened for the first time.  We got a kick out of all those "clues" and figured the Beatles were just goofing on all of us.  Everyone I knew was buying Beatles albums and playing them backwards and forwards at different speeds.  They certainly sold a lot of records, from Rubber Soul through Abbey Road in late 1969!
Posted by: raxo, April 18, 2006, 7:15pm; Reply: 74
I'm trying again ... the forth time this afternoon ::)

... this clip is from 1978 ... still asking Is Paul Dead?  ::)  ... with those backwards and forwards at different speeds you've mentioned too (funny "I buried Paul" thing) ...

... What I can say is: sooner or later you'll have that clip here!  :)
Posted by: raxo, April 18, 2006, 8:36pm; Reply: 75
AT LAST, Hello Goodbye!


Paul Is Dead (CFNY radio broadcast, 1978 ) (45.25 minuts)

Here you are:
http://rapidshare.de/files/10825458/Paul_Is_Dead_1978.mp3.html

Posted by: Hello Goodbye, April 18, 2006, 8:48pm; Reply: 76
Thanks, raxo!
Posted by: Kate, April 19, 2006, 6:24am; Reply: 77
Quoted from The_End


What a sad waste of time - I feel sorry for the guy (if it's a guy) who sat there all those hours and came up with that.

Paul McCartney is Viv Stanshall (of the Bonzos) AND Neil Aspinall??? And where does Don Knotts fit into all this exactly???

I actually laughed a lot!!

Good find Kate ;D


yeah, sad isn't he/she/it? But a good laugh anyway.

Think I could do something like that....with another theory.....plot is.....John's dead.....Yoko is behind all this...has FBI been fooled?....or has John been fooled?.....

This would make a nice fiction-thriller-story .... ;) :P
Posted by: raxo, April 19, 2006, 1:06pm; Reply: 78
Summing up ...


Paul Is Dead (WABC radio broadcast, 1969) (16.45 minutes)

Here you are:
http://rapidshare.de/files/11607945/Paul_Is_Dead_1969.mp3.html

---

Is Paul Dead (A report from Australian TV, 1969)

Here you are:
http://rapidshare.de/files/11606891/Is_Paul_Dead.avi

----

Paul Is Dead (CFNY radio broadcast, 1978 ) (45.25 minuts)

Here you are:
http://rapidshare.de/files/10825458/Paul_Is_Dead_1978.mp3.html



Posted by: An Apple Beatle, April 20, 2006, 10:18am; Reply: 79
Quoted from adamzero
  Apps, sounds like you've been checking out abovetopsecret.com for reptilians and other real lunacy.  


I havn't....it's just that the reptilian theorist Daviv Icke lives in my town!!! lol

Big Leibowski rules dude!!!
Posted by: KHAN, April 21, 2006, 2:11am; Reply: 80
Quoted from Kate
so far the best clues I found....really start to believe it now...;D

Paul is dead clues


Here is the forum started by the same insane wacko from the above link. :o

ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!
Posted by: adamzero, April 21, 2006, 2:23am; Reply: 81
Quoted from An_Apple_Beatle


I havn't....it's just that the reptilian theorist Daviv Icke lives in my town!!! lol


No way!  Icke lives in your town?!  Anyway we can get some audio on him? I'd love to sample him on reptilians or whatever.  I wonder if he has any opinions on the Beatles and conspiracy theories.  I'll have to check abovetopsecret.com.  

BTW the sightings near Rendelsham Forest is still pretty spooky.   :o
Posted by: An Apple Beatle, April 21, 2006, 10:45am; Reply: 82
Yeah he does Az. He left his wife for some young (as in like 18 to his 50something) desciple i think. All I know is 'the son of god' has to catch the ferry to the mainland like the rest of us. lol

Would be funny to see him walk across water. He was a really good proffesional soccer goalkeeper. His son is trying to front a band at the mo. I can see the headlines.... 'Grandson of God hits the charts.' heheheheh

I'll be honest...i have not checked out his work although for some reason i managed to be flicking through a copy of his corrected draft version of his famous book. Whacky stuff. Still, could be conceived by any drug-taking, middle aged crisis, frustrated career man. lol
He has suffered great ridicule in ths country.
Posted by: The End, April 24, 2006, 11:40am; Reply: 83
Quoted from KHAN


Here is the forum started by the same insane wacko from the above link. :o

ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!


Nice one - I just spent a long time browsing these posts, it's sad that people actually believe this nonsense!
Posted by: KHAN, April 24, 2006, 6:02pm; Reply: 84
Sad is a good word for it.
Posted by: Bobber, September 20, 2006, 2:51pm; Reply: 85
It's NEIL ASPINALL: http://digilander.libero.it/p_truth/
Posted by: Frightwolf, October 4, 2006, 11:38pm; Reply: 86
Quoted from Bobber


I actually did a speech on this last semester for, well, Speech class.  At about 5 - 7 minutes, I couldn't get into conspiracy theories, but I did provide the basic gist of the routine album/song/backwards clues, plus a clip from a radio broadcast that helped spread the word of this hoax (thanks again, Al!).  Suffice to say, easy A  :P

My English term paper last semester was also on the hoax.  Another easy A, and I was surprised that it was written so well! When you're interested in something so much, it's very easy to write and write and get caught up, as opposed to something you're just bsing and getting out of the way.  If only I could find some way to incorporate this kind of stuff in all future college papers...
Posted by: raxo, February 12, 2007, 12:15am; Reply: 87


Quoted from raxo
[...]
Paul Is Dead (WABC radio broadcast, 1969) ... 16.45 minutes ...

Here you are:
http://rapidshare.de/files/11607945/Paul_Is_Dead_1969.mp3.html


Re-uploaded here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/13710789/Paul_Is_Dead__WABC_radio_broadcast__1969_.mp3.html
Posted by: raxo, February 13, 2007, 2:55am; Reply: 88
Quoted from raxo
AT LAST, Hello Goodbye!

Paul Is Dead (CFNY radio broadcast, 1978 ) (45.25 minutes)

Here you are:
http://rapidshare.de/files/10825458/Paul_Is_Dead_1978.mp3.html



Re-uploaded here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/16239065/Paul_Is_Dead__CFNY_radio_broadcast__1978_.mp3.html
Posted by: The End, February 13, 2007, 1:08pm; Reply: 89
Quoted from Frightwolf


I actually did a speech on this last semester for, well, Speech class.  At about 5 - 7 minutes, I couldn't get into conspiracy theories, but I did provide the basic gist of the routine album/song/backwards clues, plus a clip from a radio broadcast that helped spread the word of this hoax (thanks again, Al!).  Suffice to say, easy A  :P

My English term paper last semester was also on the hoax.  Another easy A, and I was surprised that it was written so well! When you're interested in something so much, it's very easy to write and write and get caught up, as opposed to something you're just bsing and getting out of the way.  If only I could find some way to incorporate this kind of stuff in all future college papers...


Can you post the text to your presentation - I still have those audio files I made for you to tie in. It would make a great addition to the board :)
Posted by: raxo, February 13, 2007, 10:56pm; Reply: 90
Quoted from raxo
Some more for those of you ...  ::)

Is Paul Dead (A report from Australian TV, 1969)

Here you are:
http://rapidshare.de/files/11606891/Is_Paul_Dead.avi



Re-uploaded:
http://rapidshare.com/files/16344455/Is_Paul_Dead__A_report_from_Australian_TV__1969_.avi.html
Posted by: raxo, February 14, 2007, 1:39pm; Reply: 91
Summing up ... a-gain!


Paul Is Dead (WABC radio broadcast, 1969) (16.45 minutes)

Here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/13710789/Paul_Is_Dead__WABC_radio_broadcast__1969_.mp3.html

----

Is Paul Dead (A report from Australian TV, 1969) (video, 5.14 minutes)

Here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/16344455/Is_Paul_Dead__A_report_from_Australian_TV__1969_.avi.html

----

Paul Is Dead (CFNY radio broadcast, 1978 ) (45.25 minutes)

Here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/16239065/Paul_Is_Dead__CFNY_radio_broadcast__1978_.mp3.html


and finalley ...


Paul Is Dead (video, 19.48 minutes)

Here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/16420295/Paul_Is_Dead.avi.html

Posted by: raxo, February 25, 2007, 1:50am; Reply: 92

Who Buried Paul McCartney? (2005)

In the late sixties the news about the death of Paul McCartney swept the world. But did Paul really die? This documentary explores the true story behind the Paul Is Dead mystery.

Here's the trailer (video, 44 seconds):
http://rapidshare.com/files/18144322/Who_Buried_Paul_McCartney_DVD__trailer_.mpg.html
Posted by: KHAN, March 1, 2007, 6:00am; Reply: 93
Amazing what a hair cut and moustache can do huh?


Pic 1: 1966
Pic 2: 1967
Pic 3: 1966 pic with '67 hair and moustache animated over top.




;D
Posted by: Revolution, March 1, 2007, 6:02am; Reply: 94
;D
Posted by: Bobber, April 26, 2007, 6:45am; Reply: 95
These links contain some backwards clues I had never heard before:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8eFq7RJYN0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJFUxYOTA6c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON3cb8ur7pM
Posted by: BlueMeanie, April 26, 2007, 8:59am; Reply: 96
I expect we could find some pre 1966 ones if we really tried hard enough! ;D
Posted by: Bobber, April 26, 2007, 9:10am; Reply: 97
Quoted from BlueMeanie
I expect we could find some pre 1966 ones if we really tried hard enough! ;D


One of the major clues on Abbey Road was Paul holding a cigarette in his right hand, being a lefthander. But he already did that in 1963:

Posted by: Hello Goodbye, April 27, 2007, 1:01am; Reply: 98
Well, it was either hold the ciggie in his right hand or burn Ringo's jacket.
Posted by: Revolution, April 27, 2007, 1:39am; Reply: 99
Paul isn't dead but Heather is off Dancing with the stars!!!!!!!!
Posted by: JimmyMcCullochFan, May 4, 2007, 11:19am; Reply: 100
I find the Paul is Dead stuff so incredibly interesting even though it's all a hoax.
Posted by: BlueMeanie, May 4, 2007, 12:42pm; Reply: 101
Quoted from Bobber

One of the major clues on Abbey Road was Paul holding a cigarette in his right hand, being a lefthander. But he already did that in 1963:


I'm right handed, but I hold my pint with my left!
Posted by: Andy Smith, May 4, 2007, 2:56pm; Reply: 102
I'm ambidextrous so i can use both hands. it is strange but that's the way
it goes. Maybe Macca is, & we don't know. :-/
Posted by: Bobber, November 14, 2007, 10:43am; Reply: 103
There's a series on youtube about the Paul is Dead-hoax, called The Rotten Apple. It's collecting 'evidence' up to today's releases.

Example:

Posted by: Beatrix Starr, November 19, 2007, 3:50pm; Reply: 104
Oh gosh, that's one of the most stupid but funny things I've ever seen XD and the video really cracks me up LOL
Posted by: blackmath, November 19, 2007, 4:12pm; Reply: 105
i really enjoy the rotten apples series actually, very funny. all those backwards stuff and "omg, is this the same man" text.
i actually think that paul's faced changed a bit after 66/67 though.
Posted by: BlueMeanie, November 19, 2007, 4:26pm; Reply: 106
Quoted from blackmath
i actually think that paul's faced changed a bit after 66/67 though.


In what way? Everybody's face changes a bit after time.
Posted by: blackmath, November 19, 2007, 4:48pm; Reply: 107
but he looks the same all the time before [to me atleast] and it's a big difference i see in his face. i don't know, maybe it's just me.
Posted by: Andy Smith, November 20, 2007, 3:20pm; Reply: 108
mmm.... :-/
Posted by: 829 (Guest), November 27, 2007, 4:04pm; Reply: 109
I've read every book available on the Paul is dead thing.

Great fun, but people who still believe this crap NEED TO GET A CLUE (and NOT about Paul's "untimely demise") but about their own GULLIBILITY.

no, that Campbell guy isnt Paul for chrissake !

John probably concieved the entire hoax--or at least I hope so :)
Posted by: Paulram, February 5, 2008, 4:31pm; Reply: 110
Thanks needed a laugh. the things people come up with. Next thing we'll hear Paul McCartney was killed in Hamburg and it's a fake on the Ed Sullivan Show ::)
Posted by: fendertele, February 6, 2008, 1:47am; Reply: 111
yeah anyone can see all the pics they use to show changes in face shape, are just pics stretched to make him his face longer and smaller instead of his actual rounder face.

but i do find the whole thing very amusing and like to see what they will come out with next.
Posted by: KHAN, February 8, 2008, 2:47am; Reply: 112
The difference is like "Night and day".

Make that "Night and later that same night"...  ;)




Posted by: Bobber, April 18, 2008, 1:17pm; Reply: 113
Quoted from An Apple Beatle
Tell me it's not true!!! lol


SIR PAUL McCARTNEY has outraged fans in his native Liverpool, England - by agreeing to play a concert at the ground of his favourite soccer team's rivals.
The former Beatle, 65, is due to perform at Liverpool Football Club's Anfield stadium on 1 June (08 ) to celebrate the city being named 2008's European Capital of Culture - despite declaring himself a supporter of the opposing local team, Everton.
He says, "It is always lovely for me to go back to Liverpool and play for the home crowd. I am looking forward to that, it should be cool, even though I am in Everton fan officially. When it comes to the crunch, my dad was born in Everton."
Posted by: harihead, April 18, 2008, 1:43pm; Reply: 114
Oh, good grief. Somebody better put a full-time watch on his shrub, or Sir Paul will lose his head!

The complete lack of sympathy for this outrage can only be understood by someone who cares as little about sports as I do.
Posted by: fan numero uno, April 27, 2008, 12:33pm; Reply: 115
we all know the "3" on the back of the abbey road cover. but what if it really was a 5? that would change pretty much everything we have "know" about the paul is dead mystery.
Posted by: Mellotroniac, May 18, 2008, 12:47am; Reply: 116
I love that clue on ATMP album, "It's Johnnys Birthday" backwards, you can clearly hear George say,"He never wore his shoes, we all know he was dead."
Posted by: Geoff, May 18, 2008, 5:06am; Reply: 117
Lately I've wondered about all those feet in the air on cover of Off The Ground. Surely that must mean something, especially when you consider that Paul (or someone) was barefoot on the cover of Abbey Road.

(thinker)
Posted by: cubanheel, June 13, 2008, 9:50pm; Reply: 118
Well, I don't see how he could have been replaced; his kids all look like him or his dad, so what's that all about??? Plus the man himself looks like old Jim Mac, not to mention family resemblence to brother Mike. They can't ALL have been replaced, can they????
Posted by: Dante, July 8, 2008, 4:41pm; Reply: 119
Good read. Reminds me of those endless 2Pac alive theories I used to read over and over again. At the end of the story, 99% of all conspiracy theories are fake.
Posted by: freakchic9, July 8, 2008, 4:45pm; Reply: 120
Has anyone here heard of the Ringo Is Also Dead thing? It only has one clue.
Posted by: fan numero uno, July 8, 2008, 9:29pm; Reply: 121
what is that clue?
Posted by: freakchic9, July 8, 2008, 9:39pm; Reply: 122
Quoted from fan numero uno
what is that clue?


On the "With The Beatles" cover, Ringo's not the same as the other 3, which means he's not like them, hencing he died.
Posted by: fan numero uno, July 8, 2008, 9:42pm; Reply: 123
maybe it was just that he was short! kidding.
anyway, my dad has a book called The Wierd 100. one of the hundred chapters is the Paul is dead mystery. it was the longest chapter in the book, i think, and it had lots of clues. im to lazy to type them all, but if there is any questions anyone has about a specific album cover, i can check to see if the book has any info on it.
Posted by: PaulieBear, July 8, 2008, 11:00pm; Reply: 124
Quoted from KHAN
The difference is like "Night and day".

Make that "Night and later that same night"...  ;)






I think that's called EATING! or growing up!
weird, freakish people thought he was dead....
Posted by: Andy Smith, July 9, 2008, 1:25am; Reply: 125
yes, exactly, everybody grows up and ages
Posted by: fan numero uno, July 9, 2008, 1:28am; Reply: 126
my dad told me that HE is Paul McCartney, and he staged his own death so that he could settle down and live a normal life.  ;D how could his life be normal with me as a daughter?
Posted by: freakchic9, August 20, 2008, 1:33am; Reply: 127
I have another clue! I was watching the Free As A Bird music video today, and there was this one scene where John and a bunch of people were at the end of a crosswalk, and there was this car. It looked like the ar had crashed and there were a bunch of policemen there. It COULD have been Paul in that car.
Posted by: Bobber, August 20, 2008, 7:36am; Reply: 128
Quoted from freakchic9
I have another clue! I was watching the Free As A Bird music video today, and there was this one scene where John and a bunch of people were at the end of a crosswalk, and there was this car. It looked like the ar had crashed and there were a bunch of policemen there. It COULD have been Paul in that car.


Oh, the Free As A Bird video is well known for lots of clues.
Posted by: freakchic9, August 20, 2008, 10:46pm; Reply: 129
Quoted from Bobber


Oh, the Free As A Bird video is well known for lots of clues.


Well, that was the only clue I found. I guess I wasn't really looking.
Posted by: Hello Goodbye, August 21, 2008, 3:43am; Reply: 130
Or listening.  ;)
Posted by: An Apple Beatle, October 16, 2008, 9:02am; Reply: 131
Paul McCartney Admits Beatles Planned Death Hoax
by Bruce Spizer

(Originally Published April 1, 2004)

While on a recent quick vacation in New Orleans, Paul McCartney let his guard down and admitted what some Beatles fans have suspected for years. He confirmed that the "Paul is dead" clues found in several Beatles album covers and songs were deliberately planted by the group as part of an elaborate scheme dating back to the summer of 1966.

According to McCartney, the plan was formulated by manager Brian Epstein. "Brian dropped by the studio to hear the playback of our latest single, 'Paperback Writer.' He didn't like it one bit. 'Not a love song,' he said. He was concerned that the press and our fans wouldn't get it. He told us, 'People want love songs. They won't spend money for a song about a novel writer. You boys are gonna blow it with this one.' But by this time, we were running the show, not Brian. We insisted that 'Paperback Writer' would be our next single and told him that the song represented the new direction our songwriting was going in."

When contacted in London, former Beatles press agent Tony Barrow confirmed Brian's concerns. "Brian was into traditional love songs. He had told Paul to come up with another 'Yesterday' or 'Michelle' for the next single. Imagine his shock when he heard 'Paperback Writer' and 'Rain.' Not only were they not love songs, but they were so loud! We didn't know it at the time, but the Beatles had recorded the first heavy metal single. Not exactly 'Till There Was You' or 'A Taste Of Honey.' I was worried, too. I wondered, 'Had the boys gone too far this time?'"

Brian became even more concerned when he imagined an album full of unconventional songs. While a fan might take a chance on a single, an album purchase was a big thing in those days. Due to its higher price, youngsters, particularly those in the U.K., were very careful about buying albums. That is why the Beatles often issued an EP from an album containing four of its best tracks. So Brian came up with a plan to help sell albums in the event he was right about the dangerous new direction the group was heading in. Paul explained, "When I told him our future albums would be dominated by songs about interesting people and places, his heart sank. He didn't think people would buy such albums and came up with this great idea to push sales in the event he was right and we were wrong. The idea was that we would plant clues in our songs and album covers that one of us had died in a car wreck. If after a few albums, our records weren't selling well, we'd leak out word about the clues and let our fans and the press take over. People would buy the albums to see and hear the clues. We thought, 'Wow, that's an incredible idea!' We realized it would be great fun to have all those clues sitting there undiscovered until people started going nuts looking for them all."

Tony Barrow also thought the plan was brilliant. "Nothing re-energizes a singer's career like his death. Do you really think Buddy Holly would have been so famous had he not died in that plane crash? Same for Richie Valens and certainly that one-hit wonder Big Bopper with his 'Chantilly Lace' song. And how about Otis Redding? He never had a number one hit till after he died in a plane crash. The fact that Brian came up with a car crash shows his genius. Airplane crashes were the norm."

Having sold the group on the idea, the Beatles had to decide which one of them was to "die." Brian wanted the victim to be Ringo because he was the most popular Beatle in the all-important U.S. market, but the drummer wanted nothing to do with it. Tony Barrow recalls, "Ringo flat out refused to be the one. He said, 'Being painted red in a movie is one thing, but pretending to be dead's another. I'm superstitious. Those clues might make it happen.' Brian was disappointed because he knew Ringo was the most sympathetic Beatle. You know Ringo got more mail from America than the other members of the group combined." [Author's Note: Ringo was unavailable for comment.]

After Ringo turned down the "opportunity" to die, the honor of being a dead Beatle was up for grabs. According to Paul, "George said right away he didn't feel comfortable faking his death. But it sure got him thinking. A few days later he showed up at a session with a new song called 'The Art Of Dying.' We didn't think it was that good a song, so we never recorded it. George later improved the lyrics and included it on his first album."

Paul's recollections are backed by the original lyrics to the song, which appear in George's "I Me Mine" book. The 1966 version of the song referred to Brian Epstein, who was the mastermind behind the death clues. It contained the line "Then nothing Mr. Epstein can do will keep me here with you."

With Ringo and George not willing to "die" for the good of the group, it came down to John and Paul, with both thinking it would be fab to be "dead." Paul recalls, "John wanted to be the dead Beatle, but this time I didn't cave in to John like I did on the songwriter credits. I thought it should be me because I was the second most popular Beatle. Brian agreed it should be me because he was worried that once the clues became known, people might think it was a John practical joke if John was supposedly dead. But me...Brian thought, 'No one would suspect Paul for rigging his own death. They think John's the clever one.' So I got to die."

A few days after the "Paperback Writer" listening session, the group was at Brian's office when photographer Bob Whitaker dropped by with the pictures from the butcher session. Brian asked Whitaker to shoot a picture of Paul in steamer trunk to symbolize his lying dead in a coffin. Paul picks up the story. "Bob thought it was too direct, so he suggested we stand the truck upwards and have me sit in it with the other standing around. That way, it would only look like I was lying in a coffin if the cover was turned sideways. Bob had Ringo place his hand on the trunk lid like he was closing the coffin. Brilliant! Brian told us to throw some clues into our songs. Right away John came up with 'I'm Only Sleeping,' as if 'Paul isn't dead, he's only sleeping.' Pretty subtle. Most people missed that clue, and that was one of the first!"

The "coffin trunk" photo was sent to Capitol to serve as the cover for the American album "Yesterday And Today." But when Brian saw the cover mock-up, he began having second thoughts about using the photo so early in the game. He was concerned that people might suspect Paul was dead a lot sooner than the group wanted to clues to be discovered. So Brian sent Capitol the butcher photo, knowing that it might ultimately be rejected, but at least it would deflect attention away from the provocative coffin trunk cover. The plan worked to perfection with the Butcher cover causing so much controversy that when it was "replaced" by the trunk cover, no one noticed it showed Paul lying in a coffin!

One of the casualties of the plan was Robert Freeman's unused cover for "Revolver." Paul explains that, "For 'Revolver,' Robert Freeman came up with a great cover image, but there was no death clue in it. I asked Klaus [Voormann] to do a pen and ink with a photo collage so we could throw in some clues. I had him place an image of my face in my ear. That represented a 'beetle' crawling out of the ear of my buried corpse. You know, insects get into coffins and mix with the dead bodies, crawling through eye sockets, ear openings and the like. Very creepy and very subtle. And the other clue came from Klaus drawing my face in a side profile looking to the left. The others were drawn looking forward. When you turn the cover on its side, I'm looking upward, just like I'd appear on a morgue slab or if I were buried underground. We really were into having clues appear when you turned our covers sideways. I'm surprised nobody caught those 'Revolver' clues."

According to Tony Barrow, there was one other clue planted on "Revolver." "John had this really weird song that had no title, so he called it 'Mark I.' Later he came up with 'The Void,' to symbolize the void left in the group by Paul's death. Ringo thought that was too subtle, so he came up with the perfect phrase for describing the direction the group would go in if Paul really were dead. And that was 'Tomorrow Never Knows.' Ringo was great at stuff like that."

By the time the Beatles recorded "Sgt. Pepper," the plan really took off. Tony Barrow recalls, "Brian thought 'Tomorrow Never Knows' was way out there. You can imagine his fear of an entire album of songs like that. He was terrified that Sgt. Pepper would be viewed as pretentious nonsense! He told the boys to throw in a bunch of clues on that one!"

The first song recorded for "Sgt. Pepper" was "Strawberry Fields Forever," though it ended up being used as a single. At the end of the song, John was supposed to repeat "I buried Paul" several times, but that was too obvious, so instead he said "Cranberry sauce" and then slurred his words so that "I buried Paul" sounded like "I'm very bored." The plan worked as it took over two years before anyone realized what he was really saying.

Later songs also had clues. Paul admitted that "She's Leaving Home" contained the time the car wreck supposedly occurred-"Wednesday morning at five o'clock as the day begins." The line "Meeting a man from the motor trade" tied in the motor vehicle. And, of course, "A Day In The Life" was about a car crash. According to Paul, "The drug references were just a smoke-screen to deflect attention away from the car crash, you know. 'He blew his mind out in a car' could mean his head was crushed or he was doing drugs. Take your pick."

The cover was full of clues: the crashing car; Paul's bass made of flowers; Paul having his back to the camera on the back cover; the hand over Paul's head; and the infamous "O.P.D." patch on Paul's uniform, which was McCartney's favorite Pepper clue. "We had to work hard on that one. Someone told John that in America the letters OPD stood for 'Officially Pronounced Dead.' I remembered I had this patch with the letters "OPP," which I got in Canada. I think it stands for Ontario Police Precinct or something like that. So I got the idea to put the patch on my uniform's sleeve and shoot the picture so that the lower part of the second 'P' would not be visible, thus making it look like 'OPD.' I was quite pleased with the way it came out."

Although the sales of "Revolver" and "Pepper" made Brian realize that the clues probably weren't needed to sell records, the group kept creating more and more clues. According to Paul, "It was so neat coming up with clues that we kept doing them even thought we never thought they'd be needed to sell albums. It was great mischievous fun! When Brian died, we really went wild with it! For 'Magical Mystery Tour,' I wanted to wear a black flower on my jacket. The florist thought Alistair Taylor was nuts when he insisted they send us a black carnation. We became worried people would catch on when they saw the 'Magical Mystery Tour' booklet because the clues were so obvious. The 4 or 5 musicians, the "I was" sign. But no one caught on."

Paul stated that placing the clues was even more fun than the visual images. "Ringo had this old song, 'Don't Pass Me By,' which we had refused to record for years. But I realized it could be used for a clue. I gave him the line 'You were in a car crash and you lost your hair' And we did great stuff with backwards tape loops and mumbling. John going 'Paul is a dead man, miss him, miss him.'"

Some of the clues were easy and obvious. John's "Glass Onion" even told the fans what was going on with its line "And here's another clue for you all, the Walrus was Paul." But some were quite intricate.

According to Paul, the toughest one was "Revolution 9." "We had to come up with a phrase to go 'Number 9' when you played it backwards. Our plan was to have it go 'Number 9' on the record, but when you played it backwards it would sound like 'Paul is dead.' When we recorded 'Paul is dead' and played it backwards, it didn't go 'Number 9.' It sounded more like 'Pythagorian Theorem.' The phrase 'Macca is dead' sounded like 'Thermo nuclear' when we played it backwards. We experimented for hours until Alan Parsons came up with 'Turn me on dead man.' When we reversed the tape, it sounded like he was saying 'Number 9, number 9.' So that's how we did it."

Abbey Road engineer Alan Parsons remembers the session well. "We spent hours recording different phrases until I lucked into 'Turn me on dead man.' When I played the tape backwards and heard 'Number 9,' well, it was one of the greatest moments of my life! We were all sworn to secrecy about the clues, but now that Paul's let the cat out the bag, I can talk about it. I later recorded my own song about looking for clues, 'Eye In The Sky.'"

The last batch of clues were planted on the album cover to "Abbey Road," which was designed by Paul. McCartney came up with the idea to stage his own funeral. George, in the role of the grave digger, dressed in work clothes. Ringo, the funeral director, wore a black suit. John, the angel, wore white. Paul was barefoot, as it is the custom in several cultures to bury people without their shoes. In a subtle touch, the left-handed McCartney held a cigarette in his right hand. This was to imply that the Paul who had been with the group since mid-1966 was a right-handed imposter.

Paul recalls the other major "Abbey Road" clue with fondness. "I've always liked puns, so I wanted to have a Volkswagon Beetle represent me. Alistair Taylor arranged for a friend of his to park his VW Beetle on the street by the studio. Alistair and I placed a special license tag we had made the night before on the car. It said '28 IF,' meaning that I would have been 28 if I had lived. Unfortunately, I out-thought myself on that one. I was only 27 at the time, but I told Alistair to paint it as 28 because I didn't think "Abbey Road" would come out until I was 28. That's because I was sure that the "Get Back" album would come out first. By the time we decided to put out "Abbey Road" first, I had forgotten about that clue, so we didn't have the picture altered to have the tag read '27 IF.'"

When John told the others he was quitting the group, Paul began thinking it was time to expose the clues. "I was always nervous before a record came out, you know. Would people like it? And, in this case, what if word leaked out that John had quit? We were all worried that the album would bomb, and when word spread that John was out, we'd be forgotten. No one would buy our latest LP or our old records. The clincher was a pair of bad reviews published in 'The New York Times' and 'Rolling Stone.' I thought, oh sh*t, no one likes the long medley on side two. So I had Mal [Evans] go to Detroit and tell some college kids about the clues. One of the guys phoned in some of the clues to a radio station there. That was all it took."

Once people started looking for clues, they were easy to spot. The American press was fascinated with the story. Brian's plan worked to perfection. Not only did sales for "Abbey Road" take off, but people began buying "Sgt. Pepper," "Magical Mystery Tour" and "The White Album" to see and hear the clues. Paul hid away at his farm in Scotland to further fuel the hoax. When a reported from "Life" magazine finally caught up with him, Paul dead-panned, "If I were dead, I'd be the last to know."

The Beatles and their inner circle kept the clue caper a secret for over thirty years. Not only do we now know that the Beatles deliberately planted the clues, but we also know that it was part of a brilliant marketing plan formulated by manager Brian Epstein back in 1966. As for why Paul finally revealed the secrets behind the scheme, we may never know if it was an accidental slip up on his part or a plan to reignite sales of the Beatles catalog.


Bruce Spizer is a well-know Beatles author and historian who has not only written a series of critically acclaimed books on the group's American records, but also has been known to tell a tall tale or two for April Fool's Day. This article originally appeared in the April 1, 2004 issue of Goldmine Magazine.
Posted by: Kevin, October 16, 2008, 1:44pm; Reply: 132
^ Those crazy Beatles!
Posted by: BlueMeanie, October 16, 2008, 5:24pm; Reply: 133
Wonderfull! Cheers Rick.
Posted by: Bobber, October 17, 2008, 7:07am; Reply: 134
I don't buy it.
Posted by: freakchic9, October 17, 2008, 7:23pm; Reply: 135
Today in class, FNU and I thought of a Ringo Is Dead thing, a Georgie is Dead thing, and a John Is Dead As Well thing. We have cluse and everything!
Posted by: The Swine, October 17, 2008, 7:26pm; Reply: 136
pigshit
Posted by: BlueMeanie, October 17, 2008, 8:32pm; Reply: 137
Quoted from freakchic9
Today in class, FNU and I thought of a Ringo Is Dead thing, a Georgie is Dead thing, and a John Is Dead As Well thing. We have cluse and everything!


There's some good ones for John and George.
Posted by: freakchic9, October 18, 2008, 1:17am; Reply: 138
FNU made a great one for the Ringo Is Dead thing. She says:
You know how Ringo now wears sunglasses? Well, the Ringo we know has blue eyes. But the Ringo replacement doesn't have blue eyes, so he wears sunglasses!
Posted by: HeyJude18, October 18, 2008, 2:48am; Reply: 139
^ Glad to see that you guys are productive in class!  LOL
Posted by: Hello Goodbye, October 18, 2008, 4:01am; Reply: 140
Quoted from freakchic9
You know how Ringo now wears sunglasses? Well, the Ringo we know has blue eyes. But the Ringo replacement doesn't have blue eyes, so he wears sunglasses!


Posted by: cubanheel, October 18, 2008, 11:46am; Reply: 141
Quoted from BlueMeanie


There's some good ones for John and George.



(rolling3)
Posted by: Penny Lane, October 22, 2008, 8:54pm; Reply: 142
Quoted from Hello Goodbye




LOL.  And I've long wondered why Ringo won't go without his sunglasses.  Now we know the "truth."   :P :P ;D
Posted by: freakchic9, October 22, 2008, 10:05pm; Reply: 143
Quoted from Penny Lane


LOL.  And I've long wondered why Ringo won't go without his sunglasses.  Now we know the "truth."   :P :P ;D


You can thank FNU for uncovering the truth!
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