On this day in music history: October 12, 1969 - “The Paul Is Dead” urban myth is born. A student at Eastern Michigan University named Tom Zarski calls up DJ Russ Gibb at radio station WKNR, and tell him of a rumor that Beatle Paul McCartney had died in a car crash in November of 1966. He’ll say that there are clues in the “White Album” track “Revolution #9”, claiming that when a certain section is played backwards that it says “turn me on, dead man. Gibb goes on air with the rumor and it immediately snowballs from there. Fans also believe that there are further clues hidden in the album cover artwork to "Yesterday & Today”, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, “Magical Mystery Tour” and the then just released “Abbey Road” album. However, the rumors prove to be false. McCartney is found alive and well at his farm in rural Scotland when Life Magazine sends a correspondent and photographer to his home. McCartney is initially furious at the intrusion on his privacy, hurling expletives at the reporters and throwing a bucket of water at them. The photographer snaps pictures of the encounter and quickly take off. Paul chases them down and offers to be interviewed in exchange for the film taken of him during the angry confrontation. He sits down for an interview and poses for pictures with his wife Linda, step-daughter Heather and new baby daughter Mary, which appear in a cover story for Life published on November 7, 1969.
Friday, October 13, 2017
On this most ludicrous day and date of superstitious nonsense (it's Friday the 13th people!) I am neither christian (which is where most of the superstitions come from) nor superstitious (ibid!) and therefore it behooves me to mention the totally preposterous conspiracy theory of the musical genre and Paul is Dead myth was born around now according to the wonderful Jeff Harris' blog
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