Do you know these 10 facts about the Beatles?
The Beatles are one of the most documented bands in history, yet some intriguing details about their journey fly under the radar.
English band The Beatles wave to fans after arriving at Kennedy Airport in 1964.
Here are 10 lesser-known facts that may surprise you!
1
Ringo Starr didn’t play drums on the original “Love Me Do”
When the Beatles recorded “Love Me Do” on September 11, 1962, producer George Martin wasn’t sure about Ringo Starr’s drumming. So, session drummer Andy White was brought in to play drums, and Ringo played tambourine. White's version was used on the U.S. single and the “Please Please Me” album.
2
Saturday Night Live offered the Beatles $3,000 to reunite on the show
On a 1976 episode of “Saturday Night Live,” creator Lorne Michaels jokingly offered The Beatles a check for $3,000 in exchange for reuniting on his show. (“You divide it any way you want; If you want to give Ringo less, that’s up to you,” Michaels deadpanned.) Little did he know that Lennon was watching the live broadcast at his home in New York, and suggested to McCartney that they take him up on his offer. Ultimately, they decided against it for a night off.
3
Paul McCartney’s “Yesterday” was initially titled “Scrambled Eggs”
Paul McCartney composed the melody for “Yesterday” in a dream. Unsure if he had subconsciously plagiarized it, he used placeholder lyrics: “Scrambled eggs, oh my baby how I love your legs.” He later confirmed the melody was original and finalized the lyrics.
The Beatles onstage at the King's Hall, Belfast in 1964.
4
The Beatles wanted to make a “Lord of the Rings” film
In the late 1960s, The Beatles expressed interest in adapting J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” into a film, casting themselves in lead roles and with Stanley Kubrick as director. Tolkien declined their proposal. (He was worried it would be turned into a psychedelic musical.)
5
“Twist and Shout” was recorded in a single take
John Lennon’s vocals on “Twist and Shout” were recorded in one take at the end of a marathon recording session. His voice was nearly gone, resulting in the raw, iconic performance we hear today.
6
The Beatles popularized backward recording techniques
You may be saying – what? The song “Rain” features reversed vocals, making it among the first recordings to use this technique. They didn’t invent backmasking, but John Lennon discovered the effect accidentally and decided to use it on the track.
7
Several Beatles songs were banned by the BBC
The BBC banned songs like “I Am the Walrus,” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” and “A Day in the Life” due to perceived drug references, explicit lyrics, and the use of product names (like Coca-Cola). The actual number of songs banned or the restrictions put on them is unclear.
8
A tourist accidentally appears on the “Abbey Road” cover
American tourist Paul Cole didn’t know he was becoming part of music history when he appeared in the background of the “Abbey Road” album cover photo (he’s standing on the pavement to the right of the Beatles). He only realized it was him after his wife bought the album.
The Beatles performing at The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.
9
George Harrison’s son believed his father was a gardener
Harrison’s son, Dhani, thought his father was a gardener for the first seven years of his life. “My earliest memory of my dad is probably of him somewhere in a garden covered in dirt, somewhere hot, a tropical garden, in jeans, khakis covered in dirt, just continuously planting trees,” Dhani shared in Martin Scorsese’s 2011 documentary, George Harrison: Living in the Material World. Harrison’s gardening passion was well-known among close friends.
10
The “Abbey Road” song “Because” was inspired by Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14
Yes, that’s true. It’s commonly known as the “Moonlight Sonata” in reverse. John heard Yoko Ono play the piece’s first movement at the piano, then asked her to play the chord progression backwards and fashioned a melody around it.
