On 17 June 1967, Life Magazine ran an interview with Paul McCartney in which the Beatle admitted to having taken LSD. The UK press immediately seized upon it, and two days later McCartney gave a statement to Independent Television News (ITN).
The item was broadcast on the ITN evening news, which began at 9pm on 19 June.
Read more about The Beatles and drugs.
Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs
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Also on this day...
- 2018: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Kongresové Centrum, Prague
- 2018: Paul McCartney announces new single I Don’t Know/Come On To Me
- 2016: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Ryman Auditorium, Nashville
- 2015: Paul McCartney live: Firefly Music Festival
- 2012: Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr pay tribute to Victor Spinetti
- 2012: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Bank of America Pavilion, Boston
- 2009: Beatles’ first management contract up for grabs
- 2008: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Casino Rama, Rama
- 1995: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Kurashiki Shimin Kaikan, Kurashiki
- 1992: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Radio City Music Hall, New York City
- 1967: Recording: All You Need Is Love
- 1964: The Beatles live: Sydney Stadium, Sydney
- 1964: UK EP release: Long Tall Sally
- 1963: Radio: Easy Beat
- 1963: Derek Taylor interviews Brian Epstein
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1961: The Beatles live: Top Ten Club, Hamburg
- 1945: John Lennon’s half-sister Victoria is born
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
It’s all well and good that Paul was honest in his answer to a news magazine reporter about whether he’d taken LSD. One of the things I always liked about The Beatles is that they were always up front about that they smoked cigarettes and drank liquor whereas other pop acts or idols would always say dumb things like “now kids, remember to drink your milk and eat all your veggies”. But in this instance I think Paul should have just politely said,”none of your business”.
Come on. We all criticise the stars for not answering our questions, and yet Paul gets slammed for answering a question. That’s crap. This should be applauded, not attacked by the likes of you and others. Give the man a break. He should have consulted the others, but I applaud him, and certainly don’t second guess his decision. Sheesh.
The truth would eventually have emerged anyway. Better to spin it his way in advance than have it revealed by the press.
Yes Paul at that time in 1967 didn’t want to have the flak, headaches and litiigation that Donovan and the Rolling Stones had with being slammed by the press and subsequent drug busts.
Having been experimented on in 1972 the effects are dangerous if you have a bad time yes not everyone has a bad time. I often wondered about John Lennon taking LSD because he became a man withdrawn from the world. LSD can do that to you.
Quote by GEORGE HARRISON ~ “Although we’ve been identified a lot with hippies, especially since all this thing about pot and LSD’s come out, we don’t want to tell anyone else to have it because it’s something that’s up to the person himself.” John and George were furious at Paul for going to the media about his consumption of LSD! They didn’t want their loyal fans to try LSD just because The Beatles tried it. John and George were aware of the side effects of this powerful mind altering drug. They thought it was hypocritical and irresponsible of McCartney since he initially refused to trip with them! I would have said ” no comment”.
I think if Paul had said “no comment” then from that moment on the press would have hounded him in every interview – “why won’t you say if you’ve taken LSD?” Better to say it straight up, get it out there and move on.
Do you have a source for John and George being “furious” with Paul? Not saying it didn’t happen, just curious to know what they said (other than George’s comment where he says it was “strange” and “funny,” but hardly sounds furious.
Quote by GEORGE HARRISON ~
“I don’t know, it just seems strange to me because we’d been trying to get him [McCartney] to take it [Lysergic Diethylamide Acid] for eighteen months and it did seem funny that one day he’s on the television talking all about it.”
Of course Paul wanted to spread the news around the world that he was the “hippest Beatle” when it was really John, George and Ringo who were experimentung with mind expanding drugs!
That’s why She Said She Said was recorded without Paul!
That song was about an Acid experience the three partook in without Paul with members of The Byrds and Actor Peter Fonda.
Paul was odd man out!
George played Bass, played Lead Guitar and sang Harmony and Backing Vocals.
Can you folks at Beatlesbible, post the original interview Paul McCartney gave to the British “Queen” magazine, date included, from which he admitted to ingesting LSD?
Quote by PAUL MCCARTNEY (QUEEN MAGAZINE) ~
“After I took it (LSD), it opened my eyes. We only use one~tenth of our brain. Just think what we could accomplish if we could only tap that hidden part. It would mean a whole new world.”
All Life magazine did was republish the original “Queen” magazine article with the heading ~ “The New Far~Out Beatles”.
There’s a scene in “A Hard Day’s Night” where Ringo Starr is sitting under a women’s blow dryer?, and he’s holding a copy of Queen magazine.
Man, that was a large sized magazine!
Quote by GEORGE HARRISON ~
“I don’t know, it just seems strange to me because we’d been trying to get him [McCartney] to take it [Lysergic Diethylamide Acid] for eighteen months and then it did seem funny that one day he’s on the television talking about it.”
Interesting to find out more about that weekend. If the Life article was Sat 17th and the ITN broadcast on Monday 19th, in between was Paul’s 25th birthday on 18th, which it’s hard to believe wasn’t celebrated merrily during the 4 day period between the two sessions for AYNIL. Did Paul drop some acid then? Did the ITN interview happen on his birthday? (How rude!)