The Beatles... one of the greatest bands that ever graced the Earth with their music. They started off with popular rock and roll, with the immense hit 'Please Please Me' in 1963. Beatlemania was on - girls screamed and fainted at their performances, guys considered them Gods! Many more albums followed their first, but neither their style nor their popularity ever stagnated. By 1968 they experimented with alternative music, notably in the 'White Album' and 'Abbey Road'. After releasing 'Let It Be' in 1970, and a few compilation albums, the Beatles went their own ways... reaching varying levels of success. Four great musicians, each with their own style and influences:


John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and William Campbell.

The four Beatles, who have immortalized themselves as arguably the most successful band ever... err what? Did you say Paul McCartney? The fourth Beatle was Paul McCartney? Ah, well... Paul is dead! He was replaced by a clone years back.

In 1969, an RJ in Detroit named Russell Gibb announced that Paul McCartney was dead. He presented evidence strewn throughout the Beatles' songs, movies and album artwork. Needless to say, the news spread throughout America. Thousands of Beatles enthusiasts around the world started their own little investigations, and the 'evidence' mounted. Many versions of what happened exist:

Apparently, Paul McCartney was found dead at Outreau, North France after suffering a car accident. This brought despair to the remaining Beatles, who thought that this wasn't good for the world and for their careers. Amidst deep mourning for the loss of a great friend, they decided to do all it took to keep The Beatles alive, which meant keeping Paul's death a secret and getting someone to cover for him. During this time, a Paul McCartney look-alike contest was held, and probably the winner William Campbell's prize was to take Paul's place in all photos, album covers, public meets etc. Another theory says it was Geoffery Shepherd, a singer with The Pepperpots Band. Of course the transformation of the look-alikes into Paul was slow and required a lot of effort, including surgeries. However, Beatles fans noted marked differences between the real Paul and who they believed was a clone. The most notable being a scar on the fake Paul's upper lip.

The Beatles themselves deliberately left clues in their album covers and lyrics to gradually reveal that Paul was dead. The first one was the 'Butcher Album', which showed The Beatles holding decapitated baby dolls and raw meat, with George holding a head right next to Paul's head. The album cover of 'Yesterday and Today' shows Paul sitting in a trunk, signifying his burial. 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' had a phenomenal album cover, and brought with it a phenomenal share of controversy as well. A lot of clues, some rather nonsensical, were extracted from this album. For instance, a doll is seated in the far right with a white car in her hand, the same model Paul died in. The album cover of 'Abbey Road', my favourite, seemed like a funeral procession for Paul. Paul was the only one in black , was barefoot, and was out of step with the other Beatles. Lennon was the Preacher, Ringo was a Pall Bearer and Harrison was the grave-digger. Most notably, Paul was left-handed, but in this photo Paul has the cigarette in his right hand! Also a hearse is visible in the background!

Many lyrical clues were also inserted by The Beatles. One very strong clue was that when you play the gibberish at the end of the song 'I'm So Tired' backwards, it sounds like "..Paul's dead man, miss him miss him.."! 'Glass Onion', the title of one of their songs is a moniker for a see-through coffin. Also, Lennon sings in the song, "The Walrus is Paul." In many European countries, a walrus represents death. Many interpretations of other lyrics exist, all indicating Paul's death.

Is Paul really dead? Or is it a hoax? Even if it is one, did the Beatles play an active role in setting up the hoax, or was is just the work of overimaginative fans? Most people today believe the latter. An elaborate hoax that wasn't caused by one person or idea, but rather collectively by enthusiastic fans. However, there still are ardent believers in the theory even today. Hell, they even made a movie about the whole thing. Looks like Beatlemania went far far beyond just screaming and fainting. As long as The Beatles live, so will rumours that Paul is dead.

Just Google 'Paul is dead' to know more...